trueblue82

The more I think about it, the simpler this matchup gets. Its basically gonna boil down to a battle between the Rams' O-line and the Tiger D. If Joaquin controls the line of scrimmage and can gain about 3-4 yards per carry, rack up the 1st downs and eat the clock, they can keep the score down because Reginald Davis and all of those other speedsters will be busy playing D. If the Rams can throw the ball a few times with success, they force Tenaha to defend the pass, keeping them from defending the run with a 9-man front as they have the past 4 years. This means fewer touches for Reggie, Assuntae, and Chavis. Advantage: Rams. If the Tigers get consistent stops and get their D off the field quickly, they get Davis & Co. more touches= more big plays. Advantage: Tigers. As usual, a low scoring defensive struggle favors Joaquin, a high scoring shootout= Tenaha win.

No disrepsect toward TCU or the Frogs fans, but conference invites are all strictly about business. Tamu is a good fit for the SEC when you consider the size of their stadium and their fanbase. Look at the rest of their conference: there is only one school similiar to TCU in there (Vandy), and they do not have the football pedigree of TCU. Other than that, its all large, state funded universities (i.e. LSU, Auburn, Bama), most of whom play in stadiums that seat 90,000+. If TCU expanded Amon G. Carter to 80,000, could they sell it out 7 times a year? I don't know, maybe ih8refs can answer that one. Tamu has no problem selling out Kyle Field, and they could probably sell another 10,000 seats easily if need be. Most SEC teams also travel well. Look at an LSU/Bama matchup: if there are 100,000 plus at Bryant Denny, 10,000 of them are wearing purple and gold. Could TCU draw 10,000 fans to travel that far? I don't know, but I'm willing to bet the Aggies can. Its just a larger institution with a larger fan base. I pull for TCU every time they play on TV, but you guys have let this "feud" get out of hand. I look for TCU to dominate the Big East as long as it holds up (we don't know what's going to happen over the next 5 years. I expect Tamu to take a few years to get competitive in the SEC, but it will happen.

ESPN is reporting that Mizzou's president says they will not go to the SEC, for what its worth. If the SEC does go to 16 teams, how long before the PAC-12 and Big 10 expand? Hopefully this is the beginning of a playoff system!

Joaquin is at Garrison. Not sure if its a 9:00 or 10:00 start.

Joaquin Rams: 1: Tenaha- L- would love to call this one a win, and I think it will be a better game than years past, but there's just too many athletes on their team. 2: Shelbyville- W- the Dragons graduated a bunch off of last year's playoff team, and we have a bunch of kids with a lot of PT returning for us. 3: Hemphill- W- the Hornets are under a new coaching staff, and I don't see them having it all together to stop the DW offense this early. 4: San Augustine- W- could be an East Texas Game of the Week. Last year was a barn burner, the two coaches know each other well. 5: Tyler AllSaints- W- had to go to OT to get a W in Tyler last year, its our Homecoming this time, so the Rams will have to be focused or this could be a "trap game." 6: Winona- W- just take care of business boys! Long bus rides stink after losing a game to an inferior opponent. 7: Arp- L- like playing Tenaha, except the 2nd group that hits the field is just as good as the 1st, where with Tenaha, you see the same 11 kids all night. 8: Frankston- L- I would love to be wrong on this one. Stop the Coleman kid, and we've got a shot. 9: West Rusk- W- if we are still healthy, I think we bounce back with a win. 10: Union Grove- W- if it comes down to this one for a playoff spot, I like our chances! Welcome to the sticks, pastorteddy! I see us finishing 7-3 and claiming the 3rd playoff spot in D92ADII.

I hope you are right on that one JJ. I just can't help but think that WR is going to be in the mix as well. We should know more after the first two weeks of non-district.

The real problem is the fact that we have had 50 plus years of liberalism infecting our government at every level. You now have at least 3 generations of welfare recipients whose only job skill is sticking their hand out and waiting for BigBrother to put something in it. Add to that the fact that our children are never educated about the system that made this country great, and you have what we have now. Liberalism run amuck! The former (thank God) Speaker of the House stated that for every $ the government spends, it creates $2 of private sector wealth. It is amazing to me that someone that stupid could ever get close the 3rd most powerful position in America. We have too many elected officials who seem to think that it is their JOB to compromise. It is their JOB to stand on principle and vote for legislation that fixes problems. Stop worrying about what CNN, NBC or the Washington Post is going to say about you!

Have not had a chance to go watch practice yet. According to what I've read and heard, we've got around 55 kids out, which is about 10 less than last year. Part of that is due to lower #s of boys in the freshmen and sophomore classes. I talked to Kain Yates the other night, he said we've got about 30 juniors and seniors. Hopefully our leaders will stay healthy. Part of our problem last year was losing 2 senior All State returnees on defense in the first game. Those were kids we were counting on to be leaders, and we never really recovered from that. Our scheme depends on being able to get stops on defense, and when you can't do that, you are in trouble. I knew with us giving up 30+ points in consecutive wins that we would be in trouble in district play. If our defense improves, I think we can contend for a playoff spot.

