The Senator's Chamber

2009-05-01T23:29:00.000-07:00

I've moved to Korea! If you're interested you can view my new blog from there, here.

I'm not sure how much I'll do this year. I think I can still do the games of the week and the weekly rankings from over here. Let me know what you think.

2009-02-23T12:00:00.000-08:00

So should Farwell leave the Jackpine?

Give your opinion below as a comment, and be sure to vote on the poll to the right.

2008-11-27T16:17:00.000-08:00

Double points for finals.

D-1 Rockford (12-1) vs. Lake Orion (12-1)
D-2 Muskegon (13-0) vs. Warren DeLaSalle (13-0)
D-3 EGR (12-1) vs. Inkster (12-1)
D-4 Holland Christian (13-0) vs. Detroit Country Day (11-2)
D-5 Ovid-Elsie (12-1) vs. Muskegon Oakridge (13-0)
D-6 Montague (12-1) vs. Leslie (12-1)
D-7 TCSF (12-1) vs. Ubly (13-0)
D-8 CFFP (13-0) vs. Muskegon Catholic Central (13-0)

SenatorAtoms (41-14)
Rockford
Muskegon
EGR
Holland Christian
Oakridge
Montague
Ubly
Muskegon Catholic Central

AnyGivenFri (40-15)
Rockford
Muskegon
EGR
Holland Christian
Muskegon Oakridge
Montague
TCSF
MCC

CBUZ1530 (39-16)
Rockford
Muskegon
EGR
Country Day
Ovid- Elsie
Montague
Ubly
MCC

Nwcfbfan (34-16)
Rockford
Muskegon
EGR
Detroit Country Day
Muskegon Oakridge
Montague
TCSF
MCC

Hobbes (33-21)
Lake Orion
Muskegon
EGR
Holland Christian
Muskegon Oakridge
Montague
TCSF
MCC

2008-11-21T11:54:00.000-08:00

Sorry all, no picks this week, but be ready for state championship picks next week.

Also, I'd like to give a shoutout to former Farwell Head Basketball coach Jason VanderMaas, who's Croswell-Lexington Pioneers have made a suprise trip to the Semi's. Great job Coach, we're all happy for you back in Farwell.

2008-11-14T10:34:00.001-08:00

Bangor John Glenn (9-2) at East Grand Rapids (10-1)
Gladstone (9-2) at Standish-Sterling (11-0)
Iron River West Iron County (10-1) at Traverse City St Francis (10-1)
Bay City All Saints (8-3) at Frankfort (10-1)
Deckerville (10-1) at Beal City (10-1)

SenatorAtoms (36-14)
EGR
SSC
TCSF
Frankfort
Beal City

Anygivenfri (35-15)
EGR
SSC
TCSF
Frankfort
Beal City

CBUZ1530 (35-15)
EGR
SSC
TCSF
Frankfort
Deckerville

Hobbes (30-19)
EGR
Gladstone
TCSF
Frankfort
Deckerville

Nwcfbfan (29-16)
EGR
SSC
TCSF
Frankfort
Beal City

2008-11-07T10:03:00.001-08:00

Boyne City (9-1) at Iron Mountain (10-0)
Merrill (7-3) at Traverse City St Francis (9-1)
Central Lake (9-1) at Frankfort (9-1)
Mio (7-3) at Bay City All Saints (7-3)
Mt Pleasant Sacred Heart (10-0) at Beal City (9-1)

CBUZ1530 (32-13)
Iron Mountain
TCSF
Frankfort
Mio
MPSH

Anygivenfri (31-14)
Iron Mountain
TCSF
Frankfort
BCAS
MPSH

SenatorAtoms (31-14)
Iron Mountain
TCSF
Frankfort
BCAS
Beal City

Hobbes (26-18)
Iron Mountain
TCSF
Frankfort
BCAS
MPSH

Nwcfbfan (25-15)
Iron Mountain
TCSF
Frankfort
BCAS
MPSH

2008-10-31T12:13:00.000-07:00

Kingsford (6-3) AT Cheboygan (8-1)
Tawas (6-3) AT Sanford Meridian (7-2)
Merrill (6-3) AT Forest Area (7-2)
Marion (7-2) AT Frankfort (8-1)
Central Lake (8-1) AT Manistee CC (9-0)

