63 replies to this topic

[HeartofaLion]

Who wants to watch The Lions get in a 2 back 2 tightend set and run the football every play? I'd rather watch a Croquet tournament than watch Kirbyville play this year. He was fortunate at Kirbyville, (a 2A school) to have one of the best RB's in the state. He has several D-1 offers, one of wich includes Texas A&M. Not to mention the level of competiton is significantly less than that of 4a competition in this area.
Ennis does not have the kids they once had. How do you keep up with the competition? You run the sptead. Its an equalizer!! Good luck runing that at this level! Our linemen are the same size as our RB's.
The State Champion's of 4a this year were Aledo and Lake Travis. What did they run on offense? The Spread!!

[captainjack]

Coach Alvarez may be an great coach but trying to run ball at Ennis good luck with that. Small linemen and small backs will not bode well for his offense.

[111]

The spread depends on developing QBs and skilled receivers.
Ennis has gotten away from trusting the spread the last few years without a pipeline of skilled talent development to run the spread as it is designed.
Most good coaches adapt and figure a way to win what tge have. Hopefully that will happen
I will withhold any bad mouthing until I see what comes next.
Winds of change are blowing

[ut-a&m]

I'd love to see a run smash mouth attack back in Ennis. The spread is fun and exciting, but the Wishbone and Wing T is FOOTBALL! Let's get the D back, we need a shutdown defense....

Nothing wrong with "smash mouth football" but you better walk the halls of high school, we don't have a bunch of draft horses for that power game, not many quarter horses left either, our stable is full of burros. In the future I'm not sure we will reach the elite level like we did in the late '90's early 2000's, you can only "coach up" so much.

Granted, when Sam H came in he was a "run coach" as were most of the other programs, but after a few years of bringing up the program to a competitive level he saw we didn't have the hoss's to make the next big step. He had to come with a gimmick.........and that was the "spread" and the elite level was obtained.............and we could whip the big old boys from Cana, Hachie and the likes.

[TheLegend]

Coach Alvarez has spent the past ten yearss at a small school with very limited talent and has whipped up on large 3A and $A schools. Give him a chance he willl succeed. He will adjust.

[monter]

Nothing wrong with "smash mouth football" but you better walk the halls of high school, we don't have a bunch of draft horses for that power game, not many quarter horses left either, our stable is full of burros. In the future I'm not sure we will reach the elite level like we did in the late '90's early 2000's, you can only "coach up" so much.

Granted, when Sam H came in he was a "run coach" as were most of the other programs, but after a few years of bringing up the program to a competitive level he saw we didn't have the hoss's to make the next big step. He had to come with a gimmick.........and that was the "spread" and the elite level was obtained.............and we could whip the big old boys from Cana, Hachie and the likes.

I played for Coach Harrell his first year in Ennis. Back then, Ennis was primarily an I-Formation, "freeze option" team. Although, we did mix in some Shotgun and Power I if I remember right.

I'm sure this coach will look at the players he has, and do what he feels is necessary.

[TheLegend]

Coach Alvarez has spent the past ten yearss at a small school with very limited talent and has whipped up on large 3A and $A schools. Give him a chance he willl succeed. He will adjust.

I realize some of you are upset that a certain coach didnt get the job. Its not fair to take that out on Alvarez. He will be successful!! Believe it. Support your new Coach.

[ennis champs]

[quote name='TheLegend' timestamp='1296014068' post='627567']
I realize some of you are upset that a certain coach didnt get the job. Its not fair to take that out on Alvarez. He will be successful!! Believe it. Support your new Coach.
[/quote
I am one of several loyal ennis lion fans. I have not missed a game as I have posted before in 13 years. This year my job kept me from attending the beginning of some games. It was dissapointing to see the Ennis home side 1/2 full. I too am saddened by a coaching change, but only because it meant the end of Harrel's reign.
I truly believe the next coach will bring what it takes to get Ennis back to the caliber of football we all have become accustomed to. I believe that because l believe in the program, from top to bottom.
While Ennis has had misfortune these past few years(young team this past year, key injuries year before that, qb injured in regional playoff the year before that), I personally feel change may be good at this time. Before anyone gets upset let me explain why:
Excluding the years I mentioned before Ennis downyears were primarily because the of talent level of the quarterback position.That is not saying the quarterback was not good, it is just a fact. There is a reason that the spread formation works,and that is a above par quarterback or superior quarterback as we had with Graham. Does anyone that's upset about this change see a quarterback of that caliber coming up? I do know if things work out there are a set of twins that are going to dominate the line

Edited by ennis champs, 25 January 2011 - 10:12 PM.

