December 3, 2008

Some closing thoughts...

Well Cougar fans we came close and unfortunately we didn't make it, but I can say it was a great year to be a Cooper Cougar football fan. We have seen them win, we have seen them stumble, and we've seen them show class and poise through injuries and criticisms coming from all sides. I would most definitely say that this team deserves to be talked about with the respect we talk about any other playoff Cougar team. We've met a great bunch of high school athletes that have represented us with pride and have kept our win, lose, tie Cougar till I die mentality. I would like to congratulate them now on an excellent season, and tell the guys coming up that they have big shoes to fill and I'm sure they will. I would also like to congratulate Coach Spradlin and his staff on the excellent season the Coogs have had. He has made it fun to be a Cougar fan again and his no excuses approach to a football program is really starting to show the area the kind of team the Coogs can be.

I've enjoyed being you blogger and I hope ARN will have me back next year. I know that this blog has suffered criticisms from not being stat heavy and all I can say is that I did the best I could with a full work schedule and living 17 hours away. This was new territory for me as far as 4A and not every team has a website and ARN has done such a good job with their gofriday night team pages it just felt redundant to repeat the same info. I love my alma mater and I hope I did them some kind of justice this season.

Go Cougars!!!!
Jason Mcgrew

Editors note:
Any comments with obscene language or no redeemable content were not accepted. So if you don't see your comment on any of the blogs you know the reason why. I posted everything else but the items mentioned above.

Any stats that I did use was from Dave Campbell.com, Rivals.com, LonestarGridIron.com, and a few other meta sites that had no author for me to credit. Most of the information on rival teams that the Coogs played was mostly gotten from reading pages of forums or contacting their bloggers direct. I would like to especially thank the Denton Guyer, Big Spring, Canyon Randall bloggers for pointing me in the right direction on their teams.

Thanks to my mom for telling me that all my blogs were excellent even though I knew that some of them weren't.


November 23, 2008

Wow feels like the old days...

Hello again Cougar fans and it feels good to be a resident of Cougar Country as they manhandle people in the playoffs. The Coogs have now shut down two very good high powered offenses in the playoffs and seem to be almost unstoppable. They are playing very good football, very few mistakes, using the offensive package to the fullest, and a D that punishes wide recievers. Theres not many in the state that are going to be able to overlook the Cougars if they keep playing the way they have been. They have Denton Guyer next week and hopefully they'll get a chance to play in Texas stadium which would be a great gift for this bunch of Coogs. Heslep has become a very dangerous passer and as usual with Padrill and Pimpton keeping defenses honest has had some chances to really air it out over the top to Bowman and Sonnier. The Cougar defense right now is probably one of the best defenses in the state if not the best in my opinion. Will Ford is gonna be a stud even hurt and with a supporting cast like Ty Robinson, Demetric Lee, Brandon Henderson, and Blake Spears theres alot of offensive coordinators getting nervous across the state.

In this last game El Paso was just outclassed and as usual they do not generally do well against Cougar teams in the playoffs. They have the Denton Guyer Wildcats up next and from everything I've seen there a pretty standard metroplex team. They are really big and physical there defensive line weighs 948 pounds respectively and they run a 3-4. There offensive line is battle hardened and are also very big and very physical. They tend to open up very big lanes for their running backs and come with a very balanced offensive attack. This team also likes to do a lot of cute plays like the onside kick and Spradlin is going to have the hands team out there every time. They also have some really creepy "Omen" music playing on their website to watch their videos, and their official record is 9-2. They are a for real playoff team and its sad to say metroplex teams generally are the guys that knock us out every year. Yes, even back in the 90's. The one thing you don't hear them brag about in the forums is their secondary and with Cougar receiving corp they better lay off the pork skins and quit reading their press clippings. A lot, is going to depend on the Cougar offensive line and keeping Hesleps pocket nice and firm. If they can't keep Heslep on his feet and throwing in the game then we could be in some trouble. They are excellent on the run and about every coach in Texas has Pimpton scouted. Probably, wouldn't be a bad idea to use a full complement of backs especially Alfred and try to exhaust those fatties on their defensive line. This is going to be a game in which the Cougars speed will be very important and a turnover in this game could be very bad. The Wildcats tend to be very opportunistic and will get points off of mistakes. If you have the gas money it should be a good one and I would go if I could. So wear your red and blue this week and send some prayers to Ford and his elbow, he's a tough stud but I'm sure he would appreciate it.

Take Care
Go Cougars!!!!!!

My apologies to Denton Guyer Wildcat fans I did not realize there was another Denton Wildcats team in the playoffs to where there could be confusion. I mean I'm used to 5A teams that are actually known. (Odessa Permian (Permian, Mojo,), Abilene High (Abilene Eagles, so I didn't take into account your feelings once again my apologies. Oh yah, and btw we are known as Abilene Cougars in some places, sometimes Abilene Cooper, sometimes Coogs. Didn't know you 4A guys were so sensitive notice corrections have been made.

