What is going on at MBA?!

[TheKeenObserver]

I was at the MBA v. JPII football game last night and, I must say, that is the worst MBA team I have ever seen take the field. Of course, I am fully aware of the well-documented injuries that have decimated the Big Red, but that does little to explain the team’s overall lack of skill, speed, and strength. Is MBA’s talent pool so shallow that even its amazing coaching staff cannot field a team capable of competing with a JPII team that is, at best, a marginal DII power? If not, then MBA is in serious trouble during the rest of the season because it has to play Ryan (home), BA (away), McCallie (away), and Baylor (home) – four teams far superior to JPII.

 

But is it not just the varsity that is struggling. In fact, the situation appears to be far worse than a varsity team decimated by injuries with no apparent football players in reserve. I checked the MBA website and saw that MBA football teams are pitiful at all levels: the 7th grade team is 1-4, the 8th grade team is 1-2, the 9th grade team is 2-1, the JV team is 0-1, and the Varsity team is 3-3 (and probably on its way to finishing 3-7 and not making the playoffs for the first time since the DI-DII split). The future does not look bright; in fact, it appears that the talent pool at MBA is very thin and drying up. Bad news for the football-crazed Big Red alums and even worse news for MBA’s Headmaster and Admissions Director – at this rate, both of them had better update their resumes!

 

Without having the benefit of an insider’s insight, the only fact that I can discern is that while MBA may recruit musicians, artists, debaters, and thespians, is one DII school that definitely does not recruit athletes in general or football players in particular. So, someone in the know, please tell us what is going on at MBA?!

[Redtwin]

I don't think anything is going on at MBA. The varsity is having a down year because of the extreme number of injuries to skill and veteran players. Injuries are something every team has to deal with, but MBA has had more than its fair share this year. I didn't think the JV had played a game, but if 0-1 is cause for alarm, expectations are a little unrealistic. The freshmen being 2-1 is nothing alarming either. Again, if winning 2 of your first 3 games is alarming, there is a problem. As for the microbes, sure, it'd be nice if they were winning, but middle school is about learning how to hit and the other fundamentals of the game. Those kids are going to change so much before they ever step on a varsity field, so it really doesn't matter how much they win and lose in 7th and 8th grade. Some of the best players on my 8th grade team didn't even play football by the time I was a junior, and one of our 4 DI A signees was the mascot his sophomore year rather than being on the team. I think the state of MBA football is just fine, although the varsity is going to have a very difficult time winning this year.

[TMA123]

I was at the MBA v. JPII football game last night and, I must say, that is the worst MBA team I have ever seen take the field. Of course, I am fully aware of the well-documented injuries that have decimated the Big Red, but that does little to explain the team’s overall lack of skill, speed, and strength. Is MBA’s talent pool so shallow that even its amazing coaching staff cannot field a team capable of competing with a JPII team that is, at best, a marginal DII power? If not, then MBA is in serious trouble during the rest of the season because it has to play Ryan (home), BA (away), McCallie (away), and Baylor (home) – four teams far superior to JPII.

 

But is it not just the varsity that is struggling. In fact, the situation appears to be far worse than a varsity team decimated by injuries with no apparent football players in reserve. I checked the MBA website and saw that MBA football teams are pitiful at all levels: the 7th grade team is 1-4, the 8th grade team is 1-2, the 9th grade team is 2-1, the JV team is 0-1, and the Varsity team is 3-3 (and probably on its way to finishing 3-7 and not making the playoffs for the first time since the DI-DII split). The future does not look bright; in fact, it appears that the talent pool at MBA is very thin and drying up. Bad news for the football-crazed Big Red alums and even worse news for MBA’s Headmaster and Admissions Director – at this rate, both of them had better update their resumes!

 

Without having the benefit of an insider’s insight, the only fact that I can discern is that while MBA may recruit musicians, artists, debaters, and thespians, is one DII school that definitely does not recruit athletes in general or football players in particular. So, someone in the know, please tell us what is going on at MBA?!

 

 

Rutledge will have the boys ready to play FR and BA. We just need the defense to score some to help out a very inexperienced QB. Now, if Cordell hadn't bailed out...

