KooAidDrinker

BladeRunner has a Man Crush on Gray. Anyone who criticizes him can expect a quick response in defense. Let's try an experiment. Bladerunner, I heard a rumor that Gray has NEVER made a mistake. In fact, I heard he walks on water. What is your response? The reality is it is a SAD day for Oak Ridge if he is the best of the candidates. He has NO head coaching experience, has shown NO loyalty to the program since 2004, and has been the topic of several "rumors" from several sources that include him doing several disloyal things against Lussier, Stevens, and Oak Ridge football in general. The Sad part is he may be the best candidate left because the AD is his buddy. Can he coach? We'll see. TC thinks he can coach because he coached in a time of record breakers. The reality in high school coaching is that a stud player like Gulmire or Booker make plays on their own often. Are you really a genius because you give them the ball? How many people (and high school coaches) for that matter would have said, "I am not going to give the ball to Gulmire or Booker?" Let the records being broken give credit to the players, not the coaches. Is Tony Dungy a great coach because Peyton Manning holds several NFL records? Is Urban Meyer a great coach because Tim Tebow won the Heisman?

Gaddis is not a good fit? Because he consistently won and was the last to win a state championship? You must be talking about his personal life. Well last I checked people make mistakes, but the guys I hung with in college got me to love OR football because the stories they told of that guy. I met him a few times and I wanted to go back in time and play for him. I'm orginally from Pennsylvania and I thought TN football was awful, but went to almost every OR game I could because they were fun to watch and Coach Gaddis had that program and town alive. The thing about OR that alot do not see is that its not the same town that it was in 1991. There are less jobs. The homes from I have been told are falling apart and the taxes are out of control that no industry will move in.

I know him the best which is why I support him. I can live with that.

I live in New Hampshire, but lived in Knoxville during my time in college. I have buddies that played at Oak Ridge and know of both Gaddis and Gray. Most of my buddies that know both like Gaddis much better and actually don't trust Gray at all. I really don't have a dog in the race, but I think it would not make sense to hire a guy with no experience over a pool of qualified candidates. I have friends that keep up with the situation and they tell me it is going to be Pemberton. I think that would be a good hire. I do not have anything against Gray, but have heard some of the backstabbing stories, but I take those with a grain of salt. I do find it interesting he has been on three staffs in three seasons. He may be a good choice for OR, but I think it would be hard to overlook experienced choices. As for guys on the staff now, I couldn't tell you who is and who isn't except for all the chatter on here about the assistants. I do know whoever takes over will have to find a way to work with those guys because high school is not like college. You don't get to clean house.

VilleRam he just does not make sense as a hire. No experience seems to be the least of concerns. Why did he leave to coach at three other schools since 2005? Why three other schools? That should tell you something. I think you have been hoodwinked a little, which leads me to believe you are either related to him, have a love fest for him with BladeRunner. The obvious candidate is Pemberton. He is the name I heard last week from someone close to the situation. I guess Pemberton would be a good thing for Gray he could get back on the staff.

VilleRam not much support to your answers. Are you related to him? There are plenty of coaches with head coaching experience that have applied. I just don't understand hiring Gray if he has no head coaching experience, has not coached at OR since the early part of the decade, but has found his way on three other staffs. All while keeping his teaching job at OR. Does that sound like a good fit?

Why would the best situation for a school like Oak Ridge be to hire a guy who has no head coaching experience? And if he did have offers to schools like Loudon and Alcoa, why did he not take them? I mean Alcoa is a premiere job and he got it offered to him with no experience and turned it down. That's like turning down an SEC job to wait for another SEC job and it would be your first chance to be HC. It really does not add up

That all sounds great. What is his record as a head coach?

As far as Ron Gray, it sounds like he seems to have a loyal following? What is the problem with him? By the way what is his record as a head coach?

That is good to hear about Gray. I have heard mixed reviews from former players and fans and like you said that is going to be with any coach. My concern is that there are negative views about him from Karns, Oak Ridge, and Bearden. Gray seems to have some fans, but I think Oak Ridge needs a non Oak Ridge guy to lead the program.

Ole Dad must have some inside knowledge. Why can't a coach leave for financial reasons? I mean we aren't talking big time salaries. But there is a difference in making $ 40,000 a year and making $ 54,000 a year. Why should a coach turn that down? Bladerunner, I have heard from as many players that liked him that did not. Apparently he has badmouthed the program since he left it after he did not get the job. Plus he coached at three other schools while teaching at the high school, why would OR fans consider him loyal to the Wildcats?

That sounds reasonable. So far it seems like I have heard the following names: Gaddis, Gray, Daniels? Have any of those guys applied? I would think Gray has considering his past with the school. Which leads you to wonder, why would Oak Ridge hire a guy who has taught there, but coached at three different schools in the recent past? Also why three different programs in such a short time?

There is still no answer from the Owls. Who is looking at this kid? Is CLK checking him out?

How many coaches are left from Stevens staff?

I meant which coaches will leave, which coaches will stay, etc? If they want a coach with a proven head coaching record doesn't that eliminate Gray?