Friday, July 8, 2011

2011 Preseason Banter Section


Top Storylines Heading into the 2011 Season

1. Orange Mooney

Mooney (right), Olathe North's new transfer running back from Arizona has created more hype without having set foot under the Friday night lights in the league than any player of the last decade.  Some say he's a cancer who will screw up Olathe North's team chemistry, while other's claim he's the second coming of every great Olathe North running back from the past that shred your team to pieces.  Either way, he's created a hype machine the size of Olathe and he'll have all eyes on him come September.

2.  SM East -- Fight or Flight?

Chip Sherman has turned SM East into a respectable program and the big expectation machine has caught up to the Lancers.  The team returns arguably the league's top offensive threat in Illinois wide receiver commit Elliot Faerber, and they have a solid core of experienced talent returning around him--enough to make a good run this season. 

The true question will be how SM East handles their week two, four, and eight home contests against Olathe East, Olathe South and SM West, respectively.  Win two of the three and the Lancers could be sitting pretty at 8-1 heading into the playoffs with a chance to do some damage.  On the flip side, a down season would really hurt the momentum machine that the football program has now generated in Prairie Village.

3.  Complete the Sentence, "Olathe North will __________ in 2011."

Olathe North will have new starters at the quarterback and running back positions, among other spots.  They lost playmakers Adonis Saunders and Victor Simmons to the division one ranks, not to mention defensive stalwart Kyle Swartz, and yet they still look like the preseason favorite to carry the torch in the Sunflower League.

The Eagles have won 42 games the past four seasons, including three Sub-State appearances, two state championship games, and one state title.  The true question is whether their new crop of starters will be able to handle the pressure that comes with being the top dogs in the league, and getting everyone's best effort week in and week out.

Preseason Perceptions

Most Hated Program - Olathe East

Maybe it's the visors and armbands, the flashy players like the Parks brothers Anthony and Adam (right), or the seemingly endless string of good teams, but for whatever reason the Hawks seem to get under people's skin, and stay there.  The program hasn't had a losing season since 1999, and they rank second behind Olathe North in wins since then.

Most Respected Program - Olathe North

After a brief hiatus, the most notable program in Kansas has come back with a vengeance going a combined 24-2 the past two seasons including two state title appearances and one title victory. Olathe North seems to have an endless plethora of talent especially at the running back position.

Best Fanbase - SM West

You have to give up up to the Black and Gold--their fan section brings it, home or away.  They have one of the most enthusiastic student sections in the league and they travel better than any program.  It's just too bad the school doesn't have their own true "home stadium."

2011 Dark Horse - Lawrence

Lawrence head coach Dirk Wedd is a seasoned veteran and it looks like he may have his program on the rise. Year two in their new on-campus stadium could be a breakthrough for the Chesty Lions, who will look to improve on their 3-6 record under second year starting quarterback Brad Strauss.

Most Impressive Streak - Olathe East's 11-straight winning seasons

As alluded to earlier, Olathe East has had a winning record every year since 2000, including nine or more wins in six of those seasons.

Least Impressive Streak(s) - SM South and Leavenworth

The Raiders and Pioneers are the only two teams in the SL that haven’t produced a winning record in the last 10 years. Olathe Northwest has also failed achieve a winning record, but the school has only fielded a varsity team since 2004.

Biggest Shoes to Fill

SM East Quarterback: Last year’s quarterback John Schrock is heading to walk-on at Colorado. If you knew nothing about what he did for the Lancers last season, his walk-on status at a division one program should help you out. Whoever does take over will have one of the best receivers in the league to throw to in Faerber.

Lawrence Free State Backfield: The Firebirds have a way of finding quarterbacks with sub-4.5 speed to fill in on a yearly basis, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see another one emerge out of the woodwork come September. The running back position is also in question with Preston Schenck’s graduation.

Olathe South Backfield: Jeff Gourley’s winged-T offense requires the efforts of several running backs—unfortunately for the Falcons, their three primary ball carriers from last season (Nick Sands, Jake Crist and Kendal Harland) all graduated. That leaves a lot of carries to be distributed to a new set of running backs with limited varsity experience.

Photos courtesy Facebook, ljworld.com

37 comments:

Anonymous said...

Just as a point of fact, Jeff Gourley is the Head coach of Olathe South, Scott is his son, and plays center for the team (He was first team as a Junior last year).

Anonymous said...

Who's the heir apparent to John Schrock at SME?

Anonymous said...

SME new QB's name is Dakota Collins. He's a transfer senior from wyandotte even though he spent his first two years at SMN. He has a HUGE arm and plenty of experience but I question his selflessness.

EagleSoph said...

and they say ON is a ghetto school...

Anonymous said...

