Is it true that coach Appel is retiring?

[Lagmeister]

I have to disagree with you on on the last statement. I’m not saying they are 5 star athletes but they could be good football players if the coaches would take time and work with them but they’d have to want to do it and that will lead down a rabbit hole of reason on why they don’t. From a fort hill fan perspective and I know I can be die hard red sometimes but I think I’m pretty neutral outside of the season but the reason FH has such a massive bench is because the kids want to play for Todd and they know that he will give them the time and see the effort they are putting in for him

So, you are suggesting that on the Alco side there is available the same number of quality athletes that FH has - that Cumberland has that much athletic talent... that walking the halls of Allegany is a full freshman team, JV team and a double deep bench at varsity. They just can't seem to get them to the field. Why do you think I don't believe that?

 

[hbpass2]

So, you are suggesting that on the Alco side there is available the same number of quality athletes that FH has - that Cumberland has that much athletic talent... that walking the halls of Allegany is a full freshman team, JV team and a double deep bench at varsity. They just can't seem to get them to the field. Why do you think I don't believe that?

I’m not saying there’s an entire football program worth of players roaming the halls lol. I didn’t say there were athletes but I do believe that there are kids that have the chance to be good players. That’s just my opinion

 

[Lagmeister]

I’m not saying there’s an entire football program worth of players roaming the halls lol. I didn’t say there were athletes but I do believe that there are kids that have the chance to be good players. That’s just my opinion

Then we are right back where we started. To simply say there are (fill in the blank) potential number of additional good players at Alco does in no way address the gigantic difference in numbers and talent between Allegany and FH. Which brings me back to my original point: let Alco play at its level and have FH start playing at its level (or let kids ride the bench at FH while Appel lines up patsies until they collect a 1A ring).

And last but not least: if Robinette had gone to FH he would have parked his ass on the bench waiting his turn (remember the consensus around here that when Robinette was a junior that nobody from Alco would start for FH.... I believe it). So, opportunity and good coaching from Allegany allowed the young man to be the only 'Big 33' pick from Cumberland... let alone astound the town as he dragged half the Dunbar line down the field.

My personal opinion about the numbers difference is the simple promise of a championship whether you play or not. It is a sign of today's youth... belong to the right club... get the cheat codes to beat the PC game. The just-wanna-play-for-Toddy doesn't cut it when you don't actually play. Especially when a young man like Robinette proves the coaching differential to be bullshit.

 

[Tony54]

I have to disagree with you on on the last statement. I’m not saying they are 5 star athletes but they could be good football players if the coaches would take time and work with them but they’d have to want to do it and that will lead down a rabbit hole of reason on why they don’t. From a fort hill fan perspective and I know I can be die hard red sometimes but I think I’m pretty neutral outside of the season but the reason FH has such a massive bench is because the kids want to play for Todd and they know that he will give them the time and see the effort they are putting in for him

For sure!

 

[hbpass2]

Then we are right back where we started. To simply say there are (fill in the blank) potential number of additional good players at Alco does in no way address the gigantic difference in numbers and talent between Allegany and FH. Which brings me back to my original point: let Alco play at its level and have FH start playing at its level (or let kids ride the bench at FH while Appel lines up patsies until they collect a 1A ring).

And last but not least: if Robinette had gone to FH he would have parked his ass on the bench waiting his turn (remember the consensus around here that when Robinette was a junior that nobody from Alco would start for FH.... I believe it). So, opportunity and good coaching from Allegany allowed the young man to be the only 'Big 33' pick from Cumberland... let alone astound the town as he dragged half the Dunbar line down the field.

My personal opinion about the numbers difference is the simple promise of a championship whether you play or not. It is a sign of today's youth... belong to the right club... get the cheat codes to beat the PC game. The just-wanna-play-for-Toddy doesn't cut it when you don't actually play. Especially when a young man like Robinette proves the coaching differential to be bullshit.

Wins and titles are a big draw for kids. There’s no denying that but let’s say that 4 or 5 of those 20 or 30 you mentioned joined the alco football team this year and they won 1 or 2 games extra this year because of the those players. Then next year 4 or 5 more of that 20 or 30 come out to be on the team and alco wins 8 or 9 games and then 4 or 5 more kids join the team and they continue to win 8 or 9 games or go undefeated then you have your numbers back. And I know I laid it out in 3 years but say it takes 5-8 so be it.

