The turning point of your program's recent run or decline

[Plano Wildcat Fan]

Since two adays is almost approaching and the off-season is almost mercifully over. I though of a pretty good off-season question.

My question concerns your programs turning point. What game, hire or play turned the pendalum upward or downward for you program which could be for a season or for a decade or two.

A couple of examples from my observations through the years.

Plano vs HP 1977 quarterfinal game. 4th quarter 61 yard lea flicker to beat HP 29-28 with 34 seconds left in the game to come back from a 28-0 defecit in the 3rd quarter. That comeback established Tom Kimbrough as a big game X's & 0's coach in his second season after missing the playoffs in his first season as HC in 76 and got the caridiac cats a reputation of making comebacks no matter how far down. This influenced a generation of Plano football teams that lead to 3 state titles and 87% win percentage in the 80's only Periman won a few more games than did Plano in the decade.

Turning point downward. 1995 bi-district game vs Garland at Fouts field. QB Cody Armbrister already hampered by a gimp knee takes midline option and gets hit square on the knee by helment and blows out ACL. Plano coming off a 7th state title and with Brence as HC shows that they were unprepared to replace a already crippled QB and has no answer on offense and lose to upstart Garland team 17-7. The following year Plano goes 5-6 their first losing season in 34 years and Gerald Brence maintains a iron fisted grip of the program which turns average to utterly embarrasing in a hurry.

Flip side of that game is Garland builds on that victory and has continued a Playoff streak that continues today with a state title in the mix.

[t00 playa]

North Shore hiring of David Aymond in 93' and him going with speed and athletes in positions they wouldnt normally play ... which was a change in coaching philosophies from the prior administration....for example..... a kid who had the size of a linebacker was made into a d lineman..... kids who were safeties and good sized CB... were made into linebackers who could get after it.... so NS went with speed and athleticism over anything else.... this is just my opinion.....:eek:

[SACokeSooner]

SA HOLMES
Earl Warren High School opened ('02).

Holmes best season since, 3-7.

[SLC DRAGON]

SLC jump to 5A. as soon as we realized we could play up here we just ran.

[Bobcat81]

SLC jump to 5A. as soon as we realized we could play up here we just ran.

And yall have never looked back. That's one heck of a system up there in SL.

[SLC DRAGON]

Thank you kindly

[LoboFan07]

I would have to say the 1967 season for the Lobos.

Longview had gone 20 years since their last outright district title, and outside of the '27 and '37 teams, they hadn't competed near as much as they do now a days.

Win after win they picked up in '67, soon to become #1 in the State. Only to fall to Richardson 21-13 at Lobo Stadium in the first round (also the start of the choking in the playoffs at Longview High School haha).

This year is the 40th year since that season. Since then, Longview has made the playoffs 22 different times. They've won atleast a share of the district 17 different times. And they've compiled a record of 311-134-7.

Since '67...outside of a couple bad years (mainly 94, 99, and 00) we've had a winning record or have atleast competed.

[bullshark]

lufkin---- the hiring of john outlaw

[bullshark]

SLC jump to 5A. as soon as we realized we could play up here we just ran.

yeah and i would say when you beat us ( lufkin ) in 2002. i think that was the exclamation point. slc showed and has been the top dawg in 5a since.

[ktCarl]

I would have to say the 1967 season for the Lobos.

Longview had gone 20 years since their last outright district title, and outside of the '27 and '37 teams, they hadn't competed near as much as they do now a days.

Win after win they picked up in '67, soon to become #1 in the State. Only to fall to Richardson 21-13 at Lobo Stadium in the first round (also the start of the choking in the playoffs at Longview High School haha).

This year is the 40th year since that season. Since then, Longview has made the playoffs 22 different times. They've won atleast a share of the district 17 different times. And they've compiled a record of 311-134-7.

Since '67...outside of a couple bad years (mainly 94, 99, and 00) we've had a winning record or have atleast competed.

What was the Lobo's State and National ranking in '97?

[grayowl60]

Since two adays is almost approaching and the off-season is almost mercifully over. I though of a pretty good off-season question.

My question concerns your programs turning point. What game, hire or play turned the pendalum upward or downward for you program which could be for a season or for a decade or two.

