oblong

Thanks Baylor. We see the same thing. I think many others do too.

I'm going to have to go with Baylor in this one. Trinity dared BA to throw the ball, which isn't a strong suit of it's talented and athletic QB's. Trinity did what good teams do...take away a strength (BA's running game), and expose your weaknesses--lack of accuracy by the QB's. I also take issue with the playcalling, but much more so in the scheme. When you have the size and apparent talent that BA does on it's offensive line, it's just a no brainer that an I formation team, with lineman firing off the ball in a 3 point stance, with a fullback behind them, will get more push and leverage in the running game. That's what BA should do with their noticeable size advantage. It also takes the pressure off the QB, opens up bootleg options and the play action pass--if used exclusively I just think they would be formidable. Even if BA doesn't possess the speed it has had in the past (as Meritage points out), open recievers have been missed more times than not in the first 2 games. Also, not a game goes by without an errant snap from center while BA is in the shotgun...it's ridiculous. As far as the defensive side of the ball is concerned, BA gave up over 30 points in 5 games last year. This year, it's now one, and obviously to a very good team. BA's front 7 on Defense are very small--with the exception of Adams (LB's are tiny), and I worry that equally talented teams in DII, and we know who they are, will line up and run over the front 7. You can only counter that with a lot of pressure, stunts, and run blitzes, but you do expose your secondary when that happens. The D was gassed in the 4th quarter last night, and just wilted under Trinity's ground attack--with nary a substitution as far as I noticed. I'm just a fan, and am not informed as far as how good BA's coaches are. My opinions are those of a spectator's--but I do have a gut, and it tells me that given equal talent on both sides of the ball between BA and it's opponent--when BA kicks off to start each game, it does so in the hole. I just sense that this staff is stubborn, and after 3 years and going on 4, I feel like I'm watching more of the same. I sure hope I'm wrong, for I have been a fan for a long time, and wish nothing but the best for the kids, alums, fans, and coaches. I guess I could sit back and be happy that BA averages 8-9 wins a year, and say that they win most of their games, and isn't that enough? It's HS football after all. However, given the amount of emphasis the school places on football, it's Div II lead in numbers of players receiving financial aid, it's facilities, etc, I think the coaching staff should be held to a different standard. If the school and it's customers (parents) are going to make those investments, then a state championship every now and then in a league of 10 teams should be expected.

For the old BA fans--1980 state championship team opened season beating Knoxville Rule and beat them in the finals for school's 2nd state title. It can be done!

So doct can criticize a player by name and you hurl the venom. At the same time, you should apologize to the parents and boys on the special teams that made the errors that resulted in 21 points. What about the boy that dropped the sure TD pass? You should apolgize to him too. For gosh sakes, he's 17 or younger! Doct made an observation that's worthy of a question. Meritage, please comment on the first 3 drives in the 3rd quarter. I thought the QB missed some obvious reads, just like the special teams missed some plays. What's the difference in doct's criticism and your explanation?

I would say the majority of followers of DII football are skeptical that BA is capable of winning big games. The last 4 years are full of losses that should have never happened. BA has arguably had more talent than any team over that span, and have found a way to beat themselves more often than losing outright to a superior team. Maybe this year it will be different.

I would hardly call Baylor fumbling 6 times and recovering the 1st 5 "not playing up to their potential". I call that fortunate. Baylor hung in that game with a great deal of luck and some of the most questionable officiating this fan has ever seen. All that being said, beating Baylor in Chatt will be a tall order.

Owlbooster is trying to pick a fight here. Since he/she has been on their West TN island, they will now get to experience the best of DII. I respect MUS, and their losses have come against S Panola, Olive Branch, and Ensworth. They should beat BGA (it will be close), then get taking to the woodshed by Ensworth, who has gotten better. I'm sure MUS has improved too, but they will not defeat Ensworth. No way...