CBUZ1530 (28-12)
Kingsford
Tawas
Merrill
Frankfort
Central Lake

AnyGivenFri (27-13)
Kingsford
Tawas
Merrill
Frankfort
Central Lake

SenatorAtoms (27-13)
Kingsford
Meridian
Merrill
Frankfort
Manistee CC

Hobbes (23-16)
Kingsford
Tawas
Merrill
Frankfort
Manistee CC

nwcfbfan (21-14)
Cheboygan
Meridian
Merrill
Frankfort
Central Lake

2008-10-21T10:59:00.000-07:00

Games This Week are:
Traverse City West (6-2) AT Traverse City Central (4-4)
Central Montcalm (8-0) AT Chip Hills (8-0)
Manistee CC (8-0) AT Forest Area (7-1)
Farwell (1-7) AT Roscommon (0-8)
Cheboygan (7-1) At Ogemaw (5-3)

Pick to be posted Friday.

AnyGivenFri (25-10)
TCW
Chip Hills
Forest Area
Roscommon
Ogemaw

CBUZ1530 (24-11)
TCW Chip Hills
Manitsee CC
Farwell (great pick cbuz)
Ogemaw

SenatorAtoms (24-11)
TCW
CHip Hills
Forest Area
FARWELL!!!
Ogemaw

Hobbes (21-14)
TCW
Central Montcalm
Manistee CC
Roscommon
Ogemaw

nwcfbfan (19-11)
TCW
Central Montcalm
Roscommon
Cheboygan

2008-10-17T19:21:00.000-07:00

Games This Week are:
Kingsley (5-2) AT Hudson (5-2)
Houghton Lake (3-4) AT Harrison (3-4)
Chip Hills (7-0) AT Reed City (5-2)
Tawas (4-3) At Lincoln Alcona (4-3)
Forest Area (6-1) AT Mancelona (5-2)

AnyGivenFri (21-9)
Hudson
Houghton Lake
Chip Hills
Tawas
Forest Area

CBUZ1530 (21-9)
Hudson
Houghton Lake
Chip Hills
Tawas
Mancelona

SenatorAtoms (21-9)
Hudson
Houghton Lake
Reed City
Tawas
Forest Area

Hobbes (18-12)
Hudson
Harrison
Chip Hills
Tawas
Mancelona

nwcfbfan (15-10)
Hudson
Harrison
Chip Hills
Lincoln Alcona
Forest Area

2008-10-10T12:17:00.000-07:00

Since we all pick the same winners last week, I decided to shake it up a bit. Instead of going with the "best" games, I went with the games which were harder to pick.

Pick'em Games
Standish (6-0) AT John Glenn (6-0)
TC West (4-2) AT Petoskey (6-0)
McBain (3-3) AT Marion (4-2)
Atlanta (3-3) AT Hillman (3-3)
Alpena (2-4) AT Gaylord (2-4)

SenatorAtoms (18-7)
Standish
Petoskey
McBain
Hillman
Gaylord

AnyGivenFri (17-8)
Standish
TC West
McBain
Hillman
Gaylord

CBUZ1530 (17-8)
John Glenn
TC West
Marion
Hillman
Gaylord

Hobbes (13-12)
John Glenn
TC West
Marion
Hillman
Gaylord

nwcfbfan (10-10)
Standish
TC West
Marion
Hillman
Gaylord

2008-10-03T19:32:00.000-07:00

So you may be wondering why I didn't post the games this week. Well, we all picked the same games. Every single one. So I didn't really see the need.

