FOOTBALL: Week 8 reflection

Anonymous 12:01am,

So should the 100+ football players not get any administrative support? Shouldn't the school's principal make sure that any program that represents our community in front of a few thousand spectators is at least putting our best foot forward? The fact that football is high profile on campus and that an AD is on the staff is all the more reason the principal should be involved. We had plenty of issues in the 1990's as well. Were the players then really more self-disciplined or was Rycroft a more effective presence?

Deacon Blue
Or is that Steeley Dan? Yes I do remember the Chadwick game. Rivalries have long memories. Disgraceful displays stick in one's memory whether it be on the field or hardwood. Running the score up on an opponent when you are ahead by 28 points in either football or basketball is sad and unnecessary. I think Arcadia's back that amassed 400 yards in a game a few years ago did it in a romp but it might have been the TC back.

P. Finchamp,

Speaking of class, I'm curious to know if you remember the ending of last years RHP/Chadwick game. Specifly the last play of the game where Chadwicks coaches yelled at their defense to "dive" over the RHP offensive line to tackle a quarterback that was obviously about to "take a knee" to run out the clock?
I'm not a RHP homer, but from what I've seen (tape and in-person) I agree with your assertion about Rio's on the field social graces.

prepleague--
Wow where did you get that? My reference actually had to do with TC and Arcadia RBs in the past continuing to run the ball while well ahead. I don't know anything about what Pennington has done. Sorry to strike a nerve but I was referencing another league altogether. That's funny, I'm not picking on Poly believe me.

Finchamp,

I found this quote of interest: "You will not see this out of RH Prep--they show some real class playing subs early and keeping enduring relationships with league foes. Other teams run their backs all game to amass 200+ yard stats etc. but not RHP." To whom is this directed? Poly? I think their running back Pennington got 200 yds against Chadwick but that was in a losing effort. He did it again vs. Viewpoint but that was a 3 point game. I agree that Rio Hondo should be favored over Flintridge but let's leave the "We've got class but you don't" quotes out.

maranatha fan--

RH Prep took Brentwood too lightly. They are pretty good but not great and plently beatable. RHP would like another crack at Brentwood, as they would Maranatha, but alas too late.

It is difficult nearly a month later to assess a team. It appears Brentwood has been posting good scores and has their offense on track. They had a good distribution of run and pass plays and preferred the spread offense. QB is solid and can also run well when pressured. Maranatha must pressure this guy and hope to rattle him. On defense Brentwood stacked the box on RH Prep and did a good job shutting down the run. Good luck--this will be your only real challenge to winning league.

p finchamp

I must start by staying how much i admire your take on the game, with that said i'm wondering if you have any thoughts on Maranatha's match p with Brentwood?

Tom S--
Congrats to Maranatha on league play thus far.

The RH Prep/Flintridge game just got a lot more interesting. On match ups it doesn't look like it would be that close but we know better. RH Prep thumped Viewpoint 37-0 and played the second team almost the entire second half. Flintridge seemed to have more trouble as suggested by their 17-14 late victory over Viewpoint.

RH Prep's confidence is restored after a challenging preseason. Both Flintridge and RH Prep will pound the ball on the ground. I give a big edge to RH Prep's D which is tops in league play. The game is at the black hole at RH Prep and I like RH Prep by two touchdowns. A likely game of the week I suspect.

Chadwick was way overrated. They ALWAYS play a ridiculously soft preseason schedule. Their QB is good but far from great. To garner the attention he has received suggests to me few people are watching QBs at higher levels. Big numbers against soft teams. You will not see this out of RH Prep--they show some real class playing subs early and keeping enduring relationships with league foes. Other teams run their backs all game to amass 200+ yard stats etc. but not RHP.

I hope the Garrison quote is not true. Using the play of underclassmen elevated to varsity as an excuse for losing is a croc. The players moved there are done so as a coaches decision. That finger pointing, thus points back to where it came from.
The argument goes deeper, but that is the bottom line. If you throw the kid into the lions den, be damn sure he at least has a chance to survive. If not, you pull him - train and teach him until he does. I don't know enough to say with any conviction, but if 50% of what is being said is true, their is damage being done not just to this seasons V team, but to youngsters on the way up as well.
Hopefully the comments are those of exaggeration brought forth through the frustration of a tough loss.