I wasn’t trying to argue or say that players just “wanna play for toddy”. It’s just another way to look at it

 

[RedPride97]

Then we are right back where we started. To simply say there are (fill in the blank) potential number of additional good players at Alco does in no way address the gigantic difference in numbers and talent between Allegany and FH. Which brings me back to my original point: let Alco play at its level and have FH start playing at its level (or let kids ride the bench at FH while Appel lines up patsies until they collect a 1A ring).

And last but not least: if Robinette had gone to FH he would have parked his ass on the bench waiting his turn (remember the consensus around here that when Robinette was a junior that nobody from Alco would start for FH.... I believe it). So, opportunity and good coaching from Allegany allowed the young man to be the only 'Big 33' pick from Cumberland... let alone astound the town as he dragged half the Dunbar line down the field.

My personal opinion about the numbers difference is the simple promise of a championship whether you play or not. It is a sign of today's youth... belong to the right club... get the cheat codes to beat the PC game. The just-wanna-play-for-Toddy doesn't cut it when you don't actually play. Especially when a young man like Robinette proves the coaching differential to be bullshit.

Maybe im wrong but i would hope that had Robinette went to FH he would have started 3 year on varsity. Lots of talent

 

[forthill#1]

He was a beast. Just imagine if FH would have had him they would have beat Dunbar, right Lags.

 

[CumberlandHSFB]

I’m not saying there’s an entire football program worth of players roaming the halls lol. I didn’t say there were athletes but I do believe that there are kids that have the chance to be good players. That’s just my opinion

There is absolutely something to be said about program enthusiasm. That's something that Alco just doesnt have right now. That's absolutely real and effects the amount of kids that come out and try to play ball.

 

[BrianH1974]

Honest question for Lag - What is your theory behind why Alco basketball dominated this area the last decade? Other than this past season of course. I don't think FH beat Alco in basketball in like 10 attempts. Does your same theory apply in that the best hoop players went to Alco?

 

[RedPride97]

He was a beast. Just imagine if FH would have had him they would have beat Dunbar, right Lags.

I wouldn't say that but the kid was good should have recruited him lol

 

[Lagmeister]

Honest question for Lag - What is your theory behind why Alco basketball dominated this area the last decade? Other than this past season of course. I don't think FH beat Alco in basketball in like 10 attempts. Does your same theory apply in that the best hoop players went to Alco?

I don't follow basketball so I have never seen the talent level at both schools. All things being equal with fewer athletes needed could be a string of bad days or actually poor coaching. Also, I don't think any Allegany fans are saying there are a bunch of good FH 'ballers' running around FH that could turn the tide.

And... one thing should also be clear: how much is going on in Cumberland that brings recognition, even if it is only a 1A ring in high school football. Would a parent steer their child to win a basketball game but not have a championship attached to it? I can't see it. Apples and oranges to me.

Best answer.

 

[Lagmeister]

He was a beast. Just imagine if FH would have had him they would have beat Dunbar, right Lags.

Having watched the FH loss. Yes, FH would have probably prevailed with Robinette - I believe I have stated that before. FH had the ball with what.... 8 minutes left in the game? Also, he surely could have helped eat the clock all day and cut down on the time Dunbar had the ball to make those handful of spectacular plays. Just a guess... we will never know. But we can also guess that if Robinette were on the FH squad he probably would not have played.

 

[Lagmeister]

There is absolutely something to be said about program enthusiasm. That's something that Alco just doesnt have right now. That's absolutely real and effects the amount of kids that come out and try to play ball.

If you were down to barely fielding a team and dropped freshman football after all those years, how enthusiastic would you be? At any rate, history shows that when Alco has the talent they use it well. The huge difference in squad size says, "Come here and get a ring." Just suit up and shut up.

 

[Lagmeister]

Wins and titles are a big draw for kids. There’s no denying that but let’s say that 4 or 5 of those 20 or 30 you mentioned joined the alco football team this year and they won 1 or 2 games extra this year because of the those players. Then next year 4 or 5 more of that 20 or 30 come out to be on the team and alco wins 8 or 9 games and then 4 or 5 more kids join the team and they continue to win 8 or 9 games or go undefeated then you have your numbers back. And I know I laid it out in 3 years but say it takes 5-8 so be it.