2008-09-26T12:55:00.000-07:00

Cheboygan (4-0) AT Petoskey (4-0)
Central Lake (4-0) AT Gaylord St. Mary (3-1)
McBain (2-2) AT Beal City (3-1)
Grayling (3-1) AT Elk Rapids (4-0)
Tawas (3-1) AT Standish Sterling (4-0)

SenatorAtoms (14-6)
Petoskey
Gaylord SM
Beal
Elk Rapids
Standish

Anygivenfri (13-7)
Petoskey
CL
Beal
Grayling
Standish

CBUZ (13-7)
Petoskey
CL
Beal
Grayling
Standish

Hobbes (9-11)
Petoskey
Central Lake
Beal
Elk Rapids
Standish Sterling

2008-09-25T19:15:00.000-07:00

What is the best high school offense?

In Michigan the Wing-T and Veer are both widespread, and more and more schools are going to the spread. What do you think is the best offense?

For clarification purposes, let me explain how I'm defining some of these offenses.

By Double Wing, I mean the Double Wing that runs with the full back close to the QB, not the kind many Wing T guys use with two wingbacks instead of halfbacks.

By Pro-Style I mean an offense with three receivers and a QB under center. Much like the formations you see in the NFL.

By Single Wing I mean an offense which has two people (or more) who can receive an indirect snap.

By Spread I mean an offense which uses a QB out of a shotgun the majority of snaps.

By Wishbone I mean an offense that uses three runners in the backfield and a QB under center. This offense often utilizes the option.

2008-09-19T10:54:00.001-07:00

Ohhh, yeah. 5-0 last week for me. Somehow, CBUZ realized my genius and found a way to steal all my picks for this week. So good luck to him.

This weeks games are:

Forest Area (2-1) AT Gaylord St. Mary (3-0)
Manistee Catholic Central (3-0) AT Onekama (2-1)
Ithaca (2-1) AT Merrill (3-0)
Rogers City (2-1) AT St. Ignace (3-0)
Mio (2-1) AT Lincoln Alcona (2-1)

AnyGivenFri (9-6)
Forest Area
Manistee Catholic Central
Ithaca
St. Ignace
Lincoln Alcona

SenatorAtoms (9-6)
Forest Area
Manistee Catholic Central
Merrill
St. Ignace
Lincoln Alcona

CBUZ1530 (8-7)
Forest Area
Manistee Catholic Central
Merrill
St. Ignace
Lincoln Alcona

Hobbes (7-8)
Gaylord St. Mary
Manistee Catholic Central
Ithaca
St. Ignace
Mio

nwcfbfan (6-9)
Forest Area
Onekema
Merrill
St. Ignace
Lincoln Alcona

2008-09-11T18:48:00.001-07:00

AnyGivenFri stays on top, after a very rough week for everyone.

Forest Area (2-0) AT Central Lake (2-0)
Clare (1-1) AT Meridian (1-1)
Big Rapids (2-0) AT Central Montcalm (2-0)
Rogers City (2-0) AT Lincoln Alcona (1-1)
Standish Sterling Central (2-0) AT Ogemaw Heights (1-1)

AnyGivenFri (6-4)

Central Lake
Meridian
Central Montcalm
Rogers City
Standish Sterling

CBUZ1530 (5-5)

Central Lake
Meridian
Central Montcalm
Rogers City
Standish Sterling Central

Hobbes (5-5)

Central Lake
Meridian
Central Montcalm
Rogers City
Ogemaw

Nwcfbfan (4-6)

Central Lake
Meridian
Big Rapids
Roger City
Standish Sterling Central

SenatorAtoms (4-6)

Central Lake
Clare
Central Montcalm
Lincoln Alcona
Standish Sterling Central

2008-09-05T12:18:00.000-07:00

There was a great story about Farwell's first win in four years in the Saginaw News on Thursday. It can be found here. I just want to congratulate Coach Barnhart on all the hard works he has done to get that win. In the article he makes a point to thank a lot of people, but he deserves more credit than anyone else.

2008-09-05T11:58:00.000-07:00

AnyGivenFri is in the leader’s spot this week after he went four and one in his picks. The rest of us were three and two, except for nwcfbfan, who was two and three. It’s still early in the picking season, so there is plenty of time for AnyGivenFri to have a tough week. I’m hoping it’s this week.

