"The
Pulse"
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I am proud and excited to have the
opportunity to write for TEDSILARY.com, which is the foremost site for Philadelphia area
sports (and the only, which makes this title easy to give out -- smile). I hope that I
will be able to entertain/inform all the visitors to TEDSILARY.com with my articles. The
format will be somewhat different than what you are used to finding here. Sometimes I will
submit informational articles about sports in the city. Other articles will voice my
opinion about things that I believe in. Some articles will feature question from the
readers about anything sports related that I will post and answer. No matter what, I will
try to be entertaining and informative, and always honest.
For "The Pulse's" complete mission/introductory
statement, click on this link -- http://members.aol.com/pulse2001.
Send your comments/questions/suggestions to "The Pulse" at Pulse2001@aol.com
NOV. 26
FINAL SUBMISSION FOR 2001
Thanks for checking the Pulse for the last time this football
season.
Let me start by saying thank you to all of the visitors, fellow writers, and
especially Ted for the opportunity to share my opinions this year on Catholic League ball.
Due to some extraordinary circumstances, I could not submit as much as I would have liked
to. But, when I did chip in, I hope you found my views entertaining and informative. It is
my sincere hope that I will be able to return next season and do the same. My email
address will stay active, so if you ever want to shoot it, drop me a line. Or, if you
AOLers do see me online, feel free to instant message me.
Special thanks to those, who through the course of the season, did drop me a
line. It was fun interacting with you more directly and I think the friendly banter was
healthy.
Now to the subject at hand…football. With Championship weekend on the
horizon, I feel that I need to make predictions about the outcomes. Best of luck to all
four of the teams. You are all winners already.
I'll handle the blue division first. Here we have Wood, coming off a string
of impressive victories versus Carroll, who has handily dominated their league. Now,
because I was a 5'7" 160 linebacker, I always seem to find myself rooting for the
underdog. The problem with this is that it can sometimes cloud sound judgement. Well,
although I do wish Wood luck and success, I can't pick them to win this game. Carroll is
just too good for this division and too physical. So, I pick Carroll to win its second
consecutive blue division title.
Now for the Red division. I have been very up front about the fact that I was
the first one to predict the success that the Bonner Friars have experienced this season.
I also said that the Friars would beat the Prep during the regular season only, to lose to
them in the championship. Well, part A of the 'Pulse pick' did not happen. Will part B
happen? I am not sure. The only reason why I am even considering changing lies in the
secret of my real identity. I guess it is explanation time…
WHO AM I?
I have been basically giving you all hints as to who I really am
throughout this entire season. If you look back on my submissions, you will see that one
thing is constant; my hatred for realignment. Well, what does that have to do with who I
am? Look into it a little (in fact, there is even a hint in this submission!). You all
know that I am a former player and former coach. This I have said from day one. But who
did I play/coach for?
The fact that I am not a fan of realignment tells you that I must be
affiliated with a school that voted against realignment. With some exceptions, I think
that every school in the blue division wants/wanted to be realigned. And, every school in
the Red division (you just missed another hint) felt they were being screwed by having to
play this type of schedule. Therefore, one can reasonably conclude that I must have
played/coached for a Red division, team as opposed to a blue division team (another hint).
For those of you that haven't picked up on this yet, the "hint" that I am
referring to (and have typed all year) is that the Red division is always typed with a
capital "R", while blue division is always typed with a lowercase "b."
So, now we know approximately where I played/coached. I obviously played in a
time where there was no realignment (ya know, North/South football), and coached when
there was realignment. I have also said that I have watched a championship as a player
(from the stands, which means the team I was on never made it when I played), and coached
a team that has won. This leaves 3 possible teams that I could have coached for: La Salle,
Roman, and O'Hara.
Another hint (which in light of the circumstances above have now proved to be
a complete giveaway) can be found in my game attendance. In mostly all of my submissions I
have seen the same team play…..and that team was the Lions of Cardinal O'Hara. So, it
is with great honor that I say my name is Joe Di Tullio, Class of 1997, first team All
Catholic linebacker under the tutelage of George Stratts, under which I had the privilege
of coaching and winning the Catholic League title for the year 2000! And, I without a
doubt bleed O'Hara Blue!
I mean, come on, why else would I like a guy like Kevin Hanlon so much? Its
because, like me, Hanlon is blindly loyal to his alma mater, without ever wavering. It is
guys like him, and Kevin Laukitis from North, that make Catholic League football great.
They show blind allegiance without ever faltering, through the good times and the bad. And
every school has them, its just some schools have more than others.
Now that you know who I am, let's go back to the original question… why
might I be changing my pre-season pick for who will win? The answer can be found from a
recollection of an absolutely true story about the Red division championship last year,
O'Hara vs. Prep. An the story is named….The Letter.
THE STORY OF THE LETTER…
Last year, the O'Hara Lions went into their game with the Prep as heavy
underdogs… much like the Bonner Friars are this year. The week before the game, the
Prep administration sent a letter to all the parents of the Prep players, as well as
alumni. In that letter, the President of the school commented on how the game would mark
the Prep's first undefeated season in 30 years (or something) and would also mark the
Prep's first championship since 1997. The student body was going to get a half day off
from school, and the other half of the day was going to be spent going to a victory party
that was to be hosted by Via Sikahema. Parents, students, and alumni were all set to
attend, and the event would be a smash hit.
All week long, Preppers flooded Ted's site, speaking of imminent victory.
Hell, there was even a section on the site dedicated to which team was better, Prep or
Carroll. The mood was right for an upset. Then, December 1st came, and with it, the
victory plans died. O'Hara 35, Prep 10.
That brings us to this year. The Prep was guilty of counting their chickens
before they hatched. They are not guilty of this in 2001. There haven't been many random
thoughts by Prep people trash talking. I have no proof, but I highly doubt a similar
letter was circulated through the Prep this year…no one is that stupid or vain. This
year's Prep team has a quiet confidence about them. This time last year, they were the
hunted. This year, they are the hunters. They posses the attitude like they have been here
before, and that nothing is going to stand in their way. So, my pick for the Red division
championship remains the same, Prep over Bonner.
A FINAL FAREWELLL…
That concludes a great year of football. Congrats to all the parents,
players, coaches and fans who all make Catholic league football great. Realize the people
who you are teammates with, or rooting for now will be the one is you remember for the
rest of your lives. Always keep that in mind.
You have checked the Pulse . . .
NOV. 11
After almost a month hiatus you once again have found
The Pulse of Catholic League football. And, you have found him at the right time of
year…PLAYOFF TIME! I went through a self imposed absence from the site, due to a
death in the family and my overbearing work schedule. Thanks to those who have emailed.
