Observation...

[DEVILSLB99]

First off let me start by saying Happy Holidays to all of you and may your families have a blessed season.

Now, I've been laying low since Saturday because quite frankly it stings losing in the finals considering all the work the kids put in this year. Add in the fact that I didn't see my wife for about 6-7 days and VAPreps was the last thing on my mind. As a coach I take full responsibility for the loss because there are some things we could have done better. Was the officiating perfect no, but it hasn't been all year and some of the blown calls were big plays. I will never get the excessive force call, but it's water under the bridge now because the referee saw what he saw and made his call. I saw Coach Mags yesterday at the all state meeting and I congratulated him on a great gameplan and a state championship and Coach Sawyer did as well. Never will we say anything in ill regards about the Salem program because it is a great program, but we don't have to agree with how the game went.

I'm not even going to address the numerous tweets and messages that were thrown sent online as it is ridiculous how some people act. Fans not coaches of teams are up here beating their chests and acting unruly for what reason? Did you come up with the gameplan to win the game? Did you make any calls during the game? What was your contribution? $10 to the VHSL so why would you think someone would care what you have to say after a game? Until you do what I or any other coach around the state does your opinions don't matter in the grand scheme of things. Lions don't lose sleep over the opinions of sheep.

Now for those of you that had respectful comments and could have a legit conversation I appreciate that. I will continue to have dialogue with you, but the other folks have been hit with the block button. I have too much going on in life to deal with internet thugs, trolls, and coaches.

Again Congrats to Salem as they had a great gameplan and made us work for every yard. They were formidable like I expected and we have much to improve on to get ready for next year. That' what makes football the greatest sport ever as on any given day anyone can be beaten.

 

[SalemPride]

First off let me start by saying Happy Holidays to all of you and may your families have a blessed season.

Now, I've been laying low since Saturday because quite frankly it stings losing in the finals considering all the work the kids put in this year. Add in the fact that I didn't see my wife for about 6-7 days and VAPreps was the last thing on my mind. As a coach I take full responsibility for the loss because there are some things we could have done better. Was the officiating perfect no, but it hasn't been all year and some of the blown calls were big plays. I will never get the excessive force call, but it's water under the bridge now because the referee saw what he saw and made his call. I saw Coach Mags yesterday at the all state meeting and I congratulated him on a great gameplan and a state championship and Coach Sawyer did as well. Never will we say anything in ill regards about the Salem program because it is a great program, but we don't have to agree with how the game went.

I'm not even going to address the numerous tweets and messages that were thrown sent online as it is ridiculous how some people act. Fans not coaches of teams are up here beating their chests and acting unruly for what reason? Did you come up with the gameplan to win the game? Did you make any calls during the game? What was your contribution? $10 to the VHSL so why would you think someone would care what you have to say after a game? Until you do what I or any other coach around the state does your opinions don't matter in the grand scheme of things. Lions don't lose sleep over the opinions of sheep.

Now for those of you that had respectful comments and could have a legit conversation I appreciate that. I will continue to have dialogue with you, but the other folks have been hit with the block button. I have too much going on in life to deal with internet thugs, trolls, and coaches.

Again Congrats to Salem as they had a great gameplan and made us work for every yard. They were formidable like I expected and we have much to improve on to get ready for next year. That' what makes football the greatest sport ever as on any given day anyone can be beaten.

I completely agree with you that the officiating was questionable (both ways) and that the excessive force call was very bad. However, that call did not effect the outcome of the game. There were 2 other legit blocks in the back that were called on the return so the play was coming back regardless.

As for the comments/tweets after the game.. Please disregard those. I'm sure the majority were from a select few immature fans caught up in the emotions of the win and do not represent the Salem fan base as a whole. I also wouldn't be surprised if a percentage of those disrespectful fans were not even Salem fans. Every since the realignment teams and fans from the West have been told they will never be able to compete with the football powers of the East. I'm sure some of the post game comments stemmed from years of frustration regarding this perception.

