As a Pickerington fan, I think this narrative gets overblown a lot. People forget real quick that the ‘22 class had less than 15 total players as freshman (Hillerich's 2nd year), and very few were multi-year letterman. Phillips is now notorious for driving programs in the ground, seeing bare cupboards coming up (or kids transfering out), and then bailing instead of developing. As talented as the ‘23 class was, there was, again, about 17 total freshman on the team. I believe there were 2 division 1 football scholarships to non-"power 5" schools, and they have yet to play to my knowledge. Since Hillerich has taken over, the total players switching between the schools has dropped dramatically. He's had his fair share of move-ins (just like a lot of big, notable programs). Gahanna had 5 starters on last years' team, and they consistently bring in 2-3 players from smaller and city-league schools, but people don't bring it up as much. Do individual coaches, game-planning, and “play-calling” sometimes leave you scratching your head? Of course; all programs everywhere have this issue. Everybody seems to be an expert at the peewee, jr high, high school, college, and NFL level. Everyone here is guilty of criticizing their team at some point and thinking/saying "WTF is this?". Check my history, and I've been one of the bigger critics of my Tigers for the exact same things that North is now. Poor offensive playcalling, poor discipline, seem to lose with a ton of talent, etc. I still maintain the 2010 team that couldn't beat Davidson was one of the best to never win it all. Only one team wins it all, and it's been the same 2 teams at the top the last 3 years!
At some point, it’s a disservice to great teams like Liberty, Gahanna, and Upper Arlington to consistently say that North has better athletes and should win. Having the best 2-3 athletes doesn't mean much if the rest of your team isn't that caliber. Watching the game Friday night, North definitely had the top 2-3 athletes, but the next 7 were playing for Olentangy (especially the O-line). Only 1 starter for North's line would start on Liberty's o-line. Saying anything else diminishes other teams' accomplishments! Other than Bowman, Annarino, and Taylor, who would any Liberty fan want on their team from North? (Maybe #9?) Does North do a good job promoting their players for the next level? Yes, and I am envious of it. I think a lot of programs would benefit trying to promote their athletes because isn't that a large part of what playing division 1 football is? To continue playing a game we all love, help become a better person, and give opportunites that would otherwise not be available.
It also diminishes the accomplishments of the team. Regional runner up is not something to snub (it hurts in the short-term). Do Tiger or Liberty fans look back and say, "Man, what should have been?" because of loses to great teams in the state final 4 (1 game after regional finals)? Or, do they celebrate accomplishments? I look back (other than 2010 season), and celebrate what was accomplished, and remember the fun times I had cheering on the players with my friends and the community. Central was creme of the crop for 15 years, and consistently had 3-5 divison 1 power 5 players every year. It was never rebuild... It was reloard. Watch the Indiana game, and you'll see 3 on defense that won the '17 and '19 state championships. Another one is a 3-time captain at Duke, and is now starting in the NFL. That's just the notables on defense! Coach Lomonico has gotten a lot of slack the last couple of years, but I maintain these things are cyclical. Everyone should look out... Tigers are on the rise! I just wish we can finish one game without cheap shots or punches thrown, and be able to shake hands at the end of the game because it was a good game!
My point is, everybody's got an opinion and talks a big game behind a computer screen. If you're so knowledgeable and great, apply, and maybe get your $4,000 contract. (The athletic contracts are not automatically renewed each year in Pickerington) Have fun dealing with parents, school board, boosters, fundraising, practice schedules, game schedules, and entitled hormonal teenagers. I will continue cheering/watching and be entertained by the accomplishments of the kids in my community.
maybe