BEHIND THE LENS - September 6, 2007 -

Football Stars For Tomorrow - www.storkmontgomery.com

Playing as a freshman, Good or Bad?
60 days forward and 60 days backward
Barry Sanders was a bad cat

Well we are 2-0 and on a roll.

Let's jump right in and get going.

Playing as a fresman, Good or Bad?
Well, everybody will have an opinion on this one. My thoughts are probably a little more of a trend.

Younger guys are seeing more playing time today than 20 years ago. Back in the 80's starting a freshman tailback or quarterback would have been risky. But, kids are much bigger today than they were twenty years ago. They may not have the physical stability of a senior, but a lot of guys that are in the 9th grade are just as big as a 12th grader.

The coaches today get to work and develop the kid's skill set sooner than normal. Usually by game 8 these kids are getting 1/2 the reps as a senior. Most coaches would rather play a younger athlete because of the deeper experience factor later on.

Your chances of winning increase dramatically when you bring a kid on the scene for his final year and he already has 25 games under his belt. Other than the game experience, I don't see much difference in sophomores and juniors.

Just an opinion, let's move on.

60 days forward and 60 days backward
60 days forward and 60 days backwards, my how time flies.

Ok, 60 days back puts us at the 6th of July. What were you doing? It was a dead period for high school football. That seems like a long time ago. I can remind you quickly that it was H-O-T.

Ok, 60 days forward and it will be the 6th of November. What will you be doing on that day? Most kids will be playing in their last game. Others will be preparing for the first round of the playoffs. The reality of this short paragraph is this: It seems like a long time ago to go back to July 6th, but a short time ahead until we reach November 6th.

Regardless, you can stop a lot of things, but time is the only thing that continues on and on.

Barry Sanders was a bad cat
Sanders played for the Oklahoma State Cowboys from 1986 to 1988. During his first two years, he backed up an All-American who name was Thurman Thomas. Thomas moved on to the NFL, and Sanders became the starter for his junior year.

In what has been called the greatest season in college football history, Sanders let the nation by average 8 yards per carry and over 200 yards per game, including rushing for over 300 yards in four games.

He set college football season records with 2,628 yards rushing, 3,249 total yards, most point (234), 39 touchdowns, of which 37 were rushing (also a record, 5 consecutive 200 yards games, scored at least 2 touchdowns in 11 consecutive games. Nine times he scored at least 3 touchdowns.

Sanders won the Heisman Trophy as the season's best player.

Enough said. He was getting 8 yards a carry and a 200 yards a game. Nobody is doing that today. Barry Sanders was a bad cat. He did all of that with and Oklahoma State front line. Not a Florida or Alabama front line but Oklahoma State. If I was a running back in high school trying to reach for a goal, I think Barry set the bar.

That's A Wrap
Well that's a wrap. We are 2-0, Lebanon comes to the Dog Pound tomorrow night and we will be celebrating homecoming. It always rains for homecoming, I will never understand how that happens.
LISTEN LIVE! Lebanon vs Smyrna @ 7:30

I really appreciate the emails and calls on my Gold Dome (Notre Dame) slam. If you want to watch a true beating, check out the Penn State versus Notre Dame game on Saturday. Clausen is starting for the Irish. They are going to get destroyed. Charlie Weis will say he is only a freshman. Oh well, win or lose Charlies Weis will still say he is only a freshman.

If you see me at the game give a shout or wave.

God bless and Take Care.

From Behind The Lens.
The Stork
“A man who truly delivers”

Football Stars For Tomorrow - www.storkmontgomery.com