SEOAL 2009

[GoChiefs]

Yeah..I know..DeSales and Watterson left..and we added Brookhaven...there's still L'Ville, Logan, Marion Franklin, Beechcroft, Dublin Jerome, Independence, Lake, Canfield, St. Charles...Tri Valley will be tough this year I think...Y'town East I'm hearing will be fielding a good team this year...I'm sure there's some I'm missing as well...that's why I think R7 will be the SECOND toughest instead of THE toughest region this year.

[gymrat]

I agree...I think that southern ohio football is great and that Logan should be proud of what they are doing in the regular season...only that being that size of a school...and playing the smaller schools isn't helping them out at all come playoff time...usually they will have two or three games a year that really give them any competition...and when you are going up against the division two talent in the playoffs...that's not good enough...I think they have a much better team than what they end up showing the state when the season is finished...Ironton has always played either great teams...or larger schools....usually it works to make them better...come playoff time...and I just feel that the playoffs...and going to the big dance are what you are wanting...the SEOAL trophy is nice...don't get me wrong...but I don't care how many of those you have in your trophy case...I would put one State Championship trophy any day up against fifty strait SEOAL trophies...anyone agree?...and that isn't meant to slam the Logan program...they are moving in the right direction...but I think they need to be more experienced come playoff time.

I do agree..but..as it's been said a thousand times before..what do you suggest Logan do? In reality..what options do they have? They have one choice for a league..and that's the league they are in now..it would be dumb to become an independent..so Logan really doesn't have a choice with the competition other than to hope the other teams in the league can be more competitive every year.

Logan IS in a tough situation. They really have no options as far as a league. I personally think they are STILL a GREAT fit for the SEOAL. They are on par with every other team in everything except football and they cant be this dominant in that forever. In the meantime, If I were Ironton, I would play three BEAST schools in the first three weeks. Similar to what Chilli has done recently with a non conference schedule of Brookhaven, Big Walnut, and Logan(Sheridan last year).

What if, hypothetically, Logan played Lancaster, Upper Arlington, and Brookhaven or some other combination of OCC powers + brookhaven/beechcroft/eastmoor from the city league. This schedule would prepare you for the battles of the playoffs and you would get a good test in SEOAL play by Itown and Chilli and maybe someone else. If you win 2 of those non conference games you are sitting pretty for the playoffs and if you win 1 you still have a good opportunity if you take care of business.

I have seen first hand, in another sport, Chilli win a State Title. The difference between Chilli and some teams they played late in the tourney was the fact that Chilli had played a who's who of Ohio basketball powers during the regular season. They played Newark(D-1 State Champs that year), Dunbar, NCH, Zanesville, Wheelersburg, and Brookhaven that year. Without that schedule they would have been an extremely talented team but IMO, wouldn't have won a State Title. Logan may not have the Talent to Win a State Title but they very well could and if they schedule up enough then it will provide them with the experience and confidence to do it.

[loganlocos]

Great post gymratt.

I agree with most of what you said. And I think Logan has been trying to do what you suggest. As an example:

2003: Westerville South (10-0 from the OCC), DeSales (Playoff team)
2004: Lancaster (OCC Champ), Gahanna-Lincoln (Playoff team), Pickerington North (6-4, just missed the playoffs)
2005: Lancaster (OCC Co-Champ), Gahanna-Lincoln (OCC-Co-Champ)
2006: Lancaster (10-0 from the OCC)
2007: Lancaster (OCC Runner-Up), Pickerington North (OCC Champ)

The last couple of years Logan has had to cancel series with Cambridge and New Philadelphia due to changes in the league schedule. Instead they added Hamilton Township and Gallia (as a non-league games) due to opening dates changed from weeks 2-3 to weeks 4-5.



Again, everyone seems to want to blame Logan's lack of playoff success on their schedule. However, maybe Logan just needs to keep getting BETTER. Now, no doubt playing a tougher schedule is part of getting better, but Logan's schedule has gotten stronger, and so has the football program.

However, since 2004, Lancaster's winning percentage is over .700 while playing in the OCC, and they have only 1 or 2 playoff wins in that span. I don't see their "tough" schedule helping them come playoff time. In fact, some there think the team is often "worn out" come week 11, and that is part of their struggle in the post season.

[gymrat]

Great post gymratt.

I agree with most of what you said. And I think Logan has been trying to do what you suggest. As an example:

2003: Westerville South (10-0 from the OCC), DeSales (Playoff team)
2004: Lancaster (OCC Champ), Gahanna-Lincoln (Playoff team), Pickerington North (6-4, just missed the playoffs)
2005: Lancaster (OCC Co-Champ), Gahanna-Lincoln (OCC-Co-Champ)
2006: Lancaster (10-0 from the OCC)
2007: Lancaster (OCC Runner-Up), Pickerington North (OCC Champ)

The last couple of years Logan has had to cancel series with Cambridge and New Philadelphia due to changes in the league schedule. Instead they added Hamilton Township and Gallia (as a non-league games) due to opening dates changed from weeks 2-3 to weeks 4-5.



