bbfbfan

Well, I hear that Sparta's athletic programs are back in the news again. It seems that basketball was trying to make some of the football players post a certain amount of hours in the gym during the month of July, when football wanted them to strictly concentrate on FB since it is the next season sport. Some of the boys are really feeling pulled trying to please both sports. Here again is the age old adage "Can you really play both sports and do well at them?" I am sure they are wondering if they will be "punished" by not logging in the appropriate hours in the gym. I heard a rumor that it was even stated by basketball that if the FB boys didn't have these hours in they "wouldn't even get a jersey!". Any comments on this. Don't get me wrong, I know that if a player wants to get better they will be in the gym or on the field, but can't coaches be reasonable when players are playing 2-3 sports?

White Co. scrimmaged Smith County and Mt Juliet. They did well, no scores were kept but I think they matched Smith county touch down to touch down, I think maybe Mt. Juliet had one more, and they kept their starters in most of the time, while Coach Brown did a mix up of all the boys. There is a lot more enthusiasm with the boys. They are working hard in the weight room and they worked very hard at spring practice. It seems that they really have a desire to win, but I just don't know it the talent is there all the way around. You have some really great ones like lowery QB, Wallace, Williams, England, Haston, Simmons and a few others I can't recall, but will that be enough, who knows. MidTn sports doesn't give them much of a fighting chance in our district. <_

I have also heard that he is going to keep 32. I also heard that he is thinking about taking all 32 to Florida!!!! Oh well. As far as moving those wonderful upcoming freshman to varsity, I think he will try just that. He tried it this year and they got killed by the more experienced players on other teams. I don't care how good they are as freshman, there are very few that can handle the speed and pressure of our districts players. Also, what is the opinion of the public about having basketball practice start in the same week that football spring practice is still going on? Are the football players expected to stop going to football and go to basketball? Anybody got any answers. Just curious?

Do you have any feelings on the M'boro Nets. I heard they played you guys and almost beat you (2 points in sudden death overtime), they have played the Stallions, beat them--played Clarksville and Columbia, beat them. Seems to me they are doing some good this year.

Seth England, a good ball player from White County, is playing with Murfreesboro Nets, give him a look some time, I think he will surprise you. [Edited by bbfbfan on 4-2-03 12:06P]

HERE!!HERE!!! I have a friend who is trying to play basketball and football in high school. As soon as his school was out of the running in state basketball, he immediately reported for 3 days a week football weight lifting, then his basketball coach came up and told him that he was expected in the gym the other 2 days for drills and running. He is also trying to work in an AAU team over an hour away from home. Both coaches told him that this was not required but if he expected to play he better be at the work outs in both sports!!!! He was also told that during the summer he had to have x number of work outs for basketball and football, plus spring practices and camps and etc. How can anyone be expected to keep up with all this and play both sports well. I know that your going to say that if they want to play bad enough a guy will do it, but can there not be some happy medium? I am afraid this guy will burn out before he ever gets to be a senior, and he is a good athlete in both sports.

Of Course White County would disagree with Cookeville, we think that we have the most awesome trainer, Chris Jones!!! He is great, the students love him. He is always there!!!!!!!

After all the negative things being written about the White County team, it is so nice to see something nice. Both teams were wonderful and according to the post previously Mr. Davis is in stable condition. I hope so. I know many people didn't have much hope for a recovery when they left with him. I am assured by emergency personnel that the biggest thing going for Mr. Davis was that emergency life support was given immediately. The paramedics, doctors and everybody else were fantastic. Most people may not have noticed but the White County team had prayer in just a small group long before they ever suspended the game. It was so great to see those boys with heads bowed and concern on their face. Upperman and White County were class acts Saturday night and I for one say keep it up guys. Not everything is based on winning. Like the announcer stated when they suspended the game "Go home and spend time with your families" and I hope everyone did.

Oh yeah, Cookeville, I'd be jumping for joy that you beat White County!!!! I mean after all you beat us 10-15 points the last time, and it was predicted by everybody that this game would be a blow out. Jeez! I wonder what happened? White County almost pulled it off, the little lowly no talent team that everybody puts on a shelf and gives no credit. White County has everybody returning next year, where will Cookeville be w/o Mario (who by the way has more talent and more humility than anyone else on your team. He is a genuinely nice guy who didn't care to tell some of the White County boys that they did a good job, not the usual "White County stinks" that Cookeville is so very fond of.) Yeah, White county lost, but we had a huge fan turn out (students and adults) and for the 2nd time this year, the White County boys felt good about a game because they played hard and will return next year!!!! Good game guys and you'll get them next year if everybody's hangs in there!

