December 10, 2015
GREAT CHRISTMAS PRESENT FOR LSU, SAINTS AND BIG SPORTS FAN
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SPORTSCENTRAL
Hosts Steve Johnson and Sid Edwards are scheduled to be joined by CHS wrestlers Russell Ball, Tyler Fontenot, Javintiye’ Hasbert and Nick Jones.
BATON ROUGE AREA BROADCASTING SCHEDULE:
Thursday, December 10: 5pm—6pm: SportsCentral… with Sid Edwards and Steve Johnson
Radio Amour 91.9 FM, Central
SportsRadio 1310 Radio, Lake Charles Programming of Interest (also heard on KEZMOnLine.com):
Saturday, December 12: 9AM—10AM: All Things Football with Scott Holtzman
Monday, December 14: 8AM—10AM: The Locker Room with John Goodman and Jim Gazzolo
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THE WIZARDRY OF OS
Assistant Basketball Coach and Head Swimming Coach at Central High School
If you are anything like me, you need a break from this football season. Both LSU and the Saints have performed below expectations, and there has been too much drama toward the end for me to enjoy the conclusion of the season.
As a result, I am taking a break from the local football scene to look at the national picture. The College Football Playoff pairings are set, and I think we will have three closely contested games. Regardless of the outcomes to those games, we all should be appreciative of the new format.
In the old BCS format, we would have had Clemson vs. a one loss team that did not have an overwhelming argument over the many other one loss teams. We would have spent a month arguing over the matchup, and would not have concentrated on the actual game as much as it deserves. Then after the game, we would have spent the rest that one of the lone loss teams that did not play in the game was really the best team. Isn’t that right USC fans?
In the NFL, it looks like we will once again have a.500 or below division winner, and I could not be any happier. The reason I am happy is that the people who had spent the past 7 years blowing off the illogical NFL playoff seeding system finally appear to be recognizing the issue. I have a good feeling this offseason the NFL will change to only guarantee division winners a playoff spot, but not a home game.
Meanwhile, I continue to marvel at the Carolina Panthers. Their whole organization deserves an award. Maybe the “Patriots of the NFC” award. Just kidding about the award, but I am serious about what they have accomplished. Three straight division titles, and they have not lost in a calendar year. All of this success, despite have a quarterback with a $100 million contract eating up cap space, and not one wide receiver who I would put on my fantasy team.
Speaking of teams to marvel over, the Golden State Warriors. I wish I could see them play more. Since, I don’t have the time or opportunity, I am usually sure to watch their highlights. One of the aspects I enjoy most about their highlights is how each night they do something different that is dazzling. In contrast, a team like the Clippers have the same highlights every night (a lob dunk to Griffin). The Warriors, on the other hand, could have a possession where there is great ball movement, a great fast break, a quarter where one player goes off, or another brilliant display of Steph Curry’s skill and creativity.
If you are wondering if these topics tie together at all, I think they do ever so loosely. If you are like me and frustrated by the struggles of your favorite football team this season, take some time to appreciate how difficult it is for a college team or professional organization to be really great in this era.
HEY REF
First things first. Who says “Good guys finish last”? Whoever that may be I’d like to introduce them to Catholic’s Head Football Coach Dale Weiner. He made a giant impression on me many years ago while he was the top man for Catholic High Pointe Coupee. In our pregame conference our referee had told us that Dale will keep you on your toes tonight. If you think Les Miles is unpredictable all I can say is that he’s got nothing on Dale.
In a previous game or I should say games he would try something off the wall and something you’d never expect a team to do so early in the game. Just a week earlier he started that night’s festivities with an on-side kick off. He caught that entire crew with their collective pants down. But in those very early days the officials in Baton Rouge’s association were so good they were able to regroup and never flinched for the remaining 47 and a half minutes.
That night one of my main duties was to stand on the receiver’s restraining line (usually the 50) and make any calls in that 10 yard span. So, I’m remembering what we’d talked about and as Dale would do he had his kicker try and put it out of the endzone. So, I’m feeling good since I was all over that opening kick and thought I’d passed my first test. I was as proud of myself as I thought to myself “this coach can’t get one by me”. Oh, how wrong I was because I only had five years under my belt at the time. Dale hadn’t even looked into his bag of tricks as the crew went mistake free all the way to halftime.
As we walked off the field there was this collected sigh of relief and we just knew Dale was scheming something big because of who was sitting in the stands on my side of the field. This is telling my age because the Governor at that time was Mr. Dave Treen. The rest of the game went about as easy as a game could be. We were all thinking we’d get out of that game unmarked. And we wanted to do the best we could since Governor Dave Treen was on hand.
Then “IT” happened, the “IT” I was dreading for over five days since I got my game assignment went down big as day. Well the “IT” started off as a member of the offense coming out of the huddle and LEAVING the filed on my side. I thought nothing of it since I saw a new player go into the huddle and one left the game. Dale ran what’s known as a “HIDE-OUT” where the player coming off the field was actually one of the eleven players.
Dale was talking to the player and my attention was on the offense and getting ready for the snap. Well the snap was a beautiful one and then all of a sudden the quarterback steps back about ten feet and unleashes the most perfect spiral down the field somewhere in the neighborhood of fourty to fifty yards. As I’m watching this admiring the pass I took a glance at the receiver and wondered why they had two guys wearing the same number and then that ‘ole “punch in the gut” feeling takes over and all I can hope is that he drops the pass.
As it would turn out that was one prayer that went unanswered as the ball and player were downed inside the ten yard line. My white hat wasn’t too happy with me and I didn’t try and make excuses as I just “manned-up” and said I blew it. There was nothing to do but own it. To correct my blown call we met at midfield and talked our way through the play.
As I stated earlier our association had the best officials in the state. My counterpart across from me saw the play as I had my back to it and made the correct call as this is an illegal play since the rules state you can’t use a replaced player to deceive. The ball was brought back and if I remember correctly we penalized 5 yards from where the pass was thrown (for an illegal forward pass) and a loss of down.
I thought I was in for one huge chewing out but Dale looked at me, didn’t say a word for a couple plays then just said in a calm voice “most crews don’t have what it takes to penalize that”. I have to respect a coach that in this type of situation stayed calm, knew what he’d done, got caught and penalized yet just went onto the next play. If this type of play would happen today you can bet the house most if not all coaches would be screaming and cursing the crew. But Dale was and is nothing but class both on and off the field.
These kinds of mistakes either make you better or cause you to walk away. The biggest thing I learned from that game wasn’t in any rulebook because class isn’t something you get out of books. It’s something you earn on the field in tough situations. From that game all the way to the final game I worked in Baton Rouge Dale was always at the top of every official’s list for the classiest coach to work for. He hasn’t changed in all these years.
You ask anyone that’s played for Dale and the first thing they’ll say is how much they respect him. That’s because Dale knows how to return respect. It’s something that seems easy for him. His players go the extra mile for him year after year. He’s one of those few men that no matter how old his players get they always call him “COACH”. His influence goes well beyond the playing field. I feel very fortunate to have worked some of his games.
Some say good guys finish last but I can say without hesitation Dale Weiner is one of the best and he surely will never finish last. Thanks Coach for letting me in to see the class act that you are. You’re one in a million!!!
Till next week…
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