Jesuit 19, St Augustine 1

[coachray40]

Score from todays Times Picayune. Did this have to happen? St Aug is a first year program, and something like this doesnt help them get started, in my opinion. Thoughts?

[im4christ]

My only hope is that the players from Jesuit continued to show respect to their opponents throughout the entire match. I have seen teams score big against an opponent and then begin laughing, etc. at them. That is when it truly is shameful.

Blessings all -

[bouree]

Totally an unchristian thing to do...

[defencerules]

word on the street is that coach collins told his team that they better win at least 15-0, or some such. i imagine he is livid that they allowed a goal!

[flat3]

EDIT: Adding "Put non-starters"

This topic comes up every year, but I never heard of 19-1. If the coach was telling the players to beat the opponent at least 15-0, he should be ashamed. What were they trying to prove against the first year team, anyway? I don't see a rivalry here.

Once the fate of the game is decided, many coaches put non-starters to the game. When the score gets to something like 9-0, the courtesy is to pass the ball around (which is a good excercie, by the way) without scoring. While this could be humiliating to the losing team, it's much better than rubbing it in with 19 goals.

It's a shame.

[Rainbowcycle]

Do you smell a coach's lynching here or are you so ignorant?

Jesuit has a win, and two points if it is a distict match and St. Augustine a loss...so 0 points

The result is Jesuits 2 points to St. Augustine 0 point

Score 2-0


Yes, it is 2 points to o in favor of Jesuits: hats of to St. Augustine for having braved Goliath!

You are heroes in my mind ! For I too often find myself in the David' cleats...and I don't back down either!

Those who criticize don't give credit where it is due: to St. Augustine, a newer program who gave it their all, and only lost 0 point to 2 points. Those who criticize the Jesuits' Coach would probably, if they had been players, have run away with their tail between their legs after the score turned 0-5, crying at in their mammy' s skirt the world is so unfair !

The FIFA rules of the games require a team to score goals: it does not say anywhere to unplay the game to the point of stopping to play. Just like in Basketball or Football or diving, some athletes will perfect the mastery of the game better than others, so be it.

If someone cannot abide by the rules and spirit of the game, which is after all to score goals: stay out of it and go play marbles, making sure you do not win more than two of them from your opponent or you might run the risks of yet another lynching from probably the same mob of nitwits.

As far as the coach of Jesuits is concerned, I am never going to second guess him because as a coach myself, I have too much respect for what he does and besides I, for one, have some ethic rules to abide by.

Do not even attempt at posting libelous message again, especially not when the Jesuit Coach is not in a position to confront you in the first place.

He has more important things to do: like perhaps preparing his team at winning a state championship.

:)Stay positive and constructive Knights !

Until then so long , Rainbowcycle

[flat3]

? ? ?

[weeman5]

manchurian, do you even read the post from rainbow? shut up. it seems that everytime that rainbow post, you are right there to have something to say. if you actually took the time to read them you would notice some of the insight that he gives to us.

manchurian, reading your posts on this forum makes my eyes bleed because they are so pointless. Seems that you are unable to make a positive post.

[coachray40]

Rainbow--

First off I offered an opinion, thats it. As you are entitled so am I. You whined to Timeaus, got me booted from being a moderator, and I apologized for my "personal attacks and vulgarity." I bit my tongue on another post, but as you boohoo about my attacks and then want to zing me, I'm not doing it here.

19-1 is pointless--period. I am most shocked because this score was by JESUIT, who is the best team in the state, and one of the most, if not THE classiest program around. Play with a 2 touch restriction, pass it around, use you GK up front, play JV players, play with 8 players--all of these are ways to show some respect. You are supposedly a coach (of course you dont seem to be coaching anywhere right now-perhaps you have just run out of viable options), so even someone with the absolute genius within the beautiful game that you continuously show us here with your posts could figure out a way to keep the score down to a more reasonable number.

Nobody doubted that St Augustine tried hard and wasnt able to overcome the adversity, and nobody is questioning their effort. If they sucked it up and played hard throughout, then more power to them for their courage.

The OBJECTIVE of the game is to score more goals than the opponent. The SPIRIT of the game, contrary to your belief, is about competition, sportsmanship, and respect for the opponent--thats what I coach my my kids. But hey, I'm just another one of the nitwit lynch mob--what do I know.

Lets look at this from another more broadminded viewpoint. Holy Cross wont make the playoffs this year, the same way that the 4th place team out of the NO based Catholic league hasnt made it many years. You know why? Because their district record isnt good enough. You know why? Because they play in the second smallest district in the state(and perhaps the toughest), and they dont garner enough wins to make it--regardless of their quality. HC was a top ten team this year at one point, played competitively throughout their district, and beat some top teams this year. They are deserving of a playoff berth, but wont get one. The only way they will get one is for more of the schools in that traditional Catholic league to play soccer--i.e. ST AUGUSTINE. Now if St Aug keeps getting pounded by teams that everyone in the world know are capable of beating them, the kids there will gradually lose interest, fade away, and the program will dissolve(see Walker Evangel, etc.), with an almost impossible task of restarting--how does that help anyone? Certainly doesnt help strengthen their district, especially not a school with a good team that gets left out in the cold like HC. As you say, 2-0 gets you the same points and result, so why not find a way to make a game like this a training exercise for your players, and keep the score reasonable instead of a humiliating whitewash for a drastically overmatched opponent

Save the Homeresque writing style, the "call to arms of the indomitable knights," and the boring legalese--its all the same stuff we have read, and got bored with, before.

