robanadana

This is the age old football vs. basketball question. Play!!! They're kids and it's part of the high school experience. Besides, when you're 17 - 18 years old you should be able to go all day and twice that on Sunday. Staying in shape all year long is the ticket to success....there is no off season....and cross training is a good thing.

[quote name="texas2step4u" post="1132825" timestamp="1322411893"] [quote author=robanadana link=topic=92089.msg1132600#msg1132600 date=1322374366] [quote author=texas2step4u link=topic=92089.msg1131716#msg1131716 date=1322347353] He could try out for the basketball team, but I doubt he would make it.  Larry Sterling isnt about keeping football players in shape.  He is trying to build a program about basketball. [/quote] Montana, David and Steve were on the basketball team last year and they are dedicated players. I'm a long time Vidor basketball fan and can assure you Coach Sterling will be happy to get these players back to round them out before district. I'll bet they don't ride the pine for too long before they start.... [/quote] Montana, you bet.  But David and Blake(Steve) werent there all summer long playing with the rest of the basketball players during the summer leagues.  David could give Jay some rest at times at point and Blake could be some help to Reagan in the paint.  Montana is going to take a lot of pressure off of Jay and he can play down low and rebound with the best of them.  I was at practice yesterday and I can tell you that the attitude that Montana brings has already helped.  This season will be very difficult for the Pirates and I dont think anyone is saying anything different.  Coach Sterling is a great coach and he is building a program, not unlike Brian English did....and we will reap the rewards.  The addition of Montana brings one thing that no one else on that team has....experience at the varsity level.  He knows that the gulf between JV and varsity is very wide.  He is a proven winner and his basketball skills really improved while on varsity last year.  His play this past summer proved that to me.  I do know that Blake will be tasked with rebounding and defense.  He is a smart kid and he likes basketball.  And I know that Reagan need lots of help in the paint.  David didnt play last year at all and I honestly dont know if he has talked to Larry Sterling or not but basketball skills are like any other skills...you have to work them or they leave you.  Handling a basketball against varsity pressure is not an easy thing so David would have to work very hard just to give Jay some rest for a few minutes a game.  Just my opinions. [/quote] I totally agree with you. Larry Sterling was a great pick for head coach and I believe he'll round the Pirates out....I have a lot of optimism for this season and think we will do better than predicted. The infusion of the football players will help IMO; anytime you bring in the enthusiasm of winning it's contagious. I really just don't like the idea that kids shouldn't play more than one sport in school; they shouldn't be penalized for playing football and then coming over to the basketball team. If they are good enough to start (i.e. Montana) then they should start. I know Bryan English had a different opinion but it's not one I agree with. I hope that Larry doesn't carry the same opinion. I also don't want to see that football vs. basketball vs. soccer vs. baseball mentality strike @ Vidor and ruin a good athletics department. We only have so many athletes to go around and cross training is a good thing. Saying all this, I'm a bigger fan of the basketball team than football but support all Pirate sports. See you in the stands this winter.

[quote name="BMTSoulja1" post="1133415" timestamp="1322483663"] Great run, Ozen.  For a team that was 'let in' the playoffs, you sure did do some damage and gave LaMarque all they wanted and some.  I'll always remember this 'never die' team.  Hold your heads up high, little brothers. [/quote] Soulja, I never disagree with you and I won't this time. This Ozen team [b]earned[/b] their way into the playoffs; they made their own breaks and supported us when we needed it against Livingston. Personally, it just shows how the two schools have grown togethor and it was wonderful to see it all play out. I just hope the UIL does the right thing and puts Livingston in the right district instead of having them drive 100+ miles for every sporting event they have to participate in. That's just wrong. West Brook's is not that big, move 'em down to 4A.

[quote name="Hatch" post="1133450" timestamp="1322490086"] To Coach Mathews and Coaching Staff and all the Pirate Players Congratulations on a Great Season!!!!! We are very proud of you!!! [/quote] I second this response. Great for community and something more to build on for our kids!!!

What movie are you two knuckleheads talking about???

