21 replies to this topic

[WestlakeTech]

I remember when I first found THSF. I was a Freshman in high school, and found myself on the computer one January night looking for a site that discussed texas high school football. So after a quick google search, I selected the first link that came to mind. Hey, with a name like "texashsfootball.com," I couldn't go wrong. I found myself very impressed with the site, and then discovered a wonderful message board. This would become only the second message board I had ever joined at that point. It didn't take long for me to become hooked on THSF. During football season, I'd post about Westlake in the 5A boards and participate in the Pick 'Em contest. During the off season, I'd post here on the non-football boards. Heck, I made friends here. Carter08, Texlong9, Jaymze13 and many others posted with me regularly. But after a couple of years some of the most prominent posters began to disappear. Then those who stuck around, for however brief a time, posted less and less. And then almost all of us completely stopped posting. There was no point in posting 'cause nobody would respond.

These days, it's more of the same. Some of us come back to our roots here at THSF and remember the good old days. It's an interesting trip down Memory Lane. Now when I come to THSF, I feel like I'm walking through the halls of an old school during the summer when all the classrooms are locked and closed, empty... practically lifeless. This place, that was so much a part of my life, now reduced to near inactivity.


To Chris, AKA Commisioner, I wish you the best of luck in getting THSF back to it's former glory, and even greater. I look forward to that day, and I thank you for the great times I've had on here already in the past few years.

[Commissioner]

WestlakeTech,

Appreciate the kind words and hope to get this board back to the glory days. I am certainly doing everything I can to get it moving like it once did. But as you know times change. Along comes twitter, along comes facebook... and might I add they are both integrated with this board. Participation drops, sometimes I don't fully understand it.

Over time, the options between a large number of sites greatly increased. Sure, I sort of dropped my own participation due to things I am working on through the main site, but as I tweet on twitter and post on facebook, I am certainly giving it a big effort to increase the user variety and interaction.

As you full well know, this site and the people who use the site's board, as well as the people who follow me on twitter are my life. It is me and my passion and I cannot thank people well enough. When I see the participation on the boards drop over time, it does indeed make my heart sink and spins me into thoughts on what I am doing wrong.

I think one thing we as a collective group failed to do was help each other bring in new members. And I am not going to say that we did not try to do that. I certainly think we can improve on that and build the board back up. And again, the growth of this site certainly was not done on my own. I have had the help of people like you and LoboFan07, Texlong09, carter08, Jaymze13 and a number of others.

Again, your words are definitely appreciated and brings warmth to my heart and passion for what I am trying to accomplish and do on an everyday basis. Thank you so much for being here and being apart of my life.

[MickSwagger]

You couldnt have said it any better West. I remember coming here all the time when I was looking for something on 1a football teams or just wanted to have a good old fashioned debate about a certain topic or sports in general and got to know quite a few posters on here and I was a regular on this site and when things started to tale off here so did I. I wish there were ways to get this site back to the way it was and reconnect with some of the old posters I got to know so well and have some more great sports debates like we used to.

[LoboFan07]

Now when I come to THSF, I feel like I'm walking through the halls of an old school during the summer when all the classrooms are locked and closed, empty... practically lifeless. This place, that was so much a part of my life, now reduced to near inactivity.

How true. How very very very true.

The old days were a lot of fun, I'll admit. THSF was an HUGE part of me growing up and I can't believe this will be my 7th year of having an account on here. There's been a lot of ups and downs with it, but for the most part it was a great time. Heck, I still talk to at least 3 posters that I grew up posting with that I haven't seen on here in close to 3 years. It's had a huge impact on my life and I want to say thank you to Chris for making it all possible and keeping up with it all. I seriously don't understand how you've been able to make it all this time.

Personally, I don't want to say that I have abandoned THSF in the past year but I feel that way for whatever reason. I think that has to do with the lack of posters in places that I was use to posting (as West mentioned), and my love for HS Football quickly vanishing through some personal issues with people of the team I follow.

THSF will always be my first real interwebs home. And would do almost anything to get it back to the fun days it once was at.

[Bruceswar]

You guys are all rookies. j/k ... but I can say I was the 2nd member here behind Commish. What a fun ride it has been over the years. Looking forward to working with Commish next season. Here is old school for you... Exporter vs Viking4Life? I think that was his user name.

[jcisco loboe'77]

But after a couple of years some of the most prominent posters began to disappear. Then those who stuck around, for however brief a time, posted less and less. And then almost all of us completely stopped posting. There was no point in posting 'cause nobody would respond.

....soooo why do you think there is/was a
d
r
o
p
off???

[WestlakeTech]

Yeah, I remember that this used to always be the first site I'd go to when i got my hands on a computer (though i must admit, that was before I got a facebook profile). I used to go to the school library during lunch periods so that I could log on and post with you guys. Y'all were just like friends; only with avatars instead of faces.

