Huron League Thoughts and Questions

Run to win, throw when necessary.

Extra points are important, don’t get caught chasing until necessary

Who is SMCC best back?

The Huron League just doesn’t see players like Malik Boynton that often.

IS AAGR’s Kevin Masini that good or are his receivers?

Great year by Milan, they proved me wrong again.

Typical mid November, SMCC still playing, everyone else is thinking winter sports.

I know it’s early, but will not having JV in 2012 will hurt Milan in 2014?

Detroit er Livonia Clarencville will be a tough team to beat.

Dinner at Old Chicago in Southgate with my wife last Friday instead of games. Better than any football game and also a smart move by me.

I don’t think I’ll be in Livonia this week, too many other games to go see. Sorry!

73 thoughts on “Huron League Thoughts and Questions”

  1. I agree they should only go out for football for a short time like 4 or 5 years. Huron League teams can schedule in a non league game for a few years during the process until FR comes back in as they did back in the days when Milan was out. The other sports are not as dependent on numbers and size on a week to week basis and FR does ok competing everywhere else for the most part.

    Weight program – I said there were other areas I would mention but took a break so the post was not so long. I believe they have a workout program now but maybe it needs improving. Would have to get more detail form the staff on that area. I think coaches from other sports there advise a lot of the kids not to play as it hurts the team they coach if they get hurt. Culture is hard to change.

    I am not sure who is or who is not pro athlete on the school board but they should be pro student and pro FR. If that means they need to make temporary changes to help build so they compete and do better than they need to do it whether they like athletics or not. It is about making the school reputation and district stronger and retaining talent which means revenue and attracting talent which means revenue.

    Same as I said about the AD – they need one to make sure they are lined up well when they schedule teams. The RAM Booster support well, they bought a new scoreboard for the Junior High recently so not bad. The school has funds for uniforms and this year I bought a coupon card from a player who said they were to raise money for uniforms…money raised and not spent on the uniforms as promised! Where does the pay to participate money go anyway? Who knows!

  2. I think they should look to go independent in football for a few years too. You have to have a well thought out plan. You can't just up and leave the whole league though. It would be a poor move overall. Travel alone would up the cost significantly to the athletic department. The league would never accept you back if you left entirely. Just ask Carlson.

    You said nothing about a good solid weight curriculum, nothing about every good male athlete going out for football instead of being afraid of getting beat and/or hurt.

    How about electing pro athletic school board members? Ever notice how the band consistently gets people elected in FR?

    How about a full time AD? How about a booster club the buys new equipment, such as middle school uniforms that the department can't afford? How about dropping pay to participate?

  3. Start by getting out of HL for 3 to 5 years so they can rebuild,right now they are doing their kids more harm and putting them at greater risk of injury by playing these huge schools week in and wek out. It would be difficult to build when you are getting blown out and losing kids and program support. Milan left and came back so why can't FR do the same? Historically speaking the league has seen more than 20 different teams as part of the league. Having them in the league in he state they are in is like telling SMCC to go play Brother Rice, CC, GRCC, etc week after week. Not going to go well for them because numbers matter.
    Allow them time to get the new coach building a program. Move thenyellowjackets out of FR and give the junior high teams a nicer field. Right now they do not even have goal posts on their field!!! Watched the JR High play this yr and they did ok but the uniforms were 25 yrs old and made for high school, school needs to show they care and support and numbers will come.
    They have athletes there playing other sports but kids do not want to play football and get outmatched all year and risk injury. There is nothing wrong with playing similar type schools trying to build their programs as well. Give kids confidence and reduce injury risk. Hard to compete with Milan's 2nd team when they come in fresh and FR is just worn out.
    They need more parent support as well, that is huge!
    They need to get some better assistants at all levels but who will go if the school is unsupportive?
    They have no athletic trainer (risky), no dedicated athletic director, no emphasis on giving the team a chance. The junior high boys line up against Belleville ans Dearborn this year….. Huge schools, are they trying to get less kids out there?