I wasn’t trying to argue or say that players just “wanna play for toddy”. It’s just another way to look at it

I get carried away a little sometimes in my responses. I do this for amusement (and an attempt at understanding) after all. I spent 7 - 12th grade at Allegany. Left at 18 and basically never went back except to visit. Everything has flipped on its ear as far as I am concerned and it has little to do with just what has happened to Allegany. I just, shake my head.... smile and type on.

 

[OneRing]

Honest question for Lag - What is your theory behind why Alco basketball dominated this area the last decade? Other than this past season of course. I don't think FH beat Alco in basketball in like 10 attempts. Does your same theory apply in that the best hoop players went to Alco?

I dont completely buy his theory about getting all the players, but to answer your basketball question - yes, I think they did.

It's not a completely inaccurate comparison to talk about 4.3 or 4.4 forty-yard dash times that FH had a few seasons ago in the same light as the 6-6 and 6-7 basketball players Alco was getting a few years back.

 

[OneRing]

The pleasure of seeing you embarrass yourself is worth the trip to this board.

Your confusion truly knows no bounds. It really is cute when you try so hard and still fail.

 

[ConeyIsland]

And it wasn't 40 years ago that Allegany beat Dunbar. Any single game at any single point in time was never my point. My point has always been the evolution that has now brought us to critical mass. It is a numbers game and Alco is in the algorithmic sinkhole.

It seems to me that I have posted countless times that Allegany should seek out competition equal to its ability and depth. FH should in turn do the same.

Lags... your heart is in the right place. But your sense of reality is miles away, dude. Alco isn't in a completely hopeless program that's doomed forever (yet). So we don't need to schedule lesser opponents like Hancock and Turkeyfoot. We need to rebuild the program from the bottom-up the right way. FH did it like 10 years ago when Steve hired Todd and he started their turnaround, that's why they're as good as they are.

It starts with coaching. If Hansel is the guy, we'll see an improvement this year. If not, we need to consider moving on. But no matter who our head coach is, we need to build up the assistant coaches on staff and then work directly with the pee wee and youth league feeder programs to develop a strong pipeline.

What, you think Pat Amezcua moved from La Vale to right across the street from the stadium years ago because he thought South Cumberland real estate was on the rise???

None of you on this board, myself included, are that dedicated to anything.

 

[Lagmeister]

Lags... your heart is in the right place. But your sense of reality is miles away, dude. Alco isn't in a completely hopeless program that's doomed forever (yet). So we don't need to schedule lesser opponents like Hancock and Turkeyfoot. We need to rebuild the program from the bottom-up the right way. FH did it like 10 years ago when Steve hired Todd and he started their turnaround, that's why they're as good as they are.

It starts with coaching. If Hansel is the guy, we'll see an improvement this year. If not, we need to consider moving on. But no matter who our head coach is, we need to build up the assistant coaches on staff and then work directly with the pee wee and youth league feeder programs to develop a strong pipeline.

What, you think Pat Amezcua moved from La Vale to right across the street from the stadium years ago because he thought South Cumberland real estate was on the rise???

None of you on this board, myself included, are that dedicated to anything.

First of all, thank you for saying my heart is in the right place.

Lest I be misunderstood, I believe Allegany is scheduling to their level of competition but should drop FH because the rivalry is over. I never suggested we needed to schedule Hancock... yet.

But rebuild? Rebuild with what? Sell what to whom? Are our middle schools growing in population? Do we just need to get some qualified staff guys down there to greet the new influx before FH snags 'em with promises of a 1A championship ring?

I have stated my case in previous posts. There are only so many athletes and they are accounted for. Using what FH did 10 years ago as an example of the situation today is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.

You can build all the strong piping you want. It is the amount of water running through it that matters. And each year there is less of that. Hansel comes in and boldly schedules Dunbar... and wins because he had the talent. The talent is shrinking. I think anyone can see that. At this point you should ask yourself who in the hell would want the damn job when soon you are going to be playing pure ironman football.

And you say my sense of reality is miles away? Anyhow, I know your heart is also in the right place too.

 

[RedPride97]

First of all, thank you for saying my heart is in the right place.

