2013 Wayne County Athletic League Football

• Flash

  

  Doesn't it have to be OK'ed by both superintendents? Oh, yea.
• Bobcat

  Orrville is as aware of what's going on with the Dennis kid as they are in the WCAL. He is not going to be well received no matter where he goes. I doubt he has much success in bball or track no matter where he goes. From what I've seen (which is only against Norwayne) he is not a very good basketball player and every time he's slated to face someone fast in track he's hurt. If you add in the fact that he'd have to sit half of the season it doesn't look good for him
  
  I understand the Dennis girl is a good athlete but she would be walking in to Orrville when they have some very strong female athletes. She might flourish in that situation but she could get lost in the numbers
• Flash

  

  We need some wrestlers. Beast, do you think the super there would OK a transfer to us? LOL
• 1_beast

  

  Flash;1523475 wrote:We need some wrestlers. Beast, do you think the super there would OK a transfer to us? LOL

  Negative Ghost Rider. We have none. We are slow, weak and inexperienced.
• Flash

  

  Its starting already and this isn't even the wrestling thread.
• BRF

  

  An old saying:
  
  "Once the toothpaste is squeezed, it's hard to get it back in the tube."
• O-Trap

  

  BRF;1523536 wrote:My old barber once told me:
  
  "Once the toothpaste is squeezed, it's hard to get it back in the tube."

  I don't trust a barber talking about tooth products.
• Old Rider

  

  Havin Fun;1523463 wrote:If the kids are transferring, that would be a smart thing. I imagine the teasing going on at school would have gotten pretty bad. I can just imagine that with the bball season coming up, the Dennis boy would have gotten some major ridicule at league games. I would say a school further away than Orrville might have been a better move but at least they got out of the WCAL where EVERYONE knows what is going on.

  If he does indeed transfer and also decides to play bball, he will still see plenty of WCAL teams. Orrville plays Waynedale, Northwestern, and Norwayne for sure. I think Smithville is on the schedule as well. Depending on when we play those schools on the calendar and Dennis having to sit out, he may see those schools or not.
• Havin Fun

  I am just not sure these kids going to Orrville is good for them? Why not get them out of Wayne County where others may not be aware of what all has gone on? Let's see if the rumor is even true. I do feel bad for the kids since most of this lies at the dad's feet. Actually I pity them all. What a tangled web we weave.
• wcalfan

  Flash;1523472 wrote:Doesn't it have to be OK'ed by both superintendents? Oh, yea.

  My thoughts exactly! This whole situation stinks! Although I don't think supers have anything to do with transferring anymore....I may be wrong.
• jaco

  His comments in the paper today about coaching his own son were telling. It wasn't about winning games or championships, it was about him and the gratification he got from coaching his own son. All I need to hear.
• Dr. KnOiTaLL

  

  jaco;1523683 wrote:His comments in the paper today about coaching his own son were telling. It wasn't about winning games or championships, it was about him and the gratification he got from coaching his own son. All I need to hear.

  What's the article titled? I'm looking online.
• Dr. KnOiTaLL

  