    It is not hopeless but it will require a commitment from the coaches, the kids, the parents but most of all the school.

    Got more thoughts Chris but thought I would break here and see what you got.
    Thanks

  4. Who at the school is letting it go? I thought they had a new coach already? Does he have good assistants or not? I heard through the grapevine they were looking to make changes but not sure what kind. Anybody have any insight? If I were an FR parent I would transfer if they did not make changes and my kid played. Sooner or later they will fold and then they will realize how much revenue a program brings!

  5. What will happen at FR next year?-THEY WILL PRAY TO BE 2-7, 1-8 THEY WON'T WIN A LEAGUE GAME. THEY HAVE NOTHING COMING UP. Does the school not support the program? I'M NOT SURE IF THEY DO OR NOT, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'D BE MAKING CHANGES TO IMPROVE IT IF THEY DID. SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGED THEIR. THEY HAVEN'T HAD SUCCESS SINCE 1990 Will they bring in some other coaches? YOU'RE RIGHT SOUNDS LIKE SOME GOOD COACHES ARE AVAILABLE OUT THERE, THEY DEFINITELY NEED TO. Sounds like some may be available!

  6. What will happen at FR next year? Does the school not support the program? Will they bring in some other coaches? Sounds like some may be available!

  7. What planet are you from ? Airport will be lucky not to be blown out against the big dogs. I don't know what games some of you guys watch. SMCC cleary should be the favorite next year but GI will be tough and Milan cant be counted out ( aqain ) ! I think Milan will be better than most think they will be. How can we count them out again after what they have brought to the table the last two years ?

  8. Hmm, GI's best chance for HL championship and trip to playoffs is next year. This is the group as freshmen went undefeated two years ago as a JV team. Judd, Mitroka, Ziberi, Camilleri, Gilliam, Gape, McAughey, Groff all have 9+ years playing together. Add the talents of two Moores boys, another Volmerhausen, Beach, Mcartney and and some superb underclassmen. I am salivating already.

  9. I think contenders next year will be Huron, GI and SMCC. All three have tremendous junior classes this year. I know you promised not to bet against Milan but sorry, they come in 4th as I see it. GI has a chance to go undefeated with a healthy group. If not, size, depth, and a second season with their "system" will propel Huron to the front. SMCC returns strength in the rb's. I don't hear much about that Lako kid, but he is strong, fast and big. Jefferson finished the season improving, I place them next, followed by Riverview, Airport, and FR

    1. You dont think much of Airport do ya? You will be sorely wrong on that pick. Airport will challenge GI and CC for the league title.

  10. ok this is a reply to coach tom 48160 about milan in the playoffs.1st why did milan not kick the ball into the end zone when you have a kicker like hoover how can very easily do it every time when it did not work the week before,2nd why did milan not go with a spread offense more than 3 times the hole game and tried to go with a big offense,when your TEAM is giving up size and you have a QB.that has a great arm and threw for over 1000 yards and had some issues with his knees you have very good receivers and would have open up the defense.You can not expect your QB to be at his best when he is playing both ways at a very high level if anything you find ways to get him some rest during the playoff game.my last reply is that you never question a player that has gone to every thing that you ask of him and done everything that you have ask of him especially when its his senior year.and by that way threw the last td pass to keep his team in the game.

  11. I hear the the D coordinator @ Airport is leaving. I think he was the only coach left from the Redmond era. Things could get worse in Carleton.

    1. Dont believe everything you hear. It's funny how alot of you have Airport buried after one bad year. Probably the same people that had Milan buried 2 years ago.

  12. Im not sure what house cleaning, I just heard it could happen at a few of those schools..I have no clue about names, but if I was huron i'd find an Ocoor, stick with that offense the whole year and let your talent take care of the rest.

  13. From what I know Stiegel wanted to be somewhere he could also teach and have a middle school football program. Taylor is the only district without middle school.

  14. Not necessarily, he is a younger guy and probably has a family. Football can consume you. Many times it takes a special wife and family to allow a coach to make it a long tenure. I don't know his situation.