Lest I be misunderstood, I believe Allegany is scheduling to their level of competition but should drop FH because the rivalry is over. I never suggested we needed to schedule Hancock... yet.

But rebuild? Rebuild with what? Sell what to whom? Are our middle schools growing in population? Do we just need to get some qualified staff guys down there to greet the new influx before FH snags 'em with promises of a 1A championship ring?

I have stated my case in previous posts. There are only so many athletes and they are accounted for. Using what FH did 10 years ago as an example of the situation today is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.

You can build all the strong piping you want. It is the amount of water running through it that matters. And each year there is less of that. Hansel comes in and boldly schedules Dunbar... and wins because he had the talent. The talent is shrinking. I think anyone can see that. At this point you should ask yourself who in the hell would want the damn job when soon you are going to be playing pure ironman football.

And you say my sense of reality is miles away? Anyhow, I know your heart is also in the right place too.

Im not real sure on this but i believe they are a mandatory game county opponent

 

[redtheperson]

But I'm holding hope alco will get their numbers back up get some of their pride back.

Alco getting its numbers back is the same type of tripe that was troweled out from Dunbar when they were stacked deep and dropped to 1A with Tavon Austin, whom they snatched from Joppatowne right after he was on the 'Joppa' team that beat Alco in a playoff game on a slop field in Joppatowne. They had 4A talent but ridiculed FH for a 'lack of program' and pride.

First of all you cannot manufacture athletic young men. Allegany has and always has had a good football program. They have always been successful when they have the talent to play. The mere fact that Allegany continues to schedule FH and quality teams with such weak depth shows that they have 10 frickin' times the pride FH has with 10 frickin' times less depth and talent.

"Git yeh numbers up".... "Git yeh pride back"..... I don't know if that is more stupid or more ignorant.

I didn't feel the pride after that Keyser loss two years ago... but I'll give you your alco pride... even though I feel it's a week cuz I hear more about Fort Hill out of your mouths than Allegany really... but numbers I cant understand? Fh is in the same lil town losing just as many numbers right? So why is the benches at fort hill deep and alcos not so much? That's my only ignorance.. that's the one you gotta tell me,idk... other questions are just to aggregate for my entertainment... gotta be the school lines are drawn up in fhs favor or some sort of conspiracy right...

 

[redtheperson]

I don't know why some folks don't understand that you can improve skill set and muscle mass but you cannot turn a non athlete into an athlete.

You can have 11 athletes and if they dont play as a team they can lose as well...question is why are they sitting on fhs bench and not playing at alco?.. is it a freak thing or conspiracy of how the school lines are drawn up? I watch football, I dont teach i dont see these kids day in or day out I'm just assuming kids dont want to play alco football..

 

[redtheperson]

I’m not saying there’s an entire football program worth of players roaming the halls lol. I didn’t say there were athletes but I do believe that there are kids that have the chance to be good players. That’s just my opinion

Why can alco get them to the field?

 

[redtheperson]

I didn't feel the pride after that Keyser loss two years ago... but I'll give you your alco pride... even though I feel it's a week cuz I hear more about Fort Hill out of your mouths than Allegany really... but numbers I cant understand? Fh is in the same lil town losing just as many numbers right? So why is the benches at fort hill deep and alcos not so much? That's my only ignorance.. that's the one you gotta tell me,idk... other questions are just to aggregate for my entertainment... gotta be the school lines are drawn up in fhs favor or some sort of conspiracy right...

Sorry it was the MR loss that I watched alco supporters with that look of lost in the dg that Saturday... dude was talking to someone but just said it's bad and going to get worse... dude blew my mind it was the day logical hope was gone from alco and I haven't seen it back since... when mom n dad lose hopewtf is a kid going to think? Maybe that has something to do with the numbers? Kids are soft (mentally) cant take that losing to fh 2times a year(if their lucky) I understand you dont have the athletes but that shouldn't stop kids altogether from wanting to play football should it?

 

[Lagmeister]

I didn't feel the pride after that Keyser loss two years ago... but I'll give you your alco pride... even though I feel it's a week cuz I hear more about Fort Hill out of your mouths than Allegany really... but numbers I cant understand? Fh is in the same lil town losing just as many numbers right? So why is the benches at fort hill deep and alcos not so much? That's my only ignorance.. that's the one you gotta tell me,idk... other questions are just to aggregate for my entertainment... gotta be the school lines are drawn up in fhs favor or some sort of conspiracy right...

