Still talkin' football
First top ten of the year. After Friday's opening games, the TCA released it's first Area Top ten of the young season. In association with four area coaches, representing the four area conferences, along with the sports staff of the TCA, here it is:
1. Millington (1-0) 53 pts (2)
2. Reese (1-0) 52 pts (2)
3. USA (1-0) 45 pts
4. Frankenmuth (1-0) 37 pts (1)
5. Birch Run (1-0) 32 pts (1)
6. Marlette (1-0) 19 pts
7. Ubly (0-1) 17 pts
7. Harbor Beach (1-0) 17 pts
9. Cass City (1-0) 12 pts
10. Garber (1-0) 11 pts
All of this will ofcourse settle itself out as the week goes on, but I think the biggest surprise is the fall of Ubly after the opening game loss to USA.
Word out of the Thumb is that Bearcat QB Jordan Kaufman broke his collarbone and is out for 7 to 8 weeks, which essentially is the entire season. Ubly must now rely upon a sophomore quarterback to lead them in the GTE, which could open things up for Harbor Beach and Marlette to take the reigns in the conference.
As for the top spot, the only reason Millington's not a unanimous pick is because the others voters have not seen them yet. The Cardinals defense was overwhelming against Mt. Morris and Dustin Griesing might just be the best quarterback in the area.
As the year pans out, I am convinced that Mt. Morris will make the playoffs and they just might win the GAC Red...they are that good! Millington was just a lot better.
This Thursday, I'll be at the Garber-Vassar game. This is the beginning of Vassar's last year in the TVE...new coach Jason Kiss will be coaching his first game at home...and most of all, if Vassar hopes to challenge for the league title this season, it all has to start on Thursday night.
We are sending photographers to the Caro-Frankenmuth game, the Ubly-Marlette game, the CPS-Kingston game and the Peck-Akron-Fairgrove game and Jon and Christian will be calling the Mayville-Sandusky game on 92.1.
Now that's good coverage!!
Volleyball in the fall??!! Yup, so says the courts, and the MHSAA had to comply and from what I have heard so far from area players, they couldn't be happier. It seems like, for most girls around this area, their favorite sport anyway is volleyball, and they seem to enjoy being able to go right from club volleyball in the spring, to volleyball camps in the summer right into the season in the fall.
As for our teams, North Branch is picking right up where they left off in the spring by winning the Macomb Community College Tournament over the weekend.
The Broncos beat Flushing in straight sets in the championship game (25-14, 25-20) and coach Jim Fish has told me that he thinks his team has a chance to be better this season than they were last season.
Those are bold words, considering NB lost setter Samantha Fish and middle hitter Rachel Hebberd, both of whom earned college scholarships to play at the next level.
Fish does return Olivia Kohler, who will move to play setter, and senior Jessica Curtis, who led the team in kills in 2006-07.
In six games on Saturday, Kohler had 58 assists, 47 digs, 16 kills and 11 service aces, a performance which Fish called a 'quadruple double'.
Curtis converted 52 percent of her kills in the finals (11-for-19) and ended the day with 48 kills, 36 digs and nine aces.
This Friday, the Frankenmuth Tournament begins, which will feature some of the states powerhouse teams, such as North Branch, Frankenmuth, Marysville, and Birmingham Marian, among others, so that should tell us where North Branch stands as opposed to last season.
After the season gets going, we are going to feature a TCA Top Ten in volleyball. Here's betting North Branch gets the top spot.
Pigskin Prophet? We brought back the popular feature in the Advertiser and after the first week, I am squarely in last place. I only picked correct on six out of twelve games over the first week. I better pick it up fast.
1. Millington (1-0) 53 pts (2)
2. Reese (1-0) 52 pts (2)
3. USA (1-0) 45 pts
4. Frankenmuth (1-0) 37 pts (1)
5. Birch Run (1-0) 32 pts (1)
6. Marlette (1-0) 19 pts
7. Ubly (0-1) 17 pts
7. Harbor Beach (1-0) 17 pts
9. Cass City (1-0) 12 pts
10. Garber (1-0) 11 pts
All of this will ofcourse settle itself out as the week goes on, but I think the biggest surprise is the fall of Ubly after the opening game loss to USA.
Word out of the Thumb is that Bearcat QB Jordan Kaufman broke his collarbone and is out for 7 to 8 weeks, which essentially is the entire season. Ubly must now rely upon a sophomore quarterback to lead them in the GTE, which could open things up for Harbor Beach and Marlette to take the reigns in the conference.
As for the top spot, the only reason Millington's not a unanimous pick is because the others voters have not seen them yet. The Cardinals defense was overwhelming against Mt. Morris and Dustin Griesing might just be the best quarterback in the area.
As the year pans out, I am convinced that Mt. Morris will make the playoffs and they just might win the GAC Red...they are that good! Millington was just a lot better.
