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Who knows if he will ever see this. Maybe someone will share. I'm sure there will be disagreement with some of this too. Other than the obvious South Pitt/Marion folks, I think Forrest has some of the best people here. We are tough on our coaches and even occasionally players, although we try to limit criticizing kids unless it's constructive or just matter of fact (Johnny fumbled, etc.). As for Coach Palmer, a lot of this he will have heard by now. That's ok. Here goes- Dear Coach, Welcome to the Forrest community. I myself live near Cookeville. There are a bunch of us far and wide. The Rock is a special place. The folks in charge of these decisions felt you were and are the best man to lead this program. There won't be any shade from me on that decision. You're welcome here, and as far as I am concerned, you're a Rocket for the rest of your life, regardless of your tenure. The families in Chapel Hill are some of the best people on Earth. Sure, like families, we bicker and gossip. We aren't perfect. But we defend our own and we love each other. We have each others' backs. And we will have your back. The kids. Where do I start. I'd say learn about the McClendons. That's the epitome of Rocket football. The McClendons and the teammates they played with. Forrest, with a McClendon, beat teams like 5A Page (they were 4A then, in 2016), Tyner. Meigs. Lewis twice, the best Watertown team in the last decade, and more. They also reached 2 quarterfinals in the last 5 seasons. The toughness is second to none. Here's a bit about those boys. Tyler- Class of 2014. Running back, linebacker, D line and state wrestling champ. Zach- Class of 2015. Running back and linebacker. 2015 Mr.Football runner-up. Nick- Class of 2020. Running back and linebacker. 2 time state wrestling champ. Micah- Class of 2023. Running back. Defensive back. Each seemed better than the previous. They were all connected by DNA, and yet each seemed to add to the previous ones stats, accomplishments, toughness, and will. Tyler resembled a freight train in motion. Zach was impossible to bring down. Nick threw up a gallon of vomit then went in and scored the winning touchdown against Summertown then had an appendectomy that night. Micah was paralyzed on 9/11/2020 while making a tackle, and his heroic comeback brought the town together, and is perhaps the McClendon family's greatest achievement. They are a special family, and you can't know the Rockets without knowing the McClendons. 2 recent former coaches have gone onto impressive careers elsewhere. We don't want you to do that! Coleman went to Summit and won a state title in 5A. Kriesky went to Centennial and now Blackman, and has been to semis. And of course there is Murrey E. Holton. I'll trust you to do your own research on him. This team is driven by kids named Hill, Bell, Cantrell, Fields, Grissom, Patrick. Tincher, Allen, and more. The last 3 middle school teams (next year's freshman, sophomores, and juniors) went undefeated in middle school- 23 straight games, and won 3 straight championships with Coaches Johnson and Russell and their staff. The school has run Wing T since Moses was in short pants. Changing to a west coast style will be challenging, but the kids will work hard. And they will hit. And play defense. There's some stuff out there about your past. Guess what. We all have a past. I think for the most part people will mind their business, and sincerely hope and pray for your success. They will want the kids to win a lot and score a lot and play hard defense and special teams. They will also want their kids to became better young men, from being in your program. I'll try to be optimistic for the most part, while at the same time calling out any head-scratching decisions. Just like family would. I'm a fan who really watches for feel of the game type stuff. @Salem is the X and O guy and he loses me in about 10 seconds with his knowledge. The last coach did baffling things in every game, didn't connect with the kids, and seemed to spiral with criticism. He did get the team to 2 quarters, but believe it or not, with the division Forrest was in, those were both underachieving years. Now we share the region with Fayetteville, Marion Co., Cascade and Cannon Co. None are pushovers and the first two of those have hardware cases with Gold and Silver. That's it. Nothing fancy. Just, make this your best school yet. We are hungry for it. For all the good things you've done, be even better here. You're in a family, and every family member has their role to play. Sincerely, The General

