Line up and sound off Chicken Littles

[Ursa Major]

I should add that I'm going through this exact same thing as a coach, and therefore, I'm more than qualified to critique the Griz coaches.

This season for me: win big, lose big, win big, lose a close one, win, win. Here's the rundown:

1-The Sour Apples didn't stand a chance in the opener. Undisciplined play. Likely a lot of transfers.

2-The Purple Rock Stars were just that. Hand picked, and well-coached. Many fans were calling for my head afterward even though most of the Rock Stars were 5, and we were forced to play three 4-year-olds. Our kids gave a great, injury-free effort, and we simply moved on as a team.

3-The Cheetahs came in one player down with a tantrum, but it was still a rout win for us. Most fans thought it was just because the Cheetahs were depleted. Many still wanted me gone.

4-The Cherry Bombs looked great in warmups, but we jumped out to a 4-0 lead. They came back and took it 5-4 when we had two f***[*] own goals. Also, I had my best player go down with a bee-sting at the 13:24 minute mark. I was a gonner for sure. Let's just say the community was "organizing." Many said I adhered to the "no goalie policy" too strictly, as many squads got around the rule with a defensive specialist. But I stayed true to the spirit of the game.

5-The Pink Princesses came in looking tough on field #5. Trap game. We were the 8am game with four players who are "bad waker-uppers." We sneaked by in a shootout 12-9. Parents said our defense was atrocious.

6-The Blue Bombers. They were very disciplined in pre-game and snack time, but we knew we had them from the first kickoff when they took seven minutes to line up correctly. They had a few garbage goals in the first half, but we unleashed the beast in the second to win 8-4.

As a U6 girls' soccer coach, I know what the Griz staff is going through with all the naysaying, bally-hoo, and chirping from those who have never coached the game. It's like, hey, Linda, I don't give three shits about when Grace's violin lessons are, if your kid doesn't do the sprints on Wednesday, she sits on Saturday morning. I'll give a few tidbits here and there to the fans at the PTA meetings, but we stay close as a team in terms of scheming and long-term goals. Sorry not sorry. I'm trying to win a championship for the Purple Mermaids here, and I don't have time to listen to jokers from the stands.

The thing about the Cherry Bombs is that they have really bought in to what their coach is saying; they tie their shoes, keep their shirts tucked in, know which way to kick the ball. Most importantly, they really hydrate well with their 'Cherry Bomb' half time drink, half cherry gatorade and half ginger ale, makes them really strong after half time.

Yeah, but they're 34th out of 34th in total defense in the OC 4-5 Year old U6 Girls Soccer League. Sounds like a lot of you are fine with settling for mediocrity. :roll: :roll: :roll:

 

[EverettGriz]

Let's be honest gentlemen, the U6 Soccer League just isn't the same as it used to be. It's better top to bottom. I mean, for awhile after the Angels and the Crackerjacks moved up to the U8 division, the talent in the league wasn't very good, and we took advantage of that. But then Commissioner Meghan went out and convinced the Alley Cats, the Cool Cats (there were already too damn many cat-themed team names), the Dainty Dolphins and the Teal Tigers to join the league. Now we're playing across 14 fields instead of just 8, and let's be frank: the travel out to field #14 is taxing on teams. Not to mention the earlier start times. 8:00 am? And don't even get me started on the unbalanced schedules.

I think we just need to get used to the fact that there's more parity in the U6, and we're just simply not going to dominate every year. Such is the life of coaching 5 year olds, I guess.

 

[Ursa Major]

Let's be honest gentlemen, the U6 Soccer League just isn't the same as it used to be. It's better top to bottom. I mean, for awhile after the Angels and the Crackerjacks moved up to the U8 division, the talent in the league wasn't very good, and we took advantage of that. But then Commissioner Meghan went out and convinced the Alley Cats, the Cool Cats (there were already too damn many cat-themed team names), the Dainty Dolphins and the Teal Tigers to join the league. Now we're playing across 14 fields instead of just 8, and let's be frank: the travel out to field #14 is taxing on teams. Not to mention the earlier start times. 8:00 am? And don't even get me started on the unbalanced schedules.

I think we just need to get used to the fact that there's more parity in the U6, and we're just simply not going to dominate every year. Such is the life of coaching 5 year olds, I guess.

