Sunday, March 31, 2013
The senior-to-be has apparently backed off a pledge given to Missouri last fall.
Updated Monday 8:36 a.m. The University of Missouri football Tigers won't suit up on the field for a game that counts until the fall, but the school suffered a defeat in the recruiting world Sunday. Vianney running back, a rising senior for the Griffins, who gave a verbal commitment to Missouri in November withouth much fanfare, withdrew his pledge Sunday. "Decommitting is not an easy thing, but I just did from Mizzou," Smith reportedly Tweeted Sunday. His tweet was retweeted by PowerMizzou, an arm of Rivals.com, a news service which tracks college sports recruiting news. Smith's social media account is protected and could not be immediately verified by Patch. Patch has also been unable to reach Smith for comment. Rivals removed record of …
Friday, January 18, 2013
The school will not retain Mike Diffley for the 2013-2014 season.
Mike Diffley will not return to Vianney High School as the head football coach for the 2013-2014 season, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Vianney will begin its new search for a replacement Friday, according to the Post. Vianney Athletic Director Terry Cochran and principal Tim Dilg will select the new coach. Diffley served as head coach of the Vianney football team for two seasons. To learn more, visit stltoday.com. Other Vianney Football News:
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Saturday, November 3, 2012
The St. Louis football star quietly told the University of Missouri that he would become a Tiger in 2014. Vianney Coach Mike Diffley talks about what makes Smith such an attractive player.
The University of Missouri football program has been eyeing Vianney High School Junior Markel Smith for some time. After attending a camp this summer at the University of Missouri, the football program's coaching staff made him an offer. Smith told them he wouldn't make a decision until the end of Vianney's 2012 season. After a season-ending loss Wednesday to the Jackson High School Indians, Smith made good on his word, notifying Mizzou Thursday night that he would become a Tiger in 2014. Smith has been a powerhouse for the Griffins and a standout in the St. Louis high school football scene. Before going into Vianney's final game, Smith led the St. Louis area with 2,342 yards rushing through 10 games, had scored 29 touchdowns and was …
Friday, February 3, 2012
Southern Illinois-Carbondale football player and ex-Vianney star Bryan Boemer has been named the best center in the Football Championship Subdivision.
When veteran New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs goes barreling into the New England Patriots defense on Super Bowl Sunday, viewers around the world will likely hear that Jacobs completed his college career at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. The school is part of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), known previously as Division 1-AA. In other words, it is not a major college program. However, FCS players often make it to the NFL and, in fact, Jacobs may be joined in the NFL by another Salukis player in 2012. Southern Illinois-Carbondale senior center and Vianney graduate Bryan Boemer was awarded the 2011 Rimington Award this week as the FCS’ top center. Boemer’s stellar career was marked by steady development and …
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Sunday, October 9, 2011
This third and final article in our series on concussions and high school athletics explores the steps schools are taking to ensure a student athlete is ready for play following a head injury.
Preseason baseline testing for concussions, a relatively new offering at the high school level, is becoming common place at many schools in St. Louis County. “I had never heard about it before,” said De Smet coach Pat Mahoney, who began offering the testing a couple years ago. “As soon as we found out about it, we started offering it. I didn’t know there was such a thing, but when the doctor brought it up, I said we need to do that.” Baseline testing involves a series of exercises to test brain function at the beginning of a season. If an athlete suffers a concussion during the season, he or she retakes the test and the results are compared by a trained medical professional. The differences will alert the professional of cognitive changes …
Friday, September 16, 2011
Oklahoma recruit Durron Neal's 44-yard TD pass to start the second half sparks De Smet's second-half surge.