I'll address this. 1. Johnson. He's royalty and you will NEVER see me type a bad word about him. Ever. What he did the last 3 years, and then some, he gets a lifetime pass to everything. Games, perks, they cannot do enough good things for him. No sarcasm I am 1000% serious. I am sure the kids adore him and they should. We all should. 2. Middle school and high school are different. The schemes are different. The competition is different. I didn't see any middle school except the championship games that were broadcast. I'm not as detailed an X and O guy, but it looked like a similar offense to wing t. Johnson just knew how to connect with the kids and teach them. And he was INCREDIBLE at that. But middle school success doesn't mean automatic high school success. The powers that be obviously felt a more sophisticated system was due here, and while I am the last to defend the administration, I at least see what they were thinking. I think 3. His past dalliances. If that's the right word. Maybe just one, I am not taking a shot at religious types. I promise. You have every right to feel that the previous mistake disqualifies him. I won't disrespect you or that opinion. I feel differently. I think people can change and learn and grow. I also think it shows the kids that you can be forgiven and bounce back. None of us is perfect. Some, not saying you, but some fundamentalist types love to feign outrage while they continue to mask and hide their own skeletons. Committee obviously felt the same way. I see their point if they did. 4. Sometimes it's time for change. I salute the guys who gave decades. Truly! But longevity alone, is not a reason to give someone a birthright. This program had fallen so far from its potential. I don't think this team should go to semis every year. But every 4-5 years I think they can be in the quarters or semis. I think they should play for a gold ball a couple times a decade. I'd like to win one every so often. It's possible that hanging on to the same bloodline and the like for 30 years is part of the problem. I DON'T mean that disrespectfully. Finally, I'll end with this. It's done. I was the loudest drum banger for a change. I saw problems in 2018. We have the change. I raised a couple questions in the first few hours. But I quickly accepted it. All Rockets should. Agonizing over this or that will just rob you of joy. Justin Palmer is the Rocket head football coach. He deserves a minimum of 4 seasons. We gave Coach Eli 6. Who knows if Palmer even stays that long. I will probably not change much. I'll question decision-making like I do for all teams I like. But I won't call for the guy's head. These kids deserve some stability, and it's GREAT for them if the head guy does a GREAT job. Respectfully, The General

Really good wrestlers are really good wrestlers but the "true" freshman thing is particularly funny at the collegiate level. In High School it doesn't matter one bit about being held back. Kids that are elite stomp everyone else's pie hole in and do so at every age level with few exceptions (the exceptions certainly exist). There is a really good wrestler from TN at a certain big name college. Phenomenal wrestler, seems like a nice young man, hope he beats the tar out of everyone everywhere. I really enjoy watching him wrestle, truly, root for him. He is a twenty one year old true freshman The term "true" freshman is correct but I think it would be better clarified by stating their age rather than undergraduate title. I mean, that's quite a spread. David Taylor started his freshman year at 17 years old. It isn't the kids fault that the press, or whomever, doesn't know the details of what they are witnessing and simply report what they know. I know of two instances where kids won wrestling titles as eighth graders, but were very very far removed from anything resembling an eighth grader with respect to age. If everyone knew their true age the shine gets a little hazy. The old cliché applies, it is what it is. Does any of this matter in the end? No. As I said, really good wrestlers typically start that way and end that way (99% of the time).

Been waiting 20 years for the right person so far. This place is the birthing child of Karns and Farragut but it definitely looks like Karns is the mother of this place. I'm working on something right now called the Dumpster Fires of East Tennessee Football and will put it out here like I do Barney's Favorites in a couple of day's.

It was a mess while Speas was there and he was part of creating it and didn't get it straightened out so consequently his was put out.

Leroy is on fire today. I'll piggy back on that. Westwood and Community have won middle school titles. No one who watches those two programs sees high school ready head football coaches. They did have a good class or a stud athlete and make the most of it. Forrest has had an unbelievable run of skill guys the last three seasons. At the same time, MTCS dopped out and Fayetteville took a huge talent downturn. The MS competition is mediocre right now. I also remember a middle school team with Swift, Burchell, Davis, and McClendon that was mediocre. In his 5 seasons what QB has been developed by his middle school? He's had 1 QB in five seasons move up to play high school. What kind of high school coach will he be? No one can answer that. Who on earth that cares about the program wants to let someone learn on the job with this group when proven coaches are out there. Johnson's coaching stock will greatly improve learning under this guy for a year or two. I haven't heard about the reactions yet.

The middle school record means very little to me. They have been able to beat teams with much better athletes simply because those kids had been running the Wing-T since youth football and that's a difficult offense for some high school coaches to prepare for, much more so for middle school coaches that rarely do film prep or even opponent prep at that level. The success had way more to do with the system than it did the coaching in all due respect. Also, his reaction to not getting the job is proof enough that he's not ready to take that step. I'll refrain from elaborating out of respect for Coach Johnson.

