Tropic Thoughts: Random Observations by Brian Bosarge

While we are still waiting for confirmation on the home and away sites, the weekly schedule has been confirmed. Putting it lightly, the Canes 2010 schedule is very difficult.2010 Schedule

1. Daphne
2. Blount
3. Theodore
4. Murphy
5. Foley
6. MGM
7. Baker
8. LeFlore
9. Davidson
10. Fairhope

This is a schedule that includes an astonishing EIGHT teams that made the playoffs a year ago. I can’t imagine this is a schedule new head coach Eddie Stephenson had in mind for his first season in charge. Only time will tell if the Hurricanes can take the next step and make the playoffs this season. On paper, it would seem to be a challenge just to equal the number of wins from a year ago.

12/17/2009 12 p.m. 

 The seventh coach at Alma Bryant High School has been named, and his name is Eddie Stephenson. The announcement has not officially been made. It is pending approval from the Mobile County Central Office. Stephenson coached Pike County in 2009 to a perfect regular season record, before falling to Luverne in the first round of the playoffs. He coached locally at Citronelle High School from 2005-2008. He compiled a 20-21 record leading the Wildcats, including two playoff births. It appears Stephenson was one of two finalists given consideration for the job. Jack French was the other finalist. Eddie Stephenson will attempt to accomplish where his two most recent predecessors failed; making the playoffs. But only time will tell on that count. Stay tuned to caneradio.com for more details on this story.

- Brian Bosarge

Jack French will not be the next head coach at Bryant. According to an unnamed source inside the program, French was considered a finalist for the job. A new coach has been chosen, but the source has requested that this information not be released to the public at this time. An announcement could be made as early as tomorrow morning. Stay tuned to caneradio.com for the official announcement.

12/15/09 5:45pm 

For those of you out there who bet the field, you would probably be collecting your money soon. According to sources inside the Bryant football program, former Baldwin County High School head coach Jack French (read his coaching summary here) will be named the next head football coach and athletic director. French compiled a 32-14 record in four seasons leading the Tigers program. He also led BCHS to three playoff appearances, with a 3-3 record. French had a similar winning percentage coaching in the state of Mississippi. Sources also say the announcement could come as early as tomorrow morning. If this indeed turns out to be true, Jack French will enter the thirteenth season of Hurricane football as it’s seventh head coach. Caneradio.com will confirm this information as soon as possible.

-BRIAN BOSARGE

Over six weeks have passed since Ronnie Cottrell was let go as the head coach/athletic director at Alma Bryant High School. Principal Doug Estle said he would wait until the conclusion of the state playoffs before he would start the process of looking for a new coach. Well that point has been reached. Early reports had surfaced that Murphy head coach Ronn Lee would be leaving his post with the rival Panthers to take the job with the Canes. He however declined the job and will stay in Midtown Mobile for the time being.  So who does that leave? Let’s take a look at a few candidates:

 BART SESSIONS

Sessions is the current defensive coordinator at Prattville High School. In his two seasons coordinating the Lions “D” his squad surrendered a minuscule 9.5 points per game. He was previously the DC at Davidson. Sessions has never been a head coach, but his defensive pedigree speaks for itself. He also has ties to the area, as he is from Grand Bay, and still has family in the region.

Odds of hire - 5:1

JEFF KELLY

Kelly was a great high school quarterback at Citronelle High School, before continuing to have great success as the QB at Southern Miss. Kelly was a 7th round pick of the Seattle Seahawks. After a brief run in the NFL, he took the head coaching job at Satsuma High School. Kelly went 15-26 in four seasons with the Gators. Kelly led SHS twice to the postseason in his four seasons, matching the total number of playoffs appearances they made in the 47 years before he got there. He was hired away from Satsuma to take over the 4A Jackson Aggies.  In his two seasons in Jackson, he has guided them to a 22-6 record. This season, he led JHS to the 4A state title game, falling in the Super Six to Cherokee County 31-27. Prior to Kelly taking over the Aggie program, they had not won a playoff game since 1997. Kelly has posted a 6-2 playoff record in his two seasons.

Odds of hire - 10:1

THE FIELD

This includes anyone we have not mentioned. Could be a top coordinator, or a young fiery upstart coach.

Odds of hire - 7:1

2009 HURRICANE RADIO NETWORK FOOTBALL AWARDS

This is the HRN’s second annual doling out of football awards. The voters this year expanded by one, as former Hurricane defensive end John Wilkerson was added to the team this year. He joins myself, Dewayne Lavelle, and Ben Johnson. 

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR:

JEREMY FORD, SO. - WR

Jeremy Ford had a record setting year for the Hurricanes in 2009. Ford set a single season school record with 760 receiving yards. He also had eleven catches against Foley, setting a single game record. The young sophomore was consistently the best offensive player for the Hurricanes all season. Ford was a unanimous selection for this award.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR:

JOSH FLOWERS, JR. - LB

Josh Flowers was a madman for the Hurricane defense this season. Flowers had a four game stretch of double-digit tackles. George Wilkinson, a senior defensive end, received one vote.

