Coaches Say the Darndest Things

If you read this blog, just a few of you will remember the very old television show ' "Art Linkletter." On the show he had a segment called, "Kids Say the Darndest Things." Four of five young people in the four to six years old range would answer his questions. Of course, they would have crazy answers. "Kids Say the Darndest Things." After reading the sports section today, you can add coaches.

Jim Calhoun has my respect, not all of it, but some. The old school, hard nosed basketball coach. has fought off cancer (three times). He built a basketball program at Connecticut from scratch. At 70 years old, he still communicates with young people. Maybe not his best quality, but he stood up against the NCAA. On that one, I do not necessarily agree, but he did. He has won three National titles. Lastly, he really does not cater to the sports media. Maybe, I am thinking of my Woody Hayes days. But I would not put Calhoun on that shelf.

Looking closer to his relationship to the NCAA, he thought, and probably thinks,  he knew more about educating athletes than them. I remember the recruitment of Nate Miles from Toledo. Not for sure, but I think that UConn failed to qualify academically for 2013 NCAA tournament. He battled sanctions. Through all of this, he won basketball games.

" I never, ever, ever said that I was mistake free. But I was always trying to do the right thing. It didn't always work that way, but I was always trying to do the right thing."  Jim Calhoun.
Like I said, I respect him, and probably would understand him more, if he would define the "right thing."

Of course, Jim Calhoun is not the only coach to make "silly" statements. In fact, he probably does not top the list. Neither does Alabama coach Nick Saban. When asked about following the chain of command in college athletics last summer, he said something to the effect - At Alabama, we believe in the chain of command. We report first to the Athletic Director and then the report goes to the President of  the University of Alabama.

 Sometimes, coaches say the darndest things."

Traveling to Northwest Ohio Tonight

Some of the guys at McDonalds were messin with me today about missing out on some big games tonight, just to go to northwest Ohio to watch some smaller schools play. One, being a big O-State fan, thinks that I need to go watch future Buckeye prospects play. I told him this was not an Ohio State website. Obviously, I watch BCS propects play and give  very honest opinions, which are not always the same as the recruiting reporters on national websites. My 86 year old mother could find top 25 national program recruits, but the mid-level programs need attention, also.

Looking forward to watching Sylvania Southview play Napoleon. Southview is one of the five schools in the Toledo area that recruiters have to check out every year. Jim Mayzes does a wonderful job and has players every year. Napoleon has a nice little RB who has come to my combines every year.

Need to see the second half of the Liberty Center vs Patrick Henry game. How many people who follow Ohio high school football can tell me where Hamler, Ohio is located? A geography lesson- thirty minutes south of Napoleon. Each team has a really good lineman and both are juniors. Both I know personally and both are scholarship potential players. Maybe not O-State good yet, but D-1 good. Patrick Henry also has a senior linebacker. Although smaller schools, they play really good football.

Tomorrow - back to a big city. I will be in Cleveland to watch Shaker Heights play Parma at 1:00.  Because of no lights, Shaker plays home games at 1:00 on Saturday. One of the most fun places for me to watch a high school game. Fans, young and old, get into it, and the band is always good. Now there are some OSU-good prospects in this game. For some reason DL/OL Donovan Munger does not communicate with me, but he has worlds of potential. Also looking forward to evaluating some skilled players.

If things go as planned, I will see the second half of the Gilmour Academy vs Cleveland Central Catholic game. Really like the toughness and athleticism of the CCC quarterback. Saw some players from Gilmour last summer. Better to watch them play in pads, rather than shorts/t-shirt.

Since Kent State has a bye week, plans are to stop in Akron and treat my son David and his friend Courtney to a late lunch of or early dinner. This may be the most expensive part of the day. David works with the punters/kickers at Kent State.

Finally, want to stop and watch the Canton McKinley vs North Canton Hoover game at Fawcett. Although he has to get bigger/stronger, McKinley could have one of the best prospects in the Ohio Class of 2015. McKinley is always going to have players whom need to be evaluated. My friend Don Hertler at Hoover does a nice job coaching, but this year has some really good high school players.

