Ruman: Bonus football will help teams later

It is often suggested that the rich get richer.

In terms of a high school football team using its playoff status to enrich its future, there is definitely some truth to the statement.

Three weeks ago, 41 Mahoning Valley high school football programs packed up the jerseys and pads and stored them away until next summer. Meanwhile, three area teams — Ursuline, Warren John F. Kennedy and Crestview — move forward they prepare for their appearances in this weekend’s regional championship games.

By advancing this far into the tournament, those three schools have benefited from nearly an extra month of valuable practice that simply cannot be duplicated in the weight room, and can’t be utilized by those schools who failed to reach the post-season.

“These extra weeks are invaluable to any program, and that’s especially true with a team as young as ours,” said Kennedy coach Jeff Bayuk.

The Eagles’ roster includes just two seniors.

“There’s no spring football in Ohio, and with the new rules reducing practices and contact, any extra time on the field is a huge bonus,” Bayuk said.

Crestview has made the playoffs 11 of the past 12 years, including eight straight. Rebels coach Paul Cusick said the extra reps are especially beneficial to underclassmen who may be moving to a new position the following year.

“We definitely preach to the younger players to take advantage of the practice, because that is something you can’t replace,” Cusick said. “I do believe that without a doubt, these extra weeks we have together in November definitely help the following year.

“Just being on the field together, having that interaction and learning from the seniors, that’s great for team chemistry.”

To this point, playoff teams have had nearly 30 percent more in-season practice time than their counterparts. A team that advances to the state final will in essence benefit from an extra half-season of workouts.

From 2007-2010 Ursuline advanced to four consecutive state finals. That’s the equivalent of two full seasons of practices and games.

“I don’t think there is any question that the extra time we spend together during the playoffs pays dividends the following year,” said Ursuline coach Larry Kempe. “In addition to the extra practices, the games are even more important and serve as an even bigger learning tool.

“As an added benefit, the extra playing time results in some of our kids earning letters, where if the season ended in week ten, they wouldn’t have lettered. That’s great for the kids.”

PRACTICE, PRACTICE

Coaches will be the first to admit they are creatures of habit, wanting to maintain a routine throughout the week leading up to a game.

That can become tricky business during playoff time, especially when you’re dealing with northeastern Ohio weather in mid-November.

Fortunately, area teams have had little to contend with during the past three weeks. No snow and unseasonably mild temperatures have kept coaches from having to drastically alter schedules.

Kennedy mainly has been gathering at its grass practice field at school, but it has occasionally used Mollenkopf Stadium, and on Wednesday the Eagles practiced at the WATTS on the campus of Youngstown State University.

“Since the playoff games are on turf, you want to simulate game experiences, especially when you’re practicing things like onside kicks or fielding onside kicks,” Bayuk said.

Kempe noted that the decreasing daylight limits the time he and his team can practice on what he referred to as Ursuline’s “all-purpose dirt field.” He too has taken a few of his practices to YSU, practicing inside Stambaugh Stadium.

Ursuline has played 11 of its 12 games on turf.

“We’re so used to practicing on dirt and playing on turf, staying with that routine doesn’t make much of a difference,” Kempe said. “But yeah, it definitely doesn’t hurt to get on the turf and get practice under game-like conditions.”

Crestview played just two of its regular-season games on turf, but it has obviously adapted well in the post-season. Cusick said that past playoff experience and the fact that many players attend camps and seven-on-seven drills on turf make for a smooth transition.

“It used to be such an oddity, but now the kids are becoming much more exposed to turf, so jumping back and forth from turf to grass isn’t as big a deal as it used to be,” Cusick said.

Incidentally, in 2014 the Mahoning Valley experienced measurable snow every day from Nov. 13 through Nov. 21, including more than four inches which fell on the 17th. On the 18th, the daytime high was 18.

While this weekend’s forecast calls for cold temperatures and perhaps some snow Saturday night, the weather should be ideal for players and fans in comparison to a year ago.

Get out, support the local teams and enjoy the games!

Write Vindicator correspondent Steve Ruman at sports@vindy.com.