This coaching staff will do all of these, I believe.

 

And today was a beautiful day to start practice.

 

 

Yes it was! And I share your optimism.

 

I think this team will be ok. However, due to ths small number of seniors (to be) on this team a lot of juniors (to be) will have to step up. This team will be young and I think they may take some licks early in the season - but given a little experience, they will do fine. There is a lot of size on the line in the junior (to be) class - I understand that a couple of 280 pounders (Pennington and Salisbury) were missing yesterday (among others). I think we will all learn some new names this season.

 

Willing to wait and see, Graybeard

Yes it was! And I share your optimism.

 

I think this team will be ok. However, due to ths small number of seniors (to be) on this team a lot of juniors (to be) will have to step up. This team will be young and I think they may take some licks early in the season - but given a little experience, they will do fine. There is a lot of size on the line in the junior (to be) class - I understand that a couple of 280 pounders (Pennington and Salisbury) were missing yesterday (among others). I think we will all learn some new names this season.

 

Willing to wait and see, Graybeard

 

Thats a lot of missing meat Graybeard!!

 

Ready for the re-load,

Yoter

Thats a lot of missing meat Graybeard!!

 

Ready for the re-load,

Yoter

 

 

Well, the T-cats will certainly miss you Yoter00. You leave some BIG shoes to fill. Good luck at KCU! :thumb:

 

Hopefully the young Tomcats can step up next fall.

Well, the T-cats will certainly miss you Yoter00. You leave some BIG shoes to fill. Good luck at KCU! :thumb:

 

Hopefully the young Tomcats can step up next fall.

 

I was just merely passing through my good friend. Those Young guys will be more than fine. Theres no doubt in my mind that they will all step up and hold their ground. I have to say that it is rather sad seeing them out there and knowing I wont be in Maroon this year. But Im looking forward to my new chapter.

 

Next Stop Grayson,

Yoter

Spring practice has been fun to watch this week. The numbers appear to be strong. We’re missing approximately 15 players due to their involvement in spring sports, etc. – so, we haven’t seen everybody yet. It appears that the Tomcats should have 70 odd players next fall without counting incoming freshmen.

 

This group is young and green – but, there are some surprising bright spots. They are hard hitters, they seem to enjoy contact and there is some surprising young talent coming up in the backfield. Some of the young running backs have been exciting to watch so far. They hit the hole well (without hesitation and with almost reckless abandon), then read the field well and show good speed and moves. There are enough of them that they seem to be competing with each other. Competition is a healthy thing.

 

It's early and there is still a lot of work to be done. But, I think Tomcat fans will enjoy learning some new names this year.

All this talk about how Ashland is going to be down a bit this year disgusts me. If anyone saw their JV play last year, they would know that they have some good talent coming up. Just because kids are 1st year starters doesn't mean they are going to be bad. The kids that will be playing this coming fall have been waiting behind some very good players that are graduating. They have a handful of "very" good and "quick" runningbacks that will be joining Thomas in the backfield. They have decent size on the line, not as big as last year, but they move a little better. Their QB has a year of varsity under his belt and will be more settled at that position this year. They have several nice receivers returning. The only question spot I believe on the whole team is at Linebacker. Replacing their Inside Lb's will be a big key for this team. However, I believe they have kids that are more than capable of stepping into those shoes. Numbers are good and the foundation has been set at the Freshmen and middle school levels. I think their freshmen program is about as sound as it has ever been which will lead to more kids and better prepared kids in the 10th-12th grades. Don't cut this team short just because several kids will be making their first varsity start this year. Talent is talent, regardless of age and experience and the Tomcats have plenty of it.

3high: I agree with you and share your optimism. I also understand why many people worry about all the graduations. Most folks have not watched the JV play or watched spring practice and so don’t know what is waiting in line for their chance. Ashland has been playing football for a lot of years and has seen a lot of good players pass through the Tomcat ranks. Good seniors graduate every year. While we will miss them very much – somebody usually steps up to take their place. This makes high school football fun.

 

Most years Ashland is able to reload. I agree that we’re not out of ammo yet.

Sounds good to me Graybeard(HIT IT UP IN THERE)makes a lineman's job easier.Im looking forward to seeing practice.

Ahhhh yes, the talk of football in the air.

 

3high,

the talk of Ashland being down this year is a concern. Anytime you lose 18 starters this talk will go on. But as I have said several times since joining BGP, as much as we hate....and....fear to see our seniors leave, someone else will step in and help carry on the storied Tomcat tradition causing us to forget our losses and cheer on those on the field like no others before and I believe this will happen this time as well. I believe that this is the fabric from which the Ashland football program is made from.

Ashland will be back and will be competitive this year. Some quality kids coming up thru the program will step it up.

Saw Ashland in the passing league yesterday in Grayson and they seemed to struggle at QB and with their routes. Granted you cant tell anything from these leagues but is this a point of concern for Ashland this year?

^I'd say so... its pretty much a whole new passing attack as well. Ashland lost their 3 leading recievers(McDavid, K.Burns,Bonner) and their QB so id say it will take some time for things to gel.

3high: I agree with you and share your optimism. I also understand why many people worry about all the graduations. Most folks have not watched the JV play or watched spring practice and so don’t know what is waiting in line for their chance. Ashland has been playing football for a lot of years and has seen a lot of good players pass through the Tomcat ranks. Good seniors graduate every year. While we will miss them very much – somebody usually steps up to take their place. This makes high school football fun.

 

Most years Ashland is able to reload. I agree that we’re not out of ammo yet.

 

ashland will be fine may get a boost, talk to our oh buddy painter he can feel you in!:thumb:

Where are the players(Seniors) playing college ball from the 2006 team?

What exactly happened with the Mahan kid?