[Knightime]

I was at the MBA v. JPII football game last night and, I must say, that is the worst MBA team I have ever seen take the field. Of course, I am fully aware of the well-documented injuries that have decimated the Big Red, but that does little to explain the team’s overall lack of skill, speed, and strength. Is MBA’s talent pool so shallow that even its amazing coaching staff cannot field a team capable of competing with a JPII team that is, at best, a marginal DII power? If not, then MBA is in serious trouble during the rest of the season because it has to play Ryan (home), BA (away), McCallie (away), and Baylor (home) – four teams far superior to JPII.

 

From the opposite side of the field it looked like MBA really has simplified the game plan to acommidate the lack of experience they had. They ran 3 plays over and over and over they moved the ball well but made the critical mistakes of a young team. They also assisted JPII by running the no huddle. This didnt allow JPII to shift their D-line around. Playing in a set D-fense seemed to settle the JPII line down. Once I acutally saw 2 JPII players run into each other trying to swap sides on D-fense it was almost funny.

 

MBA looks to me as a team ready to break out. Looks like they have worked hard on fixing the D-fnse and just need someone to step up and carry the Offense. Dont be surprised to see them make the playoffs.

Edited September 23, 2006 by Knightime

[Buzzman]

MBA will be fine. They are young and, as you guys have already said, the have been "snake bit" with injuries this year. They still went on the road and beat a tough Trinity team. This will be a great learning year for them. I don't think you can keep MBA down for very long. Good luck guys!

[WesVLT]

Don't make the mistake I've made in past seasons -- don't underestimate Jeff Rutledge.

[GREG141]

ENSWORTH.

[GREG141]

Rutledge will have the boys ready to play FR and BA. We just need the defense to score some to help out a very inexperienced QB. Now, if Cordell hadn't bailed out...

Father Ryan versus MBA, do not have a "dog in the fight", but this game will NOT be close. One team just does not match up well against the other. Every dog has his day, and this one is coming and it will not be pretty. Blow-Out. We all know what is going to happen.

 

BA will destroy MBA this year.

[cbg]

Rutledge will have the boys ready to play FR and BA. We just need the defense to score some to help out a very inexperienced QB. Now, if Cordell hadn't bailed out...

 

I know that it is a slanted view but several people from Cordell's new school are saying that he left because he was the best and had not been give the opportunity to show his skills. He is sure putting up some big numbers this season.

[notredame788]

Cordell couldn't make the grades and he got into some off the field issues at the end of last season....he was definitely not the best

[Mach84]

 

 

 

I was at the MBA v. JPII football game last night and, I must say, that is the worst MBA team I have ever seen take the field. Of course, I am fully aware of the well-documented injuries that have decimated the Big Red, but that does little to explain the team’s overall lack of skill, speed, and strength. Is MBA’s talent pool so shallow that even its amazing coaching staff cannot field a team capable of competing with a JPII team that is, at best, a marginal DII power? If not, then MBA is in serious trouble during the rest of the season because it has to play Ryan (home), BA (away), McCallie (away), and Baylor (home) – four teams far superior to JPII.

 

But is it not just the varsity that is struggling. In fact, the situation appears to be Wefar worse than a varsity team decimated by injuries with no apparent football players in reserve. I checked the MBA website and saw that MBA football teams are pitiful at all levels: the 7th grade team is 1-4, the 8th grade team is 1-2, the 9th grade team is 2-1, the JV team is 0-1, and the Varsity team is 3-3 (and probably on its way to finishing 3-7 and not making the playoffs for the first time since the DI-DII split). The future does not look bright; in fact, it appears that the talent pool at MBA is very thin and drying up. Bad news for the football-crazed Big Red alums and even worse news for MBA’s Headmaster and Admissions Director – at this rate, both of them had better update their resumes!

 

Without having the benefit of an insider’s insight, the only fact that I can discern is that while MBA may recruit musicians, artists, debaters, and thespians, is one DII school that definitely does not recruit athletes in general or football players in particular. So, someone in the know, please tell us what is going on at MBA?!

