« June 2008 | Main | August 2008 »
Call me crazy
July 28, 2008Been awhile since I blogged, but I am just now getting back into the high school football swing of things after a few days off and some non-pigskin work here in the office.
Talked to two more coaches the past couple of days -- Windthorst's Bill Green and Olney's Damon Rodgers -- for my preseason stories.
A couple tidbits I got from them:
WINDTHORST: I'm sure there is a cute way to make a headline for this, but I will refrain from right now. But Green said this team may be his most inexperienced (or greenest) yet.
Offensively, several guys return that started a few games here or there, but actual full-time starters from last year (by my count) are only a couple: lineman Jose Monreal, TE (now FB) Lance Veitenheimer.
I could be missing a WR in there (cannot recall who they threw the ball too, but they did not throw it much anyway). So getting the offense back on track after a down year (by Windthorst's lofty standards) will be the key in 2008.
OLNEY: Call me crazy, and as I write this, I have not talked to any other 5-2A coaches yet, but could Olney be the District 5-2A favorite?
I know Henrietta, Holliday, Bowie and Nocona fans probably would say otherwise, but here are a couple of reasons why I think it could happen:
1. Callen Pittman is the most talented QB in that district. No offense to Seth Crumpton (who is a great runner), but this guy can flat-out play. So even though RB Cody Cope graduated, Pittman will probably pick up the slack.
2. They were 8-2 a year ago (with Henrietta and Nocona handing down a couple of whippings) and return seven starters on each side of the ball. Jodee Wales is a great WR/DB.
3. The defense was pretty good -- and returns a couple of quality linebackers. Stephen Speers and Riley Ferguson were the team's top two leading tacklers in '07 as first-year starters, and I am going to assume they are only going to get better.
4. They beat Holliday, so I will probably pick them over the Eagles in my predictions.
Nocona lost its best player (best two if you count Nico Dollar, who quit before the last game of the season).
Henrietta will be in the mix, but I think the Cubs' skill players are better (They probably were last year too, but the Bearcats whipped the Cubs up front).
And Bowie is a relative unknown. They will be good -- who knows, maybe even good enough to win district -- but just how good? I guess we will see.
So those are my football thoughts for the day. On Friday, I will comment on the district and playoff predictions that are going to be released from texasfootballratings.com.
Posted by at 11:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Archer City could be my No. 2
July 14, 2008I have started making calls to a few coaches so I can start working on my football previews for the special section we produce right before the season starts.
Talked to Archer City coach Steve Smith, and one of the things I failed to realize was that the Wildcats have their entire offensive line returning.
That offensive line was a big reason the offense averaged 240 rushing yards and 131 passing yards last year.
So with a dang good quarterback in Patrick Dayton and a big-play threat in Sam Smith, I think the Wildcats enter the season as the District 9-A favorites.
Then co-worker Andy Newberry and I began talking about the preseason Top 10 that I will print closer to when the season begins.
Rider, with its three Div. I stud playmakers, is an obvious choice for No. 1. But who takes No. 2?
WFHS is Top 10 worthy, but not that high. Vernon and Burkburnett are definitely playoff teams, but I am not quite sure they have deep playoff runs in them right now, especially with some killer second-round matchups looming in November.
District 5-2A is too muddled up for my tastes to put anyone that high. And in the 6-man ranks, Throckmorton and Northside will be good, but the Indians are playing Division I now. Plus, both have new head coaches.
So while I have not made up my mind yet (and I am sure talking to other area coaches will help me with preseason thoughts and my decision), I think right now Archer City is leading the race for second.
We will see how the rest of the summer and the preseason goes, though.
Posted by at 5:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Does tennis get better than this?
July 7, 2008Probably not. If you got up early this morning, skipped church and sat through (or in my case, slept through) a couple of rain delays, you were definitely rewarded for your determination.
Rafael Nadal outlasted Roger Federer in a classic five-set marathon that took 4 hours and 48 minutes.
It had plenty of terrific rallies and some great shot-making to boot. And these guys didn't even look that tired as the fifth set drew to a close.
I am freaking winded after playing anything more than a set. But I digress.
I am not sure Nadal's 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (8), 9-7 victory rates as the best Wimbledon men's match ever, but it has got to be up there.
Federer was stoic in the two tiebreakers, even holding on after a couple of Nadal's championship points. And this one looked like it might have had to be finished on Monday as the night sky crept in.
Nadal's improvement on grass should not be understated, either. Now can he keep it going on the hardcourt at the U.S. Open in a month?
2008 has been a great year for epic sporting events, too.
First one of the greatest Super Bowls ever. Then Kansas had a really dramatic victory in the NCAA basketball championships (in OT no less).
I gues there was nothing too great about the Red Wings and Celtics' titles (although hockey was very entertaining).
But then just like that, Tiger gave us a U.S. Open playoff victory for the ages. And now this.
Makes you wonder what the second half of the MLB season has in store for us. Maybe a Rangers pennant (I promise you I am sober as I write those words). Now that would be something.
Posted by at 12:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
