OldTimer

I guess I need spell check -  ;D

As I lonf time Liberty Panther Fan - this is good news bad news.  Good news as I have always wanted Tarkington to improve as they appear to almost always have a good group of kids and coaches.  Bad news as if Liberty does not improve Tarkington may well berat them for the first time is like - forever.  Go game Horns keep it up - of course agianst everyone but Liberty :D.

My son played for coach Stewart.  I liked Coach Stewart and thought he was mistreated when they fired him. Thats were I am coming from.  But whether you liked Stewart of didn't his teams were ready to play every game even if they were out manned.  In the 3 years my son was on varsity we got blown out in like 2 games - I mean by 3 - 4 touchdowns - one the play-off game agiasnt WOS (and boy they were good).  The current Liberty team does not appear in my opinion to be ready when the ball is kicked off.  The defense seems confused and sometimes just lost.  I think they will get it together but right now ?????.  As I have always said great kids play for Liberty and always have they just need to work hard and they will surprise a team or two before this year is over.  P.S. they also have a lot of young kids - Sophmores - Starting so next few years may be better. Go Panthers!

If you are talking about the Liberty varisty coach - no they have a new coach as the other left due to family reasons or so I was told.

[quote name="Go-rilla" post="697707" timestamp="1257428714"] come on Biggen, Durk, and Panther-has been. Has'nt all liberty teams that have been on the field for the last few years been considered a JV team?? [/quote] Go-Rilla, Come on that was a little low.  And ain’t you the same Go-Rilla that was a coach at Tarkington (I think - could be wrong) and thought that the QB there during (2004 – 2008 I think it was) was the best QB in the State?  So I guess you would know a JV team since you coached one for at least a few years. Just Kidding I like Tarkington and always have wondered why they can’t seem to put a decent season together.  And, Liberty has been down the last few years so it is hard to argue this point - and I hope the bounce back and soon.

Pantherplaya09, Thank You – I also feel that he could have played past high school – but for some reason he lost his desire to put in the work in needed at the next level.  :'(    He is now an intramural STAR at Texas A&M. As far as the JV and Freshman Situation – all I can say is what my employee who has a son who is a Freshman Football player said.  Liberty had more than enough to make 2 freshman teams but only a hand full of JV players so they moved the entire freshman team up to the JV squad.  He complained that his son got no playing time and that there was like 30 boys on the sidelines of the JV games.  The only reason that I see this happening is that the coaching staff didn’t want the (basically) 2nd team freshman team getting beat week in and week out.  This is what I heard is going on but cannot verify this as a fact. My position is if you have 11 freshman kids that want to play give me a freshman team to play and let’s get after it and get them some experience that may pay off in the future.  The risk is that if they get pounded every week it may be difficult to get them to NOT accept losing – and from posts that I have read about Liberty recently is that they do not know how to win at the moment.

Getting contacts from D1 schools is nothing new – Hell I got a stack of them that my son who played at Liberty when he was a Jr. and Sr. and he also got early calls from 2 D1 schools.  But it means nothing unless they come through with the goods.  I learned later that D1 schools develop long lists of potential athletes early and weed down as they get closer to the “real deal players”.  My son was put on the list I believe when he made 2nd Team All District as a Soph.  He got numerous letters and a few calls from colleges but never received an offer – other than to walk-on - at any school. My point – just because a player – any player – receives D1 letters and contacts does not make him a D1 recruit.  Generally, it means that they are decent players that get a second and hopefully a third look and then a shot at the big time.  Good luck to all players in SETX that want to play at the next level as I wish them all the best and hope they get that dream scholarship as not that many are really offered compared to the number of players wishing to continue their career.

Ok reality has to set in - if Bucket is the Freshman (I have not heard him called that) - I have watched him play only one game and he was pretty impressive.  But to make the comment that before he has played his first Varsity game that he has a "Choice" between Texas and Oklahoma (two of the best recruiting schools in the country) might be a little bit of a stretch. As a Liberty Panther supporter I will be the first to cheer this player into a D1 school - but can we please see how he competes on the next level in high school first.  From what I saw he will be a tremendous athlete - but a D1 at Texas and OK before his first game - lets just wait and see.