Evaluating college prospects is always fun. Gas at 4.95 a gallon takes some of the fun out of it, but watching players and seeing coaches is always fun.

John Cooper - Always a Buckeye

Read a really nice article about former Ohio State head coach, John Cooper, in today's Toledo Blade. In fact, it made the headline story written by Blade sports writer David Briggs. Most of the article focuses on how "Coop" fits in at Ohio State and the relationship that he has with OSU Coach Urban Meyer.

Coach Cooper shares an office in the Woody Hayes Athletic Complex with another former OSU head coach Earle Bruce. Two contrasting coaching philosphies back in the day. Two very successful college head football coaches. Two somewhat different personalities. From rumors I hear, two pretty good golfing buddies. Both Coach Bruce and Coach Cooper provide not only wisdom, but also some football insight for a confident Urban Meyer.

Former head coach Jim Tressell provided an office for Coach Cooper and Coach Bruce. With Ohio State's "panic attack" last season, they lost their office. Coach Meyer was quick to bring the coaches back to the office this past summer. Coop watches practices, sits in on some of the staff meetings, and watches game video. Since he does some player scouting for the Cincinnati Bengals, he talks with not only OSU coaches, but with coaches in the Midwest  to get a deeper insight into some of the player talent that not only the Buckeyes have, but also that opposing teams have.

The article also mentions more about his working relationship with Coach Meyer. Mentions his relationship with the "Legends." Mentions his approach to what he does for the Bengals. Knowing Coach Cooper a little , I am sure that he does not offer a "coaching point," every five minutes, but as  he watches the action, he may drop a comment once in a while.

On knowing John Cooper, he is a really good man. More importantly, knowing him since he came to Ohio State University, family is really important to him. Family was really important to him back in his coaching days. At 75 years young, my guess is that he would be a really good to his grand-kids.

If Coop could have beaten Michigan a few more times, the fickle Buckeye fans would have really embraced him. He once told me that "Can you beat Michigan?" was the first thing a fan on the street would ask him. Just like Coach Tressell leading the Buckeyes over the Wolverines for a long time, it was just one of those things. O-State tried every approach to the Michigan game and just could not get it done. With the Tressell era, QB Troy Smith could have played five bad games in a row, but played "lights out" against Michigan. Michigan probably tired every approach to the game, but just could not get it done. Bottom line, Lloyd Carr and John Cooper were excellent head football coaches.

In a way, I salute John Cooper for making Columbus his home. I love the city of Coulmbus, but Coop took so much "media crap," and Buckeye fans' abuse, staying in C-bus kind of surprises me. I guess as long as he can play golf with Coach Bruce and Dom Tiberi, living here is good.

When he accepted the head coaching position at Ohio State University, no one took him aside and told him what OSU football was all about. Although Coach Bruce was very successful at OSU, the powers to be wanted to go in a different direction. They wanted a more "outgoing" and more "face" coach, who had been successful as a head coach on the college level. Much the same situation at Michigan with Coach Carr and Coach Rod. Could you imagine Coach Hayes doing hot-tub commercials? Somehow, I could not see that.

A former Cincinnati Bearcat head football coach once told me that he very seldom hired his friends to coach for him. Because, he said, "It was tough, when he had to fire them." Sad, because he was not trying to be funny. Coach Cooper probably went the opposite way. That thinking may have been one of his biggest mistakes he made at Ohio State. His coaching philosphy was to hire good coaches and let them coach. Like anything else, sometimes it works; sometimes it does not.

For what it means, I really admire John Cooper. Although I seldom run into him  anymore, he is always fun to chat with. Actually he has a good sense of hunor. Of course, he has a ton of "war stories on football." I always thought if you could get Coach Cooper's mind away from coaching at Ohio State for just an hour, the hour would be crazy with laughs.

