Latest / Coach Speak The Return / Episode 8 - Jacob Robidou

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Episode 8 - Jacob Robidou · Coach Speak The Return

• Matt Seidl: Hello everybody and welcome back to the pod. I'm Matt Seidel. Josh Trope is here as well, and we are excited to be joined by Jacob Robadoo. I think I said it right, Coach, for the first time ever. the new head girls basketball coach at Stockbridge High School. Coach, thanks for coming on. It's it's about time we got you on here. Jacob Robidou: thank you for having me. I'm a big fan, believe it or not. you're one of my weekly podcasts. I I was following you back in the twenty twenty days and I always thought it'd be great to come on here. So I really appreciate you having me. Matt Seidl: Well, you were one of our opponents back then. We didn't want to bring you on 'cause we wanted to talk crap about you behind your back like we do everybody else back then. So but but now you're not on anybody's schedule anymore, so Jacob Robidou: I it was part of like it was almost like a scout too. I had to listen every week just to see what you guys were talking about. It was Matt Seidl: Sure. Jacob Robidou: just in case I was missing something. Matt Seidl: man. So hey, we're gonna jump right in. And and and like I said, you are the new girls coach at Stockbridge. We'll talk more about that in a little bit. But your resume, as you were kind of sharing, I remember when you came in to Stockbridge, I was just the athlete just the athletic director at Olivet. I was not coaching basketball at the time, but I remember Megan Kunzelman telling me that you she had just hired somebody, it's like a was in a state, like He's got a state championship game on it in his resume and he's from Montana and this and but I I didn't ask a ton of questions, but I said, okay, he's got some you've got some credibility here. But then after talking to you, so in 2006, you were the you were the head coach at your alma mater, right? It was it was at Gardner High School in Montana. Yeah, and you inherit a you inherit a state Jacob Robidou: Yes, yes. My own moment. Matt Seidl: championship team, undefeated state championship team from the year before, and then you take them all the way to Another state championship game and the ch the championship game you lose in Jacob Robidou: Lyon. Matt Seidl: overtime. But wow. That's wow. Jacob Robidou: Well Matt Seidl: that's quite a that's quite a start to your career. You wanna tell us a little bit about that? What you remember about that twenty years ago? Jacob Robidou: it's so long ago, but it is such almost a different lifetime and as far as coaching goes, it it's so hard to relate to 'cause I I knew nothing to be honest. I I knew I wanted to coach and I had played there and to looking back, it seemed like a great opportunity. But I think all of us that have coached for a while would look at that now as like that's a loaded situation. twenty five and the year before, state champs and they had a lot coming back. So there was really it was not a win win type thing for me. And I didn't take it that way. And I just came in and I think for the right reasons, but just no knowledge of coaching. just all instincts and I think I you know, I was a PE teacher and and that was my background and I could I could communicate with kids, I could relate to kids. back then I could even I could I was better at than them. You know, we could play I could jump in and play pickup and and that was my credibility Matt Seidl: Right. Jacob Robidou: type thing. But no, it was an amazing experience. I mean, and we did drop one regular season game that year, but went all the way back to the state title. And you know, I don't if those kids will ever ever hear this, but I mean this the most talented team I've ever still to this day coached. And you gotta understand Gardner Montana's like a hundred kids in high school when I was there. And so back there, that's our class C and that's like a hundred and twenty and under. And some of our classes are really small. So we were a mid sized class C, but I was lucky enough to come from a pretty great background of coaches and experience from there. And it just kind of continued after us. They had a lot of success. And so all the way back to State Championship game and I mean, looking back, I I think I have all the I p I take all the blame 'cause I feel like we should have won that game. It was a team that we beat earlier that season by twenty. but it was Matt Seidl: Mm. Jacob Robidou: just it was one of those nights and we came out very uncharacteristically and turned the ball over like ten times in the first quarter and that's not an exaggeration and just we got down seventeen in the first half and then they just battled back. We took the lead with a minute to go and then just some miracles started to happen. You know, they tied it. you know and I and I I talked to the coach from back then and he reminds me of this all the time and I didn't mean it this way at the time but I was in in the paper I said I you know What was your strategy to beat him? It's like, well, I don't think two kids can beat us. And they had two kids that were really good. And those two kids combined for seventy-five. And he reminds me of that. Like Josh: Ha ha ha. Jacob Robidou: and I didn't and I didn't mean it in a cocky way. It was like the more like from a l logistics standpoint. But yeah, that was my first taste of it. And but to be honest, I I still to this day won't say that it it has anything to do with the coach I am today. I I mean it it probably opened my eyes to being a better coach, but I look back on that and just wish I knew what I I I knew then what I know now, But it was a great opportunity. Josh: Coach, I got a few follow ups from that. is there a shot clock in Montana now? There is. Okay. Look at that. Yeah, Montana more progressive than Michigan. Yeah. Yeah. Jacob Robidou: There is. There is. I was I was proud of them. Yes. Yes. for for Matt Seidl: Mm. Progressive. A progressive Jacob Robidou: two years now. for Matt Seidl: state. Montana, yeah. Jacob Robidou: for for over two seasons now, you know, and Josh: Yeah. Wow, nice. Jacob Robidou: it's the same pushback that you all have had. A D's didn't like it 'cause who were they gonna have run it? But they did it and it's it's good. They didn't then. Josh: Nice. Okay. And then did you lose to did you lose to a private school in the state final? Because Matt, I'm sure, is very intrigued by that. Jacob Robidou: no, there are there are no private classy Montana basketball schools. Well actually Josh: Okay. Jacob Robidou: no, that's a lie. Coach coach, no we did not. but there Josh: Okay. Jacob Robidou: are. And and and there w there has been some dominance at times from private schools. But so I thought was a to yeah, Josh: Okay. And then my Jacob Robidou: but no, we did not. Josh: okay. And then my third comment or follow-up from that is you nailed it. You never take over the team that went twenty-five and The the classic Jacob Robidou: No. Josh: trope line and why Matt calls me the plumber, that is his nickname for me, you only take the teams that go two and twenty-three or one and twenty-one, and then you turn around the program. So that you hope and you learn Jacob Robidou: I I figure that out after. Josh: that. Yeah, absolutely. Matt Seidl: Mm-hmm. Josh: Take the job after. So after this state final run, a few years passes and