I remember years ago when the team I coached had a rivalry game and it really wasn't a rivalry, we had beaten them pretty regularly each year; but it was rather a culture war. They had a culture and we had a culture where we were and they opposed one another. And prepping for that game each year we had to tell our kids that after we got up a few scores it would no longer be about football. Their kids would try their dead best to try and get our kids into a fight so they'd be suspended or even at times their kids tried to pick a fight with our staff. It was ridiculous each year but each year we played them we knew it would be about them trying to intentionally try and do something that would make this game about something else. Whether they would try and get our kids ejected or even try to hurt our kids so our season would resemble there's.
Sometimes football can be an ugly, ugly game. It's combat, where two sources of pride come in conflict with one another and neither wants to move or give an inch. I believe in total depravity in all men because that's what the Bible tells me about not just you as a man, but me too. We are fallen, and after seeing what we saw last night you don't have to go real far to teach total depravity after what we all saw, where football got really...really ugly.
You could tell that their game plan was simple, hurt Fitz and they'll have a chance to win. I could tell from his first carry and first drop back they were targeting him above the neck. He got hit right in mouth right off the bat and the refs missed it. He even told the ref after the play he was targeted. Sometimes in the game the refs DO (unintentionally miss calls) as a played you need to make them aware of what they missed in a respectful manner of course. But it was pretty blatent they were trying to hurt Nick. He's 80+% of our offense. And if you ever questioned his heart before, or the fact that Key is better than him you can go sit down now you are done with message boards for a while. This kid is one of the toughest kids I've ever seen play. He reminds me of that QB from the movie "the Program". He's crazy and he is no doubt TRUE MAROON!
I'm not really happy with our staff's inability to help Key after Fitz got hurt. Listen to me guys, in football you can mask some deficiences. You can hide guys and their inability to do certain things through 2 things as a coach. Play calling and player alignments. It's called good ole fashioned situational football. We knew Key couldn't do what Fitz had done and if we knew that the staff knew it too. What do you do when you are facing a loaded box and you know they are charging hard every snap and you have an inexperienced QB who needs some rhythm? You run screens and draws to lure in the front 7 and you throw it right into the teeth of the rushing front 7 and watch them over pursue the play time after time and eventually they'll have to slow play it and that's when you catch them with the counters, dives and zone reads it's basic football. CDM really disappointed me last night with his inability to help a young player who was facing a loaded box all night long. And don't tell me that CDM doesn't have that in his play book, go watch the 2010 & 2011 Egg Bowl and watch Relf shred that DL that was far better than the one Key faced last night. And I love Relf but he isn't half as talented as Key is at both passing and running.
Defensively I thought once we made adjustments, Grantham's kids were solid against a very explosive offense! They continually got put into spots where really I looked for them to see if they were going to give up but they never did. I was very proud of them. Yes we gave up some explosive plays and tons of yards to the WRs on a handful of plays. They really keyed in on Sweat and chipped and cut him throughout the game but the interior DL was solid. I do think the ILB play could've been better though. Alot of those runs wee gave up, they should be filling in those gaps and we were trying to arm tackle from those positions too much. Some of our kids were out of place from the ILB group and I think they could've played a little better. Eroll Thompson will be stud in a year or so though, the kid is a solid tackler and takes on blocks like a champ. I think he probably played the best from that group.
I hate we lost. But we dug ourselves into a hole we couldn't get out of. 5 TO's and we still lose by 3? If you had told me before the game that we would lose Fitz, turn the ball over 5 times and only lose by 3 I would say you were crazy, but that's what happened. At the end of the day Fitz showed us he may end up being the most TRUE MAROON QB Mullen has ever had when it's all over. I think Fitz will come back better next year as a passer and stronger and I think next year will be a special year for sure for this group. Let's get ready to go bowling. Oh and if an UM fan starts w/ the Egg Bowl victory jabs tell them "congrats on ya'lls 6th win. Now that you guys are mathematically bowl eligible where do you think you guys are going?" (and then smile).
That's it guys, remember Jesus loves you and died for you to have fellowship with God and go DAWGS!
