PhoosballPhan

Heard a rumor that HHS athletic department is broke. Is there any truth to that?

Agree 100%.

A decent reputation? I like to stir the pot once in a while to see what happens. And look at what happened. BTW, cheese eating buttmonkeys is funny!

Nope. They didn't steal them. Those kids and their parents chose to go to Maryville and Alcoa. Maryville and Alcoa have both benefitted tremendously from the county talent that flowed their way. In a county with four high schools kids and parents have a choice. If HHS and WBHS want those kids to stay, then they have to give them a reason. HHS hasn't given anyone a reason to stay since 2000. WBHS has had glimmers of hope the past ten years, but cannot seem to get over the edge. GQ and Rankin are both fine coaches that run outstanding programs. Other county coaches would do well to set down with them and talk football. But they won't; they are too threatened.

I'm a fan of doing what is right. So far HHS has not done much in that arena. WB is on the right track but could easily slip. It is hard to get excited when you have a coach that alienates so many people (Russell). It's hard to have a positive attitude when so many kids don't work hard (HHS & WB), not all, mind you, but enough that it is difficult to create a true team that strives toward common goals. I'm a fan of seeing coaches and players coming together and accomplishing things. Both of these teams can be good enough to post 5-5 to 9-1 seasons consistently. The playoffs are not out of the question. It is difficult to see them struggle against mediocre teams and get mowed down by good teams. As I have posted before, the potential is there. But potential doesn't mean much if it is wasted.

Good grief, you cheese eating butt monkeys are easy to get riled up! I'm just pointing out that when you thing you're the biggest and baddest dog in the fight that there is always someone bigger and badder. It is interesting that you stoop to calling me a loser. Only a mental midget would go that low. It's about as good as saying, "Oh yeah?" I guess that's what happens when you sleep through elementary school and are happy with your sixth grade education.

Heritage is in for a long, long dry spell. No quarterback to speak of coming back. Offensive line will continue to be very weak. The Cline kid is the best athlete they have coming back, but he cannot do it all. A weak freshman class adds nothing to the future. It will take a miracle for anything resembling a winning season to materialize at HHS in the next five years.

You know, it would be nice if any Tennessee state champ team played any real competition. Tennessee high school football doesn't even measure up to other states. Maryville, Alcoa, and dozens of other teams couldn't hold a candle to state championship teams from other states. Don't believe it? Then why don't they line up games with other teams from other states. It was said that even GQ wouldn't play other Nike top 25 teams because of the difference in talent level. Take your six straight and play a real team with similar talent, then you can brag. Now, as for the No Body Will Play Aloca In Football whining I will stick by what I wrote. The only one who benefits is Aloca and their athletic fund.

It won't happen. Not anything to gain for either team. If the county school wins then everyone says that they are supposed to. If they lose then it is a big deal for 2A/3A Aloca to beat 6A teams. The only one who wins is Alcoa with the bigger gate. And with the history between the county schools and Alcoa I don't think anyone is too eager to help Alcoa out.

Thank you for your post. This is the primary problem at both HHS and WBHS. There is a common question amoung some people, "Could George Quarrels win in the county schools?" I think he could IF the parents would not whine and cry when discipline is instituted. And it is parents like the one who accosted the WBHS coach after the Farragut game that are the problem. I saw the same thing from the stands, and it was disgraceful! It is no wonder that the boys of this county are so fragile and undisciplined. The county schools are full of good kids. There are boys who not only need discipline, but crave it. Coachs need to be prepared, like you said, to play 20 boys if those are the 20 that respect the rules and give everything they have. 6A programs like Blount County's should be able to field consistently successful teams. There is no doubt that they play hard schedules - the hardest in the state IMO. But with the right support, the right coaches, and the right attitude these schools can win. It won't happen overnight, but it can happen. The question is do the parents, administration, and boys have the fortitude to make the change?

Well, another year of football has come and gone for WBHS and HHS. It is time to ask a few serious questions. Both teams had dismal seasons. Please spare me the talk of injuries impacting the teams. These are my observations after watching both teams for a quite a few years. The problems in the county school programs are deep. Far deeper than coaching. I have flamed Coach Russell pretty good here, but he and Coach Gregory have had to fight deep seated problems that plague each program. It has little to do with the alleged filching of players by MHS and AHS. It has to do with a mentality amoung the boys and parents of Blount County. Work ethic, a sense of commitment, teamwork, and humility (the ability to put team before self) are sorely missing. It is a tribute to those boys who do make commitments and honor them. However, their dedication is offset by the antics and stupidity of those players who are trouble-makers, in trouble with the law, and who only "show up" to wear a jersey on Friday night. Even more, the parents of these boys sabotage not only the programs but their son's futures. They shout and fuss and blame everyone... except themselves. These boys who are troublesome are the same ones who disrupt practice, behave badly off the field, and have poor academic achievement in the classroom. They learn to blame everyone but themselves as well. It is always someone elses fault. So, my questions: 1. Are the people in the county school systems serious about football? 2. If they are, why do their boys exhibit little in the way of serious commitment? 3. Are they willing to have their sons pushed by coaches to be better? Better players, better athletes, better men? 4. Are the boys emotionally tough enough to bear the criticism that comes with getting better? 5. Are all the problems with the coaching? How much can be blamed on coaches? 6. Finally, is any coach willing to cut the players who are the trouble-makers, no-shows for practice, and in trouble with the law? Will the parents and administrators support them if they do?

How bad is a program that has players sneeking onto the field to paint their own stuff? How bad is a program where the coaches take things away (like dealing with small children) then let them "earn it back?" What is going on at HHS? Why isn't there a freshman team playing a schedule at a 6A school? At this rate they will be lucky to win another game. It isn't a problem with injuries and illness. It is a cancer that seems to be growing in the HHS program. Given the lack of success of their middle school program this year (1-8) there is a long, long dry spell coming to Coach Russell and the HHS crowd.