Go Friday Night

Record keeping

It is the early morning hours of February 16th, 2008. I can’t sleep so here I am doing what I do worst, blogging. I have traveled quite a lot in 2008 with my job. Is that why I can’t sleep? Maybe. Most likely it was the two bowls of homemade chili I ate a few hours earlier.

My recent travels have led me to a couple of places that have me reflecting about the past. Over the course of a couple of weeks I was able to stop in Fort Hancock and Marathon. Both communities have rich histories in Six-Man football. If you are reading this, most likely you are aware that these two schools achieved long winning streaks and multiple championships. Stating the obvious, both schools had great players and coaches during their “glory” years. I can’t help but wonder but if one of those schools might have fielded the “best team ever” or perhaps the “best player ever”? Wonder as I might, those are questions that can’t be answered. Sure, they are fun to kick around. At best, one can compare records. Actually, you can only compare records when records are kept.

Anyone care to guess where I might be going with this? Did you say record keeping? Man! You guys and gals are sharp. Sharpest people ever?

There is an old saying. Records are made to be broken. I wonder how many records have been broken that we don’t know about? What am I talking about? I believe there are likely records that have been broken but because the one who broke the record did not have someone thoughtful enough to record their achievement, we don’t know it even happened.

Who keeps the stats at your school? How accurate are those stats? What makes it an official record? First and foremost, records must be recorded. The more accurate they are the better. In case you can’t tell, I am for record keeping. What difference does it make if records are kept or not? The biggest thing it does is your player will have something to play for. A goal to shoot at if you will.

With all that said, even if the stats kept are 100 percent accurate, the question will always come up as to who was or is the best ever. Record keeping will not settle that kind of question. But still, coaches owe it to their players to record the stats.

I am going back to bed now.

Don Hardin
txsixii@yahoo.com

• February 16, 2008 5:53 AM

Another timely observation

The Rule Bobcats have overtaken the undefeated and defending Division 1 State Champion Richland Springs Coyotes as the Number 1 team in the state.

That must be nice if you are a Bobcat fan. I remind Rule and the rest of the wannabees that it is just a paper poll. What will count is when someone takes RS out in the playoffs on the field.

Any volunteers?

It won't be as easy as Rule moving ahead in the poll on paper. You have to overtake Richland Springs on the field if you want to dethrone the Champions.

• October 28, 2007 8:39 PM

Timely observations

Three Division 1 teams are member of a special club right now. There will be more shortly. I speak of teams that have scored 500 points thus far.

Ira has 514 points in 8 games.
Richland Springs has 508 in seven games.
Rankin has 508 in 8 games.

Some, like me, are more impressed with the other side of the equation. I speak of points allowed.

Milford, Division 2, has given up 51 points in 7 games.
McLean, Division 2, has given up 72 points in 6 games.

Among Division 1 schools:
Richland Springs has given up 62 points in 7 games.
Grady has given up 72 points in 7 games.
Rule has given up 83 points in 8 games.
Calvert has given up 98 points in 7 games.

A quick note. Looking at scoring machines and defensive juggernauts, Richland Springs appears on both list.

MAYBE that is why they are ranked number 1? I am sure that is at least part of the reason.

• October 25, 2007 11:47 PM

Stock Market / Football

The stock market has its “shares” of ups and downs. HA HA. The pros who watch Wall Street will tell you that every once and awhile a correction is needed.

Football is kindofsorta like following the old stock ticker. Some stocks do well over a long period of time and other's success are short lived. Are you with me? Stocks, football teams?

Did a correction take place at Ira Friday night? Was it just a hiccup? Throckmorton, after diving like a rock last week, rebounded strong against Aspermont.

Richland Springs and Rule remained steady as ever.

Who is on your your buy/sell list for this week?

• October 21, 2007 8:58 PM

REVIVAL

Blogs. Short and sweet. That is what one needs to keep in mind if they want a good blog. Mine are not worth a flip because I usually try to write a novel.

Repentance is at hand. I am going to change my ways and write more by writing less. Just more often.

Speaking of good blogs, I really do enjoy reading Goob's Trotline. You might want to try it for yourself, http://goobstrotline.blogspot.com

One other site you might consider is www.takkle.com . A friend, J, who reads my sites directed me there and I enjoyed it.

• October 20, 2007 4:22 AM

Tyler Ethridge of Richland Springs

This information was passed on to me but I take it as the gospel truth.

Chris Leak and Graham Harrell have a lot in common. Both enjoyed
record setting high school careers. Leak set the all-time touchdown
passing record for a career with 185. Graham set the mark in Texas
during his 41-3 record as a starter with 167. Both went on to star
at Division I colleges with Leak capping off a stellar career by
winning the national championship last year. The two also share
another thing in common. They will both be surpassed in career
touchdown passes by Texas six-man star, Richland Springs QB Tyler
Ethridge.

