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Mavchamp

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Posts posted by Mavchamp

  1. Can't argue talent hasn't been down compared to 04-09. Those years were just insane with talent.

     

    But I think the dry spell could be ending (fingers crossed)

     

    One of the 8th grade teams (red?) won the district championship last season.

     

    The 9th grade team was extremly competitive.... and that was with the #1 freshman QB playing on Varsity. Had he actually been on the freshman team......wow.

     

    The JV team was inconsistent..... but was close in most of their games. Longview and WH were blowouts I remember.

     

    Varsity is going to come down to talent that came up and those that learned from last season the most. The offense slowly came around last season. Defensive improvement is a must. Can't get much worse than it was.....lol.

  2. Couple of benchmark moments....

     

    1. 2 semi-final appearances in the 20's.

     

    2. Y.A. Tittle playing for the Mavs in the 40's.

     

    3. Tug of war in the 50's and 60's with Texas High and JT for district supremecy

     

    4. The 70's were just awful.

     

    5. Hiring Dennis Parker.... and then the fun finally started.

     

    6. Winning the district title in 1988 after 22 years without one- then advancing to the region finals and losing to Dallas Carter in the final seconds. I think beating Odessa Permian (the movie Lied) was the turning point.

     

    7. Advancing to the state semis before losing to Odessa Permain

     

    8. Winning the 5A Div I state championship 21-19 over Converse Judson

     

    9. Personally I love the teams in 93, 94, and 95..... I think Marshall fnished in third place behind Longview and JT all three of those years....and still managed to advance to the regionals TWICE as a # 3 team. I think this was the beginning of 12-5A's dominance until UIL crashed the party in 2002.

     

    10. Going 10-0 and being #2 in the state most of the year in 1996.

     

    11. 1997...... being #1 in one poll, while Longview was #1 in another poll....and we dueled to a double overtime Thriller. We were both #1 that season...and neither made the playoffs. Seems like we sat at home with a 8-2 record and Longview was about the same.

     

    12. Retirement of Bill Harper. He is still the winningnest coach in MHS history....and officially closed ties with the Dennis Parker era for Marshall football.

     

    13. Rodney Southern comes to town

     

    14. Back to back state title games in 04 and 05 showed that Marshall Football was still alive after 6 seasons of "close, but no cigar".

     

    15. Almost crashing into the semifinals again in 2007....but a heartbreaking loss in the snow/ice ended the Bid.

     

    16. Almost shocked the world again in 2009 when we were beating Denison by 13. The Tigers were picked to win it all that season. But a 4th quarter collapse cost us a trip to the semis again.

     

    17. Almost pulled off a mircale in 2010 too when the 6-4 Mavs nearly pulled off the upset against 9-1 Sherman. Bearkats held off a late drive into their terriroty for the 24-17 final after the Mavs had been down 24-0.

     

    Hopefully #18 will be hiring Clint Harper. Time will tell!!!

  3. Talk about getting people thats been through the fire! Wow!!

     

    I think Clint Harper made a name for himself in a hurry down in CenTex. That has allowed him to bring in some pedigree that some others may not have been able to pull off. Not to mention...... resurrecting a program with Marshall's history looks good on some of these guys' resume.

     

    Some of the talk on SDC, you would think we were in the same boat (no bashing intended) as PT and Nac. But the fact is, we are only 2 years removed from the playoffs and a playoff streak that included two title games and two regional appearances.

     

    Harper believes the talent is still there....and just needs to be cultivated. He says Leander didn't have near the athletes Marshall does and look at the success they had.

     

    Time will tell. He's put together a great staff for the gridiron. And his hires for the rest of the athletic department have raised some eyebrows too. He's brought in a lot of homegrown talent. The V-ball coach has tons of college pedigree, but she hails from Marshall and played on the 80's MHS teams that were neck and neck with the likes of Longview and Lee. Trey Hobson is heading the soccer team and continued their winning ways getting to the playoffs... and he's a 90's MHS graduate. The girls BB coach came from Ruston and had success there. And the baseball hire brings some NCAA experience behind him, but he's been in Marshall a while having been on staff at ETBU.

