gatorbillmsu

I have messages in to the coach, assist coach, principals. The kid has been busting his tail, both at practice and with the books. I guess it just bothers me because I knew what this kid was putting in to make this work. And I know that he is not the only kid that is having the same problems at the school. I am not certain that the school will have enough kids left to put on a decent practice in the fall. Anyways, I have always seen it the way you have put it here in your post. Im not trying to throw the coach under the bus here, he has a team to run. But it IS a school first, and a sports program second. I will keep investigating this one, and see what I turn up. thanks for the info. much appreciated. /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" />

THIS is the space that I had typed up a reply to your post. And then I realized that I dont need people like you wasting my time. Have a good life. If possible.

Thanks warrior and rhea co. Here is what I am dealing with, and this is not my kid, but a kid that I know very well. (lets just put it that way) Strength and Conditioning has been going on all off season. The kid has been attending, and has not missed a session. Kid is also running track, so there are days where workouts are doubled. Spring ball is going. Kid is participating in both track and spring ball. Football practices go from 3pm-6:30, sometimes 7pm. The kid has been diligent. He is likeable. He is hardworking. I am not in those practices, but other kids who are have told me that this kid has been working his tail off and is a great teammate. The kid went to his coach (assist coach has been running spring ball) and told him that he is having some trouble with classes, asked if there was a way he could get a break to get his grades up. Coach went all "toughguy" with the kid (I have 2 independent witnesses) and it came down to "practice or quit". The kid quit. It was the right thing to do, because grades are more important than sports, but I do not understand how it comes to this. I have played a lot of football. I have coached a lot of football. I coached at a school where football was life. It was everything. But grades always came first. I dont get it. Is this team so desperate to prove that it isnt a failure that they are willing to sacrafice kids futures in the process? I will be in contact with the schools principal later today. I just wanted to check to see if I was that far out from reality on this one. Thanks.

Can you folks tell me what is common at other schools for Spring football? a) How many practices a week? /cool.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="B)" border="0" alt="cool.gif" /> How long are the practices? c) Are all practices mandatory, or are there passes given for Academic reasons? d) are there limits set by TSSAA that govern how many practices and how long they can last, etc? I would appreciate as much info as I can get here.

Congrats to Livingston Academy on a great year, and congrats to the seniors on a very fine career. You have accomplished a lot in your years at LA, and you should be very proud. You have memories that can be cherished for the rest of your life. You have a fine coach that I am certain has instilled a great work ethic, and great team values that will carry over to college, and the real world after that. Good luck to all of you in the future. Those that remain, Good luck to you next year, it will be fun as always. I look forward to it. Congratulations to Bolivar on a great win against a very good team. Best of luck to you the rest of the way.

somewhere out there I posted a fairly lengthy congratulations to Miss Leonard, but I cannot seem to find it anymore, hahaha. So, I wanted to come back and take the time to do it again. Miss Leonard, you have proven that good people can come out on top. You have proven that hard work pays off. And you have proven that if you work hard, and keep your mouth shut, good things do indeed happen. Congrats to you on a fine achievement. I know there are team goals that come before personal honors, and this year did not match your expectations, but you have a lot to be proud of. JC basketball will be back up near the top next year and you will be the driving force. Congrats again on a great 4 years, and good luck to you in your senior year. I will be pulling for you all except 2 nights next year. Keep up the hard work, there is plenty of great basketball in your future. GB

Thanks for playing traffic cop. We will all be certain to leave this thread now. It would have been nice if the LA discussion would have stayed in LA threads to begin with, but it seems that SOMEONE was in "Hijack" mode a week or so ago, and would not allow this thread to die. So, it is not too early for next year: GO BEEES. (but good luck to LA this week)

Congrats to Gibson Co. on a great win. Congrats as well to LA on a fine season, and a great tourney run. catch you folks next year!!

That is very nice praise for a couple of incredible players. The Davis and Maynard kids have been fun to watch here at Upperman. Hearty Congratulation from the GatorBill family to Lauren March. Great job. It has been a fun season, I look forward to next year. Im ready to roll already!!!

Good golly.

/thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" /> /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" /> Im just a fan. A very fortunate and thankful fan, because I get to see some great basketball, played by great kids.

It is not important who they are. Those relationships do not make me any better of a person or fan, or more knowledgable as a fan than anyone else. I only mentioned them to give persepective on the fact that yes, these girls are infact being looked at, and thought very highly of. There is more than ONE D1 prospect in the state of TN. I have never once said I know more than anyone, and I never will. Relax. If you actually read my entire post you would see that I am in favor of a person going to the school that fits them best. Just because it is not UConn or something like that, does not mean it is not a great opportunity, a great education, and a great playing experience. holy cow. I agreed with your entire post, and your post before that. Im not bigtiming anyone here. just saying that I know coaches are looking, and that any opportunity is a great opportunity. We should not be judging these kids just because their choices do not match what we might choose for them.

