So ability has nothing to do with it? Why else wouldn't you play on a state championship team? It's a natural assumption when asked this question that someone is better than you, which is why you're not playing.

 

Transfer? Who said anything about that? Graduating and playing with teammates and friends? Addendums are necessary with such a vague question.

 

So transferring to get a ring would be selfish but stating that it's all about your playing time is not?

 

The difference, you say you gave up a chance to PLAY on a championship team and did not. As you've told me, the question is if you did NOT play.

 

I guess I am selfish then because I would rather play then watch. You apparently have all the insight into the human psyche and what motivates someone to feel a certain way, and if they want to play they MUST have a selfish motive, not simply because they love to play the game.

 

I agree with you 110% on DoubleDeuce's comment about those who don't play getting a ring on the coat tails of others. That is wrong and we are on the same page there. I have great admiration for those who stick it out and help make their teammates better with little or no chance to see the game field. They absolutely deserve that ring!

 

But if in your opinion, wanting to play the game as opposed to watch is selfish, then every team is full of selfish people who want to be on the field. I guess I was one of them.

 

To me, selfish is stating that you would rather win Mr Football than have your team win. THAT would be selfish IMHO.

I wonder how often any 8th grade kid actually makes this choice. For most, school choice is about a lot of things. But football is probably not near the top of the list. Academic opportunities, transportation, matters of faith or philosophy, cost, reputation, college admissions record, family affinity, friends all would seem to come higher on most people's list of considerations. (Not all people, but I would think most people.)

 

Even if one were considering the choice as a young man, it would be very hard to make the choice. Nobody is faced with any certainty. You may be a small kid in 8th grade, but you think you might get bigger, stronger, and faster -- enough to compete anywhere. And none of the schools is a lock to win a ring either. So, even for those who are thinking mostly of football, you would have to consider your chances of playing four years later at at least two different schools (and we are all optimists, especially at that age). And you would also have to consider the chances of winning a ring. In my opinion, even if you are thinking about football, it becomes pretty complicated.

 

But, as another poster said, it doesn't typically come down to that. Like most, I found myself being urged by my parents to attend a certain school. I went. A year later, I had to decide only one thing: go out for the team or not.

I guess I am selfish then because I would rather play then watch. You apparently have all the insight into the human psyche and what motivates someone to feel a certain way, and if they want to play they MUST have a selfish motive, not simply because they love to play the game.

 

I agree with you 110% on DoubleDeuce's comment about those who don't play getting a ring on the coat tails of others. That is wrong and we are on the same page there. I have great admiration for those who stick it out and help make their teammates better with little or no chance to see the game field. They absolutely deserve that ring!

 

But if in your opinion, wanting to play the game as opposed to watch is selfish, then every team is full of selfish people who want to be on the field. I guess I was one of them.

 

To me, selfish is stating that you would rather win Mr Football than have your team win. THAT would be selfish IMHO.

 

I think you, and others, are taking the easy way out with this question. Of course you want to play. However, I want to know where I stand. I want to play at the highest level. I want to know that I am the best, on the best team. If I'm not the best I want to challenge whomever is in front of me to make them the best, and if they respond I will get PT.

 

I admire the heck out of Matt Cassell. He could've transferred, but he didn't. He pushed the heck out of Carson Palmer and they both reaped the benefits. (Well, besides the fact that Carson is with the Bengals)

 

That type of person will go a lot further in all aspects of life.

 

Apparently we were both wrong interpreting doubledeuce's comments but we're on the same page.

I think you, and others, are taking the easy way out with this question. Of course you want to play. However, I want to know where I stand. I want to play at the highest level. I want to know that I am the best, on the best team. If I'm not the best I want to challenge whomever is in front of me to make them the best, and if they respond I will get PT.

 

I admire the heck out of Matt Cassell. He could've transferred, but he didn't. He pushed the heck out of Carson Palmer and they both reaped the benefits. (Well, besides the fact that Carson is with the Bengals)

 

That type of person will go a lot further in all aspects of life.

 

Apparently we were both wrong interpreting doubledeuce's comments but we're on the same page.

 

If I was taking the easy way out, I would never have responded to the question. I simply stated that I played the game in order to play the game. If you think that makes me selfish, so be it. But I will trust the opinion of those who actually played with me and know otherwise.

 

I admire Cassell as well. And I agree with what you are saying.

 

But when I played the game, I wanted to play. I worked my butt off to play and appreciate every second I spent on the field and on the track. I was not satisfied until I had worked my way onto the field on game day. I think that has made me a better person as much as the person who didn't see the field but worked their butt off as well.

 

I think you are oversimplifying the question by stating that if you choose to play as oppose to watch, you are selfish.

