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Thanks everyone for all the kind words. Been a very bad day to be woken up at 5.30 to hear someone on the other line telling me my wife has passed away. I've known for a couple of weeks things were not looking good. I found her Monday Morning unconscoius and called an ambulance and I was told lastnight things were looking much better but she had a heart attack and passed on this morning around 4 a.m. There were many times over the past three years I couldn't go to the ballgames because I didn't want to leave her alone. I know she is in a better place as to be in the pain she has been in the past few years.

I never get on here and don’t respond to anything, but I got on here today to make a post about me trying to set up camps and clinics. I saw this and was disappointed and felt like responding. First off, I've seen many of these posts before about talking about how disappointing it is that we don't have a Tennessee All-American almost every year on some sort of social media. Second, almost all of you haven't been a Division 1 All-American or even wrestled Division 1 at all. It was Cody's first year, and he lost two studs. He'll be back and all American, maybe even a couple times, no doubt in my mind. The next thing is, who cares if kids go to Division 1? If they can afford it, why not go chase your dreams? The only thing I'd say is don't go into a crazy debt to wrestle in college because there are other things that are more important in life, but if you can afford it and a D1 team wants it, go for it. It just annoys me when people act like it's an easy thing or all Tennessee guys are a disappointment each year because they weren't an All American when we are battling through so many injuries and I'm destroying my body and can't even stand up before weigh-ins because the weight cut is so hard on my body. Granted, I shouldn't have wrestled at 125 at all, but I'm just using it as an example. We are giving it everything we have, and I'm sure the other Tennessee guys like Cody and Cooper where to. It's just a hard tournament with countless killers in each weight. We should celebrate any TN guy that gets the opportunity to wrestle Division 1 or any level in college because it's most of our dreams to do that, and we are just trying to chase them

I will say this much. This is actually a great topic and debate. I have had the benefit of getting to have this discussion with several kids over the years. It isn't a simple debate, nor a simple choice. In my opinion, if you really look at it, I think ocean and a few of the others are actually on to a really good point here. I have coached guys who have gone on to wrestle at all levels (some with a level of success and others who did drop out quickly) of collegiate athletics and some on the international / Olympic ladder. i think it is vitally important for most good coaches to be having the types of conversation that ocean and others are bringing up here with athletes. I recall vividly talking with one of our wrestlers about whether he should move to the OTC or continue wrestling in high school after his sophomore year... that was a lot of conversations about goals, stages of life, what do you want short-term and long-term, etc. Thankfully he had plenty of good people to talk to. Anyone speaking in absolutes here is probably off-base or not thinking very logically. To me, the key question has to be... do you want to continue wrestling or do you have a goal (dream, etc.) of wrestling DI and that is the only thing that will fulfill you. If you want to be successful (starting time, placing, AA, etc.) at whatever level you choose to pursue then you better understand what that is going to entail. If you are going to go and wrestle at the DI level and hope to have true success, then you better be ready to understand that wrestling is going to be treated like a very demanding job. You will need to make just about everything else in life subservient to wrestling and what you have to do there... and yes for many this also includes academics. Many of the DI programs they might get into might not be the perfect fit from other aspects of what they want and they may have to sacrifice (especially if not a top-end recruit) to achieve their DI dream. Very few can balance high level academics and the rigors of a top-end DI wrestling program. If that is the absolute desire for the athlete, then go after it and chase it to your fullest... even if they are one of the ones that aren't likely to "make" it or have high level success based on where they currently are... and yes you can sometimes overcome that, but let's be honest blue-chip recruits will pan out far more often than college coaches develop someone to that level who was far below it. If the athlete doesn't have their heart set on DI or just wants to continue wrestling, then they really should be looking at what level of wrestling will help them find a school that is the right fit for them. They need to be looking at academics, academic curriculum options, graduation job placement rates in their desired field, financial aide packages, wrestling team success and culture, activities / lifestyle they want to pursue outside of school (big city or country, etc.), etc. in order to find a place that will help them thrive and mature into the young person that we all hope they become. Plenty of kids know it is DI only for them while many others find what they are looking for (in all aspects) at DII, DII, NAIA, etc. Nothing wrong with that... they are making the choice that is best for them. A coach that is strictly pushing an athlete to "get into the best (wrestling) program they can" to indirectly quote someone else, may not be giving the athlete the best advice... they may actually be hurting them in the long (and short) run. Coaches are here to guide student athletes to a very tumultuous time in life, not simply make them the best athletes possible and put them in the "best" athletic programs.

