innocent bystander

Really??? Coach Martin is well respected, but it's going to be more than 2-3 years. Also, i would worry about Coach Martin still being there in 2 years. Rumor is he is being targeted to return to the private ranks to take over the Lipscomb job after this year. Don't shoot the messenger, just passing along what has been said.

any idea on a timeline?

Thanks, I'm betting they start Wednesday then.

I expect things to get very noisy soon. Can't drag it out forever, right?

getting back to the topic at hand. any word on the opening?, interviews, applicants, etc. Has Brentwood has Spring practice yet? Will they?

Nobody has mentioned the other big name from Rutherford County yet? Is he not interested? I figured every coach within a 100 mile radius would be jumping at this opening.

I see the point Dad, but if we went to the old system, it would be guaranteed to happen every year. At least with this system, there is actually a chance we get split up into Quad 2 and 3.....just didn't happen this year. The old way the top 4 get in and play the top 4 from another district. This way we also have a chance to get another team in like we did last year. Our quality of opponents has gone up in the playoffs under this system, but isn't that what this system was supposed to do....keep the Coffee Co and Warren Co's of the world out (no offense, just looking for examples).??

TSSAA groups teams based on geography. Brighton and Arlington would be deemed "closer" to the other teams in Quad 3. Because, you know, this whole plan was sold as a way to "cut down" on travel in the playoffs, etc.

The only thing I see (and it won't matter in the long run) is that some of the 2 seeds need to be flipped. The TSSAA doesn't "rank" in correct order the "ties". They just list by alphabetical order. For example...Science Hill would actually be the #1 and DB would be the #2 "right now". They play each other this week, so it won't matter. Wilson Central and Mt. Juliet would be the other I see for the same reason. It would adjust seedings a bit, but after this week, it will all resolve itself.

Sorry to interrupt the pity party, but wanted to correct one thing. Shad was the one calling plays, as he has ALWAYS called plays. Coach Robbins didn't "call the offense" at Smyrna, and pretty sure he isn't doing it at Blackman. Could be wrong....maybe mykidsdad could shed some light on that one.

Same as the playoff seeding. Overall wins is first. Then it gets confusing. I think you start over if 2 or more have the same number of wins. In your example, District 16, if East, Hamilton, and WS are tied at 3-2 in district. Hamilton is in the driver's seat, since they can finish with 7 wins. However, if they lose their other game out of district and East wins theirs, they will both finish 6-4. The first tiebreaker would eliminate WS since the best they can do is 5-5. Then it starts over. Since East beat Hamilton, they would finish 2nd Could be wrong, but I believe that is the way it works.

Pardon my ignorance of Memphis football. Why is White Station out? If the get to 5 wins, their tiebreaker is a lot higher than any other potential 5 win team.

am I correct in thinking that it is likely that Hamilton beats Melrose. Also, if that happens, it is likely that Hamilton will finish 2nd in the district, meaning White Station would have to win out and get to 5 wins in order to have a shot at a wild card. Looking at the TSSAA quagmire of statistics, it looks like they would be the top 5 win team in if there are spots for a 5 win team. Last question....how good is MUS this year and what are the thoughts on White Station's chances in that game?

If the criteria is "rural", I don't think you can include the Jackson schools. In my opinion (even including Jackson), the list HAS to lead with Henry County....or at least be very near the top.

Seems like Shad won a gold ball without Wyant in the weight room, if memory serves. Riverdale came in and pushed them around during the regular season, and I'm sure you got on here and said the same thing. But those same two teams played a few weeks later and we all know how that turned out. It is possible for one team to absolutely lay an egg any given Friday and it sounds like Blackman laid a pretty big one. I didn't see it, I was watching Smyrna lay an even bigger one.

Left Smyrna, went to Mt. Juliet (I believe). Vassar is back....Another former Smyrna assistant that got out of coaching last year I thought.

I have known several then that hedge a little on the "practice" definition. They don't use footballs, but definately instruction. They also watch film with students some during school, so that could technically be teaching/instruction. As for the weight training....hahaha. Show me a football program that opens their weight room up to the entire student body and is not football specific in their lifts.

