linkburrows

Michael Cermak, a Heritage High School Linebacker, was invited to play football and attend West Point yesterday. Not only did Forbes magazine rate West Point the number 1 academic school in the country it provides Michael with an opportunity to play Division 1 football. This kid has worked so hard for this......the Heritage community is so very proud of what he has accomplished. Not many people have heard of this young man but he is truly an amazing athlete. He has not made a commitment yet as he and his family discuss this very important decision.

Go Mountaineers

FLASH... i heard in the stands lastnight that john young is going to coach at maryville. is it true? i hope not since heritage could use a good quarterbacks coach.

Heritage already has a GREAT quarterback coach.....he is the Offensive Coord......

Knowing and doing are two different things. As Clint Eastwood said, "A man's got to know his limitations." I know mine. I can coach, but I'm no head coach. I hope that makes you feel better.

Why would that make me feel better? This conversation is over!

Sorry "buddy" but in any sport records mean everything. Now, you can argue about that if you want but I think everyone here will agree. The very existance of a 47 year record of winning tells me that there wasn't so much a problem of identity as there was of a community that had not had a state championship since 1978. Too long between trips to Murphysboro I suppose.

 

1998 changed that. The point is that Maryville went out and hired a quality coach who put together a quality staff. They set high standards and their players met (meet) them. It wasn't cheap and it wasn't easy. And, it has terrific yielded results. George Quarles is as good as they get.

 

BTW, I know more about these situations than you think, buddy.

It sounds as if you are an expert on what it takes to win. So let me ask you a question...why don't you pick up a clipboard and do some coaching?

Observations make me negative? Well, I guess you can go around with rose colored glasses and believe that fairy dust and wishful thinking will make things better. As for being invested, you can bet I am. I live here! I pay taxes here! I have kids that go to school here! There was nothing negative. They are simply observations of both programs after having watched the revolving door of mediocre coaches and job jumpers that have come through WB and HHS.

 

We are not so far apart. Notice I did not criticize all parents or all kids. Notice I pointed out how both teams have kids that work hard, but due to poor coaching mediocrity seems to dominate especially at HHS. As for Maryville & Alcoa having to "find an identity" I beg to differ. The LAST losing season Maryville had was... 1961 High School Football Database. Since that time they have only had five .500 seasons! I don't think they have had such an identity problem as you believe. Alcoa has had one losing season and three .500 seasons since 1993 (as far back as the database goes) Aloca records from 1993.

 

The problem seems to stem from the county schools systems not offering the incentives that are necessary to recruit, hire, and retain quality coaches. Being a head coach is not a job, it's a lifestyle. At the level that WB & HHS play it is a full-time, eat, sleep, dream type of career. Coaches sacrifice a tremendous amount of time. In the county coaching positions it is for about 17% of the base teacher salary as a supplement. Most likely the country money is not even close to Alcoa or Maryville's supplements.

 

So if pointing out facts, making observations, and having an opinion is considered negative, well I guess you've got me.

Let me tell you something buddy....I am from Maryville and you better believe that had an identity problem. People forgot that not so long ago the Maryville that you see before you today did not exist. Don't speak about things you have no idea about. Just because they haven't had a losing season since 1961....well let's just say that proves nothing. Quote all the statistics you can find...you still don't have a clue. Look, just sit back and watch the transformation at Heritage. I'm through reading these ignorant posts.

I think that many people on this thread are missing a bigger picture. Scott Meadows, Tommy Rewis, and the roster of the half dozen coaches in the county schools over the past ten years paint a larger picture.

 

Problem one: The county schools cannot seem to attract and keep the best talent. Heritage is a coaching graveyard. William Blount has success now and then but seems to be the jumping off point to greater paydays. Everyone I have spoken to has said that Meadows would not be back after his year off. He appears to do what is best for him, period. Another WB moves on.

 

Problem two: The county does not pay competitively for coaching talent. GQ at Maryville and GR at Alcoa are compensated for their work and skill. Blount County cannot compete dollar wise for that type of coaching talent. They also cannot hire assistant coaches. Thus, even a talented coach who has the ability to build winning teams are still saddled with the same retread coachs with that ingrained loser mentality ("That ain't the way we do things here." or "Well, you just don't know these kids. You can't push them or they'll quit." I have heard these statements from lifelong Blount County coaches. Sickening)

 

Problem three: Facility maintenance, especially at Heritage (nice pressbox WB) does not inspire. I've been told that WB has had a complete weight room makeover while heritage is still using ancient equipment. A friend took me into the Heritage weight room and it is worse than pitiful. It's embarassing. Locker rooms are awful as well.

