The Bystander
on Sports
by Joe Michelich
Last weekend was one to remember for area football fans. Hopefully, this
coming weekend will be even better.
If you weren't watching, Rochester pretty much destroyed Metamora, Glenwood
proved its postseason playoff run wasn't a fluke and the Fighting Illini overcame
two poor efforts with a solid win that made them eligible for a bowl and maybe
saved Ron Zook's job.
Zook has the reputation as a great recruiter but is suspect as a game coach and
the losses in winnable games against Michigan and Minnesota put the coach and
his team in deep trouble. Now, after Saturday's big win over Northwestern at
Wrigley Field and with a possible win at Fresno State in a week, the Illini could be
in line for a bowl game of some stature, one that will entice future recruits.
While the Illini have had a bit of a comeback season after recent
disappointments, the real story around here is our two schools who will be
battling for state championships, Rochester and Glenwood.
Rochester, in what could only be described as a blowout, made its last home
game of an already great season one that Rocket fans won't ever forget. Nor will
the Metamora people. You just don't see a program like Metamora end up on the
short end very often, much less taking a big loss by the running clock. According to
our research, it's only been done twice and the other team that did it was Joliet
Catholic back in 1999. You may have heard of JC, they've won a few state titles,
like say 13 of them, so that's pretty rarified territory.
The Rockets had a couple of things going for them, playing at home and hoping
to avenge last year's loss to the Redbirds in the semifinals, but that was still a
remarkable performance under any circumstances. A few breaks here or there
and Rochester might be going for two straight titles, but I'm sure the Rocket
Nation will be just fine if the Rockets can get one this Friday night against Alleman.
Glenwood is simply an amazing story. How many teams can you find that not
only started 0-2 with a couple of big losses (one by the 40-point rule), then turned
things around to not only make the playoffs but to reach the state finals? You have
to give the GHS coaching staff a lot of credit for making the kids believe they could
do this, but most of the plaudits have to go to the players for never giving up on
what has turned out to be an incredible run that nobody, not even Dan Rourke,
saw coming.
We're told that after the Titans lost to SHG and Springfield, both pretty good
teams, there were some heart-to-heart talks that emphasized staying together
and trying to be a team to be remembered. Win or lose Saturday against Montini,
this 2010 Glenwood team will definitely be remembered.
What is it that both teams have that has made a difference? I'd say it's the one
thing that a lot of people overlook, great linemen. The backs and receivers get
most of the glory and in these cases, deservedly so, but none of it happens
without the men in the trenches doing the dirty work, opening the holes and
protecting the passer.
Coach Rourke pointed out after the Titans steamrolled a very good Richwoods
team that it was the offensive line that was the key, opening gaping holes for
Devin VonNordheim-Moore and Tony Giovanelli to run through as Glenwood ran
the ball at will. And sophomore quarterback Miles McAdams has come a long way,
developing into a leader who obviously isn't bothered by the spotlight of a big
game.
At Rochester, the Rockets have numerous offensive weapons, the most notable
being senior Colten Glazebrook, who is having an incredible season with 38
touchdowns, 15 coming in four playoff games. And junior quarterback Wes Lunt
has stepped into the big shoes left behind by Sean Robinson and the team hasn't
missed a beat. Lunt certainly isn't the running threat that Robinson was but he's
been cool under fire all year, throwing only three interceptions against 29
touchdowns to a relatively new cast of receivers. But again, Saturday night Lunt
was never pressured by Metamora because his blockers gave him all the time he
needed and it's been that way most of the year.
So we have an unbeaten team (Rochester) that goes into its final as a favorite to
win and another team (Glenwood) that is the only finalist among the 16 headed to
Champaign with three losses. The Rockets have had big expectations all year
and haven't failed yet, with three running clocks in four playoff games,while the
Titans have been picked to lose by most observers every week of the playoffs so
far (including some local guy), yet they've come through each time. It goes without
saying bringing home a state championship won't be an easy task for either team
but they'll have a lot of supporters from Sangamon County cheering them on. Two
state titles from two teams from the same conference? Why not?
I'm sure the fans that attended the Illinois-Northwestern game at Wrigley
Saturday that had seats along the first baseline, even those sitting around the 35
or 40 yard line, thought they had it made. Wrong.
From what I've read, a lot of fans liked playing at Wrigley even with the goofy
rules that made both offenses go in the same direction and apparently, the
players and coaches liked it for the most part. But some of the fans who attended
may think twice about doing it again, unless they can get seats in a particular area.
How would you have liked to get seats in the right field bleachers, which was the
closest spot to the field, then find out that all the plays were going to be run in the
other direction? From what I saw, some of the people outside the stadium at the
rooftop party spots had a better view in some cases.
I had a friend back in Detroit, Roy Cullenbine, who played for the Tigers. He went
to all the Lions games and always sat in the upper deck behind one of the end
zones, because he said you could see the plays develop better than from the
sides. While I expect this won't be the last time Wrigley is used for football, unless
they can find more room on the field, some of those seats, like those around
home plate, will cost a lot more than those in right field.
on Sports
by Joe Michelich
Last weekend was one to remember for area football fans. Hopefully, this
coming weekend will be even better.
