Yes we are ordering I think 12-15 new helmets that will replace the rejected helmets from last year, and give us 8 additional helmets. Paint job is the same, but as I took a closer look to the helmets I am almost 100% certain it is the kids causing the damage to the paint job to make them look "tougher". Coaches need to cut that out it makes the helmets look horrible.

Those rejected helmets still get painted up, and if a kid can't afford the $100 bucks they charge to buy the helmet, than they give them a rejected helmet that is the same thing.

5knots also mentioned seniors would be allowed to by their own helmets...I think that is mainly due to the fact that we only get the Riddell Revolution helmets, and Riddell has recently came out with a new helmet that I'm sure all these kids think is cool and they want, but at $350-$500 bucks a helmet the budget will not buy the new style helmet....So you may see 2-3 kids with the new style, but the player is actually buying that helmet.

It is more about new technology is hopefully better technology than the "cool" factor at my house. Learned a lot about the newer helmets on our big Ten "tour". That is the first I ever heard of the kids purposely doing something to their helmet? It may be the case for a few that don't see much action but I highly doubt Sam Reusser or Derek Graber were "trying" to make themselves look tougher by fabricating scratches???? borders ridiculous imo.

I know, I thought it was ridiculous too and of course those 2 guys you mentioned were most likely not involved in that, but that is what I was told so take it for what its worth.

Of course the new helmets have better technology....but the school is not going to give a helmet to a kid that is unsafe for play. Football is a contact sport and anything can happen no matter what equipment you are using.

I agree with that. School will provide what is necessary. If someone chooses to provide something that they think is equal or better, it is their right if they pay the cost. no problem at all with that. When are those Div breakdowns coming out OQB?

Haha absolutely 5k!

Well I'm guessing in a week or two....usually they will go over the breakdowns at the next meeting.

The main reason for the "scaring" of the helmets is due to the fact that the stripes are no longer taped on, but rather painted on. The two white stripes on each side of the red stripe just gets smeared/scuffed and rubs off on the black paint of the helmet.

If you look close at the helemts that were the worst last year, they were mostly lineman's helmets and the scaring was typically white colored. When players (typically lineman) are lined up just feet apart from the opposing player or in practice, the first part of the body that makes contact is the head/helemet...do that several thousand times in a season/practice/preseason...the wear on the helmet becomes more obvious.

^^ Agreed Old Rider, I know there are a lot of OSU fans on here, but if the sanctions come down on Tressell and the school hard, expect a lot of big time recruits not to go to OSU, IMO. 5 knot just wondering if that would have an impact on Mason going to OSU if the NCAA comes down hard on OSU if he would get an offer?

5knots;759788 wrote:I agree with that. School will provide what is necessary. If someone chooses to provide something that they think is equal or better, it is their right if they pay the cost. no problem at all with that. When are those Div breakdowns coming out OQB?

I hope to have something posted on my blog either tonight or tomorrow. Taking my best guess at division breakdowns and region breakdowns. Keep an eye out.

Coach 08;760267 wrote:^^ Agreed Old Rider, I know there are a lot of OSU fans on here, but if the sanctions come down on Tressell and the school hard, expect a lot of big time recruits not to go to OSU, IMO. 5 knot just wondering if that would have an impact on Mason going to OSU if the NCAA comes down hard on OSU if he would get an offer?

Difficult to answer with so many hypotheticals. It is definitely a cloud that seems to be darkening. Bell gets suspended for the season, OSU has his cousin in the incoming frosh class???? What kind of kid is he? They have an offer out to a kid from Texas who was arrested for sexual assault on a 16 year old girl last month? What the heck is going on? And then two of the top LBs in Ohio committ to Mich with an attitude toward OSU lack of interest. Just seems like the pendulum is starting to swing real fast the wrong way.

Yea that is kinda my point 5knots just was not sure where Mason would be if OSU gets hit hard by the NCAA. Being a huge Michigan fan would love to see him go there, but I know they have not offered yet, plus having 4 LB commit not sure how many they still want? Michigan's defense was awful the last couple of years but I think coach Hoke is heading in the right direction with his recruiting and bring in Greg M. as the D coordinator. Anyway I wish Mason good luck where ever he chooses to go.

Much appreciated.

Coach8...here I thought you were an OSU fan this whole time! Boy you had me fooled ....U must be an "Old Smithie"

Old Rider... yea I still have some shades of green in me, but now I am a Red Rider! Old Rider don't you have some "Smithie" blood lines in your family tree ?

That Smithie blood is from the early 60's...class of 61 to be precise!

Congrats to Mason Monheim, Matt Davis, Drew Brenner & Trevor White for being named 2011 captains.

Mason joins his older brothers Vincent & Victor and, by my best guess, becomes only the 2nd family to have 3 siblings all be named captains. First was the Demlows back in the 30's and 40's. Their father was a captain too. Four captains from one branch of a family tree....pretty cool.

Thought for sure there was 3 Bowman's who were captains, but only Cary and Kriss were. Mike and Josh Bowman were also captains more recently, so that's 4 from one extended family. The Reusser/Maag family has had a bunch too. At least 5 from what I can count (Tom & Doug Reusser, Denny & Kevin Maag and Sam Reusser). All are cousins of each other.

