FootballDad

Much about football has changed since many of us played. Not only the style of game, but the way its coached, the abilities of the players, etc...including the level of parental involvement. It was rare to see a parent at practice when I played, now you could almost charge admission. 2nd quessing the coach was still common, but it was rare that a parent confronted the coach publicly. Now, not only is that common, but we have message boards like this one that allow people to publicly complain without hesitation. Back in the day, we had tryouts and had real live honest cuts. Not everyone made the team, much less get to play. Now the coaches are put under great pressure to allow everyone who tries out to make the team as well as find some way to play them all. That starts in rec league and has worked its way all the way up to the high school level. And countless parents have developed a mindset of " I don't care about the TEAM, I only care about my kid". That attitude creates inevitable conflicts when playing a TEAM oriented sport such as football, which really is the ultimate team sport in my opinion. I also know some parents have an attitude of "entitlement" due to the countless hours and money invested in todays youth sports. From driving to all the practices, all the games, the money spent on athletic training, camps, etc... Most of that didn't take place in my day. Heck, many of the parents didn't even make the away games and sat home and listened on the radio. And D1 sports training, are you kidding. We had cinder blocks on a couple of tobacco sticks to work out with. But Bob Dylan had it right.."times are changing", acutally they already have changed. Parental involvement is more important than ever, but the climate needs to get back towards more TEAM and less ME.

I haven't heard anything on #35, like 4warrior reported #23 and #42 are doubtful. 42 wants to gut it out and play but he and 23 really need to nurse their injuries if the game allows and be ready down the road. #27 may not be available after all, hamstring is better but injured an ankle in practice, #43 (nice catches in JV game) dislocated a collar bone. Gabe still has a bum arm and hand, but gutting through it and playing well even with the injuries. #81 and #88 are ready to play, both seniors, hopefully they'll get a lot of snaps tonight. Haven't heard any Back Yard Burger promos this week? Have you lost your appetite? /roflol.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":roflol:" border="0" alt="roflol.gif" />

The healing up part sounds great to me! I'm sure the injured players and the coaches will be glad to hear it, dislocated collar bones, separated & broken shoulders, torn cartlidge and ligaments, broken bones, etc...are a bit painful and take some time to heal. Playoffs, that sounds good too, hope we make it. So you must be one of the people "with the money" since you "have the power" to influence the TSSAA. Wonderful. Thank you, thank you , thank you. By the way, for just a nominal fee I'm sure we could get your name plastered somewhere on the new fieldhouse project. As you're aware, we're a couple bucks short right now.

I'm almost afraid to say, but it is improving. #81 should be available. #88 was available last week and should be good to go as well. #9 seems to be healthy again. A few of the lineman are still dinged but they seem to be dealing with it ok. I think #2 is still feeling the effects of "turf toe" but is hanging tough. Even the JV's got #27 back from his hamstring injury and caught some passes lastnight. The effort against Alcoa was encouraging and along with getting some players healthy again I'm optimistic about the last 3 games. Some consistency would go a long ways in helping this team rebound from several subpar performances. Good luck Warriors.

Not real sure what you're getting at with this post; however, it is good that you have learned this valuable "life lesson". It has been true from the beginning of time and will always be that way, at a private school, public school, small town, big town, this country, other countries, etc.....regardless of whether you or I like it. If I had the money, I'd probably like it. ha Regarding donors, you're also right, although your comment reeks of sarcasim just like the rest of your post. CAK does have some great donors, including a great number of people who make relatively small donations to help support a cause they strongly believe in. I'm sorry you have such a beef with CAK. Your experience with the school, whatever it may be, obviously has not been a good one. I hope your next school of choice better fits your needs.

I'm optimistically thinking you're right. We are slowly getting some players healthy again, and that should help too.

CAK needs to win out to make the playoffs. Oliver Springs is the 1st of 3 remaining region games. What does Oliver Springs bring to the table?

Coaches and fans at most schools have strong opinions regarding players going both ways or platooning. As it has been pointed out in previous posts, they're good reasons for each approach. However; I'm strongly in the camp of putting the best players on the field, regardless of class or if a player plays on just one side of the ball or both. IMO CAK does not have enough talent to platoon and keep our best team on the field, especially in the region in which we play. I can't imagine playing players both ways would have resulted in any more injuries than what we've already experienced this year. Keeping players fresh is idealistic. Getting more players involved is idealistic. Reducing risk to injury is idealistic. Platooning at CAK at this time (or with the looming larger classification for next year) and being as competitive as possible just doesn't seem realistic. Of course you should rotate other players in to give the 2 way starters some breaks along the way and to build depth. If CAK can win and remain competitive platooning, I'm 100% for it! But I think playing players both ways right now would be a plausible solution to some of the issues that this CAK team faces. I too believe Coach B is a good coach and has his reasons for his approach. Not disgruntled at all, just expressing my opinion.