Does White county have a chance next year to win a game? Just curious as to what fans think out there.

WARREN COUNTY VS WHITE COUNTY CANCELLED, RESC 1/20/03

The T on Friday night was on Slatten, England got a T on Saturday night but no one seems to know what either one said to deserve the T's

Check White County, they need an assistant bad.

White County played one of their better games Friday night against Lebanon. They only lost by 5 points. They played to a full gym and it really helped boost their moral. They played like a team and yes I think they are getting better. Remember their starting 5 are all juniors so maybe we can expect even better things next year if they all stay! Qualls should get tougher next year and they are expecting 2-3 inches over the summer in heights from him. White County could prove to be a good team next year. By the way, not bashing Coach Slatten, the T that he got Friday night I heard was totally uncalled for. Someone that was sitting close to the bench said that he really didn't say anything. Does anyone know for sure? They played well against Riverdale also, it was very close until they had to start fouling to try and get the ball. England against England was good, although J. England had height against S. England, he held him down to only 6-8 points, I think and that was really low for J. England. [Edited by bbfbfan on 1-13-03 7:47A]

Yes, you are right! No stats were kept during the game, the new coach just didn't want to be bothered I guess, doesn't seem very fair to the boys though does it. Thanks for the info.

I missed it, could you tell me if any White County football players were named on it?

Does anyone know if they are going to award All Upper Cumberland team awards this year? They did last year around the end of November.

I wonder if the boys who are playing now under Slatten, ever get tired of hearing about how bad they are and if the good folks of White county can just hold on, there will be another Jolly and Clark coming up to take us back to the State Championships? I know I do and I am not even involved except to watch the games and support Sparta. Come on people!!! No matter how good or bad your players are, they have to be coached at some time. A good coach can take a bad bunch of players and make an interesting team and vice versa. I also wonder if everyone really thinks that Jolly will ever play under Coach Slatten, just a thought.

Ktown22, it seems that you keep knocking the boys team down, but the girls are undefeated, and the students could and should come out and support them, even if they feel that the Junior boys are the poorest talent and poorest playing team that Sparta has seen in several years. Oh by the way, please don't tell everyone that you think that the boys are awful (some people just love to spread negative gossip)-even though that is only your opinion- and there are still some good people that go and watch and listen to the games on the radio, like me, because I care for the boys and I see that they are really struggling with the coaching techniques of Coach Slatten. There is talent on that team, believe it or not, because when the right combination is in there for any length of time, they have beaten more than just single A schools as everyone keeps trying to point out. Just keep on putting them down and keep on telling everyone how bad they are and they will either believe you and stop coming all together or they will keep on rallying behind the team and hope that Coach Slatten comes to the point that he understands who works together and who doesn't. Remember, being constantly negative reflects back on the person who is negative, not the boys out there playing their hearts out.

Bad attitudes start with the coach. Maybe someone should tell him that his attitude seems to pass to the players. I heard after a couple of his players got technicals at a playday that he made them run 150 laps, yet I wonder if he has had to run for his technicals? Just a thought.

Heard White County boys and girls won last night, would anyone that was there like to comment? There was some good comments about the teams on the radio

Come on, I heard that the hometown refs were so biased that Pickett Co scored 1 basket the 3rd quarter and got 21 points in foul shots. Really!!!! Double technicals. Was White County the only rude one? Don't you think that Pickett County might have had a little going to want to beat a "AAA" team as you so elegantly put it. I think Pickett County played well, don't get me wrong, I am not trying to take anything away from them, but it sounded a little lop-sided over the radio. I wasn't there, could someone from White County that was there please respond. We have heard very forcefully from Pickett County

Did anyone see White co play at the Oak Ridge play day. I heard the officiating was awful, but they still pulled a win out of it. Please let me know if anybody went.

Yert9000, body language should be a clue as to how these boys feel about playing. They have no team spirit, no love for the game right now. Negative feedback and constant talking about how great the 8th grade team is going to be has really got these boys attitude down. Some positive comments and some confidence in their playing ability might help how they feel about themselves and their chances of having a winning season. I think these boys have a real chance of winning a few games, no I don't think a district championship is in the running but I think if they could get their confidence built back up they could have a lot better season than last year. Yes, Agee is going to be missed but I think England could put some points on the board if the coach would leave the him and the other boys in long enough to get warmed up. This constant switching in and out doesn't let them get their shot warmed up. Yes I know that these are just scrimmages but confidence can be built or torn down during these times.

Seth England is a really good linebacker/tightend/wide receiver, you name it and he can play it. The team did poorly this year but England's stats are fantastic. We should see great things from him next year.