DINGDINGDINGDINGDING. WINNERWINNERCHICKENDINNER!!! I know that as fans, we like to brag. We like to say "hey, our player went to a better school than your player, that means she is better". That is not always true. One the subject at hand, I want to say that Kalya Christopher will probably win Miss Basketball this year. That does not mean that I think any less of the other two finalists. I have not seen Kayla play this year, but I did last year. I have seen Laken Leonard play this year, and I know the situation she was in with her team. She is darn fine basketball player, and person. She is a great representative of her school, and her community. And she will get a great opportunity to play at a major D1 school when it is time. Whether she chooses that opportunity, or a different one, is up to her and her family. I have regular contact with coaches at 3 D1 schools. Big Ten, SEC, ACC. I have spoke to them about several players from this area, and they like what they see. One is actively recruiting a kid in this area as we speak. Too much info, and too personal of info to give out, but LL is a D1 prospect, and is a prospect at many MAJOR Womens Basketball programs. ALSO, on the subject of "choices". Players make personal choices, for personal reasons. Example: Lashay Davis committed early, (first possible moment...could have waited it out) to a school that was a great fit for her. But that does not mean that it was the ONLY fit for her. And it does not mean that it was the only choice for her. I know three coaches that were very disappointed that they didnt get more time to take a run at Lashay. The Helton kid had more choices also. The biggest and best schools are not always the best choice for a kids education/playing career. I have one school that I would push ALL of these kids to if it were up to me, and they would get a great education. But they would also be hundreds of miles from their families. That is not the best situation for every kid. Good luck to all of these girls. I wish more kids could be like them. They are great representatives of their schools, their communities, and of their families. And it doesnt take a stinking trophy to call them winners.

Good Luck to the Cookeville girls from your Baxter neighbors. MrsGatorBill works at the HS, so I will be behind you folks all the way. /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" /> /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" />

Good luck to LA. I will try to get out there to cheer you on. Tough week for me, but I will try to squeeze at least one game in, between the boys and girls. sigh. On to track season for me......... /roflol.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":roflol:" border="0" alt="roflol.gif" />

Congrats to the Upperman Bees on a fine season. You fellas were fun to watch, and should be proud of your accomplishments. You gave it a good go. Great group to watch and you will be missed. Congrats to Brainerd on a fine win over a very good team. Good luck in the boro.

Why do we have a blind draw?: Because if they actually LOOKED when they draw, then that would be called "fixing" the game. And they have already hired refs to take care of that. /popcorneater.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":popcorneater:" border="0" alt="popcorneater.gif" />

already discussed earlier in this thread. But it doesnt matter. That did not cost Upperman the game. Not scoring more points than the opponent is what cost them the game. There is no one from Upperman making excuses. They have not yet in this thread, and you wont see it happen. It was two VERY good teams meeting at an unfortunate point in the tourney. And the loser goes home. Team game. One 30sec. moment in time did not cost Upperman this game. Congrats to both teams on great years, and good luck to McMinn Central later this week. /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" /> /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" />

yup. that is exactly what I said, but I used less words. Was not trying to imply anything else. /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" /> /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" />

I agree completely!! /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" /> /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" />

Im 5' 9" and used to be able to dunk........a tennis ball. /roflol.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":roflol:" border="0" alt="roflol.gif" /> Now all I can dunk are donuts!!! /hungry.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":hungry:" border="0" alt="hungry.gif" />

She is a good player, and an intense player. But getting T'd up is not like her at all. Im sure there was something, somewhere along the line that got out of control, or she would not have gotten out of control. Not trying to displace the blame, just saying that while the intensity certainly is normal for her, the T is not.

Does Jennifer have basketball plans for the future? I hope so. I know people in high place (and very cold places) that really like her. There is certainly a place for her to play somewhere out there.

Hey Abby! I think we will do well tonight as long as we dont get too ornery.....dontcha think? /popcorneater.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":popcorneater:" border="0" alt="popcorneater.gif" />

Hey RC. I will try. Im not sure if I will be able to break loose, but if it can happen I will take the short drive north and see how those Cats fare tonight. Good luck to LA. Will I need a bodyguard to get in the door? hahaha. Had to ask. I know the good people of LA would treat me right. If I dont make it today, I will catch you down at the Boro. GO BEEES