SCOL Football Notebook: New coach, new attitude for Golden Eagles
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Finally it was time for full gear and actual shoulder pad popping on the sixth day of my high school football tour, which took me to Madison County Saturday morning to watch the Madison-Plains Golden Eagles.
When I played, I always enjoyed visiting their field when we had an away game against the Golden Eagles. It was on that field I made my first (I think) or one of my few football starts in a JV game my sophomore year of high school, plus for some reason I always thought they had nice grass on their field.
OK, enough about my sub-par football playing days, let's get back to 2011.
The MP Golden Eagles had a different feel and look to them with new head coach Mike Siders, replacing former coach Barry Blackstone, who took a coaching job in the college ranks over the winter. Siders has been with the program at all levels for a number of years.
Siders had a spirited and down-to-earth talk with his players following their first full week of two-a-days, enforcing their new attitude for not only practices, but the attitude he wants for the entire season and here on out on-and-off the field.
Last season, the Golden Eagles (1-9) had just one win, and everyone in the program is set on changing that this season. They have their goals set high, and they were putting in the necessary hard work to improve when they take the field Week 1 on Aug. 26 against Cedarville.
On a personal note I'd like to see the Golden Eagles turn their program around, because the players that I talked to take a lot of pride in their community, and they have pride for their football team.
That is one thing I have learned the most since starting these footbal camp trips almost a week ago, and that is just how much pride the players have for their respectitive football team and their community.
Here are some fact and thoughts on the Golden Eagles.
• Running back Drew Hatfield is the only senior on the team who has been a part of the high school football program for four years.
• Ryne Davis, who played some at quarterback last season, will be the full-time starter this season.
• MP will have six seniors, with two senior kickers from the soccer team. A majority of the team will consist of sophomores and juniors.
• In '10, MP went 0-6 in the South Central Ohio League. They scored 176 points and allowed 449 points overall in 10 total games.
• What I really enjoyed about watching the part of the MP practice I watched was how they want to change the culture of their program, and how some of the players told me they want to be a part of the team that starts the process of changing the MP program.
• MP has just four assistant coaches in their program, which these days is not very many. Siders said his staff is very dedicated, and he was grateful to all of them who are a part of the program and the work they have put in with the team.
• Quote from the coach
"We are young. We are the small dog in the big league, but we are up for the challenge. The guys know how I feel about it … it's not easy, there are no automatic wins. There are no easy wins on our schedule." — Mike Siders, Madison-Plains head coach, on the upcoming season.
• (Another) Quote from the coach
"My team … I couldn't be more proud of them. I couldn't be more proud to be here at Madison-Plains, and I'm excited to be their head coach. — Mike Siders, Madison-Plains head coach, on becoming head coach.
Again, it is a new era at MP, and just from what I watched of their Saturday morning practice, I sensed excitement, a good work ethic and a promise to become a tough and passionate football team.
Thanks again to the Golden Eagles for allowing me to watch their practice and talk to some of their leaders and the head coach. It was a good way to spend part of a Saturday.
Come back to the HCP website later this weekend as I will be adding a Paint Valley notebook, plus Monday morning I will post my weekly Not off the Press column.
On Monday, I have a two-a-day of my own as I will be visiting the camps of McClain and Hillsboro.
Remember to get a copy of the 2011 Highland County Press high school football preview that will be released before the start of the regular season.[[In-content Ad]]
When I played, I always enjoyed visiting their field when we had an away game against the Golden Eagles. It was on that field I made my first (I think) or one of my few football starts in a JV game my sophomore year of high school, plus for some reason I always thought they had nice grass on their field.
OK, enough about my sub-par football playing days, let's get back to 2011.
The MP Golden Eagles had a different feel and look to them with new head coach Mike Siders, replacing former coach Barry Blackstone, who took a coaching job in the college ranks over the winter. Siders has been with the program at all levels for a number of years.
Siders had a spirited and down-to-earth talk with his players following their first full week of two-a-days, enforcing their new attitude for not only practices, but the attitude he wants for the entire season and here on out on-and-off the field.
Last season, the Golden Eagles (1-9) had just one win, and everyone in the program is set on changing that this season. They have their goals set high, and they were putting in the necessary hard work to improve when they take the field Week 1 on Aug. 26 against Cedarville.
On a personal note I'd like to see the Golden Eagles turn their program around, because the players that I talked to take a lot of pride in their community, and they have pride for their football team.
That is one thing I have learned the most since starting these footbal camp trips almost a week ago, and that is just how much pride the players have for their respectitive football team and their community.
Here are some fact and thoughts on the Golden Eagles.
• Running back Drew Hatfield is the only senior on the team who has been a part of the high school football program for four years.
• Ryne Davis, who played some at quarterback last season, will be the full-time starter this season.
• MP will have six seniors, with two senior kickers from the soccer team. A majority of the team will consist of sophomores and juniors.
• In '10, MP went 0-6 in the South Central Ohio League. They scored 176 points and allowed 449 points overall in 10 total games.
• What I really enjoyed about watching the part of the MP practice I watched was how they want to change the culture of their program, and how some of the players told me they want to be a part of the team that starts the process of changing the MP program.
• MP has just four assistant coaches in their program, which these days is not very many. Siders said his staff is very dedicated, and he was grateful to all of them who are a part of the program and the work they have put in with the team.
• Quote from the coach
"We are young. We are the small dog in the big league, but we are up for the challenge. The guys know how I feel about it … it's not easy, there are no automatic wins. There are no easy wins on our schedule." — Mike Siders, Madison-Plains head coach, on the upcoming season.
• (Another) Quote from the coach
"My team … I couldn't be more proud of them. I couldn't be more proud to be here at Madison-Plains, and I'm excited to be their head coach. — Mike Siders, Madison-Plains head coach, on becoming head coach.
Again, it is a new era at MP, and just from what I watched of their Saturday morning practice, I sensed excitement, a good work ethic and a promise to become a tough and passionate football team.
Thanks again to the Golden Eagles for allowing me to watch their practice and talk to some of their leaders and the head coach. It was a good way to spend part of a Saturday.
Come back to the HCP website later this weekend as I will be adding a Paint Valley notebook, plus Monday morning I will post my weekly Not off the Press column.
On Monday, I have a two-a-day of my own as I will be visiting the camps of McClain and Hillsboro.
Remember to get a copy of the 2011 Highland County Press high school football preview that will be released before the start of the regular season.[[In-content Ad]]