 

KeenO

 

Yes, MBA does attract musicians, artists, debaters, and thespians, HC Jeff Rutledge has said in public several times that he does not recruit football players to MBA. He has made it clear that if he wanted to recruit he would have taken the OC job at UVA that was offered by Al Groh awhile back. While the lack of football recruiting has reduced the talent level somewhat, that is not the primary reason for the underperformance of this year's club.

 

THE BIG RED HAS BEEN DESCIMATED BY INJURIES!

 

Several long time MBA football observers (read alumni) are of the opinion that this senior class and last year's senior class are and were thin, athletically. They have been heard to say that there were zero seniors who went on to play D1 college football off last year's team and that there are zero D1 prospects in this year's senior class. While that may be true, plenty of HS teams have been successful without future D1 players. Unfortunately for MBA, it often plays teams that have one or more D1 prospects in their respective senior classes. So it would be advantageous if MBA could have tow or three D1 prospects on the field every season to help them compete with the other Super Sevens.

 

Because MBA's senior class is indeed relatively thin, MBA is playing more players than it would like both ways. But what has really hurt this year's squad are injuries. Let's review the season, so far:

 

In Week Zero, MBA traveled to Lexington, KY and defeated a very average Dunbar team 24-7, and did so without its starting tailback, Sr. Rich Thompkins, who is out for the season due to ankle surgery. Rich, who is an outstanding athlete, was runner-up this past spring in the decathlon.) Junior Safety, Jas Rader returned Dunbar's first punt 73 yards for a TD giving MBA a 7-0 lead less than 3 minutes into the game. Second string tailback, Jr. Christian Waddey scored MBA's second TD that enabled MBA to take a 14-7 lead into the locker room at the half. Third String Tailback, Soph Patrick Crum, and 2nd string, now 1st string TB, Christian Waddey led the rushing attack in the 2nd half which saw Sr Clayton Foster add a field goal and Waddey cap the scoring with a rushing TD.

 

In Week One, MBA went to Louisville and defeated defending KY State AAAA Champ, Trinity 23-21. MBA now leads the series with Trininty 3 to 2. In the last two minutes of this game, MBA's 2nd string QB, Jr. Austin Bennett, came off the bench, after Sr QB David Howe tore two ligaments in his right knee, to lead MBA down the field (with two herniated disks) to score the winning touchdown. The key play was a 30-something yard 3rd down pass over the middle to Sr. WR Charlie Plageman. Crum scored a key second half TD to get MBA back into the game, and in the 3rd qtr. Waddey, who is a step slower than Crum, but a tough, strong, shifty, hardnose runner who plays with great heart had two key 15-yard runs on draws during winning drive,. Waddey scored the game winning TD with 58 seconds remaining on a 3-yard plunge. This game showed the MBA fans that this season could be special, even though Thompkins was out, Soph TB Patrcik Crum emerged dramatically. But a pall hung over that victory because David Howe was lost for the season with a severe knee injury that occured with two minutes to go in the game.

 

Week Two saw MBA fall at MUS 10-7 as the offense tried to adjust to its new Jr. QB, Austin Bennett. Bennett played in great pain due to the herniated disks in his back and performed at about the 75% level, which limited BA's passing game. Unfortunately, an official who the MBA staff had requested to be scratched earlier that week, and who the TSSAA refused to remove, had far too much personal involvement in the outcome of this game, with five very questionable calls against MBA's offense. He penalized them a total of 40 yards in the 4th qtr. alone. This proved to be Bennett's last game to date. MBA's coaches went ballistic. (The TSSAA later removed this official from the lineup for the upcoming CBHS/MBA game.) MUS's defense played very well. It was led by Vanderbilt commit, Jon Stokes, a 6'5" 225 pound LB.

