etfan

11 and 1 really means nothing with the current TSSAA classifications. The closest ballgame was South? They are not tested in the regular season and GC cannot figure out the preparations and intensity level needed for the playoffs. The current local stars are G'ville and Betsy. I am currently sick of DB prognostications and talk and don't care about local records. The Indians have, quite frankly, let us all down.

Since the beginning of the playoff era for the TSSAA for NET: Football State Championships: THS - 2, MoEast - 1, Jeff Co - 1, Sevier Co - 1 National Championships: THS - 1 Contender - G'ville Where is Boone? The same place as DB. In fact, the only teams from NET with recent, repeated deep playoff experience are Hampton, South and G'ville.

The 101st Airborne would take great exception that they were rescued by the 3rd Army (Patton). In any event, a great feat of arms.

Quit worrying about the Farragut staff. This was a great performance by D-B! Hats off to them. In fact, it may have been the best performance since the game a few years ago .... Waco, I know you can fill in the blank. Hopefully the season will end better this year than that year. I do think the Tribe can go deep in the playoffs this year. It could be their year but it is a long season. One game at a time and have fun.

Yes, Waco, I think you are correct in the score. It was a big win by the best D-B team in recent history who was ranked # 1 in the state during the season and lost to a 4 seed William Blount in the playoffs that year. I forget the score of the WB opening round playoff game loss. Do you recall it?

Agreed. Run the option system and see how it goes. By the way, good to hear from you.

A D-B loss to Farragut would be very disappointing based on preseason hype. But my sources in Knoxville also confirm that K-F could be pretty good this year. Certainly, it is the marquee game tomorrow. I hope that D-B can win solidly and represent NET football well. As far as the Big 8 goes, I think Boone will be surprisingly good. The overall finish will be: D-B Boone Science Hill South THS Volunteer Crockett Central As much as things change, they stay the same - look for the following trends in the next few seasons. D-B over South - the coaches have even bought into the voodoo South over THS - despite last year's exception, see above comment regarding Coach Stubbs Science Hill over Boone - the Stacy Carter fear factor takes hold D-B over Science Hill - why hire Stacy Carter to beat D-B when you could have gotten any old Region II 4 seed coach for a lot less money? South over Boone - the Blazers become a different team when they see Columbia Blue; perhaps Crockett should change their colors. D-B and THS - ? Way too much vitriol on another site about this one. D-B will win big in '10. Viking reloading efforts are underway. Boone over D-B - maybe not in '10 but look out. Coach Jenkins is not intimidated by D-B and the Blazer style matches up well with the Indians. The next reclassification is scheduled to occur after the '12 season. It may come as early as next season based on state and county budget cuts. Assuming we keep HS football in all the budgets (no foregone conclusion for all school systems), 6A will be D-B, Boone, Crockett, and S-H. 5A will be Volunteer and THS. Central and South will move to 4A. More travel for the big schools or split gates are in the offing. It will be very controversial but I can see most smaller, local schools refusing to play D-B and S-H. This was certainly not the intent of the TSSAA re-classification but it may be the outcome.

One other tactical point I would add is that the Maryville offensive line play is the best I have ever seen, year in - year out, in this end of the state. They have not produced a lot of DI offensive line recruits but they have great units who stay on their blocks the best of anyone I have seen. Also, I agree that if the state title was based on NFL Combine results, the MoWest Trojans in '05 were probably the best team in the past 10 years from NET. Of course, it is not a Combine and that is why we play the games. It is good to be at Week 0.

Most interesting. I have never heard Coach Norris described as running a relaxed program. I think we should confirm that with the rest of the North staff and team. News for you. It is all, and almost only, about playing time (real, potential, and imagined).

Don't forget the aspect of playing time. It is, in fact, not necessarily a no-brainer, hater, or kidder. GC tends to really stick with only 15 or so kids who get significant playing time. Perhaps this year it was necessary; but this has been a long term topic on this board. Someone who can be a two year starter at North or South or Central might not view GC and D-B as the NET football nirvana. Football is too hard of a game to practice and prepare for to not get to play. I wonder if some of the negativity on this thread towards GC would lessen if D-B did more two platooning Anyway, he is a great coach and will continue to dominate NET; he could also cut down on the crying on this thread if he could advance deeper in the playoffs. Everyone loves success. And don't forget, he has the greatest HS assistant coach in NET history in Defensive Coordinator Watson. Also, Waco, I hear that D-B is considering going to the triple option - Ga Tech style. Any truth to that?

