Canescat

I see the Rocks scoring 28 and holding the Bombers to 14 with most of the scoring coming in the first half.

1. Highlands 2. St. X 3. Trinity 4. Henry CLay 5. CCH 6. Central 7. John Hardin 8. Fern Creek 9. Bowling Green 10. Lex Cath

Cincy X will not score like they did last year. Trinity's defense is bigger and better than last year's. I believe Trinity will win by 14.

St. X will have an excellent team, no matter what anyone says. They will be big and have outstanding running backs and a big, aggressive defense. Trinity will likewise put a solid team on the field. It will be fun to watch both teams play.

Rankings mean that someone out there has taken notice of what a program has accomplished and what that program is expected to do in the near future. I am sure that Trinity accepts the compliment but really could care less about this or any other ranking.

I have also heard that the Trinity coaching staff is very excited about this group of freshmen. I understand that the freshmen are big where they need to be, deep and overall very, very fast. Only time will tell if they can play as well as they look.

I can't think of any LB at Trinity who had a better career than Wes Weitlauf, a 3 year starter on 3 State Champions! He deserves to be in the conversation and is playing for UL. Charlie Singleton was a terrific LB at Trinity, a multi-year starter with State championships. He made plays all over the field but didn't get recruited because he wasn't "heavy enough" or "fast enough". I rank him right up there with Trinity's best because he made all the plays and hit like he weighed 240 lbs.

First, I disagree that the basis for determining "the best" should be the college that the player goes to. Too many great high school football players get overlooked by colleges to make that factor THE factor in determining the best player at a position. Second, many LB's at Trinity have played major college ball: Greg Metry, Army; Johnny Miller, UL; Joe Welch, UL; Matt Stein, UK; Carwell Gardner, UK/UL; Andy Murray, UK; Jason Kendrick, Michigan; Shawn Johnson, Tennessee, to name a few. In addition, Louis Cristofoli was a 4 year starter at OLB at IU, but played DT at Trinity. I also recall a Trinity LB playing at ND, can't remember the name.

Tim Phillips yes. Jordan Whiting no, but one of the top 10 Trinity LB's.

Trinity returns players who started in some or all of the games last year at the following positions: RB, WR, WR, TE, C, OG, OG, DG, DT, DT, LB, DE, DE, DB, DB.

Cameron Smyth will be the factor for Trinity. He may not get the press this year but he will be the reason Trinity wins #19. Certainly Trinity has many weapons on offense but so much is asked of the QB in Trinity's system to get the team in the correct play, correct protections, etc. that as the QB goes, so goes the Trinity offense. Cameron can and will handle all of his responsibilities quietly and competently as Trinity adds more distance between it and every other program in the Commonwealth.

Congratulations Tim. I'm glad he made the decision before the season, even though I know he would not have been distracted from his goal to win #19. He's a great young man who will make an immediate impact at CMU. As to the question about D1s, weren't there two D1s on the 2002 team? The big OLman (Thiery) and a running back (May)?

Jimmyref really doesn't mean what he says about Trinity's schedule. He's just trying to get everybody riled up. He's smart enough to recognize that the best team always wins. Sometimes your team is the best and sometimes it's not. That's what games are for, to see who's the best team.

Trinity has as much talent on Defense, at every position, as they have ever had. Up front they are big, physical and experienced. At LB and DE they are big, fast, aggressive and experienced. The DB's and safeties are fast, athletic and experienced. Once Trinity develops depth, as they always do, they will be a formidable defense and lots of fun to watch. On offense Trinity returns the starting center, always a big plus for the OL. Returning starters at, TE (Carrico), receivers (Scott Radcliff and Will Leach), and Mr. Football frontrunner RB Tim Phillips should create lots of thrills, excitement and points with a very capable Cameron Smyth running the show. I can't wait for the season and I beleive that Trinity is the clear frontrunner for the 2008 6A title.