[quote name="BetweenTheBuriedAndMe" post="1132958" timestamp="1322424855"] I won't deny that I've seen certain players (mostly skill guys) be treated in a more respectable fashion, but I will say that a lot of us linemen (offense and defense) never got the special perks that those skill guys got.  At least 5 guys I can think of was able to sit out on Monday and Tuesday practices because of an "injury" that was never specified, they got out of wind sprints at the end of practice, and got away with dipping slowly in the locker room IN FRONT OF COACHES and be able to start on Fridays and be miraculously healed.  On the other side of things, there was another group of players that were also starters that gave more, showed up to every practice, and worked their butts off, but if they missed one day because of whatever, they sat out a quarter.  If they were caught dipping, they got swats.  If they were a minute late on the field for practice, they ran.  Certain players got certain privilages and it shouldn't have been that way.  Coach Mathews created cliques within the locker room by giving certain players certain privilages and that was our downfall.  That is facts so unless you were on varsity 2003-2004, you have no right to question what I (along with about a dozen other players who didn't get these special privilages) saw with our own eyes and feel the abandonment we felt with our own hearts that we gave everything to that man for. [/quote] Son, I've known this man since '94 when he was an assistant coach. You couldn't be more wrong. He took the time to answer my emails about this year's team while me and two others were working in Thailand. I know several kids who have played for Jeff and have NEVER heard the first bad thing about him. BTW, since you know so much about him and Pirate football you would know we went to the playoffs in 2000, not 2001. Or, are you another one of those from Lumberton stirring up trouble again? I see your a new person on the boards....

Vidor Evadale Orangefield Bridge City Sure would have liked to seen us in the Nederland tournament as prep for district but a new coach and rebuilding the program are probably why we're playing down. We do have some talent and will compete in district. I expect Pirate basketball to pick up in the next few years with Larry Sterling as coach.

[quote name="texas2step4u" post="1131716" timestamp="1322347353"] He could try out for the basketball team, but I doubt he would make it.  Larry Sterling isnt about keeping football players in shape.  He is trying to build a program about basketball. [/quote] Montana, David and Steve were on the basketball team last year and they are dedicated players. I'm a long time Vidor basketball fan and can assure you Coach Sterling will be happy to get these players back to round them out before district. I'll bet they don't ride the pine for too long before they start....

[quote name="kru" post="1132403" timestamp="1322364306"]   Montana was spotted at Basketball practice this morning.  GO PIRATES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [/quote] Yeah, I understand we have five new faces on the basketball team....I believe Mr. Dahlenburg will make a statement at post....he was playing some good ball last year.

along with five of my Pirate friends: Quirante, Collins, Bolinger, Abshire and Dahlenburg. Please let me know if I left anyone out. Hampshire Fannett, I hope you enjoyed your victory. It won't happen again this season. Let's see if my boys can make some noise in this sport now. (P.S., it sure was great to have to wait until football season was over. And I'm a B-Ball fan....)

Great Job Panthers. Three deep in the playoffs and victories over BH and Brenham are truly something. Way to represent 20-4A this year!!!!! I knew we did the right thing helping ya'll into the playoffs. Good Karma!!!!

Any word on WOS / Coldspring?

Great season Dogs! Would have loved to see Black and Gold Bowl II but it wasn't to be. However, both of us return the bulk of our teams next year and I am looking forward to one heck (soulja will correct if I use hell) of a game in the Boneyard. We both ran into a couple of pretty good senior football teams who deserve a little payback from us collectively next year. Thanks for all the support you gave the Pirates on our quest as well. Way to represent 20-4A!!!

Absolutely agree YankeeDawg, well said. I think Matt's death was a pivotal moment that has shown the change our community has been working so hard for was actually happening. It was great to have the large number of Ozen players and supporters in the stands with us rooting for victory against Livingston. Everyone I know that was in attendance was very supportive and appreciative of the reception they were given while our guests. The Communist News Network expose back in '06 was particularly damaging and I felt it hurt not only Vidor but the entire area. Vidorians are hard working, blue and white collar mostly religious people who take a lot of civic pride anymore. Look through any of the schools in our area and you will find kids whose parents who work in the same refineries, etc. and that there is not much difference between Vidor or Nederland or Central or WOS. People in our area live relatively well and the old thought process that an entire town can be connected to something as ludicrous as racism in 2011 is just wrong. There will always be that small group of individuals that we all have in our collective towns who bring us shame but most SE Texans are salt of the earth and we Vidorians are no different.

