Ant's Take on Dragons Football Program.

Written Sunday September 28th, at 12:15 AM

Lake Orion Football.

How did it come down to this? How is this team 2-3 when it easily can be 4-1?

What is going on with the program?

Well, there are several things. We no longer are in an era where Lake Orion, Clarkston, Rochester Adams, and Farmington Hills Harrison controlled the shots when it came to OAA dominance. We are now in an era where enrollment plays a factor when it comes to division play. Many of the towns Lake Orion plays (such as Oxford, Clarkston, and West Bloomfield) are open enrollment which means kids can play from other districts, given that they have to sit out a year unless they live in district which means they can play right away. In a closed enrollment, if you live in the district, you can play. Lake Orion is gradually starting to become an open enrollment but for now it is a closed enrollment.

You also have to give credit where credit is due. For several years, it has always been Lake Orion and Clarkston dominating the OAA hierarchy with hardly any competition. With the exception of Southfield, Rochester Adams, and Farmington Hills Harrison (each of then have had consistent programs but were in the lower division, the top division has always been a two team race. Now you have teams like Oxford, West Bloomfield, and Stoney Creek that are in and for different reasons. With West Bloomfield, they have always been in the top division but have struggled. They have now benefited from getting transfers mostly from Pontiac but also they have some home grown athletes that they are using to their advantage. With Stoney Creek, they always get the best with what they have; they are one of the blue collar hard working teams and play hard. Oxford, well, they got what they wanted, to be in the same division with Lake Orion and Clarkston. Oxford is also benefiting from the transfer rule but with the time possession power football they play, it counters depth, got to give them credit for that. The reality is those three teams got better and will be decent for a while. Also I’m not talking about Clarkston either, they will (not could) will eventually go through what Lake Orion is going through sooner than later.

You also have to look at the direction of the program, who is the blame for what is happening?

The coaches?

The players?

The staff?

The Alumni?

The Lake Orion Culture?

Actually all the above

Lake Orion Football has always prided itself on consistency and success, not just as great players but as great men (and in a few cases women). Lake Orion has always been known for is a great running game, great passing game, great quarterback play, great defense, depth, and especially physical football. To be a championship team, you must have all of those things. Lake Orion often have about 85-90 kids come out for the team every year, in all three of its levels (Varsity, JV, and freshman). The number has gone down a little bit because of the concussion policy but still, when your number is called (whether it be for an injury or something else), you should be ready to play. Over the years, there has been a massive drop-off between the first string and the second string, that can’t happen. Teams who are deep do very well in both the regular season and especially the playoffs.

At Lake Orion, as a fan and alum, you expect your team to win every game, well at least the games you are supposed to win. Its part of the culture in this town, you expect to win every game, especially at home. When you don’t win, there is cause for concern. People ask what is going on, questions come up. As a player, its important to avoid those people, yes you hear it but at the same time, it’s important to stay committed to the task at hand.

It is true. You can’t deny Lake Orion’s struggles. Over the last few years, Lake Orion has benefited from great offense and great running back play especially along the lines of power and jet but when teams figure you out, you become too predictable, that falls on the coaches who have to change it up. Make some pass plays, do something they don’t expect you to do, go along those lines. That has to do with quarterback and how much the coaches trust the quarterback. Lake Orion in the last three years has had three one year starters. It’s a risky policy, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Quarterbacks (much less any player) struggle when they don’t have the confidence of the coach. Also on offense, you have to be multi demonical, not one demonical. Throughout the years, there hasn’t been a true passing game, opting to go for the run and despite having some tall receivers who are more than capable of catching the football. As I said, a lot of that involves coach’s confidence and comes down to trusting the quarterback.

One of the weak points LO has had has been the defense. First thing’s first, Coach Tooley is an excellent coach. One of the, if not the best defensive coach in the state, he’s proven that. One of themes Orion talks about is Orion Tough, you have to be physical, have to be relentless especially on the line. You also have to have a strong secondary. LO has struggled on this side of the ball. It is not lack of effort but simply not making the “right” plays, being afraid to make mistakes especially costly ones. Also not setting their will or establishing who they are. Traditional LO defenses have often set their will on people, making opponents afraid and reluctant to play LO. It starts with the defense. The same can be said about special teams, it’s all about returning to the traditional LO roots, physical, smart decision making relentless football.

A lot of people are going to blame injuries, youth, and ah course the schedule. Injuries happen but as I mentioned earlier, players have to step up, take advantage of the opportunity and do your best. A lot have said, LO is young. It’s true but it is not an excuse, being young is simply that young. No matter the class, you should still play physical, smart decision making relentless football. People are going to blame the coach. If you are a player who is struggling with this, sit down with the coach, ask him what you should do to get better, don’t moan, groan, or do nothing about it. DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

Lastly, people are going to blame the schedule, its understandable that there are only three home games this year and that people are upset. Listen with the exception of week one (which Coach Bell set up with Scott Merchant, Coaches good friend and Chippewa Valley’s head coach), LO didn’t set up the schedule, Oxford’s Athletic Director set it up. We all thought we would get both Oxford and Stoney Creek at home but it didn’t work out. Did I want to play CV week one, eh not really but the schedule is what it is, got to play it. It is true the schedule toughens a team up but still, there were better games out there.

A lot comes down to mental but Lake Orion has got to get back to what it is known for. Yes, they are 2-3 but at this point, it is not about the playoffs, it is about reestablishing your identity and what Lake Orion Football is truly about, not just in the classroom but on the field on Friday Night.