ChiefSmoke

Lol. Merry Christmas Clyde!

As fans we see it as a sport and want it to be that way. In reality, big time college football is a business and both the coaches and players are making business decisions. As fans, we don't have to like those decisions.

I don't like it when the coach leaves before the bowl game. Good point.

I didn't realize some of these guys skipping the bowl may be dealing with injuries. In that case, sitting out is what they should do. Depending on the severity, the head coach may recommend they sit out. Very different scenario as opposed to those guys being healthy.

If it is ok for a player to sit out a bowl game, it should also be ok for a coach to ask at the beginning of the season...."who may make the decision to sit out a bowl game to prep for the draft?" The coach could make the argument that he wants to prepare his team to win every game, and will need to make sure he gets additional players reps at that position. If skipping the bowl game is fair, then it is fair for a coach to get other guys ready to play that position.

Coach Young and his staff have done a great job bringing this Mercer group along in such a short period of time. I can't imagine becoming the head coach of a team a month before the season starts. Go Titans!

Coach Biggs is doing a great job with a young team. I enjoyed being back in the Fieldhouse last night to watch the Royals. These guys have a very bright future!

I think this quote is applicable: If you win, your enemies can't hurt you, and if you lose, your friends can't stand (help) you. - Bear Bryant Because of my Dad being a HS football coach, I was blessed to be around some of the great ones. Coach Roy Walton(Tates Creek/Lafayette) told me one time to never let myself get put in a spot where I need my boss to keep/protect my job. I think being the head coach makes you more vulnerable. Any other teacher, a transgression can be swept under the rug or even undetected. A lot of eyes are on the head coach. Many head coaches are put on a pedestal. Some people enjoy watching another person fall off the pedestal. My Dad wore a tie most days in the classroom. I usually wore a tie and still do most days in my current classified position. I have always felt like the head football coach has to try harder to demonstrate he is doing his non-coaching job and he is not just all about football. I also think if a coach expects his players to do right & work hard off the field, he should demonstrate / model the same. I don't miss being one of the bouncers in the hallways. I didn't realize how much energy that took until I no longer had to do that at Mercer. I still try to be present in the hallways, but it is much different/easier. It is really nice that I don't have to be that guy anymore. It is not fun/takes a toll. I have a bunch of respect for the coaches/teachers that are still fighting those battles so our kids can be in a safe environment that is conducive to learning.

Coach Donahue has done a great job there. When Stephanie's aunt lived in Loyall, I would sneak over to watch a workout or practice. As to why he is hanging it up, it is tough to stay some where for such a long time and especially in your hometown. My guess is that he just thought it was time for a change... for him and the school. Good luck to both!

I appreciate Jimmie Reed putting this together for the kids and coaches in Ky. One of my former players, Jordan Johnson, is the HC @ Waggener and was a coach for the Louisville team today. I had 4 former players on the field today (Jordan, Titans D Smith & Tyus Short , Royal Cameron O'Hearn.) I was proud of all 4 and thankful they had the opportunity. Thank you to St. X for hosting the game.

It doesn't bother me. I have been in their shoes many times. I understand that guy is trying to survive and keep his program afloat. He is trying to create positives for his kids. For that reason, we will wait later than most before we sub on defense. A team gets a couple quick scores... things can get crazy. You can't start to sub until you are 100% sure the game is won. If I am 100% sure that we have won, I try not to worry about them scoring as much.... other than I know the defense takes pride in a shut out. We try to protect the shut out, but not at the expense of losing a player for a game down the road. Like the Bear said.... when you have a game won, start working on winning the next one. Getting a starter hurt on a play after the game is won, does not help you win the next game. And.... I did it against Wayne County in the first game this season. I was criticized for not playing more kids after the game was out of hand. My response was...."did you see us play? We need the practice!!" What I did in that scenario was work on things that needed to be worked on, but try to protect bodies as well that were banged up. We had plenty to work on.

According to Coach Homer Smith, Bear Bryant said the best coaches start winning the next game after they had that game in hand. I take that to mean, whatever is best for your team is what you do. If a game is in hand, especially mid to late season, I like to protect bodies and get meaningful experience for our depth. I am not a big fan of scoring a bunch of points once a game is in hand. But, what is best for the guys I coach drives my decision making at that point in a game.

Bama & Clemson for sure. If Ohio State is in, doesn't Penn State have to get in? Won the conference title and beat OSU head to head.

Those were fun days. We are getting old @theguru!

[video=youtube;go1-okBq3LU] Please share! Great stuff here.

