rgd626,
first off, I love the youtube videos!

Second, I think you miss my point, as well as the point.
The way we played our first three games in this dismal rebuilding year would make us VVL contenders, and Montview shoe-ins. Hypothethetically, let us say that we were in those leagues and thus the Mid-Valley Division. Now let's say that in that hypothetical senario we re-group and get in-synch. We have a great chance of San Dimas in the final, don't we? Thus, making us Mid-Valley champions...with this caliber of team, the '08 Conqs.
Now, let me ask you...

How legit and how satisfying is that CIF ring??

rgd626,

ask your self this, how good would this years team be, had we NOT lost the talent that we've lost in the last three years, here I'll give you a refresher...

D.W. wr/db
T.D. rb/db
J.G. rb/db/k
B.B. qb
A.S. qb
D.P. qb/db
and that big haus from last years Frosh squad.

ALL of them, except one I can confirm are on a Varsity roster. three of them are major contributors to their team. Four of them are exceptionally talented.

How many more talented kids could we get if our schedule included atleast one or two heavyweights?
You and I both know that in 9 out of ten seasons that our boys could hang with ANYONE.

On D ranch schedule,

First: For some reason many schools duck yes duck D ranch (Dia Bar High you hear this, Walnut, Ayala, Glendora, San Dimas the list goes on and on) D ranch played Ayala the last few years but they chose to play Los Altos instead. So our schedulers need to do a better job of getting those schools on our schedule. For those schools above they should not be so elitist and maybe snooty about playing at our home field as we hear this is a major obstacle. Believe me Oaks Christian and Edison did not mind why should you.

Second: I see the logic of recruiting exposure BUT you can have a balance of scheduling the high profile games maybe 2 and also playing schools of your level but not cupcakes. I prefer this. Our young men deserve this.

Third: There is something to the self confidence issue of these young men meaning the whole team and not just the 2 or 3 players that are college scholarship D1 material. Mr. Layton and the administration can schedule a more balanced approach and let ALL the players enjoy there high school years. He can surely promote his players to all levels of colleges.

Fourth: Playing the big programs is nice BUT it is a fact that they have way more depth, play fewer players both ways, and even if you do compete the physical injury cost is huge. Also, remember that every coach will play the best players to win and at D ranch as well as others that means more players playing both ways.

Summary: play some biggies and some equals, but not all biggies.

Post comment: diamond bar high//D ranch would be a great game for both schools a la san dimas///bonita. All the players grew up playing together in pop warner, little league, njb etc and the city//community would be electrified. But that would mean that the AD and Principal of Diamond bar high would need to approve it, it would probably be even bigger than their walnut game since more of the players played togther since grade school.

High school fan out

Freddie J,

You bring up a good point, but that hasn't been an issue during the last two seasons. Now that Muir has undergone a COMPLETE RESTRUCTURING of the school A LOT has changed...for the better. If our test scores continue to rise and parents decide to bring their kids back (i.e. Riley, Muema, Vaughns, etc.) we can possibly get back to the good ol' days.

Good catch. Didn't even look at theirs. And their SOS is pretty close to their rating -which makes it tougher for them.
BTW - said it before but GREAT and gutsy win over Etiwanda!

Joe,

Glendora is a 37, Amat is a 35.2

In all fairness while Amat's strength-of-schedule is the highest in the SGV according to Calpreps (35.3), Diamond Ranch as a much tougher schedule - for them. THere are very few teams who have a higher schedule ranking than their own teams ranking. Diamond Ranch being one of them with a team rating of 24.9 and a SOS of 32.2.

Interestingly enough, by comparison Charter Oak has an SOS of 6.1... yes that was SIX POINT ONE. And they play all the SAME teams as DR. Of course they shouldn't feel so bad. San Dimas has an SOS of 1.5.

Interesting!
http://calpreps.com/2008/ratings/California_all.htm

Thanks Stang Fan,

I'm going to let the “whose better” thing go because I don't deal in stuff like that. Better to leave that type issue up to professional sportswriters.