 

Problem four: Student athlete commitment. While both schools have great students, there is a less than enthusiastic commitnment to boy's sports programs from young men in the halls of both schools. I hear all the time about how Alcoa and Maryville has all the athletes. There are enough boys in the halls of those schools to field competitive, winning teams year in and year out. But, they have to have a reason to play. For those athletes that do move, well, if you want to keep them you have to give them a reason to stay. Inconsistent coaching staffs kill that. I don't blame any talented student from doing what is best for him when the county schools cannot seem to do it.

 

Problem five: Parents. Not all parents, but you know the ones. The ones I'm talking about are the ones who push their way into the program through mouth, schmooze, and intimidation. The behavior of some parents at both county schools is embarassing. They run their mouths like a bunch of Deliverance rejects. To them I suggest that they go to college, get their teaching certification, and apply for a job - teaching and coaching. Until then, why don't you raise your kid to work hard, be respectful to adults, coaches, and teachers, and realize that there are those who really are better at their position than your kid.

 

Finally, Alcoa and Maryville have community support because... gasp! they are communities! Heritage and William Blount have no sense of community because they are made up entities - former small county schools thrown together to save money. What is the result? Mega schools that play 3A football in a 5A league. Both depend on trying to keep athletes from migrating to Maryville & Alcoa. I have heard for years how Maryville & Alcoa recruit. When you win state championships, regionals, and even in a down year win seven games consistantly competitive kids want to play there; you don't have to recruit.

 

Good luck WB and HHS... Lord knows you're going to need it!

Sounds to me like another person with a negative attitude! It appears that you have more invested in this than you would like anyone to know. The problem at these two county schools is negativity...sound familiar? These kids are dying for someone to show them the correct way to do things. Some of the previous coaches..no names here...have no idea what the right thing is. If a grown man doesn't know how to do things correctly how can he expect to teach these young men the right way to do things. I'm sure you are going to counter my post by telling me that you are not being negative..but you are sir. Not so very long ago Maryville and Alcoa were struggling to find an identity and people were saying the very same things about both those programs. Maryville finally got some coaches that were positive influences on the kids at that school and made a decision to do things the right way no matter what the consequences. I have become tired of people in these communities feeling sorry for themselves! If you want great things to happen you cannot be scared to set your goals high. The county schools can be good..one will be good in the very near future so get ready.

Tough loss for WB. As the radio man, I have enjoyed doing the broadcasts and look forward to more exciting action on the gridiron. I have no complaints with Coach Meadows. He did a fine job and is making a jump up. Nearly 6 figures to coach football at a school that year in and year out competes for state championships seems to be logical. The timing is what is unfortunate for those left here at WB. It will be tough for the kids especially the seniors. This school has to find a way to keep a coach for longer than 4 years, and, quite honestly, I don't know what the answer is. Most "proven and top notch coaches" aren't going to work for $50000 for long...not when you can make $100000 at Maryville, Alcoa, Catholic, ORHS, etc. County Schools just cannot afford to keep them. WBHS is going to have to find someone who is either extremely loyal (which is hard to find these days) or extremely wealthy. That is the only way to keep them. Because even if this program became as successful as MHS for example, it could never retain coaches consistently because they cannot compete with the pay of other top notch programs. Which, of course, makes it more difficult to stay on top when you change coaches every 4 years. Does this not make sense or am I mistaken?

You are correct sir....loyalty is difficult to find these days!

