VWG
10-14-2006, 11:03 AM
I went to my first 5A game in the last couple of years. Caught Grapevine - Keller game this past Thursday night.
Some observations about the differences between 5A and 3A.
Size....the skill positions in particular. You know how you might have a kid at the 3A level that although he is a good athlete, he might go about 160lbs? I didn't see anybody on either side of the ball at any skill position (except for the kicker) that didn't look a solid 180lbs..... and I would guess that there were maybe three kids the whole night that I saw were under 5' 11" at those positions. Grapevine had two RB's, and one was 6' 2" 195, and the other was 6'0" 190.
Platooning.... I think Keller had two kids (#3 and #6) who went both ways. Both were DB/WR. Other than that I couldn't remember seeing any other two way players. Once the ball changed hands.... 11 kids went off the field and 11 new kids went on the field. After the defense/offense was done, they went down to their side of the bench and they grouped with the defensive staff of coaches. Waited until it was their time to go and away they went to battle, same with the offense.
Kicking game... both squads had kickers that kicked off routinely to the 10 yard line or deeper. Punter for Keller was really good, as I saw him bust one punt for 61 yards and the next was 42 yards. Big kid, looked like he was about 6' 3" and 210 lbs.
The Bands.... Keller announced their band at "275 members strong".... HOLY CRAP! That's more than a couple of graduating senior classes at some 3A schools. All 275 didn't march though, probably couldn't get them on the field as it looked like about 75 of them stayed in uniform on the sideline during the HT show. Band still stretched from the 20 yard line to the other 20 yard line.
The crowds..... I don't know what the attendance was at KISD stadium but the atmosphere wasn't there like a 3A game. Too "city suburbish" if you asked me. It seemed to me you didn't have the whole town behind the team, etc... no guys in the stands that were there because they've been going to games since the 50's or 60's etc.... nobody that drove back to watch their alma mater, etc.... There were probably some of those types in attendance but the game didn't have the electricity of small town Texas HS football.
Maybe the older residents of the area are jacked up about their taxes being raised. KISD has a Nov. 7th bond issue up for $30+ million they kept promoting over the PA. A brand new HS, two new JH's, and some more elementary schools. KISD has three 5A high schools already.
Side note- Nate Newton was at the game. Caught him during halftime at the concession stand.
Some observations about the differences between 5A and 3A.
Size....the skill positions in particular. You know how you might have a kid at the 3A level that although he is a good athlete, he might go about 160lbs? I didn't see anybody on either side of the ball at any skill position (except for the kicker) that didn't look a solid 180lbs..... and I would guess that there were maybe three kids the whole night that I saw were under 5' 11" at those positions. Grapevine had two RB's, and one was 6' 2" 195, and the other was 6'0" 190.
Platooning.... I think Keller had two kids (#3 and #6) who went both ways. Both were DB/WR. Other than that I couldn't remember seeing any other two way players. Once the ball changed hands.... 11 kids went off the field and 11 new kids went on the field. After the defense/offense was done, they went down to their side of the bench and they grouped with the defensive staff of coaches. Waited until it was their time to go and away they went to battle, same with the offense.
Kicking game... both squads had kickers that kicked off routinely to the 10 yard line or deeper. Punter for Keller was really good, as I saw him bust one punt for 61 yards and the next was 42 yards. Big kid, looked like he was about 6' 3" and 210 lbs.
The Bands.... Keller announced their band at "275 members strong".... HOLY CRAP! That's more than a couple of graduating senior classes at some 3A schools. All 275 didn't march though, probably couldn't get them on the field as it looked like about 75 of them stayed in uniform on the sideline during the HT show. Band still stretched from the 20 yard line to the other 20 yard line.
The crowds..... I don't know what the attendance was at KISD stadium but the atmosphere wasn't there like a 3A game. Too "city suburbish" if you asked me. It seemed to me you didn't have the whole town behind the team, etc... no guys in the stands that were there because they've been going to games since the 50's or 60's etc.... nobody that drove back to watch their alma mater, etc.... There were probably some of those types in attendance but the game didn't have the electricity of small town Texas HS football.
Maybe the older residents of the area are jacked up about their taxes being raised. KISD has a Nov. 7th bond issue up for $30+ million they kept promoting over the PA. A brand new HS, two new JH's, and some more elementary schools. KISD has three 5A high schools already.
Side note- Nate Newton was at the game. Caught him during halftime at the concession stand.