BLUEMOM

Here are the rules changes for upcoming season: INDIANAPOLIS, IN (February 14, 2011) — A change in the definition of a chop block in high school football, along with a strong emphasis on proper use of the helmet to minimize risk of injury, highlighted the January 21-23 meeting of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Football Rules Committee in Indianapolis. The modification of the chop block rule was one of 11 rules changes recommended by the Football Rules Committee and approved by the NFHS Board of Directors. The new language in Rule 2-3-8 defines a chop block as “a combination block by two or more teammates against an opponent other than the runner, with or without delay, where one of the blocks is low (at the knee or below) and one of the blocks is high (above the knee).†Previous language defined a chop block as “a delayed block at the knees or below against an opponent who is in contact with a teammate of the blocker in the free-blocking zone.†Bob Colgate, NFHS assistant director and liaison to the Football Rules Committee, said that any combination block where one block is high (above the knee) and one block is low (at or below the knee) will constitute a chop block – with or without delay between the blocks. He also noted that a low-low combination block is no longer a chop block. Although not an official rules change, perhaps the most significant action by the committee was the issuance of the 2011 Points of Emphasis on concussions, helmets and contact above the shoulders. The NFHS has been the leader in establishing playing rules to deal with concussions. Last year, the NFHS implemented new guidelines for the management of a student exhibiting signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion. In addition, the NFHS developed a free online course entitled Concussion in Sports – What You Need to Know, which has been viewed by more than 135,000 persons. “The committee chose not to change many of the playing rules as it intends to ensure the continued focus on minimizing risk of injury to high school football players,†said Julian Tackett, chairman of the NFHS Football Rules Committee and commissioner of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association. “The minimal number of rules changes in high school football this year verifies that the country feels like the game is in great shape.†In other rules changes, the committee standardized the rules regarding the replacement of apparently injured players, players who exhibit concussion signs and symptoms, and players who are bleeding or have blood on their body or uniform. Players removed in any of these situations must leave the game for at least one down, and the time-out is an officials’ time-out, not one charged to the team. The rules committee also defined two types of authorized team conferences – the “Outside Nine-yard Mark Conference†and the “Between Nine-yard Mark Conference.†When an injury occurs and the referee grants an authorized conference, it must be an “Outside Nine-yard Mark Conference.†Colgate said this will provide medical personnel time and space to address the injured player. Three changes were approved in Rule 1 – The Game, Field, Players and Equipment. In Rule 1-1-8, language was added to note that “game officials maintain administrative responsibilities for the contest through the completion of any required reports or correspondence in response to any action occurring while the officials have jurisdiction.†The revised rule further notes that “state associations may intercede in the event of unusual incidents after the officials have signaled the end of the game or in the event a game is terminated prior to the conclusion of regulation play.†In Rule 1-5-1, the detailed specifications for thigh guards were deleted because they were not necessarily applicable to newer technologies used in current production. The requirements for wearing thigh guards and that the guards be unaltered from the manufacturer’s original design/production remain part of the rule. Restrictions on eye shade were added to Rule 1-5-3c. If used, eye shade must be applied using a single solid stroke under each eye. “The committee’s intent was that eye shade be located below and within the width of the eye socket and not extend below the cheekbone,†Colgate said. “No words, numbers, logos or other symbols of any type may be included within the eye shade.†Four changes were approved by the committee in Rule 9 – Conduct of Players and Others. Those revisions include the following: · All horse-collar fouls being treated as live-ball fouls. · Roughing-the-passer penalties being enforced from the dead-ball spot when there is no change of team possession and the dead-ball spot is beyond the line of scrimmage. · The illegal participation rule including a player who intentionally goes out of bounds and, while out of bounds, affects the play, touches the ball or otherwise participates. · Establishing an unsportsmanlike foul against the head coach for failure to adhere to the limits on squad members being on the field of play during the coin toss. A final change was made regarding running clock/mercy rules in nine-, eight- and six-player rules. Football is the No. 1 participatory sport for boys at the high school level with 1,135,052 participants in the 2009-10 school year, according to the High School Athletics Participation Survey conducted by the NFHS through its member state associations. In addition, the survey indicated there were 1,350 girls who played football in 2009-10. Way to go Ladies!

66in74 is right... he needs to do the calling etc. You can help edit letters and offer advice and be a sounding board. The online stuff is important too. As to the recruiting services, be careful. They can be very pricey and should make no promises or guarantees. If it sounds too good, it probably is. That being said, alot of them offer databases of compiled programs that they keep up-to-date with contact info etc. Can save alot of groundwork on your part. Just be sure of the costs going in. Anything they promise to do for you, you can do yourself and sometimes they may not do as they promise! Not sure about any camps! Will post if I hear anything! The colleges should start posting their summer camps on their athletic websites soon. I know UTC does a senior camp usually early in June. When looking at camps a good tip is that you want the program's coaches to lead the camp not individuals brought in from the outside. You want that program's decision makers looking! I'll post if anything else pops into my little pea brain! The whole process taught my whole family that it is a business and you and your family should approach it that way. Get very familiar with the NCAA rules. The brochure is posted on their website. It will help you understand the limitations placed on the programs at each level!