This Thursday, I'll be at the Garber-Vassar game. This is the beginning of Vassar's last year in the TVE...new coach Jason Kiss will be coaching his first game at home...and most of all, if Vassar hopes to challenge for the league title this season, it all has to start on Thursday night.
We are sending photographers to the Caro-Frankenmuth game, the Ubly-Marlette game, the CPS-Kingston game and the Peck-Akron-Fairgrove game and Jon and Christian will be calling the Mayville-Sandusky game on 92.1.
Now that's good coverage!!
Volleyball in the fall??!! Yup, so says the courts, and the MHSAA had to comply and from what I have heard so far from area players, they couldn't be happier. It seems like, for most girls around this area, their favorite sport anyway is volleyball, and they seem to enjoy being able to go right from club volleyball in the spring, to volleyball camps in the summer right into the season in the fall.
As for our teams, North Branch is picking right up where they left off in the spring by winning the Macomb Community College Tournament over the weekend.
The Broncos beat Flushing in straight sets in the championship game (25-14, 25-20) and coach Jim Fish has told me that he thinks his team has a chance to be better this season than they were last season.
Those are bold words, considering NB lost setter Samantha Fish and middle hitter Rachel Hebberd, both of whom earned college scholarships to play at the next level.
Fish does return Olivia Kohler, who will move to play setter, and senior Jessica Curtis, who led the team in kills in 2006-07.
In six games on Saturday, Kohler had 58 assists, 47 digs, 16 kills and 11 service aces, a performance which Fish called a 'quadruple double'.
Curtis converted 52 percent of her kills in the finals (11-for-19) and ended the day with 48 kills, 36 digs and nine aces.
This Friday, the Frankenmuth Tournament begins, which will feature some of the states powerhouse teams, such as North Branch, Frankenmuth, Marysville, and Birmingham Marian, among others, so that should tell us where North Branch stands as opposed to last season.
After the season gets going, we are going to feature a TCA Top Ten in volleyball. Here's betting North Branch gets the top spot.
Pigskin Prophet? We brought back the popular feature in the Advertiser and after the first week, I am squarely in last place. I only picked correct on six out of twelve games over the first week. I better pick it up fast.
Comments
One Comment (as in Justin) on last weeks 92.1 Game of th Week. Justin Comment is a very good quaterback. He showed tremendous poise and confidence running Marlette's pro-style offense. Stong arm, stong legs, and smart decision making. Expect big numbers from him all season long. Hard to believe he was not the Athlete of the Week in the TCA. I expect Marlette move through Ubly as well.
I saw Griesing play on Friday night.
It would be different if Marlette just won by say 10-17 points, but they won BY 47!!
At least Christian has the balls to leave his real name, not hide behind a nickname.
Andy, they said it would be easy, eh? - lol. And Mumbles, I would bet the farm that the rankings are bound to change.
I am however, in full agreement with the choice of #1 (but I will admit to a bit, well, rather large amount of bias).
Teams garner points based on how the voters rank them (No. 1 team gets 10 points, two gets 9, etc.)
After that is finalized, points are tabulated and then the teams area ranked.
There is no bias in our area, but I will say this: I do now and always have believed that an unbeaten Class B team is better than an unbeaten Class C or D team. That's not a bias, that opinion comes from who the teams play.
If Ubly is as good as everyone says, then I'll give USA's win over them a little more credit. Same goes for Reese over Hemlock...but I saw Mt. Morris and they are a good team. They will make the playoffs this year....Millington just completely whooped them. The Cards are that good!
As for Marlette...well, we will find out tonight if they are for real.
And Mumbles, when you actually get old enough to have a job, then you can attack people for what they do for a living!!
In DePorres last year, they were a Class D school whipping the snot out of a few Class A schools.
And as for the TCA, why shouldn't we care about our teams the most?
The way you guys act is really an embarassment. If you two are going to be so called professionals, then you should act like it. If you going to let someone like me get you, it doesn't really say much for your creditability. There's certain ways to act when people like me come around, but with you two, you take the bait each time.
As for selling papers, I don't believe I ever said not cover your schools, but you should at least had an idea of what's going outside your little box.
Why don't YOU start adding the Tri-Valley to YOUR thought process.
There is 4 main conferences in the Thumb....not just the GTW, GTE and NCTL. Just a suggestion...not a slam.
And as for the Class A teams being better, I come from a Class A school that has a subpar all-time record...and we play Class C schools up there since we can't travel downstate all the time (except Esky)...so take that for what it is worth
As for de Porres thrashing Class A Teams in 2004. Not true.
They finished the season 5-4 with wins against:
Class A Novi (18-9) - Novi was 4-5
Class B Beecher (42-0) Bucs went 4-5
Class B Dearborn Divine (19-13) - DD was a playoff team 6-5
Class B Harper Woods (32-0) - a 3-6 club
Class B Country Day (20-15) - they went 2-6
Losses were to B 11-3 Jackson Lumni Christi (23-18), A 7-3 Holt (49-41), B 8-4 Pont. Notre Dame (8-7) and A 10-1 Brother Rice (24-6)
So the numbers speak for themselves. Three of those five wins were less than nine points.