Since I have never been the head football coach at Ohio State, I can point out mistakes that Coop made. Easy for me. Just like "sports talk guys." Who cares? But I would say, that at the end of the day, Ohio State was and still is, good to Coach John Cooper, and Coach John Cooper was and still is, good to Ohio State." Always a Buckeye!

Jackson's Football Stadium on the Hill

      Jackson High School, No not Massillon Jackson.
     Two years ago one of the guys who helps me with my camps and combines suggested that I look into running a camp at Jackson High School in Jackson, Ohio. He told me that the school has a nice football facility with turf. I told him that I would check into it. I called Head Coach Andy Hall and he told to come down and check it out. Never did.
      Of course, part of my thinking, was I just wondered what the facility would be like. Also wondered just how many football prospects would attend. You must realize that, although I had never been to Jackson, it was in Southeastern Ohio. I had been to Wheelersburg, South Point, Ironton, and Portsmouth years ago, but never Jackson. Years ago, those schools had just okay facilities.
      Saturday night I made the two hour and twenty minutes trip to Jackson High School to evaluate four players from Jackson and four players from Granville High School. My Garman took me pass the old high school first. Next I saw a shuttle service that took people to the game. I told the lady that Coach Hall told me to find him to get into the game. She said that the school and stadium were at the the top of the hill. I had to "talk my way" through another gate to get better parking near the stadium on top of the hill.. All the time I am thinking - "Jackson - Southeastern Ohio."
      The very first thing I would say is that " any high school team in Ohio would feel very comfortable playing a football game at Alumni Stadium. Quite simply, the ten year old stadium is a tremendous venue to watch high school football. Seats around 6,500. The seating on both sides is almost equal in height and they are high. The reserve seating on the home side has backs for all of the seating in that section. Locker rooms are under the stands on both sides. Of course, the turf is very fast and well taken care of. Finally, both end zones have nets behind the goal post to stop the ball from leaving the field. How many true high school fields have nets behind the goal posts.
      Head Coach Andy Hall was very helpful and took care of me. But the whole game atmosphere was special. Fans were loud. The marching band had alot of members and was excellent. For that matter, the Granville marching band was every bit the same. High school football is very important to this town of just over 6,800 people.
      Just a few camera people walking around. A couple of beat writers. No cables dragging all over the sidelines. No t-v timeouts. No camera guy hitting me on the back and telling me to get out of the way. No interent media taking pics of players during the game. No internet media recruiting reporters interviewing college prospects after the game.
      I am not trying to put too much drama in this blog, but am trying to applaude the people of Jackson, Ohio for supporting their high school football team. The stadium is tremendous. Over the years I have been to a few stadiums. Now, I am not including Fawcett, or any college stadiums that host high school football, but for pure high school stadiums, Jackson's Alumni Stadium gets a high mark.
      Ironmen - You have done well.

     

Trotwood - Wayne Game - Intense

Last night I made my second trip to Wayne High School in less than a week. Last Saturday, the game with Canton McKinley, with all of its weather delays, ended after midnight. But McCallister ended his stay with the first weather delay. Trotwood Madison visited Wayne last night, and  at first, I thought history was repeating itself. Only one weather delay, so McCallister stayed and watched Wayne defeat Trotwood Madison 21-14.

My first Trotwood - Wayne game. Last year was Trotwood's first win in the series of seven games. For me, last night was really good game to watch. I heard all of these rumors that the series could get "nasty," or even ugly. From my view, I saw a lot of hard hitting. I saw alot of extra effort by the ball carriers. I saw some extra -ordinary athletic catches by receivers. I saw excellent coaching on both sides of the field. But, I did not see any "cheap shots," or, for that matter, any dirty play. I am sure there was "chirping" going on, but did not see or hear any.

With some fumbles, some pics, and some "not very good special teams play," the game was sloppy at times and not mistake free. But the game was hard hitting and intense. Of course, there were some very high profile players on both sides. There were also some "young guys" on both sides of the ball.