My son is not blessed with that kind of size! Be that as it may, he is a pure long snapper now! He did get a school he wanted as a preferred walk-on. No scholarship money yet. Fortunately, after graduating from a DII private, his college tuition is like getting a raise! He is at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville. We sat down many times as a family, with coaches and with college advisors to determine what would be the best kind of school for him... academically, socially and football program. It boiled down to a smaller program in a smaller town with a good engineering program. After visiting TTU, he was sold. Admittedly, he wasn't even sure about looking at it at first, but his coach really liked the program and thought he would be a good fit. The majority of long snappers out of high school are only offered preferred walkon status. He was also offered that at some larger places and even a partial scholarship at a smaller program. Most programs will have only their starting LS on scholarship. He has not been treated any differently in the program than any other player and loves it! Now, with the God-given size, you should have an easier time and should hopefully garner $. As a specialist, the PR work was a must in my mind. While they are important and sometimes critical, they can be an afterthought in the recruiting process. As a OL/DL, they are more searched for and size can't be coached! We found one particular recruting site helpful due to their databases. I don't want to give free advertising but would be happy to give a private opinion. I'm not sure in your position, that you would need them. Hopefully, your coach can help. Remember, the athlete can visit as many programs as he wants as many times as he wants on his own dime. He can make 5 official visits that the school covers. He can call coaches ANY time. They are restricted as to when they can call him and may not even be able to return his call by NCAA rule so it is important for him to keep calling and he might get lucky and get through. Sorry to be so long winded!

I know it can get expensive doing the dvd copies, might consider posting on YouTube. When doing any correspondence, always make sure to include contact information for player and coaches. Consider all programs not just DII. I believe the NCAA site has a listing of all the programs and what level they are in!

He needs a decent highlight film and send it to anyone and everyone. You can get mailing addresses and Coaches names off team websites. Include a nicely done letter as well as his "RESUME" in writing. Do follow up phone calls and always at least leave a voicemail. Persistence! Make sure he is registered with the NCAA Clearinghouse/Eligibility Center and jumped through all their hoops with transcripts and test scores. Have him retake those tests if need be. My son did self-made photo cards and sent at holidays etc... to the programs he really liked. They actually worked! He used still pix of him in action at camps/games etc... Anything to get his names, stats and picture in front of a decision maker. Also any camps he can attend it is a must. Most programs have rising senior day camps at least where he would be evaluated. Good luck! Always send handwritten thank you notes to the Coach for taking his time/attention even if the conversation was not extremely positive. You never know when the Coach will change programs or when that program will have different needs.

Congratulations to Mr. Sharp on joining a good football program and having the opportunity to further his higher education and football career.

McCallie - Jarrod Coleman - UTC Keenan Hale - Syracuse Walk-ons are as important to any football team as the scholarship players.

Very good! If I had any gold stars to hand out I would! I'll do my best to think of something else! Maybe the Steelers/Jets will give me some fodder!

Team B is backed up at their own end zone and must punt the ball. Team A fair catches the punt on Team B's 45 yard line. Team A selects to put the ball in play via a free kick. Kick is made and goes through the uprights and over the cross bar. What do you have? Does the clock start?

Keeps me occupied while waiting impatiently for spring practice! Plus it is too cold to go outside and with no snow and football, what good is the cold? I will work on a scenario for you!

Here goes... The orginal force that put the ball in the endzone was the momentum of the interception from inside the 5 yard line, therefore no safety. We should have a bean bag at the 2. Since the force that put the ball into the endzone is A14 pass, there is a momentum exception and we will have first and 10 for B from the 2 yard line. Throwing a pass over the middle is dangerous! As Blueson would say, that is unfortunate for A!

I am not saying that Coach Simmons is the only coach who can fit the McCallie mold, but he was the one that was given the duty. I also don't think I can classify him as less than one of the best. Is he the sexiest hire out there? That remains to be seen. Was Chizik a sexy hire for Auburn? I think not, he was on the hot seat at the powerhouse Iowa State at the time. Was Rodriquez a sexy hire for Michigan? You bet... how is that working out? I for one will give Bubba a chance before I throw him under the bus. He did manage to not only get East Ridge to the play-offs, they actually won a game there. Not a small feat for them. As for that team across the river.... What goes around comes around. We had an awesome eleven year run. They've had a couple blips in the radar. Our time will come around again, and hopefully it will be under Bubba!