[HeartofaLion]

You don't need a QB of Graham's caliber to be good. However, you need one to be great. In that same regard, you need an O-Line and a RB's to be good at running double tight two-back offense.
Auburn-Spread
Oregon-Spread
Eastern Washington(FCS CHamp)-Spread
Aledo-Spread
Lake Travis-Spread
Pearland-Spread

[stealthfighter11]

How bout we support our new coach and offer positive support. As far as run or pass, u do what ya gotta do. It was mentioned on here to check out the stats of Kirbyville

Well they had a top ranked back in the state and ran the ball,,really ? Seems as if u have Jim Brown or Walter Peyton u run some. It's really not hard to calculate.

A winner figures out what to do to win.

This guy is a winner. A winner is a winner. Lets give him a chance to win.

[HeartofaLion]

I'm sure Alvarez is a great coach and will do well. With that said, I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around Coach Willie not getting this job. The guy played here, graduated here and has coached here for 28 years. I guess loyalty gets you nowhere these days. What does this say to those kids who have been working with these coaches since Harrell's departure? I guess it says loyalty means nothing, and tradition is not a big deal either. And Lion pride? Where is the Ennis Lion Pride in this?
How does a Sup have the final say on a football coaching job? Did the board or AD have a say? Seems strange. What does she know about football? What does she know about Ennis Football for that matter?

[brickstone75]

There are still a lot of things about the way this went down that I don't like, but the second the ink on coach Alvarez's contract dries he becomes an Ennis Lion; and Ennis Lions are Lions for LIFE.

So, I will support Alvarez and his program. I believe he will adapt to the talent in the ranks. Run, Pass, Mix ... it's all about taking what the defense gives ya anyway. The spread just gives you more opportunities to force the issue. If you have the skill players to run it that's great, if ya don't, then don't try, cause you'll get ya head handed to ya.

Interesting times ahead as far as who stays and who goes. In every case, I wish them the best. It's been a great run, but this is not the end of anything ... by any means.

During the 2010 season we started 10 sophomores and 2 freshmen. The freshman team itself really came together and showed it can be a winner in a tough district. That 8th grade bunch? Undefeated - with multiple skill players and a monster defensive group.

Let's see ... next season - better, but still skinny ... the next season -those sophomores are seniors, those freshmen are juniors, and oh yeah, those 8th graders are sophomores.

Could be the beginning of another run at the Crown for E-town. (Train horn blows in the background, drowning out a roaring crowd)

Least that's how I see it ... through these deep burgundy glasses.

Edited by brickstone75, 26 January 2011 - 05:38 AM.

[111]

Change is tough.
When Stringfellow took over a couple of good teams the program was growing but frankly he was not up to the task of contunueing the growth and reaping the rewards of tbe teams he inherited. The slow demise of the program continued until Sam Harell came to town and changed the culture back to what it once was. What this town expects. I will always hold Sam in great respect as a coach and human being. He truly loved coaching our kids and getting the most out of them. His coaching staff consists of native Ennis family and those that have become native Ennis family. It is tough on mornings like this not knowing what is up next. As human beings we get pretty attached to ones we hold dear. In coaching you cannot get emotionally attached. But I am not a coach and I do.
I want to thank Coach Harell for all he has done.
I want to thank this staff and staff that have left over the years that worked to bring the best out in our kids.
This staff has been working hard to keep these young men going with the knowledge they may not be around to see there efforts bear fruit. They did not give up for this I appreciate. This is Ennis Pride. I want to thank them all for what they have done as Ennis Lions.
The new team coming in I believe will understand shortly if they do not already know that this is a football town. I
welcome them in. I do not go to games to watch them coach but to see how well they coach their team. I believe they can do this. I have been down this road with new coaching before and understand the nervous nature we all face. It will take time for me.
Forgive me the moment as I am human. I sit in waiting thinking about coaches that have earned the right to be Ennis Lions but with uncertainty on their future.
Thanks for all that understand what is to be an Ennis Lion and good luck for those learning what it takes to become one

[HeartofaLion]

I know Alvarez is a great ball coach. I've watched Kirbyville over the past 2 seasons and his teams play well. Not very exciting to watch, but you can tell those kids are playing hard.
It just really hurts to see this current coaching staff get sent off by a SUP that has no experience in fotball programs. Has she ever coached or played the game? How long has she lived in Ennis? 2 Years? Who does she think she is? She wants to rid herself of the Harrell era and anyone associated with it so she can bring her own guy in here. Sounds a bit selfish to me!! And unfair to our Ennis coaching staff!!
But shes the SUP and she can do whatever she wants. Afterall, we selected her. Just didnt think she would have such an ego!!