A little bit of disappointment for me was that three Trotwood players were out with injuries. Jarrod Clements (2013 was one of my first combine guys. Tre' Williams-Brown (2013) may be one of the most underrated players in the Ohio Class of 2013. At one time, we did not chat too much, but we do now. The third player I missed watching run the ball was RB Ashton Jackson, Class of 2014. Jackson might be one of the better RB's in the Class of 2014.

One of the hardest parts of watching a game in person, rather than on video, is that you have to concentrate on every play. No chance to use rewind. Making matters worse is when you have a large number of players that you want to see. Usually, I focus on underclassmen and just peek at the seniors. Before last night's game, there were some seniors who needed some attention. Last night, Trotwood had sixteen players and Wayne had fourteen players who had my attention. There were "cats" all over the field.

In my column "Around the State with MSR," the players from both teams will be covered. Now not all thirty players are going to get scholarships, but they all need to be looked at. The list includes sophomore, junior, and senior classes.

Watching two very good coaches at work was also interesting. Maurice Douglas has taken Trotwood to the highest level, with winning the OHSAA State Football Championship last year. Jay Minton has been  OHSAA State Football Championship runners-up twice. Both coaches had their teams ready to play last night.

I guess if you are around high school football long enough, you see alittle of everything. The game was delayed a few minutes because a Trotwood player in the pile took a Wayne player's shoe to the sidelines. The Wayne player could not find his shoe. Officials had to go to Trotwood's sideline to get the shoe. Trotwood did not give the  correct shoe to Wayne. A silly and really stupid thing to do. No one was injured and no arrests were made.

A Dayton guy told me of the shoe details, and also told me a few minutes ago that Trotwood may be terminating the contract with Wayne.

I guess that I possibly saw the last game in the young rivilary between Trotwood and Wayne. Whatever the case, I enjoyed the intensity and competition. Hope that is just a rumor.

Tonight I head south to Troy and then to Tipp City. No offense to any of the four schools, but I know I will not have thirty college football prospects to "look at." But, I know there are some very good ones to watch.

NFL Replacement Officials

Could not fall asleep last night, so I watched most of the NFL game between the Giants and the Cowboys. I enjoy watching Ohio high school players whom have I evaluated as high school players and have remained in touch, but as some people know, I am not an NFL guy. But last night I was so depressed (sarcasm) because the officials did a good job.

Read an article this morning about the replacement officials. Everybody seems so surprised that the officials are doing an adequate job. First, I have to believe that there are more than 120 officials throughout the country who can work in the NFL. So much of moving up the ladder in officiating is "who you know" and "who likes you." Just like in anyother business. And like alot of businesses, once who you are in, whether you are good or not, a union can protect you. Trust me, I taught school for 31 years.

Hats off to the replacement NFL officials. Continue to work hard. Always try to be in the correct position to make the call. See it, before you call it. Consistency is always the most important thing to good officiating.

The Dispatch article listed the experience of the officials who worked the game last night. Obviously, NFL experience is important, but even top rated NFL officials make mistakes. Ask Ed Hochuli.

John Gruden said this about the replacement officials on a sports talk show last night. Something to the effect that both teams are using the same officials. The idea is to work them and not against them.

Applause for Roger Goodell. To be able to find and to teach and develop football officials who could very well be working a D-2 game between Findlay and Ohio Dominican is amazing. I also applaud the replacement officials  for working hard to better themselves.

I do think that a high school official in Northeast Ohio would have a hardtime working in the NFL. Last year, I watched him spot the ball. He was so overweight that he dropped the ball and steadied it with his foot. And then there was an official from Central Ohio who years ago threw a flag on me for something that I said to him. I  told him that "he did not have the nerve(of course that is not the word I used) to throw another one." He threw another one and was reaching to throw the third when I stopped after two.

I firmly believe that anybody can be replaced. The best to the replacement officials.

Seniors - Not Too Late

Just a quick note to the Class of 2013 football players who are not being heavily recruited and still want to play college football. You need to get your name out there, and you need video to send or hand to the colleges.

