July 17, 2014
3 WEEKS AWAY
Year 3 of The Dru Nettles Show comes your way in 21 days… on Cox 4 Television, Thursday, August 7, 6pm-7pm. (with replay on Friday, August 8, 10:30am—11:30am)
CENTRAL’S WEEKLY SPORTS SHOW
The Central Sports & Business Report airs tonight, 5:30pm—6:30pm, broadcasting live from Johnny’s Pizza House, Wax Road, in Central, on WPFC, 1550AM, Baton Rouge and on the Internet at JonFineProductions.com. Host Steve Johnson will be joined by Central HS Head Basketball coach Ron Lewis, Assistant football coaches David Dykes and Brandon Lagroue, Central Middle School coach Cody Rogillio and former CHS football player Joey Jarreau. The sponsor of the week is Doug Davis with Davis Collision & Towing.
BROADCASTING SCHEDULE:
Thursday, July 17: 5:30pm—6:30pm… with Steve Johnson … broadcasting live from Johnny’s Pizza House in Central
WPFC, 1550AM, BR
Internet: JonFineProductions.com
SportsRadio 1310 Radio, Lake Charles Programming of Interest (also heard on KEZMOnLine.com:
Saturday, July 19: 9AM—10AM: All Things Football with Scott Holtzman
Monday, July 21: 8AM—10AM: The Locker Room with John Goodman and Jim Gazzolo
WE THANK YOU FOR DOING YOUR UTMOST TO PATRONIZE SPONSORS OF OUR PROGRAMMING. THIS HELPS US TREMENDOUSLY IN SUSTAINING OUR WEEKLY LINE-UP AND WILL ASSIST US IN ADDING MORE PROGRAMS IN THE FUTURE. KINDLY MAKE AN EFFORT TO LET SPONSORS KNOW YOU HEARD THEIR BUSINESS MENTIONED ON OUR BROADCAST(S).
THE WIZARDRY OF OS
Assistant Basketball Coach and Head Swimming Coach at Central High
The complaint this year at SEC media days, from the media, is that there isn't the "star power" of years past. Last year was an outlier in my mind though.
It was an extraordinary year for veteran quarterbacks in the SEC, while a large number of defensive standouts were in the NFL. The exception to that statement was Jadeveon Clowney who was as big of a name as there was in college football. Comparatively, this year never stood a chance.
That being said, the SEC is going to have plenty of star power by seasons end. The problem for the SEC media days is that the stars of the league are too young to represent their teams at media days or the stars aren't at quarterback so they aren't being recognized.
Last year the running backs were overshadowed by the quarterbacks. That won't be the problem this year. The stable of running backs in the league are incredible. Leonard Fournette is going to be great, and will most likely be a first round draft pick in three years. Yet LSU's running backs are ranked only 7th best in the conference by ESPN. That should tell you something.
The NFL doesn't draft running backs in the first round anymore, but that will change next year with Todd Gurley. In addition, Alabama, Texas A&M, South Carolina, Arkansas and others are loaded with running backs that will play in the NFL.
Receivers like D'haquille Williams, Speedy Noil, and hopefully Dupree and Quinn at LSU are very likely to burst onto the scene and have huge years. And those are just a few of the first year receivers that will stand out. There are a number of second year players that will be be great as well like Laquon Treadwell at Ole Miss.
The traditionally stingy SEC defenses took some lumps last year. Yet, there are a number a great defensive players that will get more notice this year because the overall defenses will play better. Vernon Hargeaves, Landon Collins, Trey DePriest, Robert Nkemdiche, and others (some from LSU) are going to be outstanding this year and will be high draft picks in the future.
I think the difference in star power from last year to this year is actually two names. Manziel and Clowney. If those two players were at this year's Media Days, the talk would be about the great star power this year as compared to last.
My point is that the media has to wait for players to produce to be stars. As fans, don't worry. The stars are there and they are going to show everyone who they are in a month and a half.
HEY REF
The National Federation of State High Schools which governs how we play and the rules in which we abide by in Louisiana has issued their annual rules changes for the upcoming 2014 football season. And again, as is customary, they’ve also included with those rule changes a few definition clarifications. This year is no different in the fact that many rules were just tweaked a little bit by simple editorial additions and/or subtractions.
The Federation once again has put most of their emphasis in making the high school game safer. The not so biggest change has been the way “targeting” will be defined and penalties enforced when it is called. Many times a rule specifically spells out what the offense or defense can and can’t do. The “targeting” rule will be the same for both sides of the ball.
Targeting as defined by the Federation reads “Targeting is an act of taking aim and initiating contact to an opponent above the shoulders WITH the helmet, forearm, hand, fist, elbow OR shoulders”. Sounds simple, doesn’t it and to the point? Is anyone confused? The two key words for officials are “taking aim”. Once again the writers of the rule have good intentions but the burden on the refs will be tremendous as we’ll charged with establishing the opposing player’s intent or “taking aim” at the head.
Rules for “catching a pass in/out of bounds if not hit by an opponent and coming down in-bounds, etc.” were thrown out because coaches felt the officials couldn’t be certain if a receiver would’ve been able to come down if not for the contact. Now, I know it’ll come up in just about every game; a coach will either agree or not with you simply based on who gets saddled with the mark-off. And if you do rule “intent” he’ll scream that we’ve screwed his team.