Again, everyone seems to want to blame Logan's lack of playoff success on their schedule. However, maybe Logan just needs to keep getting BETTER. Now, no doubt playing a tougher schedule is part of getting better, but Logan's schedule has gotten stronger, and so has the football program.

However, since 2004, Lancaster's winning percentage is over .700 while playing in the OCC, and they have only 1 or 2 playoff wins in that span. I don't see their "tough" schedule helping them come playoff time. In fact, some there think the team is often "worn out" come week 11, and that is part of their struggle in the post season.

You bring up some good points. Lancaster though, IMO, is in a slightly different situation. They play tough OCC teams weeks 4-10 and they probably are worn down. IMO, if Logan scheduled up out of conference, they would have weeks 5-10, with a few exceptions, to heal up playing "easier teams", but could still draw on their early season experiences come playoff time. That 03 schedule of Westerville South and Desales mustve been tough. Especially if they were back to back weeks. The SEOAL is goin to 4 non league games now right? If so, IMO keep Lancaster, throw on Pick Central instead of Pick North, then have an "easier" week to catch your breath in week 3(maybe a team like Gahanna Lincoln, Thomas Worthington, Hamilton Township, some team that is still quality but not elite) , then follow it up with another tough test against another quality opponent.(teams like one of the Dublin's, Olentangy, Brookhaven, Beechcroft, U.A., Hilliard Davidson etc.)

Of course, that all sounds good in theory and these teams would have to be willing to schedule you but that would be my dream scenario if I were the one in charge of the program and trying to take it to the next level.

[grizzlynatural]

Yeah hell guys lets just go.....Schedule Pickerington Central 1. They'll take us over whoever they are playing week 3. and 2.if your going to run around thumping SEO teams that refuse to get better then you better schedule all the best teams in your surrounding area to make army happy lol

[noreply66]

Pick. North will be catching up with Pick. Central very soon--so who to play?

[1987chieftains]

yeah, those 2 will even each other out in time.

[pbuck]

Logan is so explosive on offense they will run thru the seoal easy

[ibe4gahs]

Take the number of points GAHS football scored on Logan, Chillicothe, Zanesville, and Marietta last season and mulitply by 10 and you will have the IQ of some. See answer below:
0

Is this something appropriate for a moderator to say? Others have had their accounts disabled for similiar infractions.

[superblue]

If I figured right, having an IQ of 130 is a compliment for anyone living in Southern Ohio.............LOL.......

[WitnessProtection]

Regarding the IQ of 130 ...
Here is info from The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ...
- IQ 110-120: bright normal
- IQ 120-130: superior
- IQ 130-higher: very superior
The "very superior" categorization is also defined as "genius" by some IQ researchers.
I'm with superblue, I'll take 130 any day! It's a compliment to anybody no matter where they live!

[pbuck]

1. Logan
2. Ironton
3. Jackson
4. Chillicothe
5. Porthmouth
6. Zanesville
7. Warren
8. Gallia Academy

[schenk11]

1. Logan
2. Ironton
3. Jackson
4. Chillicothe
5. Porthmouth
6. Zanesville
7. Warren
8. Gallia Academy

Zanesville is no longer in the league and you have left Marietta off the list.

[WitnessProtection]

1. Logan
2. Ironton
3. Jackson
4. Chillicothe
5. Porthmouth
6. Zanesville
7. Warren
8. Gallia Academy

Zanesville is no longer in the league and you have left Marietta off the list.

schenk11, looks like somebody had a long weekend.

[qualified101]

[GalliaGrad78]

I can't see Gallia Academy finishing last in the league. Even with a new coach/system, hard for me to imagine.

[BigTime]

I don't see the Trojans losing to anyone but the possibility of Ironton & Chilly in SEOAL this year. I think they will be favorites against: Jackson, Gallia, Warren, and Marietta. But being a favorite and winning is 2 different things. I think the Trojans will finish no worse than 4-2 and have a chance at 6-0 in conference this year. The 2 POSSIBLE loses coming to Ironton and Chilly. GO TROJANS!

[trojandave]

I agree with Big Time......the Trojans have an excellent chance to have a winning record in the SEOAL......if they do, a playoff spot is very likely.

[trojanofthepast]

I don't see the Trojans losing to anyone but the possibility of Ironton & Chilly in SEOAL this year. I think they will be favorites against: Jackson, Gallia, Warren, and Marietta. But being a favorite and winning is 2 different things. I think the Trojans will finish no worse than 4-2 and have a chance at 6-0 in conference this year. The 2 POSSIBLE loses coming to Ironton and Chilly. GO TROJANS!

Great post BigTime, I'm in total agreement. The lumps and the hard work have been put in with this group. No more receiving the punishment, it's time we deliver it to others. I think the turnaround starts with S.Point and ends with a playoff birth. This group will prove they have not been over rated. It's their turn to shine. So get on board now the next 2 years are going to be a fun ride for Trojan fans.