then you take a GA job at Montana State. and that really it sounds like really tr was a big turning point in your coaching career. you had to prepare for guys like Damian Lillard, who was at Weber State and and things like that. Tell us about that journey. Jacob Robidou: it's a crazy part of my life because personally in my life was a complete disaster. I was going through a divorce and and some things and so it's a it's a weird way to remember it, but it was my dream. I was still driving to be a college coach and it's just not a very I had two children pretty young. and I learned really quickly that that that's a that's a h that's a hard dream to chase, in the situation I was in. But I kept, I was just like a I kept asking their head coach. So I knew him well enough to just let me get involved. And so I finally got on as a grad grad assistant and I didn't have a real hands-on role. and I was telling Matt that this was kind of pre-Senergy and all the analytics that we're able to get now. And one of my first jobs was to chart lineup efficiency. He wanted me to like, you know, chart the lineups and then keep track of that. And so And he didn't give me any guidance after that. So I came up with this weird coding system of my own, using Excel sheet and charted, you know, production based on and it's crazy when you start digging into that because it's almost an infinite thing when you actually, if you play eight guys, the lineup situation. So I don't know if I really provided him much, but I did get to be be a part of a lot of stuff. And it just made me really start to really understand how how deep this game can go, you know, and I just really locked in on it. preparing for Damian Lillard, for example. I was telling Matt, we had four ball Matt Seidl: Ha ha. Jacob Robidou: screen coverages, f depending on where on the floor, and it was it was well executed. I was just amazed how these kids and the way they communicated, and they color coded their coverages. It's the stuff that I didn't know at the time, but they were icing him on the wing, we were trapping him in certain spots and they had it all color coded and the kids had it. And I mean he was just so good, you know, I felt like we held them 22, somewhere in there every time. But it was it was like my first introduction to just the really deep dive of understanding what goes into this, I think Josh: Yeah. Jacob Robidou: all of us that have ever played as a player and we get our first coaching job, we just think, we we just teach what we we were taught, and then you and then you realize that it's much bigger than that. And I don't think you have to have played basketball to be a good coach. It helps maybe build some credibility, but if you don't like dive in and really start to understand, you know, being a good player doesn't guarantee you're ever gonna be a good coach. Josh: Yep, well said. Matt Seidl: So you you go to Manhattan High School shortly after that. I think you coached six seasons, right? And then somehow Stockbridge High School in Michigan lures you to the Greater Lancing Activities Conference so you can coach against the Olive Eagles twice a year or something like that. But how how did you how did you end up at Stockbridge? Jacob Robidou: you know, I I it's I mean completely random, you know, as I'm so I met my wife in Montana at the you know, I was a A D at a K eight school and I was A D P E teacher and she somehow randomly in a long other story landed there and I met her. and she's from here. I mean her family's from here. I mean her family, you know, her dad's is her dad's Mike Boyd. her grandpa was a principal here and it's that's what the field's named after it's Boyd Stadium, So her grandfather was like a a teacher here for a long time. So they had deep roots here and she's got a great family. And you know, over time we just kind of decided to make that move. And that's why I ended up here and then literally you know I had you know I had left that job on good terms and eyes were open and it just so happened it opened up that fall. You know, like the about a month and a half before basketball season and I applied. I think there was one other applicant. I know who it was, but he had already coached here before and somehow I got it with all that competition in them. You know, that was Megan and some people that gave me the opportunity and I jumped in and s got to work. Matt Seidl: And I should clari I should Josh: Nice. Matt Seidl: clarify that too. You you came in as the boys coach, at that point, 'cause I know you're the girls coach now. And I remember like I said right away, I didn't I didn't know you from Boo, but they it was instantly you could tell that okay, Stockbridge has themselves a guy that can make a difference during games running the program now. So I think that was the respect you had from afar over at Olivet and I think you've proven that accurate over time. So but yeah, it's get Josh: Yeah, no no Jacob Robidou: Yeah. Matt Seidl: it. Josh: no question about that. how Matt Seidl: Mm. Josh: does basketball in Michigan differ from basketball Montana? Jacob Robidou: A lot of people ask me that. best way I would explain it is like I think at my level, division three, it mixes pretty well. It I I feel like it's pretty close to our mid level classes. Our highest class level is what we call double A. Our biggest high schools are they're bigger. They're there are over a thousand kids, but there's only ten of And our tournaments are so interesting compared to what you guys do. our tournament system is like double elimination and two teams come out. And so we'll have situations where they'll even do challenge games where, if you haven't played the, the team that got second, the third place team will challenge on a Monday and then that's all for the chance to keep advancing. So at the double A level though, it's really, you know, it's not as exciting in my opinion, 'cause what, you got twelve teams, you got an eight team state tournament. There might be more than that now, but Class C all the way down to where we were, there was over a hundred teams. And so you had to battle your way Josh: Okay. Jacob Robidou: up. We had a district and a divisional and we call it state, but they were 18 double elimination tournaments where two teams come out most of the time. Competition-wise, I mean at the highest end, Michigan, of course, just population-wise, we I mean, we produce you know, more division one players than like high-level players. Back when I was playing, and even there was like if one division one kid came out of the state, that was that was about right, you know. And we've had some Josh: Okay. Jacob Robidou: pretty successful ones, but in comparison at the highest levels as far as how much talent's produced, but I if you went per capita, it wouldn't be that much different. it's just a very different structure as far as, postseason play and just lower population and less schools. But it's on the map. I think it's Josh: Okay. Wow, that's wild the the term. Jacob Robidou: really climbing with with the way travel ball has worked now and like the exposure kids get and like you know, opportunities, I think it's really catching up, you know. So Josh: Yeah, okay. I know that that that tournament situation sounds pretty wild. Matt Seidl: Challenge games. We need to have challenge games. Jacob Robidou: Yeah, it is. It's pretty cool. Ch a challenge game w Josh: I like it, yeah. Matt Seidl: You get knocked out, you still you still got life. You still you still Josh: Why Jacob Robidou: I in high school I went in my my sophomore and junior year I only lost two games and they w we we lost we were twenty five and one and you know twenty four and one and never made the state tournament because of challenge games. Or one year we lost to the wrong team and didn't have an opportunity to challenge, but we lost individuals and didn't have a chance to advance. Which is normal I guess around here because you get bumped if you lose. But out there Josh: Right. Jacob Robidou: it's yeah, we sat on the wrong end of that a couple of times. But Josh: That's wild. Well, Matt, that that's gonna lead us into our discussion later on the podcast about separate divisions and you know, because there's there's some divisions here in the state that only that have a handful of private schools. And so maybe maybe the answer is smaller tournaments like Montana, but we'll get into that later. What what do you got for coach Matt? Matt Seidl: Well, so we get the boys' job, y you take a little leave of absence from coaching and and you're involved with your own child and in in in in that athletic career there. But then all of a sudden l one day I'm talking to you or communicating with you and you're on a committee to hire the girls coach at Stockbridge, and I think I'm quizzing you like, Who is it? And maybe a week later you are the girls coach at Stockbridge. Josh: Ha ha ha. Matt Seidl: So what's you wanna tell us a little bit without too much detail, how that all went down? Jacob Robidou: Well yeah. Well I think I I think I texted you something like, I think I should coach girls as a joke about, some other things. but yeah, I'm I can't really explain that one. it just kinda hit me. I've been coaching girls track for about four years. I got involved with that when my daughter was still in school and that was because I that opened up and, she kinda took the brunt as far as basketball 'cause I coached boys and I didn't I feel like I really wanted to coach her and that was great. But I enjoyed it so much that I stayed. And so I really enjoy working with with girls, high school athletes. They're I you know, they have so many it's different, but I just really admire their maturity, their their work ethic, and I just I just enjoyed working with them. and so I got to know and a lot of those girls came out and ran track and so I was really trying to be helpful and just but, you know, we had a candidate picked and he turned the job down and it was kind of just one of those things where I knew I I didn't any of the other candidates and it just hit me that maybe I should do this because it was the sweet spot. I I I I miss coaching so much. I miss coaching varsity level coaching. And the reason I stepped out was for the right reasons. I was legitimately burnt out and I had younger kids that I felt like were taking the I needed to just restructure things. And so it just kind of hit and it's kind of best both worlds. And you know I'm still coaching two red cedar or rec teams this during the season. that was the conditions that my wife set for me. But I've got that worked. Matt Seidl: Yeah. Josh: Yeah. Jacob Robidou: And I just, we just finished our football season. I coached my youngest through football. And so I'm trying to balance the two, but I'm really excited to work with this group of women. They're a they're it's Matt Seidl: Yeah. Jacob Robidou: a great group and we have a lot of potential. Matt Seidl: Yeah, I think I think they're fortunate that that worked out for you. Now tell us a little bit about this year's Stockbridge girls team. I know you got to work with them a little bit in the summer and pre s probably preseason and we're only a couple of weeks away. What do you what do you think Josh: Wait, wait. Matt Seidl: about this year's team? Josh: Wait a minute. You're not running full illegal practices right now? you haven't started Matt Seidl: Mm, mm. Josh: okay, just 'cause I know a lot of teams Jacob Robidou: Yeah, I didn't know we were allowed to do that. Josh: it seems like a lot of people are, so I wasn't Okay. Matt Seidl: Seems to be the norm, yeah. Josh: Okay, yeah, okay. Jacob Robidou: Well, I'm a I'm a rule follower over here. So we're gonna we're Josh: I like it. I like it. Jacob Robidou: doing we but we I'll I will brag we've done four we've been doing four girl workouts at five thirty AM and they fill those slots. Josh: Wow. Jacob Robidou: you know, and not every day, but the days we can and that 'cause that's the what's fit my schedule lately and I've been just so impressed. I mean, not only do they get there at five thirty, they get there early and they warm up on their own and then they are ready to roll at five thirty and they work hard and so It's great. we have four returning seniors from last year's regional runner ups, and and they're a great core. and then we have a couple other returner underclassmen that are gonna fill in there and we have some kids that are that have developed some that will f that will fill roles for us. But no, I'm I'm extremely excited. We have a lot of great pieces. you know, and I love coming back to or starting from fresh. Like anytime you start a new program or always bring in a new perspective and you always want to try new things. and you know, coach them through the summer. You know, the the women's game is it's different, but it's the same. But you know, find some of those nuances and there's some things I'm seeing that I think will be key for us. And I'm really excited just for that that change of pace. But you know core philosophies don't really change for me. It's just kind of the people that I'm working with. Josh: What do you foresee as your biggest challenges moving to the girls game? For you personally. Jacob Robidou: As far as as far as it just being girls, did that change that part? Josh: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Jacob Robidou: That's a good question. I you know, I you know, I don't know, some people might not like this, but y they're not the same as boys in in a good way. And of, you know, they're just not the same. And I think you need to coach a little different with them. because they have so many strengths, and like one of the biggest things I think is like, you know, you have to just kind of foster relationships, you know, and they're in my opinion, like I said, is that they're just very family. Orientated, they they thrive off of each other, and and you have to kind of be careful. There's sometimes with boys, like we would purposely just pit them against each other just to turn a practice into a dog fight, you know, and y you don't necessarily need to do that. You know, there's just different when they're they're motivated a little bit different, they communicate differently. but you know, and the game's different, you know, it's it's just you know, they're they're physically a little bit different than boys, but they Cognitively they respond differently. So it's it's just a it's more so a great challenge to I I think the best thing about coaching is adapting to what you have and getting the most out of what you have every year. That's what coaching is. And, you know, it's just maybe a little bit some different adaptations that I'm I get to have the opportunity to work with. But so I don't know, I don't know what the challenge will be, but I think it's just gonna be a little different, you