[LHS3]

Lagote74, on Aug 18 2010, 09:40 AM, said:

Ditto! I had been told at Body Shop by another former Lion who was/is working with the Sherfick kid, so all of that is true. Before I got sick I saw alot of the ballplayers at Body Shop working out with alot of dedication. I've been out of the loop since 6/15, but when I drive by there early evening I see ballplayers going in and out, so I assume they are continuing workouts with dedication.
Everytime I talk to Wag, he is very pumped, ready for the season, and so am I!

Good stuff and great reporting, but let's look at the big picture. Is this year going to be the year that the whole program is going to be turned around? I have to say NO!! Let's look down the grades a little, for that look at the JV this year. Does anybody on here think that the JV will be .500 this year? I have been hearing that there is no way we will even be close. After that, how about the 7th and 8th grades? Is there any talent down there they we can try and fine tune any? There is to much to try and cover, but it needs to start at the top.

I do want to visit one more thing. Other than the "Starting Five" (which I am sure it is already picked out) What do we have to come in and help out in any areas? Who in the world is going to be the back up PG or even for that the starting PG? What ever happened to working hard that week in practice, then you get a starting spot? Makes you wonder, Who really runs the program in Loogootee anymore? Parents or the coaches?

[Kavanaugh Court]

LHS3, on Aug 18 2010, 02:12 PM, said:

Good stuff and great reporting, but let's look at the big picture. Is this year going to be the year that the whole program is going to be turned around? I have to say NO!! Let's look down the grades a little, for that look at the JV this year. Does anybody on here think that the JV will be .500 this year? I have been hearing that there is no way we will even be close. After that, how about the 7th and 8th grades? Is there any talent down there they we can try and fine tune any? There is to much to try and cover, but it needs to start at the top.

I do want to visit one more thing. Other than the "Starting Five" (which I am sure it is already picked out) What do we have to come in and help out in any areas? Who in the world is going to be the back up PG or even for that the starting PG? What ever happened to working hard that week in practice, then you get a starting spot? Makes you wonder, Who really runs the program in Loogootee anymore? Parents or the coaches?

I can report that the Loogootee 8th grade is a pretty good group......at the same time, I don't believe the BR 8th grade has ever lost a game. Orleans also has a very talented group of 8th graders to be, so it should be a strong year in the area for that age group. I think everybody should give Mike the time he needs in his program.....he is a good person, and has earned that chance.

[LHS3]

Well, I have been hearing some information from a "Downtown Coach Assoc" (location is at the Dairy Master), that Lion nation has lost another b-ball player. I am really wondering if these kids are starting to see the writting on the wall? Maybe they know something that the rest of us don't. They went on to tell the group that they felt like it was no surprise, but who really stops playing basketball their Senior year? I am thinking that he "knew" he would not get much playing time so instead of being a team player, he said the hell with it. I really liked the Wildman boy as he was a good kid, but I guess if you don't have it in you anymore, well it is time to step aside and let somone else give it a shot.

[LHS-1]

LHS3, on 26 August 2010 - 05:49 AM, said:

Well, I have been hearing some information from a "Downtown Coach Assoc" (location is at the Dairy Master), that Lion nation has lost another b-ball player. I am really wondering if these kids are starting to see the writting on the wall? Maybe they know something that the rest of us don't. They went on to tell the group that they felt like it was no surprise, but who really stops playing basketball their Senior year? I am thinking that he "knew" he would not get much playing time so instead of being a team player, he said the hell with it. I really liked the Wildman boy as he was a good kid, but I guess if you don't have it in you anymore, well it is time to step aside and let somone else give it a shot.

That seems to be the attitude of alot of athletes these days! It's not good enough to be a part of a "team" anymore and to do all you can to make the team better or successful. When I played we had 5 seniors and 3 of them never saw the floor except for practice. But that didn't bother them and they were happy with their roles. And guess what, they were part of a Sectional championship team which means alot to some people. Let me ask you LHS 3, is playing time THE most important thing in athletics? Or is it being part of a successful team and program and helping in any way to keep it going? I cherished my time on the hardwood at LHS and no I didn't play all the time, but I darn sure enjoyed it and wouldn't change any of it. As far as the players who quit "knowing" something that the rest of us don't, I doubt it, it's the new generation and different attitude of some kids these days.

[3out2under]

LHS-1, on 26 August 2010 - 03:13 PM, said:

That seems to be the attitude of alot of athletes these days! It's not good enough to be a part of a "team" anymore and to do all you can to make the team better or successful. When I played we had 5 seniors and 3 of them never saw the floor except for practice. But that didn't bother them and they were happy with their roles. And guess what, they were part of a Sectional championship team which means alot to some people. Let me ask you LHS 3, is playing time THE most important thing in athletics? Or is it being part of a successful team and program and helping in any way to keep it going? I cherished my time on the hardwood at LHS and no I didn't play all the time, but I darn sure enjoyed it and wouldn't change any of it. As far as the players who quit "knowing" something that the rest of us don't, I doubt it, it's the new generation and different attitude of some kids these days.

Amen you are exactly right!! The only thing that guys that quit know is that they aren't going to work hard enough to earn playing time.