Do freshmen who dress for the playoffs get rings? At most schools they do not. Their reward was getting to be a part of the playoffs and getting to see what it takes.

Trinity generally does not dress Freshman for Varsity games. Once the Freshman season is over, the kids that decide they want to continue to play next season hit the weightroom. There have been a couple recent exceptions, Jordan Whiting and Travis Bishop both dressed and played some Varsity games as Freshman on special teams.

"Just Play Football" :D

Can you elaborate?. It sounds like a great story and where we were sitting some were aware of the fact and that this young man was getting his "well earned and well deserved shot."

 

Please tell us more as to how this came about .

Nolan has always been about the team. He works as hard as any of the kids and played alot of minutes as a Junior on JV last season. On the Varsity however, Trinity just had more talented kids at the running back position, Tim Phillips got most of the carries the past three years and Xavier Thomas a Junior was his immediate backup. Everyone who knows the Higgins family was excited to see Nolan carry the rock Saturday night. We were chanting Nolan, Nolan, Nolan! He didn't dissapoint any of us and was all smiles after the game. He'll remember that game the rest of his life.

Do freshmen who dress for the playoffs get rings? At most schools they do not. Their reward was getting to be a part of the playoffs and getting to see what it takes.

 

Not sure what the "etiquette" is, but I'm sure the ring companies will take the $ if parent orders it. I would be interested in learning whether this is "frowned upon" at most schools.

I know my son would rather have playing time!

Yes there are 100 kids on T & X's team. Out of this number, approximately 45-50 play on the two deep roster or special teams every Friday night. Granted the second team does not generally see the field until well into the 3rd and 4th quarter when the game has been decided, but they take advantage of every snap they get. These 50 players are primarily Juniors and Seniors that have waited their turn in line. The rest of the team is made up of Sophomores and Juniors that are not Varsity starters but get plenty of work in practice and playing JV games. Every kid works to the best of their ability everyday in practice and getting that ring is their payoff. Coach Beatty while talking to the team after the State game Saturday night commented that this was a total team effort and thanked every kid for their hard work and commitment. Trinity can't continue to win championships without sophomores and juniors pushing everyday for their chance to play. I know this because I have a Junior doing just that. That's the big difference between private and public schools. Next seasons team began their push for 20 State titles and 5 in a row yesterday in the weightroom. This seasons juniors will be next seasons seniors and will make up another senior dominated starting lineup. There will be 40-50 soon to be sophomores pushing for their chance to get their first ring. 20-30 years from now, they will meet at a reunion and remember what they did as a team to win that State title. I wouldn't want it any other way. :thumb:

 

What is the big difference? That public schools don't have young kids pushing the older kids?

How many coaches does the big two have?

How many do most public schools have?

How many coaches does the big two have?

How many do most public schools have?

 

Seems like roughly twice as many coaches at X and T compared to other 6A clubs I've seen.

 

Here's something about the two schools that strikes me as very different than at most other schools: It's easy to commit to the hard work of being a scout player if you know you have a chance to say you are a FB alum of one or the other, with the commensurate good possibility to get a ring or three. Same probably goes for Highlands, on perhaps a smaller scale.

 

Most other big schools aren't able to make guarantees to their kids that they will always play for a winner and state title contender. Too many other variables involved. Nobody wants to ride the pines with that much risk involved, as well.

I think most players play the game for the love of the game. If they are playing for a ring they are not playing for the right reasons. If I could have gone to a school, not gotten any play time and got a ring or gone to a different school and gotten play time and no ring. I would go with the play time. I played the game to actually get to play not for jewelry won by others. If all kids just played for a ring then there would be a loss less players out there. Only a select few every year get the privilege of playing for a state championship.

Let's say you are Andy Clark, star 8th grade quarterback at St Pius in the CSAA. You just finished your CSAA season at St Pius and happen to notice that a QB from St. Bernard is going to go to Trinity also. Your heart is set on Trinity and because of that, St X is not an option. The QB from St Bernard-oh its Brian Brohm,. Immediately the coaches from Trinity start talking wide receiver, maybe defensive back.

 

What do you do?

 

Andy Clark went to Seneca and led them to a 10-0 record his senior year coached by Lonnie Oldham, beating a Brian Brohm led Trinity team before bowing out in the playoffs. It was the last time a Seneca team beat the Shamrocks. He had more passing yards and possibly more TDs than BB his senior year. He now plays baseball for the Florence Freedom in an independent league.

 

Play or Sit?

Simple answer: Both.

 

When you are a player, you don't choose between playing or winning a State Championship, or Regional Championship, or even a District Championship. You work to get playing time, you work to get a starting position, and all along you play to win every game. Every practice I went into, I worked to beat someone, and every game I went into, I did the same.

 

I never said, well we won't win, but at least I am starting. Just was not part of the equation for me.