Any News?

[Jack32]

What is the story in Springfield? I have not read anything on the scrimmages and how things are going so far. Will they be competitive at all this year?

[Emperior Ming]

They are just practice against a different school. Don't read much into them.
Let's see how the first game goes, then make a comment.

[chopblock]

I agree somewhat. The score does not matter as much. But did you move the football, kids know there assignments, were they aggressive, mistake free(penalties), come off the ball as a unit, were the special teams solid, did you not give up the big play on D, solid tackling, make the other team work for first downs, get some third down stops, put pressure on the qb, did your leaders step up and make plays.

I think you can look at this stuff in a scrimmage, so I disagree that it is just another practice.

Good luck SHS

[Jack32]

Yeah, I don't care about the score. I just wanted to know what they were successful at and what they need to work on for their opener. If they look like they made improvements from last year. Scores don't mean much...it's the things chopblock mentioned.
So does anyone know how they are looking?

[Irish87]

Interest in the Football team this year, is at an all time low. Many kids are in-elligible, support for the schools is low and overall community moral, is down. Expectations from the community is not very high, although the coaching staff's may be different. I have heard a lot of good things about the new Coach, but unfortunatley, the talent is just not there, again. From what I've heard, their O-Line looks decent, but the rest of the team will be small, slow and in-experienced.
I'd say, look for another 0 - 10 season, but thats just my opinion.

[Jack32]

Why is morale down? I read that the schools are rated Effective - which is pretty darn good for a school with no money. How are the players ineligible? ...and why is the interest so low? I remember reading the last few years about the excitement of the young team. Shouldn't they all be older now? Oh, or are they all ineligible? I saw on the team's web site about the 12th man - but still no interest? What ashame!

[Shiloh]

One of my nephews graduated from there 2-3 years ago, and I got to know a couple of the coaches, teachers and parents there.

First. this new football coach is a great guy and could do well.

Springfield schools are good schools, but that fact is not widely known and the perception is held by many that the schools are not good.
The truth is that the schools are good, the teachers are good, and the kids and parents are good.
From what I hear, and IMHO, they have 4 immediate problems.
1. A large segment of population living on fixed incomes (can't afford taxes or pay-to-play)
2. Many good parents and students leave Springfield after 8th grade for various reasons (like #1, 3 and 4)
3. An accepted culture among many kids (and their parents) that apathy, shirking responsibility, blaming others and quitting sports to work/party is ok.
4. An administration/school board that has NO plan/vision for high school athletics; They have supported the wrong coaches -like a 23yr old who was NOT ready, or even the best coach there, to run the football program. They did not support the other 2 coaches who have now both left; one a baseball coach who turned a dismal program into a winner (including their only state playoff victories in ANY sport in that school the last 2 years) with only 1 good senior player in the last 3 years-they were all juniors last year! And the other was a basketball coach who turned an even more dismal basketball program into a two-time league champion! They should have given that guy anything he wanted! Ok so the basketball coach was "intense", but he brought more people into that gym than anyone ever before (and wins). How many pep rallies did the basketball team have??? What did the school do to build excitement for that great run?? Nothing. Those administration "leaders" have NO vision for athletics.

There are still good people in Springfield. There are still good kids in Springfield. They are in a conference that they can compete in. I think if they fixed problem #4, the good in Springfield will stay, bounce back, and be winners again. Those kids deserve the right leadership. I'm not trying to offend anyone, its just my humble opinion.
Good luck to all the Spartans.

[chopblock]

Hi jack
Still no info on the last scrimmage against North. How do you get one of those 12th man tshirts(my wife would like to wear one to the games). Maybe some info on the new coach. What makes him such a great guy and coach. Just don't know much about him but would like too.
Good luck SHS players and coaches.

[Emperior Ming]

Chopblock,
Go to the Spartan Nation web site. Everything you want to lnow is there.
www.springfieldspartans.org
click on athletics and then the "12th man page".

[chopblock]

thank you

[Jack32]

So mum is the word from Springfield - no one is talking about the team. Hmm....Good Luck Spartans.

I ask for info. & all I get is t shirt information. What the heck!

