Who hated the months with no football.
He’d sit in a haze and count out the days
And think about who knows what all.
Mule Fan Blog #1-The 2009 Centennial Season-By your Mule Fan Editors Bob Cohen and Bobby Rosenthal
Welcome Back Mule Fans! Time to bust out the 2009 Alamo Heights football season. After hours of deliberations and intense negotiations between our agents and the "powers-that-be," we've agreed AGAIN to sign on as your Mule Fan writers for the upcoming 2009 Alamo Heights Football season, our Centennial year. Let us first clarify a couple of items in the previous sentence.
"We" refers to Bobby Cohen and Bobby Rosenthal, or as we were referred to last season: "The Bobbys." For those of you new to the Mule Fan, the Bobbys provide weekly insights into Mule football, including a detailed summary of the preceding game, our analysis of the upcoming game, and a weekly exclusive interview with Alamo Heights Head Coach, Don Byrd. We also expanded our work during the season by adding video clips, assistant coach profiles, and, oftentimes, irrelevant editorial jabs at numerous folks – the easiest target always being Rick Shaw. Bobby R. usually writes blurbs such as this piece, the post-game summary, and the pregame analysis, while Bobby C. interviews Coach Byrd, provides on-the-ground video clips, incorporates assistant coach interviews, personal editorials and also co-writes blurbs like this one. We are extremely biased in our coverage and our opinions are our own, not those of the coaching staff or the administration. If you don't like sarcasm, be sure to have yourself removed from the "Group Blast." If you know others who might like to be added, send an email to brosenthal@trpsalaw.com, and we'll add them to the Blast List. Also we welcome your comments, suggestions, story and feature ideas, gentle critcisms and Fall "gluten free" recipes. Please feel free to e-mail either or both of us. Bobby Rosenthal's e-mail is just a couple of lines above this and Bob Cohen's is bobcohen@sbcglobal.net.
As many of you know, the job of writing and editing this site traditionally has fallen into the capable ink-stained hands of the parent(s) of varsity player(s) who are juniors. We have been held back (just us, not #50 and #22) for a variety of reasons, some of them disciplinary and we’d prefer to keep all that private. (Truth is nobody lined up to do it. Nobody really ever does as evidenced by us agreeing last year to do it while staring at the business end of a rubber hose with our hands and feet bound on the eve of the 2008 season.) So now we can't get out. Kind of like Dorothy being stuck in Oz without the magic red shoes. But mind you, having nobody around to step up during the exclusive negotiating period gave us the leverage to cut deals that allow us to bank some serious “coin” and these are challenging times. So, instead of letting the Mule Fan die a slow, painful death, with your permission we'll do our best to keep it on life support until the State Championship game in December, after which time, we'll pass the baton. We appreciate all of you who continue to pay the subscription. We did “writer’s quest” during the off-season, learned 17 new words, have 364 freshly sharpened #2 pencils and are ready to deliver our little messages which hopefully add some insight to Alamo Heights Mules football throughout the season.
OFF SEASON
To recap what happened last spring, immediately after Winter Vacation, our boys returned to school for the dreaded two weeks of boot camp. That is a wonderful period where the boys puke before lunch and then come home and fall asleep around dinnertime. Certainly, the incoming freshmen eagerly anticipate next January when they'll get their first shot at boot camp. After boot camp, off season continued before spring practice in May. You may recall that due to the Swine Flu, spring practice was touch and go for a period (no pun intended). Several districts cancelled school and, therefore, spring practice. To most students' dismay, school in Alamo Heights was not cancelled, so it was time for spring ball. Three weeks of practice were capped with the exciting Blue-Gold scrimmages. The week after school ended, most football players (and other student athletes) begin Mules In Training, formally known as Stewe Quest. Many dedicated athletes woke up by 6:29 a.m to attend the first session, which began at 6:30 a.m. and ran through the end of July. Coach Byrd and his staff also spent countless hours in the mornings making sure all Mules stayed in shape during the summer. Fortunately, the conditioning ended early enough in the morning to avoid the brutal summer heat.
SUCCESSFUL 7 ON 7
What is 7 on 7, you ask?
7 on 7 is a skills competition that has become huge in Texas. The offense has an ineligible center, a QB, 4 receivers, and a running back. The defense has seven "hands specialists," normally safeties, cornerbacks, and linebackers. The defense does not rush, and the QB has 4 seconds to pass – there is no running. The game is a high speed, high energy touch football game. A little more complicated than that but do you really care?
