Anyone else watch all these ESPN high school games? Thoughts?
Instead of packing for my move back to Michigan, I've been procrastinating all weekend by watching a slew of high school football games on the ESPN channels.
I've watched:
-Folsom (CA) v Grant (CA)
-Plant (FL) v Manatee (FL)
-South Pointe (SC) v Northwestern (SC)
-Steele (TX) v Madison (TX)
-Good Counsel (MD) v St. Xavier (O-H-N-O)
After watching these games I've quickly jumped to the ill-informed conclusion that our Florida pipeline will help resurrect our program. By far the most impressive team that I've watched thus far was Manatee, who, despite being a huge underdog, absolutely wrecked Tony Posada's Plant squad. The athleticism that was displayed in that game was amazing, and none of the other teams I watched came close to matching it. If our coaching staff can continue to bring in these Floridians (I'm talking to you, Dee), I think our team is really going to take off.
OSU commit Braxton Miller will be playing in ~20 minutes at 7EST on ESPNU for those that are interested.
Anyone else watch these games? Any additional thoughts?
August 29th, 2010 at 6:46 PM ^
Maybe it's just me but I thought the two RB's in that game - Brown and Green - were the best running backs I saw from the games I watched (Plant - Manatee being the other). Not to take anything away from Blakely but those two looked primed to get some PT next year wherever they end up.
August 29th, 2010 at 6:47 PM ^
holy crap he actually made a tackle
August 29th, 2010 at 6:48 PM ^
I just can't get into those games for some reason. I don't get it.
August 29th, 2010 at 6:48 PM ^
I feel weird watching high school football on television. I can't be the only one.
August 29th, 2010 at 7:49 PM ^
That a Catholic school like Good Counsel would schedule a football game on Sunday to play on ESPN.
Maybe I'm just old fashioned, but it enforces the rumors about GC around here.
August 29th, 2010 at 6:52 PM ^
August 29th, 2010 at 6:59 PM ^
There was an open thread during the game:
August 29th, 2010 at 6:53 PM ^
I love high school football. I love how it's a cultural institution that brings communities together, how it truly is student-athletes, and that high school football is the soul of the sport. But I don't think it's a good idea to put high school football on national tv - especially a regular season game.
At some point, student athletes need to truly be student athletes, and most of the kids on that field aren't even 18 yet. But we have ESPN and their respective high schools making a boatload of money off of them. They shouldn't be paid - but they shouldn't be exploited either. And the end result of this exposure will be that some of them become insufferably arrogant.
I'm sure people used these arguments against televising college ball 50 years ago, and maybe they were right and would be horrified by what college football has become. I think I would have disagreed with them at the time, but I really don't believe high school football should become college football. ESPN needs to stop and let it stay small time.
GET OFF MY LAWN! Rant over.
August 29th, 2010 at 7:09 PM ^
But I don't think it's a good idea to put high school football on national tv
Is it the fact that it's national TV, or just TV at all? I'm just curious because there are a couple teams where I live that play multiple games each year on TV.
August 29th, 2010 at 9:08 PM ^
I think that's just progress - but ESPN is commercialization of high school sports
August 29th, 2010 at 7:16 PM ^
I think it could be used as an opportunity for some of these kids to show everybody how talented they really are. Besides, what high school kid wouldn't want to be on TV?
August 29th, 2010 at 7:59 PM ^
I watch some of the LLWS so I guess I'm part of the problem, but I do question if 12 year olds should be on national tv under that kind of pressure. More because of glory hunting adults. The Danny Almonte situation for one. That may be worse than hs.
With high school football I don't like that some of the games are made for tv between schools in states that don't border each other. They're "unnatural", if you will, for what a high school travel budget should be and the amateurism of hs kids. So I know what you are saying. However, I don't have a problem with the state finals being on Thanksgiving weekend or local public access broadcasts, radio, etc..
August 30th, 2010 at 9:23 AM ^
With high school football I don't like that some of the games are made for tv between schools in states that don't border each other. They're "unnatural", if you will, for what a high school travel budget should be and the amateurism of hs kids.
I don't agree with this. If I remember correctly, the only games this weekend that were "unnantural" under what you described were the Hoover (AL) v. Byrnes (SC) game and the Good Counsel (MD) v. St. Xavier (OH) game. I can't speak for the Good Counsel v. St. Xavier game, but the Hoover v. Byrnes game would have been played regardless of whether it was on ESPN or not. Both schools play major out of state program each year, regardless of whether it's on ESPN. If anything, this game was ESPN taking a free ride on a game that was already going to happen.
August 29th, 2010 at 7:02 PM ^
I watched this game and was not impressed by Sean Duggan. He was playing inside and struggled with getting off blocks. He is projected as a OLB so that may help him not get mauled in the middle. His 2012 LB teammate upstaged him. Duggan might have had a bad game not representative of his ability, but it wasn't impressive.
August 29th, 2010 at 7:18 PM ^
I was most discouraged by his missed extra point
August 29th, 2010 at 7:06 PM ^
We went to the Hoover v. Byrnes game yesterday. I have no idea what the commentators said about it on TV, but I actually have to give Byrnes a lot of credit that this game was as close as it was. On paper, Hooever should have won by a lot more. Given the amount of talent that Byrnes lost after last year (6 kid to BCS programs - 4 at offensive skill positions) and the fact that Byrnes was without their best three wide receivers, I give their defense a ton of credit for keeping it close.
