Corporate Briefings Spoil a Promising Season
Jacob Lee, MBA '07
Issue date: 11/15/05 Section: Sports
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Corporate Briefings Spoil a Promising Season
By Jacob Lee '07
The Johnson School fielded two solid teams this fall-intramural flag football season in the men's open league; the Big Red Johnsons and the Team Johnsons. The two Johnson squads entered the season with high expectations hoping to reach the playoffs. However, their season got off to a rocky start with both teams losing their first games.
The biggest threat to their playoff hopes turned out not to be the opponents on the field, but the corporate briefings and schedule conflicts that often caused both teams to play with less than a full squad and at times even caused them to forfeit games. The first loss of the season for both the Big Red Johnsons and the Team Johnsons were suffered at the hands of these briefings when 80% of the players decided that their careers were more important than the pursuit of an intramural flag football championship.
After the initial forfeit loss, the Big Red Johnsons competed courageously in all three of their remaining regular season games led by their rubber armed quarterback Nick Decock ('07) and standout wide receiver Mike McGirr ('07). Outstanding plays by Decock and McGirr, although instant-replay worthy, could not compensate for missing bodies on the field. All three of the remaining games played out in a similar fashion as opposing teams utilized their extra player advantage to wear down the Big Red Johnsons and scored late 2nd half touchdowns to win games. Unable to overcome the personnel shortage, the Big Red Johnsons ended their season with a disappointing 0-4 record.
The Team Johnsons fared better fighting their way to a 2-2 regular season record. Team Johnsons were aided by a forfeit win in their second game of the season, and stepped it up big when it counted to clinch a playoff berth with a win in their final regular season game. The Team Johnsons rode the momentum in to their first round playoff game and walked away with a win with outstanding showing by their playmakers Zach Rogers ('07), Kyle McCoy ('07), and John Renehan ('07). However, their run at the championship came to an end in their second round match-up against Team ZBT when the game was taken over by referees and their controversial calls late in the game.
With the season now behind them, both squads, which were loaded with first year talent, already have their eyes set on the start of next season. The players are actively getting involved as Johnson Ambassadors during the off-season, scouting the talent in the incoming class. Next year both teams hope to return to the gridiron with a year of experience under their belts and a renewed commitment to the game, poised to make a run deep into the playoffs.
By Jacob Lee '07
The Johnson School fielded two solid teams this fall-intramural flag football season in the men's open league; the Big Red Johnsons and the Team Johnsons. The two Johnson squads entered the season with high expectations hoping to reach the playoffs. However, their season got off to a rocky start with both teams losing their first games.
The biggest threat to their playoff hopes turned out not to be the opponents on the field, but the corporate briefings and schedule conflicts that often caused both teams to play with less than a full squad and at times even caused them to forfeit games. The first loss of the season for both the Big Red Johnsons and the Team Johnsons were suffered at the hands of these briefings when 80% of the players decided that their careers were more important than the pursuit of an intramural flag football championship.
After the initial forfeit loss, the Big Red Johnsons competed courageously in all three of their remaining regular season games led by their rubber armed quarterback Nick Decock ('07) and standout wide receiver Mike McGirr ('07). Outstanding plays by Decock and McGirr, although instant-replay worthy, could not compensate for missing bodies on the field. All three of the remaining games played out in a similar fashion as opposing teams utilized their extra player advantage to wear down the Big Red Johnsons and scored late 2nd half touchdowns to win games. Unable to overcome the personnel shortage, the Big Red Johnsons ended their season with a disappointing 0-4 record.
The Team Johnsons fared better fighting their way to a 2-2 regular season record. Team Johnsons were aided by a forfeit win in their second game of the season, and stepped it up big when it counted to clinch a playoff berth with a win in their final regular season game. The Team Johnsons rode the momentum in to their first round playoff game and walked away with a win with outstanding showing by their playmakers Zach Rogers ('07), Kyle McCoy ('07), and John Renehan ('07). However, their run at the championship came to an end in their second round match-up against Team ZBT when the game was taken over by referees and their controversial calls late in the game.
With the season now behind them, both squads, which were loaded with first year talent, already have their eyes set on the start of next season. The players are actively getting involved as Johnson Ambassadors during the off-season, scouting the talent in the incoming class. Next year both teams hope to return to the gridiron with a year of experience under their belts and a renewed commitment to the game, poised to make a run deep into the playoffs.