WEEKLY PLAY – This summer, the Mules had four squads playing weekly Tuesday night games against local schools at AHHS. The Mules fielded a Varsity, a JV, and two sophomore/freshman teams. Players rotated among the teams, and no coaches were allowed to assist. Thanks to the weekly help from Ron Mills, Bryan Thompson, and Todd Mills for coaching the teams.
TOURNAMENT PLAY– The Varsity played in three tournaments – Houston, Kyle, and Alamo Heights. The JV also fielded a team for the Alamo Heights tournament. All tournaments had 16 teams with the top two teams qualifying for the state tournament in College Station. The first tournament in Houston was the most difficult, yet the "Cardiac Kids," as they were often called, came back in all 3 games to beat some extremely tough 5A talent, ending pool play at 3‑0, and advancing to the final four, where they lost to the eventual tournament winner. In the Alamo Heights tournament, your Mules again went 3‑0 in pool play, and this time advanced to the finals, winning themselves a trip to the State tournament. At the Kyle tournament, we'll just assume the team was happy having already qualified for State, and we'll leave it at that (1‑2).
STATE TOURNAMENT-- The Cardiac Kids moved on to the State Tournament in College Station on the weekend of July 10‑11. Falling behind again in each of their 3 games (all 3 victories against 5A teams), Heights roared back to go 3‑0 in pool play, including another dramatic last play victory over Pearland. Heights advanced to the championship bracket, and though the squad lost its first game, the 2009 7‑on‑7 team advanced as far as any Alamo Heights team in the history of 7‑on‑7. Congrats to the boys and thanks again to Ron and Barbara Mills for their leadership in coordinating the weekend.
CAPTAINS ANNOUNCED
The 2009 Captains are: Matt Cohen, Forrest Hager, Thomas McSween, Cullen Mills and Aaron Salomon. Congratulations to these leaders.
Fall Training Notes:
Yeah we know it’s not really fall. But early season workouts began on August 10th. Lots of water being consumed up there at the stadium. There has been the usual amount of soreness, bumps, bruises, lightheadedness, profuse sweating and a little vomiting – and that’s just from the Mule Fan editors. The boys have been doing great. It was shorts and helmets until Friday the 14th when the pads were strapped on for the first time. There have been a couple of days of two-a-days with the Varsity and Junior Varsity early enough in the day when the temperature is still in double digits. The Freshmen have gotten their workouts in a little later in the day (rank and age has its privileges).
SCRIMMAGE: Mark your calendar – Friday, August 21st at home against MacArthur. Admission is free! Dress cool, wear sun screen and come out and get an early look at the 2009 Mules.
JV/Freshmen 9:00 a.m.
Varsity 11:00 a.m.
HONORING THIS YEAR'S SENIORS
Much of our focus this year, as it was last year, will be on the senior class. While the Varsity has many juniors and perhaps some sophomores, the following students will be wearing the blue and gold for the last time:
9 Bryson Marshall WR
10 Luke Maloy DB
11 Cullen Mills QB
12 Cooper Bibb DB
15 T P Loftus DB
17 Andrew Forney QB
18 Mitchell Dan DB
19 David Garza WR
21 Clark Hudnall WR
22 Justin Rosenthal RB
24 Lukin King WR
25 John Cabell WR
32 Grant Piland DB
33 Mike Warren LB
34 Alex Biltz DB
35 Stuart Biltz LB
42 Cliff Molak DB
43 Phillip Massari DB
44 Pablo Mancera DB
48 Wes Johnston WR
50 Matt Cohen OL
53 Wills Bauer OB
54 Tyler Elorriaga OB
55 Reed Egger OL
58 Nick Spears OB
59 Thomas McSween OB
61 Zack Fallon OL
62 Nick Morton OL
63 Aaron Salomon DL
64 Cullen Wernette OL
67 Evan Golden OL
68 Joe Corpus OL
56 Emilio Cuellar DL
71 Oscar Omenson OB
78 Jordan Jeffries DL
80 Trevor Lovelady WR
81 Scotty McIntyre WR
82 Forrest Hagar TE
83 Gerald Drought WR
86 Sam Hall WR
87 Jonathan Barshop WR
Tickets:
The Mule Fan prides itself on quality information that is sufficiently accurate. But when we HAVE to get it right, we arrange for top secret meetings with Patty Juarez in the AH Athletic office. Patty is the right hand (or hoof) of top Mule Athletic Director Gene Phillips. Patty is the knower, soothsayer, savant and occasional TV quizmaster of everything Mule. She recently summoned the Mule Fan to hand down the word on many issues important to Mule Fans everywhere. If you bought season tickets, they re now ready for pick up at the athletic office. The last three days to purchase season tickets are August 18-20 from 8:00am-Noon and 1:30pm-3:30pm. After that, you’re looking at game-by-game purchases. The athletic office will be open for sales on these days and times:Wednesday/Thursday/Friday 8:30am-noon; 1:30pm-3:30pm
Friday (for most out of town games) 8:30am-noon; 1:30pm-2:30pm
Fall Kickoff Picnic:
Even if you are a vegetarian, your attendance is vital at the Fall Kickoff Picnic on Wednesday August 26 at Harry B. Orem Stadium. Come out and support the players, meet the coaches, leaders and families of this year’s sports teams, band and spirit groups. There is no better way to build community spirit for the upcoming year than to slop some barbecue on your shirt with your friends at this popular event. Come watch Football and Volleyball practice (these are separate practices mind you-it would be hard to spike with shoulder pads on) from 4p-5p. Then from 5p-7p you’ll be entertained by the AHHS band and her introductions. Barbecue dinner plates are $6 each and tickets can be purchased at the picnic. The dinner plate proceeds go towards defraying the cost of the event.
