I can't speak for the rest of the league but I do know the Cats are returning a slew of talented lettermen. They lost only 6 seniors and only a few of those actually contributed. Those few do leave large shoes to fill but the pipeline is bulging. One of the biggest questions will be "can the young coaching staff coach them to their potential". They are returning 3 or 4 players off of injury from last year that would have probably all been 2 way starters. They went 9-3 without them for most of the year. Adam Wallace is back under center for his third year and has the Zimmerly boys both returning in the backfield. They are both a load. Wallace has bulked up considerably which is going to make him much more dangerous. The recieving core is loaded with talent with returning letterman Jon Maibach, Brady Berger, Mitch Kneriem, Kaleb Harris, Dustin Grier and Richie Smith all back from a year ago. Three of those guys are 6'1" or taller and they are all very athletic. Although the biggest loses are on the line the return of Matt Palmer who had knee surgery and missed all of last year should help fill one of the two holes nicely. Several returning Juniors saw significant play time on the line last year (including 2 playoff games) and should adapt well in the starting rotation. The sophomore class is also extremely talented. Many of the guys metioned above will play on the defense as well and may actually be better on that side of the ball.

the cats are my favorite to win.

Dalton with a one back set is nothing new. They have been putting a guy in the slot that sometimes lines up as a wingback so i don't see any huge changes there. You are right about attitude though, expecting to win is half the battle. That's why teams like dalton, smithville, etc, are usually competitive even when they don't have much talent (and coaching). They will have to work for it this year though

BEVERBOY where are you with the inside scoop?? WE'RE ALL WAITING.....at least us Dawg fans.....

THE4RINGZ;816832 wrote:Beast just referred to other people as sandbaggers? Pot meet kettle.

Yep, the guy has a beach in his back yard....

All I know is "the cupboard is bare, or is it bear?"

you called me a sandbagger last year...where did the Bears finish? 2-8??? yeap...thats playoffs material....i said NWN would win WCAL in wrrestling...AGAIN...called sandbagger...who won that??? NOT Bears!!! I only speak truth!!!

1_beast;818291 wrote:you called me a sandbagger last year...where did the Bears finish? 2-8??? yeap...thats playoffs material....i said NWN would win WCAL in wrrestling...AGAIN...called sandbagger...who won that??? NOT Bears!!! I only speak truth!!!

ok Beast....I know this is the Football thread, but I think you were throwin' some sand around about Wrestling......just sayin'....hehe

So I heard Coach Bilker resigned and is heading back to Hoover. Anyone out there know anything?
Camp starts next week........................

Luckydog are you being serious?

are you serious? I can't think of any reason a coach would leave right before camp (other than some pretty bad ones).

Heard this morning that he did resign and is going back to Hoover, with Doty becoming the new coach.

Wow, talk about bad timing---Billker quits in July. I gotta wonder what happened?

Bloody--
The curse of the Yuck mouth lives!!! Norwayne has no returning wrestlers!, Billker will put his stamp on this years Dawg football squad! Any more predictions?--- Ole' buddy.

Beast--
I wouldn't say you're absolutely always 100% guilty of sandbagging---I'm just saying that if you lived along the Mississippi, there wouldn't be any flooding problems.

Bilker quitting after just one season? That takes him out of contention for any head coaching positions anywhere else for a long time.


I am sure there is a legimate reason for him leaving. Too bad I thought he was a suitable replacement for Big Bob.

riders1;820168 wrote:Heard this morning that he did resign and is going back to Hoover, with Doty becoming the new coach.

Yep he told the boys if he ever had a chance to return to Hoover he was going to take it and he did. Wondering if he didn't want to go thru the pains of rebuilding. He walked into a good situation last year with the team we had. Whatever the reason was for him leaving like he did I have ZERO respect for him after all the HORSESHIT he fed the parents and players.
Upper classmen pretty pissed off at the move. Talk about being kicked in the balls. Next week is an off week for the boys but the coaches will be there getting their stuff together.
I'm wondering if the assistants he brought in are going to bail as well....
Good for Doty, he's seen the lean years and I'm sure he'll have the boys ready to go balls out.....

wow - that is really low, leaving in July - hope that follows him for the rest of his career. The only silver lining in this is that Dalton had the runner up for the head coaching job all ready on the staff, which never happens - makes it an easy move for the board at this stage of the game. Good luck to Doty

Yet another Tressel disciple choosing to do a classy thing at the end of their tenure.

bingo;820732 wrote:Yet another Tressel disciple choosing to do a classy thing at the end of their tenure.

this +1

bingo;820732 wrote:Yet another Tressel disciple choosing to do a classy thing at the end of their tenure.

Pretty much. He basically got that job thanks to a Tressel phone call.

Too bad for the Dalton program. At least Doty knows the system.

It was a punk move by Bilker, but you gotta move on. If I were a parent/fan I would be livid but there would be nothing I could do about it.

Although I am not a Dalton fan, one thing I have learned over the years about the athletes over there is that they can overcome adversity. This is just another bump in the road for those kids that will somehow find a way around. I have said it before those Dalton kids are just wired a little different, so for this to happen now it is nothing these kids won't use to motivate them to become a better team.

well said

Justin Stutz got hired back to coach, hell yeah!! Bilker got rid of him...........

luckydog;822509 wrote:Justin Stutz got hired back to coach, hell yeah!! Bilker got rid of him...........

Glad to hear that as well! I also heard earlier that former Dalton LB Eric Keyes was hired as the LB coach but that was before Billker left.

See, things are already starting to look up Dalton. Good to hear.

glad too hear he is filling up the staff with some accomplished former Bulldogs. You also have to feel pretty good about the Bulldog defense into the future. Doty has been running that side of the ball for quite a while and Dalton is strong on D almost every year. He'll still have his work cut out for him in 2011, though.

Beast- How are your Bears looking??