BigRedDad

I'm sure I agree about MBA and EHS owning West Nashville. It might be ancient history now but my son was on the 2007 MBA team and the toughest game they played all year was against Hillsboro.

Now that you mention it I do remember that there were questions of the ref's hurrying to spot the ball for that last second field goal, and a question as to wheter BA was set, and if the ball was snapped before the time expired. Ya, I think Tom was the snapper. Another painful MBA loss was the next year (2004) in the semifinal to MUS in Memphis. It was cold and the field was muddy and frozen. MBA was down 10 -7 with just a couple of minutes to go. Somehow MBA got the ball at about the MUS 10. I don't remember if we recovered a fumble or blocked a punt. MBA ran back to back power runs over Joe Birdsong and got the ball down to about the 3. Rather then bringing in the goal line offense and running power again Rutledge called some sort of option play that blew up. They lined up to kick the field goal and it was blocked. MUS went on to destroy BA in the finals.

I still contend that the MBA field goal attempt in overtime was good. I have watched the replay many times. The ball was kicked so high it went out of the picture on the video, and BA had those stumpy short uprights. The MBA manager was standing right between the goalposts and did not have to move to catch the ball. The ref's blew that one. Of course if MBA's long snapper hadn't snapped the ball over the punters head with about a minute to go it never would have come down to that.

oops

There has been a lot of negative publicity about football in general recently (injuries concussions etc). It could very well be that we are seeing the beginning of a larger trend of parents encouraging their boys to other team sports other then football. On one level I understand that, the injuries are real and sometimes lifelong. I was lucky that with my 2 boys all we had was a broken arm (albeit with a huge scar from the surgery), but if you asked either one they would tell you that playing football was the highlight of their years at MBA

I would be surprised by this. Gary Rankin played such a big part in the split portraying BA as the evil empire.

I hope MBA can bring back Coach E, and Coach Redmond.

I will hear parents of 8 year olds around the baseball fields talking about getting their boys private hitting lessons or pitching lessons. When I hear this I can't help but think, did Joe DiMaggio get hitting lessons when he was 8, or did Sandy Koufax get pitching lessons. All of that extra teaching won't get a kid to high school ball if he doesn't have some natural ability and the "want to".

We have had enough banter back and forth that I know what you were saying, I just wanted to make a different point. The bigger issue I think is the one about intensity. I heard parts of an interview on the radio yesterday with Kirk Herbstreit. This conversation was about college football, and he made the point that because of the internet and blogs the emphasis among fans has changed from enjoying winning because you won to enjoying winning because it gives you the opportunity to get on the internet to boast and "hate" on the loser. That is certainly true, and it is filtering down to high school and beyond. I posted on another thread some thoughts about youth sports, and how intense that is. If you don't believe me go watch a 10 year old baseball or basketball game. This is driven by the parents and coaches (typically dads). I think a lot of what we see today that makes us wish for the past is a reflection of the larger society.

cashiers checks are signed by a bank employee, they do not necessarily have the name of the person they are from.

Rankin was such a driving force in the split between public/private, I'm not sure I ever see him coaching a private school.

Congratulation to MUS on a well deserved State Championship. Staying undefeated against the schedule you played is a real accomplishment. I was impressed by Brunetti's arm, but i am sorry (maybe I'm not really sorry) he was not 100%. MUS plays the 33 stack as well as anyone I have seen. MBA should have been able to pound the rock right up the gut but they really had a hard time. Those small defensive linemen played a tremendous game. To the MBA boys. You had a great season, and accomplished great things. You overcame much adversity to reach the highest stage this state has to offer. Be proud of all you have done.

As far as why Brunetti chose West Virginia, he has had few words to say about it. There was a brief article in the Commercial Appeal about it when he committed, but all I remember is that he said it was just a "good fit." I believe his uncle from Nashville accompanied him on his trip there. Curiously, there is a highly touted QB in Texas who also says he is leaning toward WVA. Strange. Wonder what Brunetti does if that guy commits also. He can go to Michigan and be with RichRod

If I had to bet I would say that Jonas will be at the game in Cookeville

Thankfully MUS won't tbe the host. Who is the home team by the way, the higher seaded team or does it rotate between divisions? I would rather travel to Cookeville then to Memphis. I still think it is a travesty to play this game on a Thursday night. I imagine both schools will be approaching exams, and The MUS students will probably have to miss the whole day Thursday and MBA a half day. Neither will be worth shooting on Friday. I guess exams are not something the TSSAA takes into consideration. Owlbooster I will disagree with you about the effects of long bus rides. Those bus seats are cramped and especially the big boys do get stiff. Not to mention things can happen on the trip. On the trip for the first of the two games you and I discussed earlier in 2004, after the team stopped to eat in Jackson there was a wreck on I-40 and traffic was at a dead stop. The MBA boys got off the bus and pushed the cars out of the way so traffic could get by. They ended up getting to MUS with only about 45 minutes until kickoff.

