Twing

MUS is not out manned...if u look at the number of division one signers from must each year u will see that the owls rank in the Upper tier of privates...they r not out manned in any regard...and yes theIr staff does a great job.

I dont know how Tim Hart (LB 6'1 215) is not on this pre-season team. In my opinion, he was the best linebacker in the league last year....especially in the championship game vs Ensworth.

Who does MBA scrimmage this week and next week? That will be a good measure of how they will do in the first few games with so many new players.

Taxman, I agree about Ty Chandler....I think he was the best running back in the entire league this year; I don't know why Marty EVERY takes him out.

Owlbooster makes a number of good points. I watched all of the game and thought MUS played inspired football; especially on Defense. Ensworth also has a terrific defense. As for the MUS coaches, I think they do an outstanding job. Looking back though, MUS was in total control of the game; even though they had no running game. And given how MUS was defending Ensworth, in my opinion, it would have been difficult for them to put together 2 scoring drives. When you live and die with a passing offense, interceptions are part of the deal. But we are all great armchair quarterbacks especially after the fact. MUS and Ensworth both have great coaching staffs and are the best in all of division II - and the state -- not close.

Certainly, MBA Ensworth BA (locally) and many other privates state wide all operate using the same model - though Ensworth seems less apologetic about its methods. There is nothing wrong with a private school doing what it takes to be good (in sports). Budgets for these privates are paid by tuitions; typically each school sets aside a defined amount of money earmarked for financial aid. I personally see nothing wrong with what Ensworth is doing. Full tuition payers are not forced to attend Ensworth - the school is good enough to attract plenty of tuition paying students.

In MBA's offense last season, the QB was there primarily to hand off - although their QB's were really good at the bootleg passes - MBA had a good offense because it was a dual threat offense....and all the runs were complemented with passes off the same run action; no option threat from the QB position; also really no downfield passing threat because the "just average" arm strength of the QB's; MBA's passing game was good only when the run game was assisting and being mixed in with the run; by itself - not so much. But running the "MBA offense" Hall was very effective. Brentwood Academy: certainly the BA passing game was dangerous due to the excellent talent of the BA receivers; also, the BA QB could deliver the ball downfield; again, not too much run offense or theat from the BA QB position; Yes he did have good numbers; but I am not sure that either one of the QB's at MBA or BA could carry a team or really scare an opposing defensive coach.....by himself - as Rodgers could - On almost every running play, Rodgers had a read....give or keep (when MUS was in the GUN which was about 80% of he time) so he had decisions to make on most plays, even run plays - and on passing plays, Rodgers made MUS go - MUS has the best passing offense in the league (and probably the state) hands down; and when pressured, and moving around Rodgers was even better - and it really takes a good player to not only make the reads but also to execute the throws; I am not saying that Rodgers is a college prospect but for high school in DII last year he was terrific Take Staver or Hall out of the MBA or BA offense for a game and MBA and BA will survive and beat most teams; not true w Rodgers - I am not sure that MUS could have functioned without Rodgers last year.

Again, Ricky has been running the same basic offense since 1996. Yes Paul Wade is a great football coach and does a great job as the OC - no one works harder; but that is all Paul has to do....no classes, nothing against him, still great, but I wanted to note this (Jonas teaches no classes either - so Ensworth has 3 fuil time football coaches not teaching any academic classes) . Paul and RIcky had similar offense beliefs even before they worked together at Ensworth....2 back, iso, off tackle, and stretch play + some simple play actions -- the magic is in Wade's skill as an O Line coach - But ensworth is running the same bacic but effective OLine schemes and plays that Ricky and Paul have both run for years - and this year Ensworth did not run the QB as much or get into the stack I.

Ricky has run the same basic offense since 1996; that's one of the reasons why he has been so successful - He does not change his offense.

Rodgers at MUS was the best QB in the league hands down - he carried his team and MUS overachieved this season.

Big Red Blue - the rich get richer and the poor get poorer it seems, in every way....weight rooms, uniforms, # of coaches, a certified strength coach (Ensworth has 3 or 4 on staff now), new pads ?? and Ur right, the teams who play city publics just write them a check and they play. Wes - you make a good argument for a great league; but the league would need some kind of governing body, officials things like that - I would be in favor of

Remembering when publics and privates (alot fewer) played in the same classifications (QUOTA RULE - ruled unstitutional - for privates who gave financial aid, there was a quota (limit) on the number of players who could participate in varsity games (4 in football); and then remembering the LAWSUIT and the ultimate SPLIT into DII -- and now, the big privates especially in an arms race competing for the best players and coaches - and trying to always upgrade any facility that a competitor may have gotten first. All this makes me think about the process: Who have been the winners and who have been the losers? Sure, I will agree that some kids have been introduced to private school education who would not have been without recuiting for football. But in my opinion, the real tragedy is the effect that the SPLIT has had on the city public high schools. The city schools are pathetic in every way. Any parent who can (pay for) get their kid out of the public school system and into a private will do this. Many of the better athletes have left the public schools over the last 18 years (more and more). But many great families with great kids (leaders) have left for the privates for reasons other than athletic. Disclaimer: certainly, there still are many great people in the public school system but I am sure we all will agree that the problems are almost insurmountable. Something I also do not like that private education seems to develop (unintentionally) is the sence of entitlement and priviledge that many kids develop.

good point

You are taking what I posted out of context. I wrote the earlier post in response to earlier comments that Ensworth has no weaknesses on Defense (and really no defense has "no" weaknesses). In response to comments about E's defense giving up so few points, I suggested that the league was down a bit this year. The E defense is not the best defense to ever play in this league: again -- MBA 1999 AND 2000, Ryan 1997 are two i can remember - However, I will certainly agree that Ensworth has "some" very talented and experienced players and are very well coached and have really improved during the season. This is my opinion but let's not take posts out of context and manipulate information. I do not have a dog in the hunt and comment objectively. When people are on this site merely pumping their team, it is annoying.