FastGunFIfe

21 hours ago, BarneySox2007 said:

Will the kid that played QB for Sevier County against Heritage be back this year or was he a senior. He has some great speed.

Barney, he is a junior this year. He is a great, all around athlete. His best sport is baseball in my opinion. 

This will be an interesting matchup to say the least. I have watched GP most of the year. They are a very balanced team (seasoned posts and talented guards) that is well coached. GP also has a lot of recent experience at the state tournament and that cannot be overlooked. Their defense is very solid and multiple (different presses, man to man, and zones mixed). After watching a few McMinn Central games on film, I feel like I just described them in my GP analysis. All of the above applies to MC, too. Haha!  Each team has a standout player #30 for GP and #5 for MC. I believe it will be a classic game between two good teams. I truly think it could go either way.  

2 hours ago, SweetScience said:

Yeah, losing Ray (PG) in OT was OR demise. Like you said, could’ve gone either way. Karns end’s their losing streak to OR @ 26 straight losses. Incredible run by OR either way you stack it up, because Karns has had some really good teams during that time period. I think they have a great chance to make a title run this year. They have all the key pieces from a great PG, a really good big man, and 3 shooters all over the place. I wish them well. Thankfully for OR, they bring back every guy except for 1, so look for them to be top notch next year too. I could definitely see them making a run at state next year.

     I agree with you concerning Karns this year. They have a great starting 5. The big man is deceptively skilled and can move better than I thought. The two guards out front on their 2/3 zone are outstanding on the offensive and defensive ends. The 3 and 4 have good size, play sound defense and are very athletic. The only issue I see is bench depth. Only watching them one time, I'm not sure what is past player 6 or 7 on the bench. As far as WB, I heard this morning that WB had lost 40 straight times to Bearden before this year's 4 games (won all 4). That's incredible! I do think Karns and WB would have a better than average chance at making the state tournament. I cannot speak on DB, but I have seen Sevier County play a few times this year. They are extremely young with only 1 senior, 1 sophomore, and 3 freshman starting. The Smoky Bears are very well coached and a tough out at home. They play in a round gymnasium with depth perception issues for opposing team's shooters. It definitely creates a home court advantage. On the road, they are a little more vulnerable. 

    As far as Oak Ridge, I was very impressed with them. Sweetscience, which player is the senior? I don't know names, so if you can give me a number, that would help. Obviously, the Wildcats are well coached, play good defense, and shoot the ball well. They will have to be considered one of the favorites next year. 

I was fortunate to be in attendance last night for the two games at Karns and witness two outstanding games that could have gone either way. WB is so balanced with 8 solid players. Windle and Robertson are both outstanding. As eyeinthesky, mentioned, Bearden did a really good job containing him until fatigue set in and they began to foul him. Both teams are well coached. For the nightcap, the 3 free throws to tie the game at the end of regulation were clutch. In overtime, two prominent Oak Ridge players fouled out and Karns pulled away in OT. It should be a great matchup Thursday night between these two teams. Great crowd and atmosphere!

14 hours ago, BarneySox2007 said:

I went to the very first game Heritage played in 1977 against McMinn County which they beat McMinn in overtime. Also went to the first William Blount game in 1979 against Maryville which Maryville won 17-0.

Hey, Barney. I also attended that very first Heritage football game. If I'm not mistaken in each of the first games in the three major men's sports (football, basketball, and baseball), they all needed overtime or extra innings to complete the game. If you go to the trophy case, there are game balls to confirm it. That is crazy to me. 

9 hours ago, jaxx said:

That’s really cool that you’re interested in the old local schools. I know a lot about the Harriman two High School situation. In the late 50s, the city and the county school systems were integrated and the two high schools were combined into one. The reason it lasted until the mid 60s was because the city school board was slow to accept the integration, so the two schools remained separate until the late 60s. As for the other schools you mentioned, I know a bit about them. Ducktown High School and Copperhill High School were both part of the Polk County School System and eventually consolidated into the Copper Basin High School in the late 60s. Vonore and Lanier High Schools were part of the Monroe County School System and eventually consolidated into Sweetwater High School in the early 70s. Homestead High School was part of the Loudon County School System and eventually consolidated into Lenoir City High School in the early 80s. Finally, the Old Crossville Red Devils were part of the Cumberland County School System and eventually consolidated into Stone Memorial High School in the mid 80s.

I might be wrong, but I think Vonore High School combined with Madisonville High School to form Sequoyah High School. Also in the late 70's, Lanier High School and Friendsville High School combined to form William Blount HIgh School in Blount County. Three years earlier, Porter High School, Walland High School, Townsend High School, and  Everett High School formed Heritage High School in the mid 70's. I also think some of the Everett students eventually made their way to William Blount later. 

42 minutes ago, ILB1999WHS said:

That change is what brought this string of championships and accolades.  You can't have it both ways.

I'm talking about the recent changes. We shall see how things go from here. 

6 minutes ago, BarneySox2007 said:

I would rather be broke as Jobe's Turkey as to have another Fird Farkel move in here from out of town. Most come in innocent as can be but once they get feeling comfortable they take that mask off and there you are, a wolf hiding in sheep clothing.

It sounds like Maryville has changed a little since I lived there 20 plus years ago. That is a shame. Earlier, you mentioned Mr. Driskell, Coach Wilson, and Coach Campbell. I don't think you can get any better than those three. I feel fortunate to have been at Maryville High School when those three were in leadership roles. Also, Don't forget Dr. Mike Dalton.  

I asked my source where Gatlinburg played their games since they attended school at the Pi Beta Phi location. He told me there was a football field where the Gatlinburg Convention Center sits now on Airport Road. He said you would kick an extra point and it would go down into the main street on that end of the field. There was a hotel at the other end. I learned something new today! By the way, where can you access those yearbooks? 

