BLUEMOM

Thanks BigOwl! Mr. Rush is one heck of gentleman and is doing ok. I have dispensed BlueMom hug and am baking cookies tonight! I hope his rehab goes well and look forward to seeing him return to action. Starting to plan the tailgate for Friday if the weather holds off. Thinking might take advantage of the new Buddy's BBQ near the school for some vittles and will have the flag flying. Will also debut my new hat for the season! Also looking forward to the "re-load" and our second senior season game! Go Blue!!!

Looking forward to the trip. Out of curiosity, what is the horse's name and will he be there?

Good luck to all the DII teams tonight and tomorrow! Looking forward to breaking in the new turf and eating a concession stand hot dog! Be safe in your travels, fleet of foot, sticky hands and hit somebody! Go Big Blue!!!

After a short heat index delay, a large crowd of spectators enjoyed watching the scrimmage. Both sides seemed organized in the preliminary drills. The Owls did not have the large number of players I would have expected. I am not sure if their JV was in attendance. It did not work out with the Blue JV. Both sides rotated in all strings. The Owls had trouble moving the ball on offense. I'm not sure they had a first down (might have a lot going on). There were some miscues in the backfield hand offs. On the bright side, there was a defensive pick that was pretty and your kicker/punter looks good. The scrimmage ended with Blue driving for the end zone on the 15 deep in Owl territory and moving the ball well. There was only one total package drive for each team. Format was definitely organized to work every player on the field.

The rep indicated that it could possibly be that if your division played on Thurs one year, the next year it would play on Friday, the next on Saturday then return to Thursday. Nothing decided or determined just an idea being discussed. It seems on the surface to be a fair way to spread around the most prized time slots.

I just returned from the state rules changes meeting and the TSSAA rep conducting the meeting stated that a potential for next year-2010-could be a possible rotation beginning for the state championship games. This year it is Thurs DII, Fri & Sat DI small to large. A rotation could begin with DII moving to Fri, then Sat etc... Sounded interesting...along with a few others!

Does anyone have a mid-day report from the MTSU 7/7?

I was excited to see the high school talent represented this past weekend at the UTC senior showcase. They had approximately 175 gentlemen from TN, GA and AL. After putting them through agilities and 40's the players were worked in their positions. There was a kicker who was just booming them hitting 50 yard field goals like they were nothing. The wide receivers vs. the db's were a joy to watch. There were at least 3-5 receivers that if I were a coach I would be slobbering over. One young man was running a simple route, did a fake juke that left the db dead in his tracks and caught the pass to score. He also caught several other passes and must have hands of glue! The QB's that were working out had some nice touches and threw some pretty passes. While I couldn't focus on everything, it was awesome watching the area seniors-to-be work out and show interest in a program that I hope turns it around! The schools I noticed were Rhea County, Red Bank, Ooltewah, McMinn County, Meigs, Central, Marion County, Callway (GA), Model, South Paulding, Hixson. I'm sure there were more but they changed into generic numbered t-shirts.

David Brainerd Christian School in Chattanooga has fallen victim to the economic times. They had scheduled 10 football games. Thoughts and prayers to the students, players, teachers, coaches as they move forward.

Obviously, I'm biased on this topic. But I say welcome home BJ, I look forward to watching the quad of Blue put on a show this coming fall! It is wonderful to get to say go big blue on Saturdays!

Hamilton County has been discussing a merger of Soddy Daisy High and Sequoyah High. Sequoyah doesn't currently offer athletics and is a school of choice with students attending from all over the county. It was a former vocational only school and is now comprehensive with vocational programs offered. The superintendent mentioned that the merger would allow students the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities including sports. How would this work? Would each student/athlete need a special waiver if they lived out of residential zone? Would they have to sit out 12 months if they transferred? Just a thought!

I don't know if the rivalry will return to campus next year. There are advantages to holding it at Finley. My understanding is that the Blue gets to swim the river again this year and return to the scenic Baylor field which I had heard a rumor that they will install turf this summer. It is a great game no matter where it gets played! It will be exciting to get spring practice underway and then move onto summer!

Father Ryan is giving us a whole new venue in which to play. We currently have a few renovations underway at our stadium. Does anyone else have anything underway? This is link to the photos of our current work. http://mccallieschool.smugmug.com/gallery/...17_HkVrd#P-1-12

I think we are due to play you there this year. I look forward to visiting the new digs! Our new turf is due in any day now. The dirt has been moved, the gravel/sand packed down and I believe we are ready for the rubber stuff! I voted for us to have blue like Boise State, but the school chose green! However, it could possibly be blue endzones! I'm just ready for spring practice!

What color will the turf be? What about end zone decoration?

What is your football resolution for 2009? Mine: to think of at least one positive thing about every adversary we face! Happy New Year to all and hopefully spring practice will be here soon!

Here's to wishing everyone a very merry big blue holiday season! May you enjoy valuable time with friends and family and may 2009 find you safe and happy! Also hope that Santa fulfills all your wishes on your list! A very Merry Christmas from the the Big Blue!

I am thankful for a good 2008 high school football season and the opportunity to follow my son in his junior year and the team! I am thankful for good coffee stops after Friday night football when faced with a 2 hour drive home. I am thankful for the coaches who lead and guide our gentlemen both off and on the field. Thanks to all the players, coaches and officials for a job well done!

I don't believe anyone is suggesting a "easy" fix will be the answer; if there is even an answer. But in order to improve the kicking game one has to start somewhere whether attending clinics, adding it to the practice time slots or simply placing value on the positions as you try to teach the importance of that aspect of the game. I know our coach places tremendous value on the kicking game and the team works on it relentlessly. I doubt he is the only one. It could be some of the inner city coaches are doing the best they can with what they have and have other more pressing issues. Press the kicking game, for this is where the breaks are made!

The clinics can be fairly cost prohibitive if they are privately run and the college ones are for the most part recruiting tools not teaching ones. Has anyone thought of asking around for a coach, parent, relative, sympathetic party...for a volunteer to do a "free" clinic at a local field to just cover the basics? Also, while working on the kicker, don't forget the snapper and holder. If the kicker can't get the ball (a problem I notice due to being a long snapper mom), he/she can't do their job. Kicking and snapping are art forms that have to be worked at and perfected frequently in solitary conditions. There is at least one good private clinic coming to Memphis and just posted their 2009 summer schedule. I will not post the site as I'm not sure if the boards have an agreement but will be happy to give to you privately. They are expensive. Good luck!

Checking out the maps and have a quick question for the Nashville folks. I really hate the West End area traffic. Would cutting over the I65 on the 840 bypass and coming in Old Hickory Blvd be a better alternative? Thanks for any help! Looking forward to a great game and seeing you this pm! For those who might miss me, I'll be in blue!

This should be a great game in a hotly contested rematch with the Blue looking to even the score. They looked really focused at practice and look to be the upset victor. McCallie 27 Ensworth 24 Go Blue!

ehsfootballl rules, your apology is accepted. No offense taken. I look forward to a great game this coming week with a different outcome from the previous one and getting to progess through the brackets! The Nashville area sport talk radio referred to Div II AA as the NFL of TN high school football and I believe they just might be correct. BTW, they were a good talk radio show to listen to while driving home!

Congrats to a very good MBA team. That fake punt was a thing of beauty. Thanks for the hospitality, time to get back to work and focus on the next item on the agenda. Look forward to the posssibility of a rematch in the Boro!

You might be right ehsfootballrules and have your "easy" road to the championship game. But I doubt it. If I remember right it took Ensworth two overtimes to defeat McCallie and I know the Blue will not lay down and roll over for you! It is really difficult to beat a team twice!