4warriors

Defense looks to be pretty good again. New family from TX replaces one LB from graduation and probably improves mix. Another family that moved should help with D Line hole. Big loss at CB with Walker gone but great candidate for FS that had to sit our last year, one CB with a lot of experience from last year. Offense will throw it around-QB, TB, FB, 3 WRs back--one sick right now with Hodgkins so we'll have to see how he does. As usually, line will be thin so injuries can always be a huge deal to Warriors. Huge hole at kicking game as kicker and punter are gone and pre Spring practice no obvious replacements.

Why the tougher penalty? Because there is something that just grates on everyone, public or private that are following the rules, particularlly poorly---money being used to buy a kid in HS. I understand breaking a rule is breaking a rule--but when you buy them? Expect the worst.

Yea Pujo--how is Alcoa any different than CAK-except CAK costs $7,000 peryear and Alcoa is almost nothing for those who want to go there since they have open zoning? For your Alcoa fans, I have no complaint against you--you are playing by the current rules and you'd be really good even without the 20% or whatever % of your players it is that come from outside Alcoa city limits. Open zoning is exactly what a private school has-but we just cost more. Here are two thoughts 1) if you have open zoning, then you have to use the mulitplier, just like the private schools do. 2) Or, forget all this multiplier nonsense and arguement about open zoning--if you don't give financial aid to athletes then you play in the same division. The division is broken down into classifications based on straight size. If you make it to the state finals three years in a row--you have to move up to the next classification for three years. TSSAA can't/won't enforce any other set of rules.

avlcyclone--Well, a few things 1) talking about how the refs,penalities and injuries lost the game is whining 2) you guys have a very good team 3) CAK didn't play their worst game but our QB and offense were off their game but that was partially because you guys had the best DBs we'd faced up to that point 4) No one at CAK that I know was shocked at how good you guys were-we expected it to be close. Gotta pull for Alcoa--after all, when they finally do lose I'd like it to be to us

Cyclonepride--don't think anyone is claiming a definitive victory by CAK over Betsy--just a real victory-we didn't complain about our starters that didn't play though or how the penalties lost the game. As I said before--two very evenly matched teams. I don't think Alcoa will kill ya'll--but I do think they'll win.

clonefan101-chant is one thing (see Too Hype) --taunting is another (see Betsy at center field b4 game with comments to other team warming up) --classless (see stomping on someone's logo). No whining about the taunt--only got us fired up. Hey warriors011-learn to spell lose vs loose dude.

Make it simple-classify by real student population, no multiplier. However, if you win three state championships in four years in a sport, you move up a classification for the next four years. Open zoning exists in many places and if we are going to keep the multiplier those public schools should have to use the muliplier too-they are no different than the private school that does not give tuition assistance. CAK's QB has been at CAK since K, as have three of the WRs--we have great coaching and very hard working players. period.

Alcoa fans--oh yea, don't miss the Betsy players getting together at mid field right before they go in after pregame and taunt the other team -- only got our guys fired up --- sure it will be same for you. Maybe you can do "Too hype" with a microphone

They did the same taunt to CAK before their game-didn't work

Cycloneprider-why are the Betsy fans whining about losing to us due to injuries? They are part of the game-just ask our starting CB we lost for the season after the first game or the starting WR we lost for half the season. We beat you. You have a very good team-we'd likely split 50/50 if we played more than once this year - the teams are darned close. Come early Alcoa fans-Betsy fans like to sit on the visitors side. It's not an intimidating place to play-my son loved it--it is a great atmosphere. Alcoa by 17-relatively low scoring affair. Two great defenses but Alcoa has a little more speed, a little more LB discipline and if CAK can get three picks Alcoa can do better-plus Betsy lost an outstanding WR/CB to injury. Gotta root for our District.

Thanks to the Alcoa players and coaches for sending over a sympathy card to #20 and the Colletts. Nice/classy gesture. CAK family lost another dad (basketball player) last week and the QBs grandmom this week so it's been a tough week, particularly given the size of the athletic family at CAK. Guys had great practice yesterday and the defense ate a lot of food at the defense Monday dinner

Hey Polk fan--no disrespect meant-we just think our district is a tough one and if we aren't playing a team we are rooting for our district team who is. Despite our weird seeding, I am glad we got placed in the "Kville to Chatt" quad. We've always wondered how we would fare and match up outside of upper ETn but have a hard time getting passed the Alcoa barrier to see. MC had some good players--while they were bigger than us-no surprise there, I was surprised by the number of players they had--for the first time this year we faced a team with about the same number of players we had. It was a good game and matchup. While I'd love for our district to win out and Loudon to beat you guys, on the other hand, if we can get past Alcoa I'd love to play somebody new ( you guys) too. You've had a great year. So, we'll see--going to be a tough week emotionally for our guys with two family deaths this week.

Go Redskins from CAK--let's make this quad's finals be from the same district.

Korn and loudon fans--go show Polk Co how real football is played-we need to make this quad's finals all be from the same district--maybe TSSAA will finally understand. Thanks to all for thoughts and prayer for the Colletts. His dad got to experience senior night and watch his son get his first int of the year Friday and then this. Can't forget #20's sister and mom in all of this either. QB's grandmother passed away out of state yesterday too.

