[luvthegame]

I think Beetle just got his years mixed up...He probably meant '03...That was Gross' junior year and the year after the VERY GOOD '02 team...I think most who have been around for awhile agree that '04 was a very good team, probably the best in the decade with the exception of the '02 team...Some feel the '05 championship team may not have been quite as good as the '06 team that lost to "Merger" County in the finals...They just had the ball bounce their direction when they needed it to and that's what it takes sometimes...A break here or there and we EASILY could have 4 state championships in this decade...Not a bad run of athletes between '02 & '06!!!!

Beetle is right...We picked the wrong time to jump back into a series with Ironton...From what I heard about last night (I missed the game because I was officiating a volleyball match in Morehead) the one positive that we can take from the game is the team apparently fought hard the entire game...We were just outmanned...That's a HUGE improvement over last year's team where the miscontents on the team spoiled the team chemistry and the season...

Sounds and looks like the team chemistry and miscontents is WORSE this year. A fight broke out at the field house after the bus got back last night. Nobody was talking to eachother hardly on the sideline and players throwing fits over play time and some certain DAD coaches showing favoritism.

[EKY Sportster]

Congrats to Ironton. They must be loaded this year!

[mightydog]

All i hear every time Russell gets beat by a good team is how much stronger the other team is. Did they throw the weights away at Russell? Russell kids have as much of a chance to get strong as any other team. I know the line is down this year, but I heard the same stuff in the past. Also you have to take a look at Russels game planing or lack of planing. When you go into a game knowing you have speed, size, and strength going against you you cant do the same old things. I wasnt at the game and maybe Russell did throw in some diffrent wrinkles,Im just goin on the past. But,on the possitie side from every thing Ive heard,Russell dint quit. Lets regroup Devils and get ready for the kitty cats.

[FBALL]

Does anybody know the names of the people who were involved??

I think I have a pretty good idea. A couple of "whiners" . Not typical of most of the team. This needs to be nipped in the bud before ridiculous parents actions carry over to the kids on the team. Some people really should be ashamed of themselves.

[FBALL]

Couple reasons ashland has a chance vs the tiggers

1. Game is at putnam so ironton refs buy a ticket and watch there kids play from stand

2.Ironton means more to ashland russell players can't remember the tigers but tomcats see them every year

3. New offense new qb sam has looked really good running the spread I believe no ints so far last year royalty qb'd the ironton game

4. Offensive line for cats is a strong point of this time

5. Albers will be tough for tigers plus tigers will have to deal with ashlands athleticism and quickness

Those r just my opinions ironton by all means deserves to be the favorite in the game
But first we must focus on a russell team looking for redemption

I'm not trying to be sarcastic with you on this one but You have no shot against the Tiggers.

1. Doesn't matter where its played.

2. Ironton and Russell is and always was a heated rivalry. The players might not remember the last time they played but they know the proximity and the history between the schools. Trust me. It meant alot to the Red Devils and the Tigers.

3 Hunter is good and you have to spread Ironton out. The thing is they have the speed and the agressiveness to play it anyway the other team wants. The Tigers defense is very impressive.

4 The offensive line for the Tomcats havent faced a good defensive front yet. No offense to Greenup, Raceland and Belfry.

5 Albers is very good. I love watching him play. But Ironton has already seen Wheelersburg(who is probably the second best team in the area) and Russell who I do feel is a top 10 team in the tristate area and dismantled both of them. Albers and Ashlands speed and athleticism is not going to pose anymore of a threat than any thing Ironton has seen.

[mightydog]

Why is the Ashland Ironton matchup being talked about? Ithought this was the Russell Ironton game site.

[FBALL]

Why is the Ashland Ironton matchup being talked about? Ithought this was the Russell Ironton game site.

It is but with the Russell /Ashland game comming up this week it is inevitable. That and a couple of us who are friends like to trash talk each other alot. Sorry about that.

As for your comment about Russell kids not hitting the weights alot of them did. Russell has some really strong kids. They just don't have anything close to the size that Ironton could put out there. Big and strong beats little and strong every time.