Lol. Is it now? Tell me what I’ve said that is factually inaccurate, sir. I’ll wait. Actually, I’ll make it easier for you because maybe words aren’t your thing. I’ll ask a few questions and you can answer them, how’s that? 1) did you or did you not become upset about an error in the podcast that was factually inaccurate? 2) did you or did you not get upset when facts were used in another thread? 3) did you also not then inaccurately accuse me of speaking ill of a kid, which by your own definition in this very thread, was “lying”? One can only assume by the answers that you’ll no doubt not give, that it is not my ignorance that’s showing, but yours.

Thanks. I appreciate it.

That is an odd rule change all of a sudden. I wonder what caused it.

Good post General. I like Johnson, but the idea that he should've been the next HC is laughable. Everyone in coaching circles knows that this is a good hire, and trying to bring his personal life into it is despicable. If CH folks want to get personal, they should look in the mirror. Lord knows one of their native sons (who moved on) is far from a beacon of morality, nor is many currently tied to the program. Best of luck to Coach Palmer and great job administration for bringing in a proven guy to lead the program.

other than "comical" do you have anything else?

I’m sorry I wrote more than two sentences. Must be tough for a teachers aid to read that much. What part of that was hard for to understand?

You could go D1 in rambling…

I would say its more than just offensive scheme being the issue there. Oakland runs the same offense and they clearly have success.

If they would remove the silly “Valley boys” Vandy saying from the locker room they might attack a decent coach. Kids might not be as eager to bolt if they move away from that 1980’s wing t and spread it out

I hope they don’t hire Gourley, he couldn’t even make it as a youth coach for Grace

At least he didn't confuse us with Dangling Participles

You all just got a really good Coach. Reading this thread, if you all have the horses, Coach Palmer is going to know how to use them. This is a passionate, smart football coach who is going to get after it and do everything he can to get those wins. I was able to coach with him for one year and this guy is as smart as it comes. He's got Head Coach experience and is passionate about football. You all got a winner, just let him get settled in and you'll see results this fall. Congrats to you all.

Well said Fargo!

Congratulations Dylan on winning the McCallie tournament. Matt, placing at Ironman is an exceptional achievement. Every year there are many very talented wrestlers who dont make it to the podium here. Great job and Congratulations! Madison, I'm happy to hear you defied the odds and are able to still compete and do something you enjoy. Congratulations on placing at the state tournament last season! Everyone here hating on kids achievements, Congratulations on receiving your high school diploma!

I am happy for Chapel Hill with the hire. I believe this will be a great move for the program. Bringing in new blood is what the community needs. Yes Palmer had an issue in Shelbyville with an affair. That dosen't change what kind of coach he is. Hopefully he learned from his mistake and can motivate the young men in the program.

The finals forfeit was due to the fact that Georgia high school kids are prohibited from wrestling 8th grade wrestlers. Kind of weird but that’s how it went. Of course I’m pretty sure they still wrestled the match and the kid from Georgia was a senior and I think 2 time state champ and Dylan still won it. Just kind of weird that Georgia has that rule for their high school students.

A lie is intentional. You’re saying I intentionally said something offhand like that? And for what? To ruin the legacy of Father Ryan? Be for real. You’re blowing this way out of proportion. If you don’t enjoy the show turn it off. But this is stupid.

It might be!

Also won the tournament with two decisions. Won by forfeit in the semis and finals. Age wise should be a freshman.

It was a good game. End of the game was pretty bad for the Cavs. York went up 2 pts with like 53 seconds left. And Cookeville didn’t get a shot off in the final 53 seconds. I can’t call that last one a shot. It was more of a desperation throw. A lot of that had to do with great pressure defense by York and poor execution by the Cavs. In both of Cookeville losses, they had a bad first quarter. You can’t give a good team a 14 pt lead in the first quarter and win most nights. But also in both losses Cookeville never stopped fighting and left it all on the court. Great game by York though! They played very well. Even when Cookeville made the run and took the lead late in the 4th, York made a key steal on the press, offensive rebound on FT, and clutch game winner by the toughest player on the court. Big time players make big time plays in big time games.

Yep, wants out of HVA altogether. Can't say that I blame him, that place is just a mess right now.

The 2nd part is funny because it's probably true

One things for sure, it will be a man with high character, just like Long was/is. Looking at the recent athletic hires, they've all been home runs. The AD/Boys BBall coach, the girls BBall coaches, the baseball coach, ALL are top notch and will have those programs winning and competing for championships. I'm sure they will find the right person to bring the football program back, as well.