No whining about Alcoa BC--Rankin and crew run a great program. My beef is w TSSAA. If we win Fri and then can't beat you-hope you go all the way-gold ball looks best in our district

Open zones make Alcoa just like the privates that play in Div 1--neither offers scholarships to athletes but both can bring in kids from anywhere. I believe Alcoa plays by the rules and I know we do--but---we have a multiplier attached to every kid in our school so that we get classified as having enrollment of 720 when we have 400. So, Alcoa is playing by the rules and so are we but we get moved up because we are a private, but Alcoa and other public schools like them have the same "advantage" as we do without the penalty. This is no critic of Alcoa--great program--it is a critic of a silly and wrong-headed TSSAA rule. If you want to level the playing field, if you have open zones, then you ought to have to accept the multiplier too--Why isn't that fair? Re Alcoa being the best--they are darn good and I've watched 6A teams in East TN. Two great and realistic match ups that I'd like to see -Alcoa vs Mville rematch--Quarles at the end of the year is better than at the begining and Alcoa vs my alma mater-RedBank--4a school that to me matches up well with Alcoa. Instead, I'll just hope our Warriors can manage to beat MCentral tomorrow (looks like a great match up) and then we'll charge the Alcoa hill once again. Someday boys, someday!

Haven't seen MC play but heard a lot from those that have or seen film. Seen all of our games and scrimmages. Here are keys to me: 1) CAKs pass defense-I know MC isn't pass happy like us, but they do have a good QB and WR's 2)Field position-MC's punter is a weapon and at it's weak moments our offense can be impatient-not good if we do that deep in our territory. 3) Can MC run effectively?--need to to control the clock--CAKs line and LBs have been outstanding all year. 4)CAKs pass offense--little rusty(no pun warrior fans) (and/or played great CBs last two weeks)--can we take what we are given?--our guys will get open-we just have to pick the right guy/route. Looks like best game of first round in 3A to me--MC folks have a good trip up.

From someone who has seen Alcoa play (and would love to see my son beat them before he grads) I don't think anyone in MTN or ETN will touch them. They are almost exclusively large, fast, well-coached, well-motivated despite easily winning the last 5-6 gold balls. I'm glad to see upsets but I'll have to say our Region-mates in Alcoa won't fall. As for as MCentral over our Warriors---gonna probably be a good one--we expect to be the underdog most of the time--we only have 43 players and are not very deep. Not really sure MC beating us would be an upset-looks like a pick "em to me.

Loudon over Bledsoe-yep

CAK played Gibbs in a preseason scrimmage and won by 2-3 scores when first o played first d. That was a scrimmage, so.... and Gibbs has had a good year. They didn't run the ball very effectively then but seem to have done well during the reg season. For sake of full disclosure I am a RB grad so best wishes to the Lions. From all I've seen and heard--RB by a lot. Sorry Kenny C

Enough talking-although our Alcoa brothers are entertaining as always This is David vs Goliath and while our kids know that, they also know David won at least one. Alcoa is always a classy opponent, nevermind the best one we play. Come early and eat, check out the new endzone --I may never get the paint out of my pants from last night. In door bathrooms this year(we put the old porta potties under the visitors stands ) and a new concession area and new visitor locker rooms. Thanks to all the parents who made that happen. I'm ready to hear Too Hype again-that gets even me fired up. See ya there.

Don't think #35 has taken any/many snaps in practice all week. Might see him if we are way ahead-let's hope we have to worry about that. Having part of your colon taken out will kind of set you back! #15 will probably be game day decision re amount he plays, even during game-make sure that hammy is good! #27 to be re-evaluated soon by doctors and then we'll know. Good test for #6, #23, #20, and #7 in D backfield tommorow. Supposedly Scott has thrown the ball the same number of times as the Warriors have in one less game. Don't totally understand no #23 on off either-but doubt a pass happy opponent will be the game he goes both ways. Hard to argue with 6-0 though

Talked to Morse's mom last night at soccer. He is eating again but lost a lot of weight. Supposed to be re-evaluated in four weeks and then go from there.

1) CAK lines underestimated 2)Loudon will be, by far, the best team CAK has played this year. 3)DE and LB must play well, above avg, for CAK to succeed. 4)speed vs size but Loudon isn't slow 5)rich boy blah blah-Football Dad is right-lots of us sacrifice to send our kids to CAK. Our guys have worked hard and are pretty tough-witness #27 Friday night. His dad owns some school buses, worked at Krogers for years and his mom is a nurse. Blah Blah. 6)HS rankings don't mean diddly and our team knows it 7)Games are always hard fought, even though we've lost more than we've won in the series. 8There will be lots of ice used afterwards by everyone 9) Alcoa hasn't had to throw on anyone this year--did Loudon really stop them or did Alcoa really try?--wasn't there personally.

It won't work any other way GoVols-the greater pressure may simply be the practicality of work out schedules for football, travel baseball, academic rigor, etc at CAK-how many students can do all of that and play more than 1-2 sports? It's tough. The last three sport guy was two years ago.