drummond's Blog

During the the first two weeks on the Prep Football beat, I've noticed a number of high school football teams have gone to spead offenses. Even though a few of those schools have not gone totally pass happy, the appearance of a pass keeps defenses honest. Spread offenses also provide more open lanes for running quarterbacks. The success of the Rams (The Greatest Show on Turf Teams) and Mizzou's high powered attacks have had a major influence on high school coaches in this area.

Maurice

 

 

 

Today SLU announced that they fired Men's Head Basketball Coach Brad Soderberg. Despite their first 20 win season since 1997-98, it wasn't enough to secure Soderberg's job. The timing is a bit curious because this is the time of the year when recruits are trying to decide where they'll attend school. In an interview that coach Soderberg had with FOX 2's Martin Kilcoyne just last week, it did not appear that he saw it coming. 

 So, what do you think? Should Soderberg be out or should he have been given another chance?

 You can read about the story here, on myFOXstl.com

 

On a day when Albert Pujols seemed to be the headliner at the Cardinals Winter Warm-Up, World Series MVP David Eckstein stole the show. Each player signs autographs for fans in 2 hour blocks. The Cardinals shortstop signed autographs...for 5 hours and 15 minutes...I was told by Cardinals brass that former Redbird Steve Kline previously held the record by signing autographs for 4 hours at the Warm-Up one year.

Eckstein signed everything...bats...shirts..World Series photograhphs...Eckstein even said hello to a fan's relative on a cellphone...Eck did so with a smile.

Though he's beginning only his 3rd season in St.Louis, Eckstein may be one of the most popular players in the history of this franchise. His determination on the field...His class and humble manner off of it, has endured Eckstein to all who he meets.

Eckstein began his day at the MIllennium Hotel on Saturday at 12 noon...As I blog on Sunday at 6 o'clock...Eckstein may still be there...signing away....

CBC and Kirkwood left me with 2 lasting images from Show-Me-Bowl weekend that told me why they weren't just another two St.Louis schools who were beaten by Kansas City area powerhouses.

Let's start with CBC. With the Cadets trailing Blue Springs South big 35-0, CBC running back Rayon Simmons plowed into the endzone for the touchdown to erase the shutout. But you ask why would a seemingly meaningless touchdown in a 41-7 blowout mean anything? Well, that touchdown meant everything to the Cadets. It you could see the determination and desire that Simmons displayed to score that touchdown-lowering his shoulder, putting his head down, and punishing his would be tackler. Simmons appeared to carry the wounded pride of his CBC teammates, as well as the frustration of the CBC faithful, into the endzone with him. Simmons would not be denied-and CBC would not be shutout.

The 2nd image that I'll take away from Show-Me-Bowl weekend will be the scene after Kirkwood's emotional 42-32 loss to Raymore-Peculiar. I witnessed a very emotional and battle worn head coach in Larry Frost trying to console a group of physically and emotionally drained players... one by one. Frost began each encounter with a hug, followed by comforting words, while looking deep into the eyes of each young man. For those of you who think that it was just another weekend demolition of St. Louis area teams at the Show-Me-Bowl, think again.

CBC lost their first game of the year to Hazelwood East, and won 11 straight games to get to the Dome. Kirkwood completed an undefeated 10-0 regular season, before losing to Ray-Pec in the Class 5 Final. Not to mention Ray-Pec's Derrick Washington showed why he's a top notch talent(Mizzou bound)scoring 5 touchdowns on the night.

Yes, both Kirkwood and CBC did come up short in bids for their first ever state championships, but we should cheer-not jeer-the achievements of these young men. CBC and Kirkwood won before they ever stepped onto the field at the Edward Jones Dome.