La Grange folks...

[Crow22]

With Valastro in the running for the East Chambers job, what can you tell me about the kids that are there at LG? What were the underclassmen like? Any info is appreciated....

[La Grange]

In my mind I personaly think that La Grange will be down agian next year. Going into the off-season the Leps had roughly 16 soon to be seniors...now they have maybe 6. La Grange did so poorly this year because they had a small athletic senior class with talent, but no one to fill in the open holes.

Next year I don't know...there might be 22 underclassmen starting. Next years junior class is big in size and numbers, hopefully they can turn around a once proud program. This year was hard on the town, the players, and the coaches. If Coach V. does leave I am sure the School Board will hire another equally qualified or better coach.

Hey and there is always baseball and softball...LG seems to always have that.

[lepfan]

Originally posted by La Grange
I am sure the School Board will hire another equally qualified or better coach.

I agree T!

[ILS1]

This is an outsiders view on this situation. I don't understand why he would wanna leave 3A La Grange for 2A Winnie. Sure,they may be down this year but I believe they still have talent there. The talent will be there and not only in football. He is the AD as well,right? They won State in baseball last year. They girls softball team is very salty as well. Plus,he won a State Football title in 2000. It just doesn't add up. BTW,I'm not saying Winnie is a bad job. I just think La Grange has more to offer.

[Old Tiger]

Originally posted by ILS1
I don't understand why he would wanna leave 3A La Grange for 2A Winnie.

Winnie, lol

[cdlvj]

Originally posted by La Grange
In my mind I personaly think that La Grange will be down agian next year. Going into the off-season the Leps had roughly 16 soon to be seniors...now they have maybe 6. La Grange did so poorly this year because they had a small athletic senior class with talent, but no one to fill in the open holes.

Next year I don't know...there might be 22 underclassmen starting. Next years junior class is big in size and numbers, hopefully they can turn around a once proud program. This year was hard on the town, the players, and the coaches. If Coach V. does leave I am sure the School Board will hire another equally qualified or better coach.

Hey and there is always baseball and softball...LG seems to always have that.

What do you mean 16 to 6 seniors?

Much of the poor season should also be blamed on the coaching staff. I think they did a horrible job.

[Crow22]

What about the years where they won the State Championship? Did they do a horrible job then?

Coaches don't FORGET how to coach.

No wonder Tony's looking to get out.....fickle fans.

Remember, we just coach'em.....we DON'T breed'em....

[chugbug]

A wise old Coach once told me " It isn't the x's and the o's it's the Jimmy and the Joes." I am postitve that Coach Valastro has not forgotten how to coach. LaGrange fans have always been like that. They have more excuses than Carter has liver pills.

[cdlvj]

The better coaches adjust to the talent pool that they are dealt with, and are at least competitive. La Grange was not competitve at all last year.

Coach V. has been looking since the state season, and IMHO it does make a difference.

[Crow22]

cdlvj..........I think you did a crappy job this year at your job.

[La Grange]

The fans from La Grange are very fickle. But can you blame them? They have had outstanding seasons for the past upteen years and then now they had a 2-8 season. I am not justifying their actions, but I can see were they are coming from.

Coach V. has been looking to leave since 2001, and that was after two state championships. His daughter is a graduating this year and he probably thinks this is a nice time to leave.

The talent pool in LG is way down and with the sceems we have it just isn't going to happen. IF Coach V. leaves I am sure everyone is going to say what a good job he has done and just forget about this last season.

During the season there were a few seniors who quit because they were not acustomed to losing. Now during a hellish millateristic offseason, that I won't describe on the board, pretty much all of the soon to be seniors have quit. Mainly kids who mad an impact on the team have quit. There are promising soon to be juniors and sophmores...but we will see.

[lepfan]

Originally posted by La Grange


During the season there were a few seniors who quit because they were not acustomed to losing. Now during a hellish millateristic offseason, that I won't describe on the board, pretty much all of the soon to be seniors have quit. Mainly kids who mad an impact on the team have quit. There are promising soon to be juniors and sophmores...but we will see.

From what I have heard several want to come back, but will not do so unless there is a change in leadership (if that is what you would call what is going on now).

Like you said he has been trying to go for some time now...it seems he is setting his sights a little lower now...it used to be the larger schools he was looking at...now it is 2A. But then that beach house is in the area he is showing interest in. If he does leave...good luck to him or THEM (both will need it). I wish I could be there to tell him goodbye

[Haunta Yo]

I don't know anything about the situation, except for what I've read, but this is crazy.

Offseason is hellish so they quit. What school out there doesn’t have a hellish offseason? If those kids quit during offseason, I know how they lost 8 games this year.

Let's make offseason funner and we'll just ask some of those 8 teams that beat us last year to feel sorry for us...Wrong !!!! Get after it as HELLISHLY as possible. At least that tells me the coaches didn’t like losing 8. They’re trying to fix the problem by being extremely demanding.

Ain't no one gonna feel sorry for LaGrange. What are you gonna do, ask Cameron not to be so hellish on 4th and goal???? Better yet, tell Cameron if they don’t ease up, LaGrange is gonna quit and leave before the game is over.

I'd be excited for all the kids that haven't quit. That's who I'd build the team around. If a new coach does come in, I hope he lets those guys that quit back in! Trying to win with quitters doesn't happen. It'll just be losses and excuses.

If a senior won’t lead, then an underclassman will eventually step up. Don’t beg a senior for anything.

[lepfan]

Originally posted by Haunta Yo
I don't know anything about the situation, except for what I've read, but this is crazy.

Offseason is hellish so they quit. What school out there doesn’t have a hellish offseason? If those kids quit during offseason, I know how they lost 8 games this year.

Let's make offseason funner and we'll just ask some of those 8 teams that beat us last year to feel sorry for us...Wrong !!!! Get after it as HELLISHLY as possible. At least that tells me the coaches didn’t like losing 8. They’re trying to fix the problem by being extremely demanding.

Ain't no one gonna feel sorry for LaGrange. What are you gonna do, ask Cameron not to be so hellish on 4th and goal???? Better yet, tell Cameron if they don’t ease up, LaGrange is gonna quit and leave before the game is over.

I'd be excited for all the kids that haven't quit. That's who I'd build the team around. If a new coach does come in, I hope he lets those guys that quit back in! Trying to win with quitters doesn't happen. It'll just be losses and excuses.

If a senior won’t lead, then an underclassman will eventually step up. Don’t beg a senior for anything.

I really don't think anyone wants pity. None is needed. You are quick to critisize but really need to become informed of all the "situations". It might surprise you!

[La Grange]

Originally posted by Haunta Yo


... Offseason is hellish so they quit. What school out there doesn’t have a hellish offseason? If those kids quit during offseason, I know how they lost 8 games this year.

Let's make offseason funner and we'll just ask some of those 8 teams that beat us last year to feel sorry for us...Wrong !!!! Get after it as HELLISHLY as possible. At least that tells me the coaches didn’t like losing 8. They’re trying to fix the problem by being extremely demanding...

I am not saying that these young men quit just because of the offseason. Most are just tierd of playing...or playing for someone. In La Grange there is a lot of pressure on athletes, and these young men have had enough. All have went agianst parents will and have quit. I am not on either side in this situation, but I can see certain aspects of both sides that make sense.

I agree with you 100% about how offseason should be hard after a losing season. I just feel that you need to give them some reason to play for and a 2-8, 1-9, or 0-10 season is not a nice thing to look forward to.