SPONSORS ARE NEEDED FOR THE EVENT AND WILL BE GIVEN BANNER RECOGNITION AT ALL HOME FOOTBALL GAMES. If you would like to become a sponsor please send a check for $200 (or more) payable to “The Mule Team” and return to Troy Jessee @ 141 Blue Bonnet Blvd. San Antonio, Texas 78209 or turn it in to the athletic office. (The Mule Fan has learned that you can donate $198 if you’re willing to accept typos on the banner.) Should a sponsor choose to designate their contribution to a particular athletic team or school organization please note that team or organization on the check. Any un-designated contributions will go into the athletic fund and used at the discretion of the athletic director. Checks need to be received by August 21st for banner recognition. More information is available at the AH athletic office.
New feature at the Fall Kickoff picnic: This year there will be two other ways for the Mules to get into your wallet but you’ll like these. There will be a silent auction for a reserved parking space in the “jock lot” for home football games!! This is the lot just behind the west stands between the stadium and the Mule Dome. The only way to get closer to the stadium would be to tunnel into the locker room or to live in the press box.. So that ought to get your attention. There will also be a raffle for two season tickets for the 2009 AH football season. The Mule Fan editors got a private tour of the seat location and we can confirm that they are on the 50 yard line (well not on the 50 but up in the stands on the 50-you know what we mean).
Mules on Twitter:
As you saw last year with some of the new features and toys we used, you’ll know that we like to use available technology to round out our coverage and burn up some of your valuable time. Well another year has passed and there’s more stuff out there for us to try. So here goes. The Mule Fan is on TWITTER (or at least we think we are.) Go to www.twitter.com/mulefanblog and sign up to follow the Mules in very short bursts of quite tasty information! Our pledge – to use Twitter to deliver different content than you can get here on the site and to use puns when appropriate. What a deal! More work for us and the quality of your day increases by 140 characters at a time. Activate Twitter on your mobile phones so we can try and distract you at games as well. We promise to tweet you right.
Laredo bus trip:
Looking ahead a little, the Mules take on Laredo United on September 10 in Laredo. That’s a Thursday night folks (productivity and commerce that day among Mule faithful should be robust). Fair is fair, we made them come up here last year on a Thursday. But anyhow, bus trips are forming up for that schlep down there. We hear that the fare will be approximately $30 per person. You can be bumped up to first class for $31.75. The movie on board will be “Border Fencing-An Olympic Tale”. But seriously, more details will come along. As usual, the Mule Fan pushes off most of these details and questions to the AH Athletic office since they can actually answer the questions. Check with Patty Juarez for more details.
Mules on the Radio:
Well we hope so anyway. One of our Mule voices, Dave Parker, called to let us know that while they have made some good progress during the off-season towards attracting some great sponsors for the play-by-play broadcasts, they’re not quite there yet with enough. If you are in a service or retail business, whether you want to target consumers or business to business, please consider a sponsorship of the Mules on radio. It costs heaps less than just one commercial in the Super Bowl. It makes a big difference to the program when your games are on the radio so please consider it and help Dave get it over the line. For more details and package options, contact Dave Parker at 210-602-3784 or dpar77@aol.com. Thanks for your consideration.
Season Opener:
Friday, August 28th at 7:30 vs. Round Rock Stony Point at Harry B. Orem Stadium
Welcome back boys-
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