Occam's Razor: The simplest solution tends to be the right one. The simple solution here is that the best athletes who want to play football are finding a way to go to Fort Hill.

 

[Lagmeister]

Sorry it was the MR loss that I watched alco supporters with that look of lost in the dg that Saturday... dude was talking to someone but just said it's bad and going to get worse... dude blew my mind it was the day logical hope was gone from alco and I haven't seen it back since... when mom n dad lose hopewtf is a kid going to think? Maybe that has something to do with the numbers? Kids are soft (mentally) cant take that losing to fh 2times a year(if their lucky) I understand you dont have the athletes but that shouldn't stop kids altogether from wanting to play football should it?

FH has a college recruited athlete that only played a little special teams. So, FH's deep bench doesn't necessarily demand to play. The smaller Alco bench is, to me, because they do not have the athletes who can play. Those athletes are willing to go to FH and not play... or not play much.

 

[redtheperson]

FH has a college recruited athlete that only played a little special teams. So, FH's deep bench doesn't necessarily demand to play. The smaller Alco bench is, to me, because they do not have the athletes who can play. Those athletes are willing to go to FH and not play... or not play much.

I could see that, but dont really get the logic.. you could accomplish the same things at fort hill or Allegany... or Mountain Ridge.. gotta play tho.. Do kids give up after braddock .. or do they find their way to in south end? The all around coaching experience has alot to do with alcos decline more kids/scouts/fans will pay attention if they took what they had and worked with it a little better.. you might not see any "athletes" but you would see a better group product on the field,

 

[Lagmeister]

I could see that, but dont really get the logic.. you could accomplish the same things at fort hill or Allegany... or Mountain Ridge.. gotta play tho.. Do kids give up after braddock .. or do they find their way to in south end? The all around coaching experience has alot to do with alcos decline more kids/scouts/fans will pay attention if they took what they had and worked with it a little better.. you might not see any "athletes" but you would see a better group product on the field,

There seems to be a consistent skipping over the fact that FH competes for the championship virtually every year... and if somebody knocks off Dunbar.... well, FH wins. The promise of the ring is the thing.

Once you get the draw from dropping down in classification and winning.... turning anything around across town in a shrinking town is just talk. Robinette's performance didn't draw a crowd except the Dunbar game.

And, it goes without question that folks move for the benefit of their children. It is the most common thing to do. I did it. It was for education purposes though, not sports.

I will go back to my point: there are only so many athletes available and for FH to have the depth and talent at all levels means that they are getting the bulk of Cumberland football talent. There is not the same number of athletes walking around Alco not playing football.

Hansel comes in, knocks off Dunbar and one would think a surge of young men would sign up to play Camper football. They didn't. The numbers shrank. No freshman football. They didn't sign up because they aren't there.

 

[BoyznBlue]

Honest question for Lag - What is your theory behind why Alco basketball dominated this area the last decade? Other than this past season of course. I don't think FH beat Alco in basketball in like 10 attempts. Does your same theory apply in that the best hoop players went to Alco?

To answer this question it goes back to my theory that it's not the size of the school it's the commitment to the program. FH is obviously a football school. The administration, community, players, coaches, parents, etc. have all bought into the objective of winning a 1A title. They work hard and are very successful. If the same people put the same effort into the basketball program they probably would get the same results. Why isn't there a "Red Huddle" specifically for the b-ball team? I'm not criticizing the Red Huddle it's good they are providing additional support for the football team, but I'm pointing out the basketball team doesn't have the same level of support.

The schools around the state that are consistently successful in any sport/activity are committed to that sport/activity. As we see at Walter Johnson (and numerous other 4A schools) it doesn't matter the enrollment numbers if the admin/coaches/etc. are not fully committed to creating a winning environment. People use the enrollment numbers as a convenient excuse but it doesn't mean too much. Dunbar is the probably the only other 1A "football" school. So it's not a surprise that these two teams have won the 1A title for the last 10 years.