A couple of examples from my observations through the years.

Plano vs HP 1977 quarterfinal game. 4th quarter 61 yard lea flicker to beat HP 29-28 with 34 seconds left in the game to come back from a 28-0 defecit in the 3rd quarter. That comeback established Tom Kimbrough as a big game X's & 0's coach in his second season after missing the playoffs in his first season as HC in 76 and got the caridiac cats a reputation of making comebacks no matter how far down. This influenced a generation of Plano football teams that lead to 3 state titles and 87% win percentage in the 80's only Periman won a few more games than did Plano in the decade.

Turning point downward. 1995 bi-district game vs Garland at Fouts field. QB Cody Armbrister already hampered by a gimp knee takes midline option and gets hit square on the knee by helment and blows out ACL. Plano coming off a 7th state title and with Brence as HC shows that they were unprepared to replace a already crippled QB and has no answer on offense and lose to upstart Garland team 17-7. The following year Plano goes 5-6 their first losing season in 34 years and Gerald Brence maintains a iron fisted grip of the program which turns average to utterly embarrasing in a hurry.

Flip side of that game is Garland builds on that victory and has continued a Playoff streak that continues today with a state title in the mix.
1995...GARLAND 23, PLANO 7;)

[FeeltheHaka]

In my opinion, the recent upswing at Euless Trinity has been due to the rehiring of Coach Lineweaver.

[pack75]

LUFKIN:

1) The hiring of John Outlaw & can't leave out Todd Quick (D-coordinator, absolute genius at what he does). Most of you may not know Coach Quick, but if you've played for the Pack, you know what I'm talking about...incredible coach as well as person.
2) 1998 Panthers going to 4th Round and losing a nail-bitter...showed a glimpse of brilliance to come.
3) 2001, History was made...First ever State Championship TEAM for Lufkin High School.

[SV61]

For Smithson Valley,

When Larry Hill was hired (1994?)

Without Hill = Horrible
With Hill = Contender almost EVERY year. He has a system, and it seems to be working.

[SV61]

SLC jump to 5A. as soon as we realized we could play up here we just ran.


Well,

Y'all do throw as well. I've seen it!

:D

[pack75]

SLC jump to 5A. as soon as we realized we could play up here we just ran.


Well,

Y'all do throw as well. I've seen it!

:D

LMBO!!!:eek: :p :eek: :p

[whs08]

96 Austin Westlake! Went 16-0, and won the state championship. Since then we've been to state 4 times, and lost all 4.:cry

[whs08]

The hiring of Ron Schroeder!And I can't forget the great Ebbie Neptune who was head coach for 5 years, teacher,and athletic director at Westlake for 32 years!

[gritty52]

2005 Div 1 STATE CHAMPS:D :D :D and the HAKA!!!!!!!!!! Came close before we did it.

[SLC93]

In my opinion, the recent upswing at Euless Trinity has been due to the rehiring of Coach Lineweaver.

Couldn't agree with you more.

[SLC93]

Well,

Y'all do throw as well. I've seen it!

:D

:D :D :D

[Plano Wildcat Fan]

For Smithson Valley,

When Larry Hill was hired (1994?)

Without Hill = Horrible
With Hill = Contender almost EVERY year. He has a system, and it seems to be working.


I would be curious of what game everyone said this guy is for real our program is going to be good for a long time? Their is always a defining moment or game that turns the corner when you look back in time.

[CKE]

I would be curious of what game everyone said this guy is for real our program is going to be good for a long time? Their is always a defining moment or game that turns the corner when you look back in time.

1995 vs. the canyon cougers

[LoboFan07]

What was the Lobo's State and National ranking in '97?

#1 in the State. #3 in the Nation.

[farmerfan]

For Lewisville it was the hiring of Coach Ronnie Gage after the 1990 season. His first year we went 6-4 and had to play an undefeated LD Bell team in the first round, we beat them pretty decisively and lost the following week to a verty talented and good Arlington Sam Houston team 44-27. We were tied with them at 27 in a back and forth game before Mike Adams took over in the second half.
The following year we took a 10-1-1 team out to Odessa and played them very close in the 1st half, only trailing 7-0 with under a minute left in the half Permian ran a trick play in for a 14-0 halftime lead and added two more scores to win 28-0. That young team learned from that game and won our first state title the following year going 15-0-1. Another state championship followed in 1996.
Our down turn came in the 2001 bi-district game when we were a heavy favorite against Fossil Ridge. Ridge came out full of piss and vinegar and believed they were going to win that game from start to finish and got us 23-20. It seems as if our program has never fully recovered from that game.