Monrovia HS administration focus is on the other 1800 students that do not play football, where it should be. Monrovia football problems are players with no SELF-DICIPLINE (academics & dedication) and coaches showing favoritism and not uniting the TEAM as a FAMILY.
And please stop trying to compare the wildcats of today with the teams of the 1980's & 1990's. This is a new century and millenium, the players approach to the game has drastically changed.

PS-Also the AD job is shared by the baseball coach and the OC. and the baseball coach is AD during fortball season.

MONROVIA: its time to let Coach Garrison go and get some one younger in there some one new. And you can let him go on his own you dont have to fire a man like G you have to show him the upmost respect and just tell him your time has passed its been fun thanks for all the good times and just let him go but like I said there is a diffrernce in getting fired and getting let go its just time. what is J.yuille up to now he could be a nice fit for the wildcats hes young and knows how the game is played in 2007-08 not like back in the day like G and maybe a new man running the O and the D would be nice and dont give the "AD" any more jobs let him do what he gets paid for beause I know he does not get paid for the job hes doing now giveing up big leads and all

NY, & All the Other Monrovia Fans:

I really think that It is the responsibility of the Head Coach to see that he not only teaches a team to win but he must also teach them how to understand how to win. In my opinion Coach G has made some very serious mistakes in terms of teaching the Game. I have been to all of the games this season and Watched Monrovia run through teams in the first Quarter and all of the sudden a light goes off in the offensive coordinators head that say's ok we will sit back on this lead and if we need a field goal we'll take it. Monrovia is not playing with that killer instinct that got us through all of the great seasons. I still not counting them out as contenders for the CIF spot but if the Coach decides to keep playing chicken then I will not put my money on it this year. I have had some good conversations with some of my friends at Duarte that have seen Monrovia start to soften up especially on offense. No disrespect to any of the other teams in the Area, but I truly believe that Monrovia has the best 1/2 punch at running back in the area, but if their combined carries are less than 25 per game it really doesn't matter. We have gotten pass happy all of the sudden. We dare not go for a first down with 4&1 on their 30yrd line, what's that say about the Coaching?.. How can you be up on a team (LaCanada by 25Pts in the first quarter and have to play catch up in the last quarter and win on the last play of the game?..again bad coaching decisions. Or just recently against Blair up most of the game with 7 minutes left in the fourth quarter going for the pass instead of running the ball (5 running attempts in the 4th quarter) When you ran all over them in the first half?.. I wont say that Garrison should have to go, but I really think that his coaching staff arent ready to coach atheletes of this caliber. Every year we have a lame offensive coordinator. These Kids win on pure talent alone. Just a true to heart observation..

well you know this all looks like some monrovia fans are mad because their not at the top any more and they have not been at the top all alone since umm lets see maybe "02" some say "04" but they were co-champs with "LC" but thats not it at all there are some mad fans sitting in the stands but i played for "G" and it is time for something new at monrovia and i would say that when we were winning and even when we were lossing

M-Cat,

That's a helluva thing for a coach to say about his players. The biggest part of a leader's role is to inspire that type of stuff out of his players and staff. Doesn't he have an influence over player development starting freshman year? I really hope Coach Garrison did not say that.

"The freshman and JV level kids who moved up to varsity haven't picked up the mental and physical demand of the varsity level yet," Coach Garrison, the week heading to the La Canada game. "The kids go into practice going through the motions and not improving upon their potential."

I'm not quite sure if they have picked it up since then but that's what he said. The 'mental' aspect i'm just assuming contributes to keeping the lead in the second half.

Good luck getting the administration involved with the football program because they don't know the first thing to improving it. The only thing they'll do is hire/fire the head coach and make him deal with it.

P Finchamp:
What's your take on your big game against Flintridge Prep?
Since our game is Thurs night I'm going to try and drop by Friday night to check it out.

M-Cat,
Are you saying that Monrovia's football success will swing on the random distribution of killer instinct from one incoming class to another? Is it all nature and no nurture?

I feel that Coach Garrison deserves our full support throughout the season. The only reason we now demand teams that compete for CIF titles is because the success that our teams had in the late 1990's under Coach Garrison. But it is very frustrating to see things go backward. It's not right to talk about firing a coach while the season is in progress, especially somebody who has been there so long. Besides, its not fair to the players either.

