BackValleyRally

Well, we've been out of it for a few weeks now. I expect the random RC fans who don't post regularly have stopped reading. We all know the rumor mill starts with our coaches leaving every year. As expected, I have already heard one. What coaching positions are open across the state that could potentially start the rumor that our coaches are leaving? Also, let's make this the off season thread with talk about next year and what everyone thinks will happen. Will we have another down 2-8 year, or will we reverse to an 8-2 and move into the playoffs? Have at it guys. Stay on topic...

Ah... gameday of the biggest game of the year. No matter what the rest of the season holds, a win against Cleveland keeps this season from being a total loss. Any true Rhea County fan has a love/hate relationship with Cleveland. By that I mean we love to hate them. Cooler conditions tonight. The Back Valley Boys come out fired up, ready for a battle with the Raiders. Rhea by 6.

I just hope the Back Valley Boys don't disappoint us this week. We need a win in a bad way if we have a prayer of seeing Week 11. With Rhea at home, I see them coming out with a W...

After hearing that Bearden beat WV by 44, and seeing how we played Friday night, the Back Valley Boys have a lot to work on the next two days of practice. Hopefully, the defense can contain this RB from K-town. Also, hopefully we won't have to rely on Cam's arm with 50+ pass attempts. I didn't get a chance to post on the other forum from last week, but Chris Johnson gained a whole lot of respect Friday night. He stepped up big time. Let's hope another one decides to follow him and steps up Friday night in Knoxville.

Finally, game day is here. The forecast looks pretty decent, just a bit warm. Looks like it will be in the neighborhood of eighty degrees with a thirty percent chance of isolated storms. Hopefully with the good bit of rain we've had the past couple days the field will be in good shape. Let's get behind the young 'uns early and stay with 'em all game long!

I'm shocked in that I have not heard anyone say "The claw is coming" this week

42-2? Wow. That is a little one-sided. I like the enthusiasm, but Catholic is the defending state champs. I am pretty sure they haven't lost all of their starters. And remember, we are still running that 3-5 defense you guys always bash. I would give KC a little more credit than two points, but that's just me.

In response to the rule RheaCo brought up: I have never heard of such a rule. In saying that, I'm not saying its not true; it's just an awful rule to have in place. Granted, I believe if a player starts a season, especially if he goes through all of summer workouts, he should finish. That's how I was raised, but that was many decades ago. If he wants to concentrate on basketball, more power to him. He is a decent basketball player, and I'm happy to hear that he has some small schools looking at him. As far as replacing him at Y, could they move Stone into his position? I would think JT knows the system well enough to jump right in. He is a versatile athlete who, I would think, can adapt to the role at Y really quick. Just an observation from an old man who loves the game.

I foresee a good game, but the Owls pull away late. Ooltewah 35 Tyner 14.

Where is all the chatter this group of Rhea fans have had in the past??? It's Thursday at lunchtime and nobody is talking? How full should we expect Eagle Stadium to be tomorrow night? RheaCo, how has practice went this week? I have heard from a couple players that a couple of seniors walked off the team this week. They said they didn't like their spot on the depth chart, or something of that matter. I also heard from another senior that Wilkerson quit. If I'm not mistaking, I thought he was slated to start at cornerback. Can I get a confirmation on these rumors that I'm hearing from the parents at work and some of the players? I see us coming out to play tomorrow night. Hopefully, Coach Fitz and the rest of the staff have gotten the boys ready for a tough first game. We need everyone healthy and ready to go. It would be nice to send the reigning 3A state champions back to Knoxville with an L. What do you guys think; surely you all have heard things this week

RheaCo can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Rhea returns six on each side of the ball. Last year's seniors will be hard to replace (Moffett, Brown, Revis, Walker, and even Davis), but I think Cam can step up and lead the Evensville boys through this rough schedule. We appear to be pretty young this year, I just hope we can make it through the schedule with a good enough record to make the playoffs. As the Times-Free Press preview said in "By the numbers," Rhea has missed the playoffs 0 times this decade. Let's hope we keep that trend going! RheaCo, what time is kickoff Friday? Here are directions from Knox Catholic to Bill Horton Field for you guys coming from Knoxville. http://www.mapquest.com/maps?1c=Knoxvil ... d&2z=37332

After being silent all preseason, I have to break the silence. Powerhouse Knox Catholic comes to Evensville Friday night. How will the Eagles respond to the boys from Knoxville. I assume they have a lot of speed. Can Rhea contain the edges? I see this game as a close one, a great test early in the year. RheaCo, as always, please give us a scouting report on the Knoxville boys and also an injury report on our boys.

I know this is dreaming, but wouldn't a county team be nice. I know with DCS not being in the Rhea County School System, it could never happen. But imagine if they boys played together from sixth or seventh grade on. Sorry, I woke up. Ok. It is good to hear the SC's head coach was at practice. Maybe he will implement some of the basis of Rhea's offense/defense into his own team strategy.

Agreed. Levengood has Rhea County football in his blood. He even coached RCHS football years ago.

