Let me say for anyone who heard me on the Pre-Game Tailgate Show on 102.1, I'm a little shocked by this score. I thought the Bearcats were primed to take this one, but the Pirates came motivated and ready to play.
Harbor Beach jumped to a 13-0 lead quickly and I remarked to Coach Korbel that the offense looked more explosive than I've seen all season. He remarked that the player's were pumped up and really wanted this one... and it showed.
It seemed like every time the team was in trouble they took it to a whole other level. A pick late in the second quarter, which led to a go ahead score or plugging up the lanes when Ubly tried to run the ball.
Here are some of my impressions, please feel free to agree or disagree with me:
It looked like Ubly's offense got conservative again. I know the saying is that in the Thumb, games are won btween the tackles, but a lot of Ubly's success recently has been when they went outside and ran more sweep type plays. For the most part, they stayed within the tackles again and I think it stymied the offense.
Sorenson was the mobile QB. I've only seen Tom Sorenson run a few times this year before yesterday's game and never the way he did against Ubly. Coach Schelke said it was something they were working on with him for awhile (sounds like USA's Brandon Bitzer and the spread), but it wasn't a trick they were keeping up their sleeves for Ubyl, it was just something they really haven't had the opporutnity to utilize as much.
Kaufman on the other hand, was held in check accept for a few big plays. HB's d-line and linebackers got good penetration and were able to stop him for a loss on a bunch of plays. They also forced a couple of hurries for Kaufman, who I don't think completed a pass all night.
Holding's Ubly pass game in check was a huge accomplishment for HB since they were without Eric Wilson, a tough defender in the secondary, who injured his hamstring against W-P. In another injury update, Brion Gornowich was not cleared to play as his break wasn't healed enough at this point.
The mohawks. Some of Ubly's players got mohawks for team unity, including Kaufman, who had the best one as it was a m-hawk but also curly, what I would call a mo-fro.
They didn't stay. Here is topic burning it up on other blogs, so I'll mention it. Uby didn't staty to watch HB get their trophy. There is no rule that says they have to, but it is a tradition and good sportsmanship to do so. In over five years of covering high school sports, I've only see this happen a handful of times when a title is being decided between a pir of area teams. I'm a little suprised and disspaointed that Ubly didn't stay... I'll leave it at that. Feel free to share your thoughts on that one and anything else I've commented on.
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19 comments:
I agree with the decision by the Ubly coaches to take their team off the field. For all of the awful things that have been said about them over the past week by Harbor Beach people on these blogs you refer to, along with the Harbor Beach student section chanting "you su** to the Ubly team and booing the Ubly Band, what would therer have been to gain by making the team stay? Showing them that being unsportsmanlike off the field should be rewarded? I think this team has been trashed enough by everybody (and they have done nothing to provoke it, nor have they responded to it). The only thing that surprises me is that you the media would take part in it.
Thanks for your opinion Fed Up.
I respect it, but here is why I disagree with you.
In over five years of covering sports, I would have to think really long and hard as to instances when an area team competed against another area team in a District and then did not stay during the trophy presentation. I'm not saying it hasn't happened, but it is rare.
Had Ubly not stayed in previous District title losses to USA in back-to-back years in 2004 and 2005, then I would have less of an issue with this. But they set the precedent with how they handled it and then diverted from that, which opens them up to criticism.
Had they jsut stayed a few extra minutes, we would probably be talking about how good of a season they had and their prospects for next year instead of this.
As for your other comment, I wonder how you think that "you the media" is taking part in trashing Ubly. This is a blog and I'm offering an opinion that I think Ubly should have stayed. I don't see how being "disappointed" as I think I put it, is trashing this team, which I have nothing but respect for.
In fact, I believe I was the only area sports writer who picked Ubly to win (right or wrong) so I think that proves my respect level for this group of young men.
Chris
I've only been to one district title game, Deckerville and Ubly in 2003, and I can tell you that Deckerville did not stay.