  15. For some reason Milan played a full 10-12 yards off of the slot receiver.
    – I think you should sign up and be the D coordinator? What Defense would you have played against Melvindale? Lets hear it!

  16. Milan played well. Never gave up and the offense kept coming back and scored a lot on a very good defense. Showed us all something.

    There were, however, fundamental technique errors that were surprising for the 11th game of the year–errors that only got exposed by this game due to the opponents' athleticism.

    The opponents did a good job of establishing the run game and then the play action passes caught both LB's and DB's coming up too fast to protect the run.

    For some reason Milan played a full 10-12 yards off of the slot receiver.

    But the backs coming out and catching the ball and running for big gainers were most troublesome. No one seemed to have that assignment.

    They spread Milan's D out and that was the only way to beat them this year. No one in the Huron League had the ability to do that.

    On offense the Milan line and backs could not handle the blitzes.

    Even with all that, Milan had a chance to go ahead in the 4th.

    It was a great back and forth game.

  17. How did the Stergalas rumor start ? The guy lives, eats and breaths football. I would be shocked ! However, there is life after football. If he stays he Needs to bring a d coordinator in (a non Yes man) and focus where he's best — linemen, that's where the games won !!

  18. Cant see Adams as a candidate at EMU. He is one of the best coaches in the state and an EMU legend, but it is a big jump to go from hs to d1. Why would Sikora resign at Carlson?

  19. As an EMU graduate I would love to see a former alumni QB and MAC Champion lead the Hurons to the promise land.

    That would be a tough call for him. I'm sure he has a great situation at Roosevelt.

  20. I heard Adams is a candidate for the EMU job.
    Sikora might resign at Carlson
    Christnagel might be taking a position in administration at Woodhaven, which would force him to resign
    Everyone in the HL seems to be stable.
    Again, these are rumors has anyone heard the same rumors?
    Also, heard there will be some house cleaning at NB Huron, FR, Jefferson, and Airport as far as asst. coaches go.

  21. I said the 'View falls back so far because look at what they're losing! History repeats itself, look back to their 8-1 2011 season then go into the 3-6 2012 season, it's just a repeat in the cycle! Next season view wins both out of league games, and defeats FR and airport.

    The reason 'view thinks stergalas is the ressurection of this program is because he's the AD! It's kind of hard to fire yourself, wouldn't you think?

  22. Sorry Milan lost but SMCC is still in so the Huron league should be proud of that not already talking about how great these teams will be next year. I no lots of people are not fans of SMCC but you are forgetting there kids on that team who have worked just as hard as any other team in the league and we as there community should be cheering them not just forgetting they are still in it. And before you say its just another SMCC fan wanting to brag on there team I can tell you I am a proud Bears and Jets fan myself but as a football community we should be cheering them on.

  23. Picks are fun and everybody wants to pick their team at the top. Too early for all that. CC thinks they will be great with all these underclassmen that have been taking good senior spots the last 3 or 4 years, GI will be great with Mitroka back, Milan would be very good again if the other Lindemann plays. Jefferson has many good starters coming back and now know the system, who knows??? Hopefully the worst team this year rises up. Tired of the SOS !

  24. As a parent and Milan fan, I believe Milan returns some unappreciated juniors who havent had any glory the last two years. Like Ryan Faulkner, Jon swain, Justin colville. These guys are hard workers. They return some stars in Josh Colville and C.J duffiney. Duffiney has shown signs of being a shutdown corner. Colville is solid defensively but what will they do with him offensively is the question next year. He played o-line all year but he played tailback last year and his freshman year. I believe with kanitz gone, the power run game is gone. He could be that back. Also there are some questions with next years o-line. They graduate 4 starting o lineman and I don't believe colville will be playing o line. I hope more kids will come out next year to give them some depth but right now they are a 6-3 team currently.