Simonis is a gutsy kid, he is not afraid to stick his head in the pile, throw a block or run over a defender. He appears to be a good leader of the offense as well. His throwing mechanics are a little funky, but he get's the ball there. Sure looks like MBA has their QB for the foreseeable future. The offense turned around when he was able to play again.

I would have to disagree with your assumption of MBA having a better team in 2004. One loss I might agree but to lose twice in the same year doesn't equate to a better team in my opinion Both games were close...within a touchdown, and really the teams were evenly matched. Both games were played in Memphis and if that had been reversed the results might have been as well. The second game in particular was tough. The conditions were horrible. It had rained early in the week and then gotten cold, all the mud had frozen. It was a cold night. The final was MUS 10 MBA 7. The MUS TD came on a gadget play, and other then that their offense didn't do much. I don't remember exactly what happened, MBA either blocked a punt or recovered a fumble, but they got the ball at the MUS 10 with about 2 minutes to go. They picked up 6 on first down, and 3 on 2nd down. So it was 3rd and goal from the one and Rutledge makes a call I have never understood. Rather then loading up the backfield and running behind our all-american left tackle, he puts the ball in the hands of our sophomore QB and runs an option. The QB goes the wrong way and is stopped for a short loss. The kicker slips on the field goal try and it is blocked...game over. That game broke my sons heart. He played dline and they all played their butts off. Woulda, coulda, shoulda. That 2004 MBA team overcame so much adversity with injuries starting with the first day of two a days. MUS went on to wear BA out in the championship game. So maybe we owe you one.

I would have to disagree with your assumption of MBA having a better team in 2004. One loss I might agree but to lose twice in the same year doesn't equate to a better team in my opinion Both games were close...within a touchdown, and really the teams were evenly matched. Both games were played in Memphis and if that had been reversed the results might have been as well. The second game in particular was tough. The conditions were horrible. It had rained early in the week and then gotten cold, all the mud had frozen. It was a cold night. The final was MUS 10 MBA 7. The MUS TD came on a gadget play, and other then that their offense didn't do much. I don't remember exactly what happened, MBA either blocked a punt or recovered a fumble, but they got the ball at the MUS 10 with about 2 minutes to go. They picked up 6 on first down, and 3 on 2nd down. So it was 3rd and goal from the one and Rutledge makes a call I have never understood. Rather then loading up the backfield and running behind our all-american left tackle, he puts the ball in the hands of our sophomore QB and runs an option. The QB goes the wrong way and is stopped for a short loss. The kicker slips on the field goal try and it is blocked...game over. That game broke my sons heart. He played dline and they all played their butts off. Woulda, coulda, shoulda. That 2004 MBA team overcame so much adversity with injuries starting with the first day of two a days. MUS went on to wear BA out in the championship game.

Those of us in Middle Tennessee only know MUS by reputation, and who they have beaten. FR will be the first Nashville team they have played, so from that point of view MUS is something of an unknown here. That said this is what I do know. It is tough for a Nashville team to travel to Memphis and win. I don't know if it is the long bus ride or there is somwthing in the Memphis water supply. MBA went to MUS twice in 2004 with a better team and lost both games by a slim margin... good luck to FR. Wouldn't it be fun to drive to Cookeville on a Thursday night to watch FR and MBA play again. That is pure insanity.

I noticed Tim didn't say who they lost to.

Anyway, I (we) can't move on by bringing it up again! Allow canines in repose to remain in a prone position. RRR, don't confuse the poor folks on here. Just say let a sleeping dog lie.

Dreamer

You gotta love that last drive of MBA's. Just pounding the rock, running the clock, smashmouth football and EHS couldn't stop them. #'s 74 & 75 for EHS were gassed, standing at the line of scrimmage with their hands on their hips. That drive was a thing of beauty.