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  1. 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.
    5 points
  2. 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
    4 points
  3. 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.
    2 points
  4. 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.
    2 points
  5. 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.
    2 points
  6. 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.
    2 points
  7. 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?
    2 points
  8. well barn!!! if anyone knows vandalism, you would definitely know!! you were the local expert
    2 points
  9. So sorry to hear this, may God wrap his arms around you in this difficult time. Hang in there sir!
    2 points
  10. 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.
    2 points
  11. Hire the MTSU coach and start recruiting again.
    2 points
  12. 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.
    2 points
  13. Tennessee D1 All-Americans With NCAAs concluding, I thought it might be fun to revisit the 7 TN natives who have made it on the podium. 7 AAs puts TN just below the country of Japan when it comes to NCAA All-Americans. The drought now extends to 15 years since TN had an AA. TN high school wrestling is traveling more and getting decent results, but it is not translating to college. If UTC would have stayed DII, the guys who qualified this year and many others who are buried on rosters could make up a pretty good team DII team. Any thoughts one who might be the next TN AA? My pick is Jarvis Little for App State. Bill Harlow- St. Andrews School/Oklahoma State 1964- 2nd 1965- 2nd 1966- 1st Howard Langford- Cleveland/UTC 1992- 8th Phillip Simpson – MBA/West Point 2003- 3rd 2004- 8th 2005- 2nd Matt Keller- Bradley Central/Nebraska/UTC 2006- 8th 2007- 4th Cody Cleveland- Tullahoma/McCallie/UTC 2008- 8th Jordan Leen – Baylor/Cornell 2007-8th 2008- 1st 2009- 3rd Nick Marable Christian Brothers/Missouri 2008- 3rd 2009- 7th
    1 point
  14. 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.
    1 point
  15. By recruiting, I mean members of a coaching staff are talking to, meeting with, giving tours, to students, and their guardians, that are not zoned for their school. there’s no way that many non Bearden kids just showed up all at once without being recruited. It can’t be a coincidence that all those kids also went through the middle school all star game your boss puts on every year.
    1 point
  16. Couple of thoughts: 1. I just don't understand all the intricacies in TSSAA transfer rules anymore. William Blount had a kid that played the final part of the basketball season with them this year, that played at Hardin Valley last year, and played football for Bearden this year. I say that to say, I know the coaches and the AD and the Principal at WB and I will never believe they would do something they knew was wrong. They are men of character. I BELIEVE the same thing about the coaches and administration at Maryville. Call me gullible, but these are men and women of integrity in my experiences with them. 2. Much like the transfer of the Clemmer kid a couple of years ago, with Smith, the football team is getting a huge boost, but the impact on the basketball team will be just as great or maybe even greater. With Smith playing post, it frees the Sigmund kid who will be coming back from injury, to play more with his face to the basket. The Rebels basketball squad in my mind, will be "the program" in East Tennessee next year.
    1 point
  17. From the outside looking in, it's not debatable... McKenzie pays more, is getting new facilities, and is close enough that the Dresden kids could follow Hodge there. Getting bumped wouldn't really matter either...Huntingdon would be their biggest challenge in the west this upcoming season, and they've already proven that they can compete with the 'Stangs.
    1 point
  18. The problems lie within. We have head coaches sending their kids to rival schools and we have board members taking their kids out of the school system that they supposedly care so much for to be home schooled. What really are these people's interest? They are focused on the wrong things.
    1 point
  19. This is sad. You boys still don’t have a coach? Someone backed out because the admin told him one curse word and he would be removed? That sounds like they are wanting the program to not exist to me. Go out and find you a preacher as a non faculty coach and go from there.
    1 point
  20. Gut feeling Hodge stays at Dresden. He has a D1 talent in a kid named Jaquan Ellison who is only a junior this upcoming year. Dresden has a decent talent pool coming up thru the next few years. Mckenzie may get bumped to 2a in next round of classifications.
    1 point
  21. What’s everyone thinking? Besides the obvious answer of Eagleville and ER
    1 point
  22. Hey wrestling community I’m trying to fill up my calendar this summer with camps, clinics, and private lessions. If you’re interested and would like to contact me my email is: [email protected] thanks, Brayden Palmer
    1 point
  23. I have made the comment to many people over the years that if Lampkins went somewhere with a stream of talent, he would do very well. His teams are always well prepared, and get after you. He has had spurts over the years at Gleason. I respect the heck out of him for not chasing the all mighty $$ and being loyal.