The only other point I'll make on this Fed Up. It isn't about what the fans did to the players or the fans, it is about the athletes on the field. IMO, none of that should be a factor in a decision to stay or not, which I'm not saying it is. Most likley we'll never know unless you know Bill and he tells you. I'm guessing this is something he will probably rather keep to himslef.
Chris
I don't get what the big deal is. Did the players go out and shake hands and congradulate Harbor Beach right after the game? If they did, then why are they required to stay? And another thing, if it was the coaches decision to not stay when they were required too, then critize the coach. But to say that now you can't talk about what a good season the team had and their prospects for next year are ludicrous. The last time I checked, the kids are the ones that go out there every single day for 3 months and practice for hours, not the coaches. Every single player, no matter what school they play for, deserves our credit for playing such a tough sport. So now you refuse to do that with this team because of a coaches decision.
Ron,
I htink you misread what I said, so here it is again:
"Had they just stayed a few extra minutes, we would probably be talking about how good of a season they had and their prospects for next year instead of this."
First of all I never said I refused to talk about what the team did this year, etc. What I said in a nutshell, was that to stay or not to stay has become the hot topic of conversation and had they stayed we would all be discussing other things other than this.
So again, you just misread what I said and as far as giivng kids credit, like I said earlier I was the only area writer who picked Ubly, so to accuse me of not giving the Ubly kids enough credit... I think I give them plenty of it.
Chris
Chris, why even comment on it if you don't know the reason for it. All you are doing is creating contraversy where it's not needed.
Ron,
I commented on it for two reasons:!1) I posted my thoughts on various things after the game and it was somehting I noticed;
and 2) the topic has blown up on other blogs and I think it is worthy of discusion.
You said this is creating controversy where it's not needed, but all I did was bring up something that was already being discussed and gave my take on it.
A lot of people read these blogs becuase they want to know what us area writers think on subjects, I am just offering my OPINION on the subject.
Ron,
Just wanted to add, thanks for reading the blog. Whether you agree or don't, I'm glad you're here voicing your opinion.
Ron, the 'not staying for the presentation trophy' does not reflect on the Ubly kids, but reflects on the Coach and how he wants to conduct his program. The Coach is the leader of the program and as I have said elsewhere, it has become a standard of good sportsmanship to stay during the ceremony. Ubly had a great season and the quality of their play and good sportsmanship otherwise is a tribute to their school and program. I am not sure why the Coach did not stay out of respect and also use it as a teaching tool for next year (this is where we want to be next year). I was surprised that someone posted that Deckerville did not stay for Ubly's District award's in 2003. I graduated from Deckerville many years ago and have heard nothing but good things about Coach Brown's sportsmanship ethic for his team. I was hoping that that was not an accurate statement? (midmipete)
Nope, I remember it well because I was there videoing for that game. At the end of the game Deckerville huddled on the south end of the field while their coach spoke to them. Then they got up and left the field and went home. I also think that same year at New Lothrup, their players left the field immediately after the game, too. I wasn't at any of last years playoff games so I don't know what happened there. And I can't say that I blame any of these kids. To make it that far and not win is heartbreaking. The last thing you want to be forced to watch is a trophy being given to someone else.
Not to be confused with the rick that posted above........having done radio for the last however many years its been, I don't recall many teams staying for the trophy presentation. I remember Ubly staying for the USA presentation but don't recall many others staying..........including HB when Nouvel won last year. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe HB took off before the Panthers were given the hardware.
Personally...and not because I'm from Ubly, but personally what is the big deal here? Royal Oak Shrine didn't stay when Ubly won the regional, in 2002 when I covered the Laker playoff run, none of those teams stayed around to watch Lakers collect a trophy. In 03 no one stayed to watch Ubly receive the trophy in Ubly or N-L.
