3 hours ago, futurecoach said:

Ha definitely not. However, I definitely can acknowledge the current staff has done a good job building it back. As a program I think they are in very good shape. 

You guys make it sound like they were 2-8 and had 30 kids on the roster the year before the new staff got there. Not the case.

1 hour ago, 9068 said:

You guys make it sound like they were 2-8 and had 30 kids on the roster the year before the new staff got there. Not the case.

So you do not feel like the Highlands program is a better spot now than it was before the current staff got there?

5 minutes ago, futurecoach said:

So you do not feel like the Highlands program is a better spot now than it was before the current staff got there?

They have improved but so has their talent. They have better size, but in watching them their OL seems not as quick as previous years. I have no problem with the coaching staff ( actually could care less) but I think that the current HC has a situation that is much more conducive to success than the previous coach. Highlands is Highlands. I've really been shocked by the lack of comment about that 54 point second half the other night. I'm still trying to figure out the Birds TD in the third quarter when I saw the ball laying in the back of the end zone lol. The move to 4A will provide them with either good games or running clock wins ....no in between.

1 hour ago, 9068 said:

They have improved but so has their talent. They have better size, but in watching them their OL seems not as quick as previous years. I have no problem with the coaching staff ( actually could care less) but I think that the current HC has a situation that is much more conducive to success than the previous coach. Highlands is Highlands. I've really been shocked by the lack of comment about that 54 point second half the other night. I'm still trying to figure out the Birds TD in the third quarter when I saw the ball laying in the back of the end zone lol. The move to 4A will provide them with either good games or running clock wins ....no in between.

Completely agree there, definitely more talent now than they were having for awhile there, and seems to stacking more good classes on top of each other like they use to do. Having more talent definitely makes it easier to have success, and they seem to have plenty of it coming back next year. 
 

As for that touchdown, I still have no idea how they called that a touchdown either lol. 

24 minutes ago, futurecoach said:

Completely agree there, definitely more talent now than they were having for awhile there, and seems to stacking more good classes on top of each other like they use to do. Having more talent definitely makes it easier to have success, and they seem to have plenty of it coming back next year. 
 

As for that touchdown, I still have no idea how they called that a touchdown either lol. 

Since Sphire became HC they are 5-6, 9-2, 12-2 and 11-3. I don’t really follow them but with those records and with folks saying the program is definitely showing a more talented roster, the HC and his staff must be doing things pretty well. No?

On 12/1/2024 at 9:34 AM, AvidSportsJunkie856 said:

Very true! He also has way more talent on his team than Highlands does, respectfully. 

Granted there is more overall talent at Moeller, but the step up in competition cancels that out when doing this comparison.  I doubt we will ever see a Bathiany coached team get blown out, running clocked and give up 54 points in just one half.

Looking at the title of this thread......which Coach Sphire are we talking about?  Just kidding, I know it's Sr.  Just wondering how we are feeling about Jr.?

2 hours ago, BEChargers said:

Looking at the title of this thread......which Coach Sphire are we talking about?  Just kidding, I know it's Sr.  Just wondering how we are feeling about Jr.?

The answer, yes. 

This is crazy talk.  This guy has turned the Highlands program around.  Just a few years ago they were 5-6 and now they are playing for a spot in the finals.  And if you follow the program you know that the best classes are their classes coming the next several years.  I will go out on a limb and say Highlands will be the favorite in 5A next season.  Come on man!

6 minutes ago, Bengal Boy said:

This is crazy talk.  This guy has turned the Highlands program around.  Just a few years ago they were 5-6 and now they are playing for a spot in the finals.  And if you follow the program you know that the best classes are their classes coming the next several years.  I will go out on a limb and say Highlands will be the favorite in 5A next season.  Come on man!

They're moving to 4A next year.

Well then that makes it even easier since Boyle will probably take a step back. Cov Cath will probably be their top competition in 4A.  And another thing, if you armchair QBs think for a minute that Coach Bathiany is leaving Moeller to come to Highlands then you are completely crazy.  Don’t get me wrong Highlands is a great program and a great job but Moeller is probably one of the best high school jobs in the entire country.  And he’s probably going to wake up Saturday morning as the coach of the Ohio D1 state champions.  Why would he leave Moeller?

31 minutes ago, Bengal Boy said:

Well then that makes it even easier since Boyle will probably take a step back. Cov Cath will probably be their top competition in 4A.  And another thing, if you armchair QBs think for a minute that Coach Bathiany is leaving Moeller to come to Highlands then you are completely crazy.  Don’t get me wrong Highlands is a great program and a great job but Moeller is probably one of the best high school jobs in the entire country.  And he’s probably going to wake up Saturday morning as the coach of the Ohio D1 state champions.  Why would he leave Moeller?

I think the implication is that Highlands had their shot at Bathiany and didn't want him. Now he is about to play in the D1 State Championship game and some of the faithful and playing the "what if" game.

1 hour ago, Bengal Boy said:

Well then that makes it even easier since Boyle will probably take a step back. Cov Cath will probably be their top competition in 4A.  And another thing, if you armchair QBs think for a minute that Coach Bathiany is leaving Moeller to come to Highlands then you are completely crazy.  Don’t get me wrong Highlands is a great program and a great job but Moeller is probably one of the best high school jobs in the entire country.  And he’s probably going to wake up Saturday morning as the coach of the Ohio D1 state champions.  Why would he leave Moeller?

Nobody said he was gonna leave Moeller for Highlands. From what I gather, he interviewed for the HC job at Highlands prior to getting the Moeller job and Highlands said no because he had no head coaching experience.  

1 hour ago, Bengal Boy said:

Well then that makes it even easier since Boyle will probably take a step back. Cov Cath will probably be their top competition in 4A.  And another thing, if you armchair QBs think for a minute that Coach Bathiany is leaving Moeller to come to Highlands then you are completely crazy.  Don’t get me wrong Highlands is a great program and a great job but Moeller is probably one of the best high school jobs in the entire country.  And he’s probably going to wake up Saturday morning as the coach of the Ohio D1 state champions.  Why would he leave Moeller?

I don't necessarily think that he will leave there for Highlands, but coaches don't stay there terribly long recently. I wouldn't be shocked to see him win a couple of titles and go elsewhere in a handful of years or less. It's a taxing job. 

Do those commenting realize that this thread was started prior to the 2023 football season?