Nope, not this year. What was the JPII score at half, 7-0? They are awful. BA was either 28 or 35-0 at half vs McCallie. MBA will come back, but this years team is slow and mediocre

Main Entry: intriguing Function: adjective Date: 1752 : engaging the interest to a marked degree : fascinating <an intriguing story>

Your point regarding financial aid is not relevant in this conversation. All of the teams that Coach Bowers competes with offer financial aid. I think it's funny that because he wins championships everyone points to his talent level at Ensworth; however, when he was winning championships in both football and basketball at MBA, he was a great coach. If talent alone won championships Brentwood Academy should have won three or four in the last five years.

Agree with the comment about Bowers and the former coach off Granny White. BA's offense has been spectacular against sub par competition this year. Against the better teams, a no show. 3 and out keeps a very talented D on the field too long in the big games. 7 pts vs Trinity, 10 vs Baylor, and an anemic 17 vs EHS will not get it done. It's easy for anyone with BA's talent to put up big pts against JPII, BGA, Maplewood, and Ryan, which BA was fortunate the game turned for them late.

BGA's good. But it is too soon to tell, we will find out soon. They are 5-0. They have beaten: Smyrna (2-3) Ravenwood (2-3) JPII (2-3) Pearl Cohn (3-2) MBA (1-4) Ravenwood lost tonight 41-0 to a very average Brentwood team, MBA is awful, JPII is horrible, BGA's best win is over Pearl Cohn, which is good but is not the caliber of a top DII team in my opinion.

I guess that's why they play the game! BA 42-13 in a route.

Doesn't look that way http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1526406378&sk=info

Apparently Pittman from BA turned the job down. That takes a finalist off the board.

McGugin supporters, I'm sorry, but he sounds like he has a screw loose. Still considers himself the head coach?!

Please expound upon that theory. I think MBA is the top job in TN. All boys, the best facilities and support, and history.

I'm sure I'll catch crap from this comment, but it is astonishing that Carlton Flatt's name has barely been mentioned. 35 years as coach, went to the state finals 24 times. Only 11 seasons BA failed to make the finals! A coaching tree that includes Bowers, Pack, and Brothers, not to mention Kent Austin (Cornell/Ole Miss) and Mike McIntyre (San Jose St). Even Tommy Owen coached with Coach Flatt for a few years at BA! Pretty hard to top that sort of legacy.

Over the yrs of C McGugin's tenure, there have been several families and young men who have had conflicts with the coach. Bullying players, verbal abuse, etc on the part of the coach led to these conflicts. Notwithstanding young Mr Kay's loyalty to his coach, there are many who believe C McGugin's treatment of these young men was highly inappropriate. In reading between the lines, using the financial aid event as a reason for dismissal is a convenient smokescreen and gift from the school to the coach. Better to lose your job on a technicality in interpreting TSSAA rules than to go public with accusations of bullying and mistreatment of young boys, especially if you want to coach again. MBA is not beholden to any large donor ( Tommy Frist as an example), so I doubt that a big donor pushed him out the door.

Tom has sold out of his interests in the Smoothies Kings in Nashville, and understand he applied for and wanted the McCallie job earlier this year. He's an alum, and has stayed active in the coaching ranks at FRA. He would be my first call.

What's not being discussed is how did this issue come to pass? What happened that precipitated MBA to consult the TSSAA multiple times? If the matter took place 3 years ago, then why was it a secret to the MBA administration? Whatever happened was apparently kept quiet (by someone) for 3 years so as to not bring attention, correct? What is Mr. Wilson's issue with C McGugin? Interesting as to why a highly successful, 60-70 year old man would have a grudge with a young football coach in his early 30's. Weird. I would be interested in how the majority of the current football players/families feel about what is/has happened. Are they standing up and fighting for Coach McGugin or throwing a party? My hunch is the latter...

Hope Hines on 6:00 o'clock news.

Well, I've noticed 2 threads on this board have been closed on this topic! What happened to the 1st amendment? It's a message board for crying out loud! There has been so much gossip surrounding C McGugin the last few yrs, it's a blessing for MBA if they let him go and start over. What a plumb job, but they have a clown as head FB coach.

Channel 5 in Nashville reporting that McGugin may be in big trouble. Going to be interesting...