Random Thoughts again...

What bandwagon....I am still not on the North Branch/Brown City bandwagon. Why? Well Cass City really jaded me last year. The Redhawks started 5-0 and did not make the playoffs after losing their last four games. North Branch may change my mind this Friday by getting big conference win when they travel to Essexville-Garber. If the Broncos pull off the road victory, then I am officially on their bandwagon. The Green Devils are another story. They should easily be 5-0 (Harbor Beach and Mayville) heading into their game with Sandusky in Week #6. This is where is gets tricky for Brown City. After Sandusky, they play Ulby, Marlette, and Memphis. They might need a victory versus Memphis in Week #9 to make the playoffs, but Memphis will not be a pushover. I will be on the Brown City bandwagon when they make the playoffs.

Rough Starts....Jason Beagle (USA), Lane Walker (Kingston), and Tim VanWormer (Frankenmuth) were all looking for their first career victory as a head coach following two weeks of the season. VanWormer finally got on the books this past week against Caro, but Beagle and Walker are still looking. The Patriots may sneak up on somebody this year and win a game or two, but they are struggling, being outscored by and 18.3 average per game. Kington may not win a game this year. They are really struggling being outscored by almost 39 points per game. Out of the three coaches, Beagle may have the easier job turning the program around into his own because he is not taking over for a school legend like Walker and VanWormer.

Tweaked....I have tweaked my Power Poll for next week. I have been trying to think of a way to get a point differential into the poll. Well I finally have. After getting a teams power average, the computer calculates the teams point differential per game and multiplies it by 10%. That figure is then added to the power average. After taking a look at what this past week's poll looks like under the new numbers, I beleive the poll will be very, very good.

TSA Top 10....I posted the Thumb Sports Writers Association's Top 10 football poll earlier this week. At this point of the seaon, I think a legimate argument can be made for the top three teams (Ubly, Millington, North Branch) to be the number one team. What I do not think is a legimate argument is: just because a team was number one last year, they should be number one this year. Teams change, personnel change, and it is a different year. Ubly had an excellent year last year and that is where is should stop. From all accounts, the Bearcats have another very good team, but it is this year's team. The 2009 Bearcats should not be held up the the 2008 team.

Comments

Chiuk Czlek said…
You haven't watched Ubly play this year...obviously. Those guys in Huron County aren't basing their judgments on because of what they did last year. Ubly is scary good in 2009 despite the loss of three all-staters. You can't replace a Jorden Kaufman like you can't replace a Jordan Bitzer or Matt Hoard, but you can actually put a team on the field that overall can be as good or even better. See you in Vassar...Oct.2
Sep 16, 2009, 5:57:00 PM
Christian Selich said…
"They left last year as the best team in the Thumb, and until they lose a game, or something drastically changes, I think that they deserve to be considered as one of the best in the area." from the HDT Blog

no this was not from a Huron County guy, I have just heard this statement from a few too many people. Like I said, they may be the best in the Thumb, but that deserves to be on what they have done this year and not last year.
Sep 16, 2009, 10:38:00 PM
ChadWingert said…
I will chime in now..... If I may.

#1 - I agree with you on Brown City and North Branch Christian. They still have yet to play the thick of their schedule. Yes, Deckerville was a great win for Brown City and beating Frankenmuth was a good win for North Branch. But I think nothing but time, will prove what these teams are capable of.

#2 - I'll admit, I jumped the gun on giving Ubly a first place vote in the TSA Poll. However, they made me a believer after watching them in Marlette last week. This Ubly team is for real. Things will get interesting this week as I go watch Millington for the first time and I must say, I'm excited to see what Coach Furno and the Cards are bringing to the table this season.
I know I may be backtracking and eating my words a bit here, but your right. This poll should be based on this years accomplishments, not last years.
Sep 17, 2009, 1:34:00 PM
ChadWingert said…
- Also, if I can leave a shameless plug....... I am starting to blog again over at tuscolatoday.com. Once a week you can read my thoughts and opinions on the local as well as statewide sports scene.
Sep 17, 2009, 1:35:00 PM
Chiuk Czlek said…
Thanks guys,

Just clearing the air. Really I need to watch Millington play this year. Birch Run and Caro games are out...Ubly vs Brown City and Deckerville those weeks.

Garber...Sept.25...where is that game being played?
Sep 17, 2009, 4:34:00 PM
Bryan Bassett said…
Chuck the game is at Garber.
Sep 18, 2009, 12:31:00 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Big Game.

Here it is. Well, it's here...the game that everyone around here has been looking forward to all season long. Frankenmuth at Millington. Both teams are 7-0 (6-0 TVC-E) and the Cardinals and the Eagles could not be more evenly matched. They have the exact same number of playoff points (85.714) at this point of the season; both teams blew out Vassar and held the Vulcans without a defensive TD (kickoff return against the Eagles and punt return vs the Cards); both teams blew out Bridgeport and North Branch. And both teams had to play their best to hold off Garber (Muth won 17-7 at Muth while Millington won 20-14 at Garber). One game where things were different was when both played Birch Run. Muth had to use a last minute field goal to win 23-20 while Millington blew out the Panther 45-17, both games played in Birch Run. The game also has the best storylines associated with any game in the area. Roger Bearss, who was the Frankenmuth head varsity football coach from 2001-05, is now ...
Read more

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...
Read more

Craziest Gyms in the Thumb?

I had a discussion lately with some area folks about the toughest gymnasium to play a basketball game. The area is full of great venues past and present, so please share your thoughts here. I have two, one from personal experience and another from having the pleasure to announce high school basketball on the radio. First, the gymnasium in Sebewaing has to be a very intimidating place for opponents to enter. The bleachers are tall, so the crowd seems to be right on top of you. The banners for championships are aplenty, and the place is always packed and loud. Very tough for an opponent. Secondly, from my own experience, Vassar was the toughest place for me to play when I was in high school. Vassar is an older gym with the student section of bleachers right behind one of the baskets. When the place is packed it is almost impossible, to have a coherent thought on that side of the court as an opponent of the Vulcans. Great place! Past or present, I am looking for your thoughts. I know ther...
Read more