Toughest Road To State [Archive] - 5A Texas Football Forum

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StormingCowboy

11-08-2005, 07:50 AM

GoOwls

11-08-2005, 08:31 PM

If I had to pick the team with the toughest road to STATE, I would have to say Garland.

Look at their possible path:

1. JT
2. Carter
3. Cove or Leander
4. Longview or Lufkin
5. SLC, Abilene,Plano
State: SV, Katy, Marshall

Good Luck Owls!!!

Because of the way the districts and state powers line up, our path to the 2nd round is almost always one of the toughest in the state, much less the state title. We have grown to accept it. We feel that if we can give the ET schools a good game, that's beginning to be playoff success. We are but 1 of 7 schools in Garland. Our talent is a bit more spread out and unreliable, due to the "freedom-of-choice" program here. Kids can move all over the district as long as there is an opening at the school. So just because a kid goes to your "feeder" middle school, doesn't guarantee he will go to your school.

I know to some of you guys, especially the guys who cheer for 1 or 2 school towns, what I just said may appear as a "give up", but it's not, really, it's just accepting your lot in life, so to speak, and realizing that other schools have an advantage, for whatever reason. You can chalk it up to just having better talent, better school planning, building bigger schools to have more kids to choose from, etc.

Realistic Garland fans know we had our heyday in the 50's and 60's when we were a one school town. We suffered through some horrific years in the mid 70's, the 80's (except for '86 and '87) and 88-91. We know the 1999 team was a gift from God. The 9 man OL rotation averaged 292 lbs. It was a freak team. We pride ourselves as a tough team that is hard to beat, a team your kids will still feel the next morning, win or lose, but we are realistic enough to know that us having state title talent is going to be a rare occurance. Sometimes some of the kids on here get a bit juiced up and think we have that type of talent......please forgive them, they don't understand yet.

In conclusion, I agree that we have possibly the toughest road to the title, but that is nothing new to us. Most of us know that we have one of the toughest paths to the 2nd and 3rd rounds too, much less the championship.

ktCarl

11-08-2005, 08:35 PM

StormingCowboy

11-08-2005, 08:38 PM

Has SuperBuffs made a believer out of you or do you mean SA Marshall?!

I guess so!! ;)

ThEgReAtOnE

11-08-2005, 08:43 PM

Because of the way the districts and state powers line up, our path to the 2nd round is almost always one of the toughest in the state, much less the state title. We have grown to accept it. We feel that if we can give the ET schools a good game, that's beginning to be playoff success. We are but 1 of 7 schools in Garland. Our talent is a bit more spread out and unreliable, due to the "freedom-of-choice" program here. Kids can move all over the district as long as there is an opening at the school. So just because a kid goes to your "feeder" middle school, doesn't guarantee he will go to your school.

I know to some of you guys, especially the guys who cheer for 1 or 2 school towns, what I just said may appear as a "give up", but it's not, really, it's just accepting your lot in life, so to speak, and realizing that other schools have an advantage, for whatever reason. You can chalk it up to just having better talent, better school planning, building bigger schools to have more kids to choose from, etc.

Realistic Garland fans know we had our heyday in the 50's and 60's when we were a one school town. We suffered through some horrific years in the mid 70's, the 80's (except for '86 and '87) and 88-91. We know the 1999 team was a gift from God. The 9 man OL rotation averaged 292 lbs. It was a freak team. We pride ourselves as a tough team that is hard to beat, a team your kids will still feel the next morning, win or lose, but we are realistic enough to know that us having state title talent is going to be a rare occurance. Sometimes some of the kids on here get a bit juiced up and think we have that type of talent......please forgive them, they don't understand yet.

In conclusion, I agree that we have possibly the toughest road to the title, but that is nothing new to us. Most of us know that we have one of the toughest paths to the 2nd and 3rd rounds too, much less the championship.

Wow! You sound as if you're giving a eulogy! The Owls aren't about to be burned in a lake of gusling gasoline! They're just having to play some hard games, that's all!

Geesz!!! LOL!!! :D :p

Relax bud, we're gonna make somes noises!!!

2005 - 5A Division II State Champion - Garland Owls (14-2)!!!!!

CoveFan05

11-08-2005, 08:56 PM

anyone in dII region 2 has a tough road

c-lisle

11-08-2005, 09:24 PM

If I had to pick the team with the toughest road to STATE, I would have to say Garland.