I'm talking about more long term. I just don't see anyone being able to put together a repsepctable schedule as an independent in a world where the SEC, PAC, and Big Ten are all at 16 teams. If we ever end up with a (gasp!) playoff system, independents would really have a hard time qualifying IMO, just from not having played anyone. If you are an SEC team and you have 10 conference games, do you really want the other 2 to be tough opponents? Think about it!

I wasn't talking about Texas recruits, I was referring to Notre Dame. I was talking about Notre Dame on the BCS berth as well, but the same could be said for Texas. Notre Dame could drop to FCS and join the Southland Conference, and if they wound up 12-0 the media would want them in the BCS game. Right now, UT has the pick of the litter in the best high school football state in the country.

Assuming ATM goes to the SEC, you have about the most realistic sounding scenario of anyone I've read. I don't see where being independent helps Texas. Years ago, when Notre Dame cut their TV deal with NBC, everyone moaned and complained about what an advantage that would be, but they haven't really been decent since then. As the conferences grow, the pool of championship caliber teams with dates attractive for a game with the Golden Domers shrinks. Don't get me wrong, for some reason, they are still the media's favorite team, and if they ever put together a 12-0 season they will probably end up getting a spot in the BCS title game, but they don't seem to be attracting the same caliber of recruits as they used to. Could be related to the revolving door at the HC office. I do think the Longhorn Network is a better deal for Texas than NBC was for ND, but I still don't see the Horns being able to put together an indy schedule that compares to what they would have as a member of a major conference. Guess we will just have to wait and see on that one.

The Horns fans really don't want the Ags to leave, cuz then they wouldn't have anyone to look down their noses at. Okie beats them too often, its hard to look down on a church school like Baylor, and Tech and OSU fans just don't care what the teasips think.

I can't answer the question because my team hasn't won a state championship. I can tell you that long playoff runs make you want to win state even more. Getting to semi-finals was awesome, but once you get that close, you really want to be able to close the deal. I followed a Logansport team that won state in Louisiana in the 90s, and it was cool. It would be nothing compared to seeing MY team pull one off.

They might be like a couple years back when someone said Alto only had about 25 kids out. I said if they had 25, 20 of 'em probably ran a 4.6 or better LOL. #s don't mean much. I would take quality over quanity any day.

Historically, Shreveport teams (with the exception of Evangel when they drew 5-star recruits from all over Texas) have not fared well against East Texas teams. Byrd is not West Monroe. Mavs roll!

That is how Joaquin has beaten just about every GOOD football team they've played since 2002. Keep your opponent playing D as much as possible. When its clicking, the Ram offense is one of the best defenses there is. I agree about scrimmaging Center, I don't see an upside for us or them. According to pineywoodssports.com, Joaquin still has a tentative scrimmage with Hughes Springs, but they are looking for one closer to home. I don't think it will be Center, because they scrimmage Palestine this week, then have a 3-way scrimmage with Buna and Deweyville next week. Probably gonna be hard to find another scrimmage date this late. Everyone has their schedule already made out.

Strange to hear that from WR. Do you know what their 2aday #s looked like last year?

Your boss and my wife sound a lot alike! I wonder if they are related.

I still haven't seen anything on our scrimmage schedule. Is it the same as last year? If so, we go to Garrison this week, then we have a 3 team scrimmage with Hughes Springs and Queen City, but I don't know that for sure. Any info would be appreciated.

My name is trueblue82, and I am a Smoakaholic. I have been in denial about my addiction for the past 2 years until two weeks ago, while on vacation, I started experiencing withdrawal symptoms. I could not find a way to post on SDC, and it drove me to drinking! Yellowjacketbacker, do you know if there is somewhere I can go for therapy? Is there medication available to treat this addiction? I FEEL SO ALONE!!!!

For Joaquin it is definitely Tenaha, then San Augustine. Shelbyville, Hemphill, and All Saints are games I feel we "should' win if we just take care of business. The SA game should be a good one, and Tenaha is just loaded with athletes, so they are definitely the best team we will see until Arp comes to Ram Stadium in October.

Abilene RB Herschel Sims went to Oklahoma State. His cousin, QB Ronnel Sims, went to SMU as an "athlete", and may see time as a receiver this year.

I'm thinking that the decision for Harris to leave had nothing to do with his win-loss record. It is my understanding that the dismissal was for off-the-field issues. If that's the case, then they did not make a mistake, and that late in the year, you don't have the option of looking for a good coach from around the state, because all of the ones worth their salt are already under contract. I have a friend whose son is in the Maverick football program, and he seems happy with the move. I don't think it would be fair to judge Coach Richter based solely on his win-loss record this season.

Thanks for reminding me how old I'm getting Lambo! 93 was 3 years after I played in my last Joaquin/ Tenaha game. Its really interesting to look back over the 10 years before that. Joaquin won in 88,89, and 90, and if I have my years right, Tenaha's '87 state semifinalist team only beat a 1-9 Joaquin team 13-7. I think that was the only close game of the 80s.

I knew I could count on you, buddy!