oldschool2

Yeah I panicked. Usually, 1 or 2 games doesn't hurt me on the pickems. But this year I'm doing terrible...so every game counts. I decided to go with the smart choice. That way...if Evadale loses, we will still all be about the same because I don't think anyone that's beating me picked HH. As far as HD...huge line and a bunch of seniors (relative). Plus I think they got a transfer from an Aldine school maybe...that's supposedly pretty good. I still think they'll get 3rd in district. But yeah they're playing good.

1. Vidor 2. West Orange-Stark 3. Hull-Daisetta 4. West Brook 5. Splendora 6. New Caney 7. Lumberton 8. Port Neches-Groves 9. Beaumont Legacy Christian 10. Liberty 11. Tatum 12. Hamshire-Fannett 13. Orangefield 14. Coldspring-Oakhurst 15. Newton 16. Evadale 17. Corrigan-Camden 18. West Hardin 19. Tenaha 20. Orange Community Christian 21. Port Arthur Memorial 22. Trinity 23. Kirbyville 24. Tarkington 25. Conroe Oak Ridge

And let me just add... I've never considered a person a coach if they aren't being paid to perform the job. I'm not saying that people that are in the position of coach do a poor job if they aren't being paid, I'm just saying that if they aren't being paid then there is no system of accountability. If it is a paid position, then you can lose your job if standards aren't met. As simple minded as the standards may be at times...there are still duties that have to be performed in order to keep the job. Youth coaches are volunteers. I think it's great that people do volunteer...and I think there are some decent ones out there. But...if the kids learn nothing. No problem. Kids learn bad habits. No problem. Kids don't win a game. No problem. Well...there obviously is a problem. But youth "coaches" do not get banned from coaching because of any of the above statements. A coach being paid to coach...is a goner if those requirements aren't met.

No, that sounds about right.

It seems worse the younger the kids get. College is fine. High school is terrible. Subvarsity is worse, junior high gets worse still, youth is a nightmare. "Daddy ball"...several youth coaches trying to relive glory days through a kid that couldn't care less. And since they "coached" junior...they think they have a say or an opinion when junior starts playing school ball. It's turned into such a trainwreck that it's getting sad.

THE reason I hardly ever go to games. When I do I usually sit in the press box with some friends on the coaching staff. THE reason I could never coach.

Not if everybody else picks the favorites too. Key is to get some right that the people above you miss. That's why I always pick 1 or 2 against the grain.. but this season is going as well as the last one did. I have some catching up to do myself.

Yeah, there's no telling what I'll actually do when I fill them out. I've been known to change my mind several times on these picks. But I do like to pick a game or two that most don't...this one may be the one I go against the grain on. We'll see I guess.

Well...you misunderstood big time. You must not be familiar with me. I doubt there's a poster on this site that defends coaches the way I do. I will never say, nor imply that a coach or staff is doing a poor job. I wasn't being sarcastic when I said they couldn't have gotten a better coach. Successful at several different schools including a state title. I used him as the example to a point I make all the time. Even a successful, seasoned coach like him needs talent. Not to say HH doesn't have any. But...they are 0-4. Back on topic. I'll pick HH in this one.

8-2, 9-1, or 10-0 guaranteed is better than maybe 9-1 or maybe 4-6. There are advantages of playing games that you will probably win. You can work on things will several different players in different positions..plus playing experience for backups is irreplaceable.

I'm not saying that at all. I'm saying there should be a balance reached between showing your kids that you know what you're talking about, putting them in situations similar to ones they'll be in when it counts, and not putting them in a position to be embarrassed. Two comments for what you said about scheduling up because their district is weak. I know a lot of teams that do that because their district is weak and it ends up not mattering...because they play crappy teams for 2 months before going into the playoffs. So it's like those preseason games didn't happen. And..I know of a lot of teams trying to prepare for a tough district..and end up with 2 wins or less on the year. Those are the situations where coaches get fired.

It's a good thing Navasota ran off their coach. Made him made enough to leave when they tabled his contract renewal at the board meeting. They really showed him.

There's no question that playing 16 games would be the ultimate season no matter the record. But..go ahead and tell me how often a team starts off 0-5 and ends up 10-6. There are only 2 teams per year, per classification that play 16 games. Getting manhandled in preseason is not the precursor for a state title appearance. Every coach in the state knows what kind of team they have, and what kind of season to expect. Most of them are trying to get wins...I guarantee it.

Not true. It is ONLY about wins and losses. You say it doesn't do a lot of good when your starters sit the 4th...how much good does it do when you tell your team every week that you know what it takes to win, you know how to be successful, and your system works...but they keep losing. They don't care how good the opponent is. They just know "we lost again". That happens...and you will lose your 16, 17, and 18-year-old kids mentally. Or worse...get someone hurt. There has never been a coach go 0-10 and not lose their job because "but we had a tough preseason schedule" 0-10 is 0-10...and 10-0 is 10-0. Nobody is looking at a team right now and saying "I know they haven't won...but they are really good". Sorry. In the scheme of things it's better to go 10-1 with a first round loss, than go 3-9 with a 2nd round loss.

I'm not saying you didn't "try" to schedule bigger schools. But...it doesn't quite seem that way. Evadale has been playing the Galveston O'Connells of the world for several years now. But. I tend to disagree with the theory of playing tougher competition. I personally think it's more important to have wins than it is to be tested and risk losing, or getting players injured. Look at it from a Football coach standpoint. You only have 10 games in a year. You can do 1 of 2 things. Or a combination I guess. 1. Tell kids your system works. Then Lose 2. Tell kids your system works. Then win. Kids and fans don't care how good the other team is. They just want success. So keep doing what you're doing Coach Williams.

2nd round. 3rd at the most. I forsee a respectable season, though. If they stay healthy I mean.

Any question that money plays a part in success? How many of those kids have 2 working parents, access to strength/speed camp all summer, and a healthy diet? I KNOW there are exceptions. But hard to argue.

Which part, exactly, did you read that you're considering harsh?

Hemphill is the perfect example that the players you have are far more important for winning than the coach you have. Everyone is always quick to pull the trigger on a coach when the team is losing. HH could not have gotten a better coach as far as experience and success. And they're still 0-4. Even good coaches can't win without good players.

Historic year. I'm about to pick HD for the 5th consecutive game on pickems. Historic.

Part of my point is this.. Sometimes you can't expect a lopsided game to be called exactly the same as a close game. Perhaps the officials just felt sorry for BC at that point. BC's coach started ranting about a call...so they threw him a bone. Who knows...and as I stated before. Who cares. I would like to think that in a closer game this probably would not have happened. Made a call after the fact I mean.. but who knows. Maybe it was just a bad officiating crew.

55-0 who cares

48-18 CC half

Also enough time to do something stupid and end up down 21. Turnover, timeouts from HD to force punt.. Go in at half and regroup.

28-0 CV. 2nd Qtr