Look at their possible path:

1. JT
2. Carter
3. Cove or Leander
4. Longview or Lufkin
5. SLC, Abilene,Plano
State: SV, Katy, Marshall

Good Luck Owls!!!

Everyone in regions 1 and 2 have a tough road. The rep from that side of the bracket will win state imo. I know Katy and some other teams from the other side will have something to say about that though.

The Great Evaluator

11-08-2005, 09:33 PM

That's sick. 3 teams in the national 25 and those teams combined have what, 3 losses???Poor Garland they got the short end of the stick!

Redneckn

11-08-2005, 09:53 PM

That's sick. 3 teams in the national 25 and those teams combined have what, 3 losses???Poor Garland they got the short end of the stick!

That's really worse than the "short" end of the stick.. That really does qualify as the feacal end of the stick...
Let's call an ace an ace here...hahaha :)

GTown02

11-08-2005, 11:20 PM

If I had to pick the team with the toughest road to STATE, I would have to say Garland.

Look at their possible path:

1. JT
2. Carter
3. Cove or Leander
4. Longview or Lufkin
5. SLC, Abilene,Plano
State: SV, Katy, Marshall

Good Luck Owls!!!
At least we'll find out what we are made out of during the first few rounds... should be fun and interesting... cant wait! ;)

heightsboy77

11-09-2005, 10:56 AM

Harker heights no doubt

!. Lufkin
2. Hays
3. Longview
4. Cove, Carter, Leander
5. Slc, Plano
6. Katy, Sv, Marshall

haha it would be a miracle to get past lufkin

dragons08

11-09-2005, 09:40 PM

there is NO DOUBT that what ever team gets to state will earn it! all will have a TOUGH road

GoOwls

11-10-2005, 02:14 AM

Wow! You sound as if you're giving a eulogy! The Owls aren't about to be burned in a lake of gusling gasoline! They're just having to play some hard games, that's all!

Geesz!!! LOL!!! :D :p

Relax bud, we're gonna make somes noises!!!

2005 - 5A Division II State Champion - Garland Owls (14-2)!!!!!

It would appear that all that time in the Pros that you had didn't teach you anything about listening to someone who KNOWS the history of the district. OK, answer me this, since the Garland 1964 state champs, how many Garland teams, other than the 1999 champs, have made it as far as the regional championship game? The 1970 or 71 Colonels, the 95 Owls, and maybe an early 90's Lakeview team, right? Your honor, I rest my case.

We many have some really nice teams from year to year, but a truly competitive State challenger is a freak for this city, due to the spreading out of the talent.

I see each team at least twice a year, I know what I'm talking about.

The last two years, if you took all the graduating senior offensive linemen from all 7 schools and picked the best 9, they would not meet the quality, speed, and size of the 9 guys Garland rotated on OL in 1999.

You should really come home some and watch a game or two sometime. The Lakeview team that was so good in the early 90's would have beaten Garland, South, and Rowlett by 3 or 4 touchdowns, easily.

We are having a severe size and talent drought. Just the facts.

ThEgReAtOnE

11-10-2005, 06:45 AM

It would appear that all that time in the Pros that you had didn't teach you anything about listening to someone who KNOWS the history of the district. OK, answer me this, since the Garland 1964 state champs, how many Garland teams, other than the 1999 champs, have made it as far as the regional championship game? The 1970 or 71 Colonels, the 95 Owls, and maybe an early 90's Lakeview team, right? Your honor, I rest my case.

We many have some really nice teams from year to year, but a truly competitive State challenger is a freak for this city, due to the spreading out of the talent.

I see each team at least twice a year, I know what I'm talking about.

The last two years, if you took all the graduating senior offensive linemen from all 7 schools and picked the best 9, they would not meet the quality, speed, and size of the 9 guys Garland rotated on OL in 1999.

You should really come home some and watch a game or two sometime. The Lakeview team that was so good in the early 90's would have beaten Garland, South, and Rowlett by 3 or 4 touchdowns, easily.

We are having a severe size and talent drought. Just the facts.

Wasn't aware we had that kind of a drought! Wow! What happened?! Anyhow, if all you have is great overall team speed then you should use it!

[shaking my head] I just didn't know it was that bad! Back in the day all we were was a bunch of great athletes - on a team, year in and year out!