I've watched bits and pieces of the other games that have been on, so I can't really comment on much other than a few basic impressions:
(1) The running back for Tyler Lee last night (the sophomore) is going to be REALLY good. 6'2", 205lb, 4.35 40. The kid just had an impressive extra gear when he hit the holes. I have no idea what his stat line ended up being, or even what the score was, but that kid is going to be a special player.
(2) Jadeaveon Clowney (South Pointe - SC) is very deservedly ESPN's number one recruit. He has a wicked quick first step and was just flat out disruptive all game long.
August 29th, 2010 at 7:10 PM ^
Clowney had some great plays, but he made a lot of mistakes too, I thought. He has insane speed for a guy that big and a few times he blasted right into the backfield but came in completely out of control and thus whiffed the tackle. He could have had 3 or 4 more sacks if he would have broken down before making the tackle. This can obviously be coached so I still think he will be a menace at the next level.
August 29th, 2010 at 7:45 PM ^
Yeah, no doubt about it. He has a ton of talent that needs to be refined. The raw talent is there, though. One of the (many) TD' by Northwetern in the third quarter would have never happened if Clowney had been under control. He completely whiffed on the sack. You are 100% right.
August 29th, 2010 at 7:13 PM ^
Lugenbill just called B Miller, the right handed Pat White, but with a stronger arm. B Miller made a couple of impressive plays already and only in the 1st Quarter
August 29th, 2010 at 7:15 PM ^
I hate to say it, but so far Braxton Miller is shredding the Moeller defense with his legs.
August 29th, 2010 at 7:20 PM ^
Eh. I don't get too worried about it. Ohio State is going to get good players, let's face it. All the national powers are. Can't get worked up over it. But he's gonna be a good one no doubt.
August 29th, 2010 at 8:15 PM ^
Been following Braxton for several years now. He's been tearing up the Dayton area since he was a sophomore. Had some injuries, but his decision making and non-'arm punt' throwing motion makes him look like a much more competent college passer than TP. Reminds me a lot of Troy Smith. I'll still take Devin any day, though.
August 29th, 2010 at 7:25 PM ^
Gotta remember shredding HS defenses means absolute squat..
Case and point our own Kevin Grady dominated every single game he played and sadly never lived up to the #2 RB in the country hype that was bestowed on him. Heck Rich Rod had the right idea last year sticking that kid at fullback.
August 29th, 2010 at 7:31 PM ^
Miller has 130 yard rushing on 5 carries with an average of 26ypc. 3:30 seconds to go in the first quarter.
August 29th, 2010 at 7:33 PM ^
Not from Ohio or the midwest, but I am cheering for the team that wears the maize and blue with the maize M. Sorry Talbotts.
August 29th, 2010 at 7:42 PM ^
They look like a UofM JUCO. I love it.
August 29th, 2010 at 7:46 PM ^
I cant stop laughing at that comment. When I saw #2, all i could think about was McGuffie.
August 29th, 2010 at 10:09 PM ^
totally shut down Miller in 2nd half.
August 29th, 2010 at 7:46 PM ^
Miller looks sick right now.
I love all these games between national powers. I'll tell you one thing. the high school players I've seen on ESPN don't look like the high school players around my area (Kalamazoo) These guys are freakin HUGE.
August 29th, 2010 at 8:04 PM ^
Yeah, the Hoover line looked like a D-1 line--or at least close. They were all big, strong, and pretty mobile.
These games have been holding off the shakes--briefly.
August 29th, 2010 at 7:57 PM ^
August 29th, 2010 at 8:26 PM ^
I don't know what they're going to do with him, but if you saw the spin move he put on that kid late in the first half I can certainly understand why anybody might want him. OSU's going to get athletes, and they found another one.
August 29th, 2010 at 7:58 PM ^
I wonder what Devin could have did with the OLine that Miller is working behind right now...
Pretty obvious why Michigan has to leave the state to recruit and be competetive, the difference between our best and other states best is huge!
August 29th, 2010 at 8:05 PM ^
This Moeller team must not have a lot of athletes to throw out there...everytime Wayne goes 4 wide moeller stays in a 4-3 and Miller is killing their LB's who cant get to the edge at all.
August 29th, 2010 at 9:25 PM ^
wanna see him play after reading all the comments on here
August 29th, 2010 at 9:36 PM ^
go to espn3.com or just turn it to ESPNU if you have it.
August 30th, 2010 at 12:30 AM ^
Grant with their core four looked quite impressive to me. Folsom scores tons of points (last year their qb accounted for a high school record 66 touchdowns in a season) was completely stymied. Plus I would say Grant had the most dominant line.
August 30th, 2010 at 12:52 AM ^
Its crazy to see how big HS football is in some states. I watched a couple games this weekend and was not really happy with the play of Plant's entire offensive line. Posada and crew kept getting beat all night long. Hopefully it was just the first scrimmage jitters but man they looked shaky.