Can Duarte Stop Lavelle?

A Sad Excerpt from ESPN.com

He wasn't at all surprised about my tales of athletes' distrust of adults. "They see what's going on. How can they trust authority figures? What's interesting is in the past 10 years or so, the moral authority of coaches has eroded and parents are taking over, using the coaches as vehicles for their kids' advancement, threatening their jobs if they don't win. The parents are putting pressure on the coaches as well as the kids. No wonder there's steroids and abusive behavior."

The rest of the article can be found here: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=lipsyte/061121&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab6pos2

LaVElle cant win the big games unfortunatley for them great athlete.... but when it matters most he has never had a team to back him up

LaVElle cant win the big games unfortunatley for them great athlete.... but when it matters most he has never had a team to back him up

Prep Star,

The facetious (look it up) routine about how powerful someone's insults were was funnier the first time I read it...two posts ago by IPM.

Help. Every one is picking on me. Saying so many mean and hurtful things about me. I'm just to hurt to respond. Tom must be hung like a bull hampter to say such hurtful things to a person.

I just wanted to weigh in with support for the LC team and everyone involved in their season.

Prep Star the personal attacks on the coaching staff really reveals your individual integrity or lack thereof. In the age of instant information, when anyone halfwit can pawn their slanted opinion off as expert analysis maybe we should we remember that these are high school kids who are our future and we could use more adults who make sacrifices (time and financial) to contribute to their development.

Maybe instead of criticizing people who are actually contributing to society you should think about ways you could make a difference.

By the way I am not a coach, just a supporter from across the country who enjoys when kids strive to achieve and people make the choice to help them reach their goals.

Personal attacks huh "Prep Star?" Is that the name you adopt after not getting any playing time during your six years of high school? Maybe if you had the opportunity to play under coaches that were trying to make better human beings out of their players, you would know what it's like to respect a coaching staff and those involved with the team. You should work on your spelling too; your superiors might give you a pay increase to just above minimum wage

Wow.

Tough Guy.

You really hurt him with that band comment. And the Thanksgiving one...WHEW! You're on a roll...there is NO STOPPING YOU!

Now identify yourself...such a tough should be able to stand up for himself when criticizing coaches and other members of the community.

Please stop. Go away. There isn't anyone left that cares about Coaches staying or going at La Canada. Nobody cares. Back away from the keyboard Corey. It's not our fault your parents like your sister better than you. Hey playing in the band in high school was a sport and don't let those mean boys tell you anything different.

Thanks for the spell check as well, now back to peeling the potatoes for Mommy and maybe if your good you can set the Thankgiving day table.

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

I thought the LC staff was retiring this year - Is this not true? I was hoping that LC would take a run at Bonds.

Apparently:
1. I'm a coach.
2. Supporting kids/coaches who are going through a tough time is a direct-pipeline into the "wharehouses". (Note: One "h" in "warehouse".)
3. Corey Baldwin, unlike "Prep Star" has both a spine and a soul.

I cannot believe that I continue to check this blog, but if it continues to mean that I have opportunities to tear into over-bearing boosters who lack a brain, a spine and (apparently) a dictionary, I'll continue to make postings until next season, when another great group of kids at La Canada get an opportunity to learn football and life-skills from an under-appreciated, underpaid coaching staff.

Corey, please hand me a tissue.

Sorry to disappoint P*, but I'm not...

Great. Another coach.

Hey Prep Star, why don't you grow a sack and tell us all who you are like IPM did? It's easy to throw stones when you're hiding. My guess is you're a booster who's kid doesn't get to play much, and instead of helping him get better you bash the coaches who don't play him.

As for your attacks on the coaches if you really cared about the program you'd get out from behind your computer and get to know who they are. I've known the offensive/defensive coordinators for a while and they are anything but lazy. And as for the comment about not caring about the team you truly are ignorant! Every coach prepares to win and these guys are no different. You should be commending these guys for taking a group of undersized kids and getting them to compete and be as successful as they were. I don't know how you can say they only care about themselves, coaching is about as self-less an occupation as there is, especially when everything is double-guessed by parents like you. It would be a shame if these guys leave this program. We need more coaches who care about developing good kids as much as they do winning.

MacFarland you're a mess. We all beleive your name is MacFarland. Your response has been followed up by so many people that agree with you it seems very clear you are just a spectator because everyone who sits with you has sent in their response supporting your views. OOPPS, maybe you should come clean and tell us your real name coach because that is the only way you're going to get any support.

Your example of acceptance for the "go through the motion" coaching mentallity is what is wrong in coaching and makes young people wharehouse workers instead of leaders of business.

