Nashville Panther

QUOTE(wbcsoccer11 @ Apr 9 2007 - 03:59 PM) 826433228[/snapback]well isn't it funny you look at the teams in 2A and they are almost all private schools? I wonder why, you think they might get to recruit a little

Its not the recruiting - Its the demographics

First off, Hume Fogg, Portland, Westview, Northside are all Public schools but your point is well taken.

The reason for this is not exactly recruiting (although in theory all private schools have to recruit students to their school in general. The reason is demographics. Soccer has been dominated in America by Upper-middle class players. Just look at who is at state public schools with high SES (Franklin, Germantown, Farragut, Brentwoon, Hendersonville) and private. For A-AA most public schools are small towns/ rural areas and private schools. It will take a generation or two for things to equal out. (then again the high costs of travel might always be an advantage for the upper income students.

PORTLAND?????? I guess the big win over Macon County will land anyone in the top 10.

Otherwise a decent poll. Although the East Tennessee bias appears a bit strong (Then again they have been doing well in the state tourney)

Wow I think USj at #1 is very generous.

They play in Nashville in a couple of weeks. They have MLK and Hume Fogg. Should be a good indicator of how strong USj is.

CAK needs to be #1 until they are no longer the state champions.

Ridgeway mid to late 1990s????

Honestly. Until Giles County plays people outside of Southern Tennesse people will not be able to offer a real answer. The only team that is on your schedule that often plays out of the area is Columbia Academy who as not fared that great at the State Tournament. Also, Giles lost to CA 3-0. Thus, until other evidence comes our way I would think that Giles will continue to receive little attention/ respect.

I am not sure who is the coach at Giles but about 6 years ago I tried to set-up a match with Giles when I was coaching a pretty decent A-AA team in Nashville. I was willing to play a game in Giles for a return match in Nashville. The coach said that he wouldn't travel that far. I offered a Saturday game in Giles as to not make the kids travel on a school day. The coach said that he "doesn't give up his Saturdays." I am not sure if this is the same scheduling beliefs today but I think to get a true gage of where you stand I would play a 2-4 games a year against decent teams that are not in Southern TN. (Chattanooga and Nashville are not that far.)

GOOD LUCK. IF Giles has the players you speak of you will get your chance in the state!!

Should be another good/ balanced season. IS CPA the team to beat? Will East Lit. continue to improve? Will Ezell, HF or FRA make another appearnce at state?

Any thoughts? Pre-Season predictions??

Despite what others might say this is top to bottom the best A-AA league.

Fairview??? They were crushed by HFogg yet are ranked higher?

Also, Antioch needs to be out of the top 40.

Montgomery Central??? They don't need to be anywhere near the top 25.

Ezell and MLK should be higher.

Middle- but then again Middle tenn is the most heavily populated section of Tennessee. Thus, there are going to be more great teams from this area.

However, Knoxville area has more than represented in the past few years.

Don't agree at all. There are not yet enough teams at A or AA to have enough teams to fill every district.

Hopefully in 4-5 years there will be more A and AA level teams with soccer to have a 3rd classification. We are not there yet.

I think the game will start by 7:30.

I pick MLK.

They are important to win if the team has underachieved in the past. Teams that have a struggle winning should try for the vistory as it can establish a winning attitude.

For other teams I believe that it is a chance to try new things out.

I think you should take Greenbriar.

Best of Luck. I advise your coach to contact some of the other teams in Tennessee that have started up in the past few years. He might find some useful info/ common problems and solutions to getting a team started up at a High School.

I think it will be a battle between White House and Station Camp.

Macon, Greenbrier, and Merroll Hyde will struggle. Other teams in the middle

On the top 20 A/AA - no Hume Fogg? Made substate last year 2 years removed from State Semis. Tough to keep them off the list.

On the top A/AA teams. I would have to go with

1. CAK- they have won the championship several years in a row and have some great returning players.

2. CPA- They are the team to beat in Middle Tennessee. Most of the starting line-up returns in 2007. Played CAK to a shoot-out in the state tourney. (It would be an outrage if they end up matched up with them in the 1st round again)

3. Either Catholic or Notre Dame.