  [h=1]RITTMAN COACH STEPS DOWN AFTER POEM WRITTEN BY STUDENT GOES VIRAL[/h][h=2]Poem written by Rittman student goes viral[/h]By AARON DORKSEN Sports Editor Published: October 25, 2013 4:00AM
  RITTMAN -- The Rittman football poem saga went viral on Thursday, bringing national attention from media sources such as CNN, USA Today, Sports Illustrated and Associated Press reports in newspapers coast to coast to the small town of 6,500. A Yahoo.com story about it had more than 5,000 comments by early in the evening.
  Facing a distraction unlike any other football coach in the Wayne County Athletic League's 59-year history, third-year Indians' leader Bill Dennis told his team early Thursday evening he was stepping down immediately. The former coach's son, senior wide receiver-defensive back Blake Dennis, also opted to leave the Indians' football program.
  Defensive coordinator Lane Knore will be the interim head coach for the final two games, starting when the Indians (1-7) play host to first-place Northwestern (7-1) tonight at 7:30.
  "This my 30th year as a football coach and 21st as a head coach, and I've always said if I ever become a distraction for a team, for one reason or another or get in the way of the team, then it's time to go," said Dennis, who will remain the dean of students and athletic director.
  What started as an English class assignment given by a long-term substitute teacher -- write a poem about something that makes you angry and then read it to the class -- has snowballed into a national story, stirring debate on the fine line between bullying and free speech and nepotism.
  Nick Andre read the poem last week, but started at defensive end and guard in a 25-0 loss against Hillsdale this past Friday. Rittman principal Nick Evans handed him a four-day suspension from school and kicked him off the football team on Monday.
  "He wrote a mean and disrespectful poem about another student and our athletic-director/head coach," Evans told WJW TV in Cleveland. He added that the poem violated student handbook rules concerning bullying and hazing.
  The Andre family countered that he was following the instructions of the assignment and didn't bully or name anyone specifically in the poem.
  After the WJW report, the story spread rapidly via social media, with the possibility of a lawsuit being discussed in many forums. By Wednesday night, Evans had opted to drop the punishments and reinstate Andre to the school and team.
  Superintendent Jon Ritchie wouldn't specify why Evans changed his mind, saying only, "The high school principal revisited the decision."
  Ritchie wouldn't comment on what he thought about Rittman making the national news, or the way the school and community are being perceived.
  "We're trying to do the best we can for the kids we have in our care," Ritchie said. "We thank Bill Dennis for the nearly three years he was our head football coach.
  "He didn't want to be a distraction to the team and now we'll try to move on with Lane Knore as the head coach for the rest of the season. After Jan. 1, we'll begin the search process to find a permanent head coach."
  The Daily Record has opted not to publish Andre's poem, which is entitled "Stupid." While Andre doesn't use anyone's name, the poem clearly is aimed at criticizing head coach Bill Dennis for favoring his son, Blake, and questions why the younger Dennis has a football scholarship offer from Akron.
  "We talked as a family about why it's happened to us and why it's been twisted, which I don't know," said Bill Dennis, who finished with a 4-24 record leading the Indians. "After I said I was going to step down, Blake said, 'Dad, I'm gonna go with you. The focus has been on me, too, so let's go together.'"
  An emotional Bill Dennis said he do 0esn't understand why their family has come under scrutiny, or why the poem created so much interest. He refuses to read the poem.
  "When you play for your dad, I don't care who you are, you're going to get that," Bill Dennis said. "It's always unfair to play for your dad, but memories he and I have no one will ever take. They can slap me and print bad things, but the memories we'll have the rest of our lives will mean more than any championship you could ever win."
  When asked about his feelings after Evans reinstated Andre and about the student-athlete himself, Bill Dennis was extremely positive.
  "Our administrators rethought the decision and decided to do what they thought is best for Rittman students and their education, which is fine with me," Bill Dennis said. "Nick Andre is a great kid and I don't get anything from saying it. It was a hurtful thing that he did, but we've all done things like that now and then. He's not a bad boy at all."
  Andre was interviewed along with his mother, Julie, by CNN Thursday, but didn't return a call from The Daily Record to his home in Rittman early last night. The 16-year-old did not attend practice Thursday, but is expected to suit up for tonight's game.
  "I haven't really gotten to talk to any (teammates) about what they feel," Andre told CNN. "I'm sure they'll all be happy I'm able to come back and everything, but I haven't heard anything."
  Knore, 40, had been an assistant from 2007-2012 at Canal Fulton Northwest before coming to Rittman this year. He said it had already been a trying year with a multitude of injuries, including starting quarterback Ty Ramsier undergoing knee surgery this week.
  "The mood of the team is like you'd expect," Knore said. "They didn't want to have their coach go, but the rest of the staff is still there.
  "We're going to keep coaching them to try to be better people and better players the way we always have."
  Knore wasn't sure if a majority of players agreed or disagreed with Andre's poem, saying, "I'm not in the school during the day, but I've never really gotten that from the kids in practice.
  "The kids all work hard in practice and focus on what we have to do," Knore continued. "We tell them to go to the whistle and I haven't seen guys cheap-shotting or anything like that."
  How Andre's return to the team will go is also a big unknown.
  "I don't know how he'll be received by the team and I don't know exactly what to think about it myself," said Knore, who added he is unsure how much Andre will play. "Obviously he wrote the poem, but at the same time the way I'm going to be looking at it is he was reinstated back on the team and that's the decision I'll follow. I'll sit down and talk with him to make sure he knows where I'm coming from and what I expect."
  "You're not going to love everybody that's on your team, it happened when I was in school (at Versailles). But you have to be a team when you're out there together," Knore said. "We all have a common goal in what we're trying to achieve."
  Aaron Dorksen can be reached at 330-287-1621 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @adorksenTDR.
  
• rock turner

  FTA: "An emotional Bill Dennis said he doesn't understand why their family has come under scrutiny, or why the poem created so much interest. He refuses to read the poem."
  
  
  I read that line to my wife this morning and told her I thought this demonstrated either outright stupidity or a shocking lack of self-awareness or maybe both. She corrected me and said, "No, that's arrogance."
  
  I think she's right. Re-read his quotes from that perspective and you'll see it's all about him.
  