Way late on this post, but I do believe that I want to at least weight in so to speak lol. I wrestled NAIA competed against some of the best wrestler over all a crossed the divisions and felt great about my college wrestling experience. I think people make the mistake in believe that wrestling some how gets easier as a sport at the smaller college divisions it doesn't the training is mostly the same. I have that on good authority from a coach who was a D1 all-American. it's more the commitment level of the competitors that is different. There is talented wrestlers that can go D1 at any level in the smaller division. sub in Sammy Shires for one he would have done fine on a DI team. He chose a work life ratio that suited him. It's not about talent it's commitment are you going to make training and studying the sport the center of your world cause that's what it takes: NO MATTER HOW TALATENTED BEFORE HAND YOU ARE. If so then D1 is for you and striving for success at that level is for you like Mr. Palmer said it's what your willing to put in. Now coaches if you have a successful wrestler who fits that bill then by all means D1 is a great option they will see some success no matter how small, but if they are not that committed along with being talented and a killer and you know it then your doing them wrong. You don't have to tell athletes that you don't think they are D1 tell them to keep their options open to take all their visits to consider all the divisions regardless of their goals. college recruiting visits have you most times wrestle against their current wrestlers coaches and athletes will find out real quick it's not easy no matter where you go. That way when they make their decision it's a sound one that's based on well rounded experiences. BobCorker, and oceansize42 I believe what you are thinking is correct but for different reasons. TN wrestler's have the talent... it's a commitment level change. TN wrestlers aren't used to having to put themselves through the level of commitment required and kills them on the D1 level. WrestlingGod, I agree you should push kids to pursue their dreams, but not at the cost of common sense period... we have to much of that going around this country already. Dreams can turn to poison when these wrestler are not educated on what it truly takes. In TN a kid who understands wrestling to a high level can be successful with small amounts of hard work. They think their definition of hard work is enough for D1 that is the mistake not the "talent/understanding". Over-all though we do not celebrate NAIA,D2,D3, or Juco success in this state like other states do. GA/AL celebrates all it's college wrestlers success a crossed the board no matter the division. Why? because it's hard... I have gone to all the divisions National championships let me tell you to be a all-American at any is impressive especially D2 or NAIA. those guys can scrap and not one of those AA's are an easy match. all of them were state placers or champs multiple times in their high school careers. does that at all sound easy to place at? TN does not give those guys enough credit or shout outs period. it's an over sight because of this D1 or it's less than meaningless mentality on this site and in this state. GA/AL is better then us on the highest stage because they send guys to D2,NAIA,D3 ect. they come back understanding the sport better then their pervious coaches, and give back and that cycles to athletes readiness to go D1 with clearer understanding of what it takes to be competitive day 1 freshman year. My post isn't to support one way or the other but to just consider that both sides have merit and that both work when the system in TN. by system I mean coaches are the better educated on preparing athletes for each level they want and should pursue.

Divisions do not matter all that much, in TN at least. My son's school started off big school for his first three years and then moved to small school in his senior year. Did we wrestle anyone different in his senior year because we were small school? Nope. Wrestled same public/private schools we always did. Absolutely no difference. So in the end most schools are probably going to wrestle the same old schools that are within a sixty mile radius regardless of their or their opponent's division. The better schools are already seeking out better competition so I don't think extra divisions matter there either. I think you hit the nail on the head concerning population. When TN adds another three or four million people our overall level will rise and not until then. With three divisions it is currently too easy to medal in TN. I know several young men who didn't practice at all in the off season (I mean zero) and medaled in big school and small school (no they weren't heavy weights or anything close to it). That shouldn't be possible, or at least should be rare even if a really good athlete, which goes back to population. The larger we grow the more difficult a medal will become (in theory), regardless of athletic ability, unless we add a truly ridiculous amount of divisions like VA or GA. This is the one thing California does right. One division, one set of medals per weight class. 18 medals per weight class in a state of 7 to 8 million people definitely seems overkill, especially when PA has two divisions and CA one division. My son wouldn't have medaled under one division and that would have been just fine. I'm clear with this information when family or acquaintances, who are sports enthusiasts, ask questions about that time of our lives. I tell them we have three divisions and that if there had been one then it is most probable he wouldn't have medaled. My son is aware of this as well, kids aren't idiots, they can survey the landscape. A lack of medals wouldn't change the gratitude I have towards this sport.