If you really want to address a group of happy people talk to the parents who get this staff next year or the year after. MacFarland keep fighting the good fight and we will see you on the sidelines next year in a dog fight with Blair.

Go Spartans! Wheeeeeeeee.

imcfly,
I believe your remarks were intended for Prep Star. Be advised that the person who sends the message is located at the bottom of the message in the right hand corner, not at the top.

No, I'm not a coach.

But kudos for the "I'm rubber, you're glue" response...is "prepstar" an Irish name? And what was your parents decision-making-process in giving you such a distinguishable name?

Phenomenal job of continuing to avoid accountability and pointing fingers at everyone but yourself in improving this football team.

I'm not the parent of a player, nor a staff-member at the school, but rather someone who supports this team and has enjoyed watching them progress over the course of the year.

Did they play their best game on Friday? Certainly not.

But it is really relieving to find that when a bunch of kids who worked their collective tails off through the season but finish with dissapointment are not met with support and consolation, but rather anger and recrimination.

Well done "Prepstar". You're not only a football-mastermind, but also a phenomenal example for the young people of the community.

IPM - you are a coach. Wow, tell the room your real name.

IPM:

Apparently you were to lazy to check on who you were sending your response to in your first effort. You sent your response so fast you must me a coach for LC hiding behind the name "IPM".

IPM if your are a coach please don't quit so I can come and see you go 0-10 next year.

IPM I would love to see you run the ball in LaCanada's offense. I'm sure as soon as you got the hand off you would wet your pants.

You're response really makes me want to cry for a group of coaches who let the school, comunity and most importantly the players down and you just can't hide from that one.

You're a mess and maybe you've never played a sport like football, but if your going to coach you should honor that position and not just fill a spot and carry a clip board in the hot sun (tear).

We are just so proud of our 6-5 record this year. Wheee, Yeah! Hey guys what a great year, wow IPM you must be really proud of all the people who pick up after their doggies poo poo on the lawns of their neighbors.

All together now, a round of applause for "IPM" because he is a special and nice person. Hey look at how blue the sky is today, wheeeeeeeee.

My apologies.

"prep star" made the posting that was the object of my rebuttal.

IPM

Goldier,

I don't know who you are, or what your relationship to the program is, but your personal attack on the coaching-staff of La Canada seems to be without proper cause.

You specifically strike certain position coaches and coordinators for a lack of preparedness, but aren't familiar enough with what is going on to know the names of these coaches.

You are quick to point a finger at coaches who don't "watch enough tape" but don't seem to be capable or willing to take on one of the many unthanked, volunteer positions with the team.

And finally you call the coaching-staff lazy, and yet you are either too lazy to spell-check your own writing, or too inept to know that you've made a mistake.

So until you're ready to grab a whistle and clipboard; until you're ready to face the heat of summer practices and the pressure of playoff football; until you're ready to face the criticism from a "fan-base" that doesn't seem to have the slightest incling as to what goes on on a day-to-day basis in the locker-room, I suggest that you reserve your opinions and focus your attention on congratulating a wonderful group of boys, and a supportive coaching staff on a productive and enjoyable season.

Cheers to a great staff and a great season.

IPM

St. Francis has been a dissappointment for years - there is no reason given the talent in the surrounding SG and SF valley area that St. Francis isn't among the elite teams every year. How did they missed on Peterson who grew 50 yards away from the St. Francis school - played on the LC Gladiators for 7 years - on teams that mercied the mighty Pasadena Panters (best program in the area) 48-0 in the 3rd quarter the last 2 years before the kids go to HS. Peterson was not a secret - I think it speaks volumes about the SF program. Can you image how far they would have gone with him at running back this year? I think it has just become acceptable to be an also ran at St. Francis, which is a shame as it is such a great school with great values. It is very frustrating for me and others. LC HS is another story - I am afraid this is the last we will see of them in the playoffs for a while. The rapid fall off of families in the area due to the ever escalating home prices and a HS that takes no interest in developing the younger players in the area assures that LC will not make the playoffs for the foreseeable future and is only a matter of time until the HS school ends up in the Prep league or equivalent public school league.

Observantcat, the Lancers are ready for any one! It is great to have our Guru and I already told you its all about the black, beans, rice, plantains and plenty of Cojones!!! We don't care who it is we have to play. It's one game at a time for us!!! Your Cats are next...

Prep Star,
It has to be the "water" in La Canada. The coaches of St. Francis and La Canada must have gotten together and stratagized and decided that the playoffs didn't mean a thing to the the players. The exact same thing happened to St. Francis. Parents need to get together at both schools and boot the coaching staff.