From KSHN 99.9 Liberty - 6 Tarkington - 0 2nd quarter

If you go by past games this is gonna be a dozy. Hey Belle-mere Liberty lost by almost the same amount to Cleveland - have not played Coldsprings - and by the way lost to that team that shepherd beat by 9. Its gonna be a good game and and no more than a 6 point game. If Liberty puts together a complete game they will win - if not who knows. I will stick with my prediction: Shepherd - 23 Liberty - 26 Liberty wins at home. Go Panthers 8)

I think Liberty will win this game and most likely will make the play offs but by 21 points - they have not beat anyone by that much all year (I really hope they do) also they had better not take Shepherd lightly cause they are a much improved team. Also, I would not put Tarkington in a sure win at this time - they did beat a Splendora team that Liberty lost to. Liberty needs to come prepared to play the next two weeks to make the playoffs. Go Panthers

I do not have a dog in this fight but you had better check the UIL on this - I have not read the rules recently (last say 5 years) but there where numerous rules regarding "noisemakers" that prohibited them to be used during gameplay. If as has been stated the person with the horn was blowing it while the teams were trying to play then I do believe it is a violation of UIL rules. Also, schools do have the right to restrict the action or lack there of for all attendees at their stadiums - they can order these noise makers to be removed if they have such a rule in place. That being said I was not at this game but I will agree that most times were this type of noisemaker is used it is only after scores or good plays - most people use them respectfully. If not they should not be in control of the "horn". Liberty has on that they set off after every score and I do not have a problem with that.

PA Memorial @ West Brook Carthage @ Jasper GP North Shore @ Baytown Sterling Crosby @ Barbers Hill Datyton @ Galena Park YJ Ozen @ Central LCM @ Vidor Nederland @ Livingston PNG @ Lumberton Huntington @ Diboll Hardin Jefferson @ Hamshire Fannett Silsbee @ Orangefield WOS @ Bridge City Hemphill @ Newton Woodville @ Kirbyville Buna @ Deweyville Kountze @ Anahuac Warren @ Hardin Chester @ High Island Evadale @ West Hardin

Grats to the Tarkington Football team and Coaches - First district win in a long while. Liberty and Huffman better be ready to play - think both will win but the Horns showed that they can surprise a team or two. Again, Grats Horns

This appears to be the game to determine the 3rd place for the district. Going to be a close game but I will give the edge to Liberty just because it is at home. Shepherd - 23 Liberty - 26 Go Panthers

Tarkington has not made the play offs since 1959. They appear to have decent kids who try hard but for some reason cannot get over the top. Has anyone else heard of another program living thru this type of play off drought. Its got to be tough on a program to keep their kids motivated to go through 2 a days and season after season losing the way they appear to lose. Any ideas on why this 3A team has these problems as I know several people from Tarkington and they all appear to have the same question.

OK time to lose Karma, This is a must win game for the Panthers - a season breaker if they lose. Pantherplaya, what the Panthers did against K'Ville and Cleveland - Did they not lose to K'Ville 37-0 and Cleveland 29-6. IF those wins are signs of improvement then Liberty was a lot lower than I remember - and they were not that bad. Liberty has a group of pretty talented kids that for some reason can't seem to get a complete game together. If they ever do put 4 good quarters together then they can beat most teams in their district. But I believe that comes from the coaches and team leaders. What I have heard is that while this team is really not bad on the talent level they appear to lack the 2 - 3 kids that step in and LEAD the team and until they find a few players to step up as team leaders they might be in trouble for awhile. My experience is that a few good leaders on any team makes that team perform better. As far as the supposed "click" I have never witnessed that - Coach Stewart - while not perfect - was hard on the players and expected them to practice hard and show up for practice. I saw numerous times that a player who was not targeted early as a starter or even a varsity player was given a chance to play Firday nights if he practiced hard and gave his all - and they were definitely not a member of any "click". But his teams were almost always prepared to play. Even when he was under fire and his teams played other quality teams generally at least there was a competitive game.