[coogs78]

Abilene Cooper was 12-0 going into the playoff game with Southlake Carroll in 2002, and they haven't been heard from since.

[CedarHillDad]

I must preface this by saying this is only my OPINION:

The true turning point for CH was in the spring of 2006 when our starting QB (C. Roberson) went down with an injury and the coaching staff had to turn to W. Cole to be the QB. I think before then we had the talent and mentally we were "on the cusp" but that was the moment in time that changed this squad. I am a firm believer that we will continue to achieve great things in the next few years, but time will tell.

[wargograw]

i wouldnt say we were on a declien at all but i think last years run will turn us back into a powerhouse (or more of one)

[Warbird]

Bursting onto the playoffs in 1999 after the hiring of Steve Warren as head coach.

[Plano]

slc turning point to domination = moving to 5A, Turning point to average = Loss of Todd dodge maybe???? haha just a thought, i don't want death threats now.

[TexasRed6x]

For me it was 2000 when D.W. Rutledge left, I know we been to two championship games since then, but I really don't see that happeing again under Rackley.

[Big Daddy Cool]

North Shore hiring of David Aymond in 93' and him going with speed and athletes in positions they wouldnt normally play ... which was a change in coaching philosophies from the prior administration....for example..... a kid who had the size of a linebacker was made into a d lineman..... kids who were safeties and good sized CB... were made into linebackers who could get after it.... so NS went with speed and athleticism over anything else.... this is just my opinion.....:eek:

I couldn't agree more the turning point in North Shore football was the day David P. Aymond was hired as the new head coach replacing Bert Gravitt. Its a shame to think where we could be if only there would have been someone there before him that understood how to use all of that talent that was already there. Hell I rememer him saying that was one of the main reason he wanted to come here.

[caltex2]

Hi yall, this is my first post.

I am a '04 graduate of Clear Creek in League City not far from Houston and Galveston. The football program really hasn't been known for much, as they have made the playoffs 9 times in DECADES of play (their first appearence was in 1945), and 5 of those playoff appearences have come since 2000. The decade has been a rollercoaster ride since.

In 2000, the team was coming off a 2-8 season and nobody really had any reason to expect anything from us, especially since the district was stacked with 4 legit teams who had made the playoffs the previous year (Clear Lake, Clear Brook, district champ Galveston Ball, and due to redistricting La Porte, who was really good that year), not to mention a Pearland team that went 8-2 and missed the playoffs.

So what happened? Somehow, the team shocked the entire Houston area and went 9-1, losing only a week 5 game against La Porte that forced them to share the district crown with them. The season included a rare win in Pearland as well, a 34-25 game that wasn't as close as the final score. The following season they went 8-1 and capped off the run with an undefeated 9-0 season, compiling a 26-2 regular season record over three years. It was truly remarkable how this all came out of nowhere.

But Creek had no luck in their playoff draws, as the first 2 years the team was dispatched by Drew Tate and Baytown Lee in the first round and the undefeated team (the best of the three) had to face then-State number 1 ranked North Shore in the first round. They gave a good fight but lost the game with a bad fourth quarter. There was a lot of wasted talent on those teams, including WR Scott Mitchell, who has played in Arena Football 1, 2, was briefly signed to the CFL, and still contacted by NFL teams for workouts from time to time. Also Bruce Davis and Chase Ortiz, who start on the defensive lines of UCLA and TCU respectively, were on those teams. Both could garner All-American considerations.

The downward turn came the next year, my senior year. Having lost the last game of non-district, they seemed poised to punch in a late score and beat Brazoswood but was stopped on 4 straight tries from inside the five to end the game. That extended the losing streak to 2 and it wouldn't stop till 2 seasons later, when in the midst of a 20 game losing streak they beat rival (and Region III champion from the previous season) Clear Lake to end the streak. They even made the playoffs at 3-7 and then did what the teams from earlier in the decade couldn't: win a playoff game.