....soooo why do you think there is/was a
d
r
o
p
off???

I can only guess, and my guess would be this...

There are those of us, mostly represented here, who posted a lot and posted often. But we are precious few compared to the numbers needed to keep a site like this up and running. We need all those other people (even if they're only on here for a season) to make posts and threads and reply, etc. along with us. Let's face it, 20ish people doesn't go very far on a board that covers so much. So when the number of not-so-regular posters began to decline, there were fewer topics and fewer posts overall. Then we regulars got bored because there just wasn't as much to do, so we stopped checking in so often. And it just hasn't picked up much because people who check out the site will see that nobody has posted anything in 6 months; there's no point posting on an inactive board.

But that's just my guess.

I think we can all help Chris out. I know there's not a whole lot to talk about since it's only May, but try posting some every day or so, if you can. There may not be much to talk about. But hey, a conversation/topic has to start out somewhere. Post your school's schedule, your concerns, things you don't like about your team or coaching staff, and so on.

This board began with just a few people, and it started something big. Well fellas, we've got a few people here. What d'ya say we start something...?

[CalallenWildcat]

Hey guys - long time, no talk...

Been pretty busy lately but still read the boards especially during football season. Chris showed me this thread and I felt I had to say something on it. This board is a special place (thanks to a lot of the guys WestlakeTech mentioned in the top post) and will get back to its former glory soon.

I'll try to post a little more often and if we can all do the same, we can get this board rolling again. Now, once fall rolls around I'll be busy again and may have to drop my posting a bit, but I should be able to post plenty this summer in anticipation of this coming football season.

[WestlakeTech]

OH MY GOSH!!! IT'S CAL!!!




I mean... uh... Glad you could stop by for a few minutes man.

Welcome Home

Edited by WestlakeTech, 07 May 2010 - 08:03 AM.

[CalallenWildcat]

OH MY GOSH!!! IT'S CAL!!!




I mean... uh... Glad you could stop by for a few minutes man.

Welcome Home

I haven't had much time to post but that should be changing at least for the next couple of months.

See what ya did with this little thread you started?

On a serious note, how is Westlake looking this year?

[WestlakeTech]

Hey man, it's cool. We've all been gone for at least a little while. Gotta give some props to Commish for not giving up on the site.

Hate to kill the serious note, but I honestly have no idea.
I never really followed them in the off-season too much even when I was a student there. Now that I'm in college, it's been even harder than it already would have been. From what I hear though, we shouldn't have too much to worry about in regards to replacing our quarterback, and various other talent. Loaded at WR and TE as always. My concern with Westlake will always be the secondary. Bright side; we're in region two now. Downside; we've only got 6 teams in our new district. Bright side; we're heavy favorites to win. Downside; kinda sucks the fun outta things. But we'll just see how it goes. You manage to follow Calallen much lately?

[CalallenWildcat]

Haven't followed as closely as I did when I was there, but from what I can tell, we should have a decent team next year that could go pretty far in the playoffs. Good talent coming up through the system and all.

[Mr. Clean]

I'm holding steady at my four posts per day average.

[WestlakeTech]

Haha. Jay hasn't been on in about a year, and I think he's still got a 10/day average.

[texlong9]

Well, what a nice thread indeed. Nice to see you Cal.

On the home front, I have graduated from college and am looking for a job in the sports industry, not an easy task.
On the old home front, I have pretty much given up any hope that Gainesville will ever be competitive again.

I am trying to post more and more but with my high school interest waning, it becomes hard to connect with some of the things that are discussed.

[WestlakeTech]

I'm holding steady at my four posts per day average.

oh, Happy Birthday Mr. Clean.

That's ok Tex. It's just nice to hear from you.

[carter08]

I really do miss this place. I had a lot of good times here and made a lot of good friends. Those were the days.

I don't post here as much as I should. And I don't talk to any of you anymore (except Commish sometimes on AIM). I feel kinda bad that I post on the Downlow more than here now.

Remember the 20,000 post thread? Oh, how we failed to reach that goal!
Remember all the drama with Mandy and those other cats that got banned. Oh, good times indeed!

Or, as Chris just now reminded me as I was typing this, the time they kept changing my user title.

And now I will confess stuff:

1) To Westlake Tech, one time we were in a thread and you suggested the bans name "Robin Hood's Mailbox" for me to use and told me if I ever used it I had to give you credit. Well, I used it for like a year and did not give you credit and I apologize for that.

2) Remember Azo? Remember Permian Pride? Well, they're the same person. He told me because I guessed his secret somehow years ago and I said I'd keep the secret. But, now I am telling it because, well, why not?

<3

[CalallenWildcat]

Have you found a lightbulb yet, carter?

[carter08]

Have you found a lightbulb yet, carter?

I thought I did once.

[CalallenWildcat]

I thought I did once.