CCBoy

11-10-2005, 07:56 AM

Wasn't aware we had that kind of a drought! Wow! What happened?! Anyhow, if all you have is great overall team speed then you should use it!

[shaking my head] I just didn't know it was that bad! Back in the day all we were was a bunch of great athletes - on a team, year in and year out!
GreatOne, Don't believe that. I've seen Garland and they have a shot just like everyone else does. The only problem is there are many programs that can pull it off this year. The top 20 are all standout teams this year. GoOwl, I wouldn't try to compare the Garland team of old to this team, because the whole scenario is different. Let the stars align in your favor, because I sure hope Carter's stars align for us. If you have noticed, most of us will say that our school will win and the few will say if we can do this we can win, and give props where props are due. Don't worry about the spreading of talent, because it will always come. Many might be shocked with the talent that is in Division2. Lufkin, Longview, Garland, Carter, CCove, Leander, Katy, SLC, and the list goes on. Any of those can make it.

gutbuster

11-10-2005, 10:31 AM

Yeah, if you make it through region 2 you may be too beat up to compete in the semifinal or championship game. It's a shame we can't get rid of the regions and how things are done. Who would you rather play in the third round - Longview or Harlingen? Region 4 is a joke when it comes to depth across the region. Everybody should have a chance to rotate to south Texas (region 4), El Paso (region 1) and the Panhandle (region 1).

GoOwls

11-10-2005, 10:37 AM

Wasn't aware we had that kind of a drought! Wow! What happened?! Anyhow, if all you have is great overall team speed then you should use it!

[shaking my head] I just didn't know it was that bad! Back in the day all we were was a bunch of great athletes - on a team, year in and year out!

I'll give you an example. The biggest Garland OL guy is 275 lbs. On the quick side they start a 230 and 200 lb guy. They are quick, but against a D-Line in the playoffs that may average 270+, all that speed won't matter, becuase after they push those monsters around for the first half or 3 qtrs., they won't have the legs to run fast.

Don't get me wrong, we still have a ton of talent in Garland, but it's not to the standard it was in the 90's, and it's much more spread out. I'm mean, we have more guys in D1 and playing alot or starting or play in the pros than ever, it's just that the across the board talent needed to put out title contenders isn't concentrated enough to do so.

As for the decrease in talent and size in general, I'll send you a PM on that subject. It's not for public airing.

garlandowl08

11-10-2005, 04:18 PM

We have a 300 pound lineman-Jeremy Kennedy, number 68

http://www.garlandowls.com/pages/athletics/football/roster.asp?hlbtn=8

It's not much I guess, but at least we have one...

Red Raiders

11-10-2005, 06:06 PM

Has SuperBuffs made a believer out of you or do you mean SA Marshall?!

I thought he meant Fort Bend Marshall.

GoOwls

11-10-2005, 06:36 PM

We have a 300 pound lineman-Jeremy Kennedy, number 68

http://www.garlandowls.com/pages/athletics/football/roster.asp?hlbtn=8

It's not much I guess, but at least we have one...

Not my point, he's a transfer, he's only here for one year, he came late in the timeframe and didn't play at all until mid-district play, and from what I've seen, he appears to be just another 300 pounder with average talent at best.

My point is the recent lack of home-grown size, with talent, recently.

garlandowl08

11-10-2005, 07:16 PM

CLFalcon2006

11-10-2005, 07:39 PM

Lamar, westfield, North Shore, and Pearland all have one hell of a tough strech to get to the region iii championship game. Overall toughest road is easily Garland though

GoOwls

11-11-2005, 05:36 AM

I agree with your point but this kid was on the roster since it first came out...I specifically rmember going to the first game and talking about "a 300 lb. lineman"...I could be wrong but I don't think so...

Yep, he was on the roster all year, but he didn't get here until just about the time school started and there is a waiting period of 4 weeks or so before you can play if you transfer within the state. Also, he had to learn the system. The first game he hit the field was the Naaman game. We got up early and the coach played him the last 3 quarters to get experience in our offense. Problem is that evenat 300 lbs and 6'3" or so, he hasn't taken over the starting job. If he was a good as his size says he is, Jordan would have him starting now. He appears to only have avg. to below avg. speed and not very nimble on the feet. In the South and Rowlett games, he probably only played 20-30% of the snaps. That alone speaks volumes.