Rebuilding process for Plainsmen football still ongoing
There's no doubt that Bob Knapton still has his work cut out for him in rebuilding the Plainsmen football program.
At times this season, there were signs that the Plainsmen were on their way. Despite early losses, 21-14 to Steamboat Springs and 19-6 to Cheyenne East, Laramie looked competitive.
There were other positive signs -- a 24-16 win over Casper Kelly Walsh midway through the season. But that was followed with a 23-0 loss to Scottsbluff the next week.
One step forward and one step back. The only real consistency for LHS was inconsistency. Laramie then had some up and down losses -- 51-23 to a mediocre Evanston team and 33-0 to a good Green River team.
Possibly the biggest killer was the 35-28 overtime loss to Rock Springs in a game that the Plainsmen led 28-7 a minute into the fourth quarter. Tough calls, followed by unruly behavior did in Laramie down the stretch.
The Plainsmen then closed the season last Friday with a tough 42-6 loss to Cheyenne Central in a game that was much closer (in the first half) than the score indicated. But as was the case for much of the year, once Laramie got down, it never recovered.
It certainly was a frustrating season for Knapton, as well as the Plainsmen themselves. No one expected Laramie to go from a two-win season (winless in league play) to state contenders in one season. Yet, there were plenty, including myself, who thought they would make some strides.
Those strides will have to come next year.
It's first things first for the Plainsmen. The season might have ended last Friday and next season doesn't officially begin until August 2009. Yet, there's a whole lot of work to be done in between. Part of it is mental -- the Plainsmen have to learn how to play "ball" as Knapton often says by concentrating on the task at had and using self discipline.
Much of it is also physical, which means more more work in the weight room and more participation in off-season programs (even while participating in other sports). Another year of working in the new system certainly helps.
But let's face it, it's really not that hard to figure out. Since Laramie finished second in the state in the 2000 season, it has won just 12 games in the last eight seasons, including three winless campaigns. Four coaches have endured much of the same problems.
Knapton laid a solid foundation this season. Now, it's up to the players. Do they want to continue the slide that has basically dominated this decade? Do they want to bring the once proud Laramie program back to where it was?
Excuses are a dime a dozen. Talk is cheap. I can keep going, but it comes down to this: It's time for the players to step it up.
At times this season, there were signs that the Plainsmen were on their way. Despite early losses, 21-14 to Steamboat Springs and 19-6 to Cheyenne East, Laramie looked competitive.
There were other positive signs -- a 24-16 win over Casper Kelly Walsh midway through the season. But that was followed with a 23-0 loss to Scottsbluff the next week.
One step forward and one step back. The only real consistency for LHS was inconsistency. Laramie then had some up and down losses -- 51-23 to a mediocre Evanston team and 33-0 to a good Green River team.
Possibly the biggest killer was the 35-28 overtime loss to Rock Springs in a game that the Plainsmen led 28-7 a minute into the fourth quarter. Tough calls, followed by unruly behavior did in Laramie down the stretch.
The Plainsmen then closed the season last Friday with a tough 42-6 loss to Cheyenne Central in a game that was much closer (in the first half) than the score indicated. But as was the case for much of the year, once Laramie got down, it never recovered.
It certainly was a frustrating season for Knapton, as well as the Plainsmen themselves. No one expected Laramie to go from a two-win season (winless in league play) to state contenders in one season. Yet, there were plenty, including myself, who thought they would make some strides.
Those strides will have to come next year.
It's first things first for the Plainsmen. The season might have ended last Friday and next season doesn't officially begin until August 2009. Yet, there's a whole lot of work to be done in between. Part of it is mental -- the Plainsmen have to learn how to play "ball" as Knapton often says by concentrating on the task at had and using self discipline.
Much of it is also physical, which means more more work in the weight room and more participation in off-season programs (even while participating in other sports). Another year of working in the new system certainly helps.
But let's face it, it's really not that hard to figure out. Since Laramie finished second in the state in the 2000 season, it has won just 12 games in the last eight seasons, including three winless campaigns. Four coaches have endured much of the same problems.
Knapton laid a solid foundation this season. Now, it's up to the players. Do they want to continue the slide that has basically dominated this decade? Do they want to bring the once proud Laramie program back to where it was?
Excuses are a dime a dozen. Talk is cheap. I can keep going, but it comes down to this: It's time for the players to step it up.
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