De Smet senior Durron Neal heard his coach tell the Spartans at halftime to “keep the foot on the gas” with a 14-point lead. The University of Oklahoma recruit listened and mashed the offense’s throttle the first time he touched the ball. Lining up in a wildcat formation after Vianney’s offense stalled in six plays to open the half, Neal found senior receiver KeVonn Mabel for a 44-yard touchdown pass to spark a 34-7 Metro Catholic Conference victory for De Smet over the host Griffins on Friday at Don Heeb Field. “We knew coming out of halftime they would come hard,” said Neal, who also ran for a 21-yard TD in the second half. “Vianney’s always known for never giving up. They’re going to keep fighting.” Neal found the 6-foot-2, 210-pound …
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Griffins sophomore running back Markel Smith has 463 yards this season and will lead Vianney as it hosts the Spartans Friday night at home.
Coming off tough losses last week in which offense was at a premium, and in search of a first Metro Catholic Conference victory, De Smet (2-1, 0-1) and Vianney (1-2, 0-1) have similarities entering this week’s contest Friday at Vianney at 7 p.m. The differences the teams do share are more striking. De Smet uses a balanced attack of passing and running, while the Golden Griffins prefer to give the ball to sophomore running back Markel Smith, who has 463 yards this season. “We have always been balanced in our approach,” De Smet coach Pat Mahoney said. “We read coverages, therefore the ball is spread according to what the defense gives us. Our running backs are similar so we try to keep them fresh.” The balance starts with quarterback Conner…
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Monday, September 12, 2011
The Red Devils defeat visiting Vianney, 27-0, to win the Marianist Cup in the MCC opener for both teams.
Practice was a little different for the Chaminade football team in preparing for Week 3 opponent and Metro Catholic Conference rival Vianney High School. “Beating coach Diffley, that was our main goal,” Chaminade senior quarterback Logan Hutson said of Vianney coach Mike Diffley, who left as Chaminade’s offensive coordinator last year after eight seasons. The Red Devils defeated visiting Vianney and Diffley, 27-0, Friday to win the Marianist Cup in the MCC opener for both teams. The victory also extends Chaminade’s winning streak over Vianney (1-2, 0-1) to three games. “Diff was with us for eight years,” Chaminade coach Doug Taylor said. “He was our offensive coordinator for five and did a great job. It was fun practicing this week because…
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Thursday, September 8, 2011
Vianney's Markel Smith and Chaminade's Dixon Anthon will be on display Friday at 7 p.m.
While Markel Smith may grab the headlines for Vianney High School's football, Griffins coach Mike Diffley knows his team needs strong offensive line play in week three against Chaminade. “We believe that we need to run the ball in order to win games,” said Diffley, who is 1-1 in his first year at the helm of the Griffins. “Our offensive line has to control the line of scrimmage for us to be successful in the running game. Chaminade is very similar. They love to run the ball and Dixon Anthon is a terrific running back.” Diffley served as Chaminade's offensive coordinator last season. Vianney’s senior linemen Ben Dudley, Greg Eilerman and Joe Zoellner will lead the Griffins attack at 7 p.m. Friday at Chaminade in the Metro Catholic …
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Sunday, August 21, 2011
Oakville Senior High hosts this multi-team preseason event under its Friday night lights.
As the sun began to set Friday evening, the familiar sound of buzzing stadium lights and high school football filled the air at Oakville High School. For some schools, the jamborees are an opportunity to polish out the dull spots in offense or defense with a week to go before the 2011 season starts. For other schools, the jamborees are about implementing new coaching styles as first year coaches look to make their mark in the record books. For first-year coach Mike Diffley of Vianney, Friday night was a chance to evaluate his players as they implemented a new offensive and defensive system. Diffley hopes to help the Griffins achieve their first winning record since the 2008 season. “Today was a great opportunity for us to get off of our …
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Brian Doolittle
11:53 am on Friday, February 3, 2012
Former SIUC NFL players include legendary St. Louis Cardinals QB Jim Hart, and wide receiver Kevin House (star player in the 80s). Hart was a four-time Pro Bowl selection. (owner of Dierdorf & Hart's Steakhouse in St. Louis). more ›