What the heck are you talking about? You keep going on about the 2nd game and 4th game as if in some way beforehand they were considered even remotely similar in terms of what would be anticipated as required of the '92 girls and their coach. We knew going in that the 2nd game was the easiest game on the preliminary schedule and not only the best chance but a good chance for a win, the 3rd game would be the toughest making the 1st game critical to at least get a draw, but '92 team with Shelley coaching came out of the 1st game with a win and 3 points. Unlike the '94 boys who earned only 1 point in a 1st game draw. When Shelley explained to the '92 girls the situation about the boys before the 2nd game the girls obliged as I said. The 2nd game should have been a cakewalk compared to what we knew was to come in the 3rd game (GSA) and the possible 4th game (Ponte Vedra) if we finished 2nd in bracket.
We had profiles of both 1st and 2nd team's down to premier league records, tournament records, state cup records and record comparisons to previous years. Which had national team members, region 3 team members, state team members, in some cases track & field times, dominent foot, height, which team's had returning college players and their freshman stats even some youtube video; college committments, college coaches' NLI release blurbs and for some full player profiles... for games 1 and 2. No need for research on GSA or PVedra, because every player with our team had played both teams at least once, most of them twice and half of the team 5-6 times. And... the team's coach, Russ Shelley, had coached CESA '92 every game against the GSA and PVedra teams for 4 years.
At the hotel before the 4th game Shelley told the team he would be coaching the boys again. However, unlike 2 days earlier the entire team knowing how different this 4th game would be compared to the 2nd game followed him to his room and tried to talk him into changing his mind. That visit in itself should have been enough, but I am aware of at least 1 parent called him (still at hotel before the game) to get him to change his decision, and I texted my disagreement later after I realized he wasn't going to be at the game (I wasn't at meeting). The decision was challenged by the entire team after the meeting where it was announced at the hotel.
3rd game accomplishment with these 12 players under Shelley... dominated 1st half possesion, held GSA scoreless for 75 minutes finally losing 2-0 (had they held on for the tie, they would have finished 1st in bracket). Fall Premier League CESA/GSA score 1-6.
4th game accomplishment with these 12 players without Shelley... played 1st half in defensive half usually defensive 3rd, rarely controlling possesion, down 0-2 in 1st 15 minutes finally losing 0-8. Fall Premier League CESA/PVedra score 1-3 (0-2 @ half, Shelley fired up team for 2nd half 1-1). Oh, added value accomplishment... at least 4 players including three of the starting backs from the 3 previous games got experience at new starting positions.
72 hours? Ask me again in ten years and I'll still tell you that at the 2011 Southern Regionals the CESA '92 Premier Girls needed Shelley at the 4th game, went to him as a team asking him to be there, and he should have been there.
Does that finally break it down for you? Hope so.
Last edited by DeltaDog; 06/24/11 08:59 AM.
