[Do-double-gg]

Iv'e seen the schedule thing go a lot of different ways in my life. I've seen teams with their chest stuck out about how hard their schedule is only to get decimated by injuries playing in slobberknocker type games all season and end up a shadow of the team they were at the start. I've seen teams with what was considered weak schedules go on and beat all the good teams who were crying about how weak it was. I've seen teams with weak schedules go all the way to state and come a hair of beating dominating teams like Williamsburg-v- Mayfield last season and I've also seen teams with a tough schedule go all the way. I think it comes down to the caricature of the team and coaches and their ability to realize who they are playing and to be real with themselves about who they are beating and to approach every game like a learning experience and to get better each game in preparation for the next. They key to getting better is to play teams who can test your weaknesses with a certain strength that they have and to schedule a few teams who are capable of beating you, but that you also have a chance against. Playing teams who beat you soundly is a double edge sword because games like that can teach you some things, but it can also hurt the kids confidence and morale and slow the learning and improvement process. Looking at NL's schedule I do think they have some teams who are very weak and have no chance, but I also think they have a few who are capable of beating em. As long as they are getting better and smarter every game I think they will be alright.