     

    I like the idea of getting people in spots that love the school. It's their alma mater in a lot of cases. So it bring a lot of pride with it. Who wouldn't love to build their alma mater in to a winner for the sport they love?

     

    Best of luck..... here's to hoping for big things.

  4. Jason Bird joined his dad on the football staff at Marshall this week, accepting the WR position. Bird played on Lake Travis' 2007 state title squad. That year he broke the record for receptions in a season with 153. Not sure if that's just a 4A record, a Texas HS record, or a national record. And it may have been broken since. But it was/is his for a minute.

     

    His dad will be the offensive coordinator for Marshall. The senior Bird served as the OC at Lake Travis before becoming the OC at Duncanville. He later served as the HC of a FW area school prior to coming to Marshall (Joshua I think...but don't quote me).

     

    This rounds out the football staff for coach Harper and the Mavs:

     

     

    Jerry Bird ----------------- Offensive Coordinator

    Barry Walker ------------- Defensive Coordinator

    Paul Sharr ----------------- Defensive Line, Assist. Ath Director

    Scott Hale ----------------- Outside Linebackers

    Brandon Joslin ---------- Middle Linebackers

    C.J. Lottingger ----------- Offensive Line

    Jason Bird & Victor Bennett ----------- Wide Receivers and tight ends

    Aaron Mitchell------------ Secondary

     

    Not a shabby staff at all IMO. Several of them have state title experience and at least two of them had runs at EF. I hope it all comes together for them.

     

     

    Also saw where Derick Dunaway was named the Head Baseball coach for MHS. He comes from coaching stops at Mary-Hardin Univeristy (including as HC) and most recently was on staff at ETBU as an assistant. Not sure it's official yet, but it may be.

     

    Ready for the season to get here....and see where we stand. It's only been 2 seasons.....but it's been 2 seasons too long....

  5. I get OK for gas..... but no hybrid. lol

     

    But it's unavoidable.

    I have to be in Dallas Friday and Sunday..... and technically Saturday.... but I'm going to play hooky to see our game. and maybe at least some of the Longview game before heading back to big D.

  6. The astrodome did Quadruple headers all the time back in the day. For whatever reason Texas Stadium and Jerrys World has never really been into it.

     

    I went to two of them in Houston. Made for some LONG.....LOOOOOONG days. But I saw some great football....and it was never cold.

     

    Good old days!

  7. Oh no doubt I go to more than the Mavs' 10 games a season.

     

    I think my record though came in 2004 and 2005.

     

    I attended all ten of Marshall's regular season games both seasons, then all six of their playoff games both seasons. Most of those playoff games were on Friday nights..... and I was going to the Lobo football playoff games on Saturday. And if there was an ealier or later game in the area....I'd take those in too. Lots of tripleheaders at Texas Stadium.

     

    IIRC correctly....there was one weekend I drove to Tyler for a Thursday night playoff game. Then drove to Waco on Fri because Marshall played Houston Yates that night. Drove back to Marshall.... then took off for Dallas that Saturday to watch Longview play in a triple header at Texas Stadium.

     

    Fun times.

     

    Always loved it when Marshall and Longview were both having great playoff runs. I'd wear my Mav T-shirts or hoodies.....and the Lobos fans would congratulate us on our win the night before while I was there to pull for the Lobos.

     

    Most Lobo fans. Not all.......

  8.  

    I do think it's funny though that you mention those powerhouses and then their losing season. Every single one has to do with demographics within their town changing. La Marque is as small as they've ever been. Permian and Midland Lee, well West Texas football is just not that good anymore outside of Abilene. Plano, I guess you can say it has to do with opening new schools....but when you have that many people in your school, you should be doing nothing but winning imo.