The LT coaches and players should be very proud of the year you guys had. Losing in a classic game like that is nothing to be ashamed of. There is no question in my mind that LT will be making that trip back to Lynchburg a lot in the future. Hopefully Salem can continue to improve as they did this past year and make it back as well. I would like nothing more than to see a rematch of this years game.

 

[mike salem]

First off let me start by saying Happy Holidays to all of you and may your families have a blessed season.

Now, I've been laying low since Saturday because quite frankly it stings losing in the finals considering all the work the kids put in this year. Add in the fact that I didn't see my wife for about 6-7 days and VAPreps was the last thing on my mind. As a coach I take full responsibility for the loss because there are some things we could have done better. Was the officiating perfect no, but it hasn't been all year and some of the blown calls were big plays. I will never get the excessive force call, but it's water under the bridge now because the referee saw what he saw and made his call. I saw Coach Mags yesterday at the all state meeting and I congratulated him on a great gameplan and a state championship and Coach Sawyer did as well. Never will we say anything in ill regards about the Salem program because it is a great program, but we don't have to agree with how the game went.

I'm not even going to address the numerous tweets and messages that were thrown sent online as it is ridiculous how some people act. Fans not coaches of teams are up here beating their chests and acting unruly for what reason? Did you come up with the gameplan to win the game? Did you make any calls during the game? What was your contribution? $10 to the VHSL so why would you think someone would care what you have to say after a game? Until you do what I or any other coach around the state does your opinions don't matter in the grand scheme of things. Lions don't lose sleep over the opinions of sheep.

Now for those of you that had respectful comments and could have a legit conversation I appreciate that. I will continue to have dialogue with you, but the other folks have been hit with the block button. I have too much going on in life to deal with internet thugs, trolls, and coaches.

Again Congrats to Salem as they had a great gameplan and made us work for every yard. They were formidable like I expected and we have much to improve on to get ready for next year. That' what makes football the greatest sport ever as on any given day anyone can be beaten.

My post on another thread:
Some fans on this board and in general need to be respectful of the play that the teams made on the field, Salem fans included. The players on the field & the coaches on the sideline decided the game not the fans in the stands or the referees. People on this board need to be reminded of that. "We" didn't do anything but cheer and hope that things worked out in our team's favor. If people on this board are blaming officials or getting a big head because your team won, realize how disrespectful both of you are being and what a disservice you are doing to your own team. The game was decided on the field by young men. Don't disrespect their effort and their accomplishments by making your posts about "me". There were 2 awesome teams out there giving their best effort, give them credit, you didn't do anything.

 

[DEVILSLB99]

I completely agree with you that the officiating was questionable (both ways) and that the excessive force call was very bad. However, that call did not effect the outcome of the game. There were 2 other legit blocks in the back that were called on the return so the play was coming back regardless.

I will say this in regards to the two other penalties I have seen referenced on here a couple of times. Sure they threw the flag for illegal blocks in the back, but they were way down the field. So starting that final drive on the 30 or 40 is A LOT better than starting from your own 5. I would feel a lot better about our chances to try and get into some type of range instead of backed up with your back to the 5. Play calling becomes a lot harder coming out of the shadow of your own end zone. But there were other plays along the way that hurt.

 

[tommythecpa]

I will say this in regards to the two other penalties I have seen referenced on here a couple of times. Sure they threw the flag for illegal blocks in the back, but they were way down the field. So starting that final drive on the 30 or 40 is A LOT better than starting from your own 5. I would feel a lot better about our chances to try and get into some type of range instead of backed up with your back to the 5. Play calling becomes a lot harder coming out of the shadow of your own end zone. But there were other plays along the way that hurt.

Only listened to the game not seen it yet. It sounded like both teams played so well. I know what its like to lose a state championship game in ot. Not fun.
I enjoy Devils insights. You can learn what hs football is like from his writings.

 

[SalemPride]

I will say this in regards to the two other penalties I have seen referenced on here a couple of times. Sure they threw the flag for illegal blocks in the back, but they were way down the field. So starting that final drive on the 30 or 40 is A LOT better than starting from your own 5. I would feel a lot better about our chances to try and get into some type of range instead of backed up with your back to the 5. Play calling becomes a lot harder coming out of the shadow of your own end zone. But there were other plays along the way that hurt.