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER:

TYLER CRAMER, SR. - TE

Tyler Cramer came into 2009 with one catch for 16 yards. Cramer exploded into 2009 however, with a 5 catch 78 yard performance against Enterprise. Cramer consistently put up numbers thru the first six games of the season, until the offensive coaching staff went thru a “philosophical” change. Cramer was a unanimous selection for this award.

TOP SENIOR PLAYER:

DUKE SANDERS - DB

Duke Sanders was the prototypical shutdown corner for the Hurricanes this year. Sanders didn’t have the statistics the other defensive backs had, but that is because teams simply didn’t throw his way. Ricky LaForce and George Wilkinson each received one vote.

TOP JUNIOR PLAYER:

ALDEN BOSARGE - RB/LB

Alden showed tremendous heart all year for the Canes. He was a solid linebacker in the early part of the year, before becoming the go to running back down the stretch. Alden was the unanimous selection for this award.

TOP SOPHOMORE:

ASHTON WARD - DE/LB

Ashton led the Hurricanes in sacks this season. He showed tremendous burst off the edge as a down lineman. Ashton was the unanimous selection for this award.

*- The 2009 Hurricane Radio Network Awards were voted on by Brian Bosarge, Dewayne Lavelle, Ben Johnson, and John Wilkerson.

I thought I would wait a few days to let the news settle in, before I blogged about it. On Monday morning Ronnie Cottrell was officially let go as Head Coach/Athletic Director at Alma Bryant High School. Principal Doug Estle, less than six months after taking over the principal job from Larry Mouton, decided to take the football program in another direction. You can read the Mobile Press Register article on the story here. Cottrell was 7-13 in his two seasons as Hurricane coach.

 In recent radio interviews, Coach Cottrell expressed his displeasure in being let go, and really who could blame him. I know every time I have been let go from my job, I have been upset. But let’s look at some of the reasons he was let go. In a recent interview with Lee Shirvanian on WNSP, Coach Cottrell said “I think the team progressed this season”, as a reason he shouldn’t have been let go. In some respects he is correct. However I offer the devil’s advocate response. I feel the team regressed. In 2008, the Hurricanes finished 4-6. In 2009, they finished 3-7. Going inside the numbers reveals that we actually played worse in beating Baker. (Last year a 49-6 win, this year a comeback 16-13 win) Last year against a much better Escambia(FL) team, featuring current SEC Freshman star Trent Richardson, the Canes won 27-14. This against a lesser Bullock County team, the Hurricanes struggled to win 13-0. The most glaring example of regression was the complete lack of discipline showed by the team all season. I can’t tell you how many times the team was running players on late, called for having too many men on the field, or actually running plays with not enough guys on the field. I think the main reason for this lack of discipline was the lack of the “s.o.b.” coach. Last year, with Ty Wise and Ivey Williams on the sidelines discipline was not an issue. However, in my opinion, and I could be wrong,  I think Coach Cottrell may have been too nice for his own good. 

Whomever is the next coach, that person will be the 7th head coach in 12 seasons. Rumors are swirling about who that next coach will be. I have heard the rumors, but will not report on them until anything is official. But I think the real question is what is wrong with the program? Or can the program be fixed? Here is a list of the previous six coaches and their records at Bryant:

1998- Rush Propst (12-1) *lost in State Quarterfinals

‘99-’00- Mark Lassiter (19-5)* lost in State Quarterfinal in ‘99, 1st Round in ‘00

‘01- David Faulkner (1-9)

‘02-’03- Joe Nettles (10-11) *lost in 1st Round of Playoffs in ‘03

‘04-’07- Eric Collier (10-30)

‘08-’09- Ronnie Cottrell (7-13)

I wish I had the answers as to why the Hurricanes have had six consecutive losing seasons. I wish I had the answers as to why the Hurricanes have not been to the playoffs since 2003. Some say the talent level has fallen off dramatically. If that is the reason, how do you fix that? Some say the coaching is the reason (actually a lot of you say that), if that is the reason who can we hire and actually keep here to fix it? Some people blame the behind the scenes structure of the program(i.e. Booster Club, Coaches Club, parents, etc.), if that is reason how do we fix that?

I am just a lowly website columnist/internet radio play-by-play man/fan who loves this program. I wish i had the answers, but I do not. All I have is opinions. However, my opinion doesn’t carry much weight. I do know however that I have worked my butt off for three years for this website and radio network, and I have seen nine wins. And the scary thing is, that pales in comparison to the work the players and coaches have put in for those same nine wins. I think that point gets lost in all the hoopla and drama and finger pointing that goes on.

I hope Principal Estle makes a good hire, one that can bring structure and discipline to a program that desperately needs it. Whomever is hired, I will support that coach and whatever direction he takes. I love Bryant High School, and want nothing more than to see it succeed.