[LHS3]

LHS-1, on 26 August 2010 - 03:13 PM, said:

That seems to be the attitude of alot of athletes these days! It's not good enough to be a part of a "team" anymore and to do all you can to make the team better or successful. When I played we had 5 seniors and 3 of them never saw the floor except for practice. But that didn't bother them and they were happy with their roles. And guess what, they were part of a Sectional championship team which means alot to some people. Let me ask you LHS 3, is playing time THE most important thing in athletics? Or is it being part of a successful team and program and helping in any way to keep it going? I cherished my time on the hardwood at LHS and no I didn't play all the time, but I darn sure enjoyed it and wouldn't change any of it. As far as the players who quit "knowing" something that the rest of us don't, I doubt it, it's the new generation and different attitude of some kids these days.

This is an easy answer since you are asking me. Being part of a "Team" or even a "Tradition" is what I value the most. Playing time means really nothing to me as I would want to be part of the tradition that has been built for several years. The Lion tradition is something that was even in the works before JB got there. He just added his touch to some things that was already in place as this is what most coaches do. I agree wtih you as kids these days really don't care about it anymore. I bet if you asked the coaches today how many kids came in on their own to work on their game, I bet they would say maybe two or three. Then after that, go ask JB how many of his kids came in over the summer to work on their game and I bet he would say 90% or more, but that was a different era. No video games, computers or any other electronics these kids have these days back then. Just kids that wanted to be part of something special. Oh well, we can sit on here and write all kinds of posts about what we should do or if we was the coach we would do this, I guess we just all need to sit back and get ready for another year of basketball and enjoy what we can. Eye sores? There might be a few, but there has been for the last five years so lets just grin it and bear it.

[taps browning]

LHS3, on 30 August 2010 - 05:34 AM, said:

This is an easy answer since you are asking me. Being part of a "Team" or even a "Tradition" is what I value the most. Playing time means really nothing to me as I would want to be part of the tradition that has been built for several years. The Lion tradition is something that was even in the works before JB got there. He just added his touch to some things that was already in place as this is what most coaches do. I agree wtih you as kids these days really don't care about it anymore. I bet if you asked the coaches today how many kids came in on their own to work on their game, I bet they would say maybe two or three. Then after that, go ask JB how many of his kids came in over the summer to work on their game and I bet he would say 90% or more, but that was a different era. No video games, computers or any other electronics these kids have these days back then. Just kids that wanted to be part of something special. Oh well, we can sit on here and write all kinds of posts about what we should do or if we was the coach we would do this, I guess we just all need to sit back and get ready for another year of basketball and enjoy what we can. Eye sores? There might be a few, but there has been for the last five years so lets just grin it and bear it.

This would be a fascinating topic for a paper for a sociology or psychology student. The state of LHS basketball program now with class basketball and no hall of fame coach vs what it was pre class and with coach Butcher. Schools who embraced class ball have surpassed Loogootee in terms of success on the court and also fan support. It really would make for a great research project. Not just at Loogootee, there are other examples out there that are similar.

Anyway, the Lion golf scramble is this Saturday I believe. Hopefully there will be a big turn out again.

[Bobcat]

Kids play ball if they LOVE the game, respect the coaches, like their team mates and have fan support.

From my experience, electronics have little to do with it.

Kids who choose not to play for various reasons need not be there.

[LHS-1]

LHS3, on 30 August 2010 - 05:34 AM, said:

This is an easy answer since you are asking me. Being part of a "Team" or even a "Tradition" is what I value the most. Playing time means really nothing to me as I would want to be part of the tradition that has been built for several years. The Lion tradition is something that was even in the works before JB got there. He just added his touch to some things that was already in place as this is what most coaches do. I agree wtih you as kids these days really don't care about it anymore. I bet if you asked the coaches today how many kids came in on their own to work on their game, I bet they would say maybe two or three. Then after that, go ask JB how many of his kids came in over the summer to work on their game and I bet he would say 90% or more, but that was a different era. No video games, computers or any other electronics these kids have these days back then. Just kids that wanted to be part of something special. Oh well, we can sit on here and write all kinds of posts about what we should do or if we was the coach we would do this, I guess we just all need to sit back and get ready for another year of basketball and enjoy what we can. Eye sores? There might be a few, but there has been for the last five years so lets just grin it and bear it.

Coach Butcher won over 800 games in 40 some years. I would say that the Lion tradition that we know today was established during Coach B tenure more than anyone else. How could it be any other way. No one coaches in the same place for 40+ yrs anymore so that is unheard of. But that consistency is what has made Loogootee special. It could be said that the coaching styles have changed with Coach Wagoner but the teams are different too. Height, speed, aau ball have all changed the way you have to coach these days. (And the Lions should have one of their tallest teams to date) And if I'm not mistaken, Coach W has been at Loogootee his whole career, alongside Coach B and Coach Brett. Kids are different there's no doubt these days but that doesn't mean they don't want to work hard and win. From every thing I have seen and heard they are working their tails off to keep the "tradition" alive. I for one can't wait til Thanksgiving weekend when the Lions start the season. Here's one LHS fan that is rooting for the Lions, rooting for Coach Wagoner and his staff and hoping that this is the magical year to end our drought. (By the way, what eye sores?)