yankeedawg said:
NDNTime said:
I would love to start there, but I feel that we have talked about that issue a lot lately. It seems that we have a lot of talent sitting on the bench. We have size and speed standing on the sideline. I don't understand why and I never will. You can say that its because of coaches kids, or family friends, or sour relationships with coaches...whatever you want to say. But I feel the way that everyone else on this site feels, I say that we must play our best players. However, you can't get the best out of your players when you have them going both ways. Some players have the capability of going both ways, but the big guys in the trenches have to have a break.
With the way things are currently going for the Indians,I would strongly question whether your are in fact playing your "best" players. why are they considered the "best"...( does "best" mean statistics on paper, the strongest or fastest, the ones with the greatest desire??) ... how does one know that the kids riding the bench can't come in and make the big plays that you need. Please don't take my comment as being disrepectful or critical towards any of the players or coaches, because it isn't intended to come across that way...but I'd have to wonder.. if the "best" can't get it done, then maybe the "not the best" kids who bust their tails at practice and pray that they get into a game, can. Just my thought.
IMHO, I think the problem is even more simple. All these boys have heard for the last year+ is "the fans'" obsessions about the new stadium. The emphasis has not been on the team, but instead on how much bigger and better will our stadium be than our opponents'. I've said it before, a stadium doesn't make the team. Our kids have played in some of the state's top stadiums down to glorified cow pastures, but our kids have always been our priority, not a stadium.
The seniors really feel let down. It started with the fire it up pep rally (if you want to call it that, I don't feel that the name suited that experience). All the senior traditions that they have spent years looking forward to have been tossed away for "our" stadium. The fact that a letter was sent home that announced the stadium's "grand opening" festivities wouldn't happen until next year was just another slap. These kids couldn't even have a complete working scoreboard for their first game. They don't feel important to the fans. It's all about the stadium.
If you don't believe it, ask them. They'll tell you. They have nothing to hide anymore. You needed to be at the gate as our young men left the field tonight. If their faces and tears didn't get to you, you are heartless. We as a district and fans haven't given them 100% as in years past and they deserve it just as much. If you don't agree, you are probably not involved with these kids on a daily basis. These are experiences and memories that can never be replaced.