2025 ECC Football

Orca

Orca

Well-known member
This feels like a pretty interesting year for the conference - no immediate conference title favorite with a ton of returning production like Anderson was last year.

No shortage of storylines around these parts, though. Let's talk!
 
 
In Walnut news, they have made a new Twitter account with the hashtag "Change the Narrative" on every post. At the same time, they hired a new OC, Zyair Anderson, who was the freshman head coach at Colerain last year. Nothing says changing the narrative like poaching a coach from the Walnut Hills of the GMC.
 
Former LM football coach, Arryn Chenault, will be coaching DBs for Sycamore this season. I’m not sure if the re-hiring of Mahon is enough to convince any good player to stay at LM. As far as predictions go. It’s still too early. We will have to wait and see how Anderson does in the portal this off-season.
 
LaVoice said:
Former LM football coach, Arryn Chenault, will be coaching DBs for Sycamore this season. I’m not sure if the re-hiring of Mahon is enough to convince any good player to stay at LM. As far as predictions go. It’s still too early. We will have to wait and see how Anderson does in the portal this off-season.
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I have a very athletic nephew that played for LM Middle School this past season. I know his parents and just about everyone was beyond mad at how terrible the Middle School coaches were. No development, daddy-ball, and the young kids are actively looking elsewhere who are interested in football.
 
cincifbfan said:
I have a very athletic nephew that played for LM Middle School this past season. I know his parents and just about everyone was beyond mad at how terrible the Middle School coaches were. No development, daddy-ball, and the young kids are actively looking elsewhere who are interested in football.
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I have a kid on my basketball team who sat for 1 entire half out 126 halves and was I told by his dad that he could not support me anymore because of it. Parents are absolute turds. Tried to shame me by saying it was daddy ball - my kid plays as much as most and less than our best players, and shoots about 3 times/game. Thankfully, I am done coaching teams, although I will work with individuals, including his son, bc I care about the kid.
 
TonyC6550 said:
I have a kid on my basketball team who sat for 1 entire half out 126 halves and was I told by his dad that he could not support me anymore because of it. Parents are absolute turds. Tried to shame me by saying it was daddy ball - my kid plays as much as most and less than our best players, and shoots about 3 times/game. Thankfully, I am done coaching teams, although I will work with individuals, including his son, bc I care about the kid.
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Right, I get that. My brother isn't one of those guys, never interferes with coaching. If he complains, it's a bad situation.
 
cincifbfan said:
I have a very athletic nephew that played for LM Middle School this past season. I know his parents and just about everyone was beyond mad at how terrible the Middle School coaches were. No development, daddy-ball, and the young kids are actively looking elsewhere who are interested in football.
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LM’s 8th grade football team last year was something like 8-2. Most of their best players ended up somewhere else as freshmen.
 
I'd like to share my thoughts & experiences involving LM athletics. First, I live in the district. Nice piece of land, house, very rural, love the area. Teach @ another school, 25 minutes from home. Coached HS sports for over 35 years. Now, in my early 60s, simply too tired to keep doing that, primarily due to what is described here with many parents. They are VERY different nowadays, with their expectations (not all, but far too many are simply unrealistic, maybe even a touch delusional, with their kids' ability levels, willingness to "be coached", etc.)...I was very involved, as a supportive community member (my 2 oldest went to, played sports at, & graduated from LM in 09 & 2011/back when all the failed levies occurred and the state took over). I, like many others, poured my heart & soul into levy support for the district, but to no avail...state took over due to fiscal emergency. Many, my guess was roughly 40%, of the athletes & their families chose to leave LM and school somewhere else. I was lucky enough that I could bring my 3 younger kids to the district (open enrollment @ the time for staff members) where I worked. Dollars follow the kid, if you didn't already know...that hit hard. Tough decision, but what was best for my family. LM cut EVERYTHING of substantive value, both academically, as well as athletically...pay to play skyrocketed up to $651 a sport for high school, and $450 for middle school. Community simply chose not to support their school system. Fast forward to a few short years ago, & I'm coaching football @ another ECC school. We come to LM for their homecoming game. The parents, adults, even staff members, as well as kids, blocked our team buses entry (while the parade was slowly crawling forward) to being able to get in and unload for pregame, kids go to the RR, etc. They actually expected us to wait, vs simply halting the floats that really were moving @ a snails pace (it's a parade, so yeah), and finally our coaches just decided to have our guys get off the bus and walk around...this was ALL on the campus, no roads, just parking lots, etc. What happened next was simply unbelievable to me. Many, from ages of teens, all the way to some in their 60s, like me (an asst coach @ other school), started cussing us out, belittling and calling us names, and threw hard candy, water bottles half filled, soft drink cans, etc. at us...it was a complete lack of class, pathetic showing of character. I was genuinely EMBARRASSED to be a member of this community that day, and my other coaches knew so, and were simply shocked GENUINELY EMBARRASSED. I've helped LMs youth programs when my kids were coming up and playing sports here, donated time, helped to get Thornton Park off the ground back when LM youth football was going through tough times. The parents disagreeing, bickering with each other, daddy ball coaching, etc, was in full force then and it sounds like it's continued onto today still. The culture was and is still just pitiful, for what it really will take to turn anything around. Sorry for such a long post, but I felt compelled to share my story. Still live where I live, still love the area, and still am embarrassed to hear nothing has changed.
 
