Friday Night Playoff Scores

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• To this outsider, coaching appears to be the *only* reason Airport fans have been vocal. I hope the next coach at Airport isn't made to be the scape goat when the going gets tough.

• Thanks for coming back to elaborate on your thoughts. I do appreciate it.

  That said, I think that some of your thoughts are in conflict with each other.

  I've read so many posts on this blog about the predictability of Milan's play calling, often from parents and fans of teams that Milan just beat. No one complains when Nick Humphrey runs the ball 30 times in a game, especially when Jefferson wins. A few years back, Rob Kanitz would hammer defenses with QB keepers. A few more years back, Ron Spears' home run play was running it right up the gut. There weren't many complaints about that when it worked. When Spears' Milan team played DCD in the playoffs and that play wasn't there, Milan didn't have much success with the rest of their playbook. Teams who have found a way to exploit the defense will hammer away at that weak spot. I guarantee coaches will seldom mind being called predictable or boring after a win. If you argue that Milan's offense was limited or was limiting itself, that might be all the more reason why that coaching staff deserves credit for the jobs they've done this season.

  You advocate for calling two plays at a time. This means you want to go back to huddling, right? The check with me opens up Milan's entire playbook on each snap to counter the defense's look. You could stick with what has been working, regardless of the defense's look, or you could dial up something to specifically counter what the defense is showing. It's the coach's call.

  To me, the no huddle check with me gives an offensive coach maximum flexibility. Sure, coaches have to call the right plays and players have to execute, but why limit yourself?

  I may be proven wrong, but I thought that the number of times the offense did a check with me was down this season. I also disagree with the thought that the check with me takes a team out of its rhythm. The team's just getting the play call at the line instead of in a huddle. If you want the offense to go high-tempo no-huddle, I'll hear you out, but that's tough with so many players playing on both sides of the ball. You want to exhaust your opponent, not yourself.

  Also, for what it's worth, it also looked like the team didn't try to get the defense to jump as much with a hard count like they have done in the past. Perhaps this wasn't working in practice, but that's just speculation on my part.

  I choose to believe that the coaches call plays based on the scouting of their opponent and the scouting of their own team. Coaches know what their teams can do well and what their teams struggle to execute. Because the team lost, they're going to get second guessed. I know the coaches can handle it.

  It's just that this issue of criticizing the program on style points doesn't seem to go away with some Milan fans. That's what rubs me the wrong way. Thanks for hearing me out.

  • Reading into you point, coaching has much to do with the game outcome; thus the reason Airport fans a have been vocal.

• AS a Milan supporter, Milan has had a consistently successful football team, and Coach Hoskins has continued that while working hard at making a "culture change" from when he took over. This years team lost 22 of 28 kids from the 2015 team with only #6 and #9 being full time starters. The vast majority of this years team came from a 1-8 JV team but they also had a number of STARTERS that played football for the first time this year. To think that this team was going to go 9-2, win the Huron League and get to a district final.....no one could have predicted this season, and the coming 2017 season will be similar - although there a few younger kids who will be coming back with some experience. More importantly, I know that AD is more concerned with the other stuff that is going on within that program - sportsmanship, strong students, accountability, respect and commitment. The AD has frequently shared with the coaches that their jobs are not on the line because of wins and losses.

  And, whomever started the rumor that Coach Hoskins is stepping down - perhaps that should talk to someone that actually knows the answer to the question. Starting rumors like that is disrespectful to Coach Hoskins, his staff and to the kids/parents associated with the program who may read this blog.

• As a long distance fan, I have only been able to watch Milan on film a couple of times the past two seasons. They have an outstanding OC. Their QB and TB are dynamic HS running backs, they maximized their skills with their power & QB counter running game. Of course they would want balance, but good coaches get the ball in their best players hands and that's what they did... that's playing to win.

  I hope Coach Hoskins and his staff stay and continue to win football games!

• Coach Tom 'play not to lose mentality' im just referring to being predictable on play calling. Like check with me we all know they are going to do it every play..destroys rhythm. Call two plays at a time. Being to comfortable with what works and not necessary what a team is giving you. Open the play book. Thanks for not being judgmental.
  Hoskins is a good coach I know him personally.

• "All the best kids from each public school district in our area enroll at SMCC"

  You can't be serious here.

  But I do think you are right in some instances, some parents send their kids to CC in hopes of winning. And there is nothing wrong with it. However I would say about 90% of the students at SMCC are from St. John, St. Mary, St. Michael, St. Charles, St. Pats and-or played in the CYO. Keep in mind, its not all about sports when parents decide to send their kids there.

  With school of choice there are several options for parents. And that's a great thing.

• You do know that Redmond won more HL titles than Giarmo, correct?

  It's not like Giarmo and SMCC owned the HL.

  SMCC did well in the playoffs because they faced D3-D4 teams all year long. By playoff time they were battle tested and for the most part the D6 schools they faced weren't as good as the HL teams.

• Nice Job Airport. That's great that the pressure from certain families has caused your coach to step down. I'm sure all of your kids will be in the NFL now.

• I will bet you that wherever Giarmo goes. He will NOT have the same success as he did at SMCC. Everybody just thinks adding a good coach to a program is like magic. You have to have a good feeder program and smart, athletic kids. SMCC is an all star team in every sport. All the best kids from each public school district in our area enroll at SMCC because they do not think their local public school is good enough. I do understand many that go their are 2nd and 3rd gen also, but the new ones are all stars from jefferson, airport, ida, Bedford, etc. Always much easier to coach kids that are devoted, very athletic and way ahead of the rest.

  SMCC does not always win. But they win a lot more than the rest of us and its not just because of super coaching.

• You can add Montague, which would make 7 out of the last 8 state titles won by a small country school in D6. Also a small country school(Clinton) beat SMCC last year in the pre-district matchup.

  Winning anything in the playoffs is never easy.