What I do think, however, is that if by some magic, Muir and San Dimas were to be put on a bus and transported to somewhere like Garden Grove or Whittier and put on a field to play, the Saints would win. I believe it would be a pretty low scoring contest with SD using their big front and running game to control the ball and keep it out of the hands of the Mustangs who I think can score from anywhere on almost anyone.

But, you know, that's just what I think.

Have fun in league and stay healthy. Oh yeah, +1 on what Fred said too.

Stang Fan, on a serious note, I hope the Mustangs are doing a better jobs making sure their players are making the grades. In past years, they've lost quite a few players just before the playoffs because of failing grades.

Don,

Good analogy there. Muir has traditionally scheduled some big-time heavyweights and generally they catch it on the chin in the second half. The key is to mix in some average teams with some heavyweights so the kids won't get beat up EVERY game.

Btw, I saw your top 37 and I agree with your assessment of the Stangs. Our top 18-19 players can compete with anyone in the division, but key injuries would hurt big-time. Pound-for-pound Muir is one of the tops around with only 1200 kids enrolled, by FAR one of the smallest schools in our division. One other thing though...there is NO WAY San Dimas is better than Muir...NO WAY!

This subject comes up about this time every year, and deservedly so.

Roddy Layton's plan to win a berth in a state bowl game is spot on; he just didn't have the horses to get him to the finish line. Other Coaches have different plans and booking a pre-season is as much an art as it is a science. Guys like Bogan and Farrar look like they are preparing for the playoffs from week 0 forward, (Greg Gano was good at this as well), while other teams look like they are just trying to survive non league play without getting hurt.

Some schools find themselves with a pre-season already booked and a team much better or worse than anyone could have imagined. Had they known a year or two ago just how good they would be, I like to think San Dimas would have preferred some tougher competition. They sure won't find it now, especially with the Paraclete meltdown.

The competitive schools from the Trinity or Moore or Serra type leagues have to schedule other like programs unless they want to forgo things like bowl bids and the rivalry for the super duper upcoming kiddie stars.

It's also very fair to compare these teams/leagues/divisions to the weight classes administered by boxing. The Poly's, Centennial's, Crespi's and Amats are the Heavyweights, some champs, some tomato cans, but they have to fight other Heavyweights. The Charter Oaks, La Habra's, ElDo's, So Hills' teams are Middle or Welterweights and while the very best might be able to stay in the ring with the lesser guys in the higher division, they would still be punished.

One concern playing against bigger, faster, more mature teams is the physical beating you take in addition to the moral issues. The bumps and bruises add up.

If anyone thinks recruiters do not recruit from film when you play against big time program look at AMAT. Last 2 years bad season but 2 commits and others with offers. That is from playing with the big boys. I agree 100% with Layton. If kids see your players getting schollies they will want to go there too. Would I schedule a one "cupcake", probably but the Ranch seems to always be ready for league.

Would be nice to see DR schedule any one of the teams from the Marine League of the City Section.
Like Carson who lost to Mater Dei in triple over time, Banning who will be playing Long Beach Poly. Narbonne who goes against Los Alamitos. San Pedro and even Gardena or Washington. All those teams have won four or more City Titles.

Didn't DR just release OC from their schedule for next year? OC may fill that hole by scheduling St. Bonnie's.

Like Amat, Los Altos is going thru growing pains as Amat did the last two years with a new coach. This program will not be down for very long, they will come out sooner or later, they are too good of a program and rich tradition not to. The question is will Felipe be the one to guide them or like Amat, they may have to reach back into the bag to go get a more experience coach to guide their ship. Do the parents and Alumni have the patients for this young coach? or will they admit they errored like Amat did and look for change to bringing back a proud Winning program.?

Ballers Ball:

Who r the two guys from Damien ? I don't remember anyone from Damien signing to play at USC. Did they walk on ?

jeremy
i know your a los altos guy. but you have to be kidding. your telling them how to have a wininng program. los altos has more cif championships than any one in the valley, not only that, there are only 3 other schools in southern section with more cif rings.sit back, relax. every team, be it high school college or pros go thru this, yes it takes hard work, and some luck also, but it will happen. dont get like the bishop guys on here, just be patient, cant allways have the best team around,just like them, someday they will be back on top.good programs work it out.

