A Must Read for Coal Grove Fans...

[HighSchoolFootballFan]

Now, before anyone accuses me of bashing or anything of that sort, I'm going to go ahead and say right now that that is NOT my intention. However, fans of Coal Grove deserve to know this information. Another note before I begin; I'm well aware of the previous state of Coal Grove football back in the early 00's, nor am I "dissing" previous coaching staffs. Next, Dave Lucas is one of the most storied legends to ever coach the game in the state of Ohio, and it's hard to believe, but he's an even better man than he is a coach.
That said, I have a few statistics since his return in 04' through the end of this season. First, I will point out the Grove's overall record during this tenure; 32-17 for a .653 winning percentage. That's a pretty nice statistic to look at, solid you could say. Of those 49 times Coal Grove took the field, only 15 of them were against teams with a winning record. Now, that isn't the problem either... 15 is a descent chunck of 49, roughly 30% maybe. This is where the problem comes in.. Out of those 15 winning teams, Coal Grove has managed to beat 4. Next I will give you information on those 4 wins: This year, they beat 6-4 South Point 22-21, in 2007 they beat 7-4 Rock Hill 13-10, in 2006, they shut out a 6-4 Rock Hill team 21-0, they beat no teams w/ a winning record in 2005, and in 2004 they beat 6-4 P. East 39-19. The point of all that was to make this basic point... In 5 years (49 games), Coal Grove has beaten just 4 teams with a winning record, 3 of which are from the OVC and one (East) which is a smaller Division 6 school. Winning games is a nice change, no doubt. I simply can't help but ask though... In the past 5 years, has Coal Grove beaten a team that was "better" than them.
Again, honestly, I am not trying to start a fight, perhaps it will take more time for CG, I don't know. But I thought those facts were at least worth noting.
Opinions please....

[Tigercannon71]

Heres one way to look at it. The state of the program had fallen considerably before Lucas took back over. He basically had to rebuild from scratch. If you look in some of those games that they lost they were in the games and just made a few mistakes. When you arent used to winning you lose that winning edge that helps you in the 4th quarter overcome mistakes and adversity. You cant build a winning program overnight. It takes a few years. Now with the Junior High program winning every year and the high chool program starting to get back to the winning tradition. Your going to start seeing them beat more and more teams with winning records. Their schedule gets harder evey year and thats a good thing. Good things are going to happen at the Grove.

[falcon1]

Minford has had a winning record, 8 and 2 the last 2 years, with playoff births both years, and have beaten Coal Grove.

[wildthingRV]

Next, Dave Lucas is one of the most storied legends to ever coach the game in the state of Ohio, and it's hard to believe, but he's an even better man than he is a coach.
...

If he is a good man, I don't want to be, that's for sure.

[cgfootball]

if coach lucas is a good man...why wouldnt ou want to be one?? what did he do to make u dislike him??

[wildthingRV]

I've spoken too often on that point. Just watch him. You'll see.

[X8XOHIOLEGENDX7X]

Next, Dave Lucas is one of the most storied legends to ever coach the game in the state of Ohio, and it's hard to believe, but he's an even better man than he is a coach.
...

If he is a good man, I don't want to be, that's for sure.

dude are you gone wild? during his time at wellston dave lucas was 1 great guy. I never gotta play football cause of a broken ankle (2 times) but i did bench press for our lifting team and there was somedays i would'nt have a ride and him and his son(jason) would take me and everything he was a good man!

[buckeyeshots]

Here is where I must draw the line... I was a football captain in 2007 and was led to a state championship in shot put in the same year by Mr. Dave Lucas. I have had multiple one on one conversations, probably more than others, with this man. All of the time I have known him, he has never said a bad thing about anybody. Yes, he is a total realist and isn't afraid to let you know what it on his mind, if necessary and relevant... but it is a stretch for someone who is from River Valley of all places to come on here and judge someone that they don't know on a personal level. Even if you feel like this, why would you even say so? I know this is a discussion forum for people to get on here and stir the pot, but it's people like you that take it a bit too far.

[cg58]

wildthingRV you must have never played for Dave Lucas. He is the most caring coach to ever coach me! He came back to help Coal Grove get back to a championship tradition, and yes the past two championships he has won have been ties but still they count as a championship in our books. You couldnt say the same about those Raiders, could you?

You need to watch what your saying about people you dont even know.

[wildthingRV]

True, I've not played for him, but rather against. I was all set to hop on here and apologize, because, to be fair, it's a bit out of line to hop on here and keep ringing the same bell. However, this seems to be a thread about questioning the Legend of Dave Lucas. Sure, he looks good on paper at first glance, but does the legend stand up to scrutiny? I can't answer that. I know what I have seen. You know what you have seen. I found the orginal post in this thread to be rather interesting, although I'm not sure I can draw any clear conclusion from it.

I base my statements on things I have seen, with my eyes and heard with my ears. There is not second hand information or sour grapes involved. I will aknowledge, that A. I have said this too much, and B. Nobody seems to care what I think, and why should they? If he works for you, what business is it of mine?

Oh, and to assume an Indians fan is a River Valley guy is not always the most accurate interpretation.

If Coal Grove is happy, if Coal Grove feels their guy is a good one, who is a Penal League All-Star to say otherwise? Good luck to CG in your future campaigns. I'm finished.