[stealthfighter11]

I know Alvarez is a great ball coach. I've watched Kirbyville over the past 2 seasons and his teams play well. Not very exciting to watch, but you can tell those kids are playing hard.
It just really hurts to see this current coaching staff get sent off by a SUP that has no experience in fotball programs. Has she ever coached or played the game? How long has she lived in Ennis? 2 Years? Who does she think she is? She wants to rid herself of the Harrell era and anyone associated with it so she can bring her own guy in here. Sounds a bit selfish to me!! And unfair to our Ennis coaching staff!!
But shes the SUP and she can do whatever she wants. After all, we selected her. Just didnt think she would have such an ego!!

I did not realize that the SUP was the only 1 in the decision making process. I do have a question though concerning last yr when the coaches were giving the opportunity to step up in the Head Coaching postion as interm HC... why did I hear no one wanted to do it and they had to vote Morrow in. Seems as if U want it u say ME ME ME !!! Im your coach ! People in decision making postions have to make decisions at what they think is best. So what, she hired a winner. Shame on her. There were others who helped in the process. The HC postion is not a right or a gift. I don t meant to hurt anyones feelings but there seems to be a personal thing on here about the SUP. Just how long do u have to live in Ennis b4 u can make a decision. I don t live in Ennis but have many ties and family there and have for over 50 years. I have nt missed a football game in 20 yrs. This is a great town. How bout we give this man and his family a chance and welcome them. Then if he doesn t win,,,we'll run em out of town lol....

[monter]

I did not realize that the SUP was the only 1 in the decision making process. I do have a question though concerning last yr when the coaches were giving the opportunity to step up in the Head Coaching postion as interm HC... why did I hear no one wanted to do it and they had to vote Morrow in. Seems as if U want it u say ME ME ME !!! Im your coach ! People in decision making postions have to make decisions at what they think is best. So what, she hired a winner. Shame on her. There were others who helped in the process. The HC postion is not a right or a gift. I don t meant to hurt anyones feelings but there seems to be a personal thing on here about the SUP. Just how long do u have to live in Ennis b4 u can make a decision. I don t live in Ennis but have many ties and family there and have for over 50 years. I have nt missed a football game in 20 yrs. This is a great town. How bout we give this man and his family a chance and welcome them. Then if he doesn t win,,,we'll run em out of town lol....

The Superintendent wasn't the only one making the decision. There was some type of committee that had to decide, then, if I understand correctly, it had to go to the school board for final approval.

[TheLegend]

from what i understood the commitee consisted of the sup, the AD, and the three principals

[HeartofaLion]

First of all, when Harrell stepped down, there was no "who wants to be the interm head coach"? There was a decision by the SUP and AD for Marrow to take over as interm.
As for hiring a winner, we have a winner on staff!! A Ennis Man to the CORE! He has won 3 State Championships! Sure Harrell was the head man, but football is a team game. And I can promise you Defense wins championships!! Remember the Marshall State Championship Game? Seems like everyone forgets the defense won that game!! How many has Alvarez won? And dont get me wrong, I think Alvaraz is a great coach. I dont have a problem with Alvarez. Hes not doing the hiring. I just cant understand why you wouldnt hire a winner on staff.

Edited by HeartofaLion, 26 January 2011 - 05:51 PM.

[stealthfighter11]

First of all, when Harrell stepped down, there was no "who wants to be the interm head coach"? There was a decision by the SUP and AD for Marrow to take over as interm.
As for hiring a winner, we have a winner on staff!! A Ennis Man to the CORE! He has won 3 State Championships! Sure Harrell was the head man, but football is a team game. And I can promise you Defense wins championships!! Remember the Marshall State Championship Game? Seems like everyone forgets the defense won that game!! How many has Alvarez won? And dont get me wrong, I think Alvaraz is a great coach. I dont have a problem with Alvarez. Hes not doing the hiring. I just cant understand why you wouldnt hire a winner on staff.

All I can contribute at this point is G/L to our new HC. I hope this all works out. I know some are disappointed because they are close personally to others on staff.

Edited by stealthfighter11, 26 January 2011 - 06:30 PM.

[HeartofaLion]

Impressive point...