WK1 Wheelersburg @ Ironton

[fbnut]

So to be honest. I was really skeptical about burg offense this season, however after watching them in the 7on7 at Russell today I am no longer concerned! The pirates are loaded with talent and Davis is a good qb!!

great to hear, Qb was about the only question mark on this team.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

So to be honest. I was really skeptical about burg offense this season, however after watching them in the 7on7 at Russell today I am no longer concerned! The pirates are loaded with talent and Davis is a good qb!!

the pirates are always loaded. they have been a consistent, quality program for many years.
and it appears the fighting tigers have all the pieces this year as well. this is a must win game for both. and a spectacular opening week rivalry every year.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

games don't get any bigger than this in these parts.

[ohbuckeye2]

Glad to here Ironton's freshman class will have a freshman team this year. First time in a while that I believe Ironton has been able to field a freshman squad. Right at 20 kids in that class are out this year considering as 8th graders there were only 8 or 9 (8th) graders. Was told a couple of new kids decided to come out just tonight that have never played before that are very talented kids.

That's awesome news, this Freshman class is one of those classes that only comes around every now and then. They're a special group of talented kids, it's going to be fun watching them the next four years.

[IBTT]

Glad to here Ironton's freshman class will have a freshman team this year. First time in a while that I believe Ironton has been able to field a freshman squad. Right at 20 kids in that class are out this year considering as 8th graders there were only 8 or 9 (8th) graders. Was told a couple of new kids decided to come out just tonight that have never played before that are very talented kids.

That's awesome news, this Freshman class is one of those classes that only comes around every now and then. They're a special group of talented kids, it's going to be fun watching them the next four years.

Only bad part of this class is that there are still at least three kids who have decided to play only basketball if not a number more. If this class could get those kids to come out it would be an amazing group. As is they will come together over the next couple of years. Some quicker than others, but by the time this group are seniors with or without those kids it will be another amazing class. They haven't played together since they were in the sixth grade either. Many will be learning an awful lot quick while others are quite ready to jump right in. These coaches have a good group of kids this year and have made it clear that the kids will be disciplined. I see the seniors this season taking charge. Should be a fun season.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

when I was in high school you had to play 3 sports.i did football, wrestling, and track. until I blew out my knee.

[Piratefan2]

I did football, gym, and LUNCH!!!!

[BigBlueNation]

Not to get nothing started but this thread sounds the same as it has the last few years. You hear that Burg is down and that Ironton is back. Then Burg rolls the Tigers and the excuses start and Tiger fans are wanting to run off the coaching staff. I have a lot of respect for the history of theIronton football program but don't think they will ever be what they once was. Sorry. Ironton is just like Portsmouth with the loss of good paying jobs and half the population they once had. Its sad to see what has happen to these great river towns. Good luck to both teams hope they stay healthy but I'll go with the Pirates in this one. Sorry if I offended anyone in this post it is just my opinion.

[IBTT]

Obviously you must not have seen this group of tigers this year. I agree with the past few years, maybe not so much because of jobs or population as Ironton has only lost 2000 people since the early 90s. Ironton along with all schools have to deal with the kids completely differently than they did years ago. You can't discipline kids and for the most part it isn't happening at home. This group of kids for the most part seem to be focused and disciplined. The coaches have found I believe what it takes to pull this team together. What I have seen in the past nearly ten years has been a lack of that discipline. As far as 2000 people, I'm sure it would help, but we are no longer division 3 either. We are barely division 5.

[fbnut]

Obviously you must not have seen this group of tigers this year. I agree with the past few years, maybe not so much because of jobs or population as Ironton has only lost 2000 people since the early 90s. Ironton along with all schools have to deal with the kids completely differently than they did years ago. You can't discipline kids and for the most part it isn't happening at home. This group of kids for the most part seem to be focused and disciplined. The coaches have found I believe what it takes to pull this team together. What I have seen in the past nearly ten years has been a lack of that discipline. As far as 2000 people, I'm sure it would help, but we are no longer division 3 either. We are barely division 5.

No one has seen this group of tigers yet. They haven't even put pads on yet.

