Mustang Nation

PurpleHaze. "Derek Bishop. This kid is unassuming, barely bigger than a hiccup, not very impressively built. All this kid has is heart, and tons of it!! We couldn't stop him last year at Marshall Stadium, and we didn't do much better Friday night." You are correct that Derek is unassuming and has heart. But you need to take a closer look at his build. He's built like a tank and prior to last year had hardly seen a weight room yet has big time god given strength. Will be interesting to see where he goes and how he develops. In a lot of ways he remind me of the current NFL RB trend with these 5'6 200lb machines that run 4.4's and bench 475.

WOW, What a big win for that program.

Johnny, I might agree with your statement if a football game was played for one half. But a football game is played in two half's where in the second half North gained over two hundred yards rushing, the defense put up a number of key stops and several three and out's. And let's see there was also one North TD called back, another long run to inside the 15 called back, and by an officiating crew that called over 110yds of flags on North with more than a 4 to 1 margin in favor of the home team. And let's not forget the North fumble lost in the end zone with under 3 minutes to go that would have likely been the winning score. So North very much should have won this game and by about two TD's in regulation time. Since we're being completely honest ! Congrats on the much needed win Mustangs.

And why is that Johnny ?

My reaction is to go up to each and every of my son's varsity teammates, look them dead in the eye with a huge grin and with as much passion as I can convey, simply say to them , YOU GET TO PLAY FOOTBALL TONIGHT. It's sad that previous generations are never are able to convey just how quickly it's goes by. Maybe that's why we become so passionate watching the young kids getting their taste. We know how short lived it will be but fortunately they do not.

I'm tires of hearing myself rationalize so I'm sitting this one out. Talks cheap and as SKilld said ,it's about hunger now. Who's fed up, ticked off and most hungry. That can only be answered by those strappin it on. Go tangs.

Curious...... Does your team use the J.V team as a developmental program for Freshmen, Sophomore's and Juniors ? Just freshman and sophomore's? Anyone not playing varsity ? Or do some or all of your non Senior varsity starters also play J.V. ? Are there any KHSAA or other guidelines regarding J.V eligibility ?

No Killer, I regret to say this game was anything but in question. I thought South looked solid but nothing remarkable. (No disrespect intended) What I really mean is that they did not look like the type of talent that should have made North look so bad. And they did. As I have said before unless North can figure out a way to execute something other than the pitch out's and a few quick traps these defenses are going to continue the feeding frenzy crashing the backfield and preventing Norths inexperienced QB from ever feeling like he's not running for his life, even on three step drops. So what's next ? Does Coach Martin give the old " If you can't do the job I'll find someone who will" talk this early with his already undersized and young team? Does he tweak personal or dive even deeper into his underclassmen? Or maybe it's just very painful and unavoidable growing pains ? These are great kids but few senior leaders can only do so much. I almost get the feeling we need to see some overachieving unexpected faces emerge from somewhere within the North personnel. OR ...anyone with a 6'3 195lb problem child with anger issues and the ability to run from Juvy staff and parole officers please see Mr. B Martin C/O N.O.H.S.

I'm sure it's quite obvious which colors I fly. That said. I would think South should have an edge on paper. They played Henry Co. tough and except for Waggener have played respectable teams pretty well. The injuries and inexperience at North still have Coach Martin moving puzzle pieces around to find good working parts to a very young team. Still too early to get a fix on how good North can be but the key seems real obvious. The offense does one thing very well in using the speed in the backfield, but it must begin to execute in some other ways as well. It doesn't have to do other things great but well enough to keep a defense honest and well enough to keep a decent team from creating a firebreak by reads off just a couple of formations. The talent is there to do this but it's so inexperienced that getting all the pieces moving together and with confidence is a challenge. A receiver or two stepping up with a QB rolling out with some timing and North should open up quite a bit. When you look at just how young the starters and the backup's are for North you realize there may be something really exciting building here for the next few years but this year will require some kids growing up quickly and a different attitude and toughness to develop from within. I'll call it a 24 - 16 North upset to get back on track. Win or lose North needs a solid game to build on. A CAL type loss would be devastating to the building process. Always a great rivalry game!

I was there and no one ran up the score. Underclassmen were in most of the second half and some freshman were put in the entire fourth. To Trimbles credit this was just not a fair fight but they did not give in. Just out sized, out maned, out everything-ed. Remember North is still a banged up team so yes they took the opportunity to try and execute some passing late and there was a late onside kick as well. It was not about scoring but about a team that's going into their key district games still trying to get some pieces in place after a whooping by CAL the previous week, an arch rival game next week and trying to deal with injuries to key starters. Remember the game was over after a quarter and half so in my opinion what some may have seen as running up the score was simply a case of a young struggling team looking to get something productive and developmental from their opponent. I hope the district re-alignment that's proposed puts Trimble somewhere that's a "fair playing field". This was not something any true sports fan wants to see for any student athlete. That being said I will take a 60 point Beat down handed to the Steelers by the Bengals ! Could be a season changing game next week for North if they can put a "W" on South Oldham which is playing well from what I'm told.

Some of us are still out here and bleeding teal and black 'Ol #70. I'm laughing because I almost put up a smart mouthed post asking why there was not a fever pitch thread going about this high profile game. Forget Trinity vs X, This the battle of North US 42 were talking about. Goshen vs Bedford for god's sake. No disrespect to Trimble but if North does not dominate it will be a new low for the program. As Col Mike says there's just too many bodies and too much speed to keep up with for Trimble County. Regarding the last two games for North. As the saying goes...talk is cheap. I still think CAL is a quality 2a team with some size and talent so that loss would be stomachable to some extent but not that beat down. North needs to put pride and attitude together for the next two games and we'll be on track. Talks cheap. Time to execute!

