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bigrich77 wrote:

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I wasn't at the game because I had two-a-days up at college, so I can't post about it at all in my opinion. However, I played with Austin for three years and I can say with 100% certainty that there is absolutely NO animosity between Austin and Coach Gabel. As for the number of touches Austin had during the game, I can guess that a few factors influenced Coach Gabel's play calls.

First, as mentioned above, Austin isn't just an every down back anymore; he is an every down player. He is the renaissance man on Stevenson this year. Football, as I'm sure all of us are aware, is a grueling sport, and even a nationally ranked player will get tired if they almost never leave the field. I think that Coach Gabel is a very smart coach and I think he understands that while Austin is a great player he isn't a machine. He knows that if he gives Austin the ball two to three times for every set of downs he will become less effective at the other positions where his talent is required. Now, the obvious reply that most of you will make is that he can have other players fill Austin's spot on defense, but unfortunately one of Stevenson's major losses from last year is depth. Even when he is tired Austin is more valuable on offense AND defense than any of the players behind him.

Second, Coach Gabel has always tried to run a balanced attack in order to keep defenses honest. If he was to give the ball to Austin as much as all of you suggest teams would put eight or nine men in the box, making it next to impossible for any sort of running game to be successful. In response to this you will probably reply that if a team loads up the box Gabel should just pass, but unfortunately Stevenson's two greatest losses (in my opinion) were their QB (Jake Gudeman) and leading reciever (Wade Stahl). The personell on the depth chart doesn't allow for passing to be the first option. So, Coach Gabel is stuck in a dilemma; if he takes Austin off the field on offense or defense it will hurt the team.

Remember, this is only my opinion, but its based on three years playing for Coach Gabel at Stevenson. I have faith in him though. He ALWAYS finds a way to win, and I know that he will lead Stevenson to a recovery from this loss.