Field 14 is a logistic nightmare for tailgaters at half-time. That said, I didn't appreciate 5 year old Tayler Bryant getting on Twitter during the Cherry Bombs game and blasting the fans for not getting back to the game right away after halftime. I understand she's a great player but maybe if she hadn't had an "accident" in the first few minutes of last year's loss to the Lollipops, we make the playoffs last year.

Come talk shit to me when you're fully potty trained, snowflake! Like to see her hump those 2 cases of juice boxes all the way out to Field 14.

 

[EverettGriz]

Besides, sometimes a guy just needs a couple juice boxes at halftime. Seriously, if they ever implement a "no going to the trunk" policy, I'm just going to snuggle my damn Starbucks into the bleachers. I don't know why they just don't sell mochas in Snak Shak.

 

[hm.grwn.grizfan]

By that logic if Stitt gets fired tomorrow his successor is inheriting a Cadillac again! :lol:

Honestly, if you believe the recruiting hype (which I do) - then it is possible a new coach running a similar offense would inherit a version of a cadillac. I'm not FOR it btw.

But, the staff as it exists TODAY is less then stellar. Extension or not - Stitt has to make changes IMO. I'd start with replacing 2 on the defensive side of the ball.

Agreed, unless we see significant improvement between now and the end of the year. 5 games to show us what he's got/learned. I assume the other one you're talking about is the ST coach?

Yes. Two years' worth of lousy STs. I know he coaches the LBs also. I'm not sure they are well coached this year either. I think they are talented athletes...I'll just leave it at that.

The lbs are very talented but poorly coached, and it's obvious. Watching them play zone defense is painful. They look lost, and don't sense when a receiver has entered their zones. I watched 2-3 plays on one drive where strahm was in the right place, but was burned by a receiver who got behind him


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['68griz]

I don't want the Griz to fail but Im not impressed yet, we beat ISU. I expect the Griz to make noise in the playoffs and win the big sky. If we dont do that then that is unacceptable. We have high standards here and we should not comprimise for mediocrity.

Griz Fans' logic:

We should win every game. If we lose, we should have won. If we won, the other team must have sucked. If we won big, we should have won prettier. No team should ever experience success against our defense. No team should ever be able to stop our offense.

Revel in the road win, fellas. Revel in Jensen's absolute trucking of the ISU D on his TD run. Revel in the fact we're doing this with a RS FR as the QB, and very young receivers. Revel in the fact the D made halftime adjustments and gave up just 10 points in the 2nd half. Revel in the fact our O-line has improved dramatically from last year, as has our QB play, our WR play, our kicking game and our running game....or the fact we've found a superb backup RB in Alijah Lee. Revel in the fact we're 2-1 in conference and 2-0 on the road. Revel in the fact we seem to have found a kickoff guy, with four touch backs....or the fact our punter seems to have found his leg again with 2 50+ yard punts this week. Revel in the fact this team, SIX games in, is PERFECT in the Red Zone...or the fact our Defense is 2nd in the conference in red zone defense. Revel in the fact our defense leads the conference in sacks and defensive touchdowns. Revel in the fact we've won two straight road games and please understand that the 75-80 yards given up in the past 10 minutes of those two games haven't mattered because we've been milking the clock and preserving the victory. Revel in the fact that both Stitt and Semore appear willing and able to make adjustments necessary to ensure victory. Revel in the fact these players LOVE their coach and would run through a wall for them. Or the fact there isn't any division or "me me me" guys on this team. Or the fact Stitt runs a very clean program and has successfully changed the culture inside the locker room from divisive to TEAM FIRST. If you doubt that, go listen to Gresch Jensen's post game interview from yesterday.

:clap:

 

[jodcon]

Let's be honest gentlemen, the U6 Soccer League just isn't the same as it used to be. It's better top to bottom. I mean, for awhile after the Angels and the Crackerjacks moved up to the U8 division, the talent in the league wasn't very good, and we took advantage of that. But then Commissioner Meghan went out and convinced the Alley Cats, the Cool Cats (there were already too damn many cat-themed team names), the Dainty Dolphins and the Teal Tigers to join the league. Now we're playing across 14 fields instead of just 8, and let's be frank: the travel out to field #14 is taxing on teams. Not to mention the earlier start times. 8:00 am? And don't even get me started on the unbalanced schedules.

