Minethatbird

Why do you have beef with Coach Greene? Did you guys have a run in or something? You say you are an alumni in another post. When did you graduate? Were things so different then? What do you mean by moving on? The program has been moving fine! When you refer to the "just busted" section...I take offense to that and you know why!!! Some kids are not born with a silver spoon. They need a positive figure in their life and Benny Monroe and Doug Greene did a good job of that. I would expect you to come to Doug Greene's defense. In my humble opinion, what happened at Blackman should disqualify him from ever being a head coach at the high school level. He was the head coach of the baseball team at the time and had his opportunity. I'm not going to re-hash the facts. He may be a good football mind, be a great guy, and all that, but he is not respected by his peers(other teachers) and is not a good teacher, which is his job! I've never said two words to him, don't know him, don't want to know him, and could not care less about of him, but I know of nobody that has had a positive experience with him. I'm sure he has his little pets that love him though! Furthermore, this "silver spoon" thing can be a cop out and I believe it has been at Ooltewah. We have seniors that played football that have now dropped out of school. Boy that's great, isn't it? We should be so proud to have our football team represented in "just busted" on a regular basis. 8's and 14's on the ACT? Are you kidding? Does this explain why we only had two players sign football scholarships? Are we playing kids that would not be eligible at other schools? There are a lot of unanswered questions. It is time to clean up the act and hire a coach that cares about the school's reputation and cares about character and academics.

I am told Ralph Potter is under enormous pressure at B.A. as they did not hire him to finish third or fourth. In fact, I heard last fall that he inquired about the Ooltewah job and would be interested if Bennie retired, which everybody knew was going to happen except Bennie's best friends, apparently. Also, Tim James worked for Principal Bean at East Ridge High and they are said to be best friends. Don't count that out as an option either.

I am an Ooltewah alumnus and fan. East Hamilton will be a powerhouse in two years.

I don't know that Doug Greene was ever a frontrunner. Maybe in his mind, but it looks like we can move forward and hire somebody that cares about academics and character. I'm sick of seeing all of our represenatives featured in "just busted". It is what it is. We have played with kids that scored 8's and 14's on their ACT. How were they eligible? I understand Coach Monroe felt his mission was to help kids get their lives straightened out, but I'm glad we can move forward. I would like to see Ralph Potter and if we can't get him, Tim James would be a good choice. I hear the Potter rumor last fall. Maybe there is something to it afterall. Congrats to Coach Monroe, but Doug Greene is a good riddance. Just ask the people at Blackman High School. Sorry for opening up a can of worms but let's not act like this guy that just quit is a great loss.

Congratulatons to Coach Monroe on a legendary career. This has been the worst kept secret in Ooltewah for the last year, although there will be those that will argue the point, as if it matters. This has been predicted for some time. Now, let the Ralph Potter rumors begin!

Yea I would not want to join them either after the way # 7 & # 20 represented the mighty owls in the east / west all-star game I was wondering when someone was going to bring this up.

Boy, where to start with this thread? Without a doubt, Jacques is the most decorated football player to ever play at Ooltewah and it's not a stretch to say he is the all time best player, regardless of position. Thorough, I went to school with Anderson Sanders who played at MTSU after high school. Anderson was rated as the top player in the state by at least one publication before his senior season, but in my opinion, Anderson was not the player that Jacques has been at Ooltewah. Too, Anderson played single A ball while Jacques played AAAAA....not the same. To me, Blake Foster and Flanagan are the best backs of the decade at Ooltewah. Flanagan actually signed with UTC, and Blake was heavily recruited by the likes of Kentucky, but grades were an issue with him. You'll recall he set some kind of record against Central his senior season. Those guys may have not been the biggest, but they could fly. Caldwell and Marshall were also good backs but I would take Flanagan and Foster. Agreeing with Thorough, Sanford Balew might be the best back ever at Ooltewah. However, his team mate Jimmy Favors might have been the best athlete to ever wear the red and grey. Jimmy was a Hershell Walker type in the early 80's that rushed for 900 yards as a freshman against a AA varsity schedule. Going back a little further, Joe Williams led the city in rushing and signed and play for Richmond after high school. Joe went on to Harvard for graduate school and currently works for the Boston Globe. How is that for an african american football player that actually applied himself in the classroom? Going back further still, Jim Jarvis and Ed Foster will tell you that former running back Charles Moreland might have been the best ever. He too led the city in rushing in the 70's.