Ethridge has led Richland Springs to a 44-1 record in the last 3 plus
years with two state championships (2004, 2006) with the only loss in
a 2005 semi-final to the eventual state champion. During that time
he has amassed astonishing statistics most of which were accomplished
in games that lasted only two ten-minute quarters. Because six-man
has a mercy rule which leads to game stoppage after a team is forty-
five points ahead at half-time or at any time in the second half
Ethridge has had to do his record setting in record time.

Two games into his senior year Ethridge has 184 career touchdown
passes and is poised to pass Leak's national prep record of 185 this
Saturday night at 6:00pm against Vernon Northside at Shotwell Stadium
in Abilene, Texas. In 2006 the UIL divided six-man into two
divisions. Northside won the Division II title last year leading to
this year's matchup of last year's two six-man state champions.

While Ethridge's passing statistics have garnered the most attention,
it is his overall football abilities that set him apart. He is no
pampered QB. He plays both sides of the ball and rarely leaves the
field. His running style compares with Barry Sanders, he blocks like
a lead back, he tackles like an NFL safety and his instincts are
arguably the best ever seen.

CAREER STATS

Offense
Passing

2004 112/168 2275yds 53TDs
2005 151/239 2877yds 68TDs
2006 143/213 3038yds 54TDs
2007 17/23 466yds 9TDs
To date 423/623 8656yds 184TDs

Rushing

2004 177att 1053yds 19TDs
2005 130att 1394yds 29TDs
2006 109att 1063yds 26TDs
2007 13att 171yds 1TD
To date 429att 3681yds 75TDs

Defense
Tackles
2004 110
2005 89
2006 59
2007 9
To date 297

Interceptions
2004 3
2005 11
2006 5
2007 1
To date 20

I said it before and I will say it again, DON'T MISS THIS opportunity to see Tyler Ethridge in action. It will be a lont time before we see someone like this again. It may never happen.

• September 18, 2007 5:30 PM

A Historic Day in Abilene?

Saturday September 22nd at 6:00 PM in Abilene's Shotwell stadium, history will be made. If you are any kind of a fan of football you will want to be there.

What you have are two teams that both won State Championships last season. These two teams, Richland Springs and Vernon Northside are also ranked # 1 in the state in their respective divisions this season.

ALL you Division I schools in the state should want to see Richland Springs and ALL you Division II teams in the state should want to see Vernon Northside. Can the Indians of Northside defeat the Coyotes of Richland Springs?

Division I vs Division II State Champions on the same field just like like year except this time they are going at each other. I believe those are good enough reasons to make the trip.

Neither teams fans have much good to say about yours truly. You see, in a previous bit I wrote the following:

"The upcoming season appears to be a two horse race in Division 1. I am not sure
how Division 2 will play out. Even so, it was a nice thing to see this thread spring up.
I must admit that of the games mentioned, Rule going against the Colorado outfit
peaked my interest the most.

I am not sure what I hope for the most. I have nothing against Richland
Springs or Vernon Northside but I hope neither repeat as State Champions.
New blood is needed. Pass it around. The Championship that is.

On the other hand it is great to see a dynasty. Richland Springs is very close to that
at this time if not already there. Northside needs a couple of more titles to get there.

There are teams that put a great product on the field year in and year out without
winning the Championship. I am kind of hoping someone will get to the next level
they maybe has not had lots of luck recently. A dark horse so to speak. As I type
this I can feel a little bit of excitement building within me as I look forward to the new
season."

I really have not heard from the Nortside fans but I have heard from a few of the Richland Springs people. People I consider friends. Good friends. That little blip about hoping neither repeated has strained some relations some what.

Back to the upcoming game. How many of you have seen Richland Springs' Tyler Ethridge play? I suspect that most of the people that are reading this have. IF YOU HAVE NOT, please make this a must see game. Missing seeing this young man play when you had the chance would be the same thing as miss seeing the Beatles in concert or miss watching Willie Mays play baseball in his prime, miss seeing Michael Jordan play. I am serious!

Ethridge is a Senior this year. He has already broken all the Texas High School passing touchdown records as a Junior with 175 TD passes. He is now up to 184 TD passes. Tyler Ethridge is 1 touchdown away from tying the overall National high school TD passing record of 185 by Chris Leek. Chances are Ethridge will break this record on Saturday. Tyler's record to date is 45-1, with two state championships and working hard toward a third championship as a Senior.

DO NOT PASS UP A CHANCE TO SEE HISTORY MADE!!!!!!!!!!!

Don Hardin
Abilene

• September 17, 2007 7:22 PM