Someone asked on another thread "What has happened to Male?" I thought I would post just some thoughts on this question on a new thread:

 

Some could easily argue that Male is just having a down year as many teams go through, but I think that is really taking the easy way out. Having followed Male since Redman's arrival (and coached for and against them during that time), I have witnessed a significant rise and fall of this program.

First, I think it goes without saying that Male hasnt learned how to deal with fact that they are unable to get the number of "quality" athletes they are used to in the past. With the restrictions that were placed on getting into the traditional program (cant get in unless you come through a feeder traditional middle school), gone are the days where players can just show up and enroll in Male. Consequently, the numbers have gone down and Male hasnt been able to adjust accordingly. Sure, they still get numbers, but not the quality they have been used to for so long.

Second, there is not a regular off-season workout program for these kids. It is no secret that Redman is not a big fan of weight-lifting when that time can be used to work on learning offensive schemes and such. Other teams are getting stronger.

THird, Speed no longer kills. Speed is great, but talent still wins. Even at that, we have seen many teams match up against Male's speed, meaning overall, Male's team speed isnt what it used to be.

Fourth, the lack of promising QBs no longer allows Male to dominate the way they used to. QBs are not as talented as the Redman, Bush's and Ahrens. Arm strength, intelligence and accuracy are not there anymore.

Fifth, Defense is not as intimidating as it once was. People know how to beat this defense, with so many other schools able to throw the ball now. One of the disadvantages to leaving your CBs all alone is when there is no real pressure on the QB, they are able to throw more accurate passes downfield (see speed match-up and talent). Teams with decent QBs are having more success these days. A defense that was once feared is now looked upon as more of a "We dare you to run it against" approach.

 

There are many other reasons one could point to, but lets face it, the once "Big 3" of Jefferson County has been reduced to 2 (T & X). With the parity now visible with so many other schools (central, ballard, manual, etc), the days of Male's dominance are gone. I personally believe in order for Male to be successful again in terms of "dominating", they are going to have to return to the basics of football, practice fundamentals, and stopy relying on talent (or lack thereof). Justin Green could not carry this team alone. In the past, Male had multiple players on their team that could pick up the slack. Today, that is no longer the case. Just as the Miami's and Florida States had a strong run of dominating teams and then faltered, so to has Male. Only time will tell if the Bulldogs will ever be able to return to a program that is worthy of once again being able to be referenced as a member of the Big 3.

Wasn't it just two years ago that Bueamont and Company had Trinity beat late in the 4th quarter by two scores, let the Rocks come back, but still had a chance to win the game with a couple chances inside the 5 yard line? Male would have easily beaten Ryle for the title. The week before Male blew out the Vic Anderson led St.X Tigers.

Male is obviously down this year and I don't disagree with the reasons you outline. Keep in mind that X and T have both been really good the past two years which makes it look like Male is really down. Time will tell whether the last two years signal a trend ending Male's reservation in the "Big 3" party. That being said, with a healthy Justin Green Male can still probably beat 98% of the teams in 6A.

Someone asked on another thread "What has happened to Male?" I thought I would post just some thoughts on this question on a new thread:

 

Some could easily argue that Male is just having a down year as many teams go through, but I think that is really taking the easy way out. Having followed Male since Redman's arrival (and coached for and against them during that time), I have witnessed a significant rise and fall of this program.

First, I think it goes without saying that Male hasnt learned how to deal with fact that they are unable to get the number of "quality" athletes they are used to in the past. With the restrictions that were placed on getting into the traditional program (cant get in unless you come through a feeder traditional middle school), gone are the days where players can just show up and enroll in Male. Consequently, the numbers have gone down and Male hasnt been able to adjust accordingly. Sure, they still get numbers, but not the quality they have been used to for so long.

Second, there is not a regular off-season workout program for these kids. It is no secret that Redman is not a big fan of weight-lifting when that time can be used to work on learning offensive schemes and such. Other teams are getting stronger.

THird, Speed no longer kills. Speed is great, but talent still wins. Even at that, we have seen many teams match up against Male's speed, meaning overall, Male's team speed isnt what it used to be.

Fourth, the lack of promising QBs no longer allows Male to dominate the way they used to. QBs are not as talented as the Redman, Bush's and Ahrens. Arm strength, intelligence and accuracy are not there anymore.

Fifth, Defense is not as intimidating as it once was. People know how to beat this defense, with so many other schools able to throw the ball now. One of the disadvantages to leaving your CBs all alone is when there is no real pressure on the QB, they are able to throw more accurate passes downfield (see speed match-up and talent). Teams with decent QBs are having more success these days. A defense that was once feared is now looked upon as more of a "We dare you to run it against" approach.

 

There are many other reasons one could point to, but lets face it, the once "Big 3" of Jefferson County has been reduced to 2 (T & X). With the parity now visible with so many other schools (central, ballard, manual, etc), the days of Male's dominance are gone. I personally believe in order for Male to be successful again in terms of "dominating", they are going to have to return to the basics of football, practice fundamentals, and stopy relying on talent (or lack thereof). Justin Green could not carry this team alone. In the past, Male had multiple players on their team that could pick up the slack. Today, that is no longer the case. Just as the Miami's and Florida States had a strong run of dominating teams and then faltered, so to has Male. Only time will tell if the Bulldogs will ever be able to return to a program that is worthy of once again being able to be referenced as a member of the Big 3.

 

This is a solid post. I still gotta wait a few more years before I call the coroner in.

Wasn't it just two years ago that Bueamont and Company had Trinity beat late in the 4th quarter by two scores, let the Rocks come back, but still had a chance to win the game with a couple chances inside the 5 yard line? Male would have easily beaten Ryle for the title. The week before Male blew out the Vic Anderson led St.X Tigers.

Male is obviously down this year and I don't disagree with the reasons you outline. Keep in mind that X and T have both been really good the past two years which makes it look like Male is really down. Time will tell whether the last two years signal a trend ending Male's reservation in the "Big 3" party. That being said, with a healthy Justin Green Male can still probably beat 98% of the teams in 6A.

 

Exactly. If Trinity doesn't exist, Male wins 4 of the past 8 titles: 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2006.

 

Just because you can't beat one school in the playoffs, does not mean your program is in shambles.

Wasn't it just two years ago that Bueamont and Company had Trinity beat late in the 4th quarter by two scores, let the Rocks come back, but still had a chance to win the game with a couple chances inside the 5 yard line? Male would have easily beaten Ryle for the title. The week before Male blew out the Vic Anderson led St.X Tigers.

Male is obviously down this year and I don't disagree with the reasons you outline. Keep in mind that X and T have both been really good the past two years which makes it look like Male is really down. Time will tell whether the last two years signal a trend ending Male's reservation in the "Big 3" party. That being said, with a healthy Justin Green Male can still probably beat 98% of the teams in 6A.

Male might have easily beat Ryle for the title, if and only if, they made it past Henry Clay on the road first. Maybe......maybe not.

Male might have easily beat Ryle for the title, if and only if, they made it past Henry Clay on the road first. Maybe......maybe not.

 

 

That Henry Clay team was good, but I watched both games and they were not as good as that Male squad. Male would have probably won by about 3 TDs.

That Henry Clay team was good, but I watched both games and they were not as good as that Male squad. Male would have probably won by about 3 TDs.

I disagree, but we will never know!

If Bobby would focus on some more conditioning I think that would help them more than he thinks.

Last season (2007) Male had 80+ freshmen players, but the game I saw I'd say no more than 15 saw the field. They finished 3-5. That alone doesn't bode well for the future Bulldog teams.