[SCRDAD]

Having been in this situation as a coach (both sides), it is a difficult situation and merits some discussion.

In Jesuit's defense, they are an extremely talented team from top to bottom. Their roster of about 25 players is all junior and seniors with one outstanding sophomore. I believe the vast majority if not all 25 have played and are still playing club soccer at the highest level, meaning premier. They are highly capable of scoring a lot of goals in spite of any limitations placed on their play.

Moving on to the task at hand - how to play with class and good sportsmanship and not run up the score. I have discussed this with numerous coaches and we have come up with some ideas to help a team improve and yet make it more difficult for the dominant team to score so many goals. Some of these ideas include - 1) a minimum number of passes before a shot may be attempted, 2) limiting scoring opportunities to headers or volleys after crosses from the wings, 3) requiring all shots to be one touch, 4) requiring all shots to be with the non-dominant foot, 5) requiring all play to be with the non-dominant foot, and 6) requiring all shots be taken from beyond a certain distance (for example outside of the penalty area). These ideas sound similar to many activities that I have used during practice. They serve a purpose, help to improve the play of the strong team, and help to avoid unnecessarily running up the score.

I have observed some players take shots that went just wide ... after the team taking a dominant lead, the ball was worked by the team for a good shot that "just went wide". Those in the know, knew the player missed the shot to avoid running up the score. A very classy and selfless act, one that also shows some compassion for the opponent.

Good sportsmanship dictates that we don't run up the score when the game is well in hand, especially in circumstances where teams of significantly different talent are matched in scholastic sports. Scholastic sports offer a great avenue to teach our children values that will last a lifetime. Humiliating the opposition is not a value that we want to teach. If we can all RESPECT one another, this world would become a better place. Humiliating the opposition does not show them any respect.

[Deleted]

Jesuit scoring 19? I thought Jesuit had a little better sportsmanship than that. Who in their right mind would score 19 goals on someone? After about 11 or 12, you need to stop scoring and just past the ball around and limit touches to about 2 or 3. You also put your scrubs in the game at that time so where they get better at 1 and 2 touch passing. Soccer is a game so don't go all out and just embarrass everyone on the other team just because they aren't as talented as you.

[rocksccrstar]

why do we have to point out the negative, if St. Aug is a new program than they will have to go through what most other teams must endure--a few losing seasons--- ain't that right EA and Salmen, etc.....

Point out the positive--- they scored a goal against the "great and powerful" Jesuit soccer team---build the kids up with positivity....

[hdkjga]

The folowing are my opinions on the subject, if you do not wish to read them, look away now.




First off, congratualtions to St. Augustine for scoring on Jesuit. That alone is a feat to be proud of. Ask anyone of the top teams who have played the BlueJays.

Second, I have watched Jesuit's teams play for many years and they are no classier than any other teams. They still get in confrontations on the field, do all the things highschool boys do. They are human and teenage to boot. That said, Jesuit has beaten St. Augustine twice this year. The first time it was 15-0, the second time it was 19-1. That is a cumulative score of 34-1 in two games. That is not class, that is not sportmanship, that is not in the good meaning of the game of soccer. Jesuit knows that they are the best program in the state and have been for about 10+ years now. Why run a 1st year program into the ground. There is no point. Maybe it is a power trip, maybe Jesuit wants to make sure no other teams get good enough to challenge them, who knows. I don't coach a team, but I have been on teams that have won big and team that have lost big. Either way you feel sort of empty. At least I did. If you beat a team 10-0 and then you see that after 6 or 7, the other team has just given up, then it is disheartening to go any higher. When the 6th or 7th goal is scored on you, it is disheartening and you wonder why you are even still on the field at this point. I guess what I am trying to say is that it is more damaging to the game and the progression of the sport to have this happen in a game, whether on the winning side or the losing side. I don't condone a score like this, but it is more amplified when the premier program in highschool soccer does it to a first year program trying to get started.

[msc18]

i commend jesuit...obviously didn't play with any restrictions on play and that's admirable...have you ever been a player in a situation like that ? id rather have the team continue to go full throttle than having a team play the ball around and me have to chase the ball constantly for the rest of the game....as long as the players aren't snobbish with it and you can joke around or whatever it's all good

[pitch]

I agree with those opinions that have said that Jesuit's score was a classless act. In the Lafayette area, Abbeville and Morgan City could have been beaten by 18 almost every game by the top teams in their district.
But coaches can put restrictions on teams that will keep the scores down. The Jesuit-St. Aug game sounds more personal than what is best for soccer.