NOTES FROM O'HARA vs. LA SALLE
I went to the O'Hara vs. La Salle game this Saturday night, thinking that I
would be in for a great game. Well, to some extent I was wrong. O'Hara dominated on both
sides of the football, resorting to their air attack on offense. Tom Convery
scored more often than [toned down by Ted - smile]. Colin Smith had all sorts of
time to throw the ball, thanks to Mike "Tuna" Bucella and the
rest of the crew. By the way, Bucella made his defensive debut and showed surprising
agility for a kid that is shaped like the Liberty Bell. How is it that the score was only
21-6, you say? Well, my feelings would be best expressed to the tune of a tremendously
popular (and annoying) Christmas song…"On the first playoff game, O'Hara was
called for….3 personal fouls, 2 offensive holdings, 1 illegal chop block, 1 clip on a
punt return, for about 100 yards in penalties!"
Ed Sabia led the La Salle defense with a host of tackles. QB Joe
Winning (great football last name) showed very impressive arm strength on both
long a short routes, but faced constant pressure from the Lions Defense. Winning fell more
than a blind roofer does. Sean Miller is a solid player, though.
Mike Graham's overly athletic interception looked a lot like some of the stuff
that UNC's Julius Peppers does every week. Great football!
To confirm Sparky's report, All Catholic G Pat Sweeney did
suffer a broken leg and will be sorely missed for next week's game against the Prep.
Several players from O'Hara's 2000 Catholic League Champion team were seen in
attendance. QB Mike Lomas, OL/DL Mike Terenick, DL Lamar
Woodland, and FB Greg Watson all made their presence known.
ALL CATHOLICS
Two site visitors emailed and asked what my feeling were on the all catholic
voting that goes on. Well, my thoughts are simple. Just because you are not an all
catholic league player doesn't mean that you aren't valuable to you team. All Catholic
voting can sometimes be a very political thing, with some teams holding grudges against
other teams, which can influence the voting. I was a first team all catholic linebacker,
and in all honesty it was an extreme honor. But in all honesty, if I could have traded my
all catholic letter for a Catholic League Championship my senior year, I would have in a
heartbeat.
I am not belittling the all catholic distinction by any means. If you are
fortunate enough to be selected, you should be proud. You are now a member of a club that
greats such as Rich Gannon, Frank Wycheck, Marvin
Harrsion, and "The Pulse" are apart of. It is a brotherhood that few
can share. But, if you were not selected as an all catholic, do not think that your talent
and ability has gone unnoticed. Everyone has a role to play on a team, and as long as you
play that role well, that is all that matters. Congrats to all catholic league players,
from the all catholics to the benchwarmers, from the left tackles to the left outs. You
all make the league great.
CO-MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS?
To be honest, I am not at all a fan of the notion of co-league MVPs.
Not that both players didn't deserve it, but there really should be only one. It is kind
of oxymoronic to say there is more than one most valuable player. Think about it,
neither Kyle Ambrogi nor Kevin Le Sage can say with 100
percent certainty that they are the most valuable. Hypothetically, if someone came
up to either one of these guys and said, "Hey aren't you the most valuable
player?" They would have to respond, "No, because there is one other player that
is as valuable as I am. So, I can't, in good conscience, say for sure that I am the most
valuable because there is also another player that is as valuable as I am." Do you
think that that either one of those guys will give that answer?
A QUESTION OF ETHICS???
Let me pose this question to everyone, and dammit I want some
repsonses! Either email me or post them in random thoughts.
How is it fair that the two fields that are mainly used in the Catholic
League playoffs are the home fields of only a few teams in the league? Plymouth Whitemarsh
is the home field of the Prep and Mc Devitt, while Northeast is the home field of North
(not that we have to worry about them making the playoffs, Ba-Dum Chi!), Judge, Ryan, and
Dougherty. Does this give these teams an advantage by them essentially playing a home game
when they should be at a neutral location? Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Check back soon for the Pulse's synopsis on further playoff action and
opinions on Thanksgiving games.
Thanks for checking The Pulse . . .
OCT. 19
Thanks for checking the pulse for your weekly
Catholic League opinions...What? I said thanks for checking the pulse for your weekly
Catholic League opinions.
I wanted to take the time out to back up my fellow writer Sparky for his
comments on Carroll running up the score and pulling 4th quarter moves that are a
disgrace. It shows a real lack of testicular fortitude to drop the team that whips you
every Turkey Day from your schedule (Malvern), and then vote against joining the Red
division following a season where all Carroll did was complain about realignment.
From a personal perspective, I know Dan Bielli from
coaching. Off the field, he is a really good guy. But I can name several incidents he has
let his assistants get away with far too much. I won't do so, but reading Sparky's article
will let you know who exactly I am talking about.
I also do not blame the players on Carroll's team. As a player, you are
taught to listen to your coaches and run the plays that are called. To talk trash on this
site about who is the best is one thing, but to embarrass fellow players that you are
playing against is not in players control.
All the Carroll coaching staff has guaranteed is that when All Catholic
voting time comes around, there will be less Carroll players voted for by other teams.
Besides, why should the league reward Carroll's classlessness by bumping them up to the
Red division?
WEEKEND OUTLOOK
Prep @ Bonner -- If you read some of my first submissions, BEFORE THE YEAR
STARTED, I can honestly say that I was the only person to predict Bonner having this kind
of success before they even played a game. Hey, its rare that I can pat myself on the back
for things, so when I do get things right I will pat away. I also said that Bonner would
win this game. I will stand by that prediction!
I do find it weird that considering that I am the champion predictor of
Bonner's success, I was not the one who voted them for first place in the top ten.
A lot of factors have to be considered when looking at this game. Both teams
are fantastic defensively. They both play great against the run and can be beaten by
consistent passing. When looking at things that way, a reasonable person can conclude that
the team who throws better will win. Well, Bonner's Mike Stauffer is
healthly and they have League MVP (in my opinion) Kevin LeSage
at wideout. Prep answers with Mr. Possession Jim Lachman, and Mr. Deep
Threat Pete Chromiak. QB Vince Gallagher has played well
as of late, despite a start which featured him holding on the ball way too long. So, as
far as the passing game, we will call it a wash.
That being said, the next two items you have to look at are special teams and
more importantly, turnovers. I feel the team that gets better field position with special
teams returns, and the team that has the least amount of turnovers will win. As I said
before, on this given Saturday Night, it will be the Friars of Monsignor Bonner.
Judge @ La Salle -- This game has certain playoff ramifications. Looking the
records alone, the naked eye would say that Judge will run rampant over the Explorers. At
second glance, the Catholic League football observer knows that La Salle is a better team
than they have indicated. Judge has shown that they can win the big game by defeating
O'Hara, and have a good run/pass mix on offense. They are strong defensively as well.
La Salle offensively is still trying to find themselves and a winning mix.