That is true Devils but even if you guys had started from the 30 yard line you would have needed at least 60 yards to have a legitimatize try at a last second FG. If I remember correctly no more than 15-20 yards was gained on that last drive. Could it have happened? Yes. However it was still a long shot considering how the game had gone up until that point and with how much time was left.

 

[1MoreHokie]

Posting to see if Devils blocked me.

 

[Hampton Roads 6]

One thing I noticed Saturday, it seemed that EVERY flag thrown was on sideline of team receiving the yardage as result of penalty. I believe this was evident on every flag .

 

[bowlingref]

If the officiating was bad both ways,then things worked out pretty good. I know one team always feels like they got robbed by the Zebras.

 

[freeatlast2013]

First off let me start by saying Happy Holidays to all of you and may your families have a blessed season.

Now, I've been laying low since Saturday because quite frankly it stings losing in the finals considering all the work the kids put in this year. Add in the fact that I didn't see my wife for about 6-7 days and VAPreps was the last thing on my mind. As a coach I take full responsibility for the loss because there are some things we could have done better. Was the officiating perfect no, but it hasn't been all year and some of the blown calls were big plays. I will never get the excessive force call, but it's water under the bridge now because the referee saw what he saw and made his call. I saw Coach Mags yesterday at the all state meeting and I congratulated him on a great gameplan and a state championship and Coach Sawyer did as well. Never will we say anything in ill regards about the Salem program because it is a great program, but we don't have to agree with how the game went.

I'm not even going to address the numerous tweets and messages that were thrown sent online as it is ridiculous how some people act. Fans not coaches of teams are up here beating their chests and acting unruly for what reason? Did you come up with the gameplan to win the game? Did you make any calls during the game? What was your contribution? $10 to the VHSL so why would you think someone would care what you have to say after a game? Until you do what I or any other coach around the state does your opinions don't matter in the grand scheme of things. Lions don't lose sleep over the opinions of sheep.

Now for those of you that had respectful comments and could have a legit conversation I appreciate that. I will continue to have dialogue with you, but the other folks have been hit with the block button. I have too much going on in life to deal with internet thugs, trolls, and coaches.

Again Congrats to Salem as they had a great gameplan and made us work for every yard. They were formidable like I expected and we have much to improve on to get ready for next year. That' what makes football the greatest sport ever as on any given day anyone can be beaten.

I don't mean anything bad about this but just say we lost ! It's good for the soul , more classy , and better for your kids ! God bless !

 

[NoVaKane8]

Awesome win for Salem - they earned it. Devils - don't listen to the naysayers - as I have posted on here before it is easy to sit in the peanut gallery and throw stones. Lake Taylor is a great program and has the wins and the championships to back it up. What gets lost a lot of time is what the coaches do for the kids and how coaches impact the lives of the kids they coach for the better. Rings are great and are the goal of every team - but only a few teams ever get them - they are the icing on the cake. People on the outside looking in like to reduce high school football programs to wins and losses and forget about all of the non-tangibles that make high school football special.

As for the Salem fans - probably one of the best fan bases in the state. A few may have thrown some rocks from the message board peanut gallery - but those few are not representative of 99% of Salem fans. I caught the Salem-John Champe game as it was in my neck of the woods and I can tell everyone on here from what I saw (sitting in the stands with the Salem faithful) - from the fans, to the coaches, to the players - Salem is first class all the way and a team that a guy like me - who has no dog in the proverbial 4A fight - can appreciate.

 

[southbottomU]

Congratulations on another great year Devils. Your kids play hard and disciplined and that is not an easy thing to accomplish--but you guys do it on a regular basis. I do wish you could have just said congratulations to Salem fans and not brought up the officiating--but I guess you just can't let it go. From everything I gather you are an excellent coach and being a family man you seem to be an excellent role model to your players. I still have a bone to pick with you over some things that you said last year that I thought were inappropriate and unfounded but since you have not brought them up again maybe I should let it go. I wish you and your family Merry Christmas and to the Lake Taylor program continued success