  25. How do you say the view falls back with FR and AIR? If anything the VIEW stays around 4th place, Jefferson battles for last with FR Airport improves and Huron jumps into 3rd/4th. Here are my 2014 standings-I'm basing this on what I know each team has coming back.
    SMCC- Returns tons of talent
    GI-Healthy Mitroka with great senior class could win league in 2014 for fantasy island
    Milan- I should have them up in 1st, but they lose a TON. They have a solid small nucleus coming back that should get them into the playoffs, they just need a QB.
    Huron/Airport- This spot goes 6-3 and gets in. Huron beat Airport for the first time in years this past season. Both teams have a ton of talent coming back they could even move to the 2 or 3 spot, but I don't see that happening.
    Riv-You should be embarrassed. Not winning the league with the talent you had this year. I don't understand why they think Stegalas is the answer here. They need coaches on Defense with 21st Century experience. They had the two best RB's Downriver the Best LB the best kicker and three very solid Lineman….Even though your JV was undefeated your 1993 offense and 1983 defense needs to be changed.
    Jefferson/FR-Battle for the cellar. FR has some kids coming back but losses their skilled guys same with Jefferson, hopefully this game is more competitive next year.

  26. View and Huron will be solid next year. Dont count them out. Airport wont be bad either.

    Those are 3 good choices for player of the year. You are right, Hoskins has to get coach of the year. There are challengers for the other 2 awards however.

    -bn

  27. I'll bet you any money you want that Hoskins doesn't win Coach of the Year. Easy call because they don't do coach of the year anymore or Players of the year.

  28. Coach of the year, offensive player of the year,and defensive player of the year. Milan team of the century! Best players and we all know they play like a TEAM! Posts like that and you wonder why people rip on them when they choke and loss a district final at home!

  29. Coach of the Year: Jesse Hoskins
    Turned a team that no one thought was going to make any noise this year, besides Milan Fans, and made them defending league champs. If he doesn't receive this award, I would be stunned.

    Offense POY: Robert Kanitz
    Leads League in Passing Yards: Roughly 1200
    4th in the League in Rushing: 860
    T-4th in the League in Points Scored: 72

    Defense POY: Austin Hoover
    Leads League in Tackles: 137

  30. Some next season predictions based off graduations and upcoming kids. This is probably widely thought, but saying the Big 3 next year: CC, Milan, GI.

    View falls back to the bottom 3 with FR and airport. then the 4 and 5 spots to be fought for by Jefferson and Huron.

    If view is to improve their program, then Stergalas is to becomea bit humble and hire a defensive coordinator.

    I know it's a much more elite level, but relatively speaking, I would rather be in MSU's position with a fantastic defense and mediocre offense, than say a team with a completly blown Defense and a good offense.

    — View Grad

  31. Milan would be doing the older Lindeman a disservice if they allowed him to play football. The kid is a great talent in baseball and playing football would do nothing but hurt that. Throwing a football and baseball are two different motions. With that said if does not have any offers than he should play football. But watching him in districts I doubt that he won't have any offers.

  32. Look at his brother he was playing middle school ball last year. He is fast and is a d1 mlb prospect for baseball the kid is athletic and in the Huron league that's all you need to be successful .

    1. He had hip surgery, which is one reason he didnt play last two years. I doubt he will be playing he's got to much going for him in baseball. He has several of the Big Ten schools interested in him.

  33. Lindamens brother is faster then him and he Plays qb. His freshman year he was the best player on the team. Guarantee he will be contending for player of the year in the Huron league and this is not a joke.

    1. Well I watched that freshman year team and I have to clear up some things for the people. He was not the best player on that team. He was definetly a good player but he wasn't a super human like you are trying to make him. He has a good arm though

  34. Nothing in the Huron League. The first year guys aren't going anywhere and neither is anyone else.

    I think Sikora over at Carlson might be feeling some pressure but I don't think he is going anywhere. Maybe McLaughlin at Southgate is feeling pressure but I doubt that he is in trouble.

  35. All 3 of CCs runningbacks are very good, that's why they are so hard to stop but I would say josh is their best running back and then carrabino.

