cbg

IMO, when a major contributor/recruiter for the MBA football program passed away several years ago the talent level also began to drop off.

Don’t forget that MBA has a new headmaster. Every time there are changes at the top those individuals have different philosophies about athletics. Some individuals feel that being competitive is going .500 while others expect nothing less than playing for a state title in every sport offered.

It was a mere formality

There are weird people in every aspect of wrestling and that’s what makes it a great sport! As far as schools/coaches not wanting to compete against other schools unless the chances of winning (home gym, coach picks the official, the competition date is perfect for school/coaches X) this is strictly a coaches ego getting in the way of the big picture. When carefully examining the situation so many coaches/schools have lost sight of the big picture and that is to teach student athletes that the most important goal is not winning a championship but learning how to continue fighting and trying to reach your goals when things don’t go your way.

Is MBA intelligent enough to heal hurt egos with the McGugin’s and Bowers?

I do not personally know Roc Batten but I do wish him well. However, IMO, this is nothing more than eye candy as a hire. Why does JP2 feel as if Roc Batten can win at JP2 when he was terminated for being less than successful at Ensworth with much greater resources than he will ever be provided at JP2? This is nothing more than another Catholic institution in Middle Tennessee trying to place a square peg in a round hole instead of placing people in positions where they can be successful. Personally, I look for Father Ryan to make the same type of stupid hire if not worse. The last two coaches at FR have been ultra successful Tennessee public school football coaches and they have been complete failures at FR. It’s my understanding that FR is currently looking closely at another Tennessee public school coach. I ask the question, do people not ever learn from their mistakes or are the wrong people in charge of the hiring process?

I have been told that the “REAL” reason that Baylor is now refusing to wrestle against Father Ryan is the following: Baylor accused Father Ryan and their HOF head coach Pat Simpson of cheating and not weighing in one FR wrestler at the 2024 State Duals. This claim was deemed a clerical error as the officials in charge of weighing in the contestants remembered the wrestler making weight but failed to record the individual. Correct me if I am wrong but that is my understanding of the situation after consulting with an official.

If anyone thinks for one minute that 90% of the D2AAA schools don't hire not only the head coach but the entire coaching staff and then create positions for them within the school, those people are not in touch with the real world.

From the results it appears as if the FR Tournament had a stronger field this season than any other year.

Playing football at the collegiate level has more to do with perspective than anything! No, it has nothing to do with the fact that someone may or may not be able to coach high school athletes, but it does guarantee that you have been exposed to ideas and philosophies that most others wouldn't understand. IMO, anything other than winning a state championship (not extremely difficult in Tennessee with 9 divisions) is not acceptable. Is that a hardcore philosophy, yes it absolutely is! As an athletic director would I terminate a coach for not winning a state championship absolutely not. However, I would terminate a coach for having a history of not going deep in the playoffs most every season.

There is more politics at DCA than in the bubble of Washington, DC. Everyone has an opinion and few if any with an opinion have ever played football at the college level, yet they are all experts.

Overall not a bad showing from the Tennessee guys. There were a couple of guys that lost in the blood round that had they placed would have made the final results look much better.

MBA has enough money to do whatever they need to do! Just a hunch that they may very well make an internal hire. I have absolutely zero idea has to the philosophy of the Board of Directors with regards to the football team but it certainly appears as if they have not been recruiting the same caliber of athletes that they did 10+ years ago.

It was reported that JC considered transferring to The Baylor school for the 2024 season so I could definitely see him transferring out if his HC leaves for another job. Would he consider IMG?

I will say that the two best 285lb guys that I have ever seen wrestle in Tennessee were Scott Wells and Bubba Millier. The ironic thing is that both of them played for Brentwood Academy, University of Tennessee and spent several years in the NFL. Another great Tennessee big guy that I was not fortunate enough to watch in person was former Saint Andrew Sewanee and Oklahoma State national champion Bill Harlow.

There is a reason that Bernard retired! Again, the TSSAA needs a CEO that is an entrepreneur and knows how to make money.

Typically baseball coaches make much less than football and basketball coaches. Baseball coaches should be begging for turf to keep from having so many rainouts.

Maybe I am just used to 285lb guys that know how to move their feet and lower their level and take a shot. Most of the big guys in Tennessee just push and try to get someone in a front headlock.

It’s much easier to go from wrestling to a football All-Star game due to the conditioning factor. Wrestling conditioning is much more intense than football.

Personally, I prefer natural grass over turf but it's not realistic anymore. You now have varsity football, JV football, freshmen football, boys' and girls' varsity lacrosse, boys and girls JV lacrosse, boys' and girls' varsity soccer and boys and girls JV soccer all using one field for games. Turf is the only option!

Just a simple observation, but why would anyone think that Gentle could compete must less beat a really strong kid when his football season had only been over for two weeks? Did he not take two weeks off after football to allow both his body and mind to recover? I love wrestling but these kids need some time off when transitioning from one sport to another.

This should be a good dual tournament in Columbus, OH: Father Ryan #4 Tennessee Mater Dei #4 Indiana Bishop Waterson #1 D2 Ohio Galion #12 D2 Ohio Harvest Prep NR Ohio Marysville #17 D1 Ohio Medina #8 D1 Ohio St. Parris Graham #1 D3 Ohio

Why was the event moved from MBA to Ensworth? I thought that MBA was an excellent facility for the Journeymen.

The administration sets the tone and expectations for everyone and that includes the faculty, community, parents, student body and athletes. Many years ago a successful high school football or basketball coach would often become the principal. Today because those same individuals do not have their phd they are passed over by a young person with a phd that has never been on an athletic field or in a gym shooting hoops. It’s a sign of the times that we are currently living in.

Being a successful high school football coach in D2AAA has more to do with the commitment of both the headmaster and the board of directors as anything else. I will continue to say that everyone must be pulling on the same end of the rope or you will not be successful.