warrior1996alum

Does your idea revolve around not having much to talk about? I think we all got excited during the hiring process and now we're waiting to see which way the program is going to go. Once spring practice starts up I'm sure you'll see a lot more posts from people because, believe it or not, you're not the only supporter. I told you that I didn't agree with the hire but that's in the past. I'm not going to work behind Malone's back or anything like that; I'm going to support the man. I'm excited about the future and I really hope he succeeds...only time will tell. Has he announced the spring practice dates spartafire? I'm sure you know considering you know all the other news and insights of the program!

First, congrats to Coach Malone if the news I'm hearing is true. Good luck rebuilding our program, you're gonna need it. Now, Patriot97, what you wrote earlier was one of the dumbest things I've ever read. I wish our new coach well but I'm not yet ready to compare him with some of the greatest coaches in the game (3 of which do not currently have coaching jobs) because he, like them, does not have experience playing in the pros!! That's just a ridiculous statement. The man has 1 winning season in 3 years of head coaching and was 1-10 in his 2nd year. I researched Ardmore and they were 0-10 before he won his 8 games his first year. But they had won 7 the year before they were winless so he obviously didn't inherit a completely dry cupboard. He's gonna need all the luck in the world to turn this program around because quite frankly our current administration has been making all the wrong moves for quite sometime. I hope that this isn't one of those moves but from what I've been able to find out it's looking more and more like a bad choice. Good luck Coach Malone we're all behind you...until of course our administration decides you've been here long enough and forces you out!

One more thing and then I'm going to lay low and wait on an announcement. If we hire Malone how is he going to monitor and be apart of the offseason workouts? Is he going to drive from AL every few days or come up on weekends? Won't it be hard to prepare for spring practice when the coach isn't around? How will he be able to gain a relationship with the players if they never see him? These are all just questions that need to be addressed before this hire is made. I'm sure the committee is already discussing this but these would be some of my main concerns. These and the fact that he left AL after only 3 years to pursue other jobs...

I read the same stuff winston. After his 8-3 first year he went 1-10 and followed that up with a 5-5 season. So he had 1 winning season and then left to "pursue a job in Tennessee" when he lived right on the TN line? His resignation was around the first of February and the posting for this job ended around the end of Jan. It sounds to me like maybe this was his job from the beginning and we've all just been taken for a ride. And I was wondering the same thing about him leaving in a year or two. If he just stayed in Alabama for 3 years what's to say he won't leave here in 3 years to "pursue another opportunity". I'm just throwing that out there. If he gets the job I've said it a million times I'll back him. I'll support him and do what I can for the program but I don't think this would be the right hire!

Thanks for clearing up the Middle School situation for us. I'm excited that an announcement will come soon and I can't wait to see who the next head man is. You said Malone was strong over the weekend so does this mean he's the current frontrunner. I can't imagine us hiring someone who's only head coaching experience ended with 2 disastrous seasons. I'm sure he's a good coach because from what I've read about him he was successful during that first season but to build our program it's going to take more than just a great first year. I guess with Houser not having any head coaching experience that is holding him down. I don't know of anyone who has experience until they have experience...you must start somewhere. I know it sounds like I'm a Houser supporter but I can assure you I'll support whoever gets the hire. I would just like to see someone from the area get the job over someone from out of state. I think it will speed up the building process if the person that comes in knows the type of athletes and schools we'll be playing against.

How many times have they interviewed so far? This is getting a little ridiculous in my opinion. Lets make a decision already!

I haven't heard this, but nothing would surprise me at this point. Maybe spartafire can fill us in on any truth to these rumors? And winston I'm with you, it looks like we would get someone in here as fast possible. Spring practice is right around the corner and our boys need to start learning the new system.

You are exactly right about a lot of things not being done. That's why we need to get someone in here as soon as possible so they can go to work on our future. This town is ready to win and like you said the players are hungry so I also feel good about the future. I've been excited the last few days and I can't wait until the announcement comes and we finally have a coach. I haven't been hearing Coach Malone's name much on here but Coach Houser seems to be a great coach. The information that jacksoncounty provided excites me about that possibility so if he's the one hired I think we have some good times ahead. Don't take that as I wouldn't be behind Coach Malone, I just don't know that much about him. I sure hope the announcement comes tomorrow. I don't think I can wait much longer!

From what I'm hearing they are close to making a hire but no announcement has been made at this time. I'm not sure if Houser is the front-runner or if it's someone else's job but I wish they would make the decision for the kids sake. We could have a legitimate chance of winning several games next year if we would get someone in the position to install their system on both sides of the ball. I can't believe they are taking this long to be honest.

I'm not sure you are right on the comment regarding looking for someone young. I know a few people close to the program and they are looking for the best fit regardless of age. I haven't heard Coach Bragg's name at any point during the process but nothing would surprise me at this point. I thought they were looking to hire last Friday and that they were only looking for those in the Upper Cumberland area but evidently there's no truth to that with all of these out of town names being thrown around. I wish they would just make the hire so that we could begin preparing for Spring practice.

How long did Malone coach under Rankin at Riverdale? If Houser is coaching at Cookeville that means that he has learned under Jerry Joslin who is one of the best in the state. Joslin is one of the most respected coaches around and has turned Cookeville into a team that is always competitive come playoff time and they don't have near the talent that Rankin teams have had. Have any others coached under successful Head Coaches at their past or current jobs?

At first I had heard that they were interviewing 4 Coaches' for the position and have since heard that they may have interviewed as many as 8. I know that there were only 2 coaches that currently live in Sparta that were interviewed (Pullum and Lowery). I'm all for hiring the best person for the job whether they're local or not. I just want to get this hire behind us so we can start building towards the future.

Please don't think I was badmouthing anyone. I think Coaches Pullum and Lowery are great people I just don't think they're the right fit for our program. I may be wrong but that is just an opinion from a football standpoint and has nothing to do with these men as individuals. I haven't heard Nash's name mentioned as a finalist but I wouldn't be surprised if he's interested in coming back to Sparta. As for who I think should get the job I really don't have one person in mind because as I said earlier I just don't know these guys well enough. And like you said it wouldn't serve any purpose. I wasn't able to make the Cookeville game last year but I heard we were able to keep it respectable. Wasn't the final 35-14? That's an improvement from the '07 season in which they beat us 42-0!

We have enough athletes to compete in our new district but not enough to go deep in the playoffs. The upcoming classes have good talent but that will just go to waste unless we can get someone in here that knows what they're doing. I have a few sources of my own winston and they told me yesterday that they are trying to decide whether they should hire a local guy or go outside the system. Is this really that difficult of a decision? Unless there are some more locals who have jumped in the mix I just don't see Coaches' Pullum and Lowery being right for this program. I guess that's why I wasn't asked to make the hire!

Does this mean you are hearing who they are going to hire and you're just not confident in your sources?