[Irish87]

Jack,

I thought I just responded to these questions?:confused:
There is not much word out of Springfield, because there is not much to talk about. The season looks bleek and interest is down. Once the season gets underway, we can re-evaluate where the Team stands, and go from there.

[Jack32]

Irish,
Come on!!! Something is going on!
There is not even any talk about Ellet!!! Interest cannot be that low. What about the rivalry? No trash talk, no preview of the game, not even a slam about Yost's shorts. This is unbelievable! Maybe there is something really good about to happen and the coach is keeping it a big secret. Last few years there has been a little bragging, high hopes and trash talk and then the Spartans come out and lay an egg - so this year totally opposite.

[SPRAG]

Some observations as an outside observer "just listening and watching":

1. One scrimmage was cancelled because the team was "just not ready" to even compete against another team. Ineligiblity of players that could have made a difference hurts. Also, numbers are advertised as 47 players, but that is becasue freshman were pulled up so they could field a Varsity and JV program. NO FRESHMAN team - lack of players.

2. The scrimmage against North (which Springfield "never" loses) saw a loss 6-14. Kids were told that they "could have won" but everyone needed to play to evaluate talent.

3. The line which has been touted as the "anchor of the team" is very suspect to those who have seen these players in the past - they will have to have really improved to step up to a competitive level.

4. Talk of "The Shoe" and the rivalry with Ellet is low possibly because of the fact that SHS lacks a real viable chance to pull out a win, I'm sure Ellet coaches are confident the backups will be in early in the second half, if not sooner. The first real public capsule outlook of the team was just in the local newspaper this week - talk of a 5-45 record over the past 5 years puts a damper on excitement.

5. A coaching staff that no one really knows. Hard to connect with people that are not "local" especially the Head Coach - he's gotta stir the drink.

6 The impending doom of an 0-3 start before league play. Ellet, Green, Revere - not many pundits will give SHS a chance.

Those are the main conversations about football in Springfield - that's why there is no discussion of the nature Chopblock asks for - everyone focuses on the "impending doom"! Attitudes need to change, a run of top-flight players would help (remember the late 90s), MORE kids need to be committed to playing (competition breeds better effort).

Closing a "negative" post on a positive note:
SPARTANS, I WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK IN TURNING AROUND ALL THESE NAY-SAYERS. THANKS TO ALL THOSE FANS WHO STICK WITH THE PROGRAM THROUGH ALL THE HARD TIMES.

HURRAH FOR SPRINGFIELD'S RED.....AND.....GRAY!!!!!

[chopblock]

Thanks sprag. Anyone going to the game? Please keep us updated on game #1. From an out of towner who just likes to keep up with his wifes SHS Spartans.

Good Luck Spartans anything can happen on an given day.

[Jack32]

I heard the Spartans took an early 3-0 lead but quickly lost it on the return. 14-3 at half time then the lights went out! (literally) Power outage..game will resume tomorrow at 10AM

[Shiloh]

Are you sure they didn't turn out the lights to save money???

[Jack32]

Are you sure they didn't turn out the lights to save money???

I was thinking the same thing...either that or they did not pay the electric bill

[Shiloh]

I was thinking the same thing...either that or they did not pay the electric bill

lol!!

Does anyone know how the game finished??

[Pack Rat 24]

I have not heard but sure, but heard it was something like 60 to 3 in favor of Ellet. I guess the second half of the game just got blown wide open

[Emperior Ming]

Hey Pack Rat,
Get your facts right. The final score was 35-3 after trailing 14-3 at halftime before the transformer blew and there was no electicity. Ellet had 2 plays in the first half; a 90 yard kick-off return and a 66 yard run from scrimmage that led to their 2nd TD. Outside of those 2 big plays the Spartans played Ellet straight up the 1st half. They even had a shot to make it 14-10 just before the 1st half ended, when Mollohan under threw an open Boso on a fade route in the end zone. The pass was picked off with 15 seconds left.
Yes, Ellet blew Springfield out the next day 21-0, in the 2nd half.