November 15, 2008

The roar is restored and shall soon be heard again in Ratliff

Hello Cougar fans and you have every reason to be happy as your Coogs have finally played up to the strandard that we all knew that they could. You know names like Rhodes, Mcgrew, Galusha, Allen, Rozell, Anderson King, Rose, and we finally have some names that can finally go right up along side them. Heslep, Pimpton, Ford, Sharp, Bowman, Henderson and the many other Cougars that I can honestly say I'm proud to have them playing for us. I went to Cooper 91-95 and my brother played till 98 so I'm used to good Cougar teams and this one is finally living up to some of the high standards that we've all grown to expect. They dominated Randall with sheer force and just talented play. The Coogs made very few mistakes and it really showed how much better they do when they go almost mistake free. The first round is generally the hardest for any team and with the performance today, El Paso De Valle had better get ready to take cover or get caught up in the perfect storm that is the Cougars. The Coogs are 4-0 against teams at Lowry field now, which is the field that pretty much put Dominic on the map so a great tradition is still intact that many did not know about. This is the first 1st round playoff victory for the Coogs since 2003, and with some inspiring news Cougar teams are 8-0 in dealing with El Paso teams in the playoffs.

I also owe a great apology to Ryan Heslep my blogs have not been friendly toward him but it was a master game by him tonight and I offer him congratulations and hell of game. Tommy Bowman had a very nice short and long range game, and Reese also had a very suprising and welcome touchdown that gave the Coogs a spark to start it off. Of course Amon contributed with his almost requisite touchdown and its a great boon that he seems to be recovered from his ankle injury. The defense as usual played outstanding and Ford along with his supporting cast of Spears, Robinson, Hazlett, and Brandon Henderson totally decimated a very good passing team. They broke the Raiders early and welcomed them to Cougar country with some outstanding hits and a nasty blitz that kept the Raider QB skittish the rest of the game. Theres still plenty of time to get on the bandwagon folks and those of you that jumped off are more then welcome back as the Coogs head to the 2nd round of division playoffs in Odessa. Wear your red and blue this week and have a hankie ready for Eagle fans as they have finally had to come back down to reality. Go Coogs!!!!!!!

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November 13, 2008

Cougars vs Raiders 1st Round

Hello once again Cougar fans and its play-off time in Texas and the Coogs have drawn almost their twin in the first round. I've researched a little on Canyon Randall and the first thing I found out this is the one in Amarillo and not the Caynon Randall in Canyon, Texas. Lowry field should have given me the heads up but sometimes i'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer. I was also lucky enough to find a video of them playing Plainview on youtube and I have to agree with Spradliln on this one its really like watching the Cougars. They were a passing team that has developed a very strong run after losing to Frenship then winning the next six games with authority. There official record is 8-2 coming out of district play and have built up great momentum coming into the playoffs. The #26 Cougars 6-4 are going to have their hands full, but with the boon of a healthy Amon Pimpton coming back should fare pretty well.

The Coogs will only fare well though if their offense can keep the Raider defense out on the field if they can manage to eat up the clock and score like we know they can, this one should be in the bag. If however they fumble on special teams and do not hang on to the ball in the recieving corp this could be a very long shoot out type game. The Cougars cannot make mistakes this Saturday if they want to beat the Raiders fumbles can quite literally send us to Basketball way early. The Coogs unfortunately are also known to being weak against onside kicks and gimmick plays and I guarantee you expect to see at least one of each in the game. I would say that Spradlin put the whole hands team out there every time and make the Raiders pay for trying an onside kick that they will most definetly try because of success from other teams. Thats the only real gloom and doom other than that this looks like probably one of the better games of the season, it should be one worth driving to. Good luck and be careful if your planning on driving to the game, and GO Coogs!!!!!

For you stat people if you can find out their state ranking please comment and let me know because I cannot find it, or you can email me at dragonlance41@hotmail.com

Cougar ranking came from Dave Campbell website.

November 6, 2008

One game in district to go

This Friday the #21 Coogs will be head toward #115 Plainview ending district play and hopefully ending it with a win. Plainview in the last poll I saw was ranked around #115 or so, but all the chatter in the forums online say they are a lot better team then what their record suggests. They have lost every game in district but some of them being so close especially against #7 Frenship that they could give the Coogs serious trouble. Plainview is not headed toward the playoffs and they are in a prime position to be a spoiler for the Coogs. They have everything to play for and nothing to lose, so I expect a hard hitting game from their side and a lot of risky play. Would like to give you more stats on Plainview but unfortunately there is not that much chatter about them and they do not have any fan websites that I can find. Some of you people that are complaining if you can find some all purpose stats let me know, if not the only other thing I can do is direct you to gofridaynight individual team pages. On paper the Coogs should win this but the Cougars have done nothing but suprise me on how they can find ways to lose games this season.