It's been a very bumpy ride for Creek football this decade.

[powerofthehaka]

Hi yall, this is my first post.

I am a '04 graduate of Clear Creek in League City not far from Houston and Galveston. The football program really hasn't been known for much, as they have made the playoffs 9 times in DECADES of play (their first appearence was in 1945), and 5 of those playoff appearences have come since 2000. The decade has been a rollercoaster ride since.

In 2000, the team was coming off a 2-8 season and nobody really had any reason to expect anything from us, especially since the district was stacked with 4 legit teams who had made the playoffs the previous year (Clear Lake, Clear Brook, district champ Galveston Ball, and due to redistricting La Porte, who was really good that year), not to mention a Pearland team that went 8-2 and missed the playoffs.

So what happened? Somehow, the team shocked the entire Houston area and went 9-1, losing only a week 5 game against La Porte that forced them to share the district crown with them. The season included a rare win in Pearland as well, a 34-25 game that wasn't as close as the final score. The following season they went 8-1 and capped off the run with an undefeated 9-0 season, compiling a 26-2 regular season record over three years. It was truly remarkable how this all came out of nowhere.

But Creek had no luck in their playoff draws, as the first 2 years the team was dispatched by Drew Tate and Baytown Lee in the first round and the undefeated team (the best of the three) had to face then-State number 1 ranked North Shore in the first round. They gave a good fight but lost the game with a bad fourth quarter. There was a lot of wasted talent on those teams, including WR Scott Mitchell, who has played in Arena Football 1, 2, was briefly signed to the CFL, and still contacted by NFL teams for workouts from time to time. Also Bruce Davis and Chase Ortiz, who start on the defensive lines of UCLA and TCU respectively, were on those teams. Both could garner All-American considerations.

The downward turn came the next year, my senior year. Having lost the last game of non-district, they seemed poised to punch in a late score and beat Brazoswood but was stopped on 4 straight tries from inside the five to end the game. That extended the losing streak to 2 and it wouldn't stop till 2 seasons later, when in the midst of a 20 game losing streak they beat rival (and Region III champion from the previous season) Clear Lake to end the streak. They even made the playoffs at 3-7 and then did what the teams from earlier in the decade couldn't: win a playoff game.

It's been a very bumpy ride for Creek football this decade.

Welcome Aboard!

[t00 playa]

Hi yall, this is my first post.

I am a '04 graduate of Clear Creek in League City not far from Houston and Galveston. The football program really hasn't been known for much, as they have made the playoffs 9 times in DECADES of play (their first appearence was in 1945), and 5 of those playoff appearences have come since 2000. The decade has been a rollercoaster ride since.

In 2000, the team was coming off a 2-8 season and nobody really had any reason to expect anything from us, especially since the district was stacked with 4 legit teams who had made the playoffs the previous year (Clear Lake, Clear Brook, district champ Galveston Ball, and due to redistricting La Porte, who was really good that year), not to mention a Pearland team that went 8-2 and missed the playoffs.

So what happened? Somehow, the team shocked the entire Houston area and went 9-1, losing only a week 5 game against La Porte that forced them to share the district crown with them. The season included a rare win in Pearland as well, a 34-25 game that wasn't as close as the final score. The following season they went 8-1 and capped off the run with an undefeated 9-0 season, compiling a 26-2 regular season record over three years. It was truly remarkable how this all came out of nowhere.

But Creek had no luck in their playoff draws, as the first 2 years the team was dispatched by Drew Tate and Baytown Lee in the first round and the undefeated team (the best of the three) had to face then-State number 1 ranked North Shore in the first round. They gave a good fight but lost the game with a bad fourth quarter. There was a lot of wasted talent on those teams, including WR Scott Mitchell, who has played in Arena Football 1, 2, was briefly signed to the CFL, and still contacted by NFL teams for workouts from time to time. Also Bruce Davis and Chase Ortiz, who start on the defensive lines of UCLA and TCU respectively, were on those teams. Both could garner All-American considerations.