I really hope that the principal takes some ownership and reviews the situation to determine what it will take to achieve sustained excellence. Maybe we need to give the coaches more help. Or maybe we need other coaches. Either way, the senior administrators need to get involved ASAP. Otherwise, they should be fired.

Merrill Lynch just took one on the chin and then got rid of their CEO. A school's top people should be involved with anything that the school sponsors, especially when 100+ kids are involved.

0bservantcat----what are your thoughts?

Anonymous | October 28, 2007 12:23 AM,

I'm sure there was an issue with grades or attitude in the decision of letting Kevin Brown go.
The problem in the Monrovia football program isn't just the coaches but the player's as well. The work ethic in practice isn't there and it shows in the game. The discipline isn't there and it shows in the penalties. The winning attitude/killer instinct isn't there and it shows when the player's can't keep a lead.
Coaching comes in consideration when the team wins and losses, but the players have to be at the physical and mental level necessary of a varsity team.

well monrovia fans what do you suggest than? its like you people don't want to just come out and say what's really on you're mind. if you want you're coach fired and replaced justt say so.

FOR ALL YOU MONROVIA FANS READ THIS!ITS ALL A BOUT YOU JUST HOW YOU LIKE IT!!!!so what your saying is that some people need to be let go!FROM monrovia staff! dont you think that is kind of tuff when the "AD" at monrovia is runing the "O" the "AD" at monrovia has it made if you ask me because think of it this way if he can piss away 25-8 lead in the "LC" game and no one say any thing looks like his job is safe. its not like hes going to let him self go or any thing like that now to me thats the funny thing hahahahah and I fell for the poor kids at monrovia because you can have all the players in the world and still get beat. things will never get better till they start makeing some moves and all the moves start at the top with the man they call "G"

You're so frickin dense. I am talking about the #1 seed from our league.

I think in order for Monrovia to reclaim the #1 seed in CIF again our school principal needs to get involved and determine whether or not our program has adequate resources, and if not then what will it take. Too much defeat will start affecting more than just the trophy case.

Did someone say that the Cats loss to blair will "cost them the #1 seed in playoffs?" hahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Not just there loss to blair but there loss to arcadia, and there losst to Duarte, and there loss to Beckman, and there loss to Lasalle. Monrovia people are so funny about there team. hahahahahahahahaha!

prepleague,

What makes you think that flintridge will lose to poly, after beating a chadwick team that throttled poly? The RHP vs Flintridge game next week should be a good one.

The Prep League could be interesting after all. Rio Hondo starts slow but seems the best of a weak league this year, Chadwick plays nobody early and then loses to Flintridge, setting up the possibility of a three-way tie for 2nd place with Chadwick, Flintridge, and Poly at 3-2 if Flintridge which barely beat Viewpoint should lose to Rio and Poly. Of course in the playoffs anybody would have to play Big Bear, Notre Dame Riverside, San Jacinto, so enjoy it now.

Poly beats Viewpoint 28-25. Poly Tailback John-Michael Pennington rushed for over 250 yds, his third 200+ yard game of the year.

How many of you out there think it was a bad move for monrovia to kick possibly the BEST "DB"in the RHL #18 (KEVIN BROWN)off the team right before HOMECOMEING!and maybe the biggest game of the year vs.blair? #18 who is a outstanding player at"DB".I think it was a bad move by "G" and the coaching staff because it showed last night in the blair game with a (no name,first year"DB"/10th grader)starting in his first "VAR" game out there with blairs speedy receivers just did not get the job done and they left the youngster out there one on one all night even on 3rd down when they knew the ball was going up top, watching #18 out there in the few games he did play the young man showed he can hold his own out there one on one with the best of them.will this AFFECT THE WILDCATS IN THE LONG RUN? AND COST THEM THE "RHL" AND POSSIBLY the #1 SEED IN CIF? as a concerned monrovia alumni I hope not! But at the end of all this I wish the wildcats the best. GO WILDCATS!

Marantha 14
Calvary Chapel 0

I'll be at Maranatha's game on Thursday. And I'm still deciding on Friday. Prep vs. Prep looks like an interesting game.

