Pretty sure back in the summer I said Dixie would be an average team.

 

You also said "SK wil go 4-0........

My statements regarding basketball and baseball were not meant as the be all, end all solution to their problems. It was merely to reference the comments that there are athletes walking the halls of Dixie that do not play football. It is well documented that Highlands football program is at a different level than any other program in Northern Kentucky and most every one in the state of Kentucky. What they have done under Dale is take the program to heights that it has never been because there are 80+ kids DEDICATED to the program. This dedication does not exist at any other school in Northern Kentucky whether it be the small schools or the big schools.

 

I do not see people getting on this site to bash on bigger schools like Conner, Campbell County and Simon Kenton to name a few because they will not even play Highlands, because they know that they cannot compete. Rather it is to bash on Tom Spritzky because a few years ago his team defeated Highlands and they celebrated too much for some people's liking. He is at least man enough to play Highlands every year knowing full well that he may not be able to compete with them. I consider Tom a friend and get tired of reading posts on here bashing him and his program by people that I know never put on a football helmet or if they did it was to cheer their teammates on on Friday nights.

 

Think of where Dixie's program was before Tom took over 17 years ago and where it is now. Perhaps it is time for a change merely to see if someone can take their program to a higher level as Dale has done with the Highlands program.

Guru called for a 65-21 score. Not a bad effort, however, he did not make clear who he thought was going to win, so he gets no credit whatsoever.

 

Too funny!!!

I've never understood the disdain personally for Tom that comes from many Highlands fans.

Rather it is to bash on Tom Spritzky because a few years ago his team defeated Highlands and they celebrated too much for some people's liking. He is at least man enough to play Highlands every year knowing full well that he may not be able to compete with them. I consider Tom a friend and get tired of reading posts on here bashing him and his program by people that I know never put on a football helmet or if they did it was to cheer their teammates on on Friday nights.

 

A - TS may very well be a great friend and good person (most seem to agree with you) AND a poor coach. After 17 years, he has ownership of the program and tradition. The commitment level is apparently lacking and I think TS has to "own" that. That shows on the results. Historically, if Dixie improved as much from JUN to AUG as they do from Game 1 to Game 10, their performance in Game 10 would be much more impressive.

 

B - The "you never played the game" comment is weak, lazy and myopic. Does someone who played the game have unique insights? Yes. Does that mean that those who never played the game have nothing to offer? Obviously not. Does it mean that those who played will always have greater insight than someone who did not? No way.

A - TS may very well be a great friend and good person (most seem to agree with you) AND a poor coach. After 17 years, he has ownership of the program and tradition. The commitment level is apparently lacking and I think TS has to "own" that. That shows on the results. Historically, if Dixie improved as much from JUN to AUG as they do from Game 1 to Game 10, their performance in Game 10 would be much more impressive.

 

B - The "you never played the game" comment is weak, lazy and myopic. Does someone who played the game have unique insights? Yes. Does that mean that those who never played the game have nothing to offer? Obviously not. Does it mean that those who played will always have greater insight than someone who did not? No way.

 

TOUCHE!!!!

Nowhere near the team that show up to Ft. Thomas last winter. Dixie knew they were going to get drilled and kept taking it on the chin.

Very true my friend; very true. Although I think the outcome of this game was determined by the Birds coming out extremely focused and playing to their abilities. If the Birds do that each game, I think they have a great shot for 5 in a row. Lots of football to be played before then however and I've learned never to underestimate or respect any opponent. We are talking teenage boys here don't forget. What looks like should happen on paper isn't always what happens on the field.

 

Overall, I was pretty satisfied with Highlands last night. O line did a nice job of giving Pat all kinds of time to throw the ball, whereas, Pike was pressured heavily by Highlands' fast and quick defense. Pat had another very nice game. WRs ran sharp routes and has some really nice catches. Birds didn't run the ball much last night but I thought all the RBs did a nice job when given the opportunity.

 

Nice play by all the members of the D line getting pressure on Pike. When you can drop 8 and get pressure with the 3 rushing, the other team is usually not going to have much success passing the ball. At times Dixie ran the ball a little too well although Pike didn't have much success when he ran the ball that I can remember. Nice play by the LBing corps (except for the aforementioned problem with the run at times). Secondary played another really nice game.