     

    That idea should be disturbing to a number of schools in East Texas. Mostly the larger schools: Lee, JT, Longview, Lufkin, Texas High, Marshall, Nacogdoches, Pine Tree. Their demographic shifts from 20-25 years years ago are startling. Are we are starting to see some of the shifts that you point out as affecting their programs??? Just not as accellerated as some of the high population areas?

     

    There was a thread on the Supersite about demographic shifts of many of those schools (had to delete it because of reasons that are too obvious to state here). But it was amazing how much some of these schools' demos have changed in just 20 years. 30-40% flucuations in some demographics. That's UNREAL.

     

    If it could affect some of those powerhouse programs.....hard to think it can't/wouldn't here as welll. Only time will tell.

     

    Personally......I don't care what you're demographics are. It's not about the overall demographic of the team that makes a winner, it's the program itself. Without pointing out the obvious.....

     

    SLC

    Converse Judson

    Dallas Skyline

     

    Three schools. Three very distinct demographics. All three are winners.

     

    Makes for some interesting conversation.

  9. The whole "wonder how they'd act if they went a few 2/3 win seasons" is an act of jealousy.

     

    Jealousy? History shows very few programs escape it.

     

    Ask Permian. Ask Midland Lee. Ask Plano. Ask La Marque (ad nauseum with any number of programs). All have multiple state titles and all have had 3-4 win seasons in somewhat recent history at one time or another.

     

    My comment was more about how Lobo fans eat their own even though they've had the success they've had. How could it possibly escalate any higher if they actually fell on hard times?

     

    I was at the Mesquite Horn game in Shreveport when Lobo fans were ready to run King out of town on a rail. They were BRUTAL. And what was it.... third? fourth round? And he's an idiot......right.

     

    I was at the Lufkin/Longview playoff game at SFA. Again......Lobo fans were in a fury. You would have thought the Lobos had lost to Pine Tree with the smack talk in the stadium. How do you crucify your coach after an amazing season like that??

     

    Can't forget sitting at Rose Stadium for that playoff game. Didn't have to hear the Lobo fans complain that game because I had to sit on the Lufkin side. Was pulling for the Lobos.....only to get home and see them kicking the coaches online.

     

    I didn't attend the title games against Lake Travis in person...but some of us remember some of the comments being made about a coaching staff that was good enough to lead to you to back to back 16 game seasons.

     

    Toss in the losing streak against Lufkin for good measure...... the critics were howling. Even though Longview would go on to have strong seasons with a loss to the Panthers.

     

    If a person went to those games.....or read these forums with no knowledge of Lobo football, they would think they were a subpar team instead of who they really are. I think the Lobo staff deserves better.

     

    Just seems to be lots of griping and complaining for a team that's had the crazy amount of success Longview has had in the last decade.

     

    That's what I meant by how would they act if they actually fell on hard times.

     

    That's not jealousy. That's just asking if there is a segment of Lobo Nation that is spoiled and maybe unrealistic in their expectations.

  10. I too think Longview will eventually get their elusive title. Too much talent not to happen.

     

    But it makes you wonder how the Lobo Nation would react if they were to experience a downturn like Lee, Marshall, JT, and Lufkin have all experienced/are experiencing.

     

    I think it would be foolish to think it CAN'T and WON'T happen to Longview.. History says programs are cyclical. And Longview is going on a decade of high level of play..... eventually a downturn will come.

     

    Hard to predict how their fans will react, because they haven't had a stretch without the playoffs/deep playoff run.

     

    They eat their own now.....I can't imagine what it would be like if they were to have a couple of 2-8 or 3-7 seasons.

  11. That would be great! Not sure I'm sold on it happening yet, but I'm definately hopeful.

     

    We just had a "perfect storm" of unfortunate things happen all at once to bring about the last two seasons.

     

    We were bound to have a downturn after the success we had from 2004 til 2010. It happens to everyone so it seems...... except Longview (go figure).