    1 point
  24. 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.
    1 point
  25. 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.
    1 point
  26. McCallie and Baylor got that fancy garbage service with new passports for everyone. New logo should be the Canadian flag in their colors
    1 point
  27. How can you they that though. Just because they don’t start on a team or do good at the NCAAs doesn’t mean they didn’t do well. That they aren’t a D1 wrestler. Go to a smaller level can also cost you way more money to go to school especially at the D3 level. Have you seen the breakdown of states that had AA this year. Heck Georgia just now finally had there 1st National Champion.
    1 point
  28. 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.
    1 point
  29. Don't take it so personal. No one is telling you that you made a bad decision. If someone tells a kid: You could probably go to Nebraska and if you work really hard you might make the lineup and be an NCAA qualifier. You could also go to Washington and Lee and compete for DIII titles. You might win a DIII title. The time requirements are not the same, and it might allow you to get a degree in Economics and pursue a career with Goldman Sachs right out of undergrad. That conversation isn't dragging them down; it is most certainly not bad parenting. That is giving them options and setting them up for success. Plenty of kids have DI aspirations but realize that DII/DIII/NAIA are better options. We are not saying kids should never take the chance of cracking a DI lineup; we are simply looking at 60 years of results. If a kid has all of the information, then they can make their own decision. We are saying that most kids don't have all of the information, so they feel that it is DI or bust. The reality is it doesn't work for most kids across the country. Most kids who are ranked on recruiting big boards will never sniff AA. Only 8 kids per weight class can claim that distinction at the DI level. Each DI room is filled with Fargo AAs, Super 32 AAs, and 4x State Champs who never see the mat. Use Chase Horne at NC State for example. 4x champ, Fargo Finalist, Super 32 Champ- has yet to break the lineup and next year they have Isaac Trumble coming off redshirt at Heavy. Horne is awesome and may still make it, but it is not easy at that level.
    1 point
  30. I wasn’t going to comment but all I say is I’m glad you 2 are not in his circle. You are the exact people I tell my kids to avoid as they will only drag you down with them. I want my kids to be surrounded by like minded people that want them to achieve greatness.
    1 point
  31. 1 point
  32. Im pretty sure that organization, that he is a president of, chooses who wins that award for the state. JOKE
    1 point
  33. The "vast majority" shouldn't bother with D1 unless there is little emphasis on the wrestling part. I honestly can't agree with anything you wrote. I'd rather honestly evaluate their ability and set them up for possible success from the start, all the while pursuing a relevant degree from a quality school (of which there are plenty, even in the lower levels). I'm not into the chase your dreams on the one in a thousand chance it happens. I'm really confused by your statements about winning. When a young man enters D1 wrestling the expectation is winning and winning a bunch. There is no other expectation. That's it. Win, win, and then win some more. If you don't win you don't start. If you're not starting now you're going to practice to get your arse kicked every single day by the young man who is starting or you're relegated to wrestling everyone but the starter as you have no chance. You become a practice dummy. Not that the coach doesn't like you or your teammates don't like you, but ultimately that is what you become. A cheerleader. I'd rather drop a level or two, start, win, and contribute in more meaningful ways. I'm pragmatic about this because for most it is the proper path. Doesn't have to be liked, but it's true.