FootballPsychGuy said:
I'd like to share my thoughts & experiences involving LM athletics. First, I live in the district. Nice piece of land, house, very rural, love the area. Teach @ another school, 25 minutes from home. Coached HS sports for over 35 years. Now, in my early 60s, simply too tired to keep doing that, primarily due to what is described here with many parents. They are VERY different nowadays, with their expectations (not all, but far too many are simply unrealistic, maybe even a touch delusional, with their kids' ability levels, willingness to "be coached", etc.)...I was very involved, as a supportive community member (my 2 oldest went to, played sports at, & graduated from LM in 09 & 2011/back when all the failed levies occurred and the state took over). I, like many others, poured my heart & soul into levy support for the district, but to no avail...state took over due to fiscal emergency. Many, my guess was roughly 40%, of the athletes & their families chose to leave LM and school somewhere else. I was lucky enough that I could bring my 3 younger kids to the district (open enrollment @ the time for staff members) where I worked. Dollars follow the kid, if you didn't already know...that hit hard. Tough decision, but what was best for my family. LM cut EVERYTHING of substantive value, both academically, as well as athletically...pay to play skyrocketed up to $651 a sport for high school, and $450 for middle school. Community simply chose not to support their school system. Fast forward to a few short years ago, & I'm coaching football @ another ECC school. We come to LM for their homecoming game. The parents, adults, even staff members, as well as kids, blocked our team buses entry (while the parade was slowly crawling forward) to being able to get in and unload for pregame, kids go to the RR, etc. They actually expected us to wait, vs simply halting the floats that really were moving @ a snails pace (it's a parade, so yeah), and finally our coaches just decided to have our guys get off the bus and walk around...this was ALL on the campus, no roads, just parking lots, etc. What happened next was simply unbelievable to me. Many, from ages of teens, all the way to some in their 60s, like me (an asst coach @ other school), started cussing us out, belittling and calling us names, and threw hard candy, water bottles half filled, soft drink cans, etc. at us...it was a complete lack of class, pathetic showing of character. I was genuinely EMBARRASSED to be a member of this community that day, and my other coaches knew so, and were simply shocked GENUINELY EMBARRASSED. I've helped LMs youth programs when my kids were coming up and playing sports here, donated time, helped to get Thornton Park off the ground back when LM youth football was going through tough times. The parents disagreeing, bickering with each other, daddy ball coaching, etc, was in full force then and it sounds like it's continued onto today still. The culture was and is still just pitiful, for what it really will take to turn anything around. Sorry for such a long post, but I felt compelled to share my story. Still live where I live, still love the area, and still am embarrassed to hear nothing has changed.
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Going to see more of this as it appears the proposed state budget is cutting state funding to public schools to put more money into Ed Choice and Charter schools.

If that occurs, there will be more schools put in fiscal emergency. Inflation is absolutely killing school budgets, like it's killing everyone. Schools are struggling to hire teachers and many districts are cutting already. The 3% raises aren't worth it for many educators with their ever growing list if responsibilities. Combine that with the unknown of federal funding, schools in Ohio and across the nation are going to be really in a rough spot. People don't want levies as they are already overtaxed and tapped out. We are at a tipping point in this country IMO.
 
cincifbfan said:
Going to see more of this as it appears the proposed state budget is cutting state funding to public schools to put more money into Ed Choice and Charter schools.