 

Week Three saw a 2-1 MBA squad play its first home game where it defeated CPA 28-21. Rutledge all but shut down MBA's passing offense to simplify things for Soph QB, Spencer Wise, who got his first start. Speedy Soph TB Patrick Crum, who carried the ball 12 times for 128 yards before leaving the game mid-way through the 3rd qtr with a high ankle sprain, opened the scoring breaking multiple tackles on a 29-yard run in the 2nd qtr. giving MBA a 7-0 lead. Crum broke loose again on a 44-yard draw play to score MBA's second TD before the end of the first half. Junior TB Christian Waddey lead an 80-yard MBA scoring drive to open the second half and scored his first TD of the game. This pushed MBA out to a 21-6 lead and it looked like MBA would run away with it. Waddey later scored his second touchdown of the night in the 4th qtr putting MBA ahead 28-6. MBA let the air out and saw CPA score two TDs late. One came on a turnover and the other when the Lions recovered a beautifully executed on-side kick. Waddey rushed for 154 yards on 34 carries. It was a costly victory as MBA lost Patrick Crum to a high ankle sprain.

 

Week Four required that MBA return to Memphis to face Christian Brothers. Going into this game MBA had 11 players on what the NFL calls the "Injured Reserve" list. Ten of those are in the 2-deep and they include the #1 TB, the #1 & #2 QBs, two starters in the defensive backfield (one of whom doubled as a wide receiver). I personally think the Big Red was emotionally drained by the injury situation as they played with no enthusiasm or energy of any kind. Five offensive turnovers killed them giving CB a short field on several occasions. MBA was blown out 31-6. MBA, which generated over 250 yards rushing against CPA, tallied only 62 yards rushing and 40 yards passing against the Brothers, whose defense was led by a four-star D1 propect, 6'5" 225 LB, Chris Walker, who has 4.65 fourty speed. He has been offered by LSU, Bama, Auburn, Ole Miss, Miami, Tennessee and others.

 

Week Five saw MBA return home to host JPII. The offense was virtually scrapped in favor of the single wing....yes, the single wing! And it was actually quite effective (I know the JPII defense isn't the stiffest, but...) Soph QB Spencer Wise started the game with a hand-off to Waddey who ran for about 8 yards. The rest of the first qtr. saw MBA run from the Single Wing set with Waddey and Jr. FB, Ben Bartholomew, lined up side-by-side most of the time and the ball being snapped directly to Waddey. Wise returned sporadically to the game and threw about five passes; one was intercepted, which led to a Knight field goal. MBA ran up and down the field on the Knights but turned the ball over twice with fumbles on JPII's five yard line. They also lost another fumble near mid-field to the Knights killing another good drive. Mid-way through the 4th qtr., Jr. punt returner Jas Rader allowed a Knight punt to sail over his head and he inexplicably chased the bounding ball. The result was a fumble which was recovered by a Knight at MBA's 21 yard line. Another D1 prospect, Sr. Golden Tate, scored for the Knights six plays later, which proved to be the difference in the game.

 

MBA has played all of its games on artificial turf; therefore, some think that may have something to do with the ankle and knee injuries, but there is certainly no way to determine that. Long time football fans all know that sooner or later most every coach will have a team that will suffer an extraodinarily high number of injuries. (Ask Jeff Fisher & Phil Fulmer) Evidently, the "Football Gods" decided 2006 was Jeff Rutledge's year!

 

Looking ahead, MBA has a tough row to hoe, Father Ryan, Brentwood Academy, McCallie and Baylor. IMHO, it is too much to ask of a Soph QB to engineer the type of offensive production to which MBA has been accustom with Ingle Martin, Michael Fisher and David Howe at the controls. Therefore, MBA's defense will have to step up, and its new single wing attack will have to be less predictable than it was against CPA. Additionally MBA will have to develop a nominal passing attack quickly to keep future opponents from putting 8 and 9 defenders in the box on every play.

 

The Junior and Sophomore classes have more talent than the senior class. That talent combined with the experience they are getting this year, along with a strong off-season training effort should enable the MBA coaching staff to field a very strong and fast team next year.

 

Last year's MBA Freshman football team was 8-1. Its only loss was a last minute defeat at the hands of a 9-0 Lebanon squad, 35-31. Last year's MBA 8th grade team was 6-1.

 

Last year's freshman track team won the Inman Trophy which is awarded to the best track squad in Metro Nashville. It was the first time an independent school has ever won the trophy. The five leading scorers on that track team are Sophomores on this year's varsity. They are Patrick Crum, Leland Howe, Reggie Ford, Joseph Sloan, and Scott Bubis. RB Crum and DB Ford scored heavily in the sprints and relays. DB Howe dominated the pole vault and TE Sloan and OG Bubis scored heavily in the shot and discus.