From my perch at West High, It would be easier on your part and more satisfying for the rest of us if you would just to have diarrhea on your keyboard. You’re typing into the void about a man who is universally respected by multiple generations and people from all walks of life, and you are who exactly? Someone who posts in an anonymous chat room about high school football? Don’t feel the need to respond to those questions because no one cares about the answers. Regardless if you hate or love Eddie Courtney or that his son was hired to continue the work of that program, all you can ever do is watch as they’re remembered and you’re not.

Do think another thing that has not been mentioned is Loretto, Gibson County, Summertown, Huntingdon and Westview all have been in the same bracket until this year. Loretto, Gibson County, Westview and Summertown have 5 Golds and 4 Silvers in the last 5 or so years. Could be that Loretto is a pretty good basketball program the reason they beat Gatlinburg Pittman. Do think all of the programs I mentioned aren't going anywhere any time in the next couple of years either. York, McMinn Central and Gatlinburg Pittman are great programs too. Do think all of the programs I have mentioned can beat each other on a given day. I watched the Loretto Game live and thoroughly the same night after and Gatlinburg got outplayed especially in the second half. Weathers was attacking the rim big time. She put on a show.

Congratulations to all of these Tennessee high school Alumni for having a great college season and for competing at nationals. NAIA Anthony Pyron - Cumberland TN - (National Qualifier) Sammy Shires - Cumberland TN - (All American) Eli Clemmons - Cumberland TN - (National Qualifier) Thomas Williams - Saint Thomas FL - (National Qualifier) Tre Morrisette - Life GA - (National Qualifier) D3 Dejon Glaster - Millikin IL - (All American) NCWA Dominic Love - Florida A&M - (All American) If there are any more wrestlers that I missed please share that on here. I've seen that NJCAA had a qualifier from TN but I couldn't find that individual, and I didn't see any qualifiers at division II. Besides that congratulations to these wrestlers for a great season.

Never said it was…? Death eventually comes to everyone. There is no age requirement for death, and it comes in every form. You just have to keep on living. Eventually, when it's your time, you’ll be able to go meet the people you love and have missed so much.

It’s called rebuilding. You just have to find the right guys, and you know you found the right guys when they go on to be head coaches at other programs. You can’t do anything if they leave for other jobs. That’s it, simple, and if it’s shown every day as a coach that you come in and slack and not reach your full potential, not just for the team but for the student athlete as well, then it’s the next man up, and you gotta go. Welcome to today's coaching. It's not just hiring some teacher who's only coaching experience is flag football and maybe played in high school. Schools are going out and getting coaches with experience under their belt, and those coaches are going out and getting people with actual experiences to help not just the program but the student athletes as well, whether they are teachers or not or have anything to do with the school or in a classroom, and that's what the TSAA wanted, and I would say most people.

Sometimes that’s the case, but not always. If so, they could have it turned right back around on themselves. If they were also doing that, why would they wanna bring it to light? I’m sure someone at Clinton would be in the know, if so. Word gets around quickly in a small town.

I havent had many interactions with him, but the ones I have had have always been pleasant. I’ll withhold much thought on this until something comes of it.

The “portal stuff” is only going to get wilder. The rich programs that are flush with money will buy the best athletes, pay those athletes and provide them with great workout partners from the RTC

Not if they are only getting players in from Campbell county.

Hear me out on this one. If your setting on the visitor side at a football game at HVA and your on the first row you are exactly 84 feet to the sideline not to mention your setting down low which the football team blocks your view unless you can get higher seats that only takes you farther away. If your on the home side you are exactly 109 feet from the first row to the sideline but the only positive is the bleachers are on higher ground but the sun will blind you until it goes down. I don't care about their weight room because I'm there to watch a football game that is a nightmare to see and also getting out of there after the game. I guess I'm spoiled because Maryville's field is 27 feet from first in the visitors side to the sidelines and it is built up where the players don't block your view. The home side is 30 feet from the side line to the first row and your setting up high also to prevent the players from blocking your view. HVA's design on the fields is an all time blunder considering it was a school built since 2000. If there is a place I dread going to HVA tops the list.

I’m not saying it in general; I’ve just seen it from past seasons, saying that Tennessee kids always disappoint at NCAAs, and all I was claiming is that it’s not an easy tournament in any division. I don't really care what people think because they don't know everything about me, and if you're an athlete and you do care about those things, you need to fix that lol.