Steve Demlow was another captain from the Demlow family, so that's 4 for that family too.

Been a few Handwerk's over the years too.

Lots of great families that stretch across generations. Tradition matters.

Captains list through 2010 - http://bit.ly/jpDUQF

Blog post about captains and upcoming improvement projects to Red Rider Stadum - http://www.redridersportsblog.com/2011/05/2011-orrville-football-captains-named.html

Congrats to the senior captains! I personally think that ALL seniors are captains...in that they all need to lead by example and show the underclassmen what it means to be a Red Rider football player!

The upgrades to the stadium sound great. I would love to see that stadium wrap project come through, but we all know that money is tight these days for most businesses.

Based on the OHSAA enrollment, we're still D-4 for football...but the region assignment is where it's a bit more of a guessing game.

My best guess on what region we'll be in...and who will join us in that region.

http://bit.ly/lF6rE0

I hope DeVault or someone has been really working with Lichti and his feet. Its not his arm that was the issue last year it was his inability to make a quick decision to run for a first down rather than throw a bad pass. If he is working on his feet, this team could be very dangerous. He has a lot of weapons but with question marks at the line positions, he will have to be able to make some quick decisions. Not sure if he plays other sports or not but i just want to make sure someone is helping this young man because he can be a great QB

Kyle is a hard worker. He gets it. He has the support of his family as well. I know that he has spent time up in Kalamazoo with Tim Hiller as well as when tim is here in town.....pretty nice resource.

Hearing good things about Kyle in terms of his off season work ethic. If he could be any sort of threat to tuck the ball and run (when opportunity presents) we'll be that much more dangerous on offense.

N.Canton to get field turf, at only $680,000. I know money's tight but that sounds like a good deal for them in this age. Sounds like a group of 5 businessmen got it going.

http://www.cantonrep.com/highschool/x1058158275/Hoovers-Memorial-Stadium-to-get-artificial-surface

Well, it looks like we are back in Region 13 after a successful stint in Region 14 the last two years. Difference is Region 13 has a whole new look compared to the last time we were in it battling the likes of Mooney, StV, Steuby, for a playoff spot. doesn't mean it will be any easier, just means lots of different faces this time around. Here is the list I found

BEACHWOOD BEACHWOOD Division IV 13
BLACK RIVER SULLIVAN Division IV 13
BROOKFIELD BROOKFIELD Division IV 13
BROOKLYN BROOKLYN Division IV 13
CANTON CENTRAL CATHOLIC CANTON Division IV 13
CARDINAL MIDDLEFIELD Division IV 13
CHAMPION WARREN Division IV 13
CHIPPEWA DOYLESTOWN Division IV 13
CLEVELAND CENTRAL CATHOLIC CLEVELAND Division IV 13
EDGEWOOD ASHTABULA Division IV 13
FAIRLESS NAVARRE Division IV 13
FAIRVIEW FAIRVIEW PARK Division IV 13
GARFIELD GARRETTSVILLE Division IV 13
GIRARD GIRARD Division IV 13
GRAND VALLEY ORWELL Division IV 13
HAWKEN GATES MILLS Division IV 13
LABRAE LEAVITTSBURG Division IV 13
LAKEVIEW CORTLAND Division IV 13
LIBERTY YOUNGSTOWN Division IV 13
LUTHERAN WEST ROCKY RIVER Division IV 13
MANCHESTER AKRON Division IV 13
NEWTON FALLS NEWTON FALLS Division IV 13
NORTHWESTERN WEST SALEM Division IV 13
NORWAYNE CRESTON Division IV 13
ORRVILLE ORRVILLE Division IV 13
PERRY PERRY Division IV 13
PYMATUNING VALLEY ANDOVER Division IV 13
SANDY VALLEY MAGNOLIA Division IV 13
STREETSBORO STREETSBORO Division IV 13
TRIWAY WOOSTER Division IV 13
TUSLAW MASSILLON Division IV 13
WICKLIFFE WICKLIFFE Division IV 13

Lots of locals..Triway, Norwayne, Northwestern, Chippewa, Manchester. Hope we can have some success to see how we can do in the playoffs in the new Region 13! Lets go Riders!!!!

here is the entire link for all regions

http://www.ohsaa.org/sports/ft/boys/2011/2011RegAssignments.pdf

Of the 4 playoff teams who hosted a first round game last year in Region 13, only Manchester remains in the region! that is a major change.

Really like the Riders odds in this Region. Saw on the schedule that Wooster/Orrville is a Saturday match-up again this season. Sounds like that may become an every year thing.

I didn't know that CC. Works out a little better this yeat if we can both get into the playoffs, I think II and IV would both play on Saturday night this fall?

It was a bit of a tight turnaround last year with Woo on Saturday and Triway the next Friday.

Out of 13: Campbell Mem., Martins Ferry, St Clairsville, Union Local, Meadowbrook, Tusky, Waterloo, John Hay, Indian Valley, Bellaire.

Into 13: Orrville, Black River, Triway, Norwayne, Northwestern, Lutheran East, Hawken, Fairless, Ashtabula Edgewood, Brookfield, Doylestown, Grand Valley Orwell