[quote name="jimbob82" post="1132278" timestamp="1322361531"] hes not from Crosby, but good ol Lumberton. [/quote] Like I said before, victim of a good ol' Vidor stompin'. BTW, ya'll still working on implementing our offense? Spread too complicated? I'm sure lots of people would like to see Jeff leave Vidor; I'm pretty sure he won't anytime soon. If we only win one game in district, your the one I want. You guys were the worse posters on our old website; we had to go in and delete your message threads and block posters constantly because of the vulgarity and hate. Disgusting.

Was anyone seriously hurt???

Yes Invictus, I said PRAYER!!! I'm sorry your progressive (liberal) philosophy forgoes the inclusion of the Lord in anything, but it seems to have worked with Vidor / Central / Ozen just fine and has brought amity between our schools and our communities. I haven't seen too many teams that leave a post game prayer wanting to bash each other's heads in. Morals come from God: if not, show me that all seeing and knowing document created by any humanist which even comes close to the Bible. Sorry to everyone else if I got on my horse about this; just not big on atheism. Congratulations to Lamarque on their victory and Big Congratulations to Beaumont Ozen for making 20-4A proud. You represented us well. See ya'll on the B-ball court.

[quote name="vhs" post="1132150" timestamp="1322359178"] [quote author=GGilbert 7 2010 link=topic=92257.msg1132126#msg1132126 date=1322358557] yes he is in a perfect place to coach high school football playoffs 5 times since 1964 great place [/quote] Why do you care so much??? [/quote] Victim of a Pirate stompin' this year....man, I sure would want to uproot my kids and put them in the Crosby school district....why didn't I think of that

I wasn't at the game (had to work, dang) so I don't have an opinion however, one thing I do know is the Beaumont Ozen Panthers are a class act: they don't play dirty football and they don't trash talk. Perhaps you should try praying togethor after games lamarque instead of acting like thugs. This is coming from a Vidor Pirate, you mess with one of us in SE Tex and you get us all.....

I'm gonna do my best to make this game and support the OC. [move][color=blue][size=36pt][font=georgia][b]GO MUSTANGS GO!!![/b][/font][/size][/color][/move]

[quote name="YankeeDawg" post="1131408" timestamp="1322341587"] [quote author=Coach Comeaux link=topic=92248.msg1130929#msg1130929 date=1322319580] [quote author=Bulldogs2011 link=topic=92248.msg1130894#msg1130894 date=1322316228] I just want to let the Vidor fans know that I was very impressed not only with your team, but also the fans.  You guys have made it clear that your past is your past and you have moved forward.  You are a very classy organization! [/quote] Thank you very much Bulldogs2011.... out of this tragic and terrific season there has come a lot of good... I just pray that just because the football season for us has ended that the way people have looked at us this season doesn't... These young men have fought through a rough time and in my eyes were very successful in a time where no one would of blamed them if they would of just up and laid down.... but as Arnold Schwarzenegger said... [size=12pt][b]Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.[/b][/size] [move][size=12pt][b]THAT IS THE VIDOR PIRATES!!!![/b][/size][/move] [/quote] I've been thinking about posting this since last night but was not sure if I should.  However, after reading several of the posts in this thread, here  goes... I think the tragic and untimely death of Matt Thomas, as unfortunate as it was, served to be a "turnaround" for the town of Vidor.  Many people that I have spoken with since shortly after his death right up thru today have taken a more positive view of Vidor as a whole.  As sad as his passing was for his family. teammates, friends and others he came in contact with, I think they can take some solace in knowing that this young man, of all people, may have been responsible for at least partially erasing the "image" that your town has portrayed (factually or not) in the past.  Isn't it ironic that, for a town that has been deemed as racist by many, it took the accidental death of a young, African American high school student/football player to reverse the thinking of so many both within and outside of the Vidor community.  If I may say without offending anyone, I truly believe that this was the Lord's plan for Matt from the beginning..HE does work in ways we may not fully understand...but it doesn't matter..we have seen already the positive changes that have taken place and I'm sure there will be more to come...I feel that Matt is sitting with his Maker, smiling down on what they see and him now knowing what his purpose on this earth was really all about. Thank you for allowing to speak my heart... [/quote]

