BigAir

Stefan understands the special place that H.S. sports has in our lives - it's a big part of what makes him the best sportswriter in E.T..

Doesn't offend me Govdude. We are on the same page. Character seems to have become a moving target. Maybe more of a sliding scale. The more talent perceived, the less actual character that needs to be evidenced on and off the field.

If this game appears to be as epic and evenly matched with great O and D as many on both sides prognosticate, then what can we expect from Riverdale's special teams play?

For those joining us late... A few dozen posts later and we have a summary like this: Seats at Catholic will be hard to come by. These coaches are 5-1 against each other with Quarles being the 5. Maryville posters have been encouraged not to respond to anyone with an emotional illness expressed by attention getting jabber. Just say no. Score predictions have ranged from a Maryville blowout to a very tightly contested slugfest. Surprisingly little has actually been said about the teams themselves. Here's what we have: Catholic Big O and D line. Solid at QB Great RB in Cozart Great pass catcher in Macklin Their depth could prove to be an issue as the game grinds into Q4. Maryville Improved play up front from week #1. Surely we can do better than this! What will the game turn on? This contest will demand a complete effort in all phases by both teams - which will be able to answer?

These two teams have never met and have no common opponents so far this season. However, this will be Scott Meadows' third team to face the Rebels (Alcoa and William Blount being the other two). It seems that this will be the first seriously two dimensional offense the Rebels have faced this season (Farragut promises even more of a challenge next week, and Alcoa in week 1 didn't need to be two dimensional). Catholic seems to have an unusual number of game changers for a school their size (to some degree like Aloca). What and who will be the difference makers?

By "best kicker" I'm going to assume the thread is about those with the most current ability and future potential. Corey Acosta - Christian Brothers Memphis 2010: Consistent, not a huge leg by college standards. Nick Pollard - Father Ryan 2010: Serious distance. John Long - Ooltewah 2010: Great all around kicker who like the others has worked hard. Zach Sharp - Maryville 2011: 71 yd. KO avg. in 1st game. With 2 seasons left, holds Maryville all-time record for field goals, never missed from inside 40. Missed one PAT in 3 years. BillyBee - to respond directly to your post about kickers, rankings, and what coaches look for: I think you've hit on the rub. First, most folk have little idea how to evaluate a kicker, and which aspect of the kicking game should get more consideration. You mention that the ranking services shouldn't be taken seriously, but kids that really work hard at kicking have to go somewhere for instruction as well as help in the recruiting process. So the campsranking services become a kind of middle man (effectiveness, cost, etc could be very much debated) that are an attempt (imperfect for sure) to match the skills of kids from the Atlantic to Pacific. That said, what college coaches say they are looking for a combination of the following: Someone who can consistently hit kickoffs from a 1" tee that get in the neighborhood of 4.0 hang time or better. The farther beyond a 60 yard avg. the better. Beyond 70 preferred, but not at the expense of hang time. Someone who has a demonstrated ability to very consistently make FG's from 45 yards and in off the ground. Some kids never really make the transition from 2" block (high school). If a kicker can demonstrate this ability, it takes some guess work out for college coaches. Great fun to hit from 65, but few coaches will give that opportunity in an actual game. Someone who is a model citizen, can basically coach himself (because few teams have coaches who really understand the mechanics of kicking), and will raise the overall GPA of the team. Forget extra point stats - it's assumed you'll hit them all. Forget also the kicker with the huge but undisciplined and inconsistent leg. Coaches want to know what they can constistently expect from their kickers - in real game situations.

Not sure I associate "glamourous" with the sea of empty aluminum benches at the 'boro. Can anyone tell us what the capacity of Tech's stadium is?

Helpful posts dou and Old Dad. Sounds like Millington has some powerful variables working in its favor to come out of the west. In addition to Old Dad's summary of those playing solid ball in the mid-state, I'm struck by how high the concentration of 6A schools is in a relatively small area of the state. In other words, more than a third of the 6A teams are coming from the middle third of the state, and the numbers alone would make it a tougher call to make than west and east. Lost Old Dad and others, let the rest of us know when it appears that some of these teams seem to get separation from the rest.

Started this post awhile back in hopes of clear-eyed analysis of 6A state-wide. I agree with and understand most of what's been said about my own end of things (east), but am left in a fog on the mid-state. Basically, it sounds like any 6A south of Vanderbilt is just ferocious. Can anybody offer some systematic analysis beyond, "I think my team is the best?" Outside of some personal back and forth that doesn't make sense to the rest of us, haven't heard much from 6A in the west. Will the Memphis area field a serious contender? Who? Why? Can anyone tell us who, if anyone in the last 10 years, has won in the old 5A outside of Middle Tennessee?

