Cletus

After what the young men at West witnessed and then had to cope with in week 0, I'll be pulling for them throughout the '09 season. I think some teams are awed by Maryville and, therefore, beaten before they ever step off the bus. West has not been one of those teams in recent years and won't be Friday. Still, West isn't Alcoa. The Tornadoes are arguably the best team in the state, and while Maryville's underbelly is softer than usual, few teams will be able to expose and exploit that vulnerability in a fashion approaching that of Alcoa last Friday. Maryville's play will improve, their coaches will make adjustments, the competition will become more manageable and the Rebels will be just fine (at least by the standards of practically everyone else in the state). You know the Maryville players can't wait to get back out on the field.

You are wrong. Farragut was NEVER one of the teams that refused to play Oak Ridge. When that controversy was at it's height, Ken Sparks was at Farragut. It was Farragut who ended OR's consecutive run of state championships by winning the district in 1978 with a victory over OR at Blankenship. The game in 1977 at Farragut could have gone either way. Too bad more than one team from each district couldn't advance back then. A rematch might have been a different story. Either way, at that time, Farragut was Oak Ridge's toughest opposition. I think you might be referring to even "older" school days, Former44. I suspect that Bladerunner is talking about the 2-year break in the series back in '91 and '92. I wish both programs well. Knoxville area football is far more interesting, in my opinion, when the Wildcats and Admirals field strong teams.

Listen, I'm not trying to get anyone riled up, nor am I looking to be anyone's apologist, but there's no way Oak Ridge's players -- from a physical standpoint -- can be mentioned in the same breath as Oakland's. This year's Wildcats had some size, some speed, and I'm sure a roster full of solid student-athletes. Judged only on appearances, they were a pretty good looking team. Still, there have been much more physically gifted/imposing/overall athletic Oak Ridge teams in past years. If you want to say the coaches didn't put these guys in position to be as successful as they could've/should've been, fine. But to go so far as to say that this year's Oak Ridge team was more "naturally blessed" than a team like Oakland is such an overstatement that it unavoidably casts the players in a terribly negative light. I mean if the '05 team was so talented that even the blundering coach (merely my impression of how Stevens is largely perceived by the OR fan base) couldn't keep them out of the title game, what would that say, relatively speaking, about this year's group who's, "the best looking athletes I've seen all year, including Oakland and all those teams that played in championship games." I just didn't see it that way at all. Again, this was a solid Oak Ridge roster that I wish had enjoyed many more victories, but no where close to a team like Oakland that could win a state title by lining up and physically imposing its will.

Oakland and the TSSAA might want to make sure the Patriots' coaching staff is dipping heavily into Big League Chew. Rules are rules, right?!

More than anything I was anticipating the remarks we've seen all year. You know, the ones about not playing the right kids or questioning the coach's play selection. I encourage you to revisit the Ooltewah vs. Maplewood thread. On this thread, following the game, there were a couple of jabs at Ooltewah's play calling -- one of which was deleted, though it was captured and quoted if you go back and look at the original version of the following post. It really wasn't my intention to "take up" for the QB but to point out that Ooltewah's shortcomings were widespread. To that end I spoke of groups of players and entire units. The repeated criticisms levelled specifically at that kid this year have been uncomfortable to read.

Maybe I'm missing something. Can others follow this logic? Seems to me if the in-town privates aren't that good and are "recruiting" kids from your zone, you'd gladly play them and beat them soundly, thus nipping the practice in the bud. On another topic, you had to know there were going to be posters on here taking shots at the Ooltewah QB (the coach is old and out of touch too, right?). From what I listened to he was continually pressured, got very little help from his receivers and maybe even less from the running game. In addition the Ooltewah defense couldn't stop a 1-dimensional offense, while the special teams were dominated by Oakland. Sounds like a thorough team loss.

The difference, in my humble opinion, was in the team Ooltewah had. That Owls' team 2 years ago was superior. This year's team might have seemed more impressive getting to this point, but Region 2 -- and all of East TN 5A -- was down this year.

"Flipping" from game to game -- did I just hear that Ooltewah will get the ball to start the 2nd half? From what I've caught so far maybe Ooltewah should kick off in hopes of gaining field position.

Just tuned this one in . . . /popcorneater.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":popcorneater:" border="0" alt="popcorneater.gif" /> It's early 2nd quarter and Reed's passing every down?! This has got all the markings of turning out like the last game Ooltewah played against an opponent of this caliber -- that would be last year's 1st round exit vs. Bearden. It's gonna get ugly.

The District 4 contests are now bold type and designated with a "(D)". Maryville and Farragut are both away games for the 2nd straight year.

Oak Ridge Special Teams Coach Barry Saunders has been praised a number of times.

