Saturday night's Tri-County Football Coaches Association BeeGraphix Football Classic at South Fayette Stadium was a victory for the North Squad, thanks to the offensive fireworks of running back Brad Banas and quarterback Erik Olson.
It was also unusually chippy, with moments bordering on poor sportsmanship.
On at least two occasions, when the South delivered a hard hit to a North player, the South player stood over the just decleated for a little taunt.
The post-game handshake didn't go very well. In fact, the North coaches called their players over to keep away from some of the pleasantries being exchanged. Those of us observing the scene - which included college and high school coaches - couldn't help but wonder why.
According to Banas, the North Offensive MVP and the game's best player, the South "talked trash all week." There's no doubt they were after the game.
North coach Joe Rossi said there was a little talk at the banquet on Friday night and that he was pleased with how his players remained composed. "There were a couple times it looked like kids were going to get ejected," Rossi said.
And that's a shame.
The BeeGraphix Football Classic had a substantial share of entertaining moments - from Banas' four-touchdown performance, to the arm of Olson, to watching the Monessen pair of Lorenzo Newsuan and Kevin Park play excellent defense to watching Alex Frey making big play after big play and, finally, seeing Joby Lapkowicz cap an extraordinary high school career with three touchdowns.
Frey, the South Offensive MVP, didn't seem to grasp all the animousity.
"I just wanted to come here and have fun. That's what I did," he said.
Fortunately, game director Bill Ellis, as well as both coaching staffs, kept things from getting out of hand.
Here's hoping nothing similar takes place next year.
15 comments:
north coach is to blame he should of been knocked out.He must not be used to winning calling trick plays up 29-6 thats why they taunted his own player when he got crushed officials didn`t help they threw 20 flags in a row longest game everplayed overall it was a football game they kept it on the field.
I have seen the poor sportsmanship in these "local" all-star games quite a bit. I guess the kids are too close to the rivalries of past four years...feel some macho need to still show their 'hood is better..or whatever. The major all-star games like Big 33 bring in 'strangers' who know the quality of the guys they are playing with and against. The local kids maybe know too much about each other and what they consider a good player. Some coaches forget it is not a conference game or championship match up and get into the win at all costs mode of thinking that is not too far removed for recreation ball thinking. These local kids have been recognized by the their papers and given the all star team selections for their conferences and that should be the end of it. We don't need a "blood sport" to show North or East or whatever superiority over the other geographical division. Forget the small time all star games. Those player don't need "one more shot at playing football". Save it for college if they are going to play anymore. Just my opinion.
I was at the banquet, the south team simply introduced thier players, the north coach introduced his players and told the south team to watch out for this player or watch out for that player. He really put down the south team. Then, all the commotion after the game was caused by the north coaching staff. They were calling out players. Adults calling out emotional kids...c'mon now!?!? Not very classy! I felt the south staff did a great job keeping their kids from fighting at the end! I'm sorry, but Mr. Rossi was not very professional!
Thanks for the above post anon. Always more to the story.
It was awfully tense out there after the game. Glad it didn't boil over.
I was also at the banquet and if anyone was trying to cause problems it was the norths' coach joe rossi. It was true the South kids were introduced by name and where they were from while he had a threatening comment about each of his players, HE was the one that showed no class, at the banquet or on the field
The Erik Olsen mention sparked my memory... is it true that Bethel Park is looking for a new baseball head coach after firing Jim Rider?
I too was at the banquet and the coach from the north really did go over the top when introducing the players. Also, I think he did a poor job of coaching as I was at the game and noticed that several players on the north team barely registered any playing time. Rossi just kept going to the same (and one in particular)players over and over. Not very classy for an 'all star' game.
Rossi's a punk and head coach with a bunch of punks as coaches. He took over a solid program at SF and is running it completely into the ground.
Big surprise he wouldn't know how to act at the banquet!?!?!
I felt bad for the kids on the North who really didnt get much playing time at all. Win or Lose-who really cares after not playing football for 8 months and then having 4-5 days of practice how good can you be.All the majority of kids wanted was to have one last game and have fun
Brad Banas is a joke. Put him up against real teams and he shows how much talent he really has. What did he do against Clairton in the regular season? What did he do in the post season to help CH? Simply put, nothing.
Brad Banas a joke, eh?
That qualifies as one of the dumbest statements in the Varsity Letters' history.
And that's saying something.
What were his numbers in the playoff game? What were his numbers against Clairton? He played in a weak conference (outside of Clairton) in single A. Great, he beat up Avella, Frazier, Burgettstown. Im not impressed. All hype, no substance.
I only saw Brad play 1 game, when he played us. I think its probably a little unfair to base his ability on his stats against Clairton...I mean Clairton was the second best team in Class A in the state. The only teams that really moved the ball on Clairton all year was Farrell and Steel High. From what I saw, it didnt appear that Brad had much of a supporting cast and Clairton just keyed on him the entire game.
how didn't lapkowicz get south offense MVP? he only threw 2 TD (180 yds) and ran one in. Just think what the numbers would of been if he played every snap at QB in that game! from my perspective i don't see how someone who was involved in every touchdown in the game wasn't an MVP.
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