Defensively they are good, not great. Linebacker Ed Sabia had O'Hara's Pat
Gallagher number 35 tatooed across his chest last week, which spurred a 209 yard
performance by Anthony Heygood. If Judge can run the
ball the way O'Hara did, they will win.
Do I think that will happen....No. My pick is that La Salle will upset the
Crusaders of Father Judge.
Carroll @ Conwell Egan -- This game will come down to Carroll staying as
healthy as possible and playing their game. When Carroll decides to take their starters
out, probably up 49 points with 30 seconds to play in the game, they will minimize the
risk of injury. But, they'll probably send their second string guys in to throw the ball.
Egan, which has had a couple valiant efforts this year, just doesn't have
enough firepower to compete. My pick is Carroll starters: in 3 17/18 quarters of play, 49
points Carroll 2nd string: in 1/18 quarters of play, 8 points on a passing touchdown and
subsequent 2 point conversion; Egan 0.
RANDOM THOUGHTS
*** How about my boy Huck (or carnac) banging out these
predictions like a good Jenna Jameson movie. I only wish that there were
odds on Catholic League games so I (who am of legal gambling age, by the way!) could make
some money by using Huck as my source.
*** Now, I got much love for my boyz and guest writers Amauro and Duck,
but what's up with the basketball updates during football season? Do us football cronies
send in updates during hoop season, talking about how good summer passing leagues are
going?
*** I haven't read too much in Random Thoughts by TedSilary.com Hall of Famer Kevin
Hanlon. Has he been banned and no-one has told me? Yo, Kev, check in on the
thoughts page and gloat about Judge being undefeated. Looking at the rest of their
schedule, it will be hard to stay that way for long!
*** I find it weird that the recruiting talk has died down since my "closure"
article I posted last week. Just when I thought I wasn't getting through to anyone....
*** Where have Kevin from Kev's Kommentary and Todd from
Todd's Tidbits been lately? Why the lack of correspondance? And Terrapin Kieran?
Don't these guys realize they have a responsibility to report on Egan, North, and Maryland
football? Doesn't anyone care about North, Egan, and Maryland football anymore? Get on
these guys to write in, people!
*** I am a little jealous that the only one of Ted's writers that ever makes it to the
scrollbar on the site is Huck. To quote the Hurricane (from WWF), "Whassup wit
dat?" I must say that the minor formatting change to the page does make it extremely
easier to read.
*** Here's a hypothetical....HMMM. I am a high school football player visiting a high
school football web site, I wonder where I can get a good mortgage for my home? OH, I
KNOW. From Action Mortgage Group! Thank God they have an ad on Ted's site that plays to
90% high school students! There is such a big need for mortgages for high school students!
(Thanks, Ted).
OCT. 10
Ba-Bum, ba-bum, ba-bum…your checking
the Pulse of Catholic League action.
In our top story, it seems that looking over the two divisions and
records of all teams in those divisions has yielded one undeniable fact -- realignment
sucks! Why, do you ask? Because it could work out that a team could win only 1 league game
and make the playoffs. Take, for instance, the Red division. The bottom 3 teams in the
division right now (North, Roman, and Ryan) all have no league wins. So, if they all win
one of the remaining games against each other (X beats Y, Y beats Z, Z beats X), they will
all have 1 league win. Then, a tiebreak would occur and one of those teams would make the
playoffs. Bad, very bad.
In light of these developments, I have come up with a new top 5. It is….
TOP 5 REASONS REALIGNMENT SUCKS
5. Some of the great “North-South”
rivalries have been replaced with games that an inmate wouldn't watch if he could be
guaranteed freedom.
4. Aside from old “North-South” rivalries, games usually
feature the home bleachers as crowded as an Anna Kournikova oyster eating contest, while
the visitors bleachers looking as full as a Rosie O'Donnell vs. Roseanne
mud wrestling bout.
3. All you basically have to do for your team to make the playoffs is
not suck as bad as one other team in your division on one given day (see above for
explanation).
2. By the time some city JV teams arrive home from some games with
suburban JV teams (or vice versa), it is already time to go to bed.
And the number one reason realignment sucks…The amount of whining
complaints that teams make about how they are “really the best team in the whole
Catholic League and don't have a chance to prove it” almost outweigh the complaints
made by the guy who pioneered the whole realignment idea, Pat Manzi.
THE RECRUITING ISSUE
It seems from the Random Thoughts
pages that recruiting continues to be the hot topic on TedSilary.com. Special criticism
has been aimed at St. Joe's Prep. Let me address the issue and hopefully it will give the
topic a bit of closure for people.
Let me start by saying that I am not a fan of the Prep. I don't have an innate hatred for
them like some visitors seem to, but at the same time I wouldn't call myself a Prep
supporter. That being said, this whole issue of recruiting is really being blown out of
proportion on many levels. I don't understand why everyone is so up in arms thinking that
The Prep gets all the best players when they recruit. This just isn't true. Question: How
many championships has the Prep won in the last 25 years? Answer: 2. That averages out to
be one championship every 12.5 years. I could understand if the Prep was winning
championship after championship and wiping out the league. But, the Prep (aside from
1997), hasn't really accomplished anything that warrants the amount of criticism it gets
about recruiting. Really, what have they won?
Secondly, being that I am a former player, and more recently a former
coach (and heavily involved in recruiting for the school I coached at), I can honestly say
that most schools recruit. It is legal to talk to players about where they plan to go to
high school and give the school's sales pitch. And the schools that do not recruit are the
ones whose teams struggle and lack consistency. While some people view recruiting as a
negative, it is an essential part of the success of the football team, and the school's
enrollment.
WEEKEND OUTLOOK
A new week brings with it some good
games to watch. Namely O'Hara @ La Salle, Neumann @ Mc Devitt, Carroll @ Wood. Here is my
break down of the games.
O'Hara @ La Salle -- Excluding its exhibition against the Bolsheviks,
La Salle has scored 4 touchdowns in 5 games. And aside from last game, they have been a
very one dimensional offense, running way more than they throw. Defensively, they are
strong and could give O'Hara some problems. O'Hara at the same time also runs more than
they throw. But the difference here is that O'Hara has shown the ability to get pinpoint
passing by Colin Smith, and get the ball downfield and in the end zone
via the air. Anthony Heygood is just under 100 yards
away from 1,000 for the season. Tough games for both teams, but O'Hara's multi-talented
offense will get the best of La Salle's defense, IF O'Hara can hold on to the ball.
Prediction: O'Hara over La Salle.
Carroll @ Wood -- Wood will be without QB John Spinosa
in their biggest game of the year. They will have to find offense in other areas. Bill
Hartley will have to have a mammoth game. Maurice Stovall is
proving to be as good a defensive player as he is an offensive player, at least
statistically. In the end, Carroll's three-headed rushing attack will win out over Wood's
solid defense. Prediction- Carroll over Wood.