The downward turn came the next year, my senior year. Having lost the last game of non-district, they seemed poised to punch in a late score and beat Brazoswood but was stopped on 4 straight tries from inside the five to end the game. That extended the losing streak to 2 and it wouldn't stop till 2 seasons later, when in the midst of a 20 game losing streak they beat rival (and Region III champion from the previous season) Clear Lake to end the streak. They even made the playoffs at 3-7 and then did what the teams from earlier in the decade couldn't: win a playoff game.

It's been a very bumpy ride for Creek football this decade.


welcome to the board! and i do remember that playoff game that you speak of against NS....creek really surprised me.. you guys had a chance to win that game but fizzled in the 4th quarter.... NS was chasing creek the entire game until the 4th quarter.. it was an exciting game thats for sure..:eek:

[caltex2]

welcome to the board! and i do remember that playoff game that you speak of against NS....creek really surprised me.. you guys had a chance to win that game but fizzled in the 4th quarter.... NS was chasing creek the entire game until the 4th quarter.. it was an exciting game thats for sure..:eek:

Unfortunately we didn't have the proper coaching when we made the run. I hear we only had 7 plays, most of them runs. Plus, my brother played on the first team and from what I heard, Coach Shcultz was very political in who he wanted to see succeed with a little hint of racism.

Anyways, it is pretty evident that the talent is what made those teams good not the coaching, I mean in 2000 we were 9-1 in a tough district and then we get shutout by an average Baytown Lee team in the first round. Sure that team had Tate at QB and sure they were the last team to beat NShore in the regular season and win a district they were in but they were 5-5 and got blown out themselves by Aldine in the next round.

Then they didn't try to conduct a passing game until they absoultely had to in the playoff game against y'all. The running game was among the best in the state, but that was way too late to start one. Is it any wonder they went winless in his final year, just 2 years after they went undefeated. Then we win a playoff game the next year with a losing record. It's amazing.

We missed a chance to be a state power due to that coaching staff.

[GoOwls]

Hiring Joe Martin as head coach in 1992 from Mabank. We made the playoffs once from 1978-1992, and we've missed the playoffs only once since then.

[JT95]

Turning point of JT's decline (2002-2004) - A 22-21 non-district loss in 2001 to Waco after leading 21-9 at one point in a game JT entered ranked No. 2 in the state --- and would have moved to No. 1 with top-ranked Austin Westlake losing that same night. JT had just made it to the state title game the previous year, returned about a dozen starters and cruised past the defending champs from Katy (albeit an inexperienced team) in the season opener. JT goes on and loses its next game to Longview after the Waco loss and doesn't even get out of district, finishign 6-4 despite having 7 Division I-A signees and eight total to four-year schools. Allen Wilson leaves following season and JT wins only four games over the next three seasons.

Turning point of JT's run back to respectability: The 2005 season opener, a 20-16 win over Texas High - 4A's top-ranked team (depending on the poll). JT goes on to win eight games -- double their ouput from the previous two seasons -- and has now made the playoffs two years and counting and put more than 20 players in colleges the last two seasons combined.

[Drphill]

Hebron 2004 being a heavy favorite against Woodrow and then getting their but handed to them turned both teams around. 1st- Woodrow knew they could hang with the big boys. 2nd Hebron busted their butts all year and were pissed the first playoff game in 2005 and beat the crap out of Lincoln and went on to win state. One game turned two programs around!!!!

[99cujo]

Turning point of JT's decline (2002-2004) - A 22-21 non-district loss in 2001 to Waco after leading 21-9 at one point in a game JT entered ranked No. 2 in the state --- and would have moved to No. 1 with top-ranked Austin Westlake losing that same night. JT had just made it to the state title game the previous year, returned about a dozen starters and cruised past the defending champs from Katy (albeit an inexperienced team) in the season opener. JT goes on and loses its next game to Longview after the Waco loss and doesn't even get out of district, finishign 6-4 despite having 7 Division I-A signees and eight total to four-year schools. Allen Wilson leaves following season and JT wins only four games over the next three seasons.