THIS WEEK’S GAMES ARE:

Ogemaw Heights (1-0) AT Petoskey (1-0)

Saginaw Nouvel (1-0) AT Traverse City St Francis (1-0)

Reed City (1-0) AT Big Rapids (1-0)

Clare (1-0) AT Beal City (0-1)

Vestaburg (1-0) AT Manistee Catholic Central (1-0)

AND THE PICKS ARE

AnyGivenFri (4-1)

Ogemaw
TCSF
Big Rapids
Beal City
Vestaburg

Cbuz1530 (3-2)

Ogemaw
TCSF
Big Rapids
Clare
MCC

Hobbes (3-2)

Ogemaw
Nouvel
Reed City
Clare
Manistee Catholic Central

SenatorAtoms (3-2)

Petoskey
TCSF
Reed City
Clare
Vestaburg

nwcfbfan (2-3)

Ogemaw
Nouvel
Reed City
Beal City
Vestaburg

2008-08-28T09:15:00.000-07:00

The Senator's Panel of Pick'em Experts

I have assembled some of the greatest sports minds mlive has ever known, to pick five games of my choosing every week. The games for week one are:

Mount Pleasant Scared Heart (5-4 Last Year) AT Beal City (10-3)

Traverse City Saint Francis (12-2) AT Suttons Bay (9-2)

Rogers City (7-3) AT Hillman (8-3)

Manistee (6-4) AT Ludington (1-8)

Hudsonville (10-2) AT Traverse City West (6-4)

AnyGivenFri

Beal City
TCSF
Rogers City
Ludington
Hudsonville

CBUZ1530

MPSH
TCSF
Hillman
Manistee
Hudsonville

Hobbes

Beal City
TCSF
Hillman
Manistee
Hudsonville

nwcfbfan

Beal City
TCSF
Hillman
Manistee
Hudsonville

SenatorAtoms

Beal City
TCSF
Hillman
Ludington
Hudsonville

2008-08-27T10:46:00.000-07:00

Ahh, the Northwest. The big question is: How are the teams that lost their coaches to Traverse City West going to do? Of course I’m talking about Kingsley and Mesick. Kingsley returns a lot of talent, and their running back Maurice Sims is one of the most talented back in the north. They also return a kid, who when he was injured in the preseason last year Tim Wooer called one of the fastest kids he’d ever coached. The backfield at Kingsley will be stellar.

Jason Morrow left Mesick for Traverse City West fairly late and his loss caused a fair amount of animosity in town. Thankfully for Mesick, a coach who had taken a team to playoffs for the first time last year, was just sitting there on staff. Of course I’m talking about Don Crossley. While the bulldogs are still young, expect Crossley and his staff to have the kids ready to play.

Suttons Bay loses a lot of starters from last year, but that seems to be the story every year, and somehow the coaching staff has new kids ready to play week one. It would be easy to say this will be a down year for Suttons Bay, but down years just don’t seem to happen at the Bay.

Frankfort seems primed for a good year. Bankston is a heck of a player and we all know that the sartorially resplendent Matt Stapleton will have his kids ready to play. They, along with Suttons Bay should fight with Kingsley for the top spot in the NWC.

Glen Lake is improving, and as always should have great quarterback play. However I don’t think they have the horses to run with Frankfort, Suttons Bay, or Kingsley. Benzie will not win a conference game.

2008-08-27T10:45:00.000-07:00

Hillman will be repeat as NSL champs this year. But it’s more a matter of attrition than anything else. Mio is a very respectable team, but I don’t seem them making any hay in the playoffs, which is just as well so they can get started on basketball as soon as possible. Hale is the little engine that might. They continue to improve, unlike most of the NSL. They’ve gotten two games better the last two years, and I expect they can add two more wins to the three from last year. That gets them up to 5-4, a successful year no doubt. But in a weak NSL they won’t sneak into the playoffs.

AuGres loses a key running back, but will be better than Arenac, Atlanta and Posen. Those teams, well they won’t be real great. Arenac, Atlanta and Posen will not be any good at all.

