Cactus Jack

I would like to see the Middle School programs get more emphasis from their administrations and get on the same page as ORHS offensively and defensively, especially Jefferson, which may have the best talent of the two, but not the best records lately. In Maryville, that is one of the keys to thier successes, is that their middle schools truly are feeder systems for the high school, the fact that thier best running back, Prevo in only a sophomore is proof of that. The Boys Club still does a pretty good job, but having went through it several years ago with my boy, I see the need to get players in the right positions and develop them, after all, not every coaches son is a quarterback, find the best kids for the best positions and give them a head start. On the talent level for ORHS, it is true they don't have the talent of earlier years, probably as much due to the run to Knoxville, Hardin Valley and Farragut by new young families with boys that can play, while Oak Ridge withers, and prosperity only grows on the other end of Pellisippi Parkway. So we got to get the town back, and then we will see more talent show.

I am sure Packer and Company will be pulling as hard as they can for Powell, which does have a very good team, but if the Wildcats come out fired up, which they have not been yet this season, they could steal a win here. GO CATS!!

Wow, I wish Oak Ridge could have the investment in Facilities like DB, Science Hill etc., I congratulate them on being able to get that done. And.....having seen DB against Farragut, I think they will be pretty good this year, looks like as with a lot of schools, their numbers are down a little, just less kids playing that could.

You may miss a lot, I think it will be a pretty good game and the Bounder presence will be missed up on the hill. I went to Bristol last spring and the race was different, not the good old beat and banger when Dale Earnhardt Sr was there....nope, this year the choice is football!!! I too, second the motion of playing DB again, but the schedules are very tight with all the District games now...

Honestly, I would like OR to play DB each year rather than Maryville, but schedules and distance came into play there too. DB has a pretty full district slate with the way it is realigned the last two years, and so does OR, so non-district games are limited. Right now Farragut and Maryville are our non-district games and thats it, I would say DBs are Clinton and Farragut. It doesn't seem natural for Clinton and DB to play, so maybe something can be worked out there for them, but OR would have to lose either Farragut or Maryville to get DB back on the schedule, and it would have to be the right week.

Honestly, I would like OR to play DB each year rather than Maryville, but schedules and distance came into play there too. DB has a pretty full district slate with the way it is realigned the last two years, and so does OR, so non-district games are limited. Right now Farragut and Maryville are our non-district games and thats it, I would say DBs are Clinton and Farragut. It doesn't seem natural for Clinton and DB to play, so maybe something can be worked out there for them, but OR would have to lose either Farragut or Maryville to get DB back on the schedule, and it would have to be the right week.

I understand DB is pretty young, but has a talented Junior Class, Farragut lost a lot off their defense, but has the QB and some skill guys returning. Should be a great week zero game at Fox Den. Edge to Farragut with the home field.

I think they are going to hold off on the helmet logo change at least until next year...we'll see, I don't care if its pink as long as we beat Farragut in Week one....

Got to go with CAK, AC is young and its early. CAK has some good talent, strong, if they have a weakness, they don't run the ball well. This one will be an air show, but CAK in a close one... Look for AC to get better as the year wears on.

Got to go with Maryville on this one. Science Hill is going to get better, they have invested in their program with a nice, 21st Century Stadium, and they will get better in years to come, but right now, they don't have the horses to play with Maryville at their house. Looks like if this bracket falls out the way it looks, it will be Maryville going to DB in a couple of weeks, that should be a dandy as DB has come back from last years down year.

Having seen both teams play, I gotta go with AC....too much firepower on offense, Dragons have to get big games from both Camion and Dee to have a chance on offense, on defense, get ready for the air raid....AC by 21.

Best of luck to Jose, he worked hard to get better. Vandy offers the chance to play and a top flight quality education too.....great job!!!

Maryville does not commit very many turnovers, especially unforced ones, you have to force them to commit turnovers, by picks and good hits. They are very well coached and the odds are this one is done, Riverdale did something you cannot do and expect to win at Maryville, turn the ball over. They won't get many penalties called on them over there either. Riverdale's first possession of the 2nd half is critical, they have to score. If not, they are toast.

Wow, sounds like Riverdale is intimidated, not the Riverdale of old, and being one dimensional with that Wing-T, they might be done already.... Someone told me this game was to be on MYVLT2, obviously bogus information, they got situation comodde's on there.....

I haven't seen Riverdale in a couple of years, and I know they went through a down period after Coach Rankin left in 2005, but it appears that they are back up to form now. From what I get from talking to a coaching friend in Middle Tennessee, Maryville will see Alcoa X 2, in other words speed on defense that closes fast, on offense, Riverdale has a pretty good running game (Wing-T I think) as they racked up a lot of yards against Farragut in mid-season, when they defeated the Admirals at Murfreesboro. Maryville will have to defend against speed as well, and strong lines. Maryville has a good, solid, well coached team, and they are at home, so edges to the Rebels there, but Riverdale will be more like a 6A team then Maryville has seen so far, far more real talent. Turnovers will again have to go the Rebels way for a win. For the most part, 6A on this end of the state was down this year, so they really did not see that type of team. DB is way down, Ooltewah was not as good as thought, Oak Ridge is rebuilding, and Farragut had a good team, but would not have had as many wins in a more up 6A year. AND, As those of us who were in old 5A and now in 6A know, the road to Cookeville goes through the 'Boro teams, you got to beat them to get there. This will be Maryville's toughest test, if they get by this one, they might win it.