Congratulations to Coach Young and the Titans!

The initial 2 point play at the end of the game looked like he would walk in. Why was it blown dead?

She is a fine young lady and those were great times. We miss you & your wonderful family!

In the fall of 2011, our Mason County Royals finished the season at 2-8, on October 21st. Forget about Thanksgiving Day practice... we didn't even make it to Halloween. It was depressing. John Combs had just completed his freshman season of HS football. We had been spoiled by winning, and so this was tough to take. We decided that we needed to make it a positive. What was something that normally we did not do, that now we could do, because we had plenty of time on our hands? I kept telling myself (hoping).... 'In the future, we will be busy in November. Now is the time to do something we normally would not be able to do." As long as I can remember, I have been a Notre Dame fan. My sons have become Notre Dame fans as well. We decided we wanted to see the Fighting Irish play. Dustin Grutza had played for Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly at UC. Dustin helped us to not only get tickets but to get to take the recruit tour on game day. We got up there Friday afternoon so we could attend the Friday Pep Rally on campus. JCB & Trosper, November 2011 We got to see the Irish defeat Boston College and it was one of the best things we have ever done. It was so good, we decided we would go back. As it turns out, we have attended the last Notre Dame game of the season, six seasons in a row. And, fortunately, our Novembers have been much busier. In three of the last five seasons, our teams have reached the state quarterfinals ( 2012 & 2013 at Mason and 2016 at Mercer). Notre Dame vs. Boston College, 2011 Trosper is still recovering from a football injury and travel is very difficult for him, so John Combs and I made the trip this past Saturday. By the time we arrived, my brain was spinning. Our season had come to an end the night before. It had been a great November to that point with an outstanding group of kids & coaches. I am very proud of the way our guys finished the season in the playoffs. The emotions of the previous 24 hours combined with making that drive on 3 1/2 hours of sleep makes me look back on that particular game, and even the entire season, and think, "did all of that really just happen?" Being on that campus and in that stadium is like being on holy ground for a football guy. It is overwhelming to think about the great teams, players, and coaches that have worn the navy & gold for so many decades. The wind chill was 27 degrees and the snow was blowing pretty good in the stadium lights. It was very cold, and it was great. We stayed for every play. We watched a great game, but unfortunately the day did not finish with an Irish victory. November 2016 We are already making plans to return for the 2017 Navy game. I am hoping that one day I will return from our Notre Dame trip and prepare for a semifinal game. That would be the ideal November! Whenever a coaching friend has a season end sooner than they expect, I share this experience with them. We took a miserable November, and turned it into a huge positive. I think if Stephanie ever wants to get me out of coaching, she will have to put an end to these November trips to Notre Dame. The tradition I see before my eyes takes me back to being a little boy and watching the Irish on TV with my Dad. It reminds me of when my love for the game of football developed at a very young age. It reinforces for me so many things about the game of football that I love. It helps me to appreciate the kids I have coached over these past 25 years and all the coaches & players that have crossed by path since I was first on a sideline at four years old. It makes me very thankful I get to coach football and helps me get more excited about getting home and getting back to work. Happy Thanksgiving, Count Your Blessings, Go Irish. BlackShoes&WhiteShoeStrings: Finding something positive..... at Notre Dame

We were at the game. I think Brian Kelly is an outstanding coach. But, I did disagree with one decision....they could have had the wind at their back for the 4th quarter and did not do so. The wind was a factor in the kicking game/field position in the 4th quarter.

I appreciate the kind words. It was a big win for us because Rock is very good. My Mason teams played them 3 times and all four have been GREAT games. I enjoy competing with great opponents. THE ROCK IS HARD! Yes, it is. Congrats to Coach Parkey and the Rockets on a district title and outstanding season!

That is correct.

Brian did some games for us at Mason. Congratulations !!

I like Coach Riddle , I thought he did a good job, and I liked what he said in the paper....he thought it was becoming a distraction and he was putting the kids first. Good luck to Coach Riddle and to GRC.

It is a thin cycle of kids. We had our feeder programs, youth camps, recruit night, etc. in place. And, Coach Thomas and his staff have been more aggressive in getting kids out. Recruit night use to be just for incoming frosh. He made it for the entire school. We bought black jerseys when I was there. Coach Thomas added the black pants & helmets, trying to get kids out & excited. And, most schools are struggling with numbers. Kids have alot more choices and most of those choices are much easier than football. In my 19 years, we had spurts with low numbers. It happens and it will cycle back. Good luck to the Tomcats this week!