Being from east TN, I am kind of surprised to see that Cleveland is not in many top tens (1 I think). Cleveland is a very strong team. They have a few returning starters, and a new young coach who should bring in some hype and youthfulness to the Blue Raider Nation. Also, Rhea County hardly appears. Now I'm definitely not saying they should crack the top 5, but not being in the top ten? I think they deserve a little more credit. Year in, year out, Rhea was always in the 4A state playoffs. I know this is 5A now, but I think they can compete with the 5A boys just as well as they can 4A. Plus they are no longer in danger of being sent to Maryville now. /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" />

Mr. Levengood changed Fitz mind on going to WB? Sounds kind of odd. I just can't see Mr. Levengood talking him into staying, unless he wanted to keep his two brother-in-laws (two other coaches, the two of whom RheaCo spoke of probably going with him if Fitz left) close to home. I, for one, believe I am not alone when I say I am getting tired of hearing of Fitzgerald having so much interest elsewhere besides RC. Yes, he has the right and owes it to his family to search for better employment. BUT, interviewing and being offered for Sequatchie, Cleveland, and now William Blount, seems like he wants out of here pretty bad. If he tells WB that he wants to be the next coach there, then maybe his heart isn't truly in Evensville. We have heard the long list of places he has had interest in/applied for/interviewed for and turned down, etc, and the list is getting awfully long. I understand that he, as the head coach, is supposed to build up his program and have his heart in it 100%. I know the players read this thread, and I'm sure reading this is definitely making them doubt the man that is supposed to be their leader on the field. Personally, I would prefer that if he is going to tell his players all of the things he does, then I would prefer that he actually believe them himself. He is supposed to be building character in the boys he is 'turning into men.' Actions speak louder than words; and right now, his actions don't seem to be supporting the morals he tries to instill in his players. Now, RheaCo, or anyone else: before you start to ridicule me... I am a supporter of Rhea County Football. I have been behind the team through the Horton Dynasty, Payne, Hammontree, and both Fitzgerald asministrations. I have missed ONE game since 1981. I am at everything that I am able to attend that has to do with Rhea County Golden Eagle Football.

I don't know about that kind of steel curtain being put up if Caldwell was the DC. It is pretty common knowledge that Caldwell coached as DC for Cook, and in return, Cook was the asst at for the high school baseball team. All this aside, if practice started at 3, shouldn't the almighty RheaCo be getting off the field with a report on practice and the status of Rhea's HC and OC?

Ha. I have no desire to coach those young 'uns. I put my time in between those walls in high school and also time in college. Coach Cook is a great coach. Yes, prior to this year he only coached middle school; but look at what he did with what he had. How many SVC titles did he win with Caldwell and Hawkins as his coaches? I don't believe that Mr. Cook would want the job at either high school. He said a few years ago in a conversation that (at the time) he didn't have the desire to be a head coach at the high school level.

I understand the concept quite well. I have been around Cameron and Fitzgerald for years, including four years of football with them. The RB game last year is a good example of the screen game working. BUT, how many times did we sit and watch the screen be called and it not work. Yes, Josh was a great punter and turned the field many times; but when the DC can bet the ranch that we are going to throw a screen, I would rather hit the flats or something other than the screen. Just a thought /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" />

Yeah, a region championship in the late 90s and last year, plus three quarterfinal appearances. Rhea fans just seem to me tired of the buddy-buddy system and would like a coach that would take the program to the next level. Not saying they could beat Maryville every year, but losing to them year after year would seem to get old. I also know from watching that Rhea's OC enjoys calling the screen on 3rd and 20+. The element of surprise only works the first couple times you try it; it doesn't work, however, when you do it every time you are faced with that down and distance. Rhea's OC has also made a costly mistake that I never let go: by allowing a starter to remain in the game at Walker Valley just to improve his stats, though the game was out of reach in Rhea's favor. To make things worse, it was the OC's step-son.

Come on Raider faithful. Do we know anything yet? All this pressure of possibly losing our beloved OC is killing me; and I'm sure the rest of the RC guys also /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" />

RheaCo, do you have any inside information on Walt's status as the OC for the Golden Eagles? We surely do not want to lose our beloved OC, who took us to our region championship last year. Losing him would be a tragedy in RC, almost as bad as losing Fitzgerald. Off topic, but when does Rhea have spring practice; or has it already passed?

UT is still honoring his scholarship. Part of it is academic, because of his extremely high GPA and high ACT scores. I believe he is in the top 20 in his respective class. I don't believe he is 6'4" as the program probably lists him as /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" /> We tend to stretch the truth on height and weight just a little /roflol.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":roflol:" border="0" alt="roflol.gif" />

I apologize. It is Greenville. I was told by a Maryville player after the game that it was SS. But he just texted me and told me that it was Greenville. Either way, good luck guys!

28-8 Final in Evensville. Maryville prevails on to Sullivan South. The streak moves to 73-0 moving into the semis. Good luck next week! To all of the Rhea County faithful: great showing tonight... couldn't have asked for a better game early... Maryville had a couple of turnovers and we didn't capitalize... I'm sorry about this in advance: I'm NOT... I repeat... I AM NOT... blaming this on the coaching... BUT why on the Good Lord's green earth do we run the draw on 3rd and 15+... I just do not see why... you cant pull the 'element of surprise' card... All that aside, GQ & Co. played well. The Dynasty defensive line played extremely well. They kept after Cameron all night long. Big plays just didn't fall our way. I am still in shock after the 4th and 1 fumble. We stopped them with a loss, fumble, and we can't fall on the ball; and they score. Oh well... such is life. To the players, you all played your hearts out. Kudos to Finch for his single carry of the year for a TD. I could talk about Jacob Moffett FOREVER. He is a man among boys on the field. Seniors, you will be missed. Underclassmen, step up and get ready for August