This is going to be an exciting season of football at Green High School. New coach. New turf. New uniforms. And a great season opener at home against Lake on Aug. 22. But, don’t expect a gridiron miracle.

 First-year coach Tom Stacy will eventually have the Bulldogs back in the Division I playoffs. But please don’t expect things to happen overnight. Be patient. Give Stacy and his coaching staff time.

 Granted, after consecutive losing seasons, Stacy, in his first season at Massillon Washington, guided the Tigers to the 2005 OHSAA Div. I state championship game. Let’s keep our goals for the Bulldogs a bit more modest in 2008.

 After a 3-7 mark last year, the first step is to get back to 500. Stacy’s offense will be balanced, unpredictable, and fun to watch. There are plenty of returning skill players on offense, including quarterback Jesse Mason, running back Justin James, and wide receiver Garrett Cook.

But let’s face it; the biggest challenges are on defense. New defensive coordinator Ed Cybak, formerly the head coach at Fairless, has his work cut out for him.

 With linebacker Nick Kalenterides sidelined last season, the Bulldogs were porous. I won’t recount the rushing numbers opponents churned out against Green’s defensive unit, but they weren’t pretty.

 The Bulldogs need to get their edge back on defense. Traditionally, Green has been an attack-style defense, a swarming, gang-tackling squad, with sure-handed, fundamental tacklers. The defense has to be better this season.

 At first glance, this edition of GHS football seems undersized. The biggest losses from last season are in the trenches. To compensate, Green will have to play fast and with a chip on its shoulder.

 A talented sophomore class is key to the program’s immediate future. There is some good size and better than average speed and athleticism in this group. They dominated the Suburban League last fall as freshmen. How quickly these sophomores can step in, gain experience, and contribute remains to be seen. But this group appears deep and should be the core of next year’s team.

 Blue Streaks Provide Stern Test
 Right out of the gate, Green will face a rush-oriented offense with three returning starters on its offensive line and a 1,000-yard runner in senior Tyler Crowl.

 The Lake Blue Streaks have been to the Division II playoffs in back-to-back seasons and have one of the area’s finest coaching staffs, led by Jeff Durbin.

At 5-foot-9, 175 pounds, Crowl is a north-south runner, with excellent vision, according to Durbin. He carried 156 times last year and racked up 1,134 yards for a 7.2 average.
Tackle Dylan Miller, guard Kyle Pierson, and center Dalton Beachy give Lake a good nucleus up front and they will ignite what figures to be a strong ground game.

Durbin will be breaking in a new starting quarterback and Green has an advantage in that department where senior Jesse Mason, who completed 92 balls for 1,166 yards last year, is expected to be under center for the Bulldogs.

1590 WAKR radio is scheduled to broadcast the Aug. 22 Lake-Green opener. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. Morning Show host Ray Horner will call the game from Memorial Stadium.

New faces
While he did finish 2007-08 as Springfield High’s athletic director, former Ellet Orangeman and Akron Zip gridder Kevin Vaughn is stepping up to the challenge of coaching the Spartan football team. … Coventry and Manchester High Schools will have new marching band directors when the 2008 season kicks off. David Scalise comes to CHS from Cannon Falls, Minn., and takes over for Christopher Redd. Former Manchester director Nathan Sensabaugh has accepted a similar position at Cortland Lakeview.
 

Classic In The Country
 The Green High girls’ basketball team is returning to Berlin, Ohio, for the 2009 Classic in the Country VI, Saturday through Monday, Jan. 17-19. The Bulldogs meet Toledo Start on Monday at 3:15 p.m. The brainchild of girls’ hoops guru Tom Jenkins, The Classic is the premier event of its kind in the state and one of the nation’s best showcase events, attracting dozens of college scouts.

Copley-Fairlawn plays in the contest just before Green-Toledo Start. Wadsworth plays on Saturday. Hoover plays on Sunday and Monday. 

In 2007, coach Tony Whitmer’s Green squad toppled Division IV power Fort Recovery in its first Classic appearance.