Varsity Kansas - The Blog

by joanna

I had a few minutes today, so I thought I’d give former Olathe North coach Gene Wier a call. He’s been coaching Richland (Texas) football since 2003. When he left Olathe North, after the 2002 season, Olathe North was riding a 38-game winning streak.

In his 22 seasons in charge of the Eagles’ program, Wier compiled a 188-36 record, an .839 winning percentage. Only five coaches in state history have a better winning percentage. He had an impressive streak from 1996-2002, as well. Olathe North won titles in 1996, 97, 98, 2000, 2001, 2002. Olathe North won in 2003, as well.

The conversation was interesting, as I talked to him about differences between Texas and Kansas football.

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by joanna

It was a rather exciting morning in my house — my stepdaughter went off to middle school and my son went off to kindergarten. Unbelievable.

There were no tears shed by anyone in the Chadwick family, although I might have seen some tears in the kindergarten teacher who has 24 kids. I hope she gets paid lots of money (although I know that’s not the case). We lugged all the school supplies we had to buy, then turned around and my boy has the first day of treats that we have to buy, and then there’s some googley eyes that we have to get, too.

Did you send anyone off to school today? Did you cry tears of joy or sadness? Did you go off to school today or yesterday? Tell us all about it.

Now onto sports.

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by joanna

Got an e-mail from a reader who said he heard Chris Harper got hurt. So I texted him, and yep, he did.

Harper said he strained his rotator cuff, but he’s OK now.

Here’s some stories that I dug up from Oregonlive on Harper’s injury: here. There was another story on Harper, too.

In other updates:

Blaize Foltz

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by joanna

You know, I did this type of post last week and here I am doing it again. Am I in a rut already? Can’t be true.

But here we go

• The KBCA all-star game is tonight in Topeka. Our own Jonathan Long will bet there, checking out the games. I know one reader who e-mailed me was especially interested in watching the final high school game for Southeast’s Jordan Cyphers, Adonis Gantt and Cortez Barnes — and they’ll be playing for Carl Taylor. Can’t beat that.

Will you go to the game? Do you care about all-star games?

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by joanna

The reason I ask the question in this post is I think it’s an interesting barometer about who you are as a person. It kind of gives a hint as to how you were raised, what motivates you, what kind of boss you’d like to work for.

When my boss took over as sports editor, he asked me at a convention what I wanted for him. For me it’s simple — give me some praise for something legit, then tell me where I need to improve. My weakness is when I hear all bad stuff, then I just get down. But if I get a smidgen of positivity, then I’ll work even harder to correct the negatives.

A co-worker and I once discussed Randy Smithson, when he was coaching at WSU and he threw the pop can across the locker room after a game. I said that I wouldn’t want to play for a coach who was so volatile. My co-worker was just the opposite, saying that’s exactly the kind of person he would play for.

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by joanna

Garden City football coach Mike Smith e-mailed me his survey this morning, so I was filling out his schedule when I realized that the Buffs have an open date in Week 2.

Smith said that they tried to find someone to play them from the four-state area and couldn’t find anyone. That’s when he put in his plug for eight-team districts.

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by joanna

Actually, I’m betting most of you across the state would find them in your mailbox at school today. I think they were sent out last Wednesday.

Please remember that you can hand write them, fill them out online, e-mail me a copy that you send to other newspapers. It’s all good. We just want the info.

Of course, a huge help would be hand writing your football schedules so I don’t have to do that, but….. Could there be a more obvious plea? Wow. Sad.

Coaches of other sports, we’ve got the surveys going out this week for the teams in our area. Please send them back or e-mail us with the info — joanna@varsitykansas.com, jonathan@varsitykansas.com.

by joanna

I’m out at the South Y’s Farha Center. Very nice place. I’ve never been in here before, but it’s spacious — it’s nice and cool in here — there’s a lot of courts, every game is moving along nicely. I’m liking it. I haven’t paid too much attention to the game’s — it’s fourth- and fifth-graders, and lots of people I don’t know. I’m working on a story for Tuesday, so that’s been my focus, kind of.

I’ve been distracted by a few things, though. (more…)

Here’s the tentative schedule of live high school broadcasts on KCTU, Local 5.

Friday Sept 5: Northwest at Kapaun-Mt. Carmel

Thursday, Sept. 11: North vs. West

Friday, Sept. 12: Dodge City at East

Friday, Sept. 19: Bishop Carroll at South;

Friday, Sept. 26: Bishop Carroll vs. North

Friday, Oct. 3: Northwest vs. Southeast

Friday, Oct. 10: Heights at South

Friday, Oct. 17: Derby vs. Southeast

Friday, Oct. 24: Campus at South

Friday, Oct. 31: Southeast vs. East

Any games jump out at you?

The biggest thing that jumps out to me is that they aren’t going to show Carroll at Heights, the first game of the season, Thursday September 4. This is a TENTATIVE schedule so I’m hoping that something clicks in the head of a decision maker over there and they add this game.

Not only is this the first game of the season, but it’s a marquee match-up. Both these teams should contend for a City League title and beside maybe NW vs. Kapaun I don’t see another game on the list that’s a better match-up.

But that’s just me going by what I’ve heard from others as far as who should be good this year and who won’t.

So let me know what you think of the schedule. What games should be added? What games have no business on T.V. whatsoever?

By J. Long

A-11 Offense.

Some people call it revolutionary. Others, mostly football purists, scoff at it. However, I think the coaches at Piedmont High School are on to something.

This is the A-11(All Eleven Players Potentially Eligible) Offense. The base formation shown below illustrates the use of two quarterbacks three receivers on both sides and two tight ends around the center.

Every player wears an eligible receiver jersey 1-49 or 80-99. The rule is that only five players can go down-field, but with everyone being eligible before the snap, this can lead to a lot of confusion for a defense.

I personally love it. Its like a video game offensive scheme come to life. Talk about ultimate dual QB system. Imagine if Florida had used this set with Chris Leak and Tim Tebow. You’d have to guard against Leak getting the snap and going deep. But also defend Tebow getting the snap and either running or passing it. Plus it spreads the field so you can still run the ball.

Here’s some video of it in being used in an actual game.

The QB does make a couple of bad throws, but look at the options. There are tons of them and if the signal caller makes the right read it’s big play chances on everywhere.

So what do you think? I understand that this is a run oriented state, but do you think that somebody might catch on and actually try this?