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TOPIC: Oaa Review - Will pick one team 2 discuss per week |
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| TheOaaReview T
September 8, 2013
2:34:13 AM
Entry #: 4088883
| Hello all. I LOVE Southeastern Michigan football and everything about it. Being a graduate player of an OAA team myself, I know what the OAA is all about and I love continuing to follow its progression as it becomes a major powerhouse in high school football.
Once a week I will select 1 of 25 OAA teams that has grabbed my attention. The following week I will select a new team, but I will also give my short updated thoughts on the teams I have selected the weeks prior. I would love to hear any and all thoughts any of you have in responses.
Week 1 selection - Birmignahm Seaholm Maples.
The Seaholm Maples are coached by Jim Dewald who came in after a tragic death of a new coach to the program last year. Coach Dewald was able to step in with only a couple months to prepare and was able to take the maples on a succesful 8-2 journey for the 2012 season ending in a loss to Oxford.
Starting only 2 weeks after the Maples lost to Oxford they immediately got back to work. Coach Dewald vowed to never let his team get out 'weight roomed' again. I was at the Oxford/Seaholm game and while Seaholm clearly had talent, they were simply not pre-seasoned (strength) prepared enough to compete with the country-strong Oxford. Seaholm has started this season off 2-0 with wins again Ann Arbor Pioneer (24-0) and a great Avondale team (56-28). I was at Dick Bye field (Avondale) for the game. I had gone into the game assuming Avondale's speed would be able to over power the Maples, but I was wrong.
The Maples PHYSICALLY DOMINATED the entire 2nd half. These guys have done something right this off-season. They 'fly' around on defense, hootin' and hollerin'... getting FIRED up each time a hit is made. This guys have a will power/desire/ANGER towards anyone who wants to challenge them. I commend them greatly for that. I believe Seaholm has the only component they were missing last year... strength. If you haven't seen them play I suggest you do so, its always enjoyable to watch a team who is passionate to physically dominate. Clearly they have great team-chemistry.
My prediction is that this year with their size/strength/desire/talent/ and work-ethic , these guys will be serious contenders this year in Division 2 playoffs. They have convinced me of at least a regional championship. Bold claim for a team that was not able to do it last year, but they are different guys now.
That wraps up my thoughts for week 1 and I will be attending games next week in preparation to select my week 2 team. Please look for my post next Saturday. Feel free to comment.
- The OAA Review T
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| TheOaaReview T
September 8, 2013
3:31:10 AM
Entry #: 4088884
| Correction: Intended to type 1 of 24 OAA teams.
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| FootballFriday
September 9, 2013
7:10:31 AM
Entry #: 4089128
| Good stuff...
Looking forward to further insight.
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| Stich
September 9, 2013
6:21:53 PM
Entry #: 4089389
| At least a regional championship? That's a mighty bold statement considering they are almost guaranteed to get in a region with Brother Rice, and could end up in the same as Oak Park or Southfield. I haven't seen them play yet, but I dont believe they beat any of those 3 teams.
Based on your write up, I'm definitely looking forward to seeing them play, as well as future write ups.
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| Stich
September 9, 2013
6:23:14 PM
Entry #: 4089390
| Also, if you don't mind sharing, what school/year did you play?
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| OAAscouts
September 9, 2013
7:03:09 PM
Entry #: 4089404
| Nice work!
However, in my opinion, the Maples won't make it out of their district much less a region. I have had very close ties with the Seaholm program for about 18 years so I do wish them well. Unfortunately, you're making a rather uneducated statement.
Their district alone could consist of such teams as Farmington Harrison, Oak Park, Birmingham Brother Rice and Southfield, among others.
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| TheOaaReview T
September 10, 2013
7:36:55 AM
Entry #: 4089524
| Should have specified better. By regional championship I meant that they will play in a regional championship at least. And uneducated guess? We will see... I have made them my underdog team this year to make it far this year. 58 is a lot of points on any team let alone a quality Avondale. I think OLSM was only able to put on 46 or so last year against avondale. Altho that is not my basis at all for this weeks write-up and comparisons like that don't matter... but hey, they managed to grab my attention thru blocked punts.. long returns.. consistent offensive drives.. and a nasty defense. Thoroughly impressed by their secondary so far.
Beautiful thing about football is... anything can happen.
The OAA Review T
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| high school fanatic
September 10, 2013
9:49:50 AM
Entry #: 4089558
| Seaholm is better than they were last year. Them beating Ann Arbor Pioneer was a huge win for them.
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| OAAscouts
September 10, 2013
3:20:46 PM
Entry #: 4089666
| I'm not trying to insult you and for that matter I'm not taking anything away from the Maples. In fact, I absolutely agree that they are stronger now than last season.
My point, however, is the road ahead could be rather rocky come playoff time. Pending final records, the MHSAA first round pairings likely would have Farmington Harrison/Oak Park at Birmingham Seaholm with the winner playing the Birmingham Groves at Birmingham Brother Rice/Southfield winner in a district final.
If the Maples do get through that mess, than you somehow incredibly called it early in the season.
Generally, the Seaholm district is one of the strongest in the state. They make the regionals look like a cake walk.
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| TheOaaReview T
September 11, 2013
6:59:28 PM
Entry #: 4089980
| For those interested... The OAA games I will be attending are this week are...
Oxford @ Harrison (Thursday)
Oak Park @ Adams (Friday)
What great match-ups for week 3.
All 4 teams have something to prove. Oxford gave Lake Orion a run for their money and is looking to improve to 2-1. But is Harrison back to being a powerhouse this year? We will see.
Initial Prediction = Oxford.
Oak Park had a huge win against OLSM. But Adams shocked the world when taking out Clarkston!
My initial Prediction is that Oak Park will handle them without much trouble, but I am going to take Adams on the upset!
Let Week 3 of MHSAA football begin!
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| OAAscouts
September 20, 2013
2:26:26 PM
Entry #: 4092299
| What happened to the week 3 review?
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| Stich
September 20, 2013
5:21:58 PM
Entry #: 4092339
| I was wondering the same thing....
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