Neumann @ Mc Devitt -- Neumann's lack of true consistency makes this a
tough game to call. Mc Devitt brings good experience to the big game atmosphere that
surrounds this game. Neumann's most recent big game resulted in a 35-0 trashing at the
hands of Carroll. And as you all know, I am a big fan of experience. Prediction- Mc Devitt
over Neumann.
OTHER THOUGHTS
***Did anyone else feel really bad for Kevin Laukitis
after reading his column this week? My first instinct was to buy advertising in the Daily
News for North Catholic games. Then, as I read on, I figured out that if you win, and have
a tradition of winning (or at least competing), you will get more asses in the seats. His
point about the school's wrestling and soccer programs getting fans illustrates my point.
I don't at all mean to “dis” Kev cause I think he does a nice job. But, I do
have a solution that can solve his winning and attendance problems…."Blue
Division.”
*** TedSilary.com has reached, in my opinion, a very low point this week with the addition
of the Wild/Wacky Story section. The last thing a bunch of horny football players want to
read about on a football site is a about a MALE stripper on a football team and the amount
of money he made performing this deviant profession. Now, every high school kid in the
Philly area who is stuck for money will be trying out for friggin Chippendale's to make a
buck. That's all we need is Goose Nase, Fat Ringo Gaynor and Tuna Bucella in a thong
bikini, rubbing their fat asses in women's faces. The very thought
makes…….(gag)….me…..(gag) wanna puke.
*** What is the deal with all of the bad language in Random Thoughts? I saw a lot of
“a--holes” that slipped through. I need to talk to your parents.
Comments and feedback dropped last week…….send me stuff, damn
it!
Thanks for checking "The Pulse"
OCT. 5
Thanks for checking the Pulse with another
pre-weekend update on Catholic League football.
A wild and crazy football weekend seems in store in the Catholic League
with scores and team egos definitely set to inflate. Not very many good matchups are in
store, and I would bet that a lot of the games would go higher than 42 points. These games
feature one team's high-power offenses against the other's not-so-strong defenses. North
at the Prep, Dougherty at Carroll, Mc Devitt at Conwell-Egan, Ryan at O'Hara. Look for
lopsided victories by the favorites here.
Congrats go out to Conwell-Egan for last week's victory, which
establishes it as no longer the doormat of the Blue division. It seems the Eagles have
found the two words that have jump-started their offense (for at least one week) and
hopefully attendance. Those words are -- "Steve Slaton."
After attending last week's O'Hara vs. Roman game, and then coming home
to watch the Eagles kick the Cowboys' candy asses, I was able to make a really weird
comparison. Roman's highly talented QB Andre Sloan-El, who has the
physical tools to become a real stud, eerily had the same type of game as Cowboy QB Anthony
Wright. Wright was getting leveled on almost every pass play, completion or not.
Sloan-El was getting hit literally every time he dropped back, and most of the time by
O'Hara OLB Matt Mascio. At the end of the game, I think Sloan-El had
Mascio's number 33 tattooed across his chest. Lost in the lopsided victory was a gutty
performance by Roman WR/DB Kevin Dolan, who didn't come out of the game
much. Mike "Tuna" Bucella has had more pancake s this year than
Aunt Jemima.
It seems one of the only games worth watching this week is La Salle at
Bonner. La Salle is young but talented, and defensively pretty strong. The Friars are
experienced and talented, and for the first time completely healthy, with last week's
return of Quarterback Mike Stauffer. If I were a betting man (which I
am), I would say that this game will be a low-scoring defensive struggle. In the end, look
for Kevin LeSage (who is the league MVP up to this point in the season),
to make a big play to break the game open and lead to a Friar victory.
Another possible good one is Neumann at West. A week ago, I would have
been sure that Neumann would lay the smackdown on West. Now, I can honestly say I don't
know how this will turn out. The thing here is that with Neumann, you never know what team
is going to show up. I really thought they would give a better performance last week
against Carroll. But, they looked very overmatched and certainly did not give their best
effort. And with West, not matter what kind of year they are having, they will always be
dangerous with that kind of team speed. Plus, this game is one of the few "old
Southern Division" rivalries that still exists in the Blue division. So, expect a
hard-hitting football game either way, but I think Neumann will bring its "A
game" and be victorious.
OTHER THOUGHTS
*** Whoa how the mighty have fallen- For much of the 1990s, Ryan
had teams that could have probably contended with some division 2 college programs. They
would dominate every aspect of games, seasons, playoffs, and championships. For the last
couple of seasons, Ryan teams have struggled. They haven't been bad, but they haven't been
good either. What may have caused this downturn? Realistically, it is impossible for a
school to continue dominance over such an extended period of time. Unless you are a school
that constantly gets big-time talent and doesn't have to worry about recruiting. This
leads to my second point, which is how the open enrollment has changed the face of
Catholic League football. Now, high schools are forced to do more recruiting than the US
Military in order to put a product on the field. And to that Random Thoughts submitter
that says La Salle doesn't recruit, I say, "Open your eyes!!"
*** Any room at the Top? The Blue Division has a new championship contender, and that team
is Wood. Or does it? After an impressive victory over Mc Devitt last week, Wood has sent a
message to the Blue Division it's the real deal. But, was this a one-week-wonder type of
victory? I don't know. How can we find out? Here's my suggestion: I am not a big fan of
margin of victory deciding how good a team is, where it should be ranked, or things like
that;except in the Catholic League! I think we should use Wood's game this week to see if
it's for real. If the Vikings don't handily beat Kennedy-Kenrick this week, you might have
questions. Keep in mind that "handily" can mean different things. I am not
necessarily talking about a 30 or 40 point win. My senior year, we played a Mc Devitt team
that had the biggest offensive lineman and linebackers I have ever seen. They only beat us
28-7, but it was the most lopsided 21-point victory in the history of the Catholic League.
On a good note, I did collect my first Varsity interception in that game! On a bad note, I
was knocked semi-unconscious by a 6-4, 230-pound offensive guard/linebacker on the INT
return.
*** O'Hara RB Anthony Heygood currently leads the league in rushing.
Question: When was the last time a sophomore accomplished this feat at the end of the
year? Answer: 1998. The Running back's name: Kevin Jones. See where I am
going with this one?
You've been checking "The Pulse."
SEPT. 26
Finally...The Pulse has come back to
TedSilary.com! After my self-imposed
hiatus, which wasn't at all long, I have returned. Sorry about
the lack of
updates, work has been crazy. I actually received 23 e-mails
from people
inquiring (or bitchin', in some cases) about my lack of
updating last week.
It's nice to feel loved, I think.
Since the numerous other writers on this site are all about making
predictions, I will start to do the same. In my past writings I
have done
top 5 lists. Now, I will pick five games. Simple enough?