Coach Thompson. He coached at Carthage back in the 80s. Coached our principal Scott Apple. I think they may have been in discussion but the young guy who works with girls coach Matt Ferrell with TN Rush indeed got the job. Coach T had a state tournament in Tennessee, an All A state girls team in Kentucky and State teams in Mississippi. He's retired in Mississippi. It would have been a legendary hire. His name created quite a buzz in Carthage.

Oh, and I can't remember who said it earlier but whomever mentioned that the early to late 2000's crop is still our best in terms of college talent is 100% spot on. The new crop may get there at some point but you can't argue with the data. There were some very special TN wrestlers in that group that got it done at UTC and at other schools (Missouri, Cornell, West Point). For goodness sakes you even have at least one in there that made a US Senior World Team. That is getting it done on the absolute highest level, period. We have had very highly touted TN wrestlers come through since then who didn't accomplish on the same level for whatever reason. We may see another group that gets there but none have come close to achieving what that group did collegiately. Not to mention that there were a few from that timeframe who were finding success at the "lower levels" of NCAA wrestling as well. I would absolutely say that TN wrestling as a whole has grown by leaps and bounds from that period forward, but I don't think there is any argument to say that our top end talent has achieved at the same level. Hopefully some do in the future.

The facts are very simple; when The State of Tennessee had collegiate wrestling programs at University of Tennessee, Tennessee Tech, Middle Tennessee State University, Carson Newman, Sewanee and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga many Tennessee high school wrestlers filtered through those programs. Almost all of those coaches would go from town to town having clinics for the local kids. These clinics raised the technique level but it also allowed the coaches to recruit the kids at the clinics. The end result was that many of those college wrestlers became high school coaches and most of the officials also competed on those teams. I still say that both coaching and officiating was much better during the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s due to so many guys wrestling for the local Tennessee colleges.

You are correct. Coach Bentley at App St took kid from NC who never won a State Championship in high school and he ended up being a AA when he left App St. There are a lot kids on a roster. Some may never be in the starting lineup. There job in the room is to compete for that chance and to make their teammates better. You can’t tell me that don’t make them a D1 wrestler if they are putting the work in.

Don’t pay a lick of attention to 888. He skips around on every thread, trolling people. And has no affiliation to any team, that I’m aware of. Just let it roll off your back. Responding just feeds into the nonsense. Totally agree with your sentiment concerning Coach EC though.

If Insell didn’t have the recruiting machine back in the 80’s, 90’s and early 00’s I wonder how many state titles White County would’ve had?

well barn!!! if anyone knows vandalism, you would definitely know!! you were the local expert

So sorry to hear this, may God wrap his arms around you in this difficult time. Hang in there sir!

Farragut has been surrounded by four popular private schools for many years (ALL of whom NOW can offer financial assistance) and has lost considerable impact players to them over the years. And, let’s face it, West Knox County kids are the primary resource to populate those private schools. If anything, I believe Eddie kept the football program from completely unraveling by successfully keeping at least some of the more talented kids in the program. Quite simply, in my observation and opinion, Eddie is a very good man and an outstanding mentor for young people; parents and kids respect that. I have every reason to believe Geoff will maintain that environment and mentorship.

Hire the MTSU coach and start recruiting again.

No words are adequate. Tough, sad stuff. Joining all of you in lifting up Barney and his wife’s family during this difficult time. Hope he feels the prayers, from all of us here on the T & hope he finds at least a small measure of comfort in that.

What’s actually really funny is that Maryville fans have been denying the fact that they recruit for years. youth programs, middle schools, and even high school sometimes. But now it’s funny to see them hide in the shadows and come up with every excuse possible. That’s the funny part. As someone who had kids who played football zoned for William Blunt, and playing youth football, taking my kids to football games, I’ve seen what Maryville does with every single player from that team and parents. This team the other team etc, and what? Nobody talks about it, or perhaps it’s just common to have coaches on a high school football team come up to you and talk to you about your six-year-old child “having a better future.” Now let me make this very clear. I don't have a problem with kids transferring. I think if the parents allow it and the player wants to do it, go ahead, but the fact that the fans on this website try to act like their high school is just so needy and clean. And he never recruits when that gets blown up; they just hide in the shadows to try to come up with any excuse; we’re just laughing it off as just a simple move. That’s the funny part.