 

Unlike most other high school programs, MBA does not allow its football players to begin weight training until AFTER their freshman season. This forces MBA to rely more heavily on its seniors than most high school teams, so when the senior class is relatively weak athletically, on the field performance will suffer somewhat. MBA makes up for much of that with strong coaching and thorough game preparation. One can imagine that if MBA were to begin strength and conditioning for its 8th graders AFTER their football season ends, MBA would eventually have more players available for its two-deep roster three years later and wouldn't have to rely so heavily on its senior class.

 

MBA is down this year primarily due to injuries, but it will be back next year, with more bigger, stronger and faster players than they have had the last two seasons. Additionally, for the first time in three seasons MBA will have at least two D1 prospects (6'2" 230 lb LB/FB Ben Bartholomew and 6'5" 320 lb. OT/DT Preston Bailey).

 

The $64,000 question is quarterback. What will happen there? My guess is that Austin Bennett will have healed and will return for his senior season, and that Jeff Rutledge will have him well schooled and that he will perform very well. Waddey and Crum will be back too.

 

So the football future at MBA is not as dim as you paint it, KeenO.

[KWoodroof]

I was at the MBA v. JPII football game last night and, I must say, that is the worst MBA team I have ever seen take the field. Of course, I am fully aware of the well-documented injuries that have decimated the Big Red, but that does little to explain the team’s overall lack of skill, speed, and strength. Is MBA’s talent pool so shallow that even its amazing coaching staff cannot field a team capable of competing with a JPII team that is, at best, a marginal DII power? If not, then MBA is in serious trouble during the rest of the season because it has to play Ryan (home), BA (away), McCallie (away), and Baylor (home) – four teams far superior to JPII.

 

But is it not just the varsity that is struggling. In fact, the situation appears to be far worse than a varsity team decimated by injuries with no apparent football players in reserve. I checked the MBA website and saw that MBA football teams are pitiful at all levels: the 7th grade team is 1-4, the 8th grade team is 1-2, the 9th grade team is 2-1, the JV team is 0-1, and the Varsity team is 3-3 (and probably on its way to finishing 3-7 and not making the playoffs for the first time since the DI-DII split). The future does not look bright; in fact, it appears that the talent pool at MBA is very thin and drying up. Bad news for the football-crazed Big Red alums and even worse news for MBA’s Headmaster and Admissions Director – at this rate, both of them had better update their resumes!

 

Without having the benefit of an insider’s insight, the only fact that I can discern is that while MBA may recruit musicians, artists, debaters, and thespians, is one DII school that definitely does not recruit athletes in general or football players in particular. So, someone in the know, please tell us what is going on at MBA?!

A couple of quick points that haven't been addressed...The lower level results are fairly meaningless. That's not to say nobody cares; they do, even the alumni look at the Jr. School results. But the 7th graders are usually a bit shell shocked from the introduction to MBA's workload and demands. Further, their schedule is mostly middle school teams that include 7th and 8th graders. MBA would have a better record if they fielded one 7th and 8th grade team, but fewers 7th graders would get playing time. It seems a good trade-off to me; participation is more important than winning at this level. Further, Redtwin makes a good point about the number of 7th graders who are playing by the time they reach the varsity. From my 7th grade team, only 3 players were regular contributors by the time they were seniors. Add three more from that class who played mostly for the 8th grade team, and you have 6 players from a 40+ roster.

 

But where you really miss the boat about MBA is your statement regarding the Headmaster and Admissions Director needing to update their resumes. The Board of Trust will tolerate unpleasant football results. The concern is academic achievement and maintaining the school's standing and reputation. As long as that segment of the house is in order, there will be no shake-ups.

 

The talented sophomores, who should be playing JV football right now, are having to shoulder the varsity instead. They, and some relatively inexperienced juniors will make mistakes, and it will cost games. But next year and the year after, they will be experienced, and angry. MBA has played football for 108 years, and has a long memory.