MD wasn't as talented as last year to overcome Lara. This was the least talented MD team since 2015 easily.

And, yet, they will still finish in the top 10 in the country with a win over possible national champ Gorman. Not bad for a down year.

MD wasn't as talented as last year to overcome Lara. This was the least talented MD team since 2015 easily.

Bullshit

Mater Dei is the most talented team in California and it's not even really close.

Do you understand just how much talent Mater Dei has?

Nah, you don't......you just say stuff.

Could this all really be because of RL? I never thought he was able to handle the HC duties in the past . I saw that a lot when he was at LBP. He always seemed rattled and from what I have heard over the years he was not much of a team player with his coaches. Although this was years back.  Just looked like was in over his head. IMHO. What a game though.  Back and forth all the way till the end. CEN10 earned that win.

I know this is supposed to be football only, but I had to watch this one on NFHS from my room at City of Hope.  I'm 8 days past stem cell introduction  and I still can't believe they pulled it off.  Now, if I can fight liked the Huskies, maybe I'll see a championship.

Hang in there brother.  I will seriously have you in my prayers. Go CEN10!!

Mater Dei is the most talented team in California and it's not even really close.

This is objectively incorrect. Mater Dei does not have a huge talent gap on teams like SJB and Sierra Canyon. I don't have MD's or Sierra Canyon's numbers off hand (though I have previously looked at both teams rosters this seasons in terms of CFB recruiting) but when I pulled the recruiting stats earlier this season, SJB had 33 players on their roster with FBS offers - 24 of which were 247 composite 3 stars or higher. There is no universe in which Mater Dei is "not even really close" when comparing their roster talent to teams like SJB and Sierra Canyon. I wouldn't be surprised if SJB had the better stats on paper (which makes the late season collapse even worse for this year's SJB team).

I don't know that this was Mater Dei's least talented team since 2016, but I (along with others who follow the local scene closely) have noticed this seemingly downward trend for Mater Dei. As one example, Mater Dei's Freshman team has forfeited the last two years against SJB. I agree with @TheOC89 and others that Lara was not the right coaching hire for the Monarchs and don't really see them being the juggernaut they were over the last decade with him. Sure, they will continue to be a dangerous and elite team, but probably not the world beaters they have been recently.

Major props to coach Carson P for what he has done as RSM.  Crazy how fast he turned it around.

Bullshit

Mater Dei is the most talented team in California and it's not even really close.

Do you understand just how much talent Mater Dei has?

Nah, you don't......you just say stuff.

No, they're not. 

Bosco was more talented than MD.

This is objectively incorrect. Mater Dei does not have a huge talent gap on teams like SJB and Sierra Canyon. I don't have MD's or Sierra Canyon's numbers off hand (though I have previously looked at both teams rosters this seasons in terms of CFB recruiting) but when I pulled the recruiting stats earlier this season, SJB had 33 players on their roster with FBS offers - 24 of which were 247 composite 3 stars or higher. There is no universe in which Mater Dei is "not even really close" when comparing their roster talent to teams like SJB and Sierra Canyon. I wouldn't be surprised if SJB had the better stats on paper (which makes the late season collapse even worse for this year's SJB team).

I don't know that this was Mater Dei's least talented team since 2016, but I (along with others who follow the local scene closely) have noticed this seemingly downward trend for Mater Dei. As one example, Mater Dei's Freshman team has forfeited the last two years against SJB. I agree with @TheOC89 and others that Lara was not the right coaching hire for the Monarchs and don't really see them being the juggernaut they were over the last decade with him. Sure, they will continue to be a dangerous and elite team, but probably not the world beaters they have been recently.

Numbers that pop out to me that wouldn't have seen the field for MD. MD really didn't have any great LBs like they usually do.

Numbers

55
33

Wouldn't start on MD's teams prior to this season. Number 6 for MD was a good player,  but he was a major WR for them and he's more along the lines of a very good WR for a good HS team than a major player for an elite team like MD has been.

Bullshit

Mater Dei is the most talented team in California and it's not even really close.

Do you understand just how much talent Mater Dei has?

Nah, you don't......you just say stuff.

When you haven't seen Mater Dei in person the last 9 years, you'll never understand the difference.

You're to busy thinking the recruiting sites are spot on.

I know this is supposed to be football only, but I had to watch this one on NFHS from my room at City of Hope.  I'm 8 days past stem cell introduction  and I still can't believe they pulled it off.  Now, if I can fight liked the Huskies, maybe I'll see a championship.

Keep up the good fight brother!

Could this all really be because of RL? I never thought he was able to handle the HC duties in the past . I saw that a lot when he was at LBP. He always seemed rattled and from what I have heard over the years he was not much of a team player with his coaches. Although this was years back.  Just looked like was in over his head. IMHO. What a game though.  Back and forth all the way till the end. CEN10 earned that win.

Dude, I would kinda bash Lara back in the day. Then I kinda stepped away from that and thought he was a pretty good coach. Still do, but elite programs generally don't just have "pretty good" coaches running things. I mean in the BG game didn't he pull a bonehead move and go for 2 or something stupid like that? Agree he is not a good fit at a high profile type job.

Could this all really be because of RL? I never thought he was able to handle the HC duties in the past . I saw that a lot when he was at LBP. He always seemed rattled and from what I have heard over the years he was not much of a team player with his coaches. Although this was years back.  Just looked like was in over his head. IMHO. What a game though.  Back and forth all the way till the end. CEN10 earned that win.

I think part of the problem is him trying to come across as the players buddy instead of head coach. You lose some respect and discipline when a coach takes that route and it showed. Would Rollo have allowed some of the players antics after scoring, sure celebrating but not the disrespect shown this year. In the LBP v DLS game in 2001 coach Lad told Maurice Jones Drew he would sit the rest of the game if he showed up LBP after a TD or anytime again.

I don't think MD has had much, if any drop. Their season just amounts to a return to the mean of sorts. Their schedule has been as tough as ever, and the odds just point to *nobody* remaining totally dominant each and every game against that. There was some good fortune and/or best case scenarios that transpired in many of their best outcomes in years past. In 2018, IMG may well have won a best of 5, 4-1 against them. It's only through motivated delusion of fans that the narrative became MD was totally dominant over that IMG team.

They need to be careful or players will jump ship.

I think part of the problem is him trying to come across as the players buddy instead of head coach. You lose some respect and discipline when a coach takes that route and it showed. Would Rollo have allowed some of the players antics after scoring, sure celebrating but not the disrespect shown this year. In the LBP v DLS game in 2001 coach Lad told Maurice Jones Drew he would sit the rest of the game if he showed up LBP after a TD or anytime again.

This was something else I had heard/seen.  LIke Cossacks said, this is an elite team and you can't be both BFF and HC with your players.  Which led to my original opinion that the duties if HC at that level are just too much for him. A coordinator? Yes. Definetly. But not a HC for an elite team.

This was something else I had heard/seen.  LIke Cossacks said, this is an elite team and you can't be both BFF and HC with your players.  Which led to my original opinion that the duties if HC at that level are just too much for him. A coordinator? Yes. Definetly. But not a HC for an elite team.

Thing is the guy was a probation officer for years (as was Lad in his very younger years). Dude should know it's like parenting. I love my kids, but sure as hell not best buddies with them. You have to have some separation. Job at a place like MD, you are a CEO.