1. Prep vs. La Salle -- I have given my opinion that La Salle is the
best
coached team in the league, and still agree with that. But, I
was sort of
surprised that North gave it somewhat of a good game, or at
least scorewise.
Is North better than people think or is La Salle worse? I think
it's a
little of both. La Salle traditionally gets better as the
season goes on.
For some reason, Sparky seems to think that the Explorers are
really good,
and I am certainly not in the position to argue with him, even
though I
don't think they are as good as he does. I know the Prep is
good and playing
a first place schedule in the pre-season will better prepare it
for league
action. My thoughts: Despite this being a big rivalry for the
Explorers,
they just don't have the horses the hang with the Prep this
year.
Prediction: Prep -- a lot; La Salle
-- a little.
2. Roman at O'Hara -- My foresight
has shown to be correct, that turnovers would kill
O'Hara once league play started. I mentioned it in one of my
articles. It
came to fruition last week against a very underestimated Father
Judge team
(O'Hara had four turnovers; three in Judge territory). If the
Lions can hold on to
the ball, they will be in good shape. Their much heralded
defense seemed to
have problems both defending the option and the pinpoint
passing of talented
Judge QB Greg Hennigar. Very improved in the
second half of that game.
Roman, as a program, seems to build championship programs every
few years.
This year is a good building year for them, with an abundance
of young
talent present. Defensively, Roman seems to have had the
advantage for the
last couple of seasons defending O'Hara's ever-present running
attack. This
should be a good one.
Prediction -- O'Hara will win by a TD.
3. Carroll at Neumann -- Carroll seems to have enough talent
for most
of the Blue Division, except maybe McDevitt. Question, Ted
mentioned last
week that WR Maurice Stovall was used as a
decoy. If this is the case, which
I don't know because I wasn't there, I have a huge problem with
that. Your
best player should be the focus of attention. I really think
Stovall's true
value to his team will be demonstrated during playoff time, and
against
McDevitt. I was surprised on what I saw/heard from the Neumann
Pirates, who
are young, talented, and big. Coach Ed DiCamillo seems to have
installed a
good attitude in South Phily. If only their fans would take
notice and start
actually attending games. Realistically, Neumann might be a
year away from
capturing a championship, but sure has the ability to hang in
there
with Carroll. Usually, experience wins out.
Prediction: Carroll will win.
4. Bonner at North -- I can
successfully pat myself on the back when I
say that I predicted Bonner to be good before training camp
started. Whether
the Friars are great or not remains to be seen, despite flashes
of greatness being
displayed against Interboro and Carroll. Defensively, they are
as solid as
anyone in the city. Despite a game effort by the Falcons
against La Salle,
I can't realistically see them putting more than 10 points on
the board. And
all-world player Kevin Le Sage will be good enough for at least
two
touchdowns by himself.
Prediction: Bonner a lot; North a little.
5. K-K at West -- West has too much
speed for a KK team that often has
more fans in the stands than players on the field. Not much
thoughts
personally here.
Prediction -- West will win.
TRIVIA -- Congrats to 2 weeks ago
trivia winners Nate Dogg and John D for
answering that Booby Boucher's horse in the Waterboy was named
Steve and he
played for the Mud Dogs of South Central Louisiana State.
This Weeks question: In the movie Necessary Roughness, what was the
standup
comic Sinbad's character name and what did he teach?
OTHER THOUGHTS:
*** The Prep's impressive victory over Ryan last week
succeeded in proving
me wrong in that, "You need to give your horse the
ball." Kyle Ambrogi only
carried the ball ten times. I guess that's why I don't coach
anymore.
*** Can someone remind me again why and for what purpose the
divisions were
realigned? All this has succeeded in creating was a lower
quality of
football, loss of good rivalries, and lack of one true
champion. The weak
teams that existed in the North and South are still the week
teams in the
Red and Blue. Who knows?
*** It's good to see that two students (one player, one non-player) have been writing
columns on the site. I love the idea and have been pretty
impressed with
their writing skills thus far. Its just a shame that there
aren't enough
fans that go to North and Egan games to contribute to the site
and the only
way for North and Egan to get ink is by students writing in. At
least get
some parents to the games!
*** Although I was absent from poll voting this week, I
generally agree with
what the other guys have come up with. I found it peculiar that
the addition
of Kev Hanlon to the voting also coincided with the addition of
Father Judge
to the top ten. The are deserving, don't get me wrong. But,
maybe in some
way, we should actually listen to Hanlon more?
SEPT. 17
Considering the events of the past week, I will
keep things light as far as comments. I would like to say to the players that played last
week that you should be proud to go out there in the midst of such tragedy. Even though
you might not have known someone who died, the country was sent into shock. Congrats to
all who had the testicular fortitude to go out there, win or lose.
O'Hara 28, Pemberton 7
Ever since George Stratts returned as coach
of the Lions, the tradition has been have a stud running back, adequate passing game, and
a strong defense. This year, things are a little different. O'Hara still has the strong
defense (2 touchdowns allowed in 3 games can attest to that), and potentially a stud
running back (soph. Anthony Heygood with another strong performance). But
the passing game for the last two years has been more than adequate, it has been downright
lethal. This year's installment can be found in sr. Colin Smith, whose
blistering 13-for-16, 178-yard, three-TD performance lit up the talented Pemberton
secondary like our bombs will over the Afghanistan sky. Sr. receiver Harry
Dougherty made a couple of nice catches that were followed by even better moves.
The offense still is a bit sloppy with the ball and is turnover prone, which will hurt it
in Red Division play. Defensively, O'Hara continued to be strong. Jr. Craig
Haywood, who also moonlights as option quarterback (and scored his first rushing
touchdown from 7 yards out) is right on par with Bonner's Kevin LeSage in
his ability to cover. Sr. OLB Matt Mascio also returned after injury that
kept him out all camp and looked impressive, making several stops in the backfield. Sr. DL
Brett Altman was helped off the field with what seemed to be a leg
injury. Altman was a force in wins over Penn Charter and Haverford.
OTHER THOUGHTS:
*** Its good to see that Kyle Ambrogi got more than 10 carries
this week. The Prep, in turn, scored 34 points as a result. You see what happens when you
give the ball to your workhorse?
*** With all of these results of inter-league play in the Catholic league the way they
are, can someone please tell me why there was re-alignment again? Maybe I should ask Pat
Manzi.
*** Here's one for the scrollbar. Ted used to have the number of visitors and then have a
visitor come up with something funny. Here goes my submission: 187626.....number of
writer's corner's Ted will have by the end of this football season.
*** Maybe Cardinal Dougherty's tough pre-season schedule will help it prepare for the
Catholic League Blue schedule. Or, maybe it will make things worse. I wouldn't know, but I
can't see how being outscored 135-34 in the first three games could be seen as a
confidence booster. Am I missing something?
