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Agreed! I think "the Pistol" is particularly well suited for HS teams.

Again, I have it from a VERY reliable source that Coach Julian is staying at Halls and will remain the Head Football Coach. Rather than continue to debate this fact, perhaps it's time for Red Devil fans to simply offer their support. Go Red Devils!

Nope. Kevin Julian is staying at Halls.

You are wise man. I pray that we can see positive change, whatever that entails. The kids may not be happy right now, but they are still playing with pride.

I guess I took your post wrong. For that, I apologize. It's the "grumbling parents" part that got me off on a tangent. Go Red Devils!

Nows the time for the boys to play with pride. After all, this is the Battle of Black Oak Ridge and a trophy is at stake. The first part of the season saw a lot of blowout losses, but the games have been getting more and more competitive as the season progresses. I have not watched our Freshmen or JV this year. What does our future hold in terms of the talent level coming up?

While the FIRST PART OF YOUR STATEMENT IS A FACT, the rest is nothing but conjecture. Personally, I have learned a lesson and that is to get first-hand information rather allow myself to become a part of the rumor mill; even if what I'm hearing comes from people I know and respect. Good people can be flat wrong, myself included. While this Message Board is an unavoidable reality, it is important for folks to realize that there are 10 rumors out there for every fact. I'm glad I have the facts in this case.

From personal experience, I know KJ will welcome the support of anyone willing to do more than chat on a message board. Again, I am very happy to be the one to break the news and stop the rumor that was circulated to me by about a half dozen people. To be clear... Coach Julian will be staying on at Halls. Go Red Devils!

UPDATE: I have it from a VERY reliable source that OUR coach isn't going anywhere. Let me be the first to say... I'm happy.

Alcoa beat Maryville, In Maryville, this year and is on a two year win streak against them; so I'm not sure how you put Alcoa behind them?

I'm hearing the same thing ZCAR. I like Kevin a lot and wish him the best.

What have you heard?

I have watched a couple of games this year. From a macro-level, the players are smaller than in years past and there are no real game-breakers either. This alone, though, does not equate to a winless record. It appears the blowouts have discontinued, however, the losses are still there. Credit the players for playing with heart, despite all the challenges. From what I'm hearing through the grapevine, I'm confident there will be a LOT of changes in the off-season. Go Red Devils!

+1

Back on topic... I think we need a win. Almost got one last Friday night for Homecoming. It will be interesting to see if ANYTHING changes over the Winter or if it will be more of the "same ol' same 'ol"... I agree with whomever said there is a difference between coaching Midget football and the High School game. Yes, there are similarities as well, but just because someone is a good Midget coach, doesn't mean he will make a good HS Coach, and visa versa. Nor does it mean they won't. The higher up, in level of play, the more things there are to consider in regard to the game itself. You also have personality and emotional issues that become more complex as young men get older. Despite all of the above, IMO the HS Coach should be involved in the local community youth program, one way or the other. If nothing more than ensuring the offensive and defensive styles of play support the players progression into MS and HS. I'm still a proponent of switiching to a "Pro-Style" offense; more specifically the "Run and Shoot" as I think it would fit the type players we routinely get at Halls and still have a run component to it that will keep fans of the "Wing-T" happy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Run_and_shoot_offense

I am very proud of our players coming out week after week playing theirs hearts out. I look forward to the day things turn around and hope Kevin Julian is a part of that turn-around. I like him and I am friends with him. I won't ever hide that fact. I agree with several previous posters who seem at odds with one another. Here's what I mean by that... I agree that there are some things you just don't discuss and when it comes to individuals, if you don't have something decent to say about them, or wouldn't be willing to tell them face to face, just don't say it. Any true fan knows there are some things you talk about openly and some things you don't. Fans who care should use moderation in their posting and NOT call people out. The problem will surface in the discussion anyway, without dragging people through the mud. Perhaps in some contrast to the previous point, I feel this message board gives those who actually give a darn the opportunity to have an opinion to express themselves where they might not otherwise be heard. It's not as if nobody can figure out Halls has problems right now. To ignore them would be an even greater diservice to the program, coaches, and players. Obviously the danger in that is that it allows trolls to come on and run the program and people down. Any organization should be subject to critique and I would think those in charge would expect that (and perhaps even welcome that) with the team being winless after 7 games.