As for the game planning. I was standing with some Ironton fans who asked me if we were going to try and spread them out. I just laughed. Coach McGlone is not going to change for one team. He will run it until we get it right and if it means taking a beating he will keep running it to use as a barometer for what different kids can do. Its not pretty sometimes but Russell typically is a much better team toward the end of the season than they are at the begining. Last night they took there lumps and stayed with the typical offense even though it wasn't working. The result was ugly but hopefully they learned a few things.

[mightydog]

It is but with the Russell /Ashland game comming up this week it is inevitable. That and a couple of us who are friends like to trash talk each other alot. Sorry about that.

As for your comment about Russell kids not hitting the weights alot of them did. Russell has some really strong kids. They just don't have anything close to the size that Ironton could put out there. Big and strong beats little and strong every time.

I saw some big sophs and jrs on the sidelines last week. Dont you think they might be able to stuff some holes on defense?

[FBALL]

Congrats to Ironton. They must be loaded this year!

They are.

They are scary good. Nobody has really mentioned him but #88 Monning for Ironton is a great football player. Dirty and nasty but in a good way. He is very athletic and took the fight to everyone on the field. He blocks, he plays defense, he does the little things and does it all with passion. He was a joy to watch play.

Will Rice is another kid that stood out to me last night. He and Smith at LB are very good. You could see a big difference once Rice went out of the game last night.

[luvthegame]

I think I have a pretty good idea. A couple of "whiners" . Not typical of most of the team. This needs to be nipped in the bud before ridiculous parents actions carry over to the kids on the team. Some people really should be ashamed of themselves.

Yeah they should. Coaches should never try to start a fight. A parent voicing their displeasure should not cause a coach, someone who is supposed to set the right example, to throw their plate of food down and it splash on his players then rush a parent and get in their face threatening to fight them. Terrible. It is not parents who are being ridiculous here. A couple of starters contemplating quitting and some seniors too. Because of coaches, not parents.

[FBALL]

I saw some big sophs and jrs on the sidelines last week. Dont you think they might be able to stuff some holes on defense?

They might and they got a chance to prove themselves in the second half last night. I would say there are alot of positions up for grabs this week in practice and some of those big sophs and jrs may find a place on the field.

[Wildman62]

Really shocked I figured Russel would be able to move the ball on them but nothing seemed to work. Hats off to Ironton

[FBALL]

Yeah they should. Coaches should never try to start a fight. A parent voicing their displeasure should not cause a coach, someone who is supposed to set the right example, to throw their plate of food down and it splash on his players then rush a parent and get in their face threatening to fight them. Terrible. It is not parents who are being ridiculous here. A couple of starters contemplating quitting and some seniors too. Because of coaches, not parents.

I'm not going to take up for anyone involved because I wasn't there. But I do have a pretty good idea of what happened. Like I said this should be taken care of right now.

You can only take so much before something gives is all I will say.

Let me add this. I have liked the way this team has played so far. They have played hard and cotinued to play hard even last night under difficult circumstances. If a player loses his spot I would hope he will be a good teammate and support his friends that are playing with him. There is nothing wrong with frustration as long as your actions help make yourself and the team better. If a player were to see his playing time decreased I would hope he would work harder to try and earn it back instead of creating a distraction to the team.

[NEWARKCATHOLICFAN]

A friend called and gave me updates on this one and he said this one was over almost as soon as it started and that his team, Ironton could have won a lot bigger but called off the dogs.

[mightydog]

From what Isaw in the Greenup game the line backers were making most of the initial contact anyway so you might as well put some beef on the line and make the opposing teams O-line work. You seem to have a handle on the Russell program, do they have any speed coming up in the next few years? As mentione before they look like they have some big linemen coming up but no speed.

[FBALL]

Special teams really need to be shored up. Two long punt returns and a snap over the punters head really broke this game wide open.

The defense was still pretty good. Both teams were very physical. The offense needs alot of work on the line. But everyone knew that would be a tough matchup last night.

Russell has nothing to hang there heads about. Ironton has a great team.

[FBALL]

From what Isaw in the Greenup game the line backers were making most of the initial contact anyway so you might as well put some beef on the line and make the opposing teams O-line work. You seem to have a handle on the Russell program, do they have any speed coming up in the next few years? As mentione before they look like they have some big linemen coming up but no speed.