[tl895]

yea before he came back they couldnt beat the teams with winning or losing records

[85inside]

I believe with what I have seen coming up through the "feeder system", Coal Grove will be beatting those "winning teams" again real soon. I think that Coach Lucas is a great coach.

[earp]

Well hes the only OVC coach to go to the final 4 in the state,Enough said!

[HighSchoolFootballFan]

I guess the point I was trying to make is that the days when you could line up and just rely on being bigger and stronger than opponents to win games is far gone, and it ain't coming back, neither. Yes, powerlifting is probably 25-30% of being a good ball player. But you have to have more than one aspect of the game packed down. I've seen it time and time again, Coal Grove loses ball games to descent teams like Minford by a score or two, when if you look at the athletes, they're completely even. I don't care who says what... THAT style of football (40 rushes for 100 yds, 2-9 passing for 6 yds and a INT) requires good athletes to play 5 times harder to be in a game at the 4th quarter. Coal Grove, if you're content with 6-4 every year and beating every cupcake on your schedule and losing to every descent team (and I have given you all proof of that) then go ahead and continue to play that way.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

IF I WERE YOU, I'D NOT REVEAL YOUR IDENTITY. GROVERS TAKE THEIR FOOTBALL SERIOUSLY. FACTS ARE FACTS, IF INDEED THEY ARE TRUE. BUT TO TRY TO RUIN A PERSON. YOU HAVE NO IDEA JUST HOW TOUGH A COACHING GIG IS. I'VE DONE IT FROM GRADE SCHOOL, THROUGH SEMI PRO.

[Westfan]

I guess the point I was trying to make is that the days when you could line up and just rely on being bigger and stronger than opponents to win games is far gone, and it ain't coming back, neither. Yes, powerlifting is probably 25-30% of being a good ball player. But you have to have more than one aspect of the game packed down. I've seen it time and time again, Coal Grove loses ball games to descent teams like Minford by a score or two, when if you look at the athletes, they're completely even. I don't care who says what... THAT style of football (40 rushes for 100 yds, 2-9 passing for 6 yds and a INT) requires good athletes to play 5 times harder to be in a game at the 4th quarter. Coal Grove, if you're content with 6-4 every year and beating every cupcake on your schedule and losing to every descent team (and I have given you all proof of that) then go ahead and continue to play that way.

you may be right, but West played the same style and went 11-1. West beat Minford handily and I'm not sure they completed any passes.

[HighSchoolFootballFan]

Siderfan... did the team that beat West in the playoffs play the same style of football that you guys played or did they throw the football some?
TigerBait... I am a CG alumn, and no, I never tried to "ruin" anyone, my point is: Before people from coal grove start to believe their coach(es) is/are the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ, they deserve to know the facts, as hard as they may be to swallow, and I assure you, my information is accurate. In the past half-decade, Coal Grove has not beaten one team that is as good as them. The only four winning teams that they have beaten are 3 from the OVC and 1 D6 school, every one of which was a four loss team.
Look, I know the truth isn't pretty, it rarely is... Coal Grove has had the athletes every year to go to the playoffs since his (their) return, and every year the style of football which they play has prevented them from doing so. Prove me wrong...

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

I HAVE NO NEED TO PROVE YOU WRONG. I DON'T HAVE A DOG IN THE FIGHT. I JUST DON'T KNOW WHY YOU PRESENTED IT THIS WAY. I'M DONE WITH THIS. JUST THINK IF YOU WERE COACHING THEM, AND SOMEONE POSTED THIS ABOUT YOU. WHY NOT IN A PM, OR EMAIL. IF IT IS DIRECTED AT COACH LUCAS.

[falcon1]

I guess the point I was trying to make is that the days when you could line up and just rely on being bigger and stronger than opponents to win games is far gone, and it ain't coming back, neither. Yes, powerlifting is probably 25-30% of being a good ball player. But you have to have more than one aspect of the game packed down. I've seen it time and time again, Coal Grove loses ball games to descent teams like Minford by a score or two, when if you look at the athletes, they're completely even. I don't care who says what... THAT style of football (40 rushes for 100 yds, 2-9 passing for 6 yds and a INT) requires good athletes to play 5 times harder to be in a game at the 4th quarter. Coal Grove, if you're content with 6-4 every year and beating every cupcake on your schedule and losing to every descent team (and I have given you all proof of that) then go ahead and continue to play that way.

you may be right, but West played the same style and went 11-1. West beat Minford handily and I'm not sure they completed any passes.

And Your point is ???

[HighSchoolFootballFan]

I didn't say I was ought to "ruin" anyone, this is obviously something that is a little touchy, but I'm going to bring it to light nevertheless.
Here are the Grove's opponents records/winning %:

2004: 49-55/.471
2005: 42-55/.422
2006: 41-61/.402
2007: 35-51/.406
2008: 49-49/.500

Opponent's Total Winning Average over 5 years...
.440

Now, the first couple of years, that's fine, no problem whatsoever, I understand it takes a year or two to fully implement a coach's system. It really wouldn't even bother me that they played that kind of schedule IF the went no less than 8-2 every year... which is VERY possible to say the LEAST.

Tiger Bait, you're right... I'm 100% not the coach, all I'm saying is that with that sort of schedule and 0 post-season appearances, something certainly isn't adding up. NO ONE can argue that.