You Better Watch Texas Vs. The Nation Tomorrow (1 Viewer)

[Sigmund Bloom]

Im getting ready to write up my day 3 practice report, and let me tell you, these teams have some serious animosity towards each other. They scrimmaged yesterday and I counted at least 3 near fights, the intensity is that high. This is not going to be your normal "exhibition".

Day 3 practice reports, practice recap audibles to come...

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Since a large number of guys are there is because they're ruffians and malcontents, the fighting doesn't surprise me. That's what you do on the field when you have limited talent.

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

Since a large number of guys are there is because they're ruffians and malcontents, the fighting doesn't surprise me. That's what you do on the field when you have limited talent.

Thats very presumptious, Andy. Actually, the talent level I saw this week was just about equal to the Shrine Game talent. Some of the guys who were most intense were the most talented guys (Ramonce Taylor for instance). I don't see a correlation between over emotional play and a lack of talent. Some of the kids who were ready to scrap were kids not known for character issues who just got caught up in the intensity of the practice. Also, there were no fights, just near fights - moments when the tempers rose and then the kids backed off. I only brought up to let y'all know that there is going to be some mean hard-hitting football played Friday night. I talked to Marcus Thomas, Ramonce Taylor, Gary Russell, and some of the other kids who had problems, and trust me, they are all decent kids who made mistakes (who hasn't?). The fighting is because there is already a rivalry - it started on Monday one team was warming up while the other was finishing practice, and the coach, Mike Price, actually was the one who brought it up. Also, I would guess less than 20% of the guys in El Paso were kids that were NFL talent who were there because of off the field problems. Most of them were hard working small school kids or overlooked kids from bigger schools. Be careful to check your facts before you lump them all together.Getting to spend the last three days hanging out with all the players really opened my eyes to the way the media de-humanizes these guys. They make you think just one thing about them when you hear their name. If everyone on this board was only known for their worst mistake in their life, you would probably think different of them too.

 

[Chaos Commish]

I have a feeling this game is going to be great fun.

I watched a kid named Anthony Celestine break most of the Cali HS receiving records (some were Amani Toomer's). I only missed two of his games his senior year. Celestine was unreal. It was like watching Steve Smith playing against HS kids. He opened the divisional championship game with two corners both in press coverage and a safety 12 yards behind them. It was triple teaming and not disguised. He beat all three on the first play of the game with a fake slant and fade, caught the ball with one hand (showing off), stiff armed the safety and went 80 yards acting like Deion.

Last I heard he flashed a knife in an armed robbery and was on the lamb. Wait. I later heard he was drunk at some party and acting suicidal. That's the last I heard.

Best RB I ever saw was a kid named Amos Blanche. I once saw him score seven times on seven touches and rush for over 377 yards. He was a freshman playing varsity. He went away for awhile. I do think he paroled though.

There's hundreds of these headcases. They all have talent, and they all know they blew it, most of them feel like victims, and most have big egos and bigger chips on their shoulders. So here's a game that mixes all these combustible ingredients, with some lesser talents equally motivated, tells them it's their last chance, shakes them up real good, and sets them at each other. Sounds like fun.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Getting to spend the last three days hanging out with all the players really opened my eyes to the way the media de-humanizes these guys. They make you think just one thing about them when you hear their name. If everyone on this board was only known for their worst mistake in their life, you would probably think different of them too.

You make a good point and I'm afraid I came across more harshly than I intended.Having said what I did, few things please me more than seeing people getting a second chance and making good with it. Take a guy like Gary Russell for example. So what if he is a bad student? Maybe the kid just was made to play football. I regret my jump to conclusions statement.

 

[Chaos Commish]

Getting to spend the last three days hanging out with all the players really opened my eyes to the way the media de-humanizes these guys. They make you think just one thing about them when you hear their name. If everyone on this board was only known for their worst mistake in their life, you would probably think different of them too.

I recommended gonzo journalism and you come back with this bleeding heart stuff?

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

Getting to spend the last three days hanging out with all the players really opened my eyes to the way the media de-humanizes these guys. They make you think just one thing about them when you hear their name. If everyone on this board was only known for their worst mistake in their life, you would probably think different of them too.

I recommended gonzo journalism and you come back with this bleeding heart stuff?

What can I say, Im a softie.Also, the schedule was so packed for these kids that there wasnt a chance for them to goof off.

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

So here's a game that mixes all these combustible ingredients, with some lesser talents equally motivated, tells them it's their last chance, shakes them up real good, and sets them at each other. Sounds like fun.

well put.

 

[hacman]

Does anyone know what time and what channel?

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

Does anyone know what time and what channel?

10 EST/7 PST on CSTV

 

[Cecil Lammey]

:tivo:

great coverage bloom, make sure and catch all the interviews on THE AUDIBLE!

 

[prymetyme25]

Since a large number of guys are there is because they're ruffians and malcontents, the fighting doesn't surprise me. That's what you do on the field when you have limited talent.

Thats very presumptious, Andy. Actually, the talent level I saw this week was just about equal to the Shrine Game talent. Some of the guys who were most intense were the most talented guys (Ramonce Taylor for instance). I don't see a correlation between over emotional play and a lack of talent. Some of the kids who were ready to scrap were kids not known for character issues who just got caught up in the intensity of the practice. Also, there were no fights, just near fights - moments when the tempers rose and then the kids backed off. I only brought up to let y'all know that there is going to be some mean hard-hitting football played Friday night. I talked to Marcus Thomas, Ramonce Taylor, Gary Russell, and some of the other kids who had problems, and trust me, they are all decent kids who made mistakes (who hasn't?). The fighting is because there is already a rivalry - it started on Monday one team was warming up while the other was finishing practice, and the coach, Mike Price, actually was the one who brought it up. Also, I would guess less than 20% of the guys in El Paso were kids that were NFL talent who were there because of off the field problems. Most of them were hard working small school kids or overlooked kids from bigger schools. Be careful to check your facts before you lump them all together.Getting to spend the last three days hanging out with all the players really opened my eyes to the way the media de-humanizes these guys. They make you think just one thing about them when you hear their name. If everyone on this board was only known for their worst mistake in their life, you would probably think different of them too.

Amen brother. Not talking about Andy but people in general act like they were born in their late 20's and were mature adults their whole life. MOST of us do more wrong than some of these guys on a daily basis it's just that we know them and nobody knows us. Always keep your mind open!!