They have good speed but not great speed comming up. Some of those big guys might get their chance. The problem there is those big guys do not have good speed. That is something a few of them really need to work on.

[FBALL]

A friend called and gave me updates on this one and he said this one was over almost as soon as it started and that his team, Ironton could have won a lot bigger but called off the dogs.

It was competitive for about a quarter. The long TD by Wilks and then the long punt return by Wilks really took the wind out of Russell's sails and charged up the Tigers. It snowballed after that.

Russell ran out of gas big time. They had nothing left by halftime. Conditioning and finding a way to get some key players a break now in then were key. Travis Jones looked absolutely exhausted half way through the second quarter.

Lutz did put in his 2s, who are as good as most teams 1s at the end of the 3rd quarter.

Ironton is going to do this to alot of teams though. They did it to a very good Wheelersburg team in week one and they did it to a decent Russell team last night. They are good. Very good.

[luvthegame]

I'm not going to take up for anyone involved because I wasn't there. But I do have a pretty good idea of what happened. Like I said this should be taken care of right now.

You can only take so much before something gives is all I will say.

Let me add this. I have liked the way this team has played so far. They have played hard and cotinued to play hard even last night under difficult circumstances. If a player loses his spot I would hope he will be a good teammate and support his friends that are playing with him. There is nothing wrong with frustration as long as your actions help make yourself and the team better. If a player were to see his playing time decreased I would hope he would work harder to try and earn it back instead of creating a distraction to the team.

I have talked to 3 parents and a couple of the players that were there. The coach should be ashamed and reprimanded. Plus, I have been around all these kids and parents for good amount of time. Good, hard working kids are being unfairly treated and parents, who have been biting their tongue for a while are not going to sit back and let their kids be mis-treated. This is not over and I expect quite a bit more noise about this in the days to come. While I will almost always side with a coaching staff in these type situations and know this will hurt the team, I know enough that several parents and players have some very legitimate gripes here. The kids will be the bigger people out of all this I'm sure. But after witnessing and hearing from people who are there daily, something needs to be done.

[luvthegame]

I have talked to 3 parents and a couple of the players that were there. The coach should be ashamed and reprimanded. Plus, I have been around all these kids and parents for good amount of time. Good, hard working kids are being unfairly treated and parents, who have been biting their tongue for a while are not going to sit back and let their kids be mis-treated. This is not over and I expect quite a bit more noise about this in the days to come. While I will almost always side with a coaching staff in these type situations and know this will hurt the team, I know enough that several parents and players have some very legitimate gripes here. The kids will be the bigger people out of all this I'm sure. But after witnessing and hearing from people who are there daily, something needs to be done.

I'm not just talking about game playing time, I know of practice and off the field situations that have some parents and players pretty upset. Look I have no direct involvement here, but I am an alum and friends of many involved and love red devil football. Don't know if this is a coaching staff or school administration thing to handle but it does need to be addressed.

[tomcatfan722000]

I'm not trying to be sarcastic with you on this one but You have no shot against the Tiggers.

1. Doesn't matter where its played.

2. Ironton and Russell is and always was a heated rivalry. The players might not remember the last time they played but they know the proximity and the history between the schools. Trust me. It meant alot to the Red Devils and the Tigers.

3 Hunter is good and you have to spread Ironton out. The thing is they have the speed and the agressiveness to play it anyway the other team wants. The Tigers defense is very impressive.

4 The offensive line for the Tomcats havent faced a good defensive front yet. No offense to Greenup, Raceland and Belfry.

5 Albers is very good. I love watching him play. But Ironton has already seen Wheelersburg(who is probably the second best team in the area) and Russell who I do feel is a top 10 team in the tristate area and dismantled both of them. Albers and Ashlands speed and athleticism is not going to pose anymore of a threat than any thing Ironton has seen.

Fair enough points except I do think it matters where the game is played seems every time a ky team has a big play over there it is called back I'm sure there were some in this game if your a ky team going to ironton you might as well spot them two td's cause the officiating will if u dont

[FBALL]

Coaches should coach, players should play and parents should be there for ecouragement.