For the record, I'm just a parent who never played football past high school, but... I've been a student of the game for the past 30 years, on the sidelines at a lot of high school and college games, and have some very good relationships with Division 2, Division 1, and even an NFL coach. I have a lot of ultra-successful coaching in my family blood lines. My being in the military has allowed me to travel and see a lot of different football in a lot of places, so while my understanding of the game is nowhere near as deep as some folks who have gone beyond playing to coaching, I'm willing to bet my perspective is about as broad as anyone's out there. The systems I've seen work best in high school have ALWAYS included a real passing threat. Halls has not had that, nor even had plans to have that, since I've been here. I have seen some real promise, routinely, on the defensive side of the ball, however, my biggest gripe there is we seem to use a lot of players on defense that also play offense. As a result, Halls seems to get outplayed as the game goes on. (i.e. Maryville in 2007 and 2008). Coaches tend to rely a little too much on their horses and end up burning them out. I have faith that Kevin Julian will "right this ship" and that all will be well in the next year or two. Whatever direction the program takes, all I am really an advocate for is that the Coaches, Players, and, yes, the parents, all come together for the good of the program, and not themselves. This discussion, especially in the direction it is currently headed, in no way speaks to a bunch of disgruntled fans who are playing arm-chair coach and second guessing anyone. It actually speaks to the passion and desire we all share to see Kevin and the Players succeed on the gridiron and in life. Any coach worth his salt would acknowledge things look kinda bleak right now and would thus welcome civil discussion and broad thinking; as long as those discussing it don't try to exceed their authority. Most of us are probably as wrong as two boys kissing, but never-the-less, no one can fault us, or question us, for caring. Go Red Devils!!!

I understand the smaller, powerful, quick guard discussion, however... ...if I had to choose between a 225 lb tough guy at guard and a 275 Caleb Leonard, I would go with Leonard, every time, whether it's the Power-I, Wing-T, Sweep, the Spread, Option (Wishbone), Pro-Set, Vertical, West-Coast, Run and Shoot, Pistol, or Wildcat. I am a fan of the Spread, in general, for high school teams, but I really like the Run and Shoot as it keeps all the run and pass options open, while still taking advantage of a ball control mindset. The run and shoot doesn't require a lot of size, but some quickness and good decision making. It is brutal to oppsing teams defenses as they get worn out and confused while the opposing team's offense gets cold and out of rythym sitting on the sidelines. I also think Halls could utilize their TEs more; not just as additional blockers, but as recievers. It really creates mismatches against LBs, and especially safetys, when you get a big tall kid 10+ yards downfield. My son played TE for 2 years and got 2 passes thrown to him. He caught both. One for a 45 yard gain. That said, he was incredibly grateful for the opportunity, and I had no complaints from a personal perspective, but it seemed such a waste. We've had even bigger stronger TEs who could have been used more in a receiving role than they were. We've had some talented WR types who just weren't getting the ball thrown to them, despite being open on a consistent basis. The bottom line, IMO, is now is a good time to reevaluate and reassess as it would be beneficial to look at the type of players we routinely get at Halls and choose a style offense that is conducive to those type players. We have a consistent problem, it seems, so we need a more long-term approach to address it. Defense is another discussion for another day...

Whether it's the Wing-T, the coaches, the players, or a combination of the above; I think there's one thing we can all agree on, and that is... Something has to change. It's just not right to be getting blown out, every week, by average teams. Go Red Devils!!!

Guys I appreciate the comments. I'm still not sold on the Wing-T. I just get the feeling that those programs that HAVE won with it, would just as easily win with an offense that has more ways to score. The advantage to any run oriented offense, Wing-T or otherwise, is ball control and the "second order effect" of wearing the opposing defense down. It is not an offense conducive to coming from behind. I can see why it might be a preferred choice for a high school with a big powerful O-Line and quick, tough RBs. Perhaps this is why Halls had it's best year in the past decade in 2007 when Caleb Leonard was blocking for Wes Kitts? I would imagine those schools that have had success with the Wing-T have ways of ensuring they get those types of players EVERY YEAR. Webb is a private school and Valdosta High School, in Georgia (whom I've seen play live; not just Googled them), RECRUITS PLAYERS, just like Maryville, except on an even grander scale. Sons of big time college players and pros go to those schools to be feature, blue chip type players. Halls would be better served, on a consistent basis, to switch, for the aformentioned reasons; they ARE NOT A PRIVATE SCHOOL and they do not have the luxury of RECRUITING BLUE CHIP players. Just sayin...

