oblong

I believe BGA is ripe to pull a stunning upset. BA has not been challenged, and one wonders if they are going to overlook a much improved BGA team. BGA has some solid young players and an excellent passing game. I say BGA by 3

Agreed, was at the game, and it was just a dominating performance by BA. Started on the first snap and ended on the last snap. Predict this ends the series with OB after the classy exit!

There are a lot reasons that OB may beat BA but a lack of speed on BA's part is not one of them.

I saw BA's game with OB last year, and you are right, BA mistakes kept them out of the game. In fact, that can sum up BA's 2009 season-too many penalties and key turnovers. This year's team has the chance to special, provided the QB continues to improve and the O line stays healthy. To win a championship takes dealing with success and adversity and the OB game will be an excellent measuring stick. BA will not enjoy the speed advantage in this one that it has in it's other games, so will come down to execution and lack of mistakes. This years SR class is very talented and hungry, I think they are ready. Coach Potter also seems to have buy in from this group, while I think there was some division in teams of past. If I were a betting man, I would take BA in a 10 pt victory.

I know MUS is a quality team and program. Anyone that is undefeated is tough. My intuition just says that MBA is going to come out on top in this one. I am basing that off of the Midstate and Eaststate DII teams that MBA must contend with...I think, at this time, these areas of the state play a better brand of FB than the Weststate teams do. MBA is just so sound, and that kicker of theirs is worth several points...just ask BA, he has accounted for 26 of the 38 points they have scored on BA in the last 3 meetings.

"Two words that I have said over and over the past two plus years......NO HEART. There is no team in the state of TN that has the talent of BA. They get so little from so much it is amazing. This is not the BA's of old....Hasn't been for a while. They are loaded with DI talent all over the field. They arm tackle and get outsmarted. They are not known for laying the wood on someone. They are living off reputations that were EARNED years ago, and they have no right to claim the same rep, as they haven't EARNED it. This is not the BA people have known for years. I have been around this team as a season ticket holder, supporter, fan and player since the 70's, and I know what I am talking about." ----Brandon100 Interesting prediction since this was a post from last week about the same BA team you expect to beat what is considered the Midstate's best team in Ensworth. Have they found their heart?

I will announce my whereabouts of Friday night tomorrow afternoon at 1:00, please tune in...

MBA looks to me as if they are playing the best football of all the teams right now. I believe they are the best DII team and will beat MUS.

"Oblong....sir, I never called Chris Jordan's name out....YOU called his name out! Look at post 62.....better yet....here is the link... http://tennessee.coacht.com/boards/index.p...amp;p=826934305 .... I didn't use names....YOU did! I alluded to "a player" Wonder who you could be referring to? I would say it's pretty evident who you are talking about, I'll bet if Chris read that post he would feel the same as if you stated his name, for the result is the same. You're right, this is a forum for ideas, yet you haven't offered any other than criticize this current group of players for playing with no heart. I'm just defending them, not me. I don't hate your ideas, I just don't think you have any.

??? so which is it? "A team is only as good as it's weakest link..." or... "TEAM has to make up the difference for the weaknesses". If the team is only as good as it's weakest link, then how can it make up the difference, or be any better than it's weakest link? Brandon, what do you think is wrong with this team, just go ahead and say it. You question their heart, they are nothing like the teams' of old, but you claim they have a great staff, great talent...so what is your analysis? What players do you think show a lack of heart? You claim Chris Jordan dogged it last year during the first MBA game, even though his injury resulted in surgery at the end of the year... you called him out, saying that BA would have won the first game had he played, however, he plays the state championship game but they lose. My analysis, you are a blowhard who just runs his mouth without any data to back up any claims. It's embarrassing that you call yourself a BA fan.

BA 40-3 with 1:00 left 3rd quarter

if that's the case that is good for the Midstate teams

BA has 2 backs rush over 220 yards in first half, turn ball over 2 times and had 3 very unfortunate penalties. BA is their own worst enemy. Actually 18 carries, 261 yards per the radio

27-3 at half, BA

BA 14-0 with 3:00 left 1st quarter

when you lose guys like this, even though you return a bunch of starters, it hurts. Jabari was a real leader in addition to being an outstanding player. We miss him and Mason Graham a lot, not just for their abilities but their leadership. http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/college...0,3002390.story

Brandon, considering your interest in BA Football and the fact that you have followed the team since the days of salt tablets, broken arms, cow manure, and suspension helments...you have overlooked recent history. http://www.hsfdatabase.com/tn_ba2000.htm 2004 and 2005 teams both had 5 losses, you are the the sponsor of the page!

this is the most diplomatic post to date on this thread, and also very accurate. I just don't think it's a matter of lack of heart or toughness. I don't think it's coaching. It has been glaring weaknesses at certain key positions that other teams have exposed. For all the talent talked about by Brandon, I think to a man they have played exceptionally well this year.

Chris Jordan played the 2nd game against MBA as you know, and we lost 12-0. Also, the ankle injury required surgery after the season. Again, you make accusations about a player not having the will to play due to an injury, unlike the cow pasture days when players would play through any injuries, no matter how severe. So what is it...did Chris not have the toughness to play against MBA the first game, or do you think the coaches held him out of the game? Surely all your friends on the coaching staff have told you the real story. Regarding my take on the situation, they are 6-4, and the year has been a disappointment. I honestly don't know why...I do not go to practice, I just go to the games. I have observed players playing with a lot of effort and coaches who coach them hard and with a great deal of intensity. If I had to pick one thing, it would be the lack of a genuine passing threat, for it makes the team one dimmensional. Someone said that the offense was too complicated earlier. Acutally, they have been primarily an I team since BGA last year. Without the passing threat, teams can put more players in the box, and not worry about the pass. It also keeps the ball out of the hands of some of our most talented players in Pleasant and Garlington. We have run the ball well all year, but we just haven't scored enough points. Defensively, we have played well all year, but we are vulnerable against the pass, especially with the corners, as MBA and Ryan both exploited. Teams have figured out they are not going to run on us, and most have used quick drops by the QB and/or roll him out of the pocket to avoid the rush (MBA did this all night). That is a novice's take on things, since I was not around the program in the days of the suspension helments.

so what's the problem, the players who don't give enough effort (underachieve and lack of heart) or is it coaching? Or something else? Apparently this problem has been in place since the early 2000's per your post. What is the root cause of the underachievement experienced by this once proud program? I seriously want to know what you think.

I sure hope you didn't take my post literally about Coach Potter discussing the good ole days with Brandon...that was written with tongue firmly in cheek.

agreed, BA dominated BGA 28-7, with BGA score coming against the freshmen and sophmores with time running out. Would be surprised if BA doesn't handle these guys.

rarely do they play both ways...Dabney plays some offensive guard, Lewis some fullback, Thad plays some fullback and tight end along with DE, but for the most part everyone plays one way. Bullard will go in at DT in short yardage situations. I would bet BA played to beat Ryan! They just didn't get it done. I wish in the future Coach Potter and the rest of the staff would confer with Brandon100 on how it was done in the good ole days to avoid these losses.

so what's the problem with the program? No "heart"...what does that mean, or where does it come from? Is it the players, coaches, what is the cause of this lack of heart? Your comments are just a broad brush that doesn't really point out any root causes. Do you think it's coaching? The players? The BA administration? There are a lot of young boys who go out everyday and work hard. My son for one...does he not have heart? I am not opposed to message boards at all. I just don't appreciate some guy spouting off about young boys they don't know making a statement about their lack of heart.