bigguy300

I understand that getting an athletic scholarship to a Div.1 school is tough, maybe impossible for the average HS athlete, but what are the odds of getting one to a Div 2 or 3, or NAIA school? I have checked out the rosters of some of these smaller schools and there doesn't seem to be many accolades amongst them. Most of them have a player or two from a smaller Div. 1 school, there for academic reasons or whatever, but how many of the players on a Div 2 or NAIA school are there on full rides?

huh?

Sorry for any miscommunication, I did go back a re-read it and it didn't make sense to me either, lol. My reference to just moving here was in reference to when and why I didn't check out the schools more than I should have LAST year (summer-2007). My reference to being new to town can be up to debate, but I am new in that I don't know much about the dynamics and history of Metro High Schools. When I went back and read it, it did come across as me saying that I had just moved this past summer, instead of the summer of 2007. we have been here a year. Sorry for the confusing timeline. I said I was going to let it die and I will, just wanted to clear that up. As far as the comparing me to THE DAD, that all teams seem to have; I am not that guy. I'm usually too busy Coaching the other kids.

Man, some of you guys really can complicate a thing, lol I'll try to make it as simple as possible so some of you can understand. I admitted that I made a mistake by moving to Davison County, not looking into the school systems. I guess you guys have never made a mistke. I admitted that I assumed that the Academics and Athletics would be comparable to Atlanta. I didn't realize that the City of Nashville was so Privatized. I didn't realize that a Metropolitan City in this day and age could be so segregated, both racially and financially. I didn't know that a City as small as Nashville would have so many Private High Schools. I'm not accustomed to Private Education being the "Norm". Look, you can take what ever you want from my post. I appreciate the people that took my email as I intended it to read. And I understand that in message boards it's hard sometimes to tell intent. Some seem to be hung up on the fact that I feel my son is talented and upset that I would dare brag on him. Sorry, next time I'll leave that out since it has obviously upset so many, lol. To clear up some misconceptions and lack of comprehension some of you have. I took a job this past summer, had 3 weeks to move my family. Have a Family member, without children, that lives in West Meade, so I decided to move near them. Didn't take long to figure out that it might have been a mistake. Starting weighing choices for High School. Checked out the Academics of all the local Private and Public Schools. Once that was compiled, came on here to get a sense of the Athletic scene. ....OH, and mistakenly and pompously bragged on my son. lol I'm gonna let this die now, you're free to comment all you want. Again, I thank all the posters that had positive and constructive remarks. You really helped. To the ones that decided to take my post and spin it into something negative, I feel sorry for you. Hope you get some "cup half full" in your life.

And one more point. This is not a Dad coming on here saying hey I have a great athlete, who wants him? Your talking to a Dad that's new to town and just wanted some ideas about Hillwood, Hillsboro and the Private Schools in town as it pertains to Athletics. I thought it was a pretty easy request. Initially it was intended to find out your opinion on Hillwood and Mose Philips. Whether you thought the program would rebound with the pending rezoning, etc.

You are allowed your opinion, and obviously I knew there would be this type of response when I posted it on a public forum. But as I stated before, this is an athletic forum. It's CoachT not ProfessorT. There are Academic concerns that I have for my son's future, but I wouldn't ask for advice on them on this message board. I have done my homework on the Public and Private schools in the area as it pertains to academics; checked test scores, APP, graduation rates and colleges attended by graduates. But I thought this would be a good place to find out more about the Athletic scene in Nashville. If you think that somehow makes me bad parent, wanting to know more about the programs in town, I fail to understand that. Maybe you can inlighten me on the subject. And I agree with your idea about the cream rising to the crop; for most positions. Running Backs, Quarterbacks, Special Teams and just about any position on Defense don't require a good team around them to get noticed by Colleges (though it does help for a RB to have a good line and a QB to have good WR's). But TE's and WR's MUST have a good QB, and a system/philosophy that incorporates their position. If the offensive scheme only uses the WR and TE's as decoys and blockers that doesn't help that kids chances of drawing attention. If my TE/WR son were to end up at school with that kind of offensive scheme I'd try to put 60 lbs. on him and turn him into a DT or OL. By the way, yes I am proud of my son, and I do brag on him, and for good reason. But that was not my intent here. It was my attempt to give weight to decisions I am faced with. If he weren't a high calibre athlete my decisions might be easier. You only get one chance to raise your kids. This is not a decision I take lightly.