I just think that de Porres had a schedule that got them ready for the playoffs.
Any time a smaller school can play a larger school, most likely it's to help the smaller school get better.
Two, on your bio, it has auto sales person or something like that, so I questioned what background you have for giving me my sports information.
These are the facts, if you feel they're personal attacks, then maybe they just hit too close to home.
To date, the TVCE has not won a state championship, but its teams have had impressive runs. And the TVCE competetes in Div 4 and 5 rather than 6 and 7. So I view that potential argument a mute.
Everyone should be proud of the Thumb conferences, as they are better than average when compared to others. But typically I would agree that a good B school should be ranked above a good C school if all things are equal. But I would also say that its not the rule.
As to the expert thing, no one qualifies, but there are those more informed. And this ranking thing should just be for fun. I look forward to week #2 rankings.
You really have a problem with the NCTL don't you ? Or is this just a Kingston thing ? Why so much much hate for the Selich's ? I agree with Andrew. Have the guts to say who you are. I'm not hiding the fact the fact that i coach the Varsity Girl's Basketbal team at Kingston. I'm a major thumb sports fan. I fully understand that the GTC is a stronger Football Conference than the NCTL. Bigger schools equals more numbers equals a JV Program, which equals for the most part better Football programs. I don't understand your logic on why NCTL schools shouldn't be playing GTC schools ? As a NCTL Coach i would love to play more GTC schools for the good competition. Anything to prepare us for Districts,Regionals or even better teams in our conference. Believe it or not..some years ( especially in Basketball ) Some NCTL TEAMS CAN PLAY WITH ANYONE IN THE THUMB. Some years we can't. I find it humorous that some GTC fans..LIKE YOU rip on Kingston or Memphis to getting beat by bigger schools..or the one i hate the most " As soon as you play someone good..you lose ". Very funny how for the exception of USA, Ubly & Reese in various sports no one else in the thumb gets very far in the State Tournament. Couldn't i use your attitude about the NCTL or Tuscola County or the Selich's against last years Deckerville Eagles..They had a great run and lost to the State Champion New Lorthrup Hornets. Couldn't i give the same B.S. story to the Eagles of "play someone good, then lose ! " No !! I was actaully hoping that Deckerville and Ubly went all the way last year. I support our thumb teams and it honestly pisses me off when one-sided homers like yourself rip on the media for being passionate about our local teams. Rip on the NCTL ( newsflash for you..The last 5 years the NCTL has more Basketball talent then the GTC East )..Not Football.. The GTC East and West are great, talented football conferences. Wake up and quit "mumbling" mumbles !!!
Thumb coach, I’ll touch on a few things you mentioned. Why shouldn’t NCTL football teams play GTC teams? One, the games for the most part aren’t very competitive. Two, ask just about any NCTL coach who plays one of the better GTC schools (Marlette doesn’t count) and they’ll tell that they’re so beat up physically it takes them weeks to recover. So, you might get a chance to play a bigger team, but at what cost if you’re players can’t recover? Plus, outside of just getting a win, the GTC school doesn’t get any better for playing the NCTL school. Why do you think Ubly dropped North Huron?
Why so much hate for the Selich’s? I wouldn’t say it’s hate, but I’m shocked how people that represent a paper of radio station don’t know how to deal with situations correctly. The Selich’s always so confrontational, but hardly ever back up their arguments with facts, they just go on the attack. As for me, the rules don’t apply because I’m just a fan.
Finally, I wouldn’t say I’m a “one-sided homer” who likes to “rip on the media for being passionate about our local teams.” There’s nothing wrong with passion, I love it when a media member is passionate about what they do. But when that passion blurs the lines of professionalism that’s what I don’t like.
I agree with some of your points. In Football the GTC is superior to the NCTL ( not suprising ). In some cases a Kingston, Peck or North Huron benefit from playing a GTC team, especially late in the year. This will only help the NCTL team for the upcoming playoffs. Some of the upper echelon teams ( Deckerville, Ubly, Harbor Beach ) normally do not play NCTL teams. It wouldn't benefit them and for most GTC teams scheduling will not allow any possible NCTL vs GTC to occur. I agree mumbles...Who would want to see these games? But to basically call NCTL teams trash is well..garbage and as a NCTL Coach and Fan..I really don't like it. But i do respect your opinion and do believe you have a strong passion for thumb sports. I have personally dealt with Andrew Selich during basketball season and i really have no problem with him. You obviously do and that is your right. I look forward to more discussions on thumb sports in the future.
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If you cover a conference, you should pay attention (at the very least) and mention the other teams in it. You guys at the TCA simply refuse to acknowledge any team from outside of your coverage area, and refuse to believe that any team outside your coverage could actually be better.
Hard to believe he did not say anything negative about the NCTL