*** Maurice Stovall has been called the best receiver in the nation by
some people. But, 1 touchdown in 3 games? What's that about? Thank God league play starts
for Carroll this week. That total is sure to rise. I guess it depends on how many times
Carroll wants to score 70 points.
***Virginia Tech RB Kevin Jones was seen on the O'Hara sideline giving
pointers to soph. Anthony Heygood. What a mentor to
have, huh?
God Bless America.
"The Pulse"
SEPT. 14
Sometimes, reality can hit you right in the
face. For all of us, reality was
huddling around the nearest TV and helplessly watching thousands of innocent
people die. And dealing with that is the reality that we are all faced with
now.
I have had some tragedies happen in my life (obviously, none can
compare to
the magnitude of New York). It seems that during my times of tragedy, at
some point you always question, "Why?" That is unfortunately a question that
has no answer; no one knows why things happen. The reality of tragedies is
that when they happen, the initial reaction is shock. The most difficult
part is what to do after the smoke clears. How do you handle it when you
lose a loved one at a very young age? Or when someone close to you dies?
What do you do after they are gone? That is the reality that we are faced
with now.
Tuesday's attack is definitely a "Where were you when"
moment. I wasn't
alive during any of the other major "Where were you when" moments, so I
cannot speak from any kind of relevant experience, other than my own
personal tragedies. So the only, yet very limited advice I can offer is
small in the grand scheme of things, but it actually does help. I challenge
you, years from now when someone asks you "Where were you when the Twin
Towers were attacked?" to try to put those horrific images of airplanes
crashing into buildings out of your mind for the moment. Try not to focus on
the flames, debris, buildings collapsing, and the terror. Try not to convey
the complete and absolute horror that you were seeing, hearing, and feeling.
Instead, try to remember the special moments: the round of applause that a
united group of Americans gave the volunteer workers who were breaking their
backs trying to help. Try to remember the thousands and thousands of people
who rushed to donate blood. Try to remember our congress singing God Bless
America on the steps of the Capitol building, in order to show the world
that America is still standing tall. And lastly, try to remember the payback
that our country will inflict on those guilty.
This is not an easy task for anyone. But, there is no need to recant
just
the sheer horror when telling your kids, grand kids, nieces, nephews, or
friends when they ask you, "Where were you when the Twin Towers were
attacked?" We will have lived through this reality and have not yet seen the
devastating effects it will have on our society. Our reality does not have
to be theirs. By then, they will hopefully again live in a country where
they feel completely safe; where they can sleep at night and not have to
worry. And one day, we will all feel that again.
In conclusion, I will repeat the cliché that has been heard from
football
players, fans, and coaches since the dawning of the great game. It is that
football, in many ways, is like life. It is a test, it is a challenge, it is
sometimes not fair, and often not forgiving. There will be victories, and
some defeats. While we can take a lot of victory, we can take more out of
defeat. Take from this horrible incident a love for life, a passion for
everything you do, and take nothing for granted. Create a new reality for
yourself. Tell those you love that you love them, before it's too late. This
will honor the memories of those who were lost in this senseless act of
violence. And, it will certainly make your time on this Earth better. Keep
praying for those lost and their families, and God bless.
---- "The Pulse"
SEPT. 9
This concludes yet another week of interesting
football. This week I will be a little more frisky and critical. Keep in mind, its all in
good fun. You will be able to tell from my writing that I am not a fan of the Catholic
League's mis-alignment, I mean realignment.
"Call me KL" checked in with this week's best question.
Here's a good question for you...you said you wanted one. Who's the
best lineman to come out of Phila. ever, tight end not included? That'll make you think.
ANSWER from The Pulse: To be honest, I know nothing about the best
lineman in Philadelphia history. And furthermore, I have no interest in their tight ends
either. I don't go that way. And even if I did go that way, their tight end would not
necessarily make them a good lineman. SINNER!
TRIVIA: Congrats to the infamous Nate Dogg for being
the first to answer last week's trivia question. The song playing during Ali
Larter's whipped cream bikini scene was the late Aaliyah's If
Your Girl Only Knew. No one was able to answer the bonus question. The name "Bacon"
was painted on the side of Billy Bob's truck. (Bacon was his pig)
This week, here goes:
In the movie, The Waterboy, what is the name of the school where Bobby
Boucher plays?
Bonus question: What is the name of his horse that lives at home with Momma?
GAME REPORT
NON-LEAGUE
Bonner 14, Interboro 9
NOTE TO THE CATHOLIC LEAGUE RED: If you want to beat Bonner
this year, you are not going to do it by running the football. The Friar defense loaded up
against the run and completely shut down the Interboro offense. Two-way player Joe
Boland had several stops on defense and a couple of impressive grabs on offense.
WR/DB Kevin LeSage turned in yet another unbelievable performance on both
sides of the ball. Two of his receptions were Chris Carter-like in their agility. The
first, on a post-corner route, was a diving grab where he leaped between double coverage
for about a 30-yard gain. The second, even prettier, he jumped over a Buc defender along
the sideline and managed to get his feet in bounds. WOW! Defensively, he delivered a
bone-crushing hit where a Buc receiver went up in the air to catch a 4th-and-9 pass deep
in Bonner territory. LeSage leveled him hard in the legs, causing the receiver to flip
upside down. The total gain on the play: 8 ½ yards. This kid will be All-Catholic both
ways, in my opinion. Another impressive performance was turned in by QB Frank
Nunan, who ran the option very well. RBs Paul Kolhoff and Jason
"It Was My Little Brother" Smith ran and blocked well,
respectively. LB Dan Armideo seemed to be involved on every tackle.
Interboro's lone touchdown came when Nunan made a perfect option pitch to a Buc defender,
who took it 60 yards for the touchdown.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
***If the Bonner coaches coached at Interboro, there would actually be 1 coach (I
counted 18 Bonner coaches), for every 2.7 players (Interboro had 50 players). Now that is
individual attention!
***Who would have thought that after two games Prep running back Kyle Ambrogi would
have almost as many pass interference yards as rushing yards?
***The Prep has now lost 3 games in a row (dating back to last year) for the first time in
a while under coach Gil Brooks. I wouldn't worry, because it's not how
you start your season that's important, it's how you finish it.
***O'Hara has now won 7 games in a row (dating back to last season) for the first time
since 1999 (loss to La Salle in the semi-finals ended an 11-game winning streak). But,
they have only won 2 in a row without Kevin Jones.
***Carroll has now won 14 games in a row dating back to last season. But, they have only
played 2 legitimate opponents during that time.
OTHER THOUGHTS
***I guess Malvern proved that on this given Saturday, they were the best team in the
area. Now, they can look forward to a "powder puff" rest of their schedule to
beat up on the poor Inter-Ac. Be afraid, be very afraid. Doesn't this remind you of the
Big East? Only two good teams, which means only one tough game a year.