Thanks for the input goldendome. Believe me I am kicking myself for not looking into the school systems before moving here, but it was a quick turnaround (taking the job and moving my family) and I assumed that the Public School system here was similar to Atlanta. What's that they say about assumptions? Makes an !#$ out of U and ME, lol. Well, no time for the should-a would-a could-a's. Now I am faced with fixing the problem. And I get by your tone that you feel I am delusional about my son's chances for an Athletic Scholarship or our priorities are out of whack; I assure that neither is true. Like I said before, my son's academics are in balance with his Athletics. He is an A-B student and is presently taking 2 APP courses in 8th grade. The reason that I am concentrating on Athletics in this Forum is because it's an Athletic Forum. I figured I could get advice as it pertains to the Local High School Athletic scene. As a matter of fact, if Athletics were not in the picture I might not have a problem sending my son to Hillwood because I'm sure they take care of their advanced students as most public HS's do. But that's not the topic on this particular Forum. I understand your attempt at taking the high road, and the approach of Athletic Scholarships being so rare that you can't count on them. But also I see my side; both my wife and I went to college on Athletic Scholarships so we don't think it is rare or unatainable. Thanks for the thoughts, keep them coming Thanks Bigred, good advice that I will most certainly take.

Other than not to send my son to Hillwood, what decision have I made?

Thanks guys, for all the input. It really helps with the thought process. Had I known then what I know now I wouldn't have moved to Davidson County, but I did, and so here we are. The General consensus seems to be that Hillwood should NOT be a consideration; I get that now! In an attempt to shed better light on our son and expectations I give the following statement. Education is 1st. My son is an A-B student, which we are OK with considering his Athletic Schedules. We have always told our son that we as his parents will provide him with the tools to be successful. But that our Budget will not permit a Big Name College, especially out of state. So if he wants that type of College experience it will be on his shoulders to get there, whether it be through Academic or Athletic Scholarship. Basically, if he doesn't want to go to MTSU he better perform in class and/or on the field. He has accepted that challenge and expects to have options by his Senior year. I undertand that injuries and projected athleticism sometimes keep a kid from reaching the top shelf but I as a parent will not stand in his way, but rather advize and help with the big decisions, and this is one of them. Thank you for all the school suggestions. I have looked into some of the programs you guys have mentioned and most are very good schools. I won't be making a decision anytime soon but will reflect on your comments when that time comes. The Main decision for now, since Private Schools are about to start admissions for next year, is to decide Private or Public. Please feel free to send me any more suggestions you feel are applicable. Again thanks!

My son is in 8th grade this year. I'm lucky, he loves Football. But he is just as "Stand outish" in Baseball so I can't discount its importance. I must admit that if it weren't for him playing baseball I'd never watch it, lol Thanks for the info and advice. It's good to get outside views on it. If you ever have any other advice I'd love to hear it.

That was one of my questions, do you think that if the rezoning takes effect next year, some of the more athletic and talented kids will start going to their zoned Hillwood Cluster instead of Private School? And will the drop to 4A, which they most likely will do with less than 1000 students, help them be more competitive? Since Hillwood is not passing the grade I do have the right to apply for Hillsboro but don't know much about them. Thanks for the advice, I will check them out. Would you consider Private School, if you could get 50-90% of the tuition in Financial Aid?

lol, that's some good stuff, I might just take you up on it if what I am reading is correct

Thanks for the quick reply Riverdaleman. Yes he does play Baseball. Once again, he plays just about every position, but exceeds at Pitching. Not alot of movement on his fastball but it hits about 75mph on a reg basis. Struck out 9 in 5 innings in his last appearance this past spring. This in a 15u league, against a Brentwood team where half their boys drove themselves to the game. Here is my son, 13, pitching against "15" year olds (who are driving). After the game the opposing coach asked what High School he attended, I said "Uh, he's in 7th grade", lol I have heard good things about Riverdale, problem is, here we are in West Nashville, with a house we can't sell. So we are pretty much stuck. It's either Hillwood, Hillsboro or Private School. With those choices what would you do?

Greetings, Thought this would be a good place to start. I just moved to Nashville from Atlanta, and need some advice as it pertains to my 13yo/8th grade son and which school to send him to next year. Not knowing anything about Nashville or its school systems I took a job up here and found a nice house on the west side of town (West Meade). It didn't take me long to find that the public school system here is not as good as the one we left in Atlanta. They do offer APP courses which my son is taking advantage of, but the Athletics are far inferior. We are zoned for Hillwood and as you may or may not know they have won 1 game in the last 3+ years. In Gwinnett County Georgia, where We moved from, the public schools are KING. It didn't take me long to figure out that Private Schools Rule this city. Should I send my son to Hillwood and role the dice, or join the ranks and fork up $10-$20k for Private School? Will the rezoning of Hillwood cause better student/athletes to return to the Public school system, or is it too late? FYI, my son is a Top Tier Student-Athlete. I am biased, but I have coached 14 DIV-1 football players in the past 12 years and know what a Top-Tier Athlete looks like, and my son is one. 13yo, 5'11" 150lbs, 4.85-40, Cannon of an arm, smart, hits like a train, super glue hands, can pretty much do it all. Most likely top out at around 6'3" - 6'5" be a Tightend or Wide Receiver in HS, but has played everything but DT and OL in his 1st 7 years of playing. Also, we are not Wealthy. So what would you do? Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer on the subject.