Scott G:
You might want to keep your eyes open next week on the small schools.
Flintridge Prep beat undefeated Chadwick, 4th ranked East Valley, and maybe Oregon bound QB. Andy Magee, 45 to 34 today. KNBC had an extensive segment on their 5:30 news today about the Chadwick’s football program. This Flintridge Perp’s win sets up a big Prep league game with RHP next Friday.
Also my beloved Minutemen will have their hands full with their game on Thursday the 1st against Brentwood who destroyed Whittier Christian 49 to 18 today.

Nervo,

IF Monrovia finishes 4-1 AND Blair finishes 4-1 then Blair should get the #1 seed. Don't try to make a character assessment against Monrovians. We can admit defeat. We've had to do that far too many times recently. I really think this is quite a severe situation.

Are my expectations for excellence out of line? Have I been jaded by the Yankees philosophy of not wanting to succumb to mediocrity? No. They are not out of line. Our boys are too good for this.

i was at the monrovia & blair game last night. Blair is really good team. But Monrovia coaches should be fired. Why did they have safety over the top after the corner got beat once at the end of the game? i dont get it. Everybody in the stands knew what they where going to do on 3rd downs.

17 -10 Killing?

TC pulls out a BIG one! Will Do at QB? It did the trick!
I knew this would be a good game, which it was until TC pulled away in the third.

Anybody hear about a TC coach's sister passing away a week or two ago???
True or Flase? Who was it? Anything Scott?

JV score LC 29 South Pas 13

La Salle is steppin it up... there defense is starting to play.. watch out for them in playoffs GO LANCERS

Stangfan,

Good job to your stangs tonight. Youngblood could be the best back i've seen for while, maybe the best in southern cal. His stats don't show it, but hell of a player. Use Youngblood like you did tonight, I don't see many teams beating the stangs. Just have to play up for every game here on out. It's a bad dream for arcadia, but there's always a bright side. I am sure they will learn from there mistakes, a good football team does that.
Good luck vs phs.

the real hsfbfan

Now I'm waiting to see if PHS can hold it together against a stubborn Burroughs team.

Wow, Muir really took it to the Apaches. They are clearly not the same team that wilted against Franklin. Welcome to the Star-News' top spot Mustangs.

St. Francis impressed.

A healthy Alhambra is a dangerous Alhambra.

San Gabriel hung tough.

Blair rebounded.

TC got it done.

Bishop Amat got beat 55 to 5! I know Crespi is good, but what has happened to Amat?

the new top 10.

1. Muir (only getting better)

2-10. who cares.

Like I said we own Arcadia 50-28.

if you dont stop it Minuteman #1.

Maranantha would go home crying against the stangs. they dont have the athletes to watch Muir play, let alone actually play them.

Stangs or die!

WOW!!! It's real easy to come on to the blog when your team is doing really well and brag about how good the team is and how they will beat everybody around. After watching tonight's game, it is VERY hard not to do just that. I won't though, because it is just one game of many. However, I have to admit that after witnessing what took place at 1905 this evening I am EXTREMELY excited about the Stangs. Arcadia fans, I know that was a hard pill to swallow, because truth be told, competitively speaking Arcadia did not belong on the same field tonight. They were outplayed, outhussled, "outquicked," and thoroughly OUTCOACHED. Now I only bring that up because Muir is ALWAYS talked about as having all talent and no coaching. Well my friends you don't put 50 on the scoreboard against an undefeated team with athletes alone. No you do it with athletes AND great coaching. The funny thing is when I look at the staff from the stands they all look so YOUNG. That's a great sign!!! Hopefully these dudes can stick around for awhile to help Coach Howard get that appendage accesory. BTW, I will have more to say a little later.

LET'S GO STANGS!!!

chase rettig lit it up in the 2nd half to lead the lancers to victory. the kid had 3 touchdowns. what a baller

Maranatha cant step on the same field as muir. you need to stop dreaming. you should ask muir coachs of the aracdiagame . i think scott G. would argee

if Monrovia and Blair end up 4-1, Monrovia, being the type of people they are, would claim a share of league title but ti truly would belong to Blair who beat the Head to Head. Blair, if they remain undefeated (they play the 2 last place teams for their last two games) will be the true league champ because they beat TC and Monrovia Head to head. Winner of Monrovia and TC get 2nd place but will likely claim a 4-1 tie for 1st and get league champ patches.