Bearden will be better, but it might not be reflected in the Bulldogs' record. The new District 4 makes the old Region 1 look like a J.V. schedule. I have no idea how the wildcard deal is going to work, but it will be very difficult for Bearden to get one of the 2 guaranteed playoff spots for the 6A schools in District 4. Farragut and Maryville will be the odds on favorites to lock those spots up, just as Catholic seems the obvious choice for the 1 automatic berth among the 3 5A schools in District 4. Bearden and William Blount should be in the mix for a wildcard, if not one of the automatic qualifiers.

Do what?! You folks aren't trying to get rid of the immature and ignorant are you? Where the heck would I get to post?!

Don't rightly know Stars. She might've lost the address. I do miss her though; that gal was hi-larious.

This here's why these 2 proud programs should've been playin' each other for years now. I haven't laughed as much over a thread since Heather Harrington's disappearance.

Got to be the most dysfunctional bunch in East Tennessee. And then there are the Farragut brats. Wonder what ever happened to "Farragut University"? Interesting how Stuart and Admiral Dude registered on CoachT immediately after the last Farragut - Ooltewah game. Oh, I'm sure they're different kids. Why I bet Farragut University will make an appearance before long.

This just proves I'm even more ancient and more "out of touch" than I previously thought. Mr. Pot, meet Mr. Kettle. But which side is 36's?

I truly hope you're right. Answer me this though. Which team has the better defense? Which team has the better running game? Which team has the better kicking game? Yeah, it sounds simplistic and old fashioned, but those are still the areas that determine the outcome of playoff games. Furthermore, which team is playing at home? Which team is bigger and plays a more physical brand of football? Which team is faster, more athletic? If you can answer these questions, you should then be able to answer which team will win. That's why I said earlier Ooltewah will have to lose it. Hey, maybe they will. Let me know how it turns out.

Oak Ridge Football 2009 Aug. 28 Farragut Sept. 4 Central Sept. 11 at Powell Sept. 18 Halls Sept. 25 at Maryville Oct. 2 at Anderson County Oct. 9 at Karns Oct. 16 at Hardin Valley Oct. 23 Clinton Oct. 30 Campbell County

I understand how running right at a fast opponent neutralizes a speed advantage, but how does it make up for a strength disadvantage? If the answer is bangin' your head against a wall, a victory seems out of the question. This time of the year always take the better defensive team. For a recent example, think back to last year's Bearden victory over Farragut. The consensus seems to be that because the Ooltewah - Soddy Daisy game was close, this one will be also. I guess I look at it a little differently, thinking Ooltewah survived its "close call" game (not going to be many of those), so now they get back to beating opponents' heads in. I hate to say it, but Farragut can't win this game. For the Admirals to come out on top, Ooltewah will have to lose it -- and Monroe won't let that happen.

Congratulations to both teams on outstanding seasons. I think Ooltewah wins handily, but no matter how ugly the final score, it shouldn't detract from what the Trojans have accomplished this year. Great job getting things turned around!

tpoole, I gotta admit I felt my blood pressure rising seeing your "AD's" reference, but heeding your advice I took a deep breath, a sip of coffee, uttered a few "serenity nows" and . . . . . . ImaOWL weighs in with "KEES"!!!!! Seriously, if I may, I really like both teams, but I think Farragut has to put the ball on the ground several times for McMinn to be in it late. The Tribe could cause the Admirals trouble though if Ables can consistently get loose running the ball -- a pretty big "if" in my opinion.

Dope!! Got a correction to make (and made it above). An earlier post by Red81KPsmash was correct in that Catholic will be in District 4, while Hardin Valley will be in District 3. Additionally, South-Doyle has been placed in District 2 (how's that for holding down travel expenses!!). Here's the article in the News-Sentinel: http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/nov/13/c...agut-maryville/ Back on topic as to how the change affects Heritage, it's a little tougher than I was originally thinking (South-Doyle and Hardin Valley being realistic opportunities for wins), but still a slight step down from Region 2. There's no doubt it will be a big challenge at Heritage.

Also, while on my soapbox, I didn't mean to overlook McMinn. I equally dislike the abbreviated 'kees for Cherokees. Kees?! Always losing them, representing fabulous possibilities on the piano, critical points of contention in a competition, an archipelago off the coast of southern Florida, etc. . . . Don't further confuse or irritate an old man with this drivel!

Regarding the "hated ADs", allow me to explain in one word -- in case you're unaware -- OOLTEWAH. What I hate is the reference to Farragut as the Ads. How do the Farragut folks feel about this? When did it begin? Why??? I understand sometimes referring to Wildcats or Bobcats as "Cats" or Bulldogs as "Dogs", but it makes no sense to shorten Admirals to "Ads" (not a big fan of "Govs" either). Are we that lazy?! Must everything be "text friendly"?! I also don't care for everyone having their own nation, further proving it's almost certainly a generational thing, and that I no longer need resist being an old curmudgeon. Don't fight it; it's only natural.