 

[theprocessworks]

1 win over even Dunbar does not mean that much. That would be like me saying FH is strong because they built a program in 1997 after beating Dunbar in the title. Actually FH beat the snot out of them. Allegany is bad because the community support is weak. At FH the program is strong because the FH community is enthusiastic and passionate and the coach is passionate which has generationally created what you see today. I posted a while back only one starter or top 18 kid on that team lives out of district. Get back to the facts lag not what u are trying to create it to be.

 

[Lagmeister]

1 win over even Dunbar does not mean that much. That would be like me saying FH is strong because they built a program in 1997 after beating Dunbar in the title. Actually FH beat the snot out of them. Allegany is bad because the community support is weak. At FH the program is strong because the FH community is enthusiastic and passionate and the coach is passionate which has generationally created what you see today. I posted a while back only one starter or top 18 kid on that team lives out of district. Get back to the facts lag not what u are trying to create it to be.

I posted a while back only one starter or top 18 kid on that team lives out of district.

Meaningless number and you know it. The aggregate number of total athletes is the issue: total varsity, JV and Freshman teams. And... who cares if 100% live in the district, which we know they don't. Stop pretending you don't read my posts.

Or, maybe the concept is over your head. People move. Parents funnel their kids if they think they can play football. The fact is there is no way in hell that Allegany has the same number.... or even a 'potential' number of athletes. Not in the size of Cumberland.

Stop pretending that drills and weights manufacture athletes. Those athletes are going to FH. Stop pretending that some 'booster club' can make a kid faster. Those faster kids are going to FH.

And guess what... I don't care. I would just like to see Allegany play at its competitive level and FH to go off and do the same. The rivalry is dead. Maybe the football gods this year will snake out an Alco win.... that would be a bust in the Toddy chops wouldn't it? But the rivalry is dead.


Fort Hill in 1A is a fait accompli to play for a championship. Preaskorn, Hansel or Stalin would draw the head count that FH draws now.

 

[ConeyIsland]

First of all, thank you for saying my heart is in the right place.

Lest I be misunderstood, I believe Allegany is scheduling to their level of competition but should drop FH because the rivalry is over. I never suggested we needed to schedule Hancock... yet.

But rebuild? Rebuild with what? Sell what to whom? Are our middle schools growing in population? Do we just need to get some qualified staff guys down there to greet the new influx before FH snags 'em with promises of a 1A championship ring?

It's not about population, because we have a comparable student enrollment to FH. It's about generating more interest in the program - getting more kids to play at the lower levels. So the answer is, you rebuild with kids. You sell all the positives of football to kids to generate interest, get them to buy in and engage.


I have stated my case in previous posts. There are only so many athletes and they are accounted for. Using what FH did 10 years ago as an example of the situation today is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.

You can build all the strong piping you want. It is the amount of water running through it that matters. And each year there is less of that.
Exactly, see above. You increase the amount of "water", as you say.

Hansel comes in and boldly schedules Dunbar... and wins because he had the talent. The talent is shrinking. I think anyone can see that. At this point you should ask yourself who in the hell would want the damn job when soon you are going to be playing pure ironman football.

And you say my sense of reality is miles away? Yes, because it wasn't just talent that beat Dunbar. It was also scheme. Not sure if you've noticed, but for the past few decades, both teams have run a primarily Wing T-based offense because it's a system that is unique and allows teams like ours to compete against others who have those higher enrollments (water). You're a military guy..... why don't Army, Navy and Air Force all run the spread/air raid schemes that a ton of other colleges run?

Anyhow, I know your heart is also in the right place too.

 

[Lagmeister]

To answer this question it goes back to my theory that it's not the size of the school it's the commitment to the program. FH is obviously a football school. The administration, community, players, coaches, parents, etc. have all bought into the objective of winning a 1A title. They work hard and are very successful. If the same people put the same effort into the basketball program they probably would get the same results. Why isn't there a "Red Huddle" specifically for the b-ball team? I'm not criticizing the Red Huddle it's good they are providing additional support for the football team, but I'm pointing out the basketball team doesn't have the same level of support.

The schools around the state that are consistently successful in any sport/activity are committed to that sport/activity. As we see at Walter Johnson (and numerous other 4A schools) it doesn't matter the enrollment numbers if the admin/coaches/etc. are not fully committed to creating a winning environment. People use the enrollment numbers as a convenient excuse but it doesn't mean too much. Dunbar is the probably the only other 1A "football" school. So it's not a surprise that these two teams have won the 1A title for the last 10 years.

