Cactus Jack

Coach Miner did a good job at HVA this year even though the record doesn't show it. He is getting a lot of things done there that were lacking and from what I understand his JV and Freshman teams have some potential. He does have some good assistants there and they were good when they were at OR, basically he has the defensive staff from OR in 2021. He is in a good position to build a good program at HVA over the next few years.

Emory was a lot like recently passed Coach Mike Leach at Miss State, he was all over the place sometimes, but he was a very good motivator and had good football knowledge. He came to the Oak Ridge vs Powell game in 2020 and came over to me at halftime and said hello, and I was surprised he remembered me at all, I was kind of after his time at Oak Ridge, and I remember he told me that "OR is going to have to hold on in the second half" and we had to as Powell mounted a furious comeback in the 4th quarter and only a missed extra point by the Panthers allowed OR to get out with a 28-27 win.

I remember that, you are exactly right, that’s a dirt road OR doesn’t need to go down. I hope they get this right when they get a new coach.

I don't think the AD had a lot of say in it, either way, I understand it came from the administration,

They (parents) never heard Jack Armstrong or saw one of his prac

I do hope in the next coaching search that if they appoint a committee to interview and recommend a new coach that it will be a valid exercise and not a facade where the administration is going to pick the coach and had already picked him and the committee is just a show. Also, the next coach needs the absolute support of the administration from day one to get this program back on its feet. I’m not sure the OR admin is all in on that. I do wonder if the issues the admin had with Coach Cummings were adequately communicated to him as they happened and he was given changes he could make real time. His firing seems to be rather quick and vague in cause. Anyway I wish him luck in finding a new job and strongly urge the admin get it right this time and stand behind the football program.

One thing that needs to come out of this is those who don’t need to be in the sidelines on Friday nights don’t need to be there unless they have a job or a valid reason. It’s a tough place on Friday nights and things get intense and emotional, it’s part of it. Not a place for sensitive ears.

Schedule is still unofficial at this time, may be some changes yet.

2023 Oak Ridge Schedule Revised 12-8 8/18. Jeff County 8/25 OPEN 9/1 Powell 9/8 @Karns 9/15 @McMinn County 9/22 @Clinton 9/29 @Central 10/6 @Farragut 10/13 Bearden 10/20 Lenoir City 10/27 Campbell County

Since 2005, it seems like Oak Ridge is always missing a piece somewhere, I think the 2005 team was the last complete team OR put on the field. After that....One year it may be the secondary, then running backs or quarterback, and yes lately the lines. Especially depth in the lines, ability to replace injured linemen with a backup who could play. Last year in 2021, OR had two linemen go down quick with injuries, and the running game went nowhere, backs couldn't escape the backfield. Last season, in 2022, I thought they were better, I thought Ron Gray did a good job with what he had, but this line too had several mid-season injuries around the Powell = Greeneville time frame and the results showed it. They did better the last part of the season when those guys returned. There looked to be some decent size in the freshman and JV teams so hopefully some depth can be built there, It would be great of the OL and DL only went one way. In 2023 Oak Ridge could be very good skill wise again, the quarterback has some experience and they have a good sophomore coming up behind him. Running back is good and receivers should be good. On defense, linebacker is a big question after losing two good linebackers the last two years. The secondary could be OK with some work. As for next year, Powell will be OK if indeed all their offensive lines return, those guys are hard to get by and are great on pass protection, but they will be green at quarterback and have lost some other good skill players. West will be good, but not anywhere near this year, they have a lot to replace. Over in Clinton I am hearing "Year of the Dragon" again, All in all, too early to tell, there may be transfers, other things that help or hurt teams.

2023 - Year of the Dragon??

I thought West was super conservative on offense against Powell, Powell started loading the box because West wasn't showing pass, West had to dail up a pass play at the end to get the insurance score. Powell better on offense, West better on defense. Good game, Page has size and beat a good Henry County team, West may have to open up a little more if Page loads the box.

Good luck to the Mavs, sounds like they are up against a big, athletic team in Pearl-Cohn.

Will the Clinton vs AC rivalry resume next season? AC could be coming off a State Championship and rebuilding.

AC is on the table, as well as Central, Cookeville, Powell and of course DB and Farragut.

I look for Pal to be a little in the rebuilding mode next season, they lost a ton of good players.

I would go with West, partly because I know more about them than about Page. I hope West has some pass plays in case Page does stop the run. Of course if Page does not stop 14 and the West running game, its over.

A very good football game. The type you want to see in the semifinals. Both teams were in it to the end. I thought West had a chance to put it away after the 99 yard interception put them up 21-6, but they couldn't get a stop on Powell the next series. Potts had a great game, you could tell he really wanted to win this one bad. In the end the difference was the West defense were able to get home on a couple of blitzes and get Potts. I was surprised West did not throw the ball more, usually I think teams throw too much, but West didn't throw much at all, although one pass was the big one that put them up at the end. I saw a little bit of Page and Henry County on stream last night. Page came away with the win. They look like they have good size and a good running back. So West can expect a tough title game.

Interesting matchup for sure. West defense vs Powell offense. Questions are can West run the ball on Powell consistently enough to keep the Powell offense off the field and wear on their defense and can West get any pressure on Potts (OR was unable to) and sack him or make him make hurried throws. If it isn't rainy or too cold I may have to journey up beautiful Clinton Highway again this Friday to watch.

That was the ball game right there. OR should have ran the ball again and the clock. Incomplete pass stopped it. Punt was bad an easy short field for Powell.

Me either, I was there and I had hoped OR would have had more fans come, but given the damp cold weather, a lot stayed home figuring the 9-2 Kees would end our season like last year. Not the case, these guys did not quit down 12-0 and I think the Kees defense got a little tired in the 4th quarter as the OR running game opened up. A good win for these guys who have had a couple of rough seasons. I hope OR has a big rowdy crowd at Pal Friday night, make it like a home game, the weather is going to be a little cool, but doesn't look like any rain or hurricanes. Its only 10 miles out beautiful Clinton Highway. LOL

Give OR another year or so and they will get past this round, I don't know anything about Boone, but I know West is loaded and fast.

I think OR will give it their best shot, Pal has a lot of talent all over the field from everywhere. OR is just now beginning to find itself after a rough season, I think Pal will win, its at their place and they can score a lot of points, to win, OR has to make it a low scoring game and get some help from turnovers. So Pal probably wins, and go on to play West, and right now West is playing the best football in 5A, and if its Pal, West will get them.

Listening to the 99.1 radio guys coming back Friday night, they already have a Pal vs West matchup in the semifinals all locked up, with the winner the state champion. So, I guess the Wildcats don't even have a chance vs Mighty Pal. But, I think they will show up and play anyway,

I don't know but the AC Girls Softball team was pretty good and has a nice field the last time we played them up there and of course football has to be good, since it has the biggest gates and pays the bills.