 If I have offended anyone with this blog, I apologize. But these are my opinions, and I stand by them.

Email me: brian_bosarge@caneradio.com

The 2009 season came to a close on Friday night, with the Hurricanes falling to the Foley Lions 51-20. The 51 points scored by the Lions are the most points ever allowed by a Hurricane football team. It breaks the previous record of 47 points allowed given up to Mary G. Montgomery in 2001. Foley overcame three first half interceptions, including a 19-yard interception return for touchdown by senior defensive end George Wilkinson. Jeremy Ford broke two Hurricane records previously held by current South Alabama receiver Lim Windham. Ford’s eleven receptions broke a single game record. His 147 yards receiving gave him 760 yards total for the season, breaking the single season receiving yardage record. The Canes finish the year 3-7. It marks the sixth consecutive losing season for the Hurricane football team.

 RANDOM THOUGHTS:

•  Congratulations to Jeremy Ford. The young sophomore has been a playmaker all season long for the Hurricanes. A very bright future lies ahead for this young man.
• Their will be some debate in the next few weeks at caneradio.com about the year end awards. Some are obvious, some are not. We shall see.
• For those of you who listen to the archived broadcast of the post-game report from last nights game, you heard an emotional speech from myself. Due to the possibility of moving from the area after my marriage in February, this very well could have been my last broadcast of a football game on the Hurricane Radio Network. I have gotten to live a life-long dream of broadcasting football games. I hope if I am not able to do this anymore, Dewayne can find a successor to keep this going. I just want everyone to know, I love Bryant High School, I love broadcasting games for this school. If indeed this is the end of my run, I want to thank everyone who supports the hard work that me, Dewayne, Ben, JJ, and Rebecca do each week to make our broadcasts possible. Thanks again everyone, it has been great.

The Bryant Hurricanes lost their annual rivalry game to the Theodore Bobcats 27-6 on Friday night. The Canes out-gained the Bobcats offensively 279-228 yards, but costly turnovers ultimately did them in. THS running back Todd Neal rushed for 167 yards and two touchdowns, including a back-breaking 55-yard TD in the second half. Ricky LaForce threw for 158 yards for the Hurricanes, however an errant pass in the fourth quarter was intercepted and returned for a touchdown by Bobcat DB Dylan Busby. Bryant falls to 3-5 overall on the season, and finishes 2-5 in region play. The Canes will host the Foley Lions next Friday, concluding the 2009 football season.

RANDOM THOUGHTS:

• Another week, another double-digit tackle performance from Josh Flowers. That kid is playing unbelievable each and every week.
• Ashton Ward was tremendous off the edge. Ward showed great speed sacking THS QB Chris Nelson twice.
• Jeremy Ford, you sir are a play maker, enough said.
• Alden Bosarge did a great job of running hard all night. It’s just a shame that he is having to handle the bulk of the carries. Because of injuries, and other things, the Hurricanes have been forced to use their fullback as their main ball carrier.
• Friday night was the first time I have really got to see Bobcat LB C.J. Mosley play. This kid is the real deal. He will be starting on Saturdays very soon. Rumor has him going to Tuscaloosa to ply his trade, but wherever he ends up some college coach is going to be real happy.

The Hurricane defense held the Davidson Warriors to 172 yards of offense, but it was not enough on Friday night. The Warriors clinched the Region One Championship with a 10-8 victory over Bryant on Friday night. The loss eliminated the Canes from playoff contention for the sixth consecutive season. The Hurricanes fell to 3-5 on the year, 2-4 in region play. Davidson improves to 7-1, 6-0 in region play. Bryant hosts the arch-rival Theodore Bobcats next week.

 RANDOM THOUGHTS:

• Tremendous effort by the defense tonight, led once again by Josh Flowers. Flowers has now recorded double-digit tackles in consecutive weeks.
• Not a whole lot of balance on offense this week. 34 rushes to only 12 passes. After completing 64% of his passes in the last two weeks, Ricky LaForce regressed this week. The senior signal-caller completed only 30% of his passes. Silver lining to that dark cloud: he averaged 24 yards per completion.
• Disturbing stat of the night on offense: Two leading receivers coming into tonight Jeremy Ford and Tyler Kramer combined to catch one pass. The one catch a 26 yard TD pass to Ford, the Canes only touchdown. I do not think a ball was even thrown Kramer’s way.
• Not sure I agreed with the play call on 4th and 5 with 2:00 left. With the Davidson Warriors in their base defense, The Hurricanes threw a punt fake pass which gained maybe a yard on a completion to Bookie Wells. I don’t disagree with going for it. I don’t disagree with throwing the football. I however disagree with throwing the football with your punter/defensive end with the Warriors in their base defense. If you are going to throw the football, it just seems to make more sense to throw the ball, with your quarterback, and give him a chance to get the ball to one of your other offensive play makers.
• Big rivalry game next week. I know I speak for all of us at caneradio.com when I say we don’t like Theodore, and hope we ruin their playoff seeding like we did one year ago.