Does this move shock anyone? I mean he has never seen a class from Freshmen to Senior yet. Being a Senior parent from this past year, I can tell you that we are glad he is gone. He sold out our sons to "spend more time with his family", but every time I picked up a paper there was some story about all the golf he was playing. He is a coward and has no integrity what so ever. Everyone of us knew that WB would be down from where we were the year before, but Meadows was going to have no part of that on his resume. So instead he hung it on someone else and wanted to be the knight in shining armour coming to the rescue. Anu other school he has come from will say the same thing. And I guess they will be saying it again if he does go to Catholic. Here is what the paper will say in the morning: "Blank Blank High school is the only job I have ever wanted. I was asked to apply at Seq, Alcoa, Jeff County and WB but in the end this is the only job I have ever wanted. I turned down Oak Ridge (another lie) to stay here but just can't say no again"

 

It is a shame that my son (and all the other Kids) got hung out my this fraud. Maybe they will hire Emmert so we can watch him scream and act like a four year old. Maybe the powers that be should take it as a hint that he is not welcome at Heritage and give him the reigns so we can be done with his show boating attitude.

 

Spring is done and all you other WB parents should be as upset as I am. Way to late to hire a legit guy. Our kids deserve better than this.

I agree! Send your kid to Heritage.... something really exciting going on over there. The new coach has a reputation of sending kids to play college football and he has put together a really great staff. That program is going to surprise a lot of people this year.

well since i was apart of the program for 4 years under coach rewis, i know alittle bit about the negativity thats around heritage. i guess the point i was oringally trying to make was, everyone thinks heritage is going to be alot better just because there has been a coaching change. everyone thought the same when coach rewis was brought in and i think people forget about that.

Look...I'm not trying to say you shouldn't have your opinion. I think it's good that you have an opinion... this means that you care. All I am saying is that DIFFERENT things are being done.. GOOD things! I'm sure that Coach Rewis did what he thought was right..just didn't work out. These kids are working so hard in the weight room as well as outside of it. Coach Russell has had great success at the programs he has been at and will have great success at Heritage as well. Confidence is a huge factor in high school football. Those kids at Heritage have lacked that confidence in the past and that soon will change. They have the athletes at that school to compete year in and year out! Winning is contagious, once those kids taste just a little of that success things will begin to come together for them. I cant wait for spring practice to begin and see what Heritage will have this year.

how is this negative? you tell me!

No one is saying that Heritage is going to win a State Championship next year...but I guarantee you they will be much better than you have seen them in many years. If you have been around that program at all you would know that negativity has taken over that school...no more! I really believe you will be surprised next year.

how do you know it means better? they haven't even been through spring practice yet. i've heard good things about the weight program, but if they can't get them to transfer any of it over to an actuall game, it doesn't mean anything.

This is a prime example of the negative attitudes that have plagued this program for years!

I agree that heritage does deserve success. all the kids have worked hard and we've been the laughing stock of blount county for years. no team deserves to win more. however, i do not know if this will be the year. the new coaches are bringing excitement back to heritage and everyone wants to see something different than what they've seen the past few years. with all the new coaches and coach russell's ideas heritage football will be different this year. however, different does not always mean better.

Actually......in this case it does mean better.

What do we know about these new coaches? I think this could be a really good year for this program! Seems like a lot of excitement around the program. A great group of kids out there.....they deserve to have some success! I truly hope all goes well for those kids!

Is there any word on the rest of the coaching staff yet? I think I have a few of them.

 

Russell - HC/OFF.

Waters/West - OL/DL

Hicks - LB

Casteal - Def.

Mac - Rec.

Bradford - DB

Tipton Bros. - RB

Coach Russel has a fetish with cracker barrel

And how do you know this?

Phoosball.... the more you "talk" on here.... or "text" as you like to call it, the more apparent it becomes that you have no idea what you are talking about. Everyone knows that it will take hard work and a new attitude to turn this program around. Secondly, you have no idea who the new staff will be and if any "Heritage boys" will be on that staff. Why don't you sit back and let the professionals handle this. I promise you that Coach Russell knows what he is doing. Maybe it would be more beneficial for you to sit back and wait until the new staff is announced and then pass your judgements.

heard from my stepson that the cline boy might be moving to alcoa. any truth to that? i know he ran good as a freshman. he'd have to stand in line at alcoa before he got any play time.

 

i saw on the thread that he likes to run the spread. how is he gonna do that at hhs? those boys can't catch a cold and are not fast enough to beat anyone deep.

It is painfully obvious that you have no idea what you are talking about. I think those football players out there would disagree with your comments completely. But... you do have a right to your opinion. It appears that you should be a coach... being that you are so knowledgeable about the game of football.