First - I am a Liberty Panther backer - son played there for 4 years and I still live there and still loudly and often yell for the Panthers to win. BushPilot, quit bashing the Panthers - no this year they are not that good but they will be back - but they still have not lost anyone over the last 2 years by 55 points. Hardin at the moment is the better team record wise and I wish them all the best and hope they dominate the district and go a long way in the playoffs - that is what "GOOD" neighbors do - support all the teams in their area because all these young men work long and hard to perform on the football field. Some succeed and some fall a little short - but we should support all teams. I also think that if a teams best player can play and it is not a career ending injury risk that most - and I say most - High School and college teams would play their best player if they thought that they could win specially if it might mean no making the playoffs. It happens every Friday and Saturday night. I also heard that the Villemez boy did play early and that when it was noted that Hardin was not going to win they pulled him - generally a sound coaching decision. This is all guesswork at the moment - lets just assume that the coach and Villemez made a good decision not to play more than he did and leave it at that. I still say that Hardin had better not take Buna or EC for granted on they might come 1 game short of the play offs. Go Panthers 8)

Have to go with Cleveland on this one. Hwever, I think that Liberty exposed a weakness that Cleveland has - Zero passsing game. Stack the line and make them throw the ball is the game plan agianst a decent Cleveland team.

Hardin will come back and play good ball - Coach Haynes is too good of a coach to let this ruin their season. Saying that Hardin better worry about making the playoffs before they worry who they might face in the 2nd round. Buna and East Chambers have their sights set on the Hardin team. I think that Hardin will make the playoffs but they had better be prepared to play these two games. I do not think they were fully prepared for the Anahuac team.

Pirates73, I don't know about this week but Liberty still has to play Tarkington - and they will win that game. Liberty still has Huffman, Shepherd, Tarkington and Coldsprings. Huffman - will be a close game and I think the Liberty has a chance to win. Shepherd - Much Improved team and I do not think that Liberty has the Speed to catch them. Tarkington - a sure win. Coldsprings - Liberty will win only if a miracle happens - but stranger things have happened. I see Liberty playing well in spurts but cannot seem to put a whole game together - and I wonder if they will. I hope in the near future to see the Liberty of old - always competing for the playoffs. And don't play that game of "well they have always been in a weak district" as that is has always been a lie. That has only been recently that the district has been week. Back when it was Barbers Hill, Huffman and Liberty every year competing for the district they put out some quality teams. I will admit it has not been that way recently - but that will change. Go Panthers 8)

SETXFan - Making fun of Liberty Math. Since when as 1 been equal to 2. That must be the new math. ;D

Fact of the matter is that I was not happy when they got rid of coach Stewart. But after watching this new coach and talking to the kids I do think that he might be the person to help all sports at Liberty. He does appear to have the kids excited to play and practice - will this continue we will have to see. But I do not feel it is right to dismiss the coach as a poor coach and AD after 1 bad football season. I give him kudos for finally getting a real boys BB coach into the system and look they made the playoffs. The BB coach they had for all the years my son was in school did not coach just let the kids play and it showed. As a Panther supporter lest give this new AD a chance before we throw him under the bus. And as far as the higher ups not caring about sports in Liberty - I see that going both ways. I just feel that the school district needs to put more $$$$$$$ into the system and let the coaches have what they need and then just let them coach without interference. And as far as this post - Liberty vs. Dayton - would love to see an annual game between these two teams but in fairness to Liberty lets wait a few years first.

My son played against Tarkington up to 2 years ago and they were always pretty bad - but their Coach (Fortune) seemed to be a good guy and a class coach. Maybe he was not the best but if you really wanted to try and improve the situation you would not promote from within a losing system. You would go out and find a asst. coach in a successful system and try to change the mentality of the Tarkington football program. Do not know the new coach from Adam but if they really wanted to improve it seems that they would look outside for a new coach. Looks like it might be more of the same coming.

I have followed district 22-3A for a long time and Bleed Orange you are 100% right - Cleveland has always had athletes just no disipline on or off the court. But this year these kids are young and appear to be a cut above past Cleveland athletes on and off the court - they play well as a team and are very young and from what I hear ar very good students. But you are also right - lets play the games and see where the chips will fall - so far 22-3A is holding its own - well at least Cleveland and Coldsprings. I will not argue that he rest of the district - in basketball - is not the strongest in the area.