Proving intent has always been and will continue to be a very hot topic. I know this official won’t have a problem with the “intent” part of the rule simply because if the contact is made with such force to injure then I’ll be on the side that protects any player absorbing these kinds of hits. Early in spring games we must be diligent to insure that all schools and teams understand that there is no grey area when safety of the players is at stake.
Also the definition of a “defenseless player” will now be “any player who, because of his physical position and focus of concentration, is especially vulnerable to injury”. Again, player safety is number one here. This goes for those dreaded “crack-back blocks” and hits in the back on returns (kickoff, punt, interception and fumble).
Another change; When kicking off, the kickers must have at least four players on either side of the ball and that only the kicker may be further than five yards behind the kicking team’s free-kick line. This eliminates members of the kicking team from getting a full running start by being 15 yards behind the ball before it’s kicked. This, they hope will slow down the charge of the kicking team, in theory if nothing else.
I’d also like to touch briefly on a loose ball being touched by a player blocked into the ball. It should be a no-brainer to understand but the rule states “accidental touching of a loose ball by a player being blocked into the ball IS IGNORED and DOESN’T constitute a new force”. Simply put if you’re blocked into a fumble, backward pass or kick that has hit the ground. The key here is a GROUNDED since a new force isn’t considered to have happened to a ball “in flight” or had NOT touched the ground. Many times I’ll have a coach jump up and down when an opposing player is knocked into the loose ball and he thinks this causes the ball to now be considered a fumble.
Let me take a quick second to explain how we penalize roughing the PASSER on Friday night. The National Federation rules on “Roughing the Passer” carries a 15 yard penalty AND a first down from the dead ball spot as long as the offense is still in possession of the ball. If the quarterback is sacked behind the line and roughing is called then we’ll go to the line of scrimmage and assess 15 yards and a first down.
Those are the few changes made this year by the National Federation as most other changes are simple definition or editorial changes. The High School game is one where player safety is number one over any and everything else. I hear “that ain’t how they did it Sunday (or Saturday night) and I never tell a coach he’s wrong about that because more times than not he’s 100% correct. Friday night rules are in most cases similar to the college and pro games but vastly different in other instances.
As we start another new season I’d like to ask each and every one sitting in the stands on a Friday night that if you’ve got questions about a ruling in one of your games just send me a quick word or two and I’ll do my best to not only get you a quick explanation but the CORRECT one. So, if the play situation is the same as you explain but my answer is different from what happened that certain Friday night I’ll sit down with that crew and get their side of the story.
I’ve always been told that there are only two things you can be certain about in life. Well, I’ll give you one more; this ref/writer will get you the right answer to your question even when the guys in stripes get it wrong. I’ll go out on a limb here and bet that in more cases my guys will be on the correct side of their rulings.
Till next week…
The Rotary Club of Livingston Parish
Rotary Bull
By Ivy Graham
“Service Above Self”
Please visit our website at www.rotaryclublp.org.
This week’s meeting:
• This week’s meeting will be held at Big Mike’s. Fellowship begins at 11:30. The meeting is from 12:00-1:00. This week’s guest speaker will be Isabel Casas. She is our first camper to attend RYLA and we are very much looking forward to her report about the camp. Should we continue to send students or boycott the event in its entirety? Everything rides on Isabel’s presentation. You better not miss this meeting!
Last week’s meeting:
• Last week Casie McMurray shared her passion with us
Service to others. She is actively working on establishing a network or website or location where those in need can find the services offered in this community that will address their problems. We wish her the best of luck in her honorable endeavors and will provide the assistance that we can.
• Our club has a brag jar. Better bring your dollars folks!
• Supply list for animal shelter was distributed. We need a builder!!!
Upcoming Events/Projects:
• Currently selling wine tasting tickets. Sell! Sell! Sell!
• Wine Tasting 7/25
Note from the President:
• July is Rotary Grants month. How does a club get a grant? Could this club get a grant? How many different types of grants does rotary offer? Hummmm
So many questions, so much to learn!
Guest Speakers and General Membership Meeting Dates:
• July 25 – Guest Speaker, Public Service Commissioner
• Aug 8 – Guest Speaker, Livingston Parish Arts Council
• Sept 12 – Carl Herrick, Sandler Training (pending)
• Oct 10 – Patrick Beauchamp, Estate Planner (pending)
Brags:
• Abigail DePino’s sister is looking for work! She has a master’s degree in physics which means she could hang out with the guys on Big Bang Theory. Don’t know anyone like that? She is also an amazing tutor for math and science. Go figure!
• Jon Fine has advertisement space available for the upcoming football season. The Dru Nettles show will be airing once again and there is always the radio coverage of our local teams. Get in now while there is still space!
• Jonathan Whitman promoted his new business venture of selling guns. Need to shoot something or someone, he’s your guy!
• April Wehrs announced that she completed and obtained a very special certification for the Chamber. Great work April!
• Jon Fine was so excited he could not contain the secret any longer! He has been named the official president of the Ivy Graham fan club. We know Jon will bring grace and dignity to this prestigious office.
Members:
• Your quarterly dues have been distributed. Please kindly and timely submit your payment to Lisa Casas.
• Shirts for sale only $7.00 for members. These things are selling like hotcakes!
JON IS PROUD TO WORK AS A MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE FOR SPORTSRADIO-1310-KEZM-LAKE CHARLES, IN ESTABLISHING THE “DOLLAR A HOLLER” MARKETING PROGRAM AND HELPING SELL SULPHUR HS FOOTBALL BROADCASTS AND BARBE HS BASEBALL PLAYOFF BROADCASTS.