Maranatha......a monster? Dude you have never seen a monster in your life if you are a Maranatha fan. Muir would score 70 on Maranatha.

Muir...a monster? Dude, you haven't seen a monster until you've seen Maranatha play. Game o' the week next week, baby.

Sf killing alemany
17-10

so if monrovia and blair both end up at 4-1 at the end of all of this who is in first place?because san- marino beat blair and monrovia is going to beat san marino the team who beat blair. this is all to much like i said if the "M-TOMN" would have beat a winning team like they should have done we would not be doing all this. let me say this its tuff no the kids just to have to play ball and WIN but to have to do all this "WELL IF THIS TEAM BEATS THIS TEAM AND WE BEAT THE TEAM THAT BEAT THEM THEN WE WIN" thats to much for the kids its to damn bad the kids at monrovia have to do all that its just to damn BAD!!!!

Muir played like a monster tonight, they are hands down the best team in the East and West SGV.

Anon 10:40;

Now, that wasn't very nice...ya big meanie.

SM heading back to where it belongs - lower half of RHL.

if blair wins out against sp nd lc, they'll be #1, with wins over both tc and monrovia in the case of a tie.

so the tc v monrovia game only decides #2 rhl this year, right?

Look at that RHL,

Blair 2-1
Monrovia 2-1
Temple City 2-1
San Marino 1-1-1
South Pasadena 1-2
La Cañada 0-2-1

RHL will be decided for the 3rd year in a row in the TC vs. Monrovia game

TC stripped the ball and recovered at the goal line, zebras huddled and apparently their ruling was the runner had crossed the plane with the ball in his possession prior to fumbling. Thus TD. No whistle was heard, prompting some to believe the strip was on a live ball. Regardless - it was not a good day for TC JV, they had chances to shut the door and it did not happen. San Marino never quit and congrats to them on the victory.

I think that the TC vs SM game is gonna be just like the S. Pas game... It will come down to the wire and I think it will be another defensive game... TC has good weapons on their offense, but to many errors and mental mistakes kills them... SM has a pretty good ground attack and I'm sure thats what scares Backus the most... The lack of size and experience on the D-line might cost them yards on the ground, but the secondary is where the weakest spot is... No matter how hard TC coaches, you cant teach a turkey to sing... They are just to young... Overall though, I think TC will come out on top... They have improved since preseason and have faced harder teams... I believe they are the more physical team in this match up!!

OH and Arcadia!! GOOD LUCK KIDS... IM CHEERING FOR YA..

That TC score was a touchdown with no time left, hence the no extra point attempt.

JV score - TC lost its game against SM, 27-21.

JV score....
Mtown 28 Blair 8

Ahhh, welcome back dawg 87.

i hope arcadia gets crushed so that way..the dogs will eat the stangs and it will be a 3 way tie for league!!

I believe Arcadia is the No. 1 team to date. They've been ranked No. 1 since beating St. Francis.
How that precludes me from picking an upset, I'm not clear.
Another factor, is that the game is at Muir.
This game is a pick 'em if you ask me.

But the same logic that has St Francis at #3 should also apply to ranking #1 vs #2. If you pick Muir to win this game then you should rank them #1 as well. Are the rankings based on the prior week or on the likelihood of sustaining success?

ohh baby its going down tonite. #1 Arcadia vs. #2 Muir

this determines league baby

Arcadia earned the No. 1 spot and has done its part to stay there so far. In other words, no justification to drop them.
Muir dropped in the rankings early in the season because of its two losses, especially the one to Franklin.
Head-to-head will settle the score.

JV scores mtown v blair ..lc v sp ..tc v sm

Galetti,

Why rank Arcadia #1 but pick Muir to win the head to head? You should have picked Muir #1 this week just for consistency.

Poly vs. Viewpoint game has been moved to 2:00 P.M. Due to testing.

Scott, How can you pick Viewpoint over Poly? Poly scored against Rio Hondo twice. Viewpoint had a total yardage of 16 yards for the entire game against Rio. I think you are wrong.

stangs or die!