Defensively Trinity should be as talented as any group to ever wear the green and white. Front line, LBs, DEs, secondary are all talented and experienced. Offensively the OL will need work but will come together nicely within a couple of weeks into the season. Having the center returning will be a big plus. Of course, Tim Philips will be a handful for every team Trinity plays and Scott Radclif will have an awesome year at receiver. Cameron Smyth will have a great year leading the Rocks to #19. My dad said it several years ago, that if teams didn't beat the Rocks then, their chances will be less and less with each successive year. I agree with him and I don't think any other program combines the coaching, work ethic, organization, focus and talent that Trinity does. Good luck to the Rocks and go get #19.

I believe Tim's size is an advantage for him. He hides behind the OL and the next thing defenders see is Tim popping out without any time to react or adjust and then he's in the secondary and it becomes a footrace. In order to stop Tim you have to get to him in the backfield. Once he gets to one yard beyond the line of scrimmage, watch out.

Henry Clay appears to be better than what the scores indicate but for some reason they just can't get it done against Trinity. Lafayette and Dunbar aren't even close even though they appear to have lots of talent. Coaching and game planning must improve around the state in order to have a chance against Trinity in the playoffs. Other teams don't seem to understand the commitment Trinity has to winning state championships. Trinity doesn't concern itself with beating (fill in the blank). Their focus is entirely on winning the state championship. Their single-mindedness and focus on that one goal is impressive.

Central Michigan is a solid program, great tradition with more than its fair share of NFL players. How come the CMU coaches get it (that Tim is a terrific D1 talent and quality person/student) and the locals (UK, UL, etc.) don't? Same old story. I am so happy for Tim and can't wait to watch him play this season.

It's Trinity and St. X (too close to call year in and year out) and everybody else. I don't think that will ever change.

I agree cubbyfan. St. X and Trinity should never lose to CAL, ever, in any sport, ever! Especially a freshman pitcher! Very disappointing and very hard to take for St. X and Trinity players, coaches, parents and fans.

I don't know if I have ever seen or heard anyone argue that experience means NOTHING when it comes to sports or anything else for that matter. But that is the topic of another thread. I do agree that if the best player is a freshman, play the freshman.

That was a nice story but it still doesn't address the issue of coach's sons and early opportunities to play. From your comments it seems you are suggesting that the head coach is beyond reproach and that anyone who reasonably and objectively questions the coach's methods or decisions is not a team player. Sort of like how people want to characterize fellow citizens as being "unpatriotic" who are against the Iraq war. I take it that you believe that whatever motivates a coach's decision about who gets opportunities to play is not to be questioned. If you're comfortable with that so be it. I would guess that many people, like myself, take issue with that position. I don't believe that anyone in a leadership role is beyond reproach. We can agree to disagree but it seems like several other members have at least observed what I have. Again, I don't pass judgment on Coach Tompkins and I certainly have not attacked his character. Hopefully he'll continue his great success this season and top it off with a championship to get that monkey off his back.

Let's wait and see what Jimmy says. He's already admitted he's a "huge" fan of Coach Tompkins. By the tone and content of Jimmy's posts in this thread it sounds as if there is more to the story than just Jimmy being a fan of his coaching ability. Just an observation.

Thank you, Jimmy. I'm all for quality coaching as long as every kid in the program gets the same opportunity to play at the varsity level. If you are not willing to recognize the fact that the sons of Trinity baseball coaches seem to enjoy opportunities that other kids in the program don't, your not being objective about the program. That's all I am trying to communicate. I wonder what connection you have with Coach Tompkins and Trinity baseball? I don't have any.

I think Jimmy's comment about the number of college baseball players in Coach Tompkins' program only lends support to the observation that he has had plenty of talent to win it all, but hasn't. Football team-very little college talent = 6 State Titles in 8 years. Baseball team-lots of college talent=0 State Titles/Finals. Just an observation. With regard to early varsity playing time opportunities, it seems highly supect how sons of coaches get opportunities v. the rest of the kids in the program. That is all I am saying, just an observation. It's interesting how all of these GREAT baseball coaches stick around just long enough to see their sons play early and graduate.