Get your name out there. By now, most D-1 football programs know who they are really getting after and who is still out there to get after. Your high school coach is, obviously, really busy with game evaluations and game preparations. But, talk to him, or any other coach on the staff, about helping get your name out there. Ask them to make a call or send an email to the colleges that you like.

During the month of December, different coaches' associations hold "recruiting nights," which are really beneficial and provide contact information to the D-2 and D-3 colleges. These recruiting nights are good, but if you are really interested in playing college football at any level, I would be getting my name to the schools that you like during the season. I would, however, offer this advice -- "Dream big, but think realistic."

Video. I told a young sophomore here in Upper Sandusky to start working on a highlight video. Do not wait til the end of the season to begin. Being a sophomore, making a video is really early, but good. If you cannot edit the video now, go through and make note of the plays you want to include. At the end of the season, go through and edit the video. Then go back and take 25-30 of the best plays of all of the plays you have.

If you are a senior, work on the highlight video now and have it ready just after the season is completed. Do not worry about putting music or any other special affects to your video. One mark to identify you on the video is enough. I get highlight video with borders. company names, music, and all kinds of arrows. Looks nice for the scrapbook and family keepsakes, but not necessary for the college coach to evaluate you.

Beware of college recruiting services. Expensive and just how well do they evaluate you as a football player. Also, some of the online recruiting sites are more concerned about the higher profile player than the D-2 and D-3 prospect. Stands to reason, because the followers want to know about D-1 players and the more readers, the more money for the recruiting reporters. Being an former head football coach many years ago, I still think that all communication should go through a high school football coach.

Finally, game day visits. Everybody, I would guess, would like to attend a major college football game. Honestly, that is probably easier to arrange than people think. Also, I have had high school coaches boast to me that their prospect has to been to a number of major college "Saturday games." Really good experience, but not nearly nearly as important  as one might think. My point is that being a guest at a Saturday game is not that hard to arrange.

If you are not a D-1 guy, visit Ashland, Ohio Dominican, Tiffin, or Findlay on a Saturday game day.  Good D-2 programs in Ohio. D-3 schools like, Ohio Northern, Capital, and Baldwin Wallace play really good football. See  the level of play and I bet it might surprise you.

The best in your efforts. A basketball coach here in Upper Sandusky once told me that "Big is not always better," when selecting a college. The coach was just trying to impress me to thinking that he was next John Wooden, but his comment is very true. Of course, his son went on to do very well at Ohio State University.

QB's Kempt and Worstell -Much Improved

       Last night, Two quarterbacks who I have watched for three years, including last night, are catching coaches' attention. If not, they should be. One has committed to Cincinnati and I am not for sure on the other.
      Reid Worstell from Glen Oak and Kyle Kempt from Massillon Washington, both showed much improvement going into their senior year. Only the second game of the season and some mistakes were made by both QB's. However, anytime there are 15 flags thrown, 9 turnovers, numerous QB sacks, some interceptions, the game was bad football at times. But the hitting was excellent and talent played well at times.
     Over the years it seems like I have never seen Reid Worstell at full strength. Last year his protection was weak at times and sometimes his decision making was not good. Last night, I thought that he managed the game well. Excellent at getting the ball to the running back. Liked his short quick out passes to the wide outs. Read coverages much better. Pocket presence was better. Reid has always set up in the pocket well. Have always liked his throwing motion. Sometimes he will have to spin-it better and show more arm strength. For the most part, he looked solid last night.
     First time that I saw Kyle Kempt he was absorbing all he could learn at a Massillon 7on7 and was only a sophomore. Tall and skinny and his arm was not strong. But he was coachable and wanted to be good. Saw him against Toledo Whitmer do some good things. Last year he was improving, but I did not like his throwing motion. Too much baseball. Smart, stood tall in the pocket. Needed to make quicker decisions, but was improving. Last inght, he looked much improved. Some coach has tweaked his release. Stands tall in the pocket, but must improve his feet. Must put rpm's on deep cuts.
     Really liked what I saw in both QB's last night. There are some other little coaching points that I think would help them, but that is not my job. Both Reid and Kyle are on the right track. Probably will not see them until really late in the season. Hope that they continue to improve and go onto to have really good years at the next level.