I suspected Bridge worked for the FBI or SWAT recon team with the way he comes up with all those photos and info. Now he can add inflitration to his resume. Sneaky....I like it! GVK, we'll have to launch our anti "double naught spy" operation, code name "NoPizzaTonight".

Thanks for the warning. We just hope we can play well enough in our remaining games to get a chance to come to "the windy city", whoops, isn't that Chicago. DaBears, DaNados, ... I diegress. It would be worth the gas money to watch "the chant" and the fireworks if nothing else. Maybe even a quick stop at BOH. We don't mean to "###### anyone off" /roflolk.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":roflolk:" border="0" alt="roflolk.gif" /> (I just couldn't resist) about the long walk to the bathrooms. I agree, something needs to be done. We're working on it. Layoffs can hurt the rythm of a team, agreed. So can injuries. If the Warriors are fortunate enough to make playoffs, then when they meet Alcoa again it may be a different type of ball game, with the Tornados more focused and the Warriors healthy. Recent history shows Alcoa to have the upper hand of course. No matter, CAK took some steps in the game lastnight to "right the ship". Good luck Warriors on finishing strong this season. Congrats again to Alcoa and their "well oiled machine" .

Nice effort by CAK tonight. They faced the "giants" and didn't run and hide. Still a L and thats not what you play for, but they can build on some things from this game. Good character building game. Gotta run the table from here on out to make the playoffs. The grit they showed in this game hopefully will help them "believe" and win out. Alcoa is strong. Impressed with the coaches and how they managed the game. The team is well disciplined and athletic. Well behaved and mannerly on the sidelines, just another indication of a well coached team. I'm not a showboat but I enjoyed the entertainment during warmups with the Alcoa team "chant". Probably helps them have some fun rather than being bored to death beating everyone in 2A so easily. Sorry about the porta potty thing. We're trying to raise enough money to build a field house and it will have nice bathrooms, concessions, locker rooms, etc... maybe when you return next time that will be completed. Didn't appear to have any major injuries to either team, thats always good. Best wishes to the Tornados the rest of the season.

At many schools in Knoxville there is an admission charge. Schools host 2 games, a Freshman game and a JV game. The admission is usually $3 for adults and I believe students are free, not sure though. Similar clock rules to the high school varsity game. The money typically goes to the touchdown club as do the concessions. For some schools this is about the only way to get any support from their largest base, the parents and family. Ask just about any schools booster club president and he/she will tell you that the same 10% of parents show up to do everything, from clean up, to concession duty, fund raising etc...and the other 90% just show up for games and to complain about the coaching. People who believe the football fees they pay at the beginning of the year actually covers the cost of running a football program certainly must be unaware of what it costs to operate a football program. Many schools only allocate a small percentage of the varsity game gate receipts back to the football program, opting to give portions to other sports groups and the band. Until everyone is willing to jump in and do their part I say have an admisson charge every time you host a game. You can always allow for hardship cases, you don't want money to be a reason mom or dad wouldn't come and watch.

We payed to park at Loudon this year, public school. We, CAK, private school, have never charged to park or asked for donations to park. I actually think at Loudon it was some girls sport team that was collecting donations. I'd rather have my daughter collecting "donations" to park at a school sporting event, than have her going door to door selling cookie dough and such. As long as parking revenues are going to the school groups I don't mind.

Bridge: Your graphics are priceless! I love them even though this week they are directed at CAK. We've got to be able to laugh at ourselves, right? Are you a stalker or have a man crush on Coach B? Maybe you work for the tabloids or the FBI. I'm curious how you get all your photos. Did those Halls exchange students and pizzas ever arrive at Alcoa this week?

Certainly not flattering myself on "the money thing", I'm a blue collar, dig in the dirt guy. I mentioned that because that is one of the things that seems to get brought up when private schools are involved. Not trying to imply pubic school parents can't afford private education. I attended public schools and so did my children. I'm just trying to get opinions. You are right, CAK is very affordable. I hope lots and lots of people hear that and take a look at CAK. Wink, wink, nod, nod. Of course I'm not going to use the "R" word, but there are lots of opportunities. Thanks for your thoughts.

