Another Western Division Final??

[CoachSobey]

I have been watching the TCAF finals for the last 4 years, this will be the 5th.

2 of those 4 years it has been a Western District Final. And it looks like a strong possibility that an all-Western District final final will happen again this year. (Meaning no disrespect to Lucas Christian, who will be playing their hardest to prevent that from happening.) However, once again, there are 3 of the 4 semi-finalists from the Western District.

Way to go, West Texas!! These teams provide the best answer and argument for holding a state championship game (at least) as far west as Midland. (Trinity has a quality venue for 6-man.)

Coach Sobey

 

[pastormiles]

Not so fast Coach. Lucas is very good.

 

[hcroyle]

Coach you have to give them some credit. The championship game is in Trent now. So its only a 5 1/2 hour drive from El Paso. Its better than 9 hours.

 

[CoachSobey]

Pastor, yes ... You are more than right. Lucas is a program that challenges for district titles and state championships regularly. They are a VERY GOOD program. Midland Trinity will have to play their best game of the year to get to the finals.

My comment is based on the statistical history. IF (and it is a BIG "if") Midland beats Lucas, it will create another west v. west championship. The complex at Trent is VERY nice!! Turf field, friendly 6-man locals, decent concession stand. The Metro Plex schools travel about 3 hours (from east Dallas -- like about where Lucas is located) and the farthest west schools (El Paso) travel about 6 hours.

IF the final was held at Midland, the EP schools would travel about 4 hours and the Metro Plex schools would travel about 4 to 5 hours. The complex at Midland Trinity is also pretty nice. Well-kept grass field, friendly 6-man locals, decent concession stand.

For some reason the parents and fans from the Metro Plex think that it is normal for EP parents and fans to travel 2 or more hours longer. I have been at the TCAF meetings and heard the school representatives complain in bitter language about how unfair it is to have to go ALL THE WAY to El Paso. We're not talking about coming ALL the way to EP.

All I am trying to say is this: It should be the same distance for all of us. So, why not schedule the championship one year in Midland and the next championship in Trent??

I must also include my thanks to the TCAF administration. Don Markum and Company have worked very hard to make travel considerably more fair than other private school organizations. TCAF championships have been held in Midland for sports like golf and tennis. District championships have been held in EP.

As a (FAR) West Texan, I am compelled to promote my part of Texas and support the parents and fans of (FAR) West Texas schools by trying to bring parity to the expenses incurred for travel within the district as well as between the districts.

Coach Sobey

 

[pastormiles]

Coach Sobey - I do understand your point. However, you know that the Trent site was picked all the way back in June. It would be a slap in the face of the other schools for them to pick a Midland site just based on past history..

 

[CoachSobey]

Very true, Pastor.

I am NOT advocating that the 2010 TCAF championships be played in Midland. THAT would be unfair. Every school should have been budgeting for the final games to be in Trent since last June.

I am campaigning for alternative sites to begin in 2011.

I often forget that people, who can only read the words I type out, cannot see inside my brain to understand the WHOLE thought process.

Pastor, will you be in Trent??

Coach Sobey

 

[pastormiles]

Yes I will.

 

[CoachSobey]

Looks like Lucas took care of business on Friday night!!

And, how 'bout them Warriors from EP Immaunel?? Upsetting EP Faith 108 - 102 at Fort Hancock's filed last Friday.

EP Immanuel vs Lucas Christian next Saturday!! (And the JH Warriors will also play against the CSAF champion.)

Another exciting and wonderful day planned for Trent!

Coach Sobey

PS: Please catch the link "Great game Lucas" (I think ...) under the TCAF, TCAL, and Indy section. It is an excellent display of sportsmanship and brings home the "C" and the "F" in TCAF.

 

[freeagent]

For some reason the parents and fans from the Metro Plex think that it is normal for EP parents and fans to travel 2 or more hours longer. I have been at the TCAF meetings and heard the school representatives complain in bitter language about how unfair it is to have to go ALL THE WAY to El Paso. We're not talking about coming ALL the way to EP.

Seems I heard the El Paso schools complaining about the same attitude when they were TAPPS members. For awhile I had thought that TCAF had been able to drag El Paso a couple hundred miles to the east. Whadda they say about the reason the grass is greener on the other side of the fense ... fertilizer, perhaps?

Anyway, David, I agree that some of the events in your league should be closer to or in El Paso ... as I felt that TAPPS should have encouraged more district meets (such as track) out there.

 

[CoachSobey]

My friend, Lifegate, I know that my time at EP Jesus Chapel saw our administration fight a political battle regarding the play-offs and district meets, etc. BUT we never once failed to meet a travel obligation ... no matter how many times we had to ... no matter how much more it cost our school to travel. AND ... We NEVER passed the cost along to our athletes, musicians, or academicians. Our Superintendent must have used every dime in his personal retirement account AND twisted the arm of a few well-to-do church members, but EPJC (circa 1999) covered transportation and lodging. The kids always paid for their own food.
If any of the other schools failed to meet travel and missed pre-scheduled obligations, I am unaware of it.

Currently, the school that is the modern-day EPJC, remains a TAPPS supporter even though all other EP HS programs play in TCAF. That kind of loyalty should be rewarded. Don't ya think??

Just FYI: there were years that the JCS busses had approached 25,000 miles in TAPPS travel alone in a single school year. (1300mi round-trip to D/FW (usually 4 times per year or more), 1200mi round-trip to SA (usually 4 times or more), 1500mi Round-trip to Htn (Usually 2 times or more), plus many other play-off trips and all the track traveling, music at Mary-Hardin Baylor, and more) This figure does NOT include travel to FB and Bball games out of district.

My comments were directed at schools that think even 1 trip to EP is TOO much ...

 

[coachtim]

I can tell you that we played both. Both teams are well coached. #22 on EP is a strong, tall kid. He is the real deal. EP is deep with players & can wear you down. Their defense is a little off, so this will be a scoring game. I believe it comes down to who will stop who & the edge would go to Lucas for that.

I wish both teams well & I hope to be there. Both teams are very respectful on & off the field.

Good Luck to both teams.