Explaining - "Around the State with MSR"

Wanted to take a minute to clarify a section of my website called "Around the State with MSR." Anytime people put out list, I think that it is important to provide some background as to how they do it. The last thing that I want is controversy. I do not need message boards to promote what I do. Neither do I need coaches, and or, parents or players upset about omitting a player or being too negative about a player.

The McCallister Scouting Report's primary role is to provide information to colleges throughout the country with information about college potential players throughout Ohio. Besides providing contact information and measurements, MSR rates each prospect. All of this comes in a spiral bound notebook released in February called the Ohio Prospects Directory. Another service MSR sells to colleges is a program called Weekly Evaluations during the season. Colleges pay MSR for all information. The McCallister Scouting Report scouting service is approved by the NCAA.

Although many D-1, D-2, and D-3 colleges buy the Ohio Prospects Directory, with exception of Ohio Dominican and Harvard, the college football programs that buy the Weekly Evaluations are all Divison 1 schools. Because of this, most of the high school players that I evaluate in person have to have Divison One potential. Problem -- obviously, I am going to make mistakes, but hopefully, not too many.

The other problem is that since the large majority of college programs that pay for Weekly Evaluations are Division One schools, I only have time to evaluate the higher profile prospects. Also, since recruiting begins so much earlier, I have to provide insight on, not only seniors, but more on juniors, sophomores, and even freshman.

Hopefully, not only does the MSROHIO website provides parents and high school players information on football recruiting, but also through Around the State with MSR, players get some exposure. The comments that are posted on the MSROHIO website are not as a detailed as the comments that college coaches read, or are they as critical.

Because I am a "kid's guy," my hope is that my website MSROHIO promotes high school players in a positive way.

Thoughts on the Crosstown Showdown

Yesterday I finished my player evaluations and emailed them to the college programs who pay for that part on my service. Takes time to do them, but I always enjoy promoting high school football players. Nine games in three days was enough for me. Now time to get to other parts of Ohio.

The Skyline Crosstown Showdown is an amazing event. This year was number fifthteen. This year's event may have been the best of all. Including Kentucky games, there twenty-one total. Solid officiating, with just a few mistakes. Good crowds. For the most part, very good football games. Reasonable parking fees. The official program was very informative and colorful. Away from the action, my Red Roof Inn room was really clean, and best of all, was not expensive.

The flip side - just a few speed bumps. Really hot days and the turf was even warmer(?). Food was really expensive. Two and a quarter for candy. Self-denial at the food/drink areas for me. Took the elevator a few times to the pressbox. Walked up the stadium steps more than a few times. Oh my! Still not used to seeing internet media recruiting reporters interviewing players and taking players' pictures after games. One reporter even went to the bench, while the game was in progress, to have a player pose for a picture. I guess I am still "old school."

Speaking of pictures, I had a first on the sideline. First and foremost, I was at fault. As the saying goes,"My bad." I was really focused on a player, when someone really firmly tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around and some expert photographer, told me to "get out of the way." My reaction was to the effect, "don't you hit me like that, stupid." Again, I was wrong. Most photo guys are good, but like in anything, some think that they are selected on ability.

Camera people who are videoing the game are different. Mostly young guys, who are entitled to any spot, and with a "get-out-of-my-way." In fact on one timeout, Jalin Marshall, Middletown's gifted QB, had to ask the filming guy to get back, because he could not concentrate. I am sure that the television people are calling the shots. Cameras are also in a player's face as he stretches during warmups. I guess that media attention is necessary. Just not used to it.

Congrats to In-Game Sports. Tom and Lori Gamble do a super job putting on this event. Of course, quality of help makes it go, but it all starts at the top with the Gambles. Job well done.