10/7 Lincoln 27 - De Pere 30

This year was a lot of fun, gentlemen.

In the final game of their high school careers, Hollywood, Half-Man, and The Rock helped keep the team's playoff hopes alive.  In the end, they all came up just a bit short.  The Ships switched their base defense in an attempt to right a Ship that was very, very wrong after the season's second week.  Big plays, once again, were the story, as they were shredded on two long runs right up the gut of the defense.  The team buckled down in the second half, giving up just one score after halftime.  It just wasn't enough.  Hollywood led an exciting drive in the final two minutes that attempted to go 98 yards, but the offense came up about 40 yards short, getting sacked on consecutive plays and then dumping off a screen on 4th down to end the game.

As I wrote last year, there is only one Division 1 team that ends its season without tears.  It is very difficult to be that team.  This team had several excellent players, but it did not have enough bonafide starters to succeed in the playoffs, had they qualified.  It was an awesomely fun team, filled with so many good young men.  But for a team to end it's season in Madison, hoisting that trophy, it needs at least 20 young men who place football second, right after school work, all year long.  The weight room has to be a second home.  Not just for one year, but two, three, and, preferably, four.  I try to convey to the younger kids that, if you look at the team, the best players are the ones who are always in the weight room, and there aren't any players on that team who have been in the weight room the last several years that aren't good.  Not one exception.  If you want to be a good player, 4-5 visits to the weight room each week, for 65-85 minutes a pop, and you'll be guaranteed to be good when you are a senior.

But back to this season.  It would be hard to think about the year without thinking about the memory most of these guys will have forever: that awesome Homecoming game.  It's always said, but you never forget your Homecoming game.  That's why it was so kind of these guys to let East and Pulaski win their Homecoming games.  See, this team was just too nice!

What else will we remember?  Bongo yelling "whoever put the hex weights on the racks with the round weights, you are an idiot."  How about the defense dominating the offense during team 2 minute drills each week, but the offense doing much better over the course of the season in conference?  Bongo's Birthday.  The day Oklahoma was brought back.  Muscles running over people in scout.  County fair.  Trying to get J-Life to miss a kick.  Players hiding in leaves.  The Professor killing it on the d-line.  Waaaay too much pudding talk.  Chariot races.  Destroying everyone at the scrimmage.  Nearly beating (and, really, we should have) SW, the team that went undefeated in conference.  Fisch talkin' (if you can call it that).  "I got your back" conditioning.  Lodes destroying pipes, but not really at all (thanks Drew).  Alex's tuddy.  Bryce's tuddy.  Dust, dust, and more dust at practice.  Team dinners.  Group dinners.  Jammin' to Margaritaville.  Geese.  Sackmaster Seth.  "TOES ON THE LINE!"  Hollywood's big run on a sneak.  Muscles' big runs, over and over.  That ridiculous play with Tucks and Fisch.  I could go on, but you get the point: yes, it wasn't a perfect season, but there will be a lot of good memories.

I have a few pics of the two and a half men after the jump (these are from Pulaski).  There weren't any photographers available for the De Pere game.

Don't feel too bad, Saubs.  He was 1st team FRCC, and rightly so.  But you can handle him next year if you get your butt in that weight room.

He may be lower, but I don't think The Rock was going to let him go anywhere.  Btw - congrats to Austin on his first D1 scholarship offer - Western Illinois!  May it be the first of many.

I can't wait to find out where Hollywood is going to be playing next year.  Winona is all over him, but there are a few D1 schools taking long, hard look.  

And then there's Jonah.  I have a feeling Jonah will be playing at Madison next year.  But it'll be video games, not football.  

I know these are focused on the 2 1/2 men, but check out The Department Store.  He got 100% better by the end of the year.  Excellent improvement, and I hope it continues into next year.

Saw a lot of that this year.

We also saw a lot of double teams on the line.  Chris, if this happens next year, you should have 100 tackles.

Respect the Half-Man.

With 2 blockers to his right, I hope this ended up being a run.

And with that, this blog is all but retired.  No, Hollywood, I'm not going to show up at your colleges next year and take pictures of you.  No one wants to see the Half-Man studying.  But thanks for the suggestion.  I will, however, add in the stats for the boys, but that'll be a "Page" link at the top of the blog.  Once again, it was my pleasure.  Enjoy the rest of high school and everything beyond.  I know you'll all do well.