But using a much more accurate rating system Ft Recovery is listed at #7 in region 28, right between #6 Ansonia (9-1) and #8 Lehman (8-2) . So it will be as competitive as facing one of those schools, in theory.
Midwest Athletic Conference 2024
- Thread starter StateChampion2012
- Start date
It's amazing to think they have the top scoring defense in the state.
IndianaBanana
Well-known buffoon
Just when I thought I could put this terrible season behind me...
Realtalk though, I'm sure the seniors are happy to have one more game to play in this monkey's paw of a wish.
Realtalk though, I'm sure the seniors are happy to have one more game to play in this monkey's paw of a wish.
Why should they be punished? Did those schools push hard for the expansion of the playoffs to 16 teams?
Imagine being the head coach of one of those schools. You and your staff are already demoralized over the disappointing regular season - your staff would probably not be motivated to work hard this week. Your kids would likely have low morale and be at risk of injury.
It's no way to end a season that's already been a difficult pill to swallow - a long bus ride followed by an absolute butt-kicking that leaves everyone in your program even further deflated.
It's a nice thought to believe that these schools should man up and be Rambo for the week - but in reality they're being asked to do something that is really, really tough. These are not teams that have an outside chance of being competitive in the playoff game.
Their regular season was disappointing - no reason to look down upon them for not wanting to be massacred and probably feel embarrassed.
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Stirred not Shaken
Well-known member
No, these teams likely have frosh and soph. playing vs an almost sr. dominated line up like I said in another thread it is men vs boys nothing to be gained by it. Nothing at all.
Basement Bias
Well-known member
Props to the Fort! This is another reason the MAC is superior. The odds are definitely against the Indians but they're giving it a go regardless. Another week of practice to get better for next year. Sometimes you have to take your lumps & move on.
I agree that it takes courage for FR to agree to take on ML. At the same time, maybe it's repeated blowout losses to powerhouse teams that is the reason Fort had only 26 kids out for football this season.
Nope, I had heard from multiple sources from Ft Recovery over the summer that the lack of numbers is directly related to
the coaching situation over there....#1 reason.......
Stirred not Shaken
Well-known member
I would say that is part of the reason. I use to work with one of FR's asst bball coaches 98 - 2000. He said he would walk the hallways and ask kids why they didn't go out for football (this is not the 1st year FR has had low numbers maybe not this low) he said the kids wouldn't give him a straight answer, but his opinion was they just did not want to get their heads beat in on a weekly basis.
Edit: You have to win (success) for the players to come out for a sport like football where you bet beat up. New Bremen almost shut their program down because of lack of players, Schimdt did an amazing job of turning that program around, but he had to win for the kids to keep buying into the program.
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State2013-1
Well-known member
Hard to believe FR has gone from winning a state title in 2015 and having a 5-6 season stretch there of making the playoffs every year and nearly upsetting Coldwater to this...
Blue Jay Fan
Well-known member
Fort Recovery would likely blow out Cedarville and New Miami. FR's playing the game because if they declined they'd be ripped to shreds for being cowards. An anonymous vote would likely be to hang up the cleats and let's start basketball. FR gains nothing by playing this game and neither does ML. If you were a football/basketball player would you want to spend one more week practicing to get crushed by a team that beat you 62-0 already? Do you really think they're excited to play this game?
Basement Bias
Well-known member
I would choose football over basketball no doubt personally. I do think they can gain something if they choose to do so. Life is about perspective. ML does gain something by playing FR over the other 3. They get a better opponent to keep them sharp, regardless if it goes 62-0 again. FR has nothing to lose & everything to gain football wise imo. Another week to prepare for next year.
ex_dc_atc
Moderator
Props to Fort Recovery for stepping up to the plate. I'm sure there was no doubt they would.
I may get some flack from @IndianaBanana on this, but “I don’t like the coach” is one of the weaker excuses for not going out for a sport or quitting a team.
State2013-1
Well-known member
I mean if the coach can't help push the necessary change to keep them competitive, then is it really that bad of an argument? ML forced out a coach with a winning record in search of someone who could push them over the edge and stay there. Why shouldn't FR want the same. New Bremen got it.
You’re talking macro and I’m talking micro, and I don’t really disagree with you. It’s up to the admin team to decide if it should go in another direction. But when a kid says they don’t want to play a sport they like/love because of the coach, my experience is that the coach generally doesn’t think they’re as good as they actually are.