I know I am opening myself up to a wave of criticism, but would you expand upon the ""any lost love for CAK". I am a relatively new supporter of CAK. I think CAK is a wonderful school. Is it the public vs. private thing? OR is it a money thing? Or is it that CAK has not competed fairly? Can't be because CAK wins all the time, that honor goes to Alcoa. I'd simply like to know since I plan on engaging in conversation on this board for years to come.

Pretty good. You've referenced "the box" before. Are you referring to the box Coach B carried onto the field last year before every game? IF so, I found it sorta odd myself until a CAK parent explained it to me last year. I thought it might represent the chest containing the "holy grail" or something at first. ha. But I'm told each player committed in writing to certain football,life,spiritual goals for the season and they decided to take those goals with them symbolically to each game in a chest or lockbox. I could see where it may seem corny to others, but once it was explained to me it made a bit more sense. Still liked your lockbox graphic though.

Bridge: I've been waiting on the cool graphics, nice one. Maybe you could add Dorothy and Toto running down a gravel road wearing a CAK jersey and have GQ dressed as the wicked witch on a bicycle with the F5 behind them.... or maybe not. Its a bummer when all I can post about during CAK vs Aloca week is the Wizard of Oz ! I'm pretty much a realist and try to call a spade a spade. But to understate it a bit, things are not stacked in CAK's favor this week. I wish I could say this team was as mentally tough as last years and that they will fight to their last breath, but I haven't seen that in them this season. There are some good players on this team, just not enough of them. Overall it is a young team looking for some leadership and an identity. Maybe that would have developed but injuries devasted this team early on and has continued in epidemic proportions. (Side note: "Govols" I'll give you the injury report privately, too long and whiney sounding for this forum.) I'm thinking about taking out the tv broadcast antenna at the game, some kind of Rambo tactical strike and run. Any CAK volunteers to help me? Really this is a character game for CAK. Regardless of the score our guys need to go out and execute, get some first downs, make some tackles, and try to find the end zone. Its the least we can do for the Alcoa guys,... they are getting bored and gaining too much weight from all the pizzas. Good luck Warriors, "Respect All, Fear None"

I've heard there is a "mono" outbreak at Halls. Don't be surprised if a bus full of Halls exchange students carrying specially prepared pizzas show up at Alcoa this week compliments of an unnamed donor. /rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":rolleyes:" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" />

Everybody knows Alcoa is loaded again and steam rolling towards another championship. CAK is obviously struggling. The Warriors lost several key players to graduation and have had several sidelined due to an extreme case of the injury bug this year. Anything is possible, but it would be a super long shot for the Warriors to win. As far as scoring? CAK has been so inconsistant its hard to say if they can find the end zone or not. They certainly are capable, but turnovers and penalties have been killers in most of the games this year. But Yes, I do believe they will score. CAK doesn't stake up to the Tornadoes, but maybe they can give a better accounting of themselves than they have thus far in the season. If CAK can simply come out and have a solid game against a team as good as Alcoa it will help them down the stretch against their remaining opponents.

Where can I find the classification break down by enrollment? In other words, what enrollment range is designated as 1A, 2A, etc...

Happy to hear you know who I am. I doubt we've met but I'd like to meet you. Seriously, come introduce yourself next time you see me, I'm friendly. As I said in an earlier post, I like to hear others opinons and talk football. I'll be happy to point my son out to you in practice. Heck, he may not even be good enough to play at CAK. Sounds like you might have taken my comment about an "Alcoa invite" as boasting or inflammatory in some way. Not the intent at all. Simply making conversation with the Alcoa gang.

Nice!

Relax, if you read my reponse to "tornadogold" you would see it was just a casual conversation. Nobody "offered" anything other than passing on a nice compliment about what they thought was a good looking athlete. I don't use these boards to pump up my son or any other individual. Players earn that on the field. But you shouldn't make assumptions that no one on CAK's team, other than #9, would be worthy of playing for Alcoa someday. As good as Alcoa is they can always use young upcoming players, just like any other team.

Not sure about the "goose" comments, but when he is signaling plays I guess he could look like a goose, who knows. But I certainly agree with the rest of your analysis.