This is also Cumberland. Dunbar can pull from all over.... remember Tavon Austin from Joppatowne.... just one example. Of course, once Dunbar moved back to 2A they no longer got the gimme ring so the big time athletes started to venture elsewhere. Cumberland ain't like the beltway and surrounding counties. To get the depth and talent FH has means they drain the overall available athletes. Cumberland ain't growing. Enthusiasm doesn't add any additional franchises in the Queen City. At best it pulls talent back across town. But, that ship has sailed.

 

[hbpass2]

I posted a while back only one starter or top 18 kid on that team lives out of district.

Meaningless number and you know it. The aggregate number of total athletes is the issue: total varsity, JV and Freshman teams. And... who cares if 100% live in the district, which we know they don't. Stop pretending you don't read my posts.

Or, maybe the concept is over your head. People move. Parents funnel their kids if they think they can play football. The fact is there is no way in hell that Allegany has the same number.... or even a 'potential' number of athletes. Not in the size of Cumberland.

Stop pretending that drills and weights manufacture athletes. Those athletes are going to FH. Stop pretending that some 'booster club' can make a kid faster. Those faster kids are going to FH.

And guess what... I don't care. I would just like to see Allegany play at its competitive level and FH to go off and do the same. The rivalry is dead. Maybe the football gods this year will snake out an Alco win.... that would be a bust in the Toddy chops wouldn't it? But the rivalry is dead.


Fort Hill in 1A is a fait accompli to play for a championship. Preaskorn, Hansel or Stalin would draw the head count that FH draws now.

Besides brown and Johnson what athletes are you talking about? You act like FH has had the 4.2 forty athletes when in reality they’ve had 2 and the rest are just good football players who were built because of their determination in the weight room and through practice.

You said last year had the best backfield in the area, did they have any athletes? Out of Welch, whingate, and Powell are any of them athletes because I would consider them to be.

 

[BoyznBlue]

This is also Cumberland. Dunbar can pull from all over.... remember Tavon Austin from Joppatowne.... just one example. Of course, once Dunbar moved back to 2A they no longer got the gimme ring so the big time athletes started to venture elsewhere. Cumberland ain't like the beltway and surrounding counties. To get the depth and talent FH has means they drain the overall available athletes. Cumberland ain't growing. Enthusiasm doesn't add any additional franchises in the Queen City. At best it pulls talent back across town. But, that ship has sailed.

Once Dunbar moved back to 2A they were playing against much better competition. That's the reason they didn't win at 2A. No more cake walks through the playoffs.

 

[Lagmeister]

Besides brown and Johnson what athletes are you talking about? You act like FH has had the 4.2 forty athletes when in reality they’ve had 2 and the rest are just good football players who were built because of their determination in the weight room and through practice.

You said last year had the best backfield in the area, did they have any athletes? Out of Welch, whingate, and Powell are any of them athletes because I would consider them to be.

the rest are just good football players who were built because of their determination in the weight room and through practice.

Sure.... Sure.... whatever they are they are the best in Cumberland 3A level deep that competes for the championship each year, which is why FH gets funneled the most talent available.

Yep, Alco had the best young backfield as was my opinion but absolutely no line offense or defense. And, as I recall they also had 9 players playing both offense and defense. Alco had no depth. Isn't that what we are talking about? How many times do I have to repeat myself?

FH sits recruited talent on the damn bench: Elijah Metz who received an offer from Delaware St. and only played some FH special teams.

Jes yer averg' yute, says you.

What was the homecoming score last year??? Was it like double digits to nothing... or, something or other. And who won the 1A championship last year?

Oh, sure.... same talent as Alco but all 'boostered clubbed' up with pride from the weight room. Almost a walkover for a 1A ring has nothing to do with filling the FH bench at all levels.... right.

 

[hbpass2]

the rest are just good football players who were built because of their determination in the weight room and through practice.

Sure.... Sure.... whatever they are they are the best in Cumberland 3A level deep that competes for the championship each year, which is why FH gets funneled the most talent available.

Yep, Alco had the best young backfield as was my opinion but absolutely no line offense or defense. And, as I recall they also had 9 players playing both offense and defense. Alco had no depth. Isn't that what we are talking about? How many times do I have to repeat myself?