Duarte played and awesome game but to answer the question "Did they stop Peterson" that would fall on the coaches of the LaCanada team. Not even know the name or colors of the team they were going to play because the coaches didn't want to put in any extra time studying film is unthinkable.

The defensive Coordinator should quit for letting his team down and not preping his defese the right way. To have your faster player off the field against a team like Duarte is just silly.

Then putting your fastest player into the game for three plays at Defensive Line is unthinkable. He should apologize to the team and then hang them up because he let his team and the community down. There is no place for being lazy in coaching.

The offensive line coach should also leave coaching because the technique he teaches only makes the weekest defensive line better.

The offinsive coodinator should also go back to flag football because to not have a game plan or a focus to be competitive is not acceptable unless you coach for a head coach like Wheeler.

It's also time for old Richy Wheeler to hang them up and not put another group of parents through the mess he has brought to so many families. What a shame that LaCanada allows someone who was only at practice half the time this week, in the biggest game of the year, to continue destroying your kids love of the game of football.

My hat is off to the Duarte team and coaches. I wonder if the coaches of Duarte watched film and share tendencies with their players.

A coaching staff that is protected by tenure and is not willing to do the mimimum to prepare kids for a CIF playoff game should leave coaching. I really don't get how these guy sleep at night.

After the game the Duarte kids were so gracious in victory and showed such compassion for their opponent. It almost like they felt sorry for they way La Canada was prepared.

I wish Duarte and those players and coaches the best of luck going forward in the playoffs.

I also wish for no other set of kids, who love the sport of football to have to be put through the mess at La Canada.

The seniors for La Canada were held hostage by these coaches all year and for now at least their free of the nonsense of these coaches.

To Prep Star, Philly B and everyone else who were convinced with a La Canada win vs. a Falcon loss.

YES, the Falcons stopped Peterson and YES Duarte beat a good team. GO FALCONS!

Crazycube:

You're probably glad that you are not in that bracket with Duarte....but even worse you are in the bracket with Monrovia.....We seen them play and we seen you guys play. let's see I think you guys have a new Guru on the sideline with an overnight dose of Steroids. LOL....

who said LC was going to beat Duarte?

GO FALCONS

There is alot riding on this one dimensional La Canada team. It's time to play some DUARTE football. Look for the upset tonight. Falcons will fly high tonight with this win.

GO FALCON PRIDE.

Lujack, LC Coaches doing whats best for their kids??? Not going to happen. It's never been about the kids over there. If it was more than 12 seniors would be on the Varsity team enjoying the High School Football Experience.

Sad, Very, Very Sad.

Ex-Falcon,
You never know what LC is going to do and I don't mean that in a good way. (remember in last years playoff game they only gave the ball to Peterson 8 times.) and if Duarte has speed and spreads it around they really need Peterson on D at safety - he hits like a truck and is faster than anyone on the field - I hope LC gets this. I hope LC does what everyone knows that they should do.

duarte spread the ball around the field, they have a good back,a couple of good reciver and a good tight end. the talk is over, its game time. everybody in the world knows what la canada is going to do.

Why in the world wouldn't you show the kids the tape of your opponent - name one reason!
All pro, college, HS team (except LC i guess)and most pop warner teams have the players study the film of the other team. If LC comes out passing and running out of the spread formation and not putting Lavelle on defense and have not looked at the tape of Duarte, LC will lose by 30+ points. It will be a shame because it is going to be a long time before LC has a team that can go all the way. They blew it last year in the playoffs with a much better LC team by only giving the ball to Lavelle 8 times in the playoff game (i guess they were saving him for next year)and he was averaging 10 yards a carry last year too. So nothing LC does surprises me - Last year's team should have waltz through the playoffs. This years team has ZERO room for error!!!

ALso, don't put the tight end wide have him tight to block!

Philly B and Blue Lion I'm sorry about the confusion. The Duarte Coaches shared the films with the LC Coaches. The LC Coaches made the decision not to show the players the film. They don't even know the name or colors of the Duarte team.

Unfortunately sometimes coaches may decisions we may never fully understand.

i know this is WAY of topic. but what sports do you guys cover for winter season?

I'm confused: Did the LC coaches choose not to show the LC players Duarte's film, or did Duarte not exchange? I think the LC coaches must have made the decision.