  36. The only way I see Redmond doing that is if he is burned out as a head coach and does not want all the added baggage that comes along with being the head coach. Maybe he just wants to run the offense.

  37. You are saying Redmond back at Airport next season? I find it hard to believe.. He has a lot of talent at Monroe coming up. Does not make sense right now. Are you hearing this from anyone or do you just have a feeling.

  38. I never thought I'd be defending Milan, but you're all out of control. Here's an idea, get better. Don't hire coaches with no experience or because he's a hometown hero. Get in the weightroom and get bigger. Take some notes from GI right now. They talked a lot before the year, their team went down with Mitroka. They know they have a program established to compete on a yearly basis, so now that their season is over they aren't on here crying.
    Jesse Hoskins is a hometown hero. Who are you referring to? FR? Speak on it! Better yet come coach!

    1. I was referring to Airport where I assume most of the belligerent posts about Milan are coming from. FR is FR, doesn't matter who is coaching there. I like Oestrike, but he might not be able to fix what has been broken for decades.

  39. Now all the school of choice schools can feel the "recruiting" wrath like all the catholic schools feel. True or not people will say what they say. But those that know football will realize that the catholic school in county does not have athletes that are better than other teams top athletes, but their belief in the system and execution (preparation) help them succeed. Now school of choice are getting good athletes, Milan is getting better coaching which is reflected on their success. Why would Sturgalas retire, JV's were undefeated this year. Flatrock needs school/administration support to be successful in FB, until then it won't matter who coaches. Here's a rumor to note, Eric Redman back at Airport. Jefferson should have stayed in I-formation all year. Huron needs consistency in program to succeed. GI had belief which will help them compete, plus their consistant with their system. Should be a fun 2014.

  40. That was well thought out. Milan only had 10 juniors on the squad this season. Duffiney and Colville are the two best. Having Lindeman back will be huge. I'm sure the 3 sophs that were up got some valuable experience. The numbers were down this season, when was the last time dressed less than 30 kids for a game? That says something about the depth.

    Replacing Kanitz will be the hardest proposition although the loss of Freise, Hoover and Hall are big as well.

    Fortunately the season doesn't start for 10 months, so there is lots of time for kids to get bigger, faster and stronger.

  41. On the "no JV team" thing…

    Milan had a freshman team in 2012 which basically functioned like a their JV would have if they had enough kids to field one.

    That freshman team from 2012 became a JV team in 2013 with frosh/sophs combined.

    So, those kids coming up into the jr. class of players in 2014 look alright.

    It's the junior class from this year that really did not get much play time last year as sophomores, as most were pulled up to varsity.

    But, it is felt that the best of those juniors started in 2013 and will form the foundation of 2014's senior leaders.

    2014 Huron League season will probably start like this year did with 3 teams competing for the top spot and Milan will be one of them.

    Next year's rebuilding, however, will be a bigger job than this year's rebuilding.

    Last season they "lost 20 seniors" but kept many key skill position juniors–and everyone underestimated that fact.

    Next fall all the key skill positions need replacing except for the running back spot.

    But some real momentum has been created by these last two years. It looks promising.

  42. I never thought I'd be defending Milan, but you're all out of control. Here's an idea, get better. Don't hire coaches with no experience or because he's a hometown hero. Get in the weightroom and get bigger. Take some notes from GI right now. They talked a lot before the year, their team went down with Mitroka. They know they have a program established to compete on a yearly basis, so now that their season is over they aren't on here crying.

  43. Lets call it Redford Clarencville.

    You weren't at the games but I bet some kind soul was feeding you up to the minute updates all night 🙂

    Tons of games on Saturday.

    -bn

  44. "so it looks like Hoskins and his staff will be hitting the recruiting trail tomorrow". Heck yeah I'm sure the AD and administration gives them $ and a car allowance!! If I was a kid in that sumpter/Lincoln/Belleville/ann arbor area i'd want to go to Milan too.

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