(correct me if I am wrong on any of that)
Stop with this crap already....we all have another game to get ready for! And rest assured listeners of the ball game this Saturday, the pre game show or the game itself will not get cluttered up with this stuff. It's done, gone and over with.
Glaza,
What will we have to toalk abot if not this? LOL
By the way is the "stop the crap already" a general comment or is being directed somehwere?
Anyhow Rick, I do think the topic is played out, but I think it was good for people to share their opinion on it. I think the majority think no big deal, while others have a problem with it to varying degrees.
My final comment (hopefully) is that it is easier for home teams to leave a ceremony because they can take off and go to the locker room, but away teams have to pack up and ride home, so what is another five minutes.
I see that people have brought up several exceptionsm but my point was for the most part, when two Thumb teams play, they stay... again for the most part.
Perhaps the best way to handle it would be for the MHSAA to make it a rule.
Chris
It was a general comment...as in enough is enough. We beat on this dead horse enough and it isn't gonna come back to life.
And it's easier for the home team to leave early??? Whats another 5 minutes for them too since they are less than 100 yards from the locker room??
As for making it a rule....you can ask for sportsmanship in any setting but are you gonna get it? Besides, who will be there to enforce such rules? Hell, the MHSAA barely knows we exist up here, let alone send someone from Lansing to make sure a team stays on the fieled or court for a trophy presentation
I see your point Rick. I guess sportsmanship is going to have to remain on the honor system.
As for Saturday's game, I think playing a mobile QB like Kafman will have HB prepared for Jason Pratt who seems to be a terror.
Perhaps we can discuss that more another time... perhaps on a "live" pre-game show... wink, wink, nudge, ndge, HINT, HINT... LOL
Chris
Merrill is going to be a big hurdle for Harbor Beach. While they did contain Kaufman, he is more of a running threat, not a throwing threat like Pratt. This team will be unlike anything Harbor Beach has faced this year. You just don't see this kind of passing attack in Thumb football. And to even begin to compare Merrill with Marlette is a mistake. I don't think Harbor Beach will be able to contain them. But the good news is that Merrill's "D" is mediocre. Harbor Beach will need to score early in this one to keep it close. I expect a shoot-out in this game with a lot of scoring. Harbor Beach's defensive coordinators have their work cut out for them. That's going to be the story of this game. But in the end, Merrill wins 35-32.
I hear ya Chris, wink wink, lol
I asked Eddie about the possibility of a live pre game show this weekend and he said no, It won't work. Get on him....keep after him about it.
As for the issue at hand, perhaps a roundtable show would be a good forum to discuss it in, like the sports reporters at ESPN. I'd like to see something like that, where one or two disagree with the others.....makes things more fun and interesting
I agree with Jay that Merrill will be a tough game. Jason Pratt, while a junior, is in his 3rd season as Merrill quarterback. He has passed for over 200 yards per game for 28 TD’s with almost a 70% completion rate. They have several excellent receivers. Pratt has averaged almost 100 yd rushing per game as well scoring 16 TD’s, so he’s been personally involved in 44 touchdowns this year. According to today's Saginaw News, Pratt passed for 6 TD's and ran for another against Pewamo-Westphalia, a team similar to Harbor Beach. For some reason, they feel that Gornowich is going to play for Harbor Beach (I don't think that is correct?). So it is going to be a tough challenge for HB. BUT, if Harbor Beach can keep Merrill from getting a lead (so they have to play catch-up and change their style), play ball control with their strong running attack, mixed in with a few passes, then it could be a close ball game. Besides Troy Schelke's record of good coaching, Ron Wrubel appears to have almost genius-like qualities in directing the Pirate defense to stop teams like Ubly and Whittemore. Another thing in favor of HB is that Merrill's defense appears to be weaker than Ubly's or Whittemore's...at least they have had lots of points scored against them. But usually, Merrill's strong offense has out-scored their opponents. So, it should be an interesting game.
Rick,
I'd love to have a version of the Sports Reporters on WLEW every Saturday morning.
Chris
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