You are correct on the point of you can't have a coach, a player, and a ball present or the Spring practice clock starts ticking. Some teams have skirted this by having their players doing very specific, football related "conditioning" drills without footballs. This is waaaaay in the grey area, and I think it is against the rule to even simulate plays in a team setting without a ball. What you "can" do is lift weights, condition, agilities, etc. You can even break into "positions" and do drill work with coaches as long as there are no balls and it is not an entire "team" drill. I have seen quite a few do this especially leading up to Spring Practice where the coaches can have their drills installed already and not have to waste precious practice time teaching drills. Pretty sure I am right about all of that, as that is how it has been explained to me by coaches who I think would know pretty well.

You are correct on the point of you can't have a coach, a player, and a ball present or the Spring practice clock starts ticking. Some teams have skirted this by having their players doing very specific, football related "conditioning" drills without footballs. This is waaaaay in the grey area, and I think it is against the rule to even simulate plays in a team setting without a ball. What you "can" do is lift weights, condition, agilities, etc. You can even break into "positions" and do drill work with coaches as long as there are no balls and it is not an entire "team" drill. I have seen quite a few do this especially leading up to Spring Practice where the coaches can have their drills installed already and not have to waste precious practice time teaching drills. Pretty sure I am right about all of that, as that is how it has been explained to me by coaches who I think would know pretty well.

Seems like every year, we have this discussion....and still every year the T$$AA's response seems to be "raise the price". It was noted that both Blackman and Riverdale had less than optimal crowds. I know I stayed home instead of making a trip somewhere. I don't think it had anything to do with the weather. The T$$AA has continually raised the price of tickets for the playoffs. They now get $4 for EVERY ticket sold and the schools (who need it) only get $2 a piece. I imagine teams that had to travel lost money. I thought that this new playoff system was to cut down on travel. We had Farragut traveling to Murfreesboro, Dickson Co traveling to Memphis.....cutting down on travel, right? It was all an effort to get more money by adding a playoff division. That is 15 extra games - you do the math.....the T$$AA did. Basic business sense tells you that if customers aren't buying your product, you lower the price. I guess the T$$AA doesn't have basic sense. I guess we probably already knew that.

good to hear Spring went well, but losing 6 varsity coaches and apparantly all, or most, of a freshmen staff are some big shoes to fill come Fall. Does anybody have any names to throw out for replacements. Do they raid other county schools for coaches or do they look elsewhere. Who was responsible for calling plays during the spring?

This is what I know....what I have seen here and what my limited contacts have told me. Williams - Gallatin - lateral, but some seem to think he will get the head coaching job when Lassiter leaves, but nothing is official. Keasler - UP - new head coach at Summitt High School. Brooks - don't know Embry - don't know Duncan - UP - I "think" he is the new DC at one of the county schools in the southern part of Middle TN. Jones - don't know Vassar - I think this is the one that is leaving teaching/coaching Platt - don't know I don't remember where I heard it, but I think that Duncan "might" be taking somebody with him. I would love it if somebody "in the know" could fill in some of my "don't know" blanks. I don't care how you slice it, losing 8 coaches is not good. It appears that only 2 are taking higher level jobs. Having been following the program for the last several years, the talent level IS on a down swing. You simply cannot maintain the talent level of the class that just graduated and the future Senior class. Those classes are usually once every 5-10 years for most schools, not back-to-back. To say the talent level is down is not meant to be a slap in the face to the following classes as much as it is a "tip-of-the-cap" to the classes before them. However, the Freshmen teams haven't seemed to fair as well since this coming Senior class was Freshmen.

From my ears, it sounds like a little of both. Only 2(maybe 3) of the ones listed I count as taking higher level jobs. The important questions now are who are some of the replacements and where are they coming from? Who is calling the offense and defense?

I can't speak to the coaching abilities of Coach Dyson, but I will clear one thing up. As long as they are not in pads or using a football, there is nothing stopping a team from walking through things or laying the foundation for Spring practice. A lot of, if not most, teams transition their workout times to more "football related" activities as Spring Practice approaches. It helps get new players up to speed and helps maximize the time you have in the 10 practice periods in Spring. Now if he is using a football or has them in pads....it is a clear-cut violation and he "should" know better.

Honestly, this year is the last chance for Smyrna to compete in the forseeable future. They will always have some athletes, but they will struggle to make the playoffs after this year. This years Sr's are talented, but the classes after them aren't quite the level they've had. Several coaches have sought employment elsewhere. New playcallers on both sides of the ball, and lost at least 6 college signees. Congrats to Coach Williams. Should be interesting.