  FTA: "It was a hurtful thing that he did..." Dennis shows his hand here - he was offended by a poem he claims he never read? Arrogant and thin-skinned.
• Flash

  

  Most kids don't have as many prejudices as us adults and I'm sure the kids here will judge them for who they are as a person rather than what others think.
• JJ68

  

  Flash;1523780 wrote:Most kids don't have as many prejudices as us adults and I'm sure the kids here will judge them for who they are as a person rather than what others think.

  I disagree. Kids can be down right nasty.
  
  For example, there was a homosexual student who transferred to Smithville. Kids there were talking all over twitter and facebook before they even knew him. Kids are a reflection of adults.
• Flash

  

  Too bad if that's the case. Ignorant people are everywhere. May not be coming to Orrville, at least the daughter. May go to Wadsworth.
• Slick Rick

  rock turner;1523705 wrote:FTA: "An emotional Bill Dennis said he doesn't understand why their family has come under scrutiny, or why the poem created so much interest. He refuses to read the poem."
  
  
  I read that line to my wife this morning and told her I thought this demonstrated either outright stupidity or a shocking lack of self-awareness or maybe both. She corrected me and said, "No, that's arrogance."
  
  I think she's right. Re-read his quotes from that perspective and you'll see it's all about him.
  
  FTA: "It was a hurtful thing that he did..." Dennis shows his hand here - he was offended by a poem he claims he never read? Arrogant and thin-skinned.

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  You hit it right on. He was nothing but arrogant and cocky in the interview. He brought this on himself. You can't just promote your kid and think he is the whole team and can win by himself. You know he read the poem several times or he wouldn't have felt offended and attacked. The damn shame is the poem was right on point and very truthful. He made that interview all about himself and his son again as usual. What are his kids going to do now if they feel attacked or teased at school without him being in charge of the students? All they had to do before was run to daddy.
• AllOhio

  Bobcat;1523473 wrote:Orrville is as aware of what's going on with the Dennis kid as they are in the WCAL. He is not going to be well received no matter where he goes. I doubt he has much success in bball or track no matter where he goes. From what I've seen (which is only against Norwayne) he is not a very good basketball player and every time he's slated to face someone fast in track he's hurt. If you add in the fact that he'd have to sit half of the season it doesn't look good for him
  
  I understand the Dennis girl is a good athlete but she would be walking in to Orrville when they have some very strong female athletes. She might flourish in that situation but she could get lost in the numbers

  I disagree with most of this post...I saw him play bball and would welcome him with open arms to the Rider bball program. Very quick feet and a hustler...perfect for Sly's defense-first style. As for the daughter, have not seen her play but I do know we lost alot of talent to graduation which would make her a welcome additon as well.
• Flash

  

  In the girls program we lost guard talent and are looking to find someone on our team to handle the ball and bring it up court. This year it will have to be a team effort to handle the ball. That being said if she can do that, she'd play right away. We need height in the boys program and quickness kills. We'll have to come at you in waves to win and another wave won't hurt. If they come here the coach will make the decisions and I'm sure it would all work out.
• Havin Fun

  Ok, enough of the Rittman bullcrap. Anyone have a Chippewa Smithville score?
  Bears score 25 unanswered points to beat Dalton. I think Waynedale had five turnovers and Dalton had at least 4. Great to see the Bears tie up the all-time series with Dalton. That is the only WCAL school that had a winning record against Waynedale. Until tonight!
  Big game next week with NW & Norwayne. Where is that game being played?
• Red Rum

  

  Havin Fun;1524042 wrote:Ok, enough of the Rittman bullcrap. Anyone have a Chippewa Smithville score?
  Bears score 25 unanswered points to beat Dalton. I think Waynedale had five turnovers and Dalton had at least 4. Great to see the Bears tie up the all-time series with Dalton. That is the only WCAL school that had a winning record against Waynedale. Until tonight!
  Big game next week with NW & Norwayne. Where is that game being played?

  Mansfield TV has the score at 25-7 Chippewa...(disclaimer) WMFD isn't always the best place to get a score
  
  NWN-NOR at Northwestern
  
  
  EDIT: Fox8 says 46-25 Chippewa...sounds like the Chipps won
• Havin Fun

  Thanks for the info Red Rum. Should be a great game at NW. A Norwayne win and Chippewa norwayne NW tie for the title right?
• pdracer

  Yes, 46-25 was the final in Chippnation.
• O-Trap

  

  Smithies gained what seemed like a lot of ground yards tonight (surprise, surprise), but the passing game looked particularly bad today. As I recall, it was something like 0-for-7 with 2 INTs. That's gotta be rough.
  
  In the last two games, the Smithies' offense has looked better than before (still needs a lot of work), primarily in how well they've held onto the ball. At some point, though, it's going to be hard to win when you've got 5.0-second speed, undersized linemen, and only 8 juniors and seniors combined. Hopefully, the lumps the sophomores and freshmen are seeing the upperclassmen take will motivate them.