We in Oak Ridge have a lot of respect for the DB Program and have enjoyed playing them over the years and a lot of us missed playing them this year, but that is the way the schedule worked out. We have experienced a couple of down years here and know how DB fans feel. Sometimes, you just don't have the talent and when I watched DB and Farragut this year, that is the impression I had coming away from the game about DB. Their lines seemed smaller then usual, they did not have the normal speed they usually have, especially at receiver and defensive back and their QB play was not consistent. Sensabaugh is a great running back, but he had a tough time running against Farragut behind that line. I know Graham Clark is a good coach and a great guy. I think if he can get the talent level up, DB will be good again. Every several years, you just get a year that you don't have it, DB had one of these this year. Some have brought up playoff losses, well, McMinn was a pretty good team last year, and a couple of years they lost to us in the playoffs, 2003 and 2004, but they were a great team both those years and in both seasons had beaten us. So hang in there, they will be better. We are coming back, but it doesn't happen overnight, sometimes it rides on a special class coming through.

This should be one whale of a game, having seen both play, the edge may go to Maryville with the home field and the fact that they rarely turn the ball over, or beat themselves. In the first meeting, Farragut jumped out 24-7, but two big picks got Maryville back in it and then they surprised them with one of Quarles famous trick plays. Farragut must take care of the football, Purdy must run the ball well, and they need to be smart with play calling to win this one. They must dominate, come out tough and play with emotion, like they probably did at Ooltewah. Otherwise, it looks like we might see the Riverdale Warriors coming to East Tennessee to play the Rebels the following week, that will be a very interesting matchup!!

I was at the game and it was a great football game to watch. I thought that AC came out and played with grit and determination, overcame their turnovers, played soft defense on the speedy Clinton receivers to keep them from burning them for the big plays, by keeping them in front of them. Clinton never really could get momentum except for a few minutes in the 2nd half, and AC did not let them keep it. Clinton had the edge in pure talent, but playing all those guys both ways and on kickoffs, wore them down some. I think they were really hanging on that last drive AC made and they almost did. Great play calling by AC on the last drive, being patient, taking what the defense gave them, and good use of timeouts. 41 seconds was just not enough time for the Dragons with no timeouts left. Great season for Clinton and good luck to AC moving on, will be a tough trip down to Middle Tennessee.

Here's another name to chew on: Joe Gaddis???

I second the motion for Gary Terry, a great guy and he would be a great Head Coach at AC, but if not, we would love to have him come back to Oak Ridge and help Coach Blade.

I congratulate Coach Mullins and the Committee on a great hire, they did a tremendous job. I have seen Coach Blade's Hillsboro team play live and I was very impressed with his use of speed and talent The big thing I saw was that his guys tackle well, especially in the open field. He was up against Joe Gaddis' very good Henry County team, and it was a dogfight to the end in the Semifinals. I am glad the selection has been made and like most, I am looking forward to Wildcat Football again. Now lets get this town turned around so he will have the players to develop. I agree with Old Dad on the radio station, we need one.

Bruce left because his son was deathly sick with cancer, and wanted to be near him at Vanderbilt when he went through his treatments. The Father Ryan opportunity came up at the right time for him, and it allowed him to retire and draw his pension from Tennessee Teachers and a great salary and location to be near his son. He would have liked to coach that team in 2005, but these things prevented that. He made the decision to support his family and that was an honorable one. Bruce would have won the state in 2005 because he would have been prepared for Ravenwood and he would have made adjustments to stop them and move the ball ourselves. I am not sure Ravenwood would have scored on Bruce's defense.

No, they didn't, but the Riverdale teams of 1993, 1994 and 2003, 2004 were blessed with speed and talent, more than we had, and the 2005 Riverdale team was not nearly as good as any of those. Winning the state means winning the final game, when you are fortunate enough to get there. Beating Riverdale does not guarantee you the State Championship, unless you beat them in the finals.

I gotta agree with Bounder here. This show needs to be over and a new coach hired, there are such things that no one is much talking about on here such as pay and teaching positions. These are definate issues the committee is probably wrestling with, pay probably cancelled out Pemberton and may also any big name coach with the coveted head coaching experience everyone wants. Remember, Oak Ridge teachers have not had a raise in two years, and may not this year, School Budgets are thin at best. I agree with TnBreakers that not everyone will he happy with the new coach, but whoever it is, we as a community owe him our support to try to bring this program back. I think it will be over this week, but it will not be the first choice, or maybe even the 2nd or 3rd, but they need to go ahead and get the best that will take it, and move forward with preparation for 2009, because every week lost is hurting that. PS: I would have no problem with Coach Gray, I think he would put together the best staff he possibly could within the restraints of money and teaching positions and he would work hard, but I acknowledge he would have some fences to mend both with current assistants and the fans and I think he would try to do that. He would be the most economical hire for the school system, and money is a factor, or otherwise we could go after the Quarles and Rankins of the world.

Anyone?? The one we had did not. Bruce and his staff built that team, starting in 2003, it took three years to put a team like that on the field. You have to build a team like that, they just don't come out of nowhere.....