Wildcat Gator

Thanks!!!

Okay, I'll bite, give us a hint or give us the answer. I'm sure if history is any teacher, you did not write that without facts or good reason.

With this in mind and if the "powers that be" make the decision to end the SS era, who would be the top five coaches that Oak Ridge could pursue and get to come? /popcorneater.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":popcorneater:" border="0" alt="popcorneater.gif" />

Well, I have remained silent long enough. This topic needs to be started and here we go. What more needs to happen? We have the worst win/loss percentage since the 1940's, our coach has no control over himself or the team and our "tradition" is going down the tubes. What can we do to raise our collective voice to the admistration that it is time for a change? It used to be, not so long ago, that I felt like we could line up with anyone, now anyone can line up with us. I really don't think that it is a question of talent or support from the city. It is a problem with the coach and the poor direction we are going. This spiral is not going to end until a change is made at the top. Well that is the Cliff Notes version of the agony that is in front of us, let's hear your thoughts...

All I know is that my wife is tickled to death. At least for this year, she is going to get Friday nights in the fall back. After 39 years of going to the games, I don't have any desire or plan on being there. I just don't think I can bear to watch another year of Stephens at the wheel. I wish the players and their parents all the luck in the world and we will see you again when a new head coach is hired and Mr. Stevens is gone. Sad, but true. /mellow.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":mellow:" border="0" alt="mellow.gif" />

It's people like you who have accepted being in the middle of the pack who do not understand. Oak Ridge may not win the state every year, but we are used to competing for it. Oak Ridge has not been just a flash in the pan, we have been wiining at the highest level since the 1940's. While I can understand that you you might think we are whining, we are not. We just don;t like to "settle" for being average or below. And right now, no program is able to touch Maryville. But I really don't think you can blame it on anything but hard work on their part. GQ and company deserve all that they have accomplished. In the same light, so does Oak Ridge. We just don't want to slide down hill when the program has been developed and loved by so many for so long. /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" />

Below is a comparison of all the coaches at Oak Ridge. I can tell you that the numbers don't lie. These are not just upset fans, the only time we have been worse in the Win-Loss percentage is the 1940's. There are problems in the system, that is a given. It takes a certain type of coach to keep a program like Oak Ridge, Riverdale, Kingsport, etc. in check. I don't think Mr. Stevens is that coach. A change needs to be made and it needs to be made for the right reasons. We need a coach that is able to "right the ship" and be able to manage the program and its demands. Take a good, hard look at our history below, it does not reflect mediocrity. /mad.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":angry:" border="0" alt="mad.gif" /> Ben Martin 1943-1947 (23-18-1) (60%) Buist Warren 1948-1951 (30-10-2) (73.8%) John Francis 1952-1954 (24-3-3) (85%) Jack Armstrong 1955-1968 (105-28-5) (77.9%) Emory Hale 1969-1980 (112-23) (83.0%) Bill Young 1981-1987 (57-21) (73.1%) Joe Gaddis 1988-1998 (119-24) (83.2%) Bruce Lussier 1999-2004 (62-14) (81.6%) Stanton Stevens 2005- (26-10) (72.2%) Totals 1943-Present 558-151-11 (78.26%)

Bounder, I heard that after the Kingsport game that we were going to have a change (Stephens). This statement came from within the Football Boosters. Have you heard anything to make this a credible statement? You have to know that if Lost Old Dad would turn down a lifetime supply of ribs to boot, it is time for a change. I can think of no better barometer. /wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink.gif" />

Lost Old Dad, if there is a classier member from middle Tennessee on here, I can't imagine who it is. Even though it would be down at your place, I hope we get to renew our yearly playoff game this year. Good luck and hopefully we will see you soon. /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" />

Actually... here is the scores from all games that year according to Coach Saunders... /wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink.gif" /> 2004 (12-2) 60 Clinton 8 70 Bradley Central 0 31 Kingsport DB 48 48 Heritage 12 52 Sevier County 0 55 McMinn County 20 52 William Blount 19 21 Farragut 13 30 Ooltewah 14 26 Soddy-Daisy 21 37 Sevier County 0 48 Farragut 0 24 Kingsport DB 14 28 Riverdale 42 582 211 2005 (13 -2) 74 Clinton 0 48 Bradley Central 6 20 Kingsport DB 3 35 Heritage 0 44 Jefferson County 20 34 McMinn County 14 27 William Blount 6 34 Soddy-Daisy 7 37 Ooltewah 42 39 Farragut 0 48 Johnson City Science Hill 28 41 Sevier County 14 28 Farragut 7 17 Murfreesboro Riverdale 0 7 Ravenwood 14 (State 5A Game) 533 161

From a 5A point of view, I hope that Coach Quarles stays at Maryville. With the Rebels moving to 5A in 2009 it is only going to push the envelope of what will be required to compete. Remember when Steve Spurrier started in the SEC with Florida, he brought new expectation to the conference and in turn, everyone got better. I think that the same will happen in 09 when Maryville make the change to 5A. I know that even today there are area programs looking over the fence during the Maryville practices and seeing what they can implement to improve. Also from what I understand, Coach Quarles in a very good member of the community and has only brought good things to the Rebels program. All that to say, I think it would be a shame to lose him to Hoover and I hope that he stays. /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" />

Just wondering, but how do we (Oak Ridge) and Farragut look as far as injuries and everyone being healthy? /unsure.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":unsure:" border="0" alt="unsure.gif" />

That it is a shame in so many different ways I don't know where to begin... /blink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":blink:" border="0" alt="blink.gif" /> /wacko.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":wacko:" border="0" alt="wacko.gif" /> /sad.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad.gif" /> /mad.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":angry:" border="0" alt="mad.gif" /> /huh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":huh:" border="0" alt="huh.gif" /> Good luck Oak Ridge, just get the win and get out of town in one piece.

As far as the schools that hold the most state titles (the only "ranking" that matters) here is where the number fall. As for Region 2 or region 4 only two teams make the list; Region 2 - Oak Ridge & Region 4 - Riverdale. A better measurement would be to look at east, middle and west. It does not show that historically there is a clear cut winner between east vs. middle, but it does show that west needs to sharpen their pencil. East - 50 Middle - 43 West - 8 State Titles (Top 10) 1. Dobyns-Bennett - 13 1. Montgomery Bell Academy - 13 3. Maryville - 11 4. Brentwood Academy - 10 5. Oak Ridge - 8 5. Alcoa - 8 7. Battle Ground Academy - 6 7. Chattanooga Central - 6 7. Trousdale County - 6 10. Riverdale - 4 10. Marion County - 4 10. Milan - 4 10. Evangelical Christian School - 4 10. Baylor - 4

Meaning no disrespect, but could you tell me who Brandon Messick is?