If that occurs, there will be more schools put in fiscal emergency. Inflation is absolutely killing school budgets, like it's killing everyone. Schools are struggling to hire teachers and many districts are cutting already. The 3% raises aren't worth it for many educators with their ever growing list if responsibilities. Combine that with the unknown of federal funding, schools in Ohio and across the nation are going to be really in a rough spot. People don't want levies as they are already overtaxed and tapped out. We are at a tipping point in this country IMO.
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Amen cincifbfan, couldn't have worded it any better...
 
AYWBC said:
I know a QB from LM (a freshman I think) has been making his rounds at the private schools.
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Every once in awhile, there will likely be a kid or two who might choose that path, and be able to contribute at the larger privates (Moeller, St. X, Lasalle), but more than likely, has had no idea what that would entail...smaller privates, like Fenwick, McNick, etc. probably a better fit, better prospects. I've also seen scenario one play out for a few overly zealous parents, and kid, and that went down in flames. There have been a few that took scenario #2 route and did well.
 
FootballPsychGuy said:
Every once in awhile, there will likely be a kid or two who might choose that path, and be able to contribute at the larger privates (Moeller, St. X, Lasalle), but more than likely, has had no idea what that would entail...smaller privates, like Fenwick, McNick, etc. probably a better fit, better prospects. I've also seen scenario one play out for a few overly zealous parents, and kid, and that went down in flames. There have been a few that took scenario #2 route and did well.
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I don't live in the district but have had 2 different sets of cousins/relatives who have. One set of cousins growing up in the 90's and the other early 2010's. I worked/coached with a few coaches and teachers who have spent time on staff at various times going back to the mid 2000's. Our plumber where I work now was one of LM's starting QB's when Hubbard was the HC. The story/narrative of LM has been pretty consistent from the 1990's when my one set of cousins were growing up in Morrow till now - The district doesn't seem to offer a level of education, athletic program, or both to keep those kids around nor can you get people in the community to agree on ANYTHING. The only real constant in LM's district is the presence of inconsistency. Coaches come in w/ hopes and aspirations and within a year can't get out of the district fast enough. People who leave act like the community is the plague. In my teaching days I was told outright not to apply - it's not a place I want to be. Our plumber couldn't care less about the school and wishes he never would have attended. Residents with kids who are good athletes/students opt to send their kids the private school route; even though you're 20+ minutes from the nearest one. Both sets of my family members sent their kids to private schools - Purcell in the 90's & Moeller and Ursuline in the 2010s. When I coached at CHCA about 9-10yrs ago, we had 2 LM kids on the team - one was our best WR. We actually played and beat LM handily that season.
 
Fun2Bme said:
I don't live in the district but have had 2 different sets of cousins/relatives who have. One set of cousins growing up in the 90's and the other early 2010's. I worked/coached with a few coaches and teachers who have spent time on staff at various times going back to the mid 2000's. Our plumber where I work now was one of LM's starting QB's when Hubbard was the HC. The story/narrative of LM has been pretty consistent from the 1990's when my one set of cousins were growing up in Morrow till now - The district doesn't seem to offer a level of education, athletic program, or both to keep those kids around nor can you get people in the community to agree on ANYTHING. The only real constant in LM's district is the presence of inconsistency. Coaches come in w/ hopes and aspirations and within a year can't get out of the district fast enough. People who leave act like the community is the plague. In my teaching days I was told outright not to apply - it's not a place I want to be. Our plumber couldn't care less about the school and wishes he never would have attended. Residents with kids who are good athletes/students opt to send their kids the private school route; even though you're 20+ minutes from the nearest one. Both sets of my family members sent their kids to private schools - Purcell in the 90's & Moeller and Ursuline in the 2010s. Whien I coached at CHCA about 9-10yrs ago, we had 2 LM kids on the team - one was our best WR. We actually played and beat LM handily that season.
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In a lot of ways, this has echoed my experience as well. Very accurate also, with your description of coaches coming in w/high hopes, only to, I guess, F-Around & Find Out, just how out of touch many things & people are here. Then, next thing you know, those coaches can't leave fast enough, keeping the coaching carousel going round n round.
 