2008-08-27T10:43:00.000-07:00

Mancelona and Forest Area used to be examples of how bad the Ski Valley has been. Yet both, along with Central Lake were in the playoffs last year. While only a third of the teams made the playoffs, the more than half of them had winning records. Parity is the name of the game in the Ski Valley. I expect Central Lake, Mancy and Forest Area to still be the top teams in the Ski Valley, but with 7 teams within a game of .500 the rest of the league is just to hard to figure out. I mean, it’s not impossible to see most of these teams to make a run at the top.

2008-08-23T07:49:00.000-07:00

Let me say this upfront, I don’t know a ton about the NEMC. But I saw Standish twice last year, and I am very high on them. I’ve already predicted they’ll get past Menominee in the playoffs, so I have to pick them here in the NEMC. They have a great QB and a great WR.

And while I don’t know a lot about the NEMC I do know that they had all 5 of 6 teams with winning records last year. Word on mlive is that Ogemaw is looking good, and I know that there is still plenty left in to cupboard at Tawas. And I don’t see much from last year to lead me to believe Pinny will do much of anything. The team not to sleep on is John Glenn.

In the end Standish should win the NEMC, and I believe they are a serious contender in D-5 this year.

2008-08-22T14:36:00.001-07:00

I'm looking for people who might be interested in being part of a panel that picks games on a week to week basis. If you're interested email me at Senatoratoms@gmail.com

2008-08-22T14:33:00.000-07:00

I think Sacred Heart will be the favorite in the Mid-State South. Don’t be fooled when they lose game one to Beal, they’ll be roll afterward with a fairly easy schedule. The only other loss I can see on the schedule might by Onekama.

I see Vestaburg taking a slight step down. But they along with MPSH as only Mid State South teams to make the playoffs. Vestaburg has too much history (five straight playoff apperances) to not continue winning.

Montabella will be better than last year, 1-8, but they still won’t be seeing the playoffs. Pay attention to what happens with them in week one against Evart. IF they can get past the wildcats, they may end up proving me wrong. Either way they should beat Ashley and Coleman which will get them to 2-7.

As for Ashely and Coleman, ugggg. One of these two teams might be the worst in the state. Which one? The team that loses to the other.

2008-08-22T09:50:00.000-07:00

The Mid-State North may be the worst conference in the state. I don’t mean to be a hater, but they only had one team (Onekama) make the playoffs last year, and they add a team (BR Crossroads) that didn’t have a program 13 months ago.

This might seem like a bunch of bad news, but the good news is that any of the teams can make a run for the top of the conference. I fully expect Onekama to stay at the top, but Brethren, Baldwin and Manistee CC all have more talent than the average fan is aware off. If any of these teams can keep the other two at bay, they should be able to beat Crossroads, and that’s 3 wins.

And lastly, some advice for Crossroads, keep working. You’re school was the first charter to win a state championship in any sport, maybe one day you’ll be making the playoffs. Granted it won’t be this year, but as a school you’ve shown the ability to work hard.

2008-08-21T11:08:00.000-07:00

More updates coming soon.

2008-08-01T16:53:00.001-07:00

The LMC breaks up into three tiers. On the top you have TCSF. A team which hasn’t lost in conference since 2001. And they field one of their strongest teams ever, with one of the top Junior’s in the state, Max Bullough.

The next tier would be Elk Rapids, Boyne City, Grayling and most of the time Charlevoix. No matter what, TCSF will win the LMC. But depending on how things shake out, the LMC could send up to 5 teams to the playoffs. I hear Elk Rapids is down this year, and we always hear from the people in Grayling how great they’ll be on mlive, so perhaps Grayling can play for second place. We’ll see how Boyne City feels about that.

The last tier is East Jordan, Kalkaska, and Harbor Springs. A few years ago Elk Rapids was down here too, so there is always hope. But, ummm, I don’t see them moving up. Good luck either way.

2008-07-30T11:37:00.001-07:00

The Jack Pine Conference is traditionally one of the worst conferences in the North. This year, however things will be different. I fully expect both Clare and Meridian to be among the top teams in the state in D-6. Which ever team gets past the other in the playoffs has a great shot at seeing the state semifinals.

