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| Post Number: 1
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tiger2 
Group: Members
Posts: 1
Joined: Nov. 2003
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Posted on: Nov. 10 2003,1:13 pm |
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I was forwarded to this site from another ALHS alum. Now that can we get back onto the subject of Ben Woodside?
Guru...you are the only one that seems to know much about him. Can you tell us more? How well do you know his game and have you seen him play a lot? Any other schools that were interested?
As an alumni, I am excited for a Tiger to have an opportunity to play D1. It also seems like something positive for the community...
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| Post Number: 2
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Eric
Unregistered
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Posted on: Nov. 10 2003,3:49 pm |
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Howdy ...
I am not Guru, nor have I seen Woodside play official ball (I saw him shoot on playgrounds over the summer), but I have talked with some Division II coaches and his name came up (the coaches were from 3 different schools). Also, I am a big basketball fan. The idea between the five coaches was that he has a decent talent level. The problem they were mentioning is that he is a sub-6 ft. combo guard (not really a point, not really a 2, mainly a slasher). The conversation was that he could become a dangerous player, but the best option for him would be to work on dribbling, pass-first skills, and mid-range to 3pt. jumpers. They felt he might make it as a combo guard after a few years of hard work, but he would have a better shot at playing time by trying to become a true point guard and using the slashing skills as an additional weapon. At the Division II level, the point guards need to be able to set up their offense, break presses by themselves, and hit open jumpers (be it 2's or 3's). Other than that, the slashing aspect is a bonus. The basic assumption is that D-1 ball is another step up. They were talking about how a redshirt year would be huge for him (to lift weights, get used to college life, to learn the offense, to get stronger/faster . . . a big plus).
As I said, most of that was from the conversation with the other coaches. What I took from the conversation was that he is a decent player who, with a lot of work, might play significant minutes in a few years. Anything before that would be a surprise to those I talked with. That was not meant as a knock on Woodside, but just a realistic view (there is a big difference between most freshmen and those who have been in college for a year or more).
As to the schools interested in him, I don't know. The three schools did not actively recruit him, but they did see him play (supposedly, he wsa phenomenal in Las Vegas). He was on the radar, but not actively recruited by them. I heard a rumor the U of M looked at him, but I don't know if there was any truth behind that or not. Other than those, I don't know who was looking at him.
Very good point. This is something AL should be positive about . . . maybe the gym can get sold-out / standing room only to see the team this year.  wishful thinking? maybe.
Hope that helps. Like I said, I have never seen him play in a real game, so take the above for what it is...
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| Post Number: 3
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Darwin
Unregistered
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Posted on: Nov. 10 2003,6:50 pm |
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See my other post on the other thread.
Here is my 2 cents -- Woody would have been D-1 (WCHA) had he continued playing hockey. He was perfect size, a great skater, great puck handler, and he really seemed to like it. I'm not saying that he made a mistake by switching sports (a kid's got to do what he wants to do), but I think A.L. hockey fans would have liked to see him light the lamp, put the bisquit in the basket, and take the Tiger 6 to the next level.
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| Post Number: 4
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An old tiger
Unregistered
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Posted on: Nov. 10 2003,9:55 pm |
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Athletically talented individuals are natural in their abilities: the grace, the agility, the precision is nothing that can be learned. They can take their abilities and dazzle in many sports. Daryl Gavle, class of 1967, was a fantastic football player who later played for Dartmouth, along with being ranked #1 in that class. He was poetry in motion. Heck, the entire football team from 1967-1969 was something to behold. Albert Lea High School was revered not only in the Big Nine but in the State for having the best football and wrestling teams. Students today do not know or understand that those many years ago we were simply the best. The Albert Lea Tigers have a proud heritage. It has been so very many years since an athlete has excelled in his sport like Ben Woodside has. He's got it. And I only wish him the very best.
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| Post Number: 5
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Seinfeld
Unregistered
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Posted on: Nov. 12 2003,1:11 pm |
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Thanks to tiger2 and Eric for the posts on Woodside. However I would like to get a first hand account of his ability in games. I would like to watch him play. Is he worth the price of admission? I posted a message in the other topic on Woodside to Guru but they did not respond. By reading Guru's post it would seem if he has seen Woodside play and I would like to get his thoughts. tiger2 also addressed the same questions. I just want to know if I should arrange my travel schedule to come and watch him play.
Thanks for the time and I'll check back to see if there are any more posts regarding Tiger sports.
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