I think we just need to get used to the fact that there's more parity in the U6, and we're just simply not going to dominate every year. Such is the life of coaching 5 year olds, I guess.

Typical apologetic response, citing "parity" and "start times". Next someone will start a fucking uniform thread. Then music. Then facilities.

I remember not too many years back when Bob Hauck's wife was coaching the U6 Black Widows, some preppy soccer mom asked to postpone their game against them for two days because a couple of her players had a dance recital. Hauck's wife said "No, but I will move the game to 11PM because we're already going to be kicking the Golden Cats ass at 9:30 on field 1, and then we can run, yeah run, to Field 14 right after that and still have enough left to beat your team. And if I don't like the effort, we might run bloods after that."

Those were the days, and nobody cared if a few of the girls ended up in juvy because they stretched a few rules.

Bring back Hauck!

 

[AZGrizFan]

Let's be honest gentlemen, the U6 Soccer League just isn't the same as it used to be. It's better top to bottom. I mean, for awhile after the Angels and the Crackerjacks moved up to the U8 division, the talent in the league wasn't very good, and we took advantage of that. But then Commissioner Meghan went out and convinced the Alley Cats, the Cool Cats (there were already too damn many cat-themed team names), the Dainty Dolphins and the Teal Tigers to join the league. Now we're playing across 14 fields instead of just 8, and let's be frank: the travel out to field #14 is taxing on teams. Not to mention the earlier start times. 8:00 am? And don't even get me started on the unbalanced schedules.

I think we just need to get used to the fact that there's more parity in the U6, and we're just simply not going to dominate every year. Such is the life of coaching 5 year olds, I guess.

Typical apologetic response, citing "parity" and "start times". Next someone will start a fucking uniform thread. Then music. Then facilities.

I remember not too many years back when Bob Hauck's wife was coaching the U6 Black Widows, some preppy soccer mom asked to postpone their game against them for two days because a couple of her players had a dance recital. Hauck's wife said "No, but I will move the game to 11PM because we're already going to be kicking the Golden Cats ass at 9:30 on field 1, and then we can run, yeah run, to Field 14 right after that and still have enough left to beat your team. And if I don't like the effort, we might run bloods after that."

Those were the days, and nobody cared if a few of the girls ended up in juvy because they stretched a few rules.

Bring back Hauck!

CDA started this, but he's getting a run for his money from you boys. :lol:

 

[Copper Griz]

Honestly, if you believe the recruiting hype (which I do) - then it is possible a new coach running a similar offense would inherit a version of a cadillac. I'm not FOR it btw.

But, the staff as it exists TODAY is less then stellar. Extension or not - Stitt has to make changes IMO. I'd start with replacing 2 on the defensive side of the ball.

Agreed, unless we see significant improvement between now and the end of the year. 5 games to show us what he's got/learned. I assume the other one you're talking about is the ST coach?

Yes. Two years' worth of lousy STs. I know he coaches the LBs also. I'm not sure they are well coached this year either. I think they are talented athletes...I'll just leave it at that.

The lbs are very talented but poorly coached, and it's obvious. Watching them play zone defense is painful. They look lost, and don't sense when a receiver has entered their zones. I watched 2-3 plays on one drive where strahm was in the right place, but was burned by a receiver who got behind him


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I can't disagree. Strahm had a lot of tackles, but his pass coverage was abysmal. He seems completely out of his element in pass coverage. Something needs to change their folks.

 

[Ursa Major]

Let's be honest gentlemen, the U6 Soccer League just isn't the same as it used to be. It's better top to bottom. I mean, for awhile after the Angels and the Crackerjacks moved up to the U8 division, the talent in the league wasn't very good, and we took advantage of that. But then Commissioner Meghan went out and convinced the Alley Cats, the Cool Cats (there were already too damn many cat-themed team names), the Dainty Dolphins and the Teal Tigers to join the league. Now we're playing across 14 fields instead of just 8, and let's be frank: the travel out to field #14 is taxing on teams. Not to mention the earlier start times. 8:00 am? And don't even get me started on the unbalanced schedules.

I think we just need to get used to the fact that there's more parity in the U6, and we're just simply not going to dominate every year. Such is the life of coaching 5 year olds, I guess.

Typical apologetic response, citing "parity" and "start times". Next someone will start a fucking uniform thread. Then music. Then facilities.

