Tim Cooper was a position coach on a team that lost to Minerva. Then promoted…..
Hey Tim / Tim’s family member, welcome to the thread. No one is denying Tim is an outstanding Coach. He’s going to be around for a very long time. Ronald Johnson has rebuilt several programs including Canton McKinley which has been Massilon’s whipping boy since he left. Ronald’s best years are behind him. He turned a basketball school into a football school. He went from just over 30 kids to 80 kids. Their last losing season was 2014. Has Salem ever went 8 years without a losing season in the history of the program? Have they ever went 4? Being the OC is a lot different that being THE GUY. He’s been incredible. If, and a big if they lose, to a Salem team this entire thread thinks they should beat by 3 scores. Or even worse, if they lose to them twice. It’s fair to say the pressure is on Tim Cooper. Ron Johnson will have this job along with just about any job that opens if he so chooses. My eyes will be on young Timothy on Friday. This is the biggest game of his life so far. My only question is if they lose, will his band of misfit coaching staff try to fight the other coaches like they did earlier this year. Hell, maybe that’s what this rivalry needs.
Fighting other coaches? What happened and with who
Hand shake line scuffle. I wasn’t sure if something happened to them or to someone they played.
Ok- we have been playing against west branch since before the NBC and I don't recall any issues, but coaches have turned over multiple times throughout the years. But the games are always clean hard fought games is every sport. In fact, overall the entire league is pretty good in that way.
Look at my post history. Just a Mahoning valley fan. No relation to Tim Cooper. I just know Ron John isn’t in his league. But I’m not going to wait 8 years to declare it. Thanks though.
I agree. Hard to compete with those Ursuline teams. They were fantastic.
I don't think they beat Glenville last year or Lake Catholic in 2020
My thoughts are wb's overall team speed may be better this year than the last 2 years, especially at running back. The last 2 years they had tough kids at RB but more like tight ends. Mullinex is quick, Perry and Jackson(?) can run and all are sophomores I believe. They are young but may be better equipped to make a playoff run - overall have faster receivers and a faster defense. The key is DeShields heath- as they go deeper in the playoffs he must be a big part of the run game too. But this team seams to have more weapons and more speed???? I am not discrediting what the teams did the last 2 years. They were outstanding. I just think this team is better equipped to beat teams later in the playoffs. Should be a great game Saturday night!
Mulinex is a much different type of back than Wilson and Marra were. However he goes down pretty easily while Marra last year was a guaranteed 5 yards. As for receivers I believe both Wilson and Hendershott would be better than any of the ones on this years team. Deshields being a year older is always going to make them better since we’ve seen how he can take over games. Cant wait for Saturday! I’ll never forget last years game lol
Vasj was really good last year too. They beat Ursuline in the regular season
All were very good high school backs. Keep in mind that I have a very small sample size, to me Wilson and Marra didn't have the burst that great high school backs have and neither could score from anywhere on the field. Mullinex is young but he is a good one and looks different than those 2. I saw Joey Jackson against Canfield and he made a play in that game that was very explosive. I don't think this years team is better or worse, I just think they have the type of kids than can make big plays later in the playoff. It has to be nice to have a debate about your previous teams and which one is less great!!
WB has a good shot to get out of region 13, but beating the region 14 champ will be a tall task- and I think it will be West Holmes who lost in week 15 against Chardon in D3 last year. That's like an entire season away if they get that far!!!
I was talking about last year. But yeah I agree they are the favorite in R13 this year
Here’s the thing about West branch, one injury and they cease to exist. God forbid it happens but still.
Salem was in the Mac and the AAC before Johnson. The Mac consisted of a very good Canfield Poland and Howland. My wildcats stunk camel stunk and East Liverpool stunk. But the top three of the conference alone would stand up to anybody in West branch was playing in conference and probably beat them by a good margin. When Salem moved to the AAC for a few years they were in the same tier as Hubbard Lakeview Liberty and Struthers. People forget liberty was very good around this time going to the playoffs several times and producing several Division I athletes, Hubbard has been good for 20 years, and Lakeview was a perennial playoff team as well. I don’t know where you get off by saying Salem played inferior competition at least not in conference.
Is that sarcasm, or do you actually believe that Salem’s EBC/NBC league/regular season schedule under Johnson is “more competitive” than the AAC schedules Salem was playing previously?
Are you counting on West Holmes to beat Glenville?
Canton McKinley football results by year
Marra made everything go last year, he was outstanding
Did Ron Johnson not play you when you were younger? As stated before, anyone can use statistics to make their point. Salem has not had a losing season in 8 years. No coach in the history of Salem can say that. I believe Coach Johnson beat Massillon 3 out of 4 years there. I’m not a stats guy, but I think McKinley has won once since he left. He is 5-5 vs West Branch which most decades would take in a heart beat here in Salem. In the 8 years where they have not had a losing season. They won 4 out of 5 heading into the Covid year. Last years game was arguably the best ever. Their were two instances before everyone made the playoffs where the Salem and West Branch game came down to winner got in, loser was out. Ron Johnson won both of those. Again, Salem has 70-80 players on their football team 9-12. No coach in the history of this program can say that. Is he an A-Hole? Yes, but he is our A-Hole.
Very true- can probably say that about most teams but they do rely heavily on that one guy..
I am not saying he wasn't outstanding- he was and so was Wilson 2 years ago. I just think the back they have now has more big play ability which may help them for if they continue in the playoffs., but yea, I thought both Wilson and Marra were good hard running backs. Mullinex is a sophomore and has a lot growing to do and will get better, you have to feel good if you are a WB fan- lots of good years coming at WB.
Ron Johnson is a very good coach for Salem. They are typically in the conversation as potential EBC champion in preseason conversations. He did a nice job getting that program consistently good and is fine where he is at. Salem is a nice district to raise his kids and really and he does a good job there. I am not sure that he would have lasted at Canton McKinley losing 3-4 games per year, they have much different expectations than Salem. I expect Antonio Hall to do some good things at McKinley (they have played really good football the 2nd half of this season).
I was more thinking early in the game why you guys got out of the stack i, or even the lack of being in it.
They also incorporate the Harlan boy at rb as well. Who also does just about as good of a job. Lots of good rbs
I think it’s really great you’re supportive of Coach Johnson. You can support him without making up tall tales though.
West Branch has done a good job developing players the last couple of years. I always look back to the Minerva game in 2019. Minerva had a young team and better players on the field and Harris and now Cooper helped the program reach elite levels and Hundley piloted Minerva into a downward spiral. Ken Harris did an excellent job and used that game as spring board- nothing but respect for that program. They were at rock bottom at that time.