Never been a 6A before in the Volunteer State. Add this to coaching transitions, the large number of impact athlete graduations, new playoff scenarios and it makes for a lot of fan excitement and uncertainty. I would love to hear from each area of the state as to who the top 4 four or so are. Throw humility to the wind and make your best case! I'll be the guinea pig for E.TN: 1. Ooltewah -Lots of idifference makers return in every phase. Could be the year they put it all together. 2. Maryville - Youthful talent. Will it be the "youthful" or the "talent" part that plays out? 3. Farragut - Best QB I've seen in the last 3 years returns for senior campaign. 4. BeardenDB - Talent vs. Tradition. Couldn't make the call here.

Ironically, the toughest game on the schedule will likely come from the smallest school. Alcoa returns crazy tallent in what will likely be their most lopsided waltz to the gold ball in a decade of ballroom dancing in the 'boro. As usual, we get them right out of the gate with limited time for cohesion and maturity - in a year when there is clearly a changing of the guard. Losing something like 16 starters is huge no matter who you are and what kind of young talent will emerge. It needs time to emerge, and time is not something we get much of with the new schedule. That said, watch for a vastly improved and lethal bunch by OctoberNovember.

Interesting that my quote about the population density of East Tennessee is what generated argument when I stated clearly in paragraph two that letting ET host was NOT my argument. My argument is keeping the championships in the population centers (which ET has three of, more than the other areas of the state): Memphis, Nashville, and Knoxville (with a possible sharing of venues with Tri-cities andor Chattanooga). Keeping to the major markets gives you the best shot at revenue production, and rotation generates more local involvement and interest over time. Rappy's idea of different sites hosting different classifications is a great addition to this point. Whatever economies of scale are gained by the TSSAA by having one site would very likely be more than offset by the additional revenue generated by spreading the events out and creating interest and opportunity state-wide.

As a Maryville fan who's done something like 10 trips to the 'boro in the past dozen years, I've had a lot of time on I - 40 to think about this one. I understand the "geographic center of the state" argument for Murfreesboro, but geography does not play football, nor does it purchase tickets - people do. Look it up. The eastern Grand Division of Tennesse is the most populous and therefore the one which provides the most opportunity to get backsides in seats and revenue in the coffers. But that is not my argument. If the TSSAA is truly to be reprsentative of the whole state, then it should be intentional about demonstrating this. Therefore, the fairest, most representative model would be to alternate championships among the three grand divisions: east, middle and west. The economic impact of these championships is enormous for a community. One community among hundreds should not be the sole beneficiary. Additionally, spreading the championships around is in the long term best interests of the TSSAA. Getting a chance to sleep in my own bed, drive a short distance, and see a particular sport played at its highest level would be a real local draw. This would, over time, promote interest in high school athletics all across the state, not just in one region. While the 'boro may be near the geographic center, it is not a population center. Keeping the championships in the cities of Memphis, Nashville, and Knoxville (with possible alternation in the east between Knoxville, Chattagnooga, and Tri-Cities) would gurantee plenty of potential attendees within a short distance of the stadium. Given attendance at playoff games in East Tennessee and UT contests, you could assume that Knoxville attendance would easily double that of Murfreesboro in 2008. I suspect that those in Memphis and Nashville could tell similar stories. Keeping to the metropolitan areas would also gurantee adequate hotels, restaurants, and additional attractions which would generate additional economic impact. Hey, just give me half a reason to go to Memphis and I'll eat your BBQ, watch your silly ducks in the lobby, and pay my respects at Graceland. "But," you might ask, "Wouldn't you rather drive to Murfreesboro than Memphis?" Hey, there both significant road trips, and once I'm on the road, it doesn't make that much difference. Knowing that every third year would bring the championships to my backyard would be real consolation for me as I traverse the hinterlands of West Tennessee. Are the championships in the pocket of the Murfressoro Chamber of Commerce or is the TSSAA truely here to serve and promote the endeavors of student athletes and support their schools and communities? I know what the answer should be.

Description has to be Brandon Waters - one of the finest persons I've ever known

Glad to see the thread get back on track. Please refer back to my original disclaimer of subjectivity and statement of limited perspective in making dream team picks. Let's keep it real. Responding to the quarterback conversation and my statement about not seeing a lot of great talent in 4A this year.... Admittedly my perspective here is skewed. We currently have 4 QB alums playing college ball so to say we are spoiled at Maryville is to admit the obvious. That said, I didn't see much QB play at that caliber this year. In fact, Reese Browning at Farragut (5A) in August scrimmage was the only one I can think of. Knox West has probably been the program on our end of the state that has emerged the past 3-4 years as a QB developer in 4A. Kier Houson (Powell)has been mentioned. He is very athletic, but when our linebackers denied him the corner and made him one dimensional - the numbers speak for themselves. As far as the NET QB's mentioned....sorry Greenville's was hurt by the time we played in the semis. Can't speak to that one. A general word about the others. While the playoffs alone should not dictate placing on these mythic teams, it does give a more trustworthy perspective about caliber of competition. Marvyille could have filled the record book with player accomplishments in the last decade, but chose instead to go the player development route when games have already been decided. All I'm saying is that stats have to get balanced by level of competition and the nature of the platform the game is played on. That is an imprecise thing, but it has to be in the equation.