know, as far as. Josh: Okay. Okay. Jacob Robidou: No it works. Josh: Yeah, I I probably be a little more Matt Seidl: Gotcha. Josh: rewarding too. They actually say thank you at the end of practice, yeah. Jacob Robidou: I I don't wanna knock on the boys 'cause I love coaching all my Josh: Yeah. Jacob Robidou: boys. But man, there are some things that I'm just like it's a it's a breath of fresh air to be honest. They're they're Matt Seidl: Yeah. Jacob Robidou: just very mature and take they take a lot of responsibility for themselves, which is which is great. Matt Seidl: So be before we let you go, we got one more question for you. So our second our second segment today is focusing on local rivalries, not just local but also within the state. And obviously Stockbridge has has a has a rival, a local rival right down the road, and that would be Leslie. And you've experienced it from the boys side, had a a a few clashes with with our friend Matt Johns, I'm sure, and and and now you're gonna do it at the girls level. So what w what what do you like or What what boils your blood about the Steinbridge Leslie rivalry? Jacob Robidou: I think that stuff's great. I I think you need that stuff. That's what makes high school sports so fun. it will help when we're back in the same conference with them. You know, I think that it it just lost a little bit of legs. You know, I think we try to maintain it by continuing to play. But you know, there's something about that. I think true rivals, you know, think about all your best rivalries. It's the same conference, right? It's like Ohio State, Josh: Yeah. Jacob Robidou: Michigan, Duke, North Carolina. You know, they're not just total randoms, unless you're a private school like Notre Dame. What's their rival? everybody, everybody. But the the true ones, your classic ones, it's Matt Seidl: Mm hmm. Nobody cares. Josh: Everybody. Everybody. Yeah. Yeah. Jacob Robidou: it's it's because there's a common environment that they come from and they're a conference, whatever it is. But I think that will help. I think it's a great thing. I I mean Matt John's I respect him as much as I've respect anybody I've ever ever coached against, you know, and he's had my number. and I give him all the credit in the world. He's a great coach. Matt Seidl: I'm gonna I'm I I gotta take a drink. I gotta I gotta take a drink of water real quick after you said that. You keep keep keep going, coach. Keep going. my goodness. Jacob Robidou: Well, no, he is a he's an absolutely great coach and he did have my number. they he beat me in so many close contested games, it was just he drove me nuts. But I respect him a ton and that was and they were just these crazy good rivalry games. And that's what happens in rivalry games. most of the years we were pretty well honestly, I was I feel like early on he had some great teams. I mean, my the year I coached against you, they were so good and we we almost We played him tough both times. he and I think they ended up winning a regional championship that year. So he's had some a lot of talent. He's done a good job. But yeah, I think I love it. I think it needs to we kinda need a little reignition and I think coming back in the Cascades with them, will be good. Matt Seidl: Yeah. And if if people haven't experienced that one that rivalry is a sleeper rivalry in this part of the state, but it's i if you if you haven't seen it you should 'cause it you you can feel it, you can definitely feel it when there's the two boys' basketball teams are are playing each other, that's for sure. And I and I think it can be that way in the girls as well, so. Josh: haven't experienced it, but my guess is there's a lot of flannel, possibly some cowbells in the crowd. that's my guess. I I don't know. Yeah, Jacob Robidou: It was a lot of orange and black for sure. Josh: okay. Camo, a lot of camo. Okay, I just just guessing. Okay. Matt Seidl: my god. Jacob Robidou: Yeah. just just hometown public school kids, man. It's it's it's good stuff. Matt Seidl: Hm. Thank you. Thank you for that, man. That's a tip of tip of the hat, man. Josh: Not not that true because you've had some Weberville transfers and anyways we'll get and and Matt's had some Jackson transfers, but we can get into that another time. So yeah. Matt Seidl: What? So Jacob Robidou: I'm still waiting on I'm still Matt Seidl: Well Coach Matt, hey, we Jacob Robidou: waiting on a transfer. I'm still waiting on these trans I I personally where are these transfers coming from? I Matt Seidl: Right. Jacob Robidou: I have yet to have a have a beneficial transfer. So I'll Josh: Okay. Jacob Robidou: you know, I got maybe I'm doing something wrong. I'm over here. But you know for the most part, coach we just you know, we coach up. They live here and we do the best we can with what we got. Matt Seidl: a community kind of a community based team. You coach whoever's in your boundaries Jacob Robidou: Grassroots. Matt Seidl: and maybe a couple of school choice people and you that's who you coach every yeah. It's very rewarding, man. Josh: wait, so that so school choice is okay? Okay. Okay. Jacob Robidou: I know. I don't know if we're anybody's Matt Seidl: Huh? I get a couple here and there, yeah. So Jacob Robidou: school of choice. Matt Seidl: yeah. Jacob Robidou: You know, that's what's even better. It's like, you know, like I don't know. It's a cool I I like this. This to me this is my this is my kind of thing, you know. Underdog, Matt Seidl: I got it. Jacob Robidou: you know, if we're underdog, whatever, but you know, building something where there's need, like, it's just w I love that. I just I really do. And I'm I'm I'm at the point, like I'm not chasing Hall of Fame number, whatever happens, happens. I just, I really, and it sounds so per so cliche, is just every it's just every season's like an impact. And the more I've been in a part of this community, the more I get to know young kids coming up. And, coaching this fourth, third and fourth grade football has just been the coolest thing I've ever. it's been Matt Seidl: Mm-hmm. Jacob Robidou: so fun. it's it it's the kids my kids it's the kids my kids go to school with, and then you ride along with them. And then, some of these girls that I'm coaching this year were my wife's first fifth grade class six years ago. I've Josh: Yeah. Jacob Robidou: got pictures of them with my little boys when they were little and they, she's one of their favorite teachers. And it's just, you stay around long enough. That's really cool. And then you just come in and give them everything you got. Give them the best experience. that's our job. You know, give them the most first class experiences you possibly can. set them up for success and then see how it goes and then reload the next year. And I love it. I mean it's it's a good place to be. I like where I'm at. Matt Seidl: Well man, we appreciate Josh: That's awesome. Matt Seidl: you coming on. We we will be following for sure. and and maybe we'll even we'll have to talk again. We're not gonna get into your your system, your X's and O's necessarily today. But I know there're other there's some unique ones that we definitely could talk about and maybe will in the future. So good luck, man. And Jacob Robidou: I would love that. Matt Seidl: we will again follow the Panthers throughout the season. Jacob Robidou: All right, well keep following Coach Peak. Love you guys' podcast. I'll keep I'll keep on ya every