If you weren't watching, Rochester pretty much destroyed Metamora, Glenwood
proved its postseason playoff run wasn't a fluke and the Fighting Illini overcame
two poor efforts with a solid win that made them eligible for a bowl and maybe
saved Ron Zook's job.
Zook has the reputation as a great recruiter but is suspect as a game coach and
the losses in winnable games against Michigan and Minnesota put the coach and
his team in deep trouble. Now, after Saturday's big win over Northwestern at
Wrigley Field and with a possible win at Fresno State in a week, the Illini could be
in line for a bowl game of some stature, one that will entice future recruits.
While the Illini have had a bit of a comeback season after recent
disappointments, the real story around here is our two schools who will be
battling for state championships, Rochester and Glenwood.
Rochester, in what could only be described as a blowout, made its last home
game of an already great season one that Rocket fans won't ever forget. Nor will
the Metamora people. You just don't see a program like Metamora end up on the
short end very often, much less taking a big loss by the running clock. According to
our research, it's only been done twice and the other team that did it was Joliet
Catholic back in 1999. You may have heard of JC, they've won a few state titles,
like say 13 of them, so that's pretty rarified territory.
The Rockets had a couple of things going for them, playing at home and hoping
to avenge last year's loss to the Redbirds in the semifinals, but that was still a
remarkable performance under any circumstances. A few breaks here or there
and Rochester might be going for two straight titles, but I'm sure the Rocket
Nation will be just fine if the Rockets can get one this Friday night against Alleman.
Glenwood is simply an amazing story. How many teams can you find that not
only started 0-2 with a couple of big losses (one by the 40-point rule), then turned
things around to not only make the playoffs but to reach the state finals? You have
to give the GHS coaching staff a lot of credit for making the kids believe they could
do this, but most of the plaudits have to go to the players for never giving up on
what has turned out to be an incredible run that nobody, not even Dan Rourke,
saw coming.
We're told that after the Titans lost to SHG and Springfield, both pretty good
teams, there were some heart-to-heart talks that emphasized staying together
and trying to be a team to be remembered. Win or lose Saturday against Montini,
this 2010 Glenwood team will definitely be remembered.
What is it that both teams have that has made a difference? I'd say it's the one
thing that a lot of people overlook, great linemen. The backs and receivers get
most of the glory and in these cases, deservedly so, but none of it happens
without the men in the trenches doing the dirty work, opening the holes and
protecting the passer.
Coach Rourke pointed out after the Titans steamrolled a very good Richwoods
team that it was the offensive line that was the key, opening gaping holes for
Devin VonNordheim-Moore and Tony Giovanelli to run through as Glenwood ran
the ball at will. And sophomore quarterback Miles McAdams has come a long way,
developing into a leader who obviously isn't bothered by the spotlight of a big
game.
At Rochester, the Rockets have numerous offensive weapons, the most notable
being senior Colten Glazebrook, who is having an incredible season with 38
touchdowns, 15 coming in four playoff games. And junior quarterback Wes Lunt
has stepped into the big shoes left behind by Sean Robinson and the team hasn't
missed a beat. Lunt certainly isn't the running threat that Robinson was but he's
been cool under fire all year, throwing only three interceptions against 29
touchdowns to a relatively new cast of receivers. But again, Saturday night Lunt
was never pressured by Metamora because his blockers gave him all the time he
needed and it's been that way most of the year.
So we have an unbeaten team (Rochester) that goes into its final as a favorite to
win and another team (Glenwood) that is the only finalist among the 16 headed to
Champaign with three losses. The Rockets have had big expectations all year
and haven't failed yet, with three running clocks in four playoff games,while the
Titans have been picked to lose by most observers every week of the playoffs so
far (including some local guy), yet they've come through each time. It goes without
saying bringing home a state championship won't be an easy task for either team
but they'll have a lot of supporters from Sangamon County cheering them on. Two
state titles from two teams from the same conference? Why not?
I'm sure the fans that attended the Illinois-Northwestern game at Wrigley
Saturday that had seats along the first baseline, even those sitting around the 35
or 40 yard line, thought they had it made. Wrong.
From what I've read, a lot of fans liked playing at Wrigley even with the goofy
rules that made both offenses go in the same direction and apparently, the
players and coaches liked it for the most part. But some of the fans who attended
may think twice about doing it again, unless they can get seats in a particular area.
How would you have liked to get seats in the right field bleachers, which was the
closest spot to the field, then find out that all the plays were going to be run in the
other direction? From what I saw, some of the people outside the stadium at the
rooftop party spots had a better view in some cases.
I had a friend back in Detroit, Roy Cullenbine, who played for the Tigers. He went
to all the Lions games and always sat in the upper deck behind one of the end
zones, because he said you could see the plays develop better than from the
sides. While I expect this won't be the last time Wrigley is used for football, unless
they can find more room on the field, some of those seats, like those around
home plate, will cost a lot more than those in right field.
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Issue Date: Nov. 25, 2010
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