VilleRam

It's the internet, if you don't have anything negative to say you just don't say anything! /tongue.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":P" border="0" alt="tongue.gif" /> I haven't been around the program in several weeks which is why I haven't posted any info. I've been pretty busy!! Does anyone have any info on the freshman program? Is Thompson still coaching it? Who are the assistants?

Blade isn't just hands on, he IS running the offense and defense. This year, he will call all the plays and he will not take any input from his assistants as far as the scheme goes. He's not going to discuss changing anything with them about the scheme. I heard Blade say that with my own ears. He made that clear from the get go and if they weren't comfortable with that, they should go. Next year, when he finds out who is competent or who can actually coach, then he will start grooming someone to take over play calling and the following year if he finds someone, he will hand over the responsibility. I'm not worried at all though, the guy knows his stuff, offense and defense. He's a very very smart offensive coach with a defensive mentality. I have confidence he'll be able to handle the play calling duties, I just hope he doesn't get burned out.

Zack (Zulliger) seems healed, he has been working hard with coach Blade. The biggest thing they're working on his footwork, in the running and passing game. His passes look VERY sharp though. Zack Witherspoon has also been working very hard and I expect him to be the starter at RB. There are a lot of receivers and I couldn't tell which one Blade likes the best but I expect Tyrus Henderson to be a big part of the offense. Blade really likes James Normand as the Strong Tackle, so it's a very safe bet that's where we'll see him. Chris Harder has been working at RB, and even though Blade doesn't utilize a FB, I think he's going to find ways to get this guy on the field as a lead blocker. Johnny Van has looked pretty sharp with his routes and catching so I think he'll get playing time. Defensively, Harder will obviously be in the middle and Zack Hughes looks like he'll be at strong OLB. David Wright was working at FS and Bradley Zulliger as SS. That's all I can remember. Starters obviously aren't set in strone right now, it's only April but I expect the guys I named to be starters come fall, if not significant role players.

I'm not going to get into the Mullins discussion, I will just tell you exactly what I've seen of these workouts. They stretch as a team, they do agilities, then they break off into about 4 groups and do conditioning work at stations, rotating every 10/12 min. until each group has worked out at each station. The stations are like footwork drills, flexibility, core work, etc. Then they do some team defense work, lining up the defense and working on adjustments to different fronts (it's a 4-3 but they Safety often comes down into the box and acts as another LB). Then they go into the weightroom and hit that hard. When they're done with that, the receivers and QBs go into the gym and work on routes and the linemen do something else (I've only stayed and watched the QBs/WRs). Everything is very crisp and very intense, there is no slacking and mistakes are not accepted. Blade is very personable with the kids and coaches, he talks and jokes with them, but they better be getting their work done or he will let them hear it. I absolutely love what he's doing. His offense is VERY simple and requires execution and intensity above all else. I don't know the rules or if this violates the rules but there's no doubt in my mind this team will be very well prepared for the coming season.

I'm not fighting, I'm just doing what I've done in the past, which is defend someone who's being accused of being something they're not or doing something they didn't do. I would do it for anyone, even people I don't like. Even if someone got on here and accused Stanton Stevens of doing something he didn't do, I would defend him like I've done for Mike Mullins or Ron Gray. It ticks me off when someone gets on here and says "Mike Mullins is an idiot" or "Mike Mullins doesn't know what the heck he's doing", when they don't know crap about him or how good he is at his job. Same thing for Ron Gray. I've said a lot of things about Bruce Lussier but none of what I've said is false, and if someone tried to say something false about him, then I would correct them.

I didn't say him being blunt was a bad thing. He's brutally honest which is why some don't like him. There was an incident and Bruce handled it poorly, causing Mullins to not come back. Maybe Mike overreacted, I wasn't there in person so I don't know whether his feelings were justified but Lussier dismissed it like it wasn't a big deal which you just can't do. His Dline coach had a problem and he needed to solve it instead of dismissing it as nothing. As it turns out, it was a problem that another coach on the staff solved pretty quick...Lussier could have solved it quick and not upset off his Dline coach but he chose not to. I blame him.

Maybe if Bruce had been even a little bit diplomatic he wouldn't have left. It's interesting to talk to so many coaches who didn't have a good relationship with Bruce yet people say they're all the ones who had the problem, not him? Weird.

I don't know anything other than what the Oak Ridger news item said. One player told me about the Nike thing but that's about it. One of the track coaches told me there were several guys doing their football conditioning AND track practice. That's a good sign. Both middle schools are a couple weeks into track season. Robertsville already had their spring football practice, Keith likes to get it done before track season so when track is done, he's done with everything. Jefferson hasn't practiced yet, I want to say May 11th I think I heard is when they start Spring practice.

Yes the people I've talked about have seen what I've posted and said they're ok with what I've said. I've made sure. Stuff that they didn't think I should have said was quickly edited and deleted. There's nothing wrong with reading what's said here, they're not posting or making decisions based on what's said here. They usually just laugh!

Well if Coach Blade decides to break TSSAA rules (which as of yet, he hasn't) then I'm sure Mullins will do the right thing. It's only wrong if Barry says something that is false, which he didn't.

I've said nothing the people I've talked about haven't told me I could say. They read this stuff too.

You clearly don't know him, at all. And you don't know the story behind that. I know the story (I've been told by multiple sources that aren't him) but I'm not sure he would appreciate his business being all over this place. What it comes down to is that he had his reasons, he explained himself to the players and everyone understood. It's easy to say "he was a quitter and he didn't really care" without knowing the facts. You're really splitting hairs. You make it sound like Mullins alone was doing all the hiring....there were many people involved with the process. Mullins wanted Blade, and Blade was hired. If the search committee hired the right guy, then everyone on it should get credit for a good hire...you can't say everyone BUT Mike Mullins gets credit, that's illogical.

Yeah I'd like to know what I'm so confused about? I've known him for a long time. I played Dline for him, I had him as a teacher, I know both him and Karla well personally, etc. I'd like to think I know him pretty well. I don't know what I'm confused about?

I don't know. One things for dang sure, he doesn't know Mike Mullins at all. I know the guy personally, he came to my graduation party and has been to my house a couple times. He and Karla are very good people who care very much for Oak Ridge sports. The day after Blade was hired Karla hugged me and told me it was a great day for Oak Ridge High School...she didn't act like someone who was upset that her husband had been overruled by Bailey and the school had hired someone they didn't want. Then later that day Mike told me about recommending Blade. If they were lying they did an extremely convincing job! /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" />

Really? Who did he recommend? Last time I talked to him, which was the day after Blade's meet and greet thing, he said he had recommended Blade. I'm curious where you're getting your info from? Yourself maybe?