CAL did run the option a few times Friday night. Came across as more a designed pitch out play than a read and react option off the QB and was not executed very well.

Injuries as no excuse, hat's off to a solid well coached 2A football team in CAL. None of the young starters stepped up for North to get any momentum going and the few veterans left available seemed no where to be found. Given the pressure from CAL's D-Line North's QB did put at least 4 or 5 passes where they should have been caught in the hands of the receiving core which should be humiliated by their effort last night with an 0-13 receiving stat. So where does Coach Billy Martin go from here ? Obviously get people healthy is # 1. #2 to me is find leadership to get the young starters a sense of stability in the heat of things. #3 Don't panic! Ok, a young battered team played a solid more experienced team and got their butts kicked. Move on. Get some focus back with a softer Trimble County game next week and then a win against Arch rival South Oldham the following week could put thing right on track going into the key district games. Lots of work to do!

Well Mike I guess we are the sole voices of the North representation ? Based on what I saw in the J.V. game Monday I'm going to give the win to North. CAL always has some some hard working dedicated kids but I doubt they will have enough athletes to keep up with the Mustangs. Ironically it's much the same feeling I had looking at the North game last week with J-Town. I thought North played hard and was tough in the trenches but J-Town had a few guy's we just could not and did not match up with. Can't wait for this game because frankly I still do not know how to size up the Mustangs this year. The Moore game was so much a runaway train you almost have to throw it out as a barometer and the J-Town team was likely unlike any 3A team North will see so it's hard to come away with a good comparison from that either.

I assumed that was the case but it strikes me as odd that this one scenario is singled out as more accident prone than others within the field of play. I would think that a punt return was more risky than a kickoff. Sometimes I think people forget that Football is a contact sport by design.

Curious what the thinking is that does not allow the kick returner to advance the ball out of the end zone on kickoffs?

It will certainly give the Mustangs a very credible look at how they stack up. On paper it's a tough match up for North. If North's defense is able to penetrate the line like they did against Moore it will certainly surprise and delight. J-Town has some very good skill players and I would not be surprised if this is one of those games where both offenses put up large numbers. That's if North's "O" line can allow their speedy ground game and to keep up with J-Town. I would think the Vegas odds guy's would have J-Town a 10pt favorite in this one but last weeks Moore rout does allow us Mustang fans reason for positive vibes.

It's great to see the Mustangs start the season with such a dominating win. When the team went down to Washington County last weekend for their final scrimmage the feeling was much the same as last night. This team is executing their offense very well and efficiently for this early in the season. The squad is undersized across the board and especially in the trenches but when you factor in their quickness and that these are intelligent kids playing with passion and good intensity, it will be very interesting to see how it stacks up against the tougher rivals this year. Defense is all about a few great seniors and a whole lot of very young underclassmen overachieving and having fun together. It shouldn't take long to get a clue how the team will challenge better competition . J-Town is next for the Mustangs. Should be "football 101" for North. Pressure the QB, solid tackling and don't give up the long ball.

So who kicks off the season right in this one ? North executed surprisingly well in last weeks scrimmage at Washington Co.

Having been around Darryl quite a bit I can say that that this is one of those cases where you have a very talented athlete who's love of the game and natural talent makes it easy to be motivated and work hard on the court. Darryl is a very bright, articulate young man who has not made his studies a priority and desperately needs to find an environment where he can make the commitment to his studies that are critical for him to realize his on and off the court potential. At North Oldham there were some very caring and well intentioned people trying to create that environment but being away from home made it very difficult for a very young man to stay focused on the self discipline that would have been required to make it work. It will be very interesting to see if Trinity can surround Darryl with what he needs or it's becomes another smoke and mirror ploy to get him playing high profile BBall. I hope for him it all works out. He seems like a good kid.

The KHSAA regs state that the heat index is to be tested 30 minutes prior to the workout at the site in question. Here is the type of device that many schools are using to measure the heat index. Amprobe THWD-2 Digital Sling Psychrometer * Perfect for checking ambient air conditions in an HVAC environment * Temperature readings * Relative Humidity measurement * Dew Point and Wet Bulb readings * MAX/MIN with Time Stamp * Selectable °C and °F readout * Data Hold Function (99 readings from LCD display) * Dual LCD Display with Bargraph indication * Auto Power Off Click here for a larger image of the Amprobe THWD-2!Click here for larger image

Yes there are teams in full pads with full contact. I will not name names. Do I think it is putting the kids in harms way. Doubtful. Do I think it's poor judgment. Absolutely. What bothers me the most is that the KHSAA index rules are pushed to the very edge of compliance. I would think that for the health of the kids and the exposure that this issue has in the media and with parents that a conservative approach might be the way to go.

I would hope that the school systems would take into account that a lot of folks will be driving considerable distances to these scrimmages and not pull the plug at the very last minute. It's not like there would be some type of unforeseen cold front blow through at 7pm somewhere. If the boys can play safely then let's play and if they can't then pull the plug a few hours before scrimmage time. I'm also curious how many programs out there have gone full contact, full pads the past couple of days ?

Not meaning to hijack this thread but very much along the same topic. How often do you think a coach or coaching staff dangles the possibility of playing at the next level in front of a upper classman knowing that the player has little to no chance of playing college ball but also knowing that they will get increased motivation out of the player to their gain while he is trying to elevate his game. Fair or not fair?

365, I think your comments are fair. These guy's are having to learn legit defense from scratch. The good news is that I can tell you the team is genuinely buying into Coach Henleys system. How quickly it will translate to the win column is a good question.