Has Webb won a state championship with the Wing-T? just curious...

I'm not offended at all. In fact, I appreciate your response. I've only lived here for three years, so the perspective I can offer is limited to what I've seen elsewhere. From a character standpoint, I think Kevin is solid. I've had two sons play for him and they both respect him and bought into him. I personally believe that he has the makeup and experience to a be a great head football coach. Both of my sons have told me Coach Hassel going to Central was a big loss in their eyes. He is a good coach and a great school-teacher. Thankfully, he is still teaching at Halls, but it has to be tough for him to Teach at Halls and Coach at Central. One of them has also told me that one of the current assistants has given up on the players. I don't care how the season is going, IMO, that's inexcuseable. My only experience, thus far, with the youth program here in Halls has been with my younger sons, and at their young ages, it seems that the Coaches are all Parents who ensure their sons are either the Pitcher in baseball or the QB in football. I hope this changes as they get older. I will hold out hope in their future coach's objectivity. Whether it's the head coach, the assistants, the players or some combination of the above, something's got to change for the Red Devils. Getting hammerred week in and week out isn't healthy for ANYONE. I will say this... The only thing I know for sure is I haven't seen a championship team yet that runs the Wing-T; and I'm willing to bet I've seen more variety of High School football and better high school teams play, live, than anyone in this community. I've watched Birmingham (Hoover), Alabama; Valdosta, Georgia; Southlake Carroll, Texas, and plenty of other Alabama, Georgia, and Texas teams that would literally wipe the floor with Maryville, Alcoa, or anyone in East Tennessee. I have seen plenty of run-based and option offenses (like the Wing-T) get hammered by teams at the HS level that run pro-style and spread offenses; teams that had no more talent than the Run-Oriented teams they beat, but had a lot more ways to move the ball downfield and score and coaches who knew how to take full advantage of what those style offenses bring to the gridiron; keeping defenses on their toes. The Wing-T isn't as complex as proponents seem to think it is. It's relatively easy to defend as long as you have a decent D-Line and linebackers who can tackle. I've already overheard one coach on the sidelines of one of Halls opponents, this year, say these exact words... "Don't pay any attention to all that motion, Wing-T stuff they're doing. It doesn't work. Just stay focused on the guy who has the ball and tackle him, because you know their going to run it right?" I'm not sure using 1986 or 1996 as an example of a successful Wing-T really holds much merit as I'm willing to bet we would have won a state championship running the Power-I, the Wishbone, or darn near any offense you choose, with the personnel we had at the time. I guess I'll know more as my sons continue to go through the system. I can say this. My sons will play for the school where they live, win or lose; whether they are a Blue-Chip type player, an every day contrubutor, or a bench-warmer. Thanks again for your perspective.

By no means am I trying to stir the pot, but it is as plain as the nose on my face that something will have to give. I'm just calling it as I see it. Neccessary changes... 1. Attitude (everyones) 2. Assistant Coaches (either their commitment level or they themselves) 3. Style Offense 4. Youth Program and Nepotism - although my aforemnetioned problems in this area exist, to some extent, wherever you go; it's just running rampant in Halls IMO.

I think the reason we've stayed with the Wing-T forever is two-fold. 1. That's the tradition, it's what the head coach knows best, and it's difficult, not impossible, to get away from what you know best. 2. We haven't had an offensive coordinator come in from outside the program with experience or confidence running anything other than the Wing-T, so Coach Julian, understandably, can't justify the switch. I know Coach Julian and he has the makeup to be a great head coach. He knows the game of football, has the experience, and knows how to motivate young men. I think the assistants need to step up...

Halls needs to go out and have fun! I'm not saying the coaches, or players, need to cash it in for the season. All I'm saying is the best way to break the funk is to remember what's most important about the High school game of football... WE'RE DEVELOPING YOUNG MEN INTO TEAM PLAYERS; PROVIDING THEM WITH SKILLS THEY CAN'T GET FROM THE CLASSROOM; AND ARE (AS COACHES AND PARENTS) LARGELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR MEMORIES ON THE GRIDIRON BEING POSSITIVE ONES.