[Pack Rat 24]

Hey Pack Rat,
Get your facts right. The final score was 35-3 after trailing 14-3 at halftime before the transformer blew and there was no electicity. Ellet had 2 plays in the first half; a 90 yard kick-off return and a 66 yard run from scrimmage that led to their 2nd TD. Outside of those 2 big plays the Spartans played Ellet straight up the 1st half. They even had a shot to make it 14-10 just before the 1st half ended, when Mollohan under threw an open Boso on a fade route in the end zone. The pass was picked off with 15 seconds left.
Yes, Ellet blew Springfield out the next day 21-0, in the 2nd half.

Sorry Emperior Ming, but if you had seen, I said that I had not heard for sure, but since nobody had any info, I posted what I had heard. I'm sorry. No reason to bite my head off, though, just saying.

[Emperior Ming]

Pack Rat,
Before you say, "Heard it was something like 60-3", get your facts straight. With Shiloh and Jack24 tossing out sarcastic jokes about Springfield financial situation, I just wanted you and anybody else reading what the real deal was!

[Jack32]

Can anyone tell me why Springfield continues to play Green every year? What a joke!! Green is a growing DI school and Springfield has been struggling for few years now - and has $ issues - people leaving. No wonder there is no excitement in that community. Who do they play next? Don't tell me another DI school...hey, next year schedule Massillon, St. Ignatius in addition to Green - what the heck.
Start scheduling lower division teams that are in the same situation (pay to play,etc)... and win some games.

[Shiloh]

Pack Rat,
Before you say, "Heard it was something like 60-3", get your facts straight. With Shiloh and Jack24 tossing out sarcastic jokes about Springfield financial situation, I just wanted you and anybody else reading what the real deal was!

lol

Thank you for helping us all out. lol :rolleyes:

[Emperior Ming]

with what's going on just about the team, Shiloh. not the community.
You want to know about the team? just ask...I'll tell you.

[chopblock]

Emperor,
any info you can give on the team is always welcome not the community. The team has not had much support except in the mid 90's. I guess you have to win, shoot the couple games I went to in the past there wasn't even enough fans to have 2 people for each player. I agree with jack get rid of the aquinas's, north royalton, green, revere. Teams like timken, waterloo, and a kenmore are always looking for games. At least until you get the program afloat. This team is going to be beat down before league play. Field use to do it and would be 3-0 every year and end up 5-5 (why not).

[SPRAG]

Chopblock has it right. Springfield isn't playing for playoff points, they need to get some wins to boost the morale of the players. By the way, REVERE is next on the schedule for game 3 after a 41-10 pounding by Green. I know leading up to the mid-90s "dynasty(?)" Jay Glaze scheduled teams in those first three games that he knew the team could beat (or at least have a good chance to, i.e. Central Hower) - it developed an attitude of winning. If Springfield wants a winning program, with a winning attitude - they have to find a way to build a foundation, some early wins would be solid building blocks!

Also, I can tell you why they continue to play Green - $$$. The crowd is huge on both sides. At Springfield, the attitude seems to be "come in to our house and smash us, we'll take the gate receipts" - sounds like those big Division I college teams early in the season (ooops, sorry Michigan fans, it didnt quite work out that way), then Springfield returns the favor by going to Green and giving them a win and they get gate receipts - guess at least one big gate every two years is good? I would think, two home games that are wins, with two average gates would be MUCH better for the football team.

The sad thing is, as the losses pile up at the beginning, kids will lose their fire and games that they might have won that would have been earlier will be lost because attitudes are down, kids have quit, or are nursing "injuries"...sad!

[Emperior Ming]

Both of Sprag and Chopblock are correct with the sceduling teams that are in a different class than Springfield. The problem is: "It takes 2 to dance". The new coach saw this brutal schedule at the start and approached the administration about it. He is trying to replace the Green and Revere games with teams that are "more suited" for the Spartans; at this point. The Ellet game and the "battle for the shoe" seems to be a good opener; cross town rivals and all.
The PTC looks to be wide open at this point, so there is still a lot to play for. Forget the non-conference scedule. The play-offs are not even a consideration at this point for Springfield, but conference play is another story. Revere went to the D-3 playoffs last year and will be very difficult to beat.
The new coach is still trying to find the team's "identity". I think after Friday night's game, some more questions will have been answered. Let's see how they do against Southeast in the conference opener. To me, that is the real barometer of how far the Spartans have improved; or not!