16 hours ago, BarneySox2007 said:

I went on Google Earth and pulled that up. I know where that is at but never have noticed a school there in all the time I have went there. Did Gatlinburg play their football games there on campus also. I noticed a decent size school yard so I figured they might have. I have seen the last 6 or 7 yearbooks from the old Gatlinburg High online. What website has info on the old Gatlinburg High. Thanks for all the info you have helped with.

You are welcome. Yesterday, I was wondering where they played their games. I will ask someone who will know the answer to your question and get back with you. Here is the link for the history of the school:   https://www.sevier.org/domain/1955

It was located on the campus of where Pi Beta Phi Elementary exists today (Next to Anakeesta in downtown Gatlinburg). You were indeed correct that their mascot name was Mountaineers and they were blue and white. Once the high school students moved to the current location (GPHS), the school became a K to 8th grade until 2020. It is now a K to 6th grade as the 7th/8th grade students moved to the newly created Gatlinburg Pittman Junior High School. By the way, the elementary school colors are still blue and white and they are the Mountaineers. 

Before Gatlinburg Pittman High School came into existence, Pittman Center High School and Pi Beta Phi High School combined to create the existing school. I believe both were K-12 schools. You can go to Pi Beta Phi's website and read their history. It is quite interesting on how they were created. GPHS opened in the early 60's in it's current location. Hope this information helps. 

On 4/2/2021 at 7:40 AM, TheGreatWallofAlnwick said:

I agree with everything you said except about Cleveland, McMinn, and Bradley. WB has beaten Cleveland and McMinn in recent years and we had a real chance of beating Bradley Central last year.  So it's not completely accurate to say WB hasn't been competitive with those teams. The fact is WB has closed the gap with the decent to good teams they play. Obviously, the 2020 Cleveland game is a notable exception. That was an awful game for the Govs.

I agree and should not have included them in the discussion. Maryville was the only one I really needed to mention. 

6 hours ago, BCsportsfan said:

Ha. You want for your Son what most would. And, I agree with you. As D1 player you know what it takes at a higher level. If there is ever a real desire to be anything but a sub 500 team, there needs to be a change in philosophy.  A belief that we can compete. That is missing at WB, a program surrounded with winning programs from 1A football to 6A football. ALL within 10-15 miles of WB. The talent is there. The missing piece is confidence and swagger...and that starts with the Coaches, staff,  Administration parents and fans.  WB dodges Alcoa.....then schedules a 1A team? WB is better than that. Alcoa would not be Alcoa, IMO, If it where not for continued competing with Maryville and other tough competition. Plus, the deep desire to always want to get better and be competitive. Coach Lamar at Knoxville West said it best. His team was a favorite the last two years in 5A, only to get knocked off in the 2nd and 3rd round. But, he said he needed to schedule better regular season competition, his team NEEDED it.  He did! The Rebels schedule is brutal.  I guarantee it will pay off.  Right now.....the WB peps posting here give the feeling/attitude of just the opposite?

So, using your logic, what would be the benefit of Alcoa playing William Blount? Wouldn't it be a complete waste of time for Alcoa, in both program's current state, since "iron sharpens iron"? It seems to me you would be better off playing a Greeneville or Elizabethton. Alcoa already does a good job of scheduling non region opponents. Now, the real question is: Are you really interested in WB becoming a better program? If so, playing Alcoa, getting physically beat up, and losing by 50+ points is not going to be beneficial for them .It certainly didn't help them get better by playing Maryville every year and Cleveland, Bradley County and McMinn County the past few years. I consider Maryville to be on the same level as Alcoa. The confidence level has to be a little shaky. If you have coached at all, you do know confidence is a fragile thing that can turn on a dime.  I do agree with your Knox West example. The Rebels should beef up their schedule because they are in the hunt to make deep playoff runs. To be honest, WB is not near that level yet. After looking at the upcoming schedule for the 2021 season, it looks like there are some challenging games and winnable games for the Governors. My hope is they have a good season and can build on it. 

Championship Results:

Greeneville 59 Clinton 54

Championship Result:

Carpenters 30 Seymour 21

Friday Results:

Carpenters   41  Robertsville 18

Seymour  31  Heritage  26

Saturday Championship game:

Carpenters vs. Seymour  3:00pm

Friday Results:

Clinton 40 Maryville 39

Greeneville 55 North 25

Saturday Championship:

Clinton vs Greeneville 4:15pm

Wednesday Results:

Heritage 46  Cleveland 33

Friday Semifinal Matchups:

Robertsville vs. Carpenters   4:30pm

Seymour  vs. Heritage           7:00pm

Wednesday Results:

North   52   Robertsville   27

Friday Semifinal Matchups:

Clinton vs  Maryville    5:45pm

Greeneville vs. North  8:15pm

Tuesday Results:

Seymour  28   Greeneville  25

Wednesday Games:

Cleveland vs. Heritage  5:00pm

Tuesday Results:

Maryville  53   Ocoee  30

Greeneville  53   Jacksboro   52

Wednesday Games:

North vs. Robertsville   6:15pm

Monday Results:

Robertsville  33   T.A. Dugger  32

Carpenters   38   Liberty Bell   17

Tuesday Games:

Greeneville  vs.  Seymour    6:15pm

Monday Results:

Clinton  54    Athens 36

Tuesday Games:

Maryville vs. Ocoee     5:00pm

Greeneville  vs. Jacksboro  7:30pm

Saturday Results:

Athens   55  Liberty Bell   49

Ocoee  39   T. A. Dugger   31

Jacksboro  43  Alcoa  40

Robertsville 42  Sevierville 41

Monday Matchup:

Clinton vs. Athens    6:15pm