This is very simple: if they give the ball to Lavelle 40+ times with the majority of the carries in the first half AND DON'T PASS (Like they did against TC and Monrovia - 3 -4 interceptions for TDs for the other team) and put Lavelle at free safty - they need him on defense - LC wins easily 20+ points. Lavelle is in incredible shape and can go both ways easily - no reason to save him in the playoffs - there is no tomorrow! If LC tries to trick Duarte by pulling a Pete Carroll with Bush in the Texas game and use the best HS back in CA as a decoy (as LC did against TC and Monrovia - both embarrassing losses)and don't use him on defense - LC loses by 20+ points. At least Pete had Matt, Lendale, Jarret and Smith -- and when LC passes it is risky as evidenced by the interceptions for TDs- LC's QB is good athlete but young and inexperienced. He will be very good NEXT YEAR - I predict one of the passing leaders in the conference if he works hard over the summer and plays in the passing leagues. He has alot of potential and experience to build off of next year especially if LC goes deep into the playoffs. LC also might want to put a fullback in the backfield just once to block for Peterson rather than have him as the lone back the entire game with no blocking help.
I don't know what is with Prep Star - Lavelle is averaging 10 yards a carry - why would he only average 3 yards a carry in this game - that is insane - if he gets 40+ carries - my view is he goes for over 300 yards and 5 TDs.
TO RECAP - LC, YOU HAVE A ONCE IN LIFETIME ATHLETE - GIVE PETERSON 40+ CARRIES, GIVE HIM A FULLBACK TO BLOCK FOR HIM, PUT HIM AT FREE SAFTY (ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN ANY GAME FILM - WHICH IS HARD TO BELIEVE)TO SHORE UP THE DEFENSE AND LET HIM RETURN ALL PUNTS AND KICKS. DON'T PASS. LC THERE IS NO TOMORROW - LC CAN WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP IF THEY DO THE ABOVE FOR THIS GAME AND ALL THE PLAYOFF GAMES.

So duarte didnt share film with la canada?????? Im surprised about that. I though it was CIF rule to share film in the playoffs so much to what i know. Doesnt matter if lavelle gets his carries then the spartens win,

I agree that the only way LC wins is if Wheeler gives Lavelle the ball more than his usual 15 carries. If the LC defense gets to sit and rest, they will have a better chance against the faster Duarte offense. Either way, Lavelle runs wild.

It really dedends on what the coaches do and if Lavelle stays healthy for the entire game.

La Canada coaches like to do what they think is best for them and not the team. If winning was they most important thing to them they would have shown the Spartans film on Duarte. They don't. While Duarte has seen all the film on the Spartans, the Spartans can't even tell you what colors the Falcons are.

La Canada has to play on a 10 yard field. If they give the ball to Lavelle 40 - 45 times against Duarte like a Temple City would do, they will keep Duartes speed off the field. If the Coach who calls the offense understands that Lavelle should get 3 yards a carry and you give him the ball 4 straight times you will get a first down. Then they win.

Prolonged offensive drives is what will win this game for La Canada. They have yet to do this this year because they've wanted to work "on our passing game".

If this is the stradegy they lose, but if Lavelle gets his touches and lots of them and they fully understand they have to keep Duarte's offense off the field they win. Their is no better conditioned player in CIF then Lavelle. I watched him after the San Marino game and he wasn't even sweating.

It's going to be interesting, but one never knows what they'll get with good old Coach Wheeler.

And on top of that duarte hasnt beaten anybody that they weren't suppose to beat. All those wins they have is expected from them

This is a great question for this weeks game of the week. Can Duarte stop Peterson, the answer to me is no. Yeah Duarte is a good team in a weak league. And yeah they have team speed like monrovia does. Someone said that duarte is like a mini-monoriva. I feel that this statement is true to the fact "MINI". I think it has to be the coaching involved in this game. If the coaches dont put their players in the right position to make plays. Peterson will make you pay severly. I just dont see anyone stopping them especially Duarte's front seven. And by the time a defensive back has made the play, the kid has gained like 20yds. I understand why la canada is fred's pick. Temple city and monrovia both beat the spartans but other than that la canada cant be stopped with peterson in the backfield. And no Im not a la canada fan but i give credit where credit is due.

If the 4 players from San Marino are awake yet ask them how hard he hits.

duarte won a playoff game in 2001 against south torrence.

i will be at the game friday. hopefully duarte can get it done. it will be tough task, but if was easy then everybody would have been able to stop him

Fred, you may be surprised by the final outcome. I believe it's the other way around. There is no doubt Lavelle will get his yardage but the LC Defense will not be able to contain Duarte. The key will be in keeping Lavelle sub 200. Duarte has great team speed and athletic personnel. I am looking for an upset.

Let me be the first to jump in.
Final score, La Canada 42, Duarte 35. Peterson goes for 245 yards and four touchdowns.