In your opinion, for a certain class, does success at the lower high school levels parallel that on the varsity level?

I would say no. Some kids who are held back one even two years in some cases have a edge at the frosh level. When you are 16 going up against kids 2 and 3 years younger sometimes that kid might look a little better...to be kind..than he really is.

I don't think so.

Are you asking if it is equivalent to varsity success or does success at the varsity level usually follow success at the other two levels?

Maybe to teach kids how to win, but on a whole I don't think so. On the A and AA levels you are forced at times to play older kids who can not and will not contribute on the varsity level.

When Highlands Senior class of 1990 (football state champs in 1989) they were winless and considered awful. Obviously they won state as seniors and it was the senior class who were key at virtually very spot. Gallichio, Hoffman, Miller, Roller, Strange, Razor, etc. I am sure I am forgetting others.

 

BTW, I am a huge critic of Tom Duffy and his methods, but this state championship was totally Duffy's molding these kids. It was the most fun I ever witnessed watching special teams.

No. Too many intervening variables, to wit, How much emphasis is placed on winning games at the two lower levels versus developing players; how hard kids will work during their later years in school; how they will accept coaching and not being a star; how much a kid will physically mature and grow: the quality of the coaching at the lower levels versus the varsity, etc.

NO !!

When Highlands Senior class of 1990 (football state champs in 1989) they were winless and considered awful. Obviously they won state as seniors and it was the senior class who were key at virtually very spot. Gallichio, Hoffman, Miller, Roller, Strange, Razor, etc. I am sure I am forgetting others.

 

BTW, I am a huge critic of Tom Duffy and his methods, but this state championship was totally Duffy's molding these kids. It was the most fun I ever witnessed watching special teams.

not to be picky, but Strange and Gallichio were juniors on that team, and the "Gooch" is what made that team click. He and Hoffman were the only All-State caliber players on that team. That was a very rare case of very average talent becoming a tremendous team.:ylsuper:

I'd say it depends on if your having kids play up or not, if you aren't and your team is excelling it can be a sign of good things to come.

I think a ton of factors go into the equation but in my case it didn't. 4-2 as frosh, 4-3 as sophs, 2-9 as Jr's, 2-8 as Srs.

not to be picky, but Strange and Gallichio were juniors on that team, and the "Gooch" is what made that team click. He and Hoffman were the only All-State caliber players on that team. That was a very rare case of very average talent becoming a tremendous team.:ylsuper:

 

Sorry about that. It has been awhile. I was thinking they were all in the same class.

IMO average talent all-around the team is the best way to win. That way you know your kids worked hard all year long to get what they deserve. Teams with 1 or 2 "star" players usually fade into the distance. But when the whole team contributes, WATCH OUT.

When Highlands Senior class of 1990 (football state champs in 1989) they were winless and considered awful. Obviously they won state as seniors and it was the senior class who were key at virtually very spot. Gallichio, Hoffman, Miller, Roller, Strange, Razor, etc. I am sure I am forgetting others.

 

BTW, I am a huge critic of Tom Duffy and his methods, but this state championship was totally Duffy's molding these kids. It was the most fun I ever witnessed watching special teams.

 

One of the reasons we finished 2-9, we actually played them tight for one half.:thumb:

I would say that success as Frosh does not always translate into success as seniors but I would feel a lot more comfortable as a fan if I knew the varsity kids had a tradition of winning and knew how to win in big games. On the other hand, I would say that if you have a traditionally poor Frosh program, that does not bode well for your teams at the JV and Varsity levels. Starting off with a losing program can get contagious.

 

That said, Highlands Freshman teams have won 36 games in a row and from what I hear about the incoming Baby Birds, it will be 46 in a row at the end of 2007.