I think LM issues are also due to the insanely fast growth that the community is experiencing. Neighborhoods are being built at break-neck paces. So you have new upper middle class suburban values clashing with traditional rural ones. That gets echoed in the schools and sports teams.
 
cincifbfan said:
I think LM issues are also due to the insanely fast growth that the community is experiencing. Neighborhoods are being built at break-neck paces. So you have new upper middle class suburban values clashing with traditional rural ones. That gets echoed in the schools and sports teams.
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This 100%. Some people think we should be Mason or Lakota, while some of us still have the small town, small school mentality that was Little Miami until about 15 years ago. Also as Oak Hills and West Clermont can attest, huge enrollment doesn't automatically equal athletic success. I'm glad I grew up in the old Little Miami and I'm definitely thankful my nieces and nephews don't go there now! Not to mention our school board and superintendent seem to find a way to make the local or national news every few years with some ridiculous controversy.
 
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PeterDragon said:
Also as Oak Hills and West Clermont can attest, huge enrollment doesn't automatically equal athletic success.
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This right here!!!!

I don't know how many times I have to explain to people that those two schools and others don't have the athletes. People think the hallways are flush with D1 college football players that are just choosing not to play football. Communities need to come back to reality on their expectations for their football teams.
 
PeterDragon said:
This 100%. Some people think we should be Mason or Lakota, while some of us still have the small town, small school mentality that was Little Miami until about 15 years ago. Also as Oak Hills and West Clermont can attest, huge enrollment doesn't automatically equal athletic success. I'm glad I grew up in the old Little Miami and I'm definitely thankful my nieces and nephews don't go there now! Not to mention our school board and superintendent seem to find a way to make the local or national news every few years with some ridiculous controversy.
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Don't forget the police department - At least the one in Morrow
 
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cincifbfan said:
This right here!!!!

I don't know how many times I have to explain to people that those two schools and others don't have the athletes. People think the hallways are flush with D1 college football players that are just choosing not to play football. Communities need to come back to reality on their expectations for their football teams.
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West Clermont has had some football success since GE & Amelia merged; albeit limited. That community is also an example of folks who can't agree. Collins and Ayers were oil and water.

Oak Hills is a strange bird. You'd think by pure math they would have a decent team every handful of years but they don't. There's a running joke that as soon as they hire a new football coach, the maintenance guy digs a grave for him back in the woods. I think Justin was crazy leaving his spot in IN for that job.
 
Fun2Bme said:
West Clermont has had some football success since GE & Amelia merged; albeit limited. That community is also an example of folks who can't agree. Collins and Ayers were oil and water.

Oak Hills is a strange bird. You'd think by pure math they would have a decent team every handful of years but they don't. There's a running joke that as soon as they hire a new football coach, the maintenance guy digs a grave for him back in the woods. I think Justin was crazy leaving his spot in IN for that job.
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Agreed. Ayers is an awesome coach. I also agree on Roden, but I heard there were issues with him at East Central. But to each their own.
 
cincifbfan said:
Agreed. Ayers is an awesome coach. I also agree on Roden, but I heard there were issues with him at East Central. But to each their own.
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I think it really came down to $$$$. We spoke about me coming to East Central but he said all their pay raises are purely based on student achievement and test scores. No only does Ohio pay a little better, you have guaranteed raises and steps too.
 
Fun2Bme said:
I think it really came down to $$$$. We spoke about me coming to East Central but he said all their pay raises are purely based on student achievement and test scores. No only does Ohio pay a little better, you have guaranteed raises and steps too.
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That sucks badly. I had heard there was conflict with the admin too from more than a few people.
 
Walnut hired JR Allen as their new defensive coordinator, who last was the defensive coordinator at Taft from 2020 to 2023. Unlike the OC from Colerain, this guy at least appears to have a little bit of pedigree.
 
Winton Woods OL Lual Aleu and DE Jaylen Mercer, both rising juniors, have received offers from Florida and Michigan respectively.
 
Anderson DB Mark Madden, who transferred from Withrow this offseason, picked up an FBS offer from Miami U. It's somewhere around his 7th or 8th.
 
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