 

Time to get focused on Western. From what I read and hear, Western has some really nice athletes and a nice football team. I think some folks consider them to be one of the better 4A teams in the West bracket this year. It will be really nice to see how the Birds match up.

 

Well, I received an e mail from a good friend and CovCath fan jabbing me for the error I made in the bolded. Obviously I meant to say, "I've learned to never underestimate or disrespect an opponent". Thanks Joe and quit chuckling about my mess-up.

And you're a scout for which division I program? Like him or not Pike has proven to be DI talent at QB.

Pike is not a top division 1 college qb, plain and simple.

No question that the committment level is not there and that is why I suggested that maybe it is time for someone to take over the program and see if they can take it to a little higher level. As I stated previously, that committment level does not exist anywhere in Northern Kentucky except at Highlands.

 

I would like for someone to tell me when in the last 17 years that Dixie should have won a state championship in football and they did not because of poor coaching. For many of these years, Dixie was in the same class as Highlands and we all know what kind of run they have been on since Dale took over the reins.

 

As to your point "B" JPA, you described me to a tee. Weak, lazy and myopic. Never said that my opinions/thoughts were the only ones that mattered. They were just that, my thoughts and I would hope that you would defend a friend of your family just as I have done.

Really? In spite of Dixie's struggles this year so far, Pike is a flat out talented QB. People keep forgetting his performance in the Elite 11 and the fact that the judges of that event are some of the most knowledgeable people in the game. The kid will be able to play D-1 football at the highest level. The Auburn coaches didn't make their assessment of him based on his high school QBing performance (heck, he had a ton of offers before he started one varsity game as a QB) and I serously doubt they'll pull their offer if that's what you meant or were implying based on his high school performance this year.

 

Never said he wouldn't play D-1 and never said that Auburn would yank their offer. I make my comment based on the fact that Auburn already has one of the highest rated freshman QB's in the country on their team waiting his turn in front of Pike. I am also not convinced the whole Cam Newton thing is over. I think when push comes to shove he may decide to land elsewhere like many verbal committments in football do.

How did Dixie look physically? Do you think the grueling game against Cov Cath last week, combined with a short week, hurt the red colonels chance?

Seriously? Were you at the game? Dixie has very little talent outside of a select few. It is very obvious to me that Dixie is the opposite of Highlands in that their athletes play baseball and basketball rather than being dedicated to football. I get so sick of reading on here every week how Tom Spritzky cannot coach. If Tom Spritzky coached Highlands tonight and Dale coached Dixie tonight, Highlands would have still won. You have to have talent to win consistently and have kids that are dedicated to the football program. There are many like yourself that try to compare Highlands to Dixie and some other schools and to be honest it is like comparing apples to oranges. I will close by asking if you know what Dixie's record was in basketball and baseball last year and what Highlands records were and then think about the statment that you made.

 

There is no reason why a school the size of Dixie cannot be succesful in more than one sport. That's crazy. Look at the year New Cath had last year. They are at best 1/2 the size of Dixie but probably closer to 1/3 the size.

Never said he wouldn't play D-1 and never said that Auburn would yank their offer. I make my comment based on the fact that Auburn already has one of the highest rated freshman QB's in the country on their team waiting his turn in front of Pike. I am also not convinced the whole Cam Newton thing is over. I think when push comes to shove he may decide to land elsewhere like many verbal committments in football do.

 

I misinterpreted your post and for that I apologize. I thought you were joining those that were saying Pike is not a D-1 level QB. I think those folks are nuts.

Great win for the Birds.

Game was definitely won in the trenches and the conditioning factor of the Birds.

A few dropped balls that could have been caught by both.

Disagree that Pike only has Cohurn to throw to. Pitzer looked good, 3/4 catches, and took a wicked shot by Rouse and #16 had a nice catch in traffic as well.

Dixie needs to learn how to block and stay with their blocks longer.

Pike bashers relax, he had no time. Auburn took him for his athletic ability and potential.

 

Concern for the run defense by the Birds, but may have been due to the SCHEME they had for Pike. He got very little and the runs that worked were quick slants against the 3 man defense. LBs need to fill gaps quicker on reads, and not think pass so quickly.

 

All in all a good game and misstakes will be corrected. Now get ready for Western.