[quote name="YankeeDawg" post="1131408" timestamp="1322341587"] [quote author=Coach Comeaux link=topic=92248.msg1130929#msg1130929 date=1322319580] [quote author=Bulldogs2011 link=topic=92248.msg1130894#msg1130894 date=1322316228] I just want to let the Vidor fans know that I was very impressed not only with your team, but also the fans.  You guys have made it clear that your past is your past and you have moved forward.  You are a very classy organization! [/quote] Thank you very much Bulldogs2011.... out of this tragic and terrific season there has come a lot of good... I just pray that just because the football season for us has ended that the way people have looked at us this season doesn't... These young men have fought through a rough time and in my eyes were very successful in a time where no one would of blamed them if they would of just up and laid down.... but as Arnold Schwarzenegger said... [size=12pt][b]Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.[/b][/size] [move][size=12pt][b]THAT IS THE VIDOR PIRATES!!!![/b][/size][/move] [/quote] I've been thinking about posting this since last night but was not sure if I should.  However, after reading several of the posts in this thread, here  goes... I think the tragic and untimely death of Matt Thomas, as unfortunate as it was, served to be a "turnaround" for the town of Vidor.  Many people that I have spoken with since shortly after his death right up thru today have taken a more positive view of Vidor as a whole.  As sad as his passing was for his family. teammates, friends and others he came in contact with, I think they can take some solace in knowing that this young man, of all people, may have been responsible for at least partially erasing the "image" that your town has portrayed (factually or not) in the past.  Isn't it ironic that, for a town that has been deemed as racist by many, it took the accidental death of a young, African American high school student/football player to reverse the thinking of so many both within and outside of the Vidor community.  If I may say without offending anyone, I truly believe that this was the Lord's plan for Matt from the beginning..HE does work in ways we may not fully understand...but it doesn't matter..we have seen already the positive changes that have taken place and I'm sure there will be more to come...I feel that Matt is sitting with his Maker, smiling down on what they see and him now knowing what his purpose on this earth was really all about. Thank you for allowing to speak my heart... [/quote] Thank you YankeeDog, well said.

[quote name="GGilbert 7 2010" post="1132062" timestamp="1322356954"] [quote author=Sleepy1 link=topic=92257.msg1132027#msg1132027 date=1322356384] Thank you Coach. GGilbert, you're an idiot. [/quote] vidor homers i love it if yall would open yalls eye and see threw the black and gold haze you might realize that vidor is not the greats coaching gig there are many other schools that mathews would excel at, do i want him to leave no, anyone that comes on here talking bad about vidor or just stateing facts they get bashed it shows just how much yall really know not much [/quote] Pirates, quit listening to this clown, he's from Crosby. Jeff is the 3rd highest paid coach in the area, his wife is from Vidor, his children go to Vidor's exemplary schools and if Bridge City couldn't woo him away, he ain't going nowhere. Actually, he probably has as good a situation as you could possibly want as a coach. Jeff is a Vidorian; he's been a part of the school for nearly 20 years.....most of his life. You couldn't get me to coach in Crosby if the salary were six digits given the problems they have there.

GO DOGS GO!!!

Everybody, please calm down. That one play was not what lost us that game. We ran into a better team, period. There were several things that cost us the game, that wasn't it. If you look at the nuances of football you will notice everytime Montana was around the ball, they hit him. By the third quarter, he was hurting and not moving well. They were bigger, faster and better coached than any team we've faced. If you want to pick one play, pick #9 catching the kickoff after we got within five 28 - 23 and running through our team like Forrest Gump. They have five legit D-1 players...#9 is headed to Houston. This thread was started about Jeff and the outstanding job he did with a team predicted to finish 7th in an 8 team district. Quit acting like Vidorians.....