tsst_fballfan;965205 wrote:I agree but those would be the anomoly not the rule. Trust me there is nothing I would like to see more than a Rider-Smithie game every year in which the Green machine won. But the reality is that Orrville's average 6-4 to 8-2 teams are better than the top of the WCAL MOST years. This game will be a great example. This is an average at best Orrville team, in contrast this is probably one of the best Norwayne teams in the past two decades, but this game is still a toss up. If this were the 06 Rider team it would not be a close game. IMHO
To what do you attribute this idea? Orrville's talent pool isn't that much deeper in number (male student count). Their players usually aren't grossly larger or faster. Is there some other X-factor about happening to grow up in the Orrville school district as opposed to a block away in the Smithville or Dalton school districts?
If not, one might say coaching. However, I'd be interested in the defense for that as well, as every year seems to bring Orrville faithful saying they lost games they should have won ... even this year's fans seem to think their team has Jekyll/Hyde tendencies.
I think that some of this notion stems from a mystique surrounding a local team that seems to do pretty well against schools in larger divisions. However, I think there's more parity between non-polar divisions than many think.
Saying all that, Orrville does have a very proud tradition. They're easily the most playoff-seasoned team, historically. They've had legendary coaches, and they were even the program that built a starting OSU quarterback (regardless of where he spent the end of his HS career).
I'm hoping for a good game, and I think that's what we're going to get.