I remember not too many years back when Bob Hauck's wife was coaching the U6 Black Widows, some preppy soccer mom asked to postpone their game against them for two days because a couple of her players had a dance recital. Hauck's wife said "No, but I will move the game to 11PM because we're already going to be kicking the Golden Cats ass at 9:30 on field 1, and then we can run, yeah run, to Field 14 right after that and still have enough left to beat your team. And if I don't like the effort, we might run bloods after that."

Those were the days, and nobody cared if a few of the girls ended up in juvy because they stretched a few rules.

Bring back Hauck!

LOTS of public nose picking during those Hauck years. I for one don't miss those days and the shame it brought to Mermaid Nation. I've said it many times, I will accept 2 losses a year if the team can keep their noses clean on and off the field.

 

[George Ferguson]

Agreed, unless we see significant improvement between now and the end of the year. 5 games to show us what he's got/learned. I assume the other one you're talking about is the ST coach?

Yes. Two years' worth of lousy STs. I know he coaches the LBs also. I'm not sure they are well coached this year either. I think they are talented athletes...I'll just leave it at that.

The lbs are very talented but poorly coached, and it's obvious. Watching them play zone defense is painful. They look lost, and don't sense when a receiver has entered their zones. I watched 2-3 plays on one drive where strahm was in the right place, but was burned by a receiver who got behind him


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I can't disagree. Strahm had a lot of tackles, but his pass coverage was abysmal. He seems completely out of his element in pass coverage. Something needs to change their folks.

The wheel route TD was Banks not Strahm. And if you watched any of the first three games, Vika was completely overmatched in pass coverage. I'm sorry but Vika isn't even CLOSE to what Strahm can do on the field right now. He'll get there, but not this season.

 

[jodcon]

Let's be honest gentlemen, the U6 Soccer League just isn't the same as it used to be. It's better top to bottom. I mean, for awhile after the Angels and the Crackerjacks moved up to the U8 division, the talent in the league wasn't very good, and we took advantage of that. But then Commissioner Meghan went out and convinced the Alley Cats, the Cool Cats (there were already too damn many cat-themed team names), the Dainty Dolphins and the Teal Tigers to join the league. Now we're playing across 14 fields instead of just 8, and let's be frank: the travel out to field #14 is taxing on teams. Not to mention the earlier start times. 8:00 am? And don't even get me started on the unbalanced schedules.

I think we just need to get used to the fact that there's more parity in the U6, and we're just simply not going to dominate every year. Such is the life of coaching 5 year olds, I guess.

Typical apologetic response, citing "parity" and "start times". Next someone will start a f***[*] uniform thread. Then music. Then facilities.

I remember not too many years back when Bob Hauck's wife was coaching the U6 Black Widows, some preppy soccer mom asked to postpone their game against them for two days because a couple of her players had a dance recital. Hauck's wife said "No, but I will move the game to 11PM because we're already going to be kicking the Golden Cats ass at 9:30 on field 1, and then we can run, yeah run, to Field 14 right after that and still have enough left to beat your team. And if I don't like the effort, we might run bloods after that."

Those were the days, and nobody cared if a few of the girls ended up in juvy because they stretched a few rules.

Bring back Hauck!

LOTS of public nose picking during those Hauck years. I for one don't miss those days and the shame it brought to Mermaid Nation. I've said it many times, I will except 2 losses a year if the team can keep their noses clean on and off the field.

Most would, but what about 6-5 for a couple years? Wouldn't you rather see little Jenny bitch-slap somebody and send them home with their tutus in shreds?

 

[Ringneck]

Let's be honest gentlemen, the U6 Soccer League just isn't the same as it used to be. It's better top to bottom. I mean, for awhile after the Angels and the Crackerjacks moved up to the U8 division, the talent in the league wasn't very good, and we took advantage of that. But then Commissioner Meghan went out and convinced the Alley Cats, the Cool Cats (there were already too damn many cat-themed team names), the Dainty Dolphins and the Teal Tigers to join the league. Now we're playing across 14 fields instead of just 8, and let's be frank: the travel out to field #14 is taxing on teams. Not to mention the earlier start times. 8:00 am? And don't even get me started on the unbalanced schedules.