SGV pride..WTF?? MAKE SENSE IN WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO SAY???ARE YOU LOADED ON SOMETHING?

Those guys I heard, well one of them didn't even make through the first day of practice!...the guy from last yr I believe. That was from a direct source.

Any team that is D7 and up and not in the D1 should schedule at least two D1 opponents in their non league. This will get them ready for their league and they will not get that beat up on. Diamond Ranch Props to your schedule but it could spell doom to losing players to key injuries.

Oh how I wish Glendora would set such high standards.

First off my hats off to DRANCH and the schedule they play. But the Fresno State comparisons end there. Pat HIll is one tough SOB, and more importantly he exudes that type of toughness into his players, he also plays the stuff it down your throat style that type of football that will take its toll on ANYONE (i.e. USC). Layton DOES not strike me as a "Pat Hill" type. No knock on the guy, he wants whats best for is kids, but PLEASE DONT USE the "Fresno State comparison, they are one of a kind. ONE TOUGH TEAM!!!

Kudos to DRANCH THOugh!

When people talk about scheduling up or scheduling down aren't they missing the point that sometimes you're the "down" team?

Some people's egos are so out of whack it's sickening.

Play the best, up your schedule, save the lpayers from injury?, bring in the freshmen studs? guys get a clue. What is it with the drama of needing to be recognized. Scouts will find you wherever you play. Again where are all the sgv studs from the beginning of this blog?

USC has two players from Damien who were great students first, outstanding individuals second and wer as poorly coached and underutilized as any Div 1 athletes I've ever seen and yet they have the chance to play for a National Champion and get a great education.

NO ONE AND I MEAN NO ONE thought either player was Division 1 calibre but somehow they were found. So enough with the strategic planning and all that....just play the game.

Layton is right though...playing the best will get you exposed. besides it's not always about winning and losing but about playing against the best. Just look at Lutheran High's championship.

Now they are on the map and will play up. Let's see how they do.

Nest of luck to all the ballers!

Jeremy,
I totally appreciate what you're saying. LA can only get better if it challenges itself. However, do you really think getting clocked by some big Pac-5 program or any program for that matter will really work as a recruiting tool? Clearly LA is having an off year, but winning is a momentum thing and they will need to string together some big wins before they jump off into the deep end. Don't you think?

fred, the coach stated his goals, get the kids exposure, he's got athletes who can and will play DI football in a few years, why cheat them, set some goals, see how they respond, ask the kids if they'd like top play Gladstone,Azusa,Workman, DR would surely beat them! or do you want to play Oaks Christian in front of all the recruiters and against Amat on television?..it's what they call a no-brainer, someone from the trib must have heard that phrase b4

Dear Aguilar, Gano, and co.,

next year and thereafter you have no excuse. Start scheduling the big boys!

That is how you recruit! That is how you get the studs in your Freshman classes, consistently.

Start by challenging your main recruiting foe, and you know exactly who that is.

I 'm tired of seeing mid-level "heavyweights' or the flavor of the month who happen to have a good previous season.

For god's sake we lost to two top division contenders by one play each in our worst down year ever, the lesson to be taken there...our program IS good, very good, let's graduate to great and restore the former top level glory one season at a time, until we are there.

The SGV has the talent, let's show them the will to get there. Our schedule.

Fred,
I agree with you here. I think stacking the deck against a public school program makes it tuff for the players, the parents, the coaches, and the school. I appreciate teams like Fresno State University that says "any one, any time, any place..." but there is something to be said about the mental aspect of winning. Also, when you play against these bigger and better programs, you risk loosing starting players to injury and then not having them around for league. I think scheduling non-league competition that reflects or is slightly tuffer than league oponents is the way to go. This year San Dimas High School dropped a weak Gladstone from their schedule and added Los Altos. Granted, LA is in the midst of a rebuilding program, but they are better then Gladstone and served as a much more accurate calibration tool for the Saints as they moved forward. At the end of the day, I think a coach can do damage to a program when they over schedule tuff teams in pre-league play. They sacrafice truely sizing up their team in the name of trying to create a facade that portrays their team as stronger then they really are.