State2013-1
Well-known member
I mean I understand what you're saying but didn't FR have last years starting Qb not go out for football this year? Doesn't that indicate there is an internal culture issue that the coach can't get even previous starters to buy in for another year? You have to be able to make them believe they are actually playing for something. Maybe it isn't a state title this year, maybe it's something else such as community pride and starting the right path, etc.
I don’t want to comment on specific kids - heck, I’ve had my own kids complain about not liking a particular coach - but it could be the coach or it could be the kid, right? There are a fair amount of MAC girls teams (including ones with very successful varsity programs) that struggle to put together freshman and JV teams - do ALL of those schools have coaching issues? Or could it be the kids and their parents’ expectations are out of whack?
You went out for football your freshmen year, so if you don't play your next three years your quitting? That is like saying I don't care if you dont' like your boss/job, you cannot take another job because you will be quitting on the other employees.
State2013-1
Well-known member
That was just an example. Wasnt really trying to single someone out because idk the whole story.
It probably depends on the situation. I guess the FR parents could probably stick their knecks in a little bit and say you're playing even if you won't start because winning has so much more that goes into it than just the games (I'm sure there are kids on MLs bench right now that would be starting at other schools for example) but if the coach can't get the community to buy in then I guess I can't say I blame them.
I mean Goodwin talks all the time about reassuring the parents that they have the kids best interest at heart and the ML community believes them. Obviously the FR community hasn't seen the same results to believe the same thing, otherwise their program wouldn't be in shambles.
There are plenty of reasons why one wouldn’t go out for a sport - I’m just not a fan of “I don’t like the coach”. Maybe I was too rigid in my original thought, but I won’t budge on quitting a team mid-year
Stirred not Shaken
Well-known member
OHSAA is fortunate FR was seeded below 16 because IMO, I think the rest of the schools seeded below FR would have opted out as well except maybe for Tri County North.
Stirred not Shaken
Well-known member
Yeah after about shutting down the football program, NB was very fortunate with Schmidt. Will see what Forts numbers are like the next couple of years. Minster didn't play a frosh game vs ML, (due to small soph./ jr classes) low numbers happen sometimes at small schools.
BelowTheLine
Well-known member
Didn't New Bremen also do something with their middle school kids? Some type of athletic training program that was open to all MS students? I vaguely remember reading something about what New Bremen did.
Thavoice
Well-known member
Just think... those FR players can say they were beaten out in the playoffs vs the state champs
Here is a secret to some......MANY a player, on great teams, feel like they dislike the coach during their seasons as they are getting their arses handed to.them in practice, workouts, film study, conditioning, lifting, etc because the top teams are usually coached hard and it's not a pleasant experience all week.....but after the fact and you are winning games ya grow to appreciate and, yea, like the coach.
Alot of similarities to thoughts of your parents growing up...it takes years to appreciate how hard they were on you growing up.
I've said that for years. It's a go to for kids that usually gets a pass. Instead of saying they just aren't into the sport enough or don't wanna work that hard they play the 'don't like the coach' card and get a pass.
Here is a secret to some......MANY a player, on great teams, feel like they dislike the coach during their seasons as they are getting their arses handed to.them in practice, workouts, film study, conditioning, lifting, etc because the top teams are usually coached hard and it's not a pleasant experience all week.....but after the fact and you are winning games ya grow to appreciate and, yea, like the coach.
Alot of similarities to thoughts of your parents growing up...it takes years to appreciate how hard they were on you growing up.
footballfan545
Member
Does anyone know when league honors come out?
What happens if they were the 15th seed or 14th seed? Would they be healthy enough to play then? This sets a horrible precedent that when it gets tough, we can quit and nothing will happen. Obviously any of those teams would get beat bad, but isn’t Marion Local the program that other programs want to be. You have a small glimpse of what makes them so good. For the seniors on New Miami, this would be the first shot at playoffs for them. Don’t you think those kids want to play one more time. Both Lockland and Cedarville made playoffs last year and didn’t opt out of those games.
I think the coaches meet this week, to vote
Agree, you start the season, you finish the season. Should be no quitting once you start practicing for the season.There are plenty of reasons why one wouldn’t go out for a sport - I’m just not a fan of “I don’t like the coach”. Maybe I was too rigid in my original thought, but I won’t budge on quitting a team mid-year
macfanatic2367
Member
Who's everyone got for OPOY and DPOY?
I'll say Knouff for OPOY and Miles Pottkotter for DPOY. I think Anna's Aufderhaar can be considered. Led the league in sacks.
I'll say Knouff for OPOY and Miles Pottkotter for DPOY. I think Anna's Aufderhaar can be considered. Led the league in sacks.