I love watching Bearden people on here complaining about recruiting when they have the scummiest rrecruiting coach in the state. Maryville has always gotten the players they want and I guess ole Jones thought he could swindle a few good years recruiting players and then playing in public school. But karma is a _____________ ole Jonesy

Now someone, please correct me if I’m wrong. If his parents are moving to BLOUNT COUNTY like they said, wouldn’t he be eligible for BLOUNT COUNTY schools? … Not Maryville city schools... Ole Lee getting a lot of upgrades to his training center for this one probably handed him some land to build another training center in Maryville. There is nothing better than plan out recruiting allegations.

Congrats Tornadoes! Incredible effort by Alcoa. Jahvin Carter is simply amazing. I’ve watched a lot of basketball in Blount County and he is the best player ever at Alcoa and the best high school player in Blount County history, imo. His accomplishments, both individually and for his team, are off the charts.

Congratulations to Alcoa. Jahvon Carter is a great player. Douglas had no one who could guard him. Other players for Alcoa stepped up. I think Rick Barnes should have offered Jahvon Carter.

It’s not just the elderly that pass away young man. I’m 54 and she was a couple years younger than me.

One big different is cost. Webb is a great school,but is ony realistic for the very upper earners in the area. Concord Christian, GCA, and a couple of others are realistic options for middle to upper middle famies, especially if vouchers are enacted.

Sometimes Barn what we want and what God knows is best are two different things, and I pray that He gives you the strength and wisdom to endure His way and to understand that we're not meant to understand. I rarely participate in these "prayer" threads because I (not knocking anyone else at all) somehow feel that making it public isn't how I need to approach it, but I feel lead to say it this time. I realize that no words will lessen your loss and heartbreak, but if there were I'd love for you to hear them today. May God bless you and yours in your time of need.

Cavs will be back in 70 years!

The school I pull for, Hampton, was moved from A to AA this year however if we could only count boys we would be below Chattanooga prep numbers. Heck I'm sure there's lots of schools that would be in single a if they could only count the boy population. It's just not a level playing field. Period.

A simple solution would be to double Chattanooga Prep's #'s since no females go to that school which would push them into AA.

He may want to transfer to Cookeville now.

The principle and AD should be FIRED. It's ridiculous, and a complete lack of adequate leadership. Knox Central, Rhea Co, Lenoir City, Austin East, Fulton, etc..etc... have all went through the hiring process with a great since of urgency with a priority on winning, and program upgrades.

This a tough one. I have known "Barn" for over 50 years and when your friends hurt, you hurt. May she rest eternally in the arms of our Savior.....................

Probably because since he’s been there at least 10 coaches have either quit, left, or were hired but never actually started. all the rumors are kids are trying to bolt left and right. Coaches are seeing how dysfunctional the program is and washing their hands before they even get started. And now their running out of money and the boosters are getting tired of constantly being hit up for more.

Yeah, that’s what I was thinking. It ain’t as easy as hey, even though you’ve been a tenured teacher for however many years, we now have a guy that coaches football, which makes him more important than you, so you have to go since he’s a football coach!! Lol Life isn’t that simple.

9th coach on the boys side since 05. So yes lol

Im pretty sure that organization, that he is a president of, chooses who wins that award for the state. JOKE

Agree with all that... AND all levels of college ball is outstanding. Nothing like a Juco that develops kids!!! love NAIA ball. It is ultra competitive. D3 and D2 has all my love. But my point is Tennessee don't have a ton of D1 basketball players. Zero in the class of 2024 in the top 100. Zero in the class of 2025 top 60. So, lets not blame 4 classes of watering down the games... We just don't have that caliber of player. With that being said, lets celebrate the kids that are working their rear end off and making it to the state tournament instead of always talking about watered down this, watered down that. It is not the classifications. It is the lack of high level talent.

Alcoa doesn't have the stones to move up.

Price of admission was not what DFL was talking about when he said Concord was different than any other private school in the area. DFL claims that "he is pretty sure" Concord is the only private school in the area that can let 7th and 8th graders practice and play with the varsity football team. I am pretty sure 100% that DFL doesn't know what he is talking about because he has not read the rules. Only 8th graders are eligible to play varsity and they have to be on the same campus that the high school is. For example, Webb School of Knoxville and Greenback school are examples where 8th graders are eligible. 7th graders are not eligible.

My vote is tech.

Sorry for your loss Barney. Prayers for your Brother N Law also.