The Blue is looking very closely at payroll and possible reductions in it. They usually hire from within or one of their own. It would look pretty bad to spend large $ on a big name hire when others are possibly let go when you have capable staff already there who are willing to take on the extra responsibilities. Also one must consider the recent comments of an administrator, the McCallie mission statement is not about winning football or any other athletic championship. It is about helping boys to become men and to build CEO's. They would and did consider the whole overall picture. That may not be MY mission, but I'm very respectful of theirs! I'm sure that Coach Simmons wants to retain his whole staff. I believe in the tv interview he stated that he hoped they all would stay. It is a new season approaching, it will be interesting to see how they come together.

This refs wife doesn't always agree with every call an official makes and has been known on many occasions to quesion them. Have also been known to make my official hubby sit elsewhere in the stands when he really makes me mad. All I can say about the hire is that it was not what I would have bet the house on, thought it over, and it made more sense. It sometimes takes a awhile to see all the pieces of the puzzle.

Coach Simmons was head at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe in early 80's, then 12 years as an assistant at McCallie, then onto East Ridge for a few years. He then moved to LaFayette High School in Georgia for a few years. After that he was a prinicipal in North Georgia before coming to McCallie as the AD. While on initial contemplation of the hire, I might say hmmm..... As I think back over the past few years as I've worked with Bubba it begins to become somewhat more apparent. He loves football and coaching. He is really good with the kids and I don't think he missed many practices due to other duties needing his attention and as the head I guarantee he won't miss any! The staff is loaded with high quality individuals and he is another one. I know the resumes that were received were given great thought and consideration. I am sure the school has selected who they feel to be a good fit for the program as well as for the overall school mission.

Don't believe the resignation was "forced". Coach Whitt remains on staff. Coach Simmons, who hasn't head coached in a while, has been very hands on with the football team. Coaching is definitely in his blood. Don't think there was a major conspiracy there. As I stated in an earlier thread, the Blue tends to hire from within. They had several potential qualified head coaches on staff. They picked one! Let's play ball!

Welcome to the new Head Coach -- Coach Bubba Simmons. He will do a fine job! www.mccallie.org

When you look back over 100 years or so of history, the Blue has a tradition of hiring from within or one of the Blue family, i.e. an alum. It will definitely be interesting to see who actually submits a resume and what the final outcome will be! One of the most successful "out hires" was Pete Potter (Ralph's dad) 1973 until 1993. Of course, times were a different then!

Lots of rumours swirling. My understanding is that they have formed a committee to review all applications and make a decision. My experience with committees is that it will take a while although Coach Whitt was named in a week and a half. We have at least 3 assistants on staff with head coaching experience on their resumes - Coach Tolar, Coach Caine and Coach Suttles. If they are interested I have not heard. IMHO, a head coach definitely makes a difference, but until the blue opens the coffers a little bit and improves its student-athlete selection we will remain mid-pack. Hard to coach a team with very little lead in the pencil.

Coach Whitt is one of the finest gentlemen I have ever known. His time and attention to all his players is phenomenal. We appreciate all that he managed to teach Blueson and all the time he spent helping him to locate a good collegiate football fit. He is very special!

Happy New Year and hope everyone was safe! Now exactly how long is it until spring practice begins?

Guess he got a lump of coal for Christmas from Santa. Must have been on the naughty list!

The Twelve Days of Christmas: Bluemom Style! Day 12 - 12 Cheering Fans Day 11 - 11 Players Playing Day 10 - 10 First Downs Day 9 - 9 Coaches Coaching Day 8 - 8 Tackles for Loss Day 7 - 7 Quarterback Sacks Day 6 - 6 Officials judging Day 5 - 5 Massive Linemen Day 4 - 4 Managers managing Day 3 - 3 Flawless specialists Day 2 - 2 New footballs Day 1 - 1 Golden Ball Merry Christmas to all! May your holiday be safe and spent with those you love as well as filled with some really great bowl games!

You are more than welcome! I loved Dana Carvey as the Church Lady on SNL!

The officials have conferences regularly. The referee will hear a "dispute" between those who see a call differently. He essentially acts as a "judge"...each side tells their story and he rules. Now while these conferences are going on, the Meatloaf song comes to mind "What's it gonna be?" and my foot is tapping in the stands! Maybe the Jeopardy theme is more appropriate. Coach Massey also had the option of asking for a conference to get a complete explanation and/or dispute the call and did not do so. His quote was that they had a better view I do believe. While hindsight is 20/20, it might have been better to hit the ball down or out of bounds than to attempt the catch.