The heat of the summer only seems to make the high school football season seem that much further away. Appetites are swelling for its return faster than the minutes are ticking off the clock.
Only Dave Campbell’s 2008 Texas Football serves as a fix. At least it’s a way to get through the summer. Plus, the water cooler talk becomes a little more interesting.
A month has passed since what some might label 'the bible of preseason high school football’ filled the news stands. Since 1960, the magazine’s popularity has grown. Simply a bunch of predictions, it includes rosters that may be completely different by the time the season starts.
Believe me, I’m not knocking it. The great thing about this magazine is that you can pick it up one day, not look at it for a couple of days, then pick it up another day to look at plenty of other things.
The professional and college team coverage receives plenty of homage and plenty of analysis. But what seems to be of greatest importance to most buyers is finding out about the upcoming high school seasons.
For the Alliance Regional Newspaper teams, the new districts were revealed and prognosticated. Good or bad, the decisions were based on the information the coaches - and sometimes longtime high school football writers – provided.
Here’s my take on what the publication revealed about District 5-5A and 6-5A, the state’s top 20 teams, and some of the preseason all-state teams. It’s sort of an action-reaction type of scenario.
Action: Texas Football lists District 5-5A power Euless Trinity as the No. 1 team in the state and District 6-5A power Carroll as No. 3.
Reaction: It’s called respect for the dominating programs in the state. They have deserved their preseason accolades. But that’s all it is. It’s likely these programs will be playing again beyond Thanksgiving. However, each was knocked out of the playoffs around that holiday the past two seasons (Trinity in 2006 by Carroll, Carroll in 2007 by Abilene). So it shows that nothing can be taken for granted.
Trinity is coming off a second 5A state title under coach Steve Lineweaver, while Carroll second-year coach Hal Wasson continues to establish his presence.
It’s not a given that the two will win state championships, but Texas Football has each winning one – Trinity in Division I and Carroll in Division II. Safe calls.
Action: District 5-5A predictions have Trinity winning it, while Colleyville Heritage is predicted to finish second, Grapevine fourth and Northwest eighth.
Reaction: Based on what happened last year, those are fair assessments. However, Grapevine has a lot of work to do because coach Gary Mullins lost so many kids from last year’s playoff team. It’s not out of the questions that the Mustangs can return to the postseason for a third consecutive season. However, they are going to have to grow up in a hurry. Don’t be surprised if L.D. Bell or Keller knocks them out of the postseason.
Colleyville Heritage appears to be the team structured the best to challenge. The Panther defense could be outstanding and they have had a full year to understand coach Mike Fuller’s offense. Northwest finished last in 2007 and the Texans are going to be in their third year in Class 5A. They are feeling the affects of growth.
Action: District 6-5A has Carroll winning it, while Marcus is picked third and Flower Mound is picked sixth.
Reaction: Remember, this is a six-team district where the depth is extraordinary because everybody but Coppell made the playoffs last year.
Really, you can make the case that after Carroll, teams No. 2-6 could go in any direction. I realize Hebron always has extraordinary talent, but don’t be surprised if Marcus overtakes the Hawks. The Marauders won last year’s game. Their issue is finding a capable quarterback.
Flower Mound’s sixth-place spot was surprising because the Jaguars have quarterback Brandon Colquitt and top receivers James Kelly and Collin Ashley returning. The offensive and defensive lines are a little iffy, but I don’t agree with sixth. I would have picked fourth. They’re too talented.
The other surprise is that there are no players from Carroll or Trinity on the all-state team. There’s no room for Carroll defensive end Braydon Burnett or Trinity linebacker Earnest Norman? That’s a shocker.
In time, you will see how Alliance Regional Newspapers sports writers will size up the 2008 season.
Until then, this will hopefully satisfy your football fix for a little while.