I know this is OT but my son, who is not a football player, but works out at the school, is a big fan of Coach Dunbar. I'm glad to hear that from him because I think its important for kids to leave high school and look back at their high school coaches as people that made them better people. It doesn't neccesarily have to be the head coach, all the time. My older son still considers Coach Henderson his mentor and he's been out of high school three years. I think its great and I wish more coaches understood and appreciated that dynamic. Parents and fathers need to be the example in the kid's life, but it also helps if they have coaches that mentor them in areas where the parents might come up short. So I'm thankful that Coach Dunbar is having such a big impact on my son. I just wanted to give big kudos to a man that rarely is mentioned or talked about, but is very important.

I hope he makes it one more year, if nothing else to make sure the program is on solid footing. In spite of the bravado displayed by various posters, our work is cut out for us next season. I think we can win seven games, but road trips to Maplewood and Franklin will be difficult. I don't know Coach Monroe and have spoken to him maybe twice during his tenure at Ooltewah. We've all heard the rumors about his impending retirement, but they are just that....rumors. I know ne has had some health issues and personal tragedy in the past, but I suspect football is what he knows and loves and if his health is good, he'll likely stay on. That's my 2 cents....

This spring will be the most interesting in quite some time as it relates to qb. If they run some form of a spread then I think Goose can be the quarterback and wouldn't sell him short. If they want a dropback qb, he's probably not your guy and it will be one of the two rising juniors. The rising sophomore is a wildcard but I think he needs some seasoning. But what do I know? My opinion is unscientific and I have zero inside information. I knew some of the old coaches like Jim Davis who would offer up a nugget every now and then but I know none of the guys from the Cleveland Mafia. Ooltewah will only have three or four seniors, so I expect a rebuilding season but will be pleasantly surprised if they win more than six or seven. The schedule is brutal out of the district.

Classless is meeting an opposing coach to exchange film and giving him blank tapes. That's the Benny Monroe I know. He sees the writing on the wall. you better watch it because apparently the coaching staff bears no responsibility around here. These people that continue to carry water for Bennie are amazing.

This is a rumor I also heard and that is that Bennie allegedly stated Friday night that he had coached his last game. Now, I caution all that read this that I didn't hear him say it. In fact, I've never talked to the man and he wouldn't know me in a crowd of two.

Why does that matter? You and your many aliases and family members have been the champion of this coaching staff that is allegedly the best in the state. Ask them.... In my opinion, this team has been way over rated from the start. We played in a weak division that we still couldn't win. We need a tailback that has speed to get to the outside and can run inside. That would take the pressure off the next quarterback, whether it's Goose,the jv qb, last year's freshman qb, or this years freshman qb. It's time to move forward....

Wow....this board has gotten so predictable it's not worth the time. I woke up to read some news online and catch up on the Vols and thought I would take a look and right on cue, this place never seems to disappoint. Why don't you people back off on Brady? His career is over and it didn't end up like he or his parents thought it would. But that doesn't mean he won't go on to bigger and better things, be a successful businessman, and have a great life. Some of you people need to get a life and stop living your life through your kids. Here's a clue for some of you, five years from now, nobody is going to remember a darn accomplishment on the football field by your child. 99.9 % will not play past high school. And here is another suggestion. The spring promises to be one of the more interesting springs in recent memory and the hot topic will be, who will be the quarterback. Let's support whoever is chosen by the coaches and not come on here and bash somebodies kid or better yet, get in the ear of the coaches to undermine the competition. You people know who you are..... Congrats seniors for having a great season.