[FBALL]

Fair enough points except I do think it matters where the game is played seems every time a ky team has a big play over there it is called back I'm sure there were some in this game if your a ky team going to ironton you might as well spot them two td's cause the officiating will if u dont

I would normally agree with you on the home field advantage but in this case I really don't feel it is going to make a difference.

[luvthegame]

Coaches should coach, players should play and parents should be there for ecouragement.

2 of the 3 are not doing that. The players are playing and for the most part supporting each other. Both coaches and parents need to change their ways.

[FBALL]

2 of the 3 are not doing that. The players are playing and for the most part supporting each other. Both coaches and parents need to change their ways.

Amen to that.

[ryanparker]

Will Rice is another kid that stood out to me last night. He and Smith at LB are very good. You could see a big difference once Rice went out of the game last night.

You're right. Will Rice and Kamron Smith are fantastic football players and have been for many years for the Russell program. It's a shame that Stapleton is out for the year as he would have made this defense even better. Travis Jones is proving to be one of the hardest hitters in the area. Even though we haven't faced a passing team yet, I like the play of the secondary as well. Korzep has impressed, too. The bottom line is that the defense is pretty good.

Russell is in a tough situation, though, because the best guys on defense are also their best offensive players. It seems like it would be difficult to balance keeping them fresh. You rest them on offense and you get 3 and outs. Then they have to play defense again right away. You rest them on defense and you give up more yardage. What to do?

[luvthegame]

Fair enough points except I do think it matters where the game is played seems every time a ky team has a big play over there it is called back I'm sure there were some in this game if your a ky team going to ironton you might as well spot them two td's cause the officiating will if u dont

Only one bad call in that game. Actually a non-call. Ironton player slamming a russell kid to ground just after the whistle and 50 yards away from the play. Flag should have been thrown there but other than that they called a good game.

[luvthegame]

You're right. Will Rice and Kamron Smith are fantastic football players and have been for many years for the Russell program. It's a shame that Stapleton is out for the year as he would have made this defense even better. Travis Jones is proving to be one of the hardest hitters in the area. Even though we haven't faced a passing team yet, I like the play of the secondary as well. Korzep has impressed, too. The bottom line is that the defense is pretty good.

Russell is in a tough situation, though, because the best guys on defense are also their best offensive players. It seems like it would be difficult to balance keeping them fresh. You rest them on offense and you get 3 and outs. Then they have to play defense again right away. You rest them on defense and you give up more yardage. What to do?

Yes to all. And the Navarone kid not playing was a big blow. But kids playing both ways in high school is common everywhere in smaaler schools especially. Being an alumnus and following the program, I know Mcglone has never really pre-season conditioned his kids. It has been said Mcglone prefers to game condition in the non-district games so they are fresher at the end. While its hard to argue his success, I know I have witnessed games where conditioning was the deciding factor whether in score, cramps or real injuries. Ever notice how over the years Russel kids get many cramps and the other team not so much?

[westwoodwarrior]

its not just the football program from what i hear

[4real]

As a parent of a player, I have no idea of what anyone is talking about. I was not at the field house after the game. Russell got beat by a very good team. I am not ashamed, but I am very proud of our team. The boys did not give up, they played their hearts out.

I am not completely satisfied with all the play calling and players in specific positions, but I am not a coach. Until I apply and The board of education gives me the job as head coach, I will respect the coaches decision.

Russell needs to learn from this great experiance of playing at Tank Stadium. Ironton has a wonderful football team and local backing. I was so entertained by the pre-game and half time activities. I could not even tell Russell had cheerleaders at the game. And where was Russell's band? It wasn't like they would have to travel far. The band has not even been in uniform for the 1st 2 home games. From what I understand, Russell does not even have pep rallies. Our fans better be ready for Ashland. Ashland has the best student section I have ever seen. Let's back these kids and stop all this crap. The team acts more mature than the parents (from what I hear)


So Everyone needs to get over it and learn from mistakes. Keep this TEAM alive. Concentrate on the next game. Parents and Fans, give them the encouragement they need, sometimes they may even need a little kick in the butt.

Boys, if you are reading this garbage, you certainly have nothing to hang your heads about. This parent/fan is more proud of the team than ever you stuck together as a team!

I am very proud to call myself a RED DEVIL!!!!!