Great run for Sullivan South. Congratulations to the kids, coaches, parents, fans, and administration on being "the football story" in the Region the past five years. Like them or hate them, we all commented. Also, what a story in overcoming unbelievable tragedy and adversity this year. This was really a testament to character and faith. If Stacy Carter goes to SHHS the Toppers will be better for it and begin serious improvement very quickly. My understanding is that the new Topper coach will be able to bring two assistants. There will be some on this board that will remember my thinking that Ralph Nelson at East would be the next coach at SHHS before the Hill hired Gilligan. They should have followed my advice then and will follow my advice from a couple of month ago regarding Carter. Although, I will admit that I also like Coach Witten at Elizabethton as a good fit for SHHS - and perhaps a better long term fit. However, the die appears cast and my understanding is that Carter will be named coach at the Hill - perhaps as early as next week. As far as the two assistants go, I will leave that to others who know local school system politics better than I. One observation that I would make is that there are a lot of relationships between many of the coaches on the coaching staffs at all the Sullivan Co Schools; so, if Carter really gets total freedom to pick two, nothing would really surprise me. South is still in a position to enjoy success, just not in AAA. There appears to be a bit of a down cycle in talent coming through the system, but that is always hard to predict from comparative middle school and freshman scores. Next year, D-B will continue to lead and the Hill will continue to play catchup in 6A. Boone will replace South as THS's prime nemesis and will battle for a #1 5A seed; South will be a playoff team but deep playoff runs in 5A are over. Longer term playoff success and fan interest are still very possible as South will be headed to 4A or 3A in two years, along with Central. After the next reclassification round, expect SHHS, D-B, and a growing Boone and Crockett to play in 6A. THS will have this region all to itself in 5A. However, losses of South and Central (and other domino effects in 3A and 4A) could push the Morristown schools back into 5A in this area. Good for overall competitiveness, a little sad for local interest as all the Sullivan Co schools will be AA and probably not regularly schedule THS, D-B, or the Hill. I know I don't like it from the standpoint of losing the great South - THS rivalry of recent years; but the reality is that South (and the other Sullivan Co schools) will, and should, be playing C-D, not D-B. State annexation laws and urban growth boundaries make this inevitable. By the way, the big loser among the "city schools" in this will be THS as their boundary and city governance style is not as aggressive as JC and Kingsport. All of that said, it appears to be the end of an era at South and the beginning of a new era at Science Hill. As far as my beloved Vikings, I don't think I see an overall positive. As far as HS football in NET, season ending matchups for all the 6A marbles between SH and DB would be pretty exciting.

I've stayed off awhile, hoping that your spelling would improve. Nahhhhhh! ARe you the poster child for DB Football or for DB Academics?? Better stick with Football. And---I believe your last score was 42-0, one and done, Basketball practice time. Do you just keep posting the same thing over and over??? Getting boring???? Last week I asked you to share your infinite football knowledge with all of us. I must have missed it somewhere. What happened? Too busy at the Ford Parts store??? Dwight doesn't work there any more. Don't you pay any attention? The man OWNS you. The least you can do is pay attention when he speaks. He is home playing with himself all the time now and has unlimited time to write his drivel. He does not work there any more. Leave the poor man ALONE. Roll tribe. Gentlemen, this is really pitiful. Waco, I am disappointed in you. You were better than this but have significantly slipped this year.

Good analysis relative to the SH hunger. The problem at South (and other Sullivan County high schools) is the urban growth plan for Kingsport and Bristol. South will be at 800 students in 5 years and 600 in ten. East and Central will see similar drops. North may remain stable (and underutilized) because the law does not require cities to clean up their boundaries and Kingsport does not want Bloomingdale and Lynn Garden. Overall, the County will be heading to one consolidated high school located at the Blountville exit on I-81. That is probably ten years out, politically. D-B will grow to 2000+ students and THS will grow to 1600+. Those are simply the planning numbers all the educators are using. South can compete in the next ten years in AA, just not in AAA. If I were the parent of a middle school football player in Sullivan County I would be working the political process (including Phil Roe) to force the TSSAA to reclassify in 3 years instead of 6. Then Central and South could drop D-B (Dobyns-Bennett) and start playing C-D (Chuckey-Doak). Make no mistake, I think there is a good chance SC will stay. If SH does not hire him they will hire Witten from Betsy. Carter will continue to be very successful if he and the Rebels can drop to AA. They just need to stay out of the same subdivision as Alcoa.

Allright you got a deal, I'll buy some something at the sit n bull one day and you hook me up at whatever place CH has with some local flavor if not it will be a place with a bar My pleasure. Exchange some Rebel Aid for some Blazer Brew? Sounds like a winner. Comp, you are a pleasure to read. Your energy makes this website interesting. I really thought this was the Vikings' year to bring home their third state title. However, injuries to the offensive playmakers and an inspired Boone team resulted in one of the biggest upsets in NET football history two weeks ago. Once that happened, South's road was open and clear. They would beat Boone 9 out of 10 times as the Vikings would beat South by a similar margin this year. Oh Well, that is why they play the games. Remember the Jeff Co. team that was 7-3 or 6-4 some years ago that ended up winning a 5A title. It is a second season and stamina, coaching, character and talent matter. I am extremely thrilled we have 3 teams from NET in the semifinals. Also, remember that Tri Cities Christian lost in the finals in their classification. A potentially great year for NET football. Go Cyclones, G'Devils and Rebels!