Pack13

Talking about state seems a little premature. Let’s get in the playoffs. I’m interested to see how the rebuild the offensive line, I think linebackers are untested and who is playing DE this year. There are holes that have to be filled. 48 seniors is great but means nothing if there are gaps 

21 minutes ago, PackAttack said:

I just threw that out there, he usually has winning basketball teams every year and makes the playoffs regularly.  His wife is the LHS Principal. Neither are close to retirement age.   The football program from Middle School to High School needs a big revamping.  I've talked to so many parent over the past several years bringing their children up through that system. You have to decipher the difference between a parents partisan take on their own child's ability and the real reality of the situation. Still, you know from the football program results these past years things needs to be much better. With the exception of that one BIG freshmen group who are now assembled for the upcoming 2024 or 2025 seasons, there hasn't been much else developed.

I think Lufkin has easy to fix problems but you have to bring in someone that sees how to handle that. A new school approach is needed. I’ve said before I think Lufkin has the athletes to dominate at almost anything. But you have to bring in people to develop the athlete not only as a player but as an athlete. That’s where I’m seeing these schools catch Lufkin. 

19 minutes ago, mr. b said:

Lots of changes coming to LP administration, lots of resignations coming.   I expect changes in athletic program too but not for another year.  

I can confirm I’ve heard the same things. 

10 minutes ago, PurpleNation said:

I've been looking at some old cases on schools appealing to move districts for football and most of the time it's denied but they will let them move for all other sports. Maybe not as confident as I once was. I can see the UIL saying it's only a few games and it's a non school night even though the sub varsity kids will suffer. Maybe the social media uproar will force their hand. 

I’ve never felt good about it because you are trying to tell the boss they are wrong. UIL already thought that was the best location. I do think it’s a tougher district than either of the two Houston once’s. Honestly I’m worried about playoffs in district 7

1 hour ago, PurpleNation said:

I'd be shocked if they don't have a really good season. This is the group of kids that we coached in little league. They've done nothing but win at every level. They have a togetherness about them that is special. Kind of reminds me of my SR season. Most importantly they're putting in the work. 

I do hope you are right. Just can’t drink the koolaid. 

22 minutes ago, PackAttack said:

9-5A D1 apparently has voted to not allow Lufkin in (not a surprise)

Lufkin is likely going to take their appeal to the UIL #txhsfb @dctf from Matt Stepp

Not a shock. I think Lufkin is easily top four in that district. I don’t think the same can be said for district 7. It’s going to be hard to find a new home unless the UIL says so, but they made these districts for a reason. 

3 hours ago, timeout! said:

Does that mean members of 9-5A would have to vote to allow us in?

The problem with this is. If a team feels like Lufkin will take a playoff spot. They will most likely have a “no” vote 

I agree with needing to be in closer district. I don’t think the one they are in is a cake walk to the playoffs. The Houston ones look easier in my opinion. 

I think I called it going up north. Highland park and red oak are tough. Midlothian runs the flex bone. They’ve gives teams like Aledo fits over the years. Tyler is going to be tough again. I think you really look at 5 teams including Lufkin battling for four playoff spots 

12 minutes ago, LPanther said:

Kinda what I was thinking. It’s almost a four hour drive to Sherman. I’ll be VERY surprised if DMN is right on this.

I thought that district was possible minus Sherman. That’s where my gut has been leaning. 

5 minutes ago, LPanther said:

DMNews projection:

District 7-5A: Highland Park, Lufkin, McKinney North, North Mesquite, Sherman, Tyler, West Mesquite

They better provide a neutral site for that Sherman game. 

That defense is going to be nasty. Zion at nose letting big hoop run free. Going to cause I lot of problems. I think Hooper takes big strides in his second year at linebacker. 

Lucky for him playing linebacker on defense can have a little more control over success than other positions. 

1 hour ago, wolfpack4life said:

 

Good for him. I have a feeling this kid is going to take big strides in his play making ability this year. 

Aledo set the ground work for how the program operates 20 years ago. Everything they do is tried and true. The advance with the times. They start developing the athletes in the 6th grade. All the youth programs run the same offense and defense as the high school. There is no guessing. They know exactly what they are doing 

All I know is DFW plays a lot higher level of football across the city than the houston schools do right now. Wouldn’t mind heading south. I do like the College Station schools being in the district idea. 

1 hour ago, PurpleNation said:

Oh God I hope not. Anywhere but Dallas. Maybe the can pair us up with College Station and Consolidated and send us with some Houston schools. With Highland Park dropping down maybe they try to insert us with the Dallas schools but only having Tyler might not be the best situation for that. Lufkin has to go south this realignment.

I have reasons to believe the district will be heading north again. 

1 hour ago, PurpleNation said:

I remember when we lost to Garland in 2003 in the first round and nobody thought we had much of a chance in 2004. I'm getting similar vibes from this group next year. Nobody is expecting them to do much.  I personally think they're in for a big season. The district won't have 4 Top 15 teams in it next year and I think most of you are underestimating that aspect of it. I don't think there was any other district in 5A where we wouldn't have made the playoffs. The only game they really didn't compete in was the Longview game and nobody outside of Forney competed with Longview this year. They had a chance to win every other game this year. I think they're a lot closer to being a really good team next year than people think. It's a long off season but this was always the year before the year for me. They're going to be good next season and I'm going to be able to tell you guys I told you so.

I think defensively they will be. Problem with offense is the line. Who is blocking and will we see improvement? We didn’t win the line of scrimmage once this year. Tough district or not that’s concerning. 

18 minutes ago, PurpleNation said:

That will be up to the kids at the end of the day. Put in what you get out. The off season workouts are tough from what my kid tells me. I really think it's up to the individual kid to put in the extra extra work. I'm really excited about this group next season. I think they have a chance to be really good next season. They're returning a bunch of kids that have done nothing but win in their class. 

I do believe you are right. It is up to the athlete. Tough workouts and effective aren’t always the same thing. I just hope the kids grow and we can have a good season next year. Every football player deserves a chance to get playoff football. 
 

I do want to add thanks for the insight into what’s happening. 

3 minutes ago, PurpleNation said:

They're going to return 16 starters next year. They will be as experienced team as we've had in a while. 

The question the becomes, will that matter, what development do we expect over the next 9 months, who steps up more on both lines?

Seen people saying other teams are bigger than us. What positions are we undersized at?

15 minutes ago, timeout! said:

I'm familiar with the are. You can't coach size. But your guys could definitely benefit from being a bit stronger, faster, and better conditioned. All things that can be improved to a degree. Longview is usually undersized on the line when they face those DFW schools too. But hardly see them getting whipped on the line like us. Those guys are tough as nails in the trenches and use speed and technique to out maneuver bigger lines. Out saw it last year when they played Mansfield Timberview. Mansfield fans thought they would just steam roll over Longview because they were so much bigger. Longview was also smaller than McKinney on the line and they held up. So it can be done with the right people in place. Lufkin just need to start over. 

You can’t coach size but Lufkin has some big boys. I have never felt like size is the problem watching Lufkin. The faster, stronger part has been the problem. Being strong is one thing too. Knowing how to use it is another. 

10 minutes ago, PurpleNation said:

Can you tell if #43 is up and walking around. Looked like he hurt his shoulder on that tackle on the first drive.

He’s out there playing

12 minutes ago, PackAttack said:

Undecided, I did buy a ticket. It's really hard, because I've followed these kids all year. 

Can you post the ticket link?

14 minutes ago, PurpleNation said:

I don't understand how Lufkin is so slow on releasing enrollment numbers 

I don’t think Lufkin is moving classifications.