week. Matt Seidl: All right, man. Appreciate Josh: See you coach. Matt Seidl: it. Sounds good. Jacob Robidou: Guys, have a good night. Matt Seidl: anyway, so let's let's move to our second quarter. And that is going to be like I mentioned, it's going to be we're gonna talk about rivalries. And we talk a lot about the Dexter Chelsea rival because we both have ties there and it definitely got us thinking like what what are some of the best high school rivalries in this area, as well as maybe even ones in Michigan that maybe aren't on our radar all the time. And and then of course it makes you think, well what creates a rivalry. And I guess I always think it's usually it's normally two schools. Like Jacob mentioned, a lot of times in the same league. They're close in proximity, often similar in demographics. usually proud athletic programs, you know, and they take a lot of pride and and then there usually has to be a c some classic games or some classic moments that kind of spice them up. And that really takes a rivalry kind of to the the the next level. So I'm I'm curious what we we've talked about Dexter and Chelsea, we have obviously just talked about Stockbridge and Leslie. Any other ones that come to mind that, would be high on your list? Josh: Yeah, there's three that that really stick out to me, but we'll we can jump around. We'll go one at a time. the one of the ones that really sticks out to me from my time as the Howl Coach was the Brighton Howl rivalry is intense. And it's intense in every sport from wrestling to football to basketball to baseball, you name it, girls basketball's had some incredible battles over the years. just Yeah, I would say the Howell Brighton rivalry is is right up there in terms of of rivals. It's again, neighboring towns. Both have had a ton of success. know, I don't I don't know where the rivalry's at, wins loss wise, but you know, there there's been some epic moments in the rivalries. so yeah, it's that's gotta be right up there. Matt Seidl: Yeah, and it and actually the numbers at at those two schools make it even better. Like you know, now Josh: Yeah. Matt Seidl: they're huge schools. They weren't always that way. They've obvious Livingston County has had a boom. But there's so many people that can pack gyms, pack football stadiums, g go to a soccer game if you wanted to. And they play in the same conference and they're they're right on top of each other and they got long histories and yeah, it's it's a very cool one and you know I you're right. I it would be c curious to see who has dominated in certain sports. I guess Bill Kahn, the retired Livingston County press guy, is probably the one that has those numbers. I should text Josh: He would know. Yeah. Matt Seidl: him and see if I can get those from him. But Josh: Yeah. Matt Seidl: you know, along the same lines, I I worked at the South Line Herald and the Milford Times a long time ago, back in the late eighties, into nineteen ninety, until I really got heavily into coaching. And the one that was probably that was before you know South Line and South Line East obviously have a rivalry. We just talked about that. Josh: Yes. Matt Seidl: They're gonna play each other in a playoff football game here, possibly in week two of the playoffs. But the the the Lakeland Milford rivalry back during Josh: yeah. Matt Seidl: my days of covering Milford Sports and Lakeland sports the Milford Times, those were the two schools I had to cover. That that was pretty intense. And again very similar in so many ways and they took turns beating each other different sports different times. But I enjoyed that. I think those two communities probably still and that was part of your experience because Josh: Yeah. Matt Seidl: you played at South Lion. Josh: I would say that rivalry's even gotten better since you've worked at the South Lion Times. Matt Seidl: Yeah, I bet. I bet. Josh: just because Lakeland is relevant now in sports. And when I was Matt Seidl: Mm-hmm. It's fair. Josh: in high school, they were a doormat. And yeah. Yep. Yeah, and it's been a that Matt Seidl: Certain sports they were good, but you're right, they weren't in the major sports they were not having success. Yep. Josh: that's incredible rivalry right now. Like as far as student sections go, the the Lakeland Milford game, I don't know if they there's a there's a better student section anywhere when those two teams play. Matt Seidl: Right. Josh: Yep. you know, I'll stay kind of back to local. One that's gonna happen this Friday on the gridiron, and is it just incredible rivalry and and there's some hatred in this rivalry, and that's Adrian and Tecumseh. And Matt Seidl: Mm, mm. Josh: and that's been a great rivalry over the years as well. you know, for years it was dominated by Adrian, who which what at the time a much bigger school for a long time. Now enrollment wise, they're much closer together. They're both in division two for most sports. And even though the girls' side has kind of dominated, the Adrian boys have have dominated of late in in football and basketball as well. And now Adrian's good in baseball, which it wasn't for a while there. So that's a great rivalry. A lot, a lot of community pride in those. That very blue-collar community pride, love of their schools, proud of their communities, is the way I'd explain those communities right there. Matt Seidl: Yeah, and talking to Chad O'Brien, and John Zajak from Tecumseh too, but Chad from Adrian and and they expected that they had the good chance they were gonna host Tecumseh in the first round and it did work out that way. And Maple Stadium, which is already an intimate setting. there's it's Josh: Yeah. Matt Seidl: about it's about five feet between the sideline and and the and the wall, by the way. but that place is going to be like you better get there really early. It's gonna be standing room only. Adrian Probably a a big favorite. I think Tecumsey is a little banged up right now, but you never know. Josh: Okay. Matt Seidl: They may get some guys back. But that would be a fun venue on the third, Josh: Yeah. Matt Seidl: which this coming Friday to actually be at. And and you're right, I that's a pretty cool rivalry. Yeah, I was kinda scrolling social media last night, just you know, licking my wounds after the Michigan loss and I I see this, you know, this Catholic League big game at Ford Field. Whether something they might call the prep bowl. What do you think about those two schools and their rivalry? Josh: Yeah. that that might be one of the top three rivalries in the state. Barna I mean, like, I can't imagine there are better rivalries out there. Not many anyways, maybe one or two than Brother Rice and Catholic Central. It just doesn't it doesn't get any better than that. It's been that way my entire life. All fifty years I've been alive. Matt Seidl: Yeah, i the ta the talent on the field looks like a division two college game. let's just call it what it is. And then but yeah, just the the passion of Josh: Yeah. Matt Seidl: of of of the student bodies and you know i it's it's pretty intense. And and you know, Josh: Yeah. Matt Seidl: I I I like to I I like to I like to bash on the Catholic League whenever I can, for for other reasons. But that is an impressive setting. That would have been a pretty cool game. I wish that game would have actually been played at, you know, like a a high school field where it just would have been like in people on top of each