[Westfan]

So from what we've read that average-totally undisciplined team that Wheelersburg embarrassed like 9 months ago is back with great athletes and discipline, ready to win region 17.

[fbnut]

Ironton's Junior class is probably the most talented and largest class that has gone through the system in a long time. Problem has been since 6th grade when they were last all playing, injuries and the lazy bug have got ahold of many of the kids in this class. There is still a lot of talent and size in that class. Just have to wait and see if some of these kids decide to come out and play. This group still have extremely talented kids who give every excuse in the book why they aren't going out for football over the past few years. From what I hear many of those kids did show up today. Most are either playing only one sport, whether it be baseball or basketball and somehow believe they are going to get a full ride scholarship in that sport. It is definitely a new generation, but hopefully they will realize before it's too late they are missing out on a great opportunity to be a part of this football program. So many would actually stand a good chance at good scholarship money in football and have little chance if any in the single sport they are playing.

I'm curious what kind of an impact do you think these lazy excuse making kids would actually make? Sounds to me like they could hurt the team more than help. Shouldn't they have decided long ago whether they intended to play, have they been going through the offseason program or just been making excuses why they haven't been able to attend? Good programs don't depend on kids that just show up the first day of mandatory practice and say coach I'm ready.

[Tigercannon71]

It's easy to see if they came out you have more athletes to play which means more depth. Ironton was definitely lacking in depth last year. In the Burg playoff game they had 3 starters out hurt and 4 more starters dressed, but playing limited time because of injuries. Depth is huge in this area if you can get it.

[fbnut]

It's easy to see if they came out you have more athletes to play which means more depth. Ironton was definitely lacking in depth last year. In the Burg playoff game they had 3 starters out hurt and 4 more starters dressed, but playing limited time because of injuries. Depth is huge in this area if you can get it.

You blamed last years losses on coaching not talent or depth, right?
(5tds better talent wise)

[Tigercannon71]

There's no excuse I'm making a point that you need depth when your starters get hurt.

[d-5]

Wheelersburg will win big again this year . Next

[Westfan]

Ironton will have a good team. They had a good team last year and will in the future. But these posts of unrealistic expectations aren't fair to the coaching staff or the players. This isn't the 90s anymore, or the early 2000's for that matter. And Bob Lutz isn't there anymore.

And I agree with the previous poster. Wheelersburg will win big again. Mostly because of coaching. Not that Vass is bad, but because he is in a no win situation playing a style from the 1940's that doesn't translate to today. But because it worked for 40 years and he's following a legend that swore by it, he can't change even if he wants to. Ironton will never be better than average because what made them great will always haunt them. The game has changed. Change with it or be left behind.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

1st, let's remember we are talking kids 15-18 when the words like lazy and such are being used. nobody has seen the two teams play yet. and wheelersburg has had ironton's number of late. the series is still heavily lopsided in ironton's favor. but correct that is indeed the past. it will take vast improvement's on ironton's side. especially if the burg is as good as last year. I don't buy it about burg being down.and as much as people want to talk about open enrollment coming into ironton it happens the very same way in the burg. I've said it before and will say it again. this is a very key game to open the season.generally a game like this is the 10th game. so it is very big. my big concern I have watching fighting tiger football in say the last 6/7 years is lack of discipline. and unwarrented attitudes causing key penalties. this must change. and like another poster stated. we are not d3, or AA anymore. just a couple kids from d6.if we are to compare the last few teams with ironton's last 40 years, you can see a big difference. but I'm looking forward to seeing this year's product. all across the board everybody has to be accountable for success /or lack of. coaches and players. we need to be more mentally tough, and not shoot our own selves in the foot. and have a cagey diverse offensive playbook, that keeps teams off balance. and a strong weight room program.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

in short if someone is acting up. yank him out by the stripes. make him earn his way back. football is never about one person, and no one person ever wins/losses a football game. they need to be a cohesive unit again, and have one heartbeat. then they will become successful again consistently. and I hope these youngun's read this.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

but please don't down the kids. they are in fact kids. as much as we want them in the high school hall of fame.but football is all about hard work and discipline. will we have both this year or not.