FH sits recruited talent on the damn bench: Elijah Metz who received an offer from Delaware St. and only played some FH special teams.

Jes yer averg' yute, says you.

What was the homecoming score last year??? Was it like double digits to nothing... or, something or other. And who won the 1A championship last year?

Oh, sure.... same talent as Alco but all 'boostered clubbed' up with pride from the weight room. Almost a walkover for a 1A ring has nothing to do with filling the FH bench at all levels.... right.

Okay we get it. FH has a deep bench and “gets all the talent” but what athletes are you talking about that came to FH?

 

[TDHelmick]

Allow me to simplify...IT'S ALL ABOUT DEDICATION TO THE PROGRAM!

Doesn't matter whether it is FH football, Alco basketball/softball, Southern basketball/wrestling, Mtn Ridge soccer, Frankfort baseball -- it's about parents, fans, coaches, student-athletes being dedicated to the program. And it usually starts at the lower levels. It has ZERO to do with kids coming into the program in this small town area public school system.

SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS

 

[TDHelmick]

To answer this question it goes back to my theory that it's not the size of the school it's the commitment to the program. FH is obviously a football school. The administration, community, players, coaches, parents, etc. have all bought into the objective of winning a 1A title. They work hard and are very successful. If the same people put the same effort into the basketball program they probably would get the same results. Why isn't there a "Red Huddle" specifically for the b-ball team? I'm not criticizing the Red Huddle it's good they are providing additional support for the football team, but I'm pointing out the basketball team doesn't have the same level of support.

The schools around the state that are consistently successful in any sport/activity are committed to that sport/activity. As we see at Walter Johnson (and numerous other 4A schools) it doesn't matter the enrollment numbers if the admin/coaches/etc. are not fully committed to creating a winning environment. People use the enrollment numbers as a convenient excuse but it doesn't mean too much. Dunbar is the probably the only other 1A "football" school. So it's not a surprise that these two teams have won the 1A title for the last 10 years.

I would totally agree with that assessment.

The only variance would be that size does matter when the commitment level is the same. For an example, if you could clone FH football into two programs with the same coaching staff. Give one team 700 kids to choose from and another 2300 kids to choose from and the latter would dominate. No different than when we were kids picking teams on the playground. If I have 3 times as many kids to pick from the difference is huge.

 

[Lagmeister]

Allow me to simplify...IT'S ALL ABOUT DEDICATION TO THE PROGRAM!

Doesn't matter whether it is FH football, Alco basketball/softball, Southern basketball/wrestling, Mtn Ridge soccer, Frankfort baseball -- it's about parents, fans, coaches, student-athletes being dedicated to the program. And it usually starts at the lower levels. It has ZERO to do with kids coming into the program in this small town area public school system.

SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS

That is one of the most generalized statements I have read from you. It almost sounds like something you would hear at the latest debates.

It is hard to deal with it because its jello. I mean... really.... Success breeds success, sure... who can disagree with that when you only lose a couple games in forever... Win championships.... offer a chance for young athletes to get a ring whether they play or not. Of course. Well.... damn Spanky!

And then, you make a statement that It has ZERO to do with kids coming into the program in this small town area public school system. What the hell... they play the game.

You cannot deflect about being in a city where you can gather a 3A bench while playing in 1A. That success will wrap up the talent, which will wrap up enthusiasm throughout a city that doesn't have a whole lot else going for it.

I just keep reading a lot of political verbosity that ignores the hectoring that FH used to get from Dunbar. The ole we-just-have-a-better-program instead of the fact that one might have a deeper bench with better talent.

I agree that everything starts with the very young.... a young mother gives birth to a future athlete. In the case of Cumberland, that future athlete is directed toward FH to get a 1A ring.

Again.... let Alco play its competitive level and let FH start playing its. There is only so much talent in a small city to go around.

 

[Lagmeister]

I would totally agree with that assessment.

The only variance would be that size does matter when the commitment level is the same. For an example, if you could clone FH football into two programs with the same coaching staff. Give one team 700 kids to choose from and another 2300 kids to choose from and the latter would dominate. No different than when we were kids picking teams on the playground. If I have 3 times as many kids to pick from the difference is huge.

It dawned on me that I had misread your post. So much to respond to. You are correct.