These mythical threads are based on: extreme homer bias, limited exposure to players across a broad piece of geography, and some honest assessment based on facts. Probably in that order. That said, they're a lot of fun. With apologies to W.Tn and to great players on less successful teams (these lists are inherently unfair to them), my bias, exposure and meager facts all come from being a Maryville Rebel, watching 15 weeks worth of opponents, and whatever I can read and glean from others. QB - Marsalis Teague, Henry Co. A curious abscence of top level QB's in 4A this year I thought. OL - Kevin Revis, Rhea Co. Committed to TN, more dominant last year than this. OL - Josh Walker, Rhea Co. 6'6, 290 beast, committed to MTSU. Rhea was best team we played till Burros. OL - Marcus Englehardt, Maryville Smart, great pad leverage, classic overachieving Rebel hobbit. RB - Dominique Allen, Henry Co. No brainer RB - Taylor Fletcher, Sullivan South, Northeast TN Off. PLayer of the Year. Too bad he didn't get a bigger stage to perform on. WR - Ryan Fillers, Greenville, Big numbers WR - Corey Jordan, Hillsboro, 20 Yds. per catch. Stealth star in glare of Gordon. DL - Marvin Hughes, Hillsboro Shoud've won MVP -Defense in Championship Makes plays when it matters. DL - Romario Cathey, Maplewood 6'3, 290 A beast playing both ways. DE - Justin Smith, Maryville Mr. Football and Mr Head-on-Straight as well. Great leader, great heart, great talent. Some school is getting a gem. LB - Markus Cantrell, Maplewood It seemed there were three of him in championship last year. LB - Cody McCoy, Maryville Best closing speed of any h.s. linebacker I've ever seen. Three words: heat seeking missle. Will prob. play at one of the service academies. DB - Eric Gordon, Hillsboro Hurts you more on D than O or special teams. Will play corner at UT. Has what you can't coach. DB - Aaron Bryant, Hillsboro 123 tackles. Blue Cross MVP About triple that of anyone else on the Burros. P - Josh Davis, Rhea County More punter than kicker - 45 yd avg. consistent spiral that turns over. DI talent. K - Zach Sharp, Maryville 60% touchbacks, perfect PAT's, most FG makes in a career at Maryville as soph. Coach - Blade of Hillsboro built it right, scheduled right, peaked right, called it right.

We've done a neutral site scrimmage with Dobbyns-Bennett for years at Carson-Newman. Since we're moving into their classification, the kabosh may be put on that. In other words, we may be shopping for a scrimmage and we always try to find some iron to sharpen iron with those things.

One thing that being a Maryville fan will do for you: you get long and up close glimpses of what champions look like. Hillsboro - you look like the real deal. Congratulations. You guys are warriors. You managed to do something others have only talked about for five years: you scored more points. Hat's off. How about a scrimmage come early August at, say, Tennessee Tech?

Boski Agree with you that most associated with Alcoa program have class. Just curious though - why in your eyes do they have "much more class than Maryville"?

Pepvol, Zach Sharp started every game as a freshman.

Ya know HitchGumpRunner, your mama always said that Coach T is like a box of choclates, but try not to be one of the nuts.

Run Forrest! Run!

Wow. This is a lot to keep straight. Let's see.... You got the girl. You finished at the top of your class academically, your a debate champ and an athletic dynamo. Additionally, your a military hero and you proudly sacrifice your own character in so you can bring out "the true nature of everyone posting." I can only conclude that your last name is GUMP.

What a great idea! Do you think if we improved it that maybe people would fill the seats? Maybe, just maybe, with some cheesy lighting and a train whistle we could even win a few ball games.

Rollredroll, Intelligent and thoughtful post. Most Maryville fans that also know anything about the wider world of high school football deeply respect BA's and MBA's achievements. I certaninly have never thought that anybody in this mix was "chicken" to play anybody. I see this as a case of different philosophies of what high school football should be, a case of differeing economic equations, and the respect Maryville has for its traditions and long-established rivalries. As I understand it, the Nike sponsorship and the new classification system will serve to give Maryville chances to step into new arenas of competition. We understand MBA's position, pride, and perspective on their team. It makes sense. What you will find are Maryville fans calling out posters who seem to delight in reckless comments like "greatly overrated" that tarnish the body of work that much blood sweat and tears has produced.