Turning point of JT's run back to respectability: The 2005 season opener, a 20-16 win over Texas High - 4A's top-ranked team (depending on the poll). JT goes on to win eight games -- double their ouput from the previous two seasons -- and has now made the playoffs two years and counting and put more than 20 players in colleges the last two seasons combined.Not to step on your toes JT95 but to make a long story short...Wilson left we went down ...Hired Ratliff went all the way down but fired Ratiff one of the best move yet....Hire Brooks good move on our way up now ...Brooks gone ....got Rush looking good CUJO is on the way up:)

[panamamyers]

Baytown Lee-
Hiring Dick Olin in 1992. We went 0-10 that year. I think we had probably 12 seniors on the team, and 7 o those were guys that just came out that year. Numbers were way down. The next year, we went 5-5, but missed the playoffs. That year, Olin kept all the sophomores down on the sophomore team. That team had Clint Stoerner, Chris Thierry and Robert Ellis, all of whom went on to play D1 ball. They, of course, ran roughshod over every soph or JV team they ran into. The next year, Clint was playing receiver, Jermaine Alfred was at qb still. Lee went...I want to say 9-3. We beat Eisenhower in the playoffs, then lost a good game to Ball High.

I'd say hiring Olin turned it around. Can't see how anyone would argue with that.

[LionVarsityCheer]

I'd have to say that for Leander, it was hiring Coach Gideon...he really boosted our program and the boys have this fear of him..the respect kind of fear.

[Big Daddy Cool]

Baytown Lee-
Hiring Dick Olin in 1992. We went 0-10 that year. I think we had probably 12 seniors on the team, and 7 o those were guys that just came out that year. Numbers were way down. The next year, we went 5-5, but missed the playoffs. That year, Olin kept all the sophomores down on the sophomore team. That team had Clint Stoerner, Chris Thierry and Robert Ellis, all of whom went on to play D1 ball. They, of course, ran roughshod over every soph or JV team they ran into. The next year, Clint was playing receiver, Jermaine Alfred was at qb still. Lee went...I want to say 9-3. We beat Eisenhower in the playoffs, then lost a good game to Ball High.

I'd say hiring Olin turned it around. Can't see how anyone would argue with that.

I remember the first time we played Lee while Clint was there. There wasn't a position he couldn't play I don't think. I mean just in that game I think I remember him lining up at QB, RB, WR, KR, PR, P, and I think he might have went in on deffense. Another thing I will always remember is the things Lee would do on special teams. I remember one kick where the returner caught the ball and just stood still while like five or six guys went running towards him and made like a huddle. Then all of the sudden they broke out in every direction and you didn't know who had the ball at first. Last years playoff game was a sight to see and I wish we could do it more often like may be end up in the same district again. Aside from Port Arthur Jefferson and Westbrook Lee was always a game for North Shore that usually came down to who ever had the ball last. Well except for the year we gave Drew the beating of his life at Dement.

[toonman]

slc turning point to domination = moving to 5A, Turning point to average = Loss of Todd dodge maybe???? haha just a thought, i don't want death threats now.

People probably said the same thing after Bob Ledbetter left and Tom Rabb became Head Coach and the same people probably believed this until Todd Dodge took over. Time will tell.

[HebronHawk]

Hebron 2004 being a heavy favorite against Woodrow and then getting their but handed to them turned both teams around. 1st- Woodrow knew they could hang with the big boys. 2nd Hebron busted their butts all year and were pissed the first playoff game in 2005 and beat the crap out of Lincoln and went on to win state. One game turned two programs around!!!!

How true. What do you think the effect of the two Cedar Hill games last year will be on the program at Hebron this year?

[CedarHillDad]

How true. What do you think the effect of the two Cedar Hill games last year will be on the program at Hebron this year?

I do not think it will an adverse effect. I think it will be motivation for Hebron.

[Plano Wildcat Fan]

People probably said the same thing after Bob Ledbetter left and Tom Rabb became Head Coach and the same people probably believed this until Todd Dodge took over. Time will tell.


Tom Rabb was leading slc down to being a very average football team and SLC school board got rid of him at the first signs of under achievement.

The HC is everything to a high school program. HC can can take average teams to greatness and great teams to average in a short few years.

[Owned05]

Katy hasn't won a state championship since Coach Johnston left. I'd say that's the turning point just because Coach Joseph has had just ridiculous talent to work with (more than Johnston ever did) the past few years and has really nothing to show for it.