Cletus

I’m not sure why social media would make recruiting more expected and accepted if, as a coach, you aren’t looking to circumvent the rules. Certainly it makes it easier for unscrupulous characters, whether that be a coach or a predator of any sort, but does that mean we just blithely accept it? Call me naive but i’d be shocked if most coaches follow kids in red-flag-raising fashion on their social media accounts. As for the pressure coaches are under and that being the excuse for breaking the rules, who was the last Knox County coach to be fired? Regrettably, much has filtered down from the college game, but this notion that high school coaches are under greater pressure than years ago — as they are arguably at the college level — is a fallacy in my opinion. External pressure comes with a big paycheck. Nobody’s getting that in TN public schools, certainly not in Knox Co.

I’m not sure we’re talking about the same thing. If you and your child decide he or she is best suited to a certain high school and go through the process of getting a transfer, that’s one thing. If, however, that decision is reached because a coach (or, has been suggested previously on this thread, an agent of his) suggests the move, entices, encourages, and provides guidance through the process, that’s a different thing altogether. I would be very dubious of a move from, say, Austin East or Carter to Bearden, or from Hardin Valley or Farragut to Powell, or from South Doyle to Fulton or vice versa. Neighboring school districts are easier to understand since Knox Co is forever shifting district lines.

As a coach, whether you’re orchestrating or signing off on things with plausible deniability in mind, you’re fully aware that what you’re part of — and hoping to benefit from — is beyond gray. While I believe there are plenty of programs that aren’t soliciting players outside their zone, were it as widespread as you guys seem convinced it is, it would at some point be the ruination of the foundation of high school sports in terms of (a) what the experience/goal for the young person should be, (b) any semblance of competitive balance, and (c) the ethics and standards being hypocritically espoused by these so called coaches. I’m not for participation trophies, but especially at the high school level it’s about community and working to win the right way, not winning at all costs. If you’re ok with the latter perverse mindset, Tennessee might as well go back to a single division because at the root you’re no different than the privates.

Seems like it might be worth noting that Bradley has lost its big inside linebacker, was without its star running back, and was playing its 3rd or 4th QB this season. I don't know if Bradley warrants a no. 5 ranking with its starting QB, RB and LB, but without them . . . . And I don't buy that everyone is recruiting. Players will certainly talk to one another, but to say that all coaches are actively involved is slanderous. I believe many, if not most, coaches still have integrity.

I have to agree. They've got an all-star team. No one stays within 15 points of Bearden.

Congratulations! That has to be as stupid a comment as there's ever been on Coach T, and that's against some incredibly tough competition. If Nashville area D2 schools could figure out the logistics, they'd be recruiting every one of those Whitehaven kids tomorrow.

Congratulations to Whitehaven on the championship. Great season for Oakland. Will look forward to hearing from the Patriot's Middle TN hanger's on.

Hay, yuns aint got no biznes postin no durn picksher uven me!

Confused, too, perhaps about which screen name you just signed in as. As for West's lines. Offense is suspect, defense is stout.

Me thinks erell38/FTCRebels has multiple personality disorder.

Nice win for West and an exciting game. Good luck to both teams the rest of the way. I'd like to see part deux in the semis, but honestly I wouldn't bet on it happening. But, then again, maybe both will grow a lot from this game.

Since then WB has played Heritage, Bearden and Jefferson Co. I wish WB the best, so I hope the Governors have improved and do improve the rest of the way.

How much vicariousness does one person need? As for the game, despite the flags it seems Oak Ridge ran wild. According to the box score, 526 yards on 41 attempts. There are not enough minutes in a high school game to do much better than that. A couple of pages back Bounder mentioned watching a replay of the game. Is there somewhere online that it can be viewed?

I would be very surprised if this game isn't close throughout.

A lot of teams will have an off night. Factors previously noted on this thread could have come into play. But the defense showed up.

That's true. Both Crockett and Boone are ineligible for the playoffs this year. So that means it's between Mo East and Cocke Co. to see who draws Knox West in the opening round. That matchup has about as much suspense as Warren Co. at Maryville in 6A.

Don't confuse what's likely to happen with where things currently stand. "If the playoffs started this Friday" is what CU06 is tracking. Soddy-Daisy is currently 1st and Ooltewah 2nd in 4-5A. Campbell Co. is currently 2nd and Oak Ridge 3rd in 3-5A. In 2-6A Smyrna is currently 1st and Oakland 2nd. Things will change greatly week to week. http://scores.tssaa.org/scoreboard/standings.cfm

This one's classic. Great job by West. I'm sure it's incredibly satisfying after being contenders for a few years and coming oh so close last season. Congrats to both teams on advancing to the title game and especially to West for its fantastic finish.

Yeah, Oakland, or anyone else that emerges from 7AAA, is on a whole different level from Science Hill which has little to no history and faced little adversity this year.

Unbelievably poor officiating. These teams would be better off without the crew, policing themselves with the honor system. Can someone with connections find out where this officiating crew is from?

I actually did "laugh out loud" listening to WGNS when the color guy said Maryville, with more than 2 minutes to go, would be happy to "get out of here" leading 14-0 at the half. Doesn't know a thing about Quarles and Maryville's history; everyone knows that Maryville has been unbelievable for years scoring right before the half. Nine plays later Maryville is up 21-0 leaving hardly any time on the clock.

5A South Doyle easily over Gibbs Campbell Co not so easily over Morristown West Tennessee High in a squeaker at Anderson Co West by a bunch over Central Oak Ridge by a bunch over Soddy Daisy Cleveland in a good one over Clinton Ooltewah by a wide margin over Stone Memorial Rhea Co comfortably over Tullahoma 6A Maryville on cruise control in the 2nd half vs. Walker Valley Hardin Valley nips Sevier Co Dobyns Bennett decisively over Morristown East Science Hill not so decisively over Bradley Central

Telling.

In my opinion, life is too short and there are way too many quality alternatives out there to waste one's time listening to the crud that emanates from that crowd. It's neither informed, which could at least hold the promise of being informative, nor is it entertaining -- unless the ridiculousness of it all elicits a chuckle. I miss the Heather what's-her-name poster on here from 6 or 7 years ago. Those posts and weekly picks were truly entertaining. In a way I hate to even bring it up because it provides the "banter" they so crave. The old gospel song says "turn your radio on" but in this instance I suggest turning it off -- silence is especially golden in this era -- or at least hitting "scan".

So I'm enticed. Here's an off-the-cuff set of 2nd round picks in 6A from a complete ignoramus! Maryville over Morristown East 56-7 Science Hill over Sevier Co. 52-38 Oakland over Siegel 21-17 Blackman over Ravenwood 28-24 Overton over Independence 30-28 Station Camp over Hendersonville 14-10 White Station over Whitehaven 25-22 Memphis Central over Southwind 27-23 Congrats to everyone involved and good luck the rest of the way.