Nemeth set to lead Bulldogs

Nederland's football game against Lumberton, scheduled for Friday night at Bulldog Stadium, has been postponed until Monday night. NISD athletic director Larry Neumann said the game has been reset for Monday night in Bulldog Stadium for 7:30 p.m. Because the Lumberton game has been moved to Monday, UIL rules require that the Oct 11 Nederland at Beaumont Central be moved back one day to Oct 12.

By TOM HALLIBURTON - Port Arthur News Sports Writer

NEDERLAND -- The team has to come first. That's always how the Nederland Bulldogs have wanted to approach their football, especially in Larry Neumann's era.

Egos and individuals need to make sure the team comes first. That's the sort of example which three-year offensive line starter Tyler Nemeth has set for his teammates since the beginning of the 2000 season.

It's part of why the Dogs took that next step of going from 2000 state quarterfinalists to 2001 state semifinalists. It's part of why Nemeth was a worthy selection on the 30th annual Port Arthur News Super Team last Christmas.

If you want to see a textbook job of blocking by an offensive lineman, rewind your video to one of Ben Davis' touchdown runs in the West Orange-Stark game on Sept. 20 at Bulldog Stadium.

It looked for a second as if Nemeth intended to drive his defender clear to the Dogdome several blocks away. That's how effectively that Nemeth executed his block on that particular touchdown play... Offensive line coaches Phil Pate and David Crommett may wish to re-show 'The Block' to their pupils a few times between now and Friday night.

Pate and Crommett could also show the video of last Friday night's Ozen game and they would find very few occasions when their offensive linemen would block the Panthers defenders so effectively.

Translation: you can dwell on Nederland's five turnovers all you want, but games generally can be won and lost at the line of scrimmage.

The 18-year-old son of Michael and Donna Nemeth has been an extra-large reason for Nederland's success over the past 2 1/2 seasons. Born in Austin, the 6-3, 245-pound offensive right tackle deserves the recognition and appreciation from Nederland coaches that he receives.

For one thing, Tyler is so versatile. He's played guard, tackle, and tight end across the offensive line. He could play on the defensive line if defensive coordinator Delbert Spell would only say the word.

If Delbert needs one guy on the team to visit the nearest golf course and break 80, Tyler can do that. If Delbert needs one guy to gather firewood for the homecoming bonfire, Tyler can do that.

In fact, when this reporter wanted to chat with Nemeth on Tuesday afternoon, that's why Nemeth was detained. He was gathering that precious firewood for a Tuesday night homecoming bonfire.... All that energy, all that versatility, all that unselfishness from a guy who was too fat as a little elementary school student.

"I was a fat kid when I was little," Nemeth smiled as he recalled his rolly-polly days. "I lost a lot of weight in the seventh grade. One summer I grew a lot.

"I really never got to play until the seventh grade because I was always too fat to play Little League. But with football, I just ended up liking it."

If Nederland's 2002 team needs a senior to step forth and guide this team, Nemeth says he's ready for his younger, less experienced teammates to hop on his back. Don't be surprised if Tyler leads the Bulldogs (2-2) onto the field against Lumberton. Don't be surprised if Tyler doesn't shoulder the responsibility of leading this team from now on.

"We need someone to assume the role of leadership," he said. "We need to come together as a team. I don't think we're any worse than last year's team. We've just played more difficult teams."

Nemeth understands Nederland's schedule very well. The Dogs have played La Marque, West Brook, West Orange-Stark and Ozen. That's quite a load for the first four games -- arguably a more demanding load than Nederland's teams usually have before October.

"I'm not worried about the season. We lost the second game last year (at Vidor) and we got to the semifinals," he said. "I don't know how to explain it (last Friday's 26-14 loss at Ozen). I don't think we were less prepared. But I think they played their best game of the season and we didn't."

Nemeth's head coach wouldn't trade Tyler for any lineman in Southeast Texas. Neumann said Nemeth probably could play any position. The NHS boss may just insert Nemeth any where in the Lumberton game. Maybe Tyler will get a sack, who knows?

"Tyler's been a very versatile player," Neumann said. "He's been a pleasant returnee and he's helping his team to get better. When he gets on a defender to make a block, he stays on him."

If any Nederland player doubts Neumann's honesty in that last statement, the Nederland head coach gladly will pull out that touchdown play against WO-S. The video will show just how long Nemeth can stay with a block.... It's a teaching tool which can cure quite a few ailments for the Nederland Bulldogs.

BULLDOG BITES

NHS coaches found 24 missed tackles on their painful review of the Ozen video over the weekend. It's hard for any team to win with 24 missed tackles.... It's also hard for any team to win with just three film grades of 80-and-above. The three high grades belonged to Chris Pierce (87), Colin Weber (82) and Chris Wright (80) on defense and none on offense.... Tackle leaders were Ross Matt (8 solos and 5 assists), Pierce (5 and 7), Eddie Romero (3 and 5), and Colin Weber (3 and 4).... Senior Johnny Pittman, painful shoulder and all, returned to action in the Ozen game, playing both tight end and inside linebacker. Pittman is expected to start this week at tight end.... Homecoming week started Tuesday night with a Pot and Pan Parade and Bonfire. Activities resume Friday with a pep rally at 8:30 a.m., a Boston Avenue parade at 4 p.m., and the Homecoming Queen coronation at 7 p.m. A dance will follow the game back at Nederland High School.