olddawggreen
01-05-2007, 05:54 PM
The Southlake Journal
Posted on Fri, Jan. 05, 2007
Sticking With the Spread Keeping Successful Offensive Scheme a Goal in Hiring Dodge’s Replacement
By Zach Warner
Staff Writer
One look at a list of Todd Dodge’s feats over the past seven years as Carroll football coach makes it evident that he’ll be a tough act to follow.
But Carroll Athletic Director Ronnie Tipps said that despite the seemingly unreachable bar set by Dodge, the new head football coach at the University of North Texas, the opportunity to take the helm of the Dragons football program is one that coaches should be drooling over.
At least offensively, all the major pieces of the puzzle are still in place to make another run at a Class 5A state title next school year. And, if Tipps’ plans come to fruition, the Dragons will be going for it with the same style and approach Dodge’s teams took in capturing four championships over the past five seasons.
“I’d like to stay with the spread concept,” Tipps said, ending speculation over whether Carroll would attempt to continue the offensive system that produced mammoth numbers for Dodge-led Dragons teams. “I think that’s what our kids run the best.
“I wouldn’t want to get rid of that and go with a ‘three yards and a cloud of dust’ type system,” he said. “We want to do what we do best.”
The search for the new Carroll coach officially began earlier this week, and Tipps said he expects to have a new coach in place by the end of the month. Having Dodge’s replacement named and in the field house with plenty of time to get to know the players before spring football begins would be ideal, Tipps said.
Although he is likely to be flooded with applications during the first 10 calendar school days after returning from Christmas break, the minimum amount of time the job must be posted in order to gather potential candidates, Tipps said he will be looking for specific criteria in filling the position.
“We want somebody that doesn’t mind being in a high-visibility job, and that’s willing to take that on,” Tipps said. “We’re not asking them to be another Coach Dodge, because that’s not something that can be done. But we would like them to continue some of the things he put in place.”
The spread, namely, is at least near the top of that list. Dodge’s teams racked up jaw-dropping yardage in each of the five seasons Carroll reached the 5A state title game. The Dragons averaged 460 yards per game in 2002; 451.9 in 2003; 506.1 in 2004; 515.4 in 2005; and 504.2 in 2006.
What makes it logical to continue in the same offense is the fact that Carroll’s athletes learn and compete in the system from seventh grade on up. Next year’s varsity offense will be chalked full of players with at least five years of experience running the spread. They’ve also experienced incredible success in the system.
“The cupboard is not bare. We have plenty of talent that is returning,” said Tipps, mentioning 10 returning starters on varsity, as well as freshmen teams that were a combined 20-0 and junior varsity teams that were 17-3 this past season. “If you were a coach and needed to ask what we need to do to win, I’d have to say we have everything in place.
“We don’t want to bring somebody in here that is going to bring big changes,” he said. “We have something good in place. We’re 79-1 over the last five years, so we don’t want to change the good thing we have going.”
Posted on Fri, Jan. 05, 2007
Sticking With the Spread Keeping Successful Offensive Scheme a Goal in Hiring Dodge’s Replacement
By Zach Warner
Staff Writer
One look at a list of Todd Dodge’s feats over the past seven years as Carroll football coach makes it evident that he’ll be a tough act to follow.
But Carroll Athletic Director Ronnie Tipps said that despite the seemingly unreachable bar set by Dodge, the new head football coach at the University of North Texas, the opportunity to take the helm of the Dragons football program is one that coaches should be drooling over.
At least offensively, all the major pieces of the puzzle are still in place to make another run at a Class 5A state title next school year. And, if Tipps’ plans come to fruition, the Dragons will be going for it with the same style and approach Dodge’s teams took in capturing four championships over the past five seasons.
“I’d like to stay with the spread concept,” Tipps said, ending speculation over whether Carroll would attempt to continue the offensive system that produced mammoth numbers for Dodge-led Dragons teams. “I think that’s what our kids run the best.
“I wouldn’t want to get rid of that and go with a ‘three yards and a cloud of dust’ type system,” he said. “We want to do what we do best.”
The search for the new Carroll coach officially began earlier this week, and Tipps said he expects to have a new coach in place by the end of the month. Having Dodge’s replacement named and in the field house with plenty of time to get to know the players before spring football begins would be ideal, Tipps said.
Although he is likely to be flooded with applications during the first 10 calendar school days after returning from Christmas break, the minimum amount of time the job must be posted in order to gather potential candidates, Tipps said he will be looking for specific criteria in filling the position.
“We want somebody that doesn’t mind being in a high-visibility job, and that’s willing to take that on,” Tipps said. “We’re not asking them to be another Coach Dodge, because that’s not something that can be done. But we would like them to continue some of the things he put in place.”
The spread, namely, is at least near the top of that list. Dodge’s teams racked up jaw-dropping yardage in each of the five seasons Carroll reached the 5A state title game. The Dragons averaged 460 yards per game in 2002; 451.9 in 2003; 506.1 in 2004; 515.4 in 2005; and 504.2 in 2006.
What makes it logical to continue in the same offense is the fact that Carroll’s athletes learn and compete in the system from seventh grade on up. Next year’s varsity offense will be chalked full of players with at least five years of experience running the spread. They’ve also experienced incredible success in the system.
“The cupboard is not bare. We have plenty of talent that is returning,” said Tipps, mentioning 10 returning starters on varsity, as well as freshmen teams that were a combined 20-0 and junior varsity teams that were 17-3 this past season. “If you were a coach and needed to ask what we need to do to win, I’d have to say we have everything in place.
“We don’t want to bring somebody in here that is going to bring big changes,” he said. “We have something good in place. We’re 79-1 over the last five years, so we don’t want to change the good thing we have going.”