The Cougars are going to have to start playing up to their potential and crush this team, and I mean in a big way. The program is losing credibility across the state as a dominant 4A contender, and that is not a good thing headed into division 1 playoff bracket. There are some legitimate monsters waiting and the Coogs still seem like their in some kind of cruise mode. Their passing game right now is below average compared to some of the metroplex teams like #1 Everman, #4 Dallas Carter, and as I said before defensive coordinators are ready for Pimpton and so Heslep and his receiving corp have got to come big in this game and make all those defensive coordinators keep it honest. The Cougars have been able to lean on the defense heavily in all their district wins but those days are bout to run its course, the offense is going to have to stay on the field longer than what they have been on every ball possession. We will start seeing the bigger 4A schools next week and we most definitely do not want our defense tired because of not looking down the field and ball droppage when they do.

I hate for the tone of this blog to be so negative but the Coogs need to deliver this week and build some momentum going into playoffs. For those of you headed to Plainview be careful and get there and back safe. I'm out GO Cougars!!!!!!!!

Polling information I got off Dave Campbells football website, Lone Star Grid Iron has the Coogs ranked #23, If anybody has some constructive information to give or has a really good website that I'm missing be sure to comment back and I'll investigate it.

October 31, 2008

Oh well we never said we would win em all

First and foremost very sorry for not having this up earlier, I did not realize that the Coogs were playing on Thursday this week and so now I'm playing catch up. Was it easy to take this loss no of course it wasn't but these things happen in west Texas, thats what makes the football better than anywhere else in the world. Frenship happened to be able to run the clock out at the end and a touchdown game is just that a touch down game. This is what its going to be like every week were alive in playoffs, the games are going to be tough and the Coogs are going to have to produce without or without Pimpton. We have Plainview next week and the Coogs will need to let this one go and get prepared for winning that game to go in to playoffs with a win. Does it suck to lose to these guys yah it does, but it sucked to lose to alot of teams in the 90's as well when the Cougars were very dominant. Randy Allen said it best when he said that rivalry games need to take a backseat to playoff games and thats how I sum this up. Lot of people are going to be talking about how Spradlin would not play Pimpton and some people are going to their regular fist shaking. Just remember who's going to remember a district game if we win it all in the end.

In closing today this blog is supposed to be easy reading on what I feel the Cougars need to do and so that people can respond and good conversation can be started. It will never be stat heavy, and thats the way I intended it. Any district stats are available on this website for any team in the district. When we hit the playoffs I will start researching different web sites and begin posting a few stats and a little bio on the team were facing.

October 26, 2008

Hmmmmmm

I've been reading forums all day today about the Cougars and how far they may or may not go in district. Most of it is not positive and especially with Frenship still to play I think any talk of district championship is premature. We are an official playoff bound team with the win last night but what seed we go in is almost as equally important. That won't be decided till we play Frenship the only other undefeated in the district. Next weeks game will be the most important the Coogs play and we need all out support of our Coogs this week. Seeing how the Coogs go against a proven 4A monster will give us a good idea of what we might be up against when we do hit the playoffs. I've been listening for months people lamenting dropping down to 4A but believe me folks there are some monsters in those waters. The difference between 4A and 5A as far as talent goes in non-existent and the Cougars are going to have to do better than what they have been to be a contender.
The game last night was a travesty especially from the officiating stand point, of course Steers fans are saying the officiating had nothing to with it. Well with all understanding Big Spring is a good team they have a very fast and athletic team but deep in your hearts you gotta know it would not have been close without the calls that were made. There were at least five calls that were real questionable especially unsportsman conduct call on a kid no more than getting the ball to a ref to spot quickly. Argue the point all you want steer fans, your team was good but even with the a couple of the refs sympathetic to your cause you still lost. When the refs stopped throwing flags about the last 4 min of the game the Coogs showed you up. Nuff said on that
If anybody has heard anything but Amon let me know cause right now I'm very worried about our main scoring machine and Coog fans should be very nervous as well. Amon is not gonna have a break through game every time but so much is based around him now that defenses plan for just him. Amon helps out every facet of the game from the passing to even how they kick off to us. Admittedly Padrill and company stepped up and a very nice congratulations to them as well, but Amon is commandeering statewide respect among 4A schools. I would like to see him in the Frenship game so hopefully he will get better soon, and it was nothing more than a sprain. Can't say much more about the Big Spring game it was a nice defensive effort and Heslep has now had to come from underneath. I'm not one to gang up on a kid but the passing needs to get better and better in a hurry and thats all I'll say about it.

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