other. They weren't even using Josh: Right. Matt Seidl: one side of Ford Field yesterday. But yeah, pretty intense there. you got I mean, does Lumen Christie have a rival? Josh: yes, I it's funny. I it's it's definitely everybody I've talked to, and I I texted a lot of people that live in Jackson, in to kind of prep for this topic. And I asked, what's the the biggest rivalry in Jackson? And they all texted I text people from Hanover, Stockbridge, Michigan Center, and everybody said the same thing. Jackson and Luma Christie. Jackson I Luma Christie. Matt Seidl: I thought you gonna say w I thought you were gonna say western and northwest, but no, you mean Josh: No, no, it's Jackson and Lumen Christie. Everybody say now we have only played three times since I've been there and there were years that they didn't play before that. and it was, you know, when I when I got this thing going again, it it Milk Barnes was very reluctant to do this because he pointed Matt Seidl: Right. Yep. Josh: out, he goes, Josh, we don't have anything to gain. He goes, if if we beat you, we're supposed to beat you. If we lose to you, it it looks really bad. luckily, Milt did finally agree to play us once. And then the new coach, Phil,'s been you know, all about it and and knows it's great for the community and and great for the teams. He's also loaded, so of course he's not afraid to play us. but no, it's it's you know. From whatever I talk to in Jackson, it is the rivalry. and it was an incredible game last year. You know, we got them at the buzzer at Spring Arbor. and looking forward to going to their place this year. Matt Seidl: You could argue that Josh: Now, wait a minute. Interesting enough though, they don't play in football. Matt Seidl: Yet. Yet. And I I I I doubt I I doubt they will either. And Josh: I don't think they ever will. I I don't think Yeah. We play in everything else though. Yep. Matt Seidl: Right. It's funny 'cause in all the schools that are lumen size, even though like I said, there there's a I'm not sure that's truly apples it's apples and oranges is what it is. But everybody in Jackson County Let's face it, from an athletic standpoint, they hate Lumen. They w if there's a one team they'd want to beat, it's Lumen. Now that that rivalry is not reciprocated from Lumen back to them. It's just another business trip for Lumen and many times in football and basketball. But the the Lumen Jackson one, I mean, that the game you guys played at Spring Arbor last year, I think it was last year. That was a Josh: Yeah. Matt Seidl: yeah, it was a really exciting basketball game for sure. You know the one rivalry that we're missing that the best one I've ever been a part of and it no longer exists. And you were part of it at times. And I I had to teach you I had to teach you a valuable lesson, I think, about it. And that would Josh: I I already know what you're gonna say. Yeah. Yep. Matt Seidl: be the the Willow Run Ypsilani rivalry before Josh: Yeah. Matt Seidl: those two schools ceased to exist and consolidated. Dude, there was nothing like it. Josh: I agree. Matt Seidl: And I I will I I will t I will say this. My introduction to that rivalry was my first year there. It we were playing at Willow Run. It is absolutely packed. And it's loud and and our guys, they were they were in a different world. And I, it's my it was my first Willow Run Ipsy game, and I I was ready, but we get a breakaway in the first half sometime, and Carlos Pittman throws it off the backboard, and he's got a guy right on his butt from from Ipsy, and Nate Fry I think it was Nate Fry, one hand tomahawks it down off the backboard, and I I almost called a timeout and ripped the crap out of him and then I got somebody in my whether it was a player or an assistant coach, dude, you gotta like that was my introduction into Josh: Yeah. Matt Seidl: that. this is a player's game. This is not about coaching anymore. Josh: Yeah. Nope. Matt Seidl: The emotion and all that. And that was before we had to start moving the game to four o'clock because of some of the issues in the community. But man, that was intense, especially in boys basketball. Nothing Josh: Yeah. Matt Seidl: I've ever nothing I've ever seen. So Josh: I remember that. Matt Seidl: Yeah. Hey, what about Pioneer Huron? Is that does that qualify as a big rivalry anymore? Josh: as far as ACT scores go, yeah, maybe tennis. Yeah, and tennis as well. both teams made states in tennis. No, Ann Arbor no. Matt Seidl: They're good basketball's a big deal still, isn't it? I mean, that that was a great that was a great district game. Josh: Is it? I I mean it's No, it's not. I mean it's it's not a rival it nobody goes to I'll tell you what, in any other city in the state it would be. Nobody goes to athletic events as Ann Arbor. Ann Arbor's a a Ann Arbor's embarrassing Matt Seidl: They do they do when the tournament comes around. They do when the tournament comes around. Josh: the the lack of support kids get for high school sports. It it's embarrassing. So Matt Seidl: It's fair. You know, I I I I I reached out like you to a couple of people. I I asked Tim Kane at FG I who's FGR's natural rivalry and he you know what he said to me? And I I it totally threw me off the couch. It was he said it's divine child. And they've had Josh: Really? Okay. Matt Seidl: s I think they've had enough spice in the rivalry, things that have happened over time. I think this is on the girls' side, but it maybe it fall I didn't check with Rex on that or their football coach who I don't even know. But I I found that interesting, Ann Arbor and Dearborn, but they are in the same conference and they move around a little bit in divisions. But you know, like Ross Crow at Dundee. I said, come on, man, who's who's Dundee's you know, natural rivalry? And he said it's Ida. You know, I don't know much about the the Dundee Ida rivalry, but they're they're within like 10, 12 minutes of each other. Pretty cool. Josh: no doubt. Yeah, there there's no doubt about that. Yeah. Yeah. Yep. Matt Seidl: The weird thing about rivalries though, is not all schools have one. And so and some schools think they have one, but it's not reciprocated. Again, I kind of alluded to that when Jackson County, there might be some people who consider Luma Christie their rival. But Luma Christie doesn't necessarily consider them their rival. And I will I will tell you this at Pinckney, the one school that we enjoy having success against, and we have limited success against them, but we do have some success against them, is Chelsea. But I don't think Chelsea considers us, they don't consider us even one of their bigger rivals. there are some sports where they they take us and they respect us, but they're obviously locked into the Dexter rivalry. So Josh: Right. Matt Seidl: but there I think there lot there's a lot of schools that just don't have it. Who is Celine's natural rival? Josh: I think I always considered it be Pioneer, but but you gotta remember, I Celine blew up overnight. it was in the SEC with Milan and Dexter and Pinkney for the longest time and then just got huge. And but I would say probably pioneer just because it's it's right there. But I I I'd say they don't really have one. It's probably it's probably why they're open to this new KLAA league. I mean, it they don't really have a rival where they're at. Matt Seidl: It's possible. So anyway, that that was that was fun. Kind of just throwing them out there. Josh: Yeah. Matt Seidl: But anyway, let's let's move into our third quarter. And this is a really an odd one. This just popped up in the middle of the week. I know I sent you a link and I Josh: Yeah. Matt Seidl: I was reading it like, Am I really reading this correctly? But let me see if I can summarize it and and get it right. So the Illinois High School Association, let's see, it's the IHSA, they have a competitive balance committee. that they they they have it's something similar to what the MHSA is doing now and they have come up with a proposal and they are proposing it kind of a major postseason structural change that would place non-boundried schools and that's private and charter yeah non-boundary Josh: I'm glad you you pointed that out. Okay. Matt Seidl: schools into a designated like quadrant in every like team tournament team bracketed sports and there's a list of those it's football Boys and girls basketball, it's volleyball, baseball, softball, and then the two soccer, boys and girls soccer. But they put in one quadrant and and the purpose is that way only one private school will be in the final four in each of these sports. And it's like, huh, can you can you even do that? is it is it possible? are there enough private schools? But when you throw the charters in, maybe they're obviously it beasts it up a little bit. Because in D one football and th there's only one private school in Michigan in D one football. They can have their own their own quadrant. Now I obviously that means there might be some public schools in there with them because you still would need an even quadrant. I assume that's what Illinois is thinking about doing, but I don't know. Anyway, what are your thoughts? Josh: So what well my first thought or not thought question is non boundary. D w does that mean public schools that have open districts are in that as well? Or Matt Seidl: No, because they still have boundaries. And y you y we've argued about this. where I live, Dexter is is a they have a boundary. There's a school district and they're obligated to Josh: Got it, got it. Okay. Matt Seidl: educate. But Dexter also has a limited amount of school of choice as well. Josh: Right. So I love this idea. Again, sounds great. Like I when you when you sent me the article I read, I'm like, this sounds like a great idea. Then if a private school won it, maybe the the complaining would stop because okay, well, we sent the best four teams there, private school won it. I I still think there'd be people complaining, but whatever. Here's the thing though, is w when we really started breaking this down in boys' basketball. There's only 86 private schools. I didn't count the charters and things like that. But Matt Seidl: Right. Josh: let's say there's a hundred and twenty, okay, in the whole state. So you could do that. You could have four, thirty team divisions. And but the problem is. The enrollment wise doesn't fit the enrollment of the public schools. So to make a long story short, no, this does not work. No, this is just another, you know, throwing a dart up against the wall. You might as well not have a board there and your eyes closed. I mean, it doesn't even make any sense. So at the end of the day, again, I'll go back to this. I really don't think people care that much. But if there are other people out there like you, which I don't think there are, but if there are, then Let's just separate Let's put Matt Seidl: Mm. Josh: f two team two tournaments for the privates, three for the publics. Let's move on and and and just go for it. Like let's just do it. I mean, yeah, I I don't know. I I mean I'm I'm kinda over this whole thing, to be honest with you. Yeah. Matt Seidl: Yeah, I I know your your new approach is you don't think anybody cares. they they care. You you don't want them to care. You okay, I know you don't, and there's Josh: I I but I don't. I I like I said I'm I'm over it. Matt Seidl: a rea there's a reason you don't, but Josh: Well, let's not forget I coached at public schools for over 20 years and I didn't care then and I don't care now. I just I whatever they decide is fine. I I just think it's a very simple answer. Separate it for the state tournament. Separate it. Matt Seidl: I I I'm not saying that's maybe that's what our own competitive balance cla classification Josh: Yeah. Matt Seidl: committee comes up with in Michigan. The weird thing about this Illinois one though is so what they're gonna do, I think in November, is they're gonna have town hall meetings. Dude, I want to attend one of these town I'm willing to drive to Illinois and just sit in on one of these town hall meetings. Because some of these questions that we have about like will there be public schools still in the quadrants to even them out? But they because it it's it's a it's not a full bylaw amendment, it's more just a policy change. So therefore it's decided by the the IHSA board of directors and doesn't re it it's doesn't require a general vote by the member schools and that's normally how they change their bylaws. But town hall meetings like this is something right out of Hoosiers man let's I think I think you and I should get in car before your season starts go out go out there just sit in on a Illinois town hall maybe raise our hand ask a couple questions but I'm I'm curious how this all all comes Josh: Well Matt Seidl: out it probably is gonna be a nothing burger though Josh: We could do it. my season doesn't start 'til November thirtieth, so we I have plenty of time to to do Yeah. Matt Seidl: I didn't think about that. Josh: I got I I got six weeks before basketball starts at Luma Christie, so I I could do it. No, I just yeah. Matt Seidl: Maybe maybe Brooklyn maybe Brooklyn will knock off Lumen this week, but I I know that's that that's a long shot. But anyway, you were gonna say? Josh: We we can wager off air on that if you'd like, 'cause that will not happen. Yeah. Matt Seidl: No, let's not do that. God. Josh: Yeah. Matt Seidl: Alright, well, again, that's we'll be keeping an eye on that. And and speaking of keeping an eye on things, that's gonna get us to our our our final quarter, which is what we're watching. And I I've only got one item, but I'm gonna let you go first. Anything on your radar these days? Josh: Yeah, you know, I I just give the listeners a little advice. it you know, and it's hard because it's hard to squeeze it in right now. There's a lot of great college football on right now, a lot of NFL, World Series. and then obviously there's been some great college bas basketball exhibition games being played. So I know there's not a lot of time if you're a sports junkie like us, but if you're not or if you need a break from the sports. Tune in to Netflix and watch The Diplomat, the best show on TV right now. I'll just plug it again. Cannot say how great that show is. But what am I watching right now? I I have been very critical over the years of this podcast when it comes to the MHSA and how they handle basketball. I realize that. So MHSA, if you are listening, I don't know if they listen or not, but I I have a feeling they have people listening just to keep you and I in check. But I would like to give you a huge compliment. not only do you run a perfect football playoff system, and it is perfect, it is flawless. It is cool. The show that comes out tonight or came out earlier tonight. the playoff point system, the seating of regionals, the semifinal site in the middle. I