     

    Pay our dues now...and it will pay off later.

     

    I remember how difficult the 2002 and 2003 seasons were when we went 1-9 and 5-5. Next thing you know we were in back to back state championships and tacked on two more regional appearances after that. Made the playoffs every year from 04-10 if I recall correctly. Saw the same thing after Parker left. Had a couple of losing seasons.... then went on a terrific tear through most of the mid to late 90's.

     

    So here's to hoping. There are some people dancing on our graves around here.....but.... I don't think we are dead. 2 years down is hardly a trend to the dungeon.

  12. Scott Hale (Elysian Fields, Athens, Tatum, Henderson, Kilgore)- Outside Linebackers coach

    http://www.marshallnewsmessenger.com/sports/high_school/hale-joins-marshall-s-list-of-coaching-veterans/article_1e7cd955-367a-5773-8e14-1aca21a7be02.html

     

    C J Lottinger (Marshall/Belton/Longview)- Offensive Line Coach

    http://www.marshallnewsmessenger.com/sports/high_school/lottinger-no-stranger-to-mavericks/article_590c16a3-79bb-5b15-adaf-3d975766c63f.html

     

    Paul Sharr (FW Brewer/Flower Mound Marcus, Irving) Defensive Line Coach and Assist. Athletic Director

    http://www.marshallnewsmessenger.com/sports/high_school/lottinger-no-stranger-to-mavericks/article_590c16a3-79bb-5b15-adaf-3d975766c63f.html

     

    I'm interested to see the stories on defensive Coordinator Barry Walker and offensive coordinator Jerry Bird. Bird has a pretty impressive resume as the OC and QB coach at both Lake Travis and Duncanville. Walker came from San Antonio. Both had pretty stellar years in CenTex.

     

    Not sure who Harper ended up picking for the secondary coach position. Brandon Joslin took the middle LB coach spot and he's coming from Elysian Fields, so he's had some success in the last couple of years. I think he was the DC last season with their run to the state semis.

     

    Frank Wilson and Victor Bennett were retained from the previous staff. Bennett is a Maverick alum, and Wilson came from ETBU's football program.

     

    Lots of changes. Sounds like they got a great staff pulled together. Almost 130 years of combined expereince between them. Just a matter of pulling it all together.

     

    ------ non Football positions----

     

    Madeline Harris (Chapel Hill, Denton, Longview, Wiley College)- Volleyball

    http://www.marshallnewsmessenger.com/sports/high_school/lady-maverick-s-heading-in-new-direction/article_13c9aefd-7feb-5940-a008-fa6025499145.html

     

    David Aguilar (Ruston, Mexia, TVCC) - Lady Maverick Basketball

    http://www.marshallnewsmessenger.com/sports/high_school/lady-maverick-s-heading-in-new-direction/article_13c9aefd-7feb-5940-a008-fa6025499145.html

     

    I believe the only position left to fill is the baseball spot. Haven't heard anything concerning that.

     

    ---------------------

     

    Here is a pretty good article about Coach Harper and his relationship with his dad, who played a big part in his desire to be a coach:

    http://www.marshallnewsmessenger.com/sports/high_school/harper-bond-stronger-than-ever-on-father-s-day/article_263345bb-4ba3-58e1-b935-4d6215e7f03d.html

  13. LMAO.

     

    I remember Marshall having a similar problem in Henderson or Hallsville several years ago. A win was going to seal a playoff spot for us.

     

    The radio guy said....if you don't have a ticket before you leave Marshall, don't bother. Order a pizza and listen to the broadcast.

  14. School board meets today. Everything will become official and the names should be released.

     

    Coach Harper has put together a fine staff. Multiple state titles are between them and at least one I know personally (I work with his wife) that was a defensive coach in the semi-finals in 2012.

     

    Hopefully these names we have been sitting on for weeks will finally come to fruition.

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