Spartans Football in 2006

[Irish87]

Look for the Spartans to surprise a few Teams this year. They have a lot of experienced players returning. Pretty much all of their Offense is back, most of the Defense, and with a few years under the new Coach, they should be more effective on both sides of the ball. The area that needs the most improvement, is in the Defensive backfield and Special Teams.

I think a lot of teams will take them for granted this year, not expecting a lot from them.

Any thoughts?

[tallmadge H2 dad]

Our youth football has played you guys the last few years. It seems that overall, your youth program is in good shape. I had to laugh though...last year, I show up at the game (my son played C team) and 2 guys I went to Springfield with are there. They promptly ask where my maniac son is, so I point him out. I then return the question, and they proceed to point out their 2 kids...both girls!!! They seemed to be pretty decent too!! My son asked me if it was ok to hit them in the game:laugh:

[Irish87]

I am very active with the Springfield Youth program. The program is coming around. There are some good people running it at this time, but the players talent level, is sporatic. Every 4-5 years, they can produce a decent JV or Varsity team. Problem is, many of these kids stop playing by the time they reach High School. In my opinion, its not the coaches at the Youth level that create this problem, but more, the High School Football program not showing enough interest in the Youth program. Rarely, do you see any of the coaches at the practices, or offering to help in any way. That has to change if they want to be succesful at the H.S.

If the H.S. can turn its program around, and start winning again, the interest will be revived, and Springfield can be competitive once again. This years group of kids, hopefully, will make that happen. These kids have the most potential I've seen, in a long while in Springfield. I look for them to win 5, maybe 6 games this year(i hope).

I think we had 3-4 girls plaing youth last year, and your correct, they all were excellent football players. I hope they sign up again this year. Its fun watching them beat up on the boys.

[Shorty]

Is entering the PTC helping the mindset for the football team yet?

[Irish87]

I think changing Conferences has definately helped with their confidence. They know the talent level in the PTC is nowhere near the level it was in the NBC. Therefore, going into their 2nd season, they believe they can compete and win against/with teams like Field, Coventry, Norton and Crestwood. The Basketball and Baseball teams have already proven that. The Basketball Team won the Conference Title last year and I believe the Baseball team was runner-ups.

This will be an exciting year for the Football Team. The playing field has drastically evened out, since Ravenna graduated a lot of players, and Southeast is with out "super" Joe Knopick.