mean, everything you guys do is literally top-notch. It doesn't, it can't get any better. I went up to Midland this week and watched my son and compete in the state finals and tennis. I will also say it was literally a flawless setup. I mean, you got the MHSA did an unbelievable job. they had people all overwork in the event. They had trainers, incredible communication. Scoring system was updated immediately online. The trophy presentation was incredible. They had a all the teams walk in together with school flags one at a time. I mean it was just I I can't say enough how impressed I was with the MHSA again. Just I I guess maybe what happens is they're They're incredible in the fall and they get tired and just drop the ball during basketball. I don't know. But Matt Seidl: Yeah. Josh: no, but all jokes aside, unbelievable job at MHSA at the at the tennis finals. and then I think the the other thing I'll just throw in there about that is, you like to take a lot of digs at private schools and and things like that and and private versus public and all this. You know, I'll I'll tell you something. on the in on the finals on Thursday. I'll tell you Luma Christie's a pretty special place. And I don't know if a pu I don't know if this is a private school or public school thing, but right now we're the only school that did it. So I'm gonna say it's a private school thing. Lou McChristie sent up a fan bus for the tennis state finals. 75 kids went up there. Another twenty-five drove up on their own. one of the coolest things I've ever seen. Hundred kids sitting courtside cheering their high school classmates on. Just an unbelievable experience. And I wanna thank all those students and those families that let their kids go because they made my son. and and his teammates experience that much better. Matt Seidl: That's cool. I'm gonna comment on a couple things before I get into mine. The Diplomat, by the way, incredible show. I agree. I I is it there's not a new season out, is there? See, I need to I might have to go downstairs and check that out before I go to bed tonight. So I I didn't realize that. I gotta I Josh: Yeah. Yeah, it's all right now. yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Matt Seidl: gotta catch up on that. the MHSAA is very competent, like they they do run Great tournaments and Josh: Yes. Matt Seidl: they they get they get those kind of things and they they want to run first class operation when it comes to all of their tournaments when they can, especially the ones that they control, the finals mainly. And never had a complaint with that. It's it's the politics of the MHSA that you and I both a occasionally have some issues with, and and that does get people fired up. So yeah, and congratulations to the Lumen Christie tennis team and congratulations to Luddington, the the public school champions in the D four tennis fund. I'm not just kidding. I gotta throw it out there for you. They did finish second, right? Luddington? Alright, I should reach that. We should have had their coach on or something, but anyway, Josh: Yes, yes. Yeah. Matt Seidl: no. I know that and they handled that very graciously. So But I'm keeping on the same theme since you kind of brought it up. The the one thing I'm watching is something that I obviously if you I I know you follow my social media. You don't like a lot of my stuff or comment on it, but I notice that you do. I know you follow it. The boys soccer finished their their first round. Their their district round is now over in the boys' soccer state tournament. I would be remiss if I did not calculate the numbers and just sleep maybe they're gonna be different this year. Maybe it was time for the public schools to have their reign. no, that's not what we've got. And so the stats I posted fifteen point nine percent of the schools competing in the tournament are private. That's typical. thirty of the sixty-four districts had a private school in them. So keep that in mind. 21 of those 30 districts, and mind you, some of those districts only had one private school and they're maybe in six public schools, 21 of the 30 districts that they had a team represented in, they won. A public a private school team won. Private schools in the 75 matches the when a private school was pitted against a public school, the private schools went 57 and 18. For a winning percentage of 76%. 32 of the 50 private schools who have been eliminated from the tournament, 32 of the 50 were eliminated by other private schools. The public school didn't eliminate them, another private school did. It's embarrassing how lopsided the soccer tournaments are, both on the boys' side and the girls in the spring, when it comes to the private public thing. It's a bigger problem than in basketball. baseball, football, softball probably it it's in volleyball is is is next and vol well actually football is next and we'll be keeping track of that as well. We'll see how that goes. But if there's not enough data out there for that MHSA committee to look at and start examining why is this happening, I know why it's happening. They they might have to be led to the water on that one. But these numbers just smack you right in the face. So that's what I'm watching. I thought it was interesting after the first round of the tournament or the first tournament the district round of the tournament, so. Anyway, yeah, Josh: I saw the post. I saw the post. Matt Seidl: yeah. I I know you did. I know you did. Trust me. So well hey man, that's that's good stuff. I'm I'm glad coach was coach Jacob was on with us. That was awesome. Josh: Yeah. Matt Seidl: we'll keep an eye on the Illinois thing and football playoffs start this week. I will I will mention that yes in our our we had four football picks this week. We picked different on o all four of the games and we and we split. We both went two and two. so I'm still a game behind you and all that means is that we're gonna do this again because I just I've I'm gonna keep doing it until I either tie you or get ahead. Is that fair? If we're gonna run out of football picks at some point here. Josh: Then can quit. Yeah, then we can quit. Yeah. Matt Seidl: So you you continue to you continue to lead in that category. So how'd that parlay go with the Michigan old Miss parlay that or no the Indiana old Miss Parlay? Josh: Well, Indiana Indiana covered. Indiana Indiana covered. Ole Miss did not. They lost by seven. So we we did lose a little money on that. But we live bet Mississippi State plus seven and a half during the game. So we made out okay. So Matt Seidl: I think you also live bet Michigan during the game. How'd that one go for it? Yeah, yeah. You get you get you you gotta give all the facts, not just isolated facts. Josh: I did. I did. So I lost that one. Yeah. Yeah, I did. I I can I can I have no problem. I we can pull up my my DraftKings record if you want. So Matt Seidl: So All right man. Well hey, thanks listeners for for joining us. By the way, we we we don't do this often, but we probably should. Feel free if you're gonna watch the the podcast on YouTube, feel free to subscribe. The more subscribers, the more notifications are out there. we can get some of this content out and love to have the people we're interviewing out there and for more people to see those and then some of our ridiculous opinions I think are are fun for people as well. So anyway. Coach, have a good week. All Josh: All right, you two. Matt Seidl: right.