***Why is the city's only returning 2,000-yard rusher only getting 11.5 carries a game?
Ambrogi is either: a) a great team player and sacrificing his offense for the defense, b)
hurt to some degree where the Prep coaches don't want to risk him for the season, or c)
the victim of a poor coaching decision.
***I don't know how much Division 1 interest that Prep lineman Mike Mailey
is drawing, but it should be a lot. This kid is big, physical, and can flat-out play.
***David (Cardinal Dougherty) could not slay Goliath (Holy
Cross of NJ). In fact, not only did Goliath kill David, Goliath burned David's body,
dumped the ashes the river, went after his family, got to his house, kicked his dog,
impregnated his sister, and left without breaking a sweat. The point? Guts are good, but
scheduling this game was criminal.
***Congrats to North Catholic for a big win this weekend. After looking at their coaching
staff, (most of which rival the size of the Eagles offensive line) I am reluctant to say
anything negative about the Falcons for fear that their coaches might discover my identity
and Tony Soprano my ass! How ya doin? How ya doin?
SEPT. 2
The opening week of football and no one is more
hyped up than me. Although I
wasn't there, it appears that while St. Joe's Prep did not defeat CB West,
they gave them a tremendous game. Congrats to The Prep, even though their
dream of an undefeated season (as many Prep visitors to this site predicted
they would have) is over. Hey, at least it was ended in the first week this
year instead of the last week like last year!
A Game Report . . .
O'HARA 18, HAVERFORD HIGH 0.
O'Hara, in truth, was very sloppy in its season opener against the
Fords.
Defensively, the Lions looked strong with Brett Altman having a strong performance
on the defensive line. The offense, despite 4 turnovers, was able to move the
ball up and down the field with a combination of short passes and yard-eating
runs. Just when you thought it was safe to face an O'Hara running back….THINK
AGAIN! The graduation of Kevin Jones has not left the cupboard bare at the
running back position. Sophomore Anthony Heygood (6'1", 190 lbs)
rushed for
224 yards, which included a run of about 60 yards where he broke several
tackles. Heygood is more of a North and South runner, and O'Hara can expect
more time consuming drives this year, as opposed to the home runs they had
last year. Almost an easy pick for future All-something, JR DB Craig Haywood
made several impressive plays in the field at free safety; great instincts
for the ball! Haywood also had what was the most impressive interception I
have seen in a while- while he was at quarterback. He dropped back, could
find nobody open, scrambled, rolled left, avoided 4 would be tacklers, threw
back to his right downfield about 40 yards, and SR WR Harry Dougherty
came
down with a joint reception on the two-yard line that was ruled an
interception. Great play, despite the bad call by the officials. With him
under center at times, opponents can expect to see some option from O'Hara,
which they displayed against the Fords. Sr. T Mike "Tuna" Bucella
appeared to literally
knock two Haverford players unconscious, on the same play! His weapon…on a
combo block he landed on them both (reminded me of that scene in Wildcats
where Finch is tripped by his own teammate and takes out the whole other
team's offensive line!)
OTHER NOTES
A lot of angry Neumann people checked in last week and asked why I
chose to
"dis" their school by not putting them in my season preview. The answer is
this, because I forgot. It seems Neumann proved over the weekend that they
are at least better than the Red Division's North Catholic by beating them
down the shore. It has been my experience with Neumann that they always have
tough, hard-nosed kids that both play hard and look like they could get
served in any bar. Can you say Danny Almonte?
What is the big deal about CB West anyway? It is apparent that coaching
there
rivals the stress level of most brain surgeons. Case in point, their recent
coaching situation. Both of CB West's former coaches, Mike Pettine Sr.
and Mike
Carey, left the much heralded high school program and are now assisting Mike
Pettine Jr. at North Penn.
In response to recent remarks made about me by Kev Hanlon,
it's cool. I still
think he is a HOF-er based on his contributions to the site. His ripping then
recanting about me in Random Thoughts 4 only demonstrates the type of mass
hysteria that he can stir up. Classic!
FOOTBALL TRIVIA: Mail me the answers
In the movie Varsity Blues, what song was playing when Darcy
came out in her
whipped-cream Bikini for John Moxon?
And a bonus question, what was painted on the Billy Bob's
pickup truck?
5 RANDOM THOUGHTS ON "RANDOM THOUGHTS"
1. The hideous spelling grammar on that page makes me question the
quality of
education in the Philadelphia area. Haven't you guys ever heard of Spell
Check?
2. It is amazing how many people talk trash before games are played and
then
are not heard from after their team loses.
3. You know that there is something wrong when you go on the page and
someone
is talking trash about who talks the most trash. Isn't talking about talking
trash actually talking trash yourself? If you talk trash about talking trash,
isn't that twice as worse? When trash talking about trash talking starts,
trash talking about trash talking can ….OH MY GOD I'VE GONE CROSS-EYED!
4. It's good to see that some people actually give credit to other
teams
where credit is due. Of course, this only occurs after a big win or a loss,
so how true can the sentiments be? My advice, give opposing teams the benefit
of the doubt and let the play on the field do the talking.
5. People that do not sign their real name to their writing really have
no
stones. Oh wait a minute…nevermind! (Think about it, you'll get it.)
QUESTIONS, I WANT QUESTIONS
Still no good questions for me, actually there was one this
week. Thanks to
BMIC:
SENT by BMIC 8-31-01
READ read by me 9-2-01
IM A NORTH CATHOLIC PLAYER, EVERYONE LOOKS AT THEIR SCHEDULES AND
WRITES US
OFF. IM TELLING U EVERYONE IS IN FOR A HUGE SURPRISE. IM JUST WONDERING, WHAT
IS YOUR PREDICATION FOR THE NC/ NEWMANN GAME?
My prediction is that Neumann will win 15-0 in an insect plagued
atmosphere
where Pat McLaughlin will hit SR Mike Moody on two touchdowns. DAMN IM GOOD!
SEND ME QUESTIONS….SEND ME FEEDBACK!
You've been checking "The Pulse" . . .
AUG. 24
Yo! Yo! Yo! I’ back from a week vacation down in
Florida which I really needed. Shout out to Terance this week for checking The Pulse.
The Pulse’s 5 Questions on Philadelphia Football
1.) Why is it that most Red Division visitors to the Random
Thoughts page tend to stick with football talk, while most of the Blue division writers
want to talk about gimmicks such as Sampson?
2.) Do I think the Prep will win the Catholic League? Being totally unbiased,
my answer would have to be, yes. They have too much coming back.
a. Do I think they will be undefeated? No.
b. Do I think they will beat CB West? Yes.
c. Who will they lose to? Keep in mind that going undefeated is
a hard task to pull off. Especially when the whole Philadelphia Sports scene labels the
Prep as the favorite to win it all. They have the bulls-eye on their backs already.