    1 point
  34. I actually agree with oceansize42 for the most part. Every other state is still progressing and improving at a significant rate as well. While TN might be closing the gap a bit, it comes down to a numbers game. There are only 30-40 college programs that are actually competitive. Each school has 4-6 years of recruits and kids are pigeonholed to one weight class. TN puts 3-4 in DI every year. PA puts 30. If 25 of the 30 from PA never pan out, then they still have a good showing. If all 4 kids from TN fail to make it, then it looks like a barren landscape. Signing with a D1 college is the easy part. TN kids/parents act like they have achieved the pinnacle by signing DI. I suspect this is because most of the parents never wrestled DI themselves and they don't know anyone who did. The fact of the matter is that most kids who sign DI will never start. The ones who start will probably have a hard time of ever making it to the tournament. For some the opportunity to be on a good team or go to a good school like Stanford might be worth the risk of not ever having success. For many kids in TN and other states, they would have a much better experience if they went to Washington and Lee or Cumberland University. (Depending on academic aspirations). Look at Sammy Shires as an example: I would argue that he is having a much better experience of being a 2x AA in NAIA than some of our guys who are going off to be 3rd string at an ACC school. Having more kids have success at the lower levels would keep more in the sport for a longer time. This would translate to more of them returning home and entering the coaching ranks. Our state would actually grow more over time if our best didn't flame out in 2 years at a big school. There is a lack of education of the big picture landscape in TN.
    1 point
  35. I didn't have any problems with CSC at Oak Ridge, he took a 3-8 team from the previous coach to a state quarter final playoff game. I thought he did a heck of a job. Never heard anything about drinking beer, but that is nobody's business but his. I'm not sure what Scott did to make you so butthurt, but I feel sorry you.
    1 point
  36. The only thing in your entire post that is correct is that Eddie Courtney is certainly "holier than thou", thou meaning you. Eddie Courtney is an excellent football coach and a fine godly man, who was an exceptional leader and example to young men for many decades. You sir, and your disrespectful comments are utterly despicable. By the way, Bearden could win for the next 20 years and still not even the series against Farragut. Bearden always has been, and always will be, Farragut's inferior West Knox little brother.
    1 point
  37. Sure seemed to be a problem when he was the coach at Choke Ridge. I am sure he is getting his fill of Mountain Lights or maybe Cherokee Red Ales at the Calhoun's there on the lake. Cherokee Red Ale Cummings has a good ring to it.
    1 point
  38. Good choice for them, hes paid his dues and earned a shot at the job, He still will have Dad around for advice. Main thing it looks like he will have to deal with is keeping Farragut football kids in Farragut. The recruiting juggernauts are waiting to pounce.
    1 point
  39. That was made official today. He coached at Hayesville in middle school for a few years that I know of and then was on the high school staff just a couple of years. Hasn’t been coaching too long and never as a head coach in high school so this one will be interesting. I know the administration is a big problem in the school and the job is very unattractive. A lot of wrong people have been trying to get their hands on things the past few years and still are. The people of Copper Basin on the high horses are a big issue and there are a lot of them. Hopefully Graves brings in the right people to help him but it is slim pickings since all the good help was forced out of the program and still aren’t welcomed back by the beloved trying to control it. No idea if he actually knows anything about football but I know small time 1A ball in Tennessee is very different than a lot of places and especially Hayesville so I hope he at least develops an attitude for the boys.
    1 point
  40. Dude I would drive from Lookout Valley to watch Coach T again.
    1 point
  41. Good choice. When we replaced GQ with Derek he wasn't an outsider and knew the system that none of us wanted changing. I'm sure a lot of the Farragut fans don't want their system changed. When you have an outsider come in you never know how long they will be there or if they're using you for their next move. Look at all the programs out there and you never see a coach hang around very long. Farragut doesn't need that especially long as his father had been in charge. Good luck to his son and coaching the Admirals.
    1 point
  42. The defense will improve drastically. Offense will be the big question with the QB graduating and him generating most of the positive plays. If they can find 20+ points per game with what they have returning their win total will go up. I really doubt that anyone knows just what a hire they made... yet. Football is a great game that teaches life lessons, but actual life is sometimes too hard for these kids to bear on their own. They will now have the best of the best to mentor and care for them as human beings, and to teach them that they have value to the team, to each other, and to him personally. A lot of things have to come together to turn out wins on the field, but you can bet on RW to turn out winners in life.
    1 point
  43. Ron Lambert, Congrats to him
    1 point
  44. Lucklee eye'm onlee "G" rated.....
    1 point
  45. 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.
    1 point
  46. 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.
    1 point
  47. 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.
    1 point
  48. Carson Quillen from Greeneville High School class 3A. He was a finalist last year but lost to Eli Huddleston from Upperman. He beat Eli in a 1-0 pitchers duel in the state title game just a few days after losing the award. Definitely the front runner for it this year
    1 point
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