I think we just need to get used to the fact that there's more parity in the U6, and we're just simply not going to dominate every year. Such is the life of coaching 5 year olds, I guess.

Field 14 is a logistic nightmare for tailgaters at half-time. That said, I didn't appreciate 5 year old Tayler Bryant getting on Twitter during the Cherry Bombs game and blasting the fans for not getting back to the game right away after halftime. I understand she's a great player but maybe if she hadn't had an "accident" in the first few minutes of last year's loss to the Lollipops, we make the playoffs last year.

Come talk shit to me when you're fully potty trained, snowflake! Like to see her hump those 2 cases of juice boxes all the way out to Field 14.

Oh my gawd, this is the funniest damn thing I've read in a long time! Hahahahaha!

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[HelenaHandBasket]

Jodcon is that weird guy without a kid playing soccer, roaming around the fields mumbling about balls while looking at the kids oddly.

 

[EverettGriz]

Gotta agree with Ursa on this one. Sure Ms. Hauck could recruit like no other. And you certainly can't argue with her success, either based on W/L on the pitch, or the number of girls she placed in the U8 Elite League.

But I think it's safe to say that all those juvey cases brought a lot of bad attention to Frederick Douglass Elementary. And what with that book ("Douglass: Petty Crime and Staying After School on an Elementary Playground") we just don't need any more bad press right now. Couple that with her relationship with the staff of the F. Douglass Yearbook.... I mean, new kindergarten enrollment has finally turned positive, more moms are making cup cakes for the bake sale. We don't need to upset that.

 

[AllWeatherFan]

He's talking about stats, not "balls," Helena!

 

[Ursa Major]

Let's be honest gentlemen, the U6 Soccer League just isn't the same as it used to be. It's better top to bottom. I mean, for awhile after the Angels and the Crackerjacks moved up to the U8 division, the talent in the league wasn't very good, and we took advantage of that. But then Commissioner Meghan went out and convinced the Alley Cats, the Cool Cats (there were already too damn many cat-themed team names), the Dainty Dolphins and the Teal Tigers to join the league. Now we're playing across 14 fields instead of just 8, and let's be frank: the travel out to field #14 is taxing on teams. Not to mention the earlier start times. 8:00 am? And don't even get me started on the unbalanced schedules.

I think we just need to get used to the fact that there's more parity in the U6, and we're just simply not going to dominate every year. Such is the life of coaching 5 year olds, I guess.

Typical apologetic response, citing "parity" and "start times". Next someone will start a f***[*] uniform thread. Then music. Then facilities.

I remember not too many years back when Bob Hauck's wife was coaching the U6 Black Widows, some preppy soccer mom asked to postpone their game against them for two days because a couple of her players had a dance recital. Hauck's wife said "No, but I will move the game to 11PM because we're already going to be kicking the Golden Cats ass at 9:30 on field 1, and then we can run, yeah run, to Field 14 right after that and still have enough left to beat your team. And if I don't like the effort, we might run bloods after that."

Those were the days, and nobody cared if a few of the girls ended up in juvy because they stretched a few rules.

Bring back Hauck!

LOTS of public nose picking during those Hauck years. I for one don't miss those days and the shame it brought to Mermaid Nation. I've said it many times, I will except 2 losses a year if the team can keep their noses clean on and off the field.

Most would, but what about 6-5 for a couple years? Wouldn't you rather see little Jenny bitch-slap somebody and send them home with their tutus in shreds?

And get rid of our "offensive genius", CDA? :roll: :roll: :roll:

 

[HelenaHandBasket]

He's talking about stats, not "balls," Helena!

Maybe, but he is always thinking about balls...you know it, I know it, everybody knows it.

 

[Ursa Major]

Gotta agree with Ursa on this one. Sure Ms. Hauck could recruit like no other. And you certainly can't argue with her success, either based on W/L on the pitch, or the number of girls she placed in the U8 Elite League.

But I think it's safe to say that all those juvey cases brought a lot of bad attention to Frederick Douglass Elementary. And what with that book ("Douglass: Petty Crime and Staying After School on an Elementary Playground") we just don't need any more bad press right now. Couple that with her relationship with the staff of the F. Douglass Yearbook.... I mean, new kindergarten enrollment has finally turned positive, more moms are making cup cakes for the bake sale. We don't need to upset that.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :clap:

 

[jodcon]

The end.