Realistically, I feel that Bonner has a great chance, despite
they’re graduating two huge Lineman. They return great skill players and have a solid
tradition of producing big beefalo lineman. Plus, teams like Bonner and O’Hara always
get up for the Prep and play at a high level. Even last year, the Bonner-Prep playoff game
was a hard-fought battle. The Prep needed to go to the air to win. This year, the loss of Mike
McGann will hurt that deep passing attack. So, I will go out on a limb and say
that The Friars of Monsignor Bonner will beat the Prep this year. But, the Prep will win
the Catholic League.
Another good shot will be the Lions of Cardinal O’Hara. If they don’t
beat the Prep, they will at least go down fighting. The once-huge Bonner vs. O’Hara
rivalry has now been replaced by the Prep vs. O’Hara rivalry. The Lions will have to
play monster defense and shutdown Kyle Ambrogi they way they did in the
Championship game last year to have a chance. That will be a hard thing to do.
The Explorers are hit hard by graduation (just as O’Hara is), but
could have three chances to slay the giant if things fall right during the season. And, in
my opinion, they are the most well-coached team in the Catholic League. Maybe a possible
upset.
3. Who am I? Many have inquired as to my true identity. For now, I will
remain under my pseudonym. So, although I like getting email from all y’all, ask more
questions about football/girls/life, etc and less about who I am.
4. If there were a TedSilary.com hall of fame, who should be its first
inductee? Well, without upsetting the balance of humanity (or at least the humanity that
reads this site) I would have to say that Kev Hanlon would be it. Although I have never
talked with him or communicated with him at all, I can tell the amount of controversy that
he seems to stir up is strong. And, if you can see through his "I bleed light
blue" persona, I think he says a lot of things that make sense.
5. Who do I think will win the Catholic League Blue? Well, being that
McDevitt and Carroll seem to duke it out every year for supremacy, I think that it will be
one of these two. I hope for the sake of Northeast Field that it is McDevitt (think about
it….you’ll get it after a while….still lost??? Baseball Season? No? If you
don’t get it by now you’re hopeless). I can’t realistically comment on
Cardinal Doughterty, but I will see them scrimmage O’Hara and be able to tell if they
are for real or not. West Catholic has good coaching and decent talent, but lacks the
consistency it takes to win the big one. I forget, are there any other teams in the Blue
Division? Kidding! Wood seems to have a good team every couple of years so you never know;
Kennedy-Kenrick doesn’t have enough in sheer numbers to compete, but could win a game
or two. Besides, it has been my experience that they have some hot girls that go there.
And Conwell-Egan . . . uuuhhh, let's change the subject.
All in all, I hope everyone has a great year. My answer to the
question of the week is yes, I hope the Prep beats the Bucks' candy asses because it will
be great for Catholic League Football.
SEND ME FEEDBACK…ASK ME QUESTIONS…
You've been checking… "The Pulse"
AUG. 14
Staying cool during camp
I got home from work one day recently
and was greeted by, "Did you hear about Korey Stringer?" Considering the rash of
season-ending injuries that has run rampant in NFL camps, my first reaction was, "Did
he tear his ACL or something?" The reply I got was rough: "He died at camp from
heat stroke."
My body shuddered. Granted, I don’t pretend to have known Korey
Stringer on a personal level, and have never met, seen, or encountered him anywhere but on
my TV on Sundays, but I still froze. As details came out about his death, it was revealed
that Korey had all the warning signs that told him to back off, but didn’t follow
them.
Many times as a player I pushed myself farther than I
thought my body could go, especially during camp. And even more did I push my players
farther than I thought they could go when I was a coach.
This brings us to a dilemma, both as football players and coaches
-- How far can we go? For one, it is a coach’s job to get the absolute most out of
his players. This is a necessity in any sport, but most of all football. And as a player,
in order to get the most out of yourself you must see how far you can push your body.
So, how do we figure out a way to juggle these issues? The answer
is simple: We have to follow the warning signs.
The early warning signs are easy, and to be honest, I
couldn’t imagine any camp without them. Thirst, cramps and heavy perspiration occur
almost any time you run on a football field. I couldn’t imagine John O’Tackle
going up to coach during sprints and saying, "Uh, coach, I need to take a break cause
I’m, um, thirsty." The next thing breaking for John O’Tackle would be his
ass on the bench and his face from his teammates for being a sissy.
But, these early warning signs can lead to more serious signs that
are immediate flags to chill out for a while: Nausea, excessive cramping, dizziness, and
decreased performance. Not matter how tough John O’Tackle or Bill Di Lineman attempt
to be, if they experience one or many of these signs, they must take themselves out of
practice. Their lives just might depend on it!
To be honest guys, I have been down this road too. I have thrown
up on the practice field and even during a game (it was actually caught on video and the
team got a great laugh while watching films the following week). It sucks having to admit
fatigue when you are possibly fighting for a starting spot. But, it wasn’t until the
Korey Stringer death that I realized how important knowing the warning signs can be. Look
at it this way -- Stringer was a Pro Bowler, a professional athlete at the very top of his
game. Ninety-nine percent of you are nowhere near that level yet. If it can happen to a
top-notch professional, it certainly can happen to you.
So, it is fine to push yourself to the limit. If you want to be
successful, it is a necessity. But, know your warnings signs and have the testicular
fortitude to admit that you aren’t without limits.
Below are the American Football Coaches Association’s tips for
staying hydrated and healthy for camp:
COME TO CAMP IN SHAPE -- Many athletes use camp to get into shape for
the season (like I always did!). If you are not in shape already, you can’t work on
this one because camp already here.
WEAR LESS CLOTHING -- No, I am not gay. This is actually in the
AFCA newsletter. Wearing less promotes heat loss and can help prevent overheating.
NOW, THAT’S HIGH QUALITY H2O -- Drink at least 20 ounces of
water 1-2 hours before practice. Tough for most players considering practice #1 can start
really early. But, on the good side, it will help you sweat out whatever "beverages
of choice" might have been consumed from the previous night! (In order to stress the
importance of water, see The Waterboy and mimic Bah-bah- Bobby Boucher).
KEEP DRINKING -- Be sure to stay hydrated all throughout
practice. The AFCA says to drink 7 ounces of water per every 20 minutes of exercise.
Sports Drinks are good, but stay away from carbonated drinks because they promote
urination, which promotes dehydration. (What a great rhyme, Urination promotes
dehydration….tell your coaches I’m sure they’ll use this one as a
pre-practice speech…yeah,right!)
RECOGNIZE THE WARNING SIGNS -- This one is most important. You
can try to be a tough guy and go too far, but you could end with your team dedicating the
season to their fallen teammate.
Email me any feedback (positive or negative), questions (try to
keep them sports related, but if I get something really amusing, I’ll post it with an
answer), or problems.
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