Game On

August 31, 2007

Here we are again. Once again the ‘Dogs prepare to battle. It’s funny how this all goes in cycles. Last year I felt like I had a great grip on all the players and how things were going to go down. This year, I’ve never heard of a very large number of the kids on our roster. Pretty sad for the guy who writes all the stuff on the team’s unofficial website, huh? To tell you the truth though, I like seasons where it is a development project. There is so much pressure in a season like last year. If you don’t win the section, you think you had a bad year. When you are so good, much of the improvement you see is in small subtle doses. Get in a season where you are playing 3 frosh and 4 sophs, and you can see such marked improvement even week to week sometimes.

I used to want to be a football coach. When I hit the megamillions tonight that dream may be realized. Anyway, one thing that has faded it ironically enough is all of the high level ball I’ve watched the last several years. The last 2 seasons I’ve watched all of the state finals games. While I’m sure those kids are having a great experience and I would never ask for removal of the state playoffs, I just can’t see their faces. They are just a bunch of very well trained football players. The time when I go back to wanting to be a coach is when I go to a practice and I see DK or RA or WK or whoever teaching these kids. I love the strategic aspects of the game, but even more I love seeing kids learn the game. Seeing those wheels turn, then seeing them improve, then seeing them execute in a game. That’s so different than just going to the dome and watching the very end result. That’s fun, but it makes me want to have only a small part to do with it.

One of the most exciting seasons to me was 1993, when sophomores Warren Kelly, Rich Mokay, Corey Ackerly, and 4 others were on the 5-4 varsity team, and the JV’s, led by Brooks McMurray, Greg Balcavage, and Brad Bell went undefeated. You knew Delhi football was going way uphill then.

I know stars can do great things. Tomorrow I look forward to people who haven’t had any limelight stepping up and playing varsity ball.

Last year, I was always saying what I thought we needed to do to win. I’ll give only one simple thought this year…..take the ball. The Bulldog line has nearly always been to defer if we won the coin toss. I certainly agree that having the ball to start the 2^nd half can be a great way to set the tone of that half. This year, with intimidation being a potential factor on both sides, I say we take the ball and score as quickly as we can.

Here are my week 1 picks….Adirondack (class C over class AA), Henninger, Proctor, CBA (once again I’m a loyal IVFAN), Groton, Dryden, Waverly, Sidney, Trumansburg (good game I think), BG, Candor, Lansing, Eldred, Johnson City, Chenango Valley, EFA, Forks (another good game), Corning East, Sus Valley, Moravia, Deposit, Walton, Oxford, Fayetteville-Manlius, Newfield, Unatego (had Oneonta, but there are a couple injuries), and Odessa.