[JHS75]

As an alum of Jesuit and parent of a past state champion team member I have watched Jesuit play many games including this years St Aug blowouts. I will be the first to admit that at any given moment a team memeber could and sometimes does act classless or in an unsportsman like manner as is the case with any human much less a teenager. Jesuit has exhibited and acted as both sportsman and with class year after year. Coach Collins plays to win and improve his team in every practice, scrimmage and game. In this case he and the Jesuit program will be criticized for running up the score. The truth is he played every member of the team, in both games, and for the majority of the game the team members who do not start or those who are not in the regular rotation played minimum minutes. My question, Do you think that maybe part of the reason that Jesuit has such a strong program is the competition that is within the team ? This being said by not putting certain rules on the bench players they are able to improve their game and be ready to carry the winning tradition of Jesuit soccer. I see no other sport where athletes or teams are spoken so poorly of for playing to the best of their ability. In addition, I believe when you ask an athlete to alter his style or "hold back" you invite injury. I believe more important than the score is how the players acted. In this case I can tell you they scored and returned to midfield to resume play, no showboating or arrogance. As far as playing the JV, Jesuit does not mix teams. You either play JV or Varsity not both. On occassion a JV player will be elevated after the season begins but not often.

[Rainbowcycle]

JHS75, thank you for the inside information, you not only confirmed what I had assumed from the beginning: both St. Augustine Catholic and Jesuits Catholic are class act schools in their own very special ways, but you also underscored the fact one should never prejudge another coache's intentions, with the danger of missing the target completely.

Both teams are commendable: St. Augustine for acting admirably well in front of adversity, and Jesuits for playing with the true spirit of the game: by substituting the starters and by asking them to show true sportmanship, i.e by not missing the target on purpose for example, or by using other similar gimmicks as some other coaches wrongly would advocate...by compassion, when it would really hurt the other team's pride and honor.

Congratulations to both teams and coaches, and good luck in the playoffs, let the show begin and may the smartest team win!

See you at the games, Rainbowcycle!

[Rainbowcycle]

I would like to add, that I am not new at the game either...at the age of 11 with my blue and white team, we were defeated by 22 goals, while not managing one score, on those fast skilffull and envied players of the Royal Sporting Club of Anderlecht.

Do you thing the score ever bothered us to the point of starting to write about it?

Not at all, we kids brushed it off our shoulder as soon as it came, and had fun nonetheless. We made sure to find that fun anywhere we could, by working twice as hard in the game and by running like never before to chaze the eluding ball, knowing perfectly well that after each score the ball would be returned to us at midfield for a fresh new start...

WE "hated" those endless keep away game type teams, who wouldn't give you a chance to touch the ball, on the recommendations, of their so called commendable compassionate coaches who followed old fashioned etiquette.

WE wanted action and that translated into goals. As many goals as possible, goals by the dozen in our favor or against, it didn't matter to us children after all, we were having so much fun!

At the same time, we felt so much admiration and were filled with so much awe at watching the other purple and white team outplay us with such dexterity, skill and strategy. Did we ever give up, no that was our victory and pride and honor.

Don't you ever take that away from a player with your adult perspectives on life that are often very questionable. As the bible puts it so well:
"And a child shall lead them!"

Being politically correct; anyway, is too long a name for this game.

It must remain "soccer" at all costs, and should shine by as many goals as possible to the point of lightning the evening sky with neverending wonderous and extravagant fireworks of brilliance on the part of our children and why not on our part, children in remission!?

So long, Rainbowcycle !

[Deleted]

When it get's to be about 10 to 0 then you put your scrubs in. Work with them on one and two touch passing and then they can be free to shoot. I feel good for the nonstarters when they play in games like this and they score. But when the starters just keep giving it to the other team by scoring back to back to back goals. It's pointless. Put your other players in and let them score and pass around. I have no problem with letting the nonstarters score. Also when the game is 10 to 0, the other team is just getting madder and madder and then they look for injuries. They're thinking, well if we lose by 10 they better have some injuries because that's what they get. We see it time and time again with players ending their careers because they stay in for the whole game against not so good teams and then BOOM! broken ankle. Out for the rest of the season. What I'm trying to say is, show a little class, and stop scoring with your best players. Put your not so good players in and they can get a little work done.

[lhssoccerfan]

I’m always amazed to see these emotionally charged diatribes. I happen to feel that the degree of a person's intelligence is directly related to the number of conflicting perspectives that he/she can bring to bear on the same topic and recognize that none of those might necessarily be endorsed by a majority of people. And let’s not forget that 3 out of 4 people make up 75% of the population…are we having fun yet? Geezums…

It is also a well known fact that 1 out of every 4 Americans has some form of mental illness. So think about your three best friends…If they are ok, then it’s you!

I actually heard the Jesuit game was closer than the score reflected…At one point, it was even tied up 0-0…I hope everyone can lighten up and get along. This forum should be a fun place, not somewhere you go to find out who’s giggin’ you for your opinion. So we found out that Jesuit is an excellent team and St. Augustine has a lot of room to improve. Both of those are good things! My prediction in the State Finals…LHS 19…Jesuit 1.

CoachRay, you already know that I am your biggest fan!! Your command of the soccer issues in Louisiana is second to none…I can’t count the number of your posts that I have printed out.

Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of those guys have tried to contact us…?