[chopblock]

I agree with waiting till southeast. The problem like sprag said is after 3 big losses the kids are ready to quit. Play a waterloo, timken, woodridge,kenmore. It looks as if field and ravenna are tough. I am guessing coventry is down and southeast got beat bad week 1. Kent ? Norton is unbeaten and un scored on. Go shs!

[Take It 2 Tha Bank]

Well, Tha Bank can show pros and cons for both and easy schedule and a tough schedule. Look at Barberton the last 2 years, they played the cupcakes of the City Series, won them all, going 3-0 both in 2005 and 2006, then going 0-7 in the SL both years. They did nothing to push their players and get them better by scheduling teams like that. All they did was falsely inflate their players'heads by letting them think they were good becasue they were 3-0. Also, look at firstone, they are now playing Revere (decent), Northwest (good program) and another tough team in week 3, not certain who it is. They took their lumps last week against a pretty solid NW team, but they are going to be better off for it later in the season and in seasons to come because they play tough teams.

Personally, Tha Bank believes you have to have above average teams on your schedulein order for your teams an program to grow. While they may not win them, Barberton has upgraded their non league schedule, and it will pay off for them.

[Emperior Ming]

The PTC championship should be the goal...right now. No matter what happens at Revere, everyone is 0-0 in the conference.
NOBODY worth playing will quit!! The new guy won't let that happen. I've watched this team and see NO leaders. Someone needs to step up!

[SPRAG]

Yikes where does SHS go now? Coach talked of meeting at the 50-yard line after the Spartans won the game to celebrate "Spartan Nation" and the Spartans take an absolute beating. It will be interesting to see how the kids and coaches handle that.

[Tressel4Prez]

Well, Tha Bank can show pros and cons for both and easy schedule and a tough schedule. Look at Barberton the last 2 years, they played the cupcakes of the City Series, won them all, going 3-0 both in 2005 and 2006, then going 0-7 in the SL both years. They did nothing to push their players and get them better by scheduling teams like that. All they did was falsely inflate their players'heads by letting them think they were good becasue they were 3-0. Also, look at firstone, they are now playing Revere (decent), Northwest (good program) and another tough team in week 3, not certain who it is. They took their lumps last week against a pretty solid NW team, but they are going to be better off for it later in the season and in seasons to come because they play tough teams.

Personally, Tha Bank believes you have to have above average teams on your schedulein order for your teams an program to grow. While they may not win them, Barberton has upgraded their non league schedule, and it will pay off for them.

The difference between Barberton and Springfield is HUGE.
That game would be a 48-7 blowout in favor of Barberton. Barberton has athletes. Springfield has NONE.
Springfield needs to play Ellet, Kenmore and Waterloo so they can at least COMPETE in a game for a change. Then schedule a team like Barberton, North, Marlington to upgrade your schedule after the kids taste a little victory (maybe).

[Shiloh]

The difference between Barberton and Springfield is HUGE.
That game would be a 48-7 blowout in favor of Barberton. Barberton has athletes. Springfield has NONE.
Springfield needs to play Ellet, Kenmore and Waterloo so they can at least COMPETE in a game for a change. Then schedule a team like Barberton, North, Marlington to upgrade your schedule after the kids taste a little victory (maybe).

Good point.

I think I'd still rather be a Springfield fan than a Tallmadge fan after hearing what happened over there.

So what's the latest about the Springfield football team?

[Irish87]

We should not hold the entire Football Team, or for that matter, an entire community, responsible for the happenings of a few select, confused children. Tallmadge is a great community with great people. They will get through this.

Tust me, there are many children in Springfield, that have made bad decisions as well. The kids need to be made aware of the incident, and its punishments.

[Shiloh]

So what's the latest about the Springfield football team?

?

[Irish87]

Shilo,
the H.S. Team stinks and will go 0 - 10 again. There is nothing new, and nothing will change. It will only continue to get worse.