How does anyone really prepare to play better football teams? One reader claims…not by playing Akron. (Press Pros File Photos)
The closer we get to the state tournaments in volleyball and football the more reader opinion we receive. We appreciate your taking the time…to both read and let us know what you’re thinking.
The reader response, both email and social media, has been interesting over the past two weeks, and we’ll share that apparently there’s more people than originally thought who question the benefits of seven divisions in OHSAA sports.
But first, some rebuke over Reds baseball, Marge Schott, and just what the Reds represent, 35 years since their last World Series.
“As a fan of Hal McCoy’s writing, and being a Reds fan, I’m questioning why you need to add insult with your mention of Marge Schott. The Reds aren’t the only team who struggles to win against big money, and David Bell was obviously not a good manager (as Hal claimed). A lot of us appreciate having major league baseball in Cincinnati, and it seems to me that if the hometown media in Cincinnati could find a silver lining in the Reds’ future, why can’t you? Very disappointing, and Marge Schott was a cheap-ass owner.” … Tony Timmerling
(Ed. Note: Tony, I read the Enquirer and listen to Cincy sports talk, and I don’t sense either finding a silver lining to the team’s future, despite hiring Terry Francona. Money, and investment in talent and player development is the difference between the Reds and winning, along with a willingness to keep young talent like India and De La Cruz once they outgrow their first contract. I stand by my premise that they have lost the expectation from fans that they’re going to win, not just show up and hope to go .500. And your point about Marge Schott being cheap? Every player that Jim Bowden said they needed she somehow got it done. I’ll pass on your questioning her character. Negativity? The ultimate negative statement is the standings (77-85), and a long-term trend. Positivity? Hiring Terry Francona didn’t come cheap, and it won’t come without fan expectation.)
Last week’s ‘What I Saw Last Weekend’ story on Monday, the 14th, shook a few readers’ trees.
“Everything you wrote is 100% fact. Enough said, except you’re the only person saying it.” … Harvey Butcher, Jr.
“Percentage-wise, I doubt if there are any more blowouts than there ever were.” … Jack Riess
“The truest thing ever said was that football was never meant for everyone. We’ve wasted a lot of time and expectation over the years believing that it was. First-time reader.” … Mark Craw
“Where’s the incentive? Everyone gets into the playoffs now and never thinks about the [old] days when you had to ‘earn’ it. The OHSAA has taken the work ethic away from kids and football and they shouldn’t pat themselves on the back for creating more opportunity.” … Ronald Hesson
“Delphos St. John took an enrollment hit with the ‘Great Recession’. So it’s not a lack of interest but a lack of boys. But we handed 7-1 Lehman Catholic their only loss (54-27) and lost to 6-2 LCC by a missed extra point, 14-13. Lost to 5-3 Versailles 17-7. We’re not bad, just in the MAC.” … Bob Ebbeskotte (Via Facebook)
(Ed. Note: Bob, no one said that anyone was bad, just fewer boys playing football than there used to be, for whatever reason. And no one has suffered more than the great tradition of DSJ. Nationally, participation in high school football is down between 17 and 20%. Reasons given? More opportunities outside of football. Again, it was never meant for everyone.)
On our coverage of the Ohio State/Oregon game, and what constitutes playing by the rules….
“Was what Oregon did with twelve men on the field at the end of the game cheating, or just smart management of the game situation?” … Rick Roberts
(Ed. Note: It’s not cheating if they were penalized, and they were, so you would have to consider it smart manipulation of the rules. It would be interesting if the roles were reversed, yes?)
“How disappointing is it when you travel that far to cover a game and don’t win? First-time reader that enjoys reading Press Pros.” … Andrew Frerick (Via Twitter)
(Ed. Note: Probably not as disappointed as you were as a Buckeye fan. Journalists understand that all you can do is write what you see. Typically, there’s not much room for emotion.)
“Interesting how the West Coast teams are actually struggling with some of the traditional Big Ten teams. Maybe the Big Ten has been better than you’ve written about in the past.” ... Robt. Kelly
“Just a thought. Playing Akron and Western Michigan does not prepare you to play Oregon. Wish they would learn?” … Marc Courtney
(Ed. Note: Marc, they’ll get a dose of reality and you’ll get your wish in 2025. They open with Texas, at home, and play Alabama home and away in 2027 and ’28. To your point, there’s plenty of Ohio U, Ball State, and Bowling Green still to come.)
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