I can see Gladwin playing well in conference, But we’ll see how “real” Gladwin is when they play Standish week two. Don’t get your hopes up too high Flying Goshawks, because you’ll likely face Standish again in the playoffs.

The rest of the JPC is up in the air as far as I can see. Roscommon always seems to field a decent team, and I don’t know why they shouldn’t again this year.

After that, I see four teams which can finish in any order. Beaverton is in the second year under their coach and look to, but lost their most talented players from last year. Farwell played very well in the first half of most of their games last year, but struggled finishing. This year, with another year of experience, they may just start finishing those games. If so, they will be able to beat any team in the conference. Harrison’s longtime JV coach got the varsity job this year, and from what I hear from some members of Hornet Nation this is a long time coming. Houghton Lake wasn’t very strong last year, but again they were adjusting to a new coaching staff.

Who do you think will win the JPC?

2008-07-17T11:43:00.000-07:00

Ahhh, the Highland Conference.

This conference was a killer a few years ago, but times change. Well they change everywhere but Beal City, where the only change is the new tractors in the fields.

As such, Beal City has to be the favorite in the Highland this year.

Lake City, and Evart-- I hope you enjoyed your time in the playoffs, because you won't be there again this year.

Manton, set your sights on Lake City and Evart, you might be able to get some W's.

I think Marion and Pine River will fight it out for second, and both could very well be playoff teams.

That leaves us with McBain. Oh how the mighty have fallen. But fear not McBain, for ye shall be resurrected. Your savior shall be called "King." Keep an eye on this kid folks, he will be an absolute sensation in the North for the next three years. You heard it here first.

McBain may not win a lot this year, but they've got the makings of a heck of a team in the next few years.

2008-07-15T10:28:00.000-07:00

The Top 20 North of 20, seen on the right of this post, will be my ranking system.

First things first, some of these teams will be South of 20, but I didn't want to do a top 53 or something like that.

Also, right now I just have the top teams, based on last year's record on there. Teams with 8 wins or more are there.

I will use the results from the conference polls to determine the start of my Top 20 North of 20 for this year.

2008-07-15T09:51:00.000-07:00

The CSAA has changed quite a bit from the past, and has added three of the four teams from the now defunct Western Waterways. Of the three new teams; Hesperia, Holton, and White Cloud, I think only Holton will compete for the CSAA.

If I'm reading mlive right, it looks like Lakeview still doesn't have a coach and that's not a good thing. Big Rapids had a rough time last year, but it was their coach's first year.

In the end I think the CSAA will be a four team race, between Central Montcalm, Chip Hills, Holton, and Reed City.

I'll admit that I don't know much about many of these teams, but I see that Central Montcalm showed the ability to score a lot of points, and win some games last year.

Chip Hills only lost to a great Alma team by 1 point last year. Of course the only other regular season loss they had was to the Reed City Coyotes. Reed City has maybe the most underrated coach in Northern Michigan with Monty Price. He gets every ounce out of his kids. You hear that a lot, but with Reed City, it's true.

2008-07-13T09:43:00.000-07:00

I will be focusing on the following conferences this year:

Big North
CSAA
Highland
Jack Pine
Lake Michigan
Mid-State North
Mid-State South
NEMC
North Star
Northwest
Ski Valley

I will also include the following independent teams:

Lincoln Alcona
Manistee
Oscoda
Rogers City
Whittemore-Prescott

If you think I'm missing anything, please let me know.

2008-07-10T07:56:00.000-07:00

Who will win the Big North Conference?

With Gaylord and TC West adjusting to new coaches, I have to think TC Central and Petoskey would be the early leaders. I've heard that Cadillac has had huge numbers in the weightroom, so perhaps they will be in the discussion as well?

I like to hear what people think, you can vote right here.

2008-07-09T13:50:00.000-07:00

Check out this website, which I did not create nor contribute to.

2008-07-09T13:35:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my new blog. Please check back soon for updates.