SME has no class whatsoever. Their student body pregames everything. Money can't always buy class.

Anonymous said...

Apparently coming on here and calling schools and players out is having class?

Anonymous said...

when you mentioned how Olathe North is 24-2 for the last 2 years...you forgot to mention that they have a total record of 250-56!!!

Anonymous said...

From what I remember of Free State's sub-varsity teams last year, they had a pretty good athletic QB, who was taller than Perry, but probably not as smooth of a runner. I think the big question is the RB. This whole post was very good.

Anonymous said...

money did not buy a share of the league title last year...

Anonymous said...

It can be debated that Olathe North is the most respected team..it seems every year, no matter the situtation North gets thrown back under the bus and people question if North will be good Another point is that North is so respected thats why so much pressure is put on the eagles every year

Anonymous said...

when will the power rankings be posted??

Anonymous said...

Here's my power rankings prediction

1. Olathe North
2. Shawnee Mission East
3. Shawnee Mission West
4. Olathe East
5. Lawrence
6. Lawrence Free State
7. Olathe South
8. Shawnee Mission NW
9. Shawnee Mission North
10.Olathe Northwest
11.Shawnee Mission South
12.Leavenworth

Let the disagreements commence.

Anonymous said...

ON also only has ONE losing season.
and the 250-56 translates to a .836
all time record.

Anonymous said...

i was looking at the 2010 Power Rankings and I was wondering... how can Olathe East be #1 if Olathe North beat them at Sub-State? Also considering how we have a slightly better overall record than them.

Anonymous said...

"An initial Preseason Power Ranking is released in July, and the final ranking is culminated following the last regular season games.  Power Rankings are not conducted during the playoffs."

Anonymous said...

This Week's Sign of the Apocalypse: Olathe East Coach Jeff Myers shit his pants when he saw Orange Mooney at 7 on 7.

Anonymous said...

oh ok thanks for cleaing it up

Anonymous said...

I agree with that power rankings. I do however think OE should be #3 and SMW #4.

Anonymous said...

I would have ranked East higher, but I don't know if they have anything at RB, which is a crucial position for their offense. I'm sure whoever it is will benefit from East's line, which looks promising.

Anonymous said...

Is Kendal Kelly playing at o-east?

Anonymous said...

SM West graduated just about EVERYONE! I don't know if they will pan out to be much this season, could be some growing pains.

Anonymous said...

None of the Shawnee Mission schools are returning much talent. Therefore, the Olathe schools are going to dominate the league once again. As for the most hated program, it has to go to Shawnee Mission East. Every school hates their cocky, "I'm better than you and I know it," attitude. Not to mention they've been having illegal practices...

Anonymous said...

Someone sounds a little butt hurt.

Anonymous said...

1. Olathe North
2. Shawnee Mission East
3. Shawnee Mission West
4. Lawrence
5. Olathe East
6. Olathe South
7. Lawrence Free State
*8.Leavenworth
9. Shawnee Mission North
10. Shawnee Mission NW
11.Olathe Northwest
12.Shawnee Mission South

Anonymous said...

SME doesn't have illegal practices, but they are still probably better than you. So what if they dress nice and pregame? So what if their sports teams are mainly country club dominant? So what if Boomer Welsh is easily the best running back in the country? SME will do well this year in football and go for the state championship's jugular.

Anonymous said...

^Homer

Anonymous said...

@Eli Why is it that you awarded Olathe East the "most hated team" title when arrogant SMEasters go around talking like this?^ Is it only because of the success they've had (more than one season with a winning record)?

Anonymous said...

SME and football shouldn't even be in the same sentence. Never a football school never will be. They are a joke of a team and school with gang problems.

Anonymous said...

What happened to that All State linebacker for the lancers last year? i heard he got kicked out of school and sleeps till 4pm each day now..just a rumor. Lucky me, that kid was intimidating. -Alex Forslund STARTING QB SMS

Anonymous said...

^ thanks for that input, Foreskin!

Anonymous said...

What linebacker you talking about^ whos all state from sme?

Anonymous said...

He's talking about Seth Hartman. He got expelled and their other big boy line backer Chris Pinne isn't playing this season either.

Anonymous said...

Seth was a beast but Pinne hasnt played since sophmore year and he quit cause he didnt like contact so..idk how that means hes a "big boy"

Mooneys a cancer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Whats the true story on seth?? if it isnt to personal and no offense but he wasn't all state he didn't even make all sunflower league team he is a pretty good player though

Anonymous said...

He had a unloaded hunting rifle in his truck. SRO officer saw it

Anonymous said...

Mooney is like cancer...impossible to beat!!

Anonymous said...

Cancer is not impossible to beat, coach Sherman of SME is currently fighting cancer and on his way to beating it