In fairness to Red4Life, every bodies posts on this board are self serving. It's gotten to the point where it's fairly easy to figure out. Three or four years ago, Ooltewah had a lot of great posters who weren't nearly as rude and frankly redneck. It's one thing to talk a little smack, but quite another to continually bash kids that are somehow "in the way", and to talk down to opposing fans. To me, it's an embarrassment to the entire community as these people are truly not represenative of the community....at least not in my view. For those that think change is needed, get over it. The hay is in the barn as the old saying goes.

Well, the Owls are fortunate in that they host a first round game after last night's debacle. They have played like a team that has been begging to lose for the last few weeks. Maybe it has been the weight of being rated the number one team in the state, but I am not sure. I think it is clear they are not the number one team in the state and in my opinion aren't as good as last season and certainly not as good as Bennie's '06 club. Frankly, this looks like a tired team. My major complaint with Bennie's program is the fact that he plays 16 or 17 players and that's it. Why in a school the size of Ooltewah is that neccesary? Why do Delaney and Mayfield play receiver at all? It's not as if we're effective at throwing the ball all over the lot. Why aren't we trying to throw the ball to Jacquez more? Ooltewah will have to play as well as they did against Franklin and Maplewood to win Friday night. Farragut will come into this game knowing that we sent them packing last season. We can come on this board and talk all the smack, dump on players, and generally act like children all we want, but the players are going to have to stand up and be counted now.

I picked a seven point margin in favor of the Owls last week. This week it will be a big step up in competition for Ooltewah. Fortunately, this game is played at home. However, if Austin East could kick field goals, I'm afraid the Owls would be 2-1 even though that game was played at the nest. I am sick of talking about the passing game or lack thereof. For whatever reason, the Owl coaches are content with conservative play calling and defense. I would advise them to continue to emphasize extra work in the kicking game. Our record against middle Tennessee teams of late has not been very good. In my opinion, the best football in the state is played in the Rutherford,Davidson, and Williamson counties. Unless we show improvement in the passing game and kicking game, Ooltewah will lose this game going away. I'm betting they do, and I give the Owls the nod in this one because of Franklin's young quarterback. Ooltewah 13 Franklin 10

I look for the Owls to win a close contest. 14-7 good guys....

I don't remember all of the open receivers. I remember Brady running for his life most of the time. We might be better suited to play with two wideouts and a tight end for better protection. That might give us a better opportunity to take come chances down the field. I am for Brady,Goose,Stephens, Elvis Presley or whoever they put behind center.

The problems with the team and program are multiple. As for Brady, I don't believe I have ever seen a more maligned quarterback at Ooltewah, although there was a backlash when the sophomore Zach Woods replaced the junior Justin Higdon several years ago. I personally think there is some resentment because it seemed as if Brady was simply handed the job when he showed up as a sophomore. Now, it's no fault of Brady's or his family, but for that reason, Brady is never going to be embraced by a certain faction of the fan base. I personally think Brady has some strengths that for whatever reason, the coaching staff is not utilizing. Brady has a linebacker mentality and is a tough, hard nosed football player who has proven to be effective running the football. He doesn't and never has looked comfortable running the four wide offense. Now, I realize our o-line is very inexperienced this season and that has something to do with it, but for three seasons, for whatever reason, he has not been comfortable or consistent when running it. I too believe that running the Wild Goose formation might loosen the defenses up. Another problem is the continuance and stubborness of this coaching staff to play, for the most part, 14 or 15 players. Why, in a school of 1500(down from 2000 last year) do we have fewer than 50 players? Why has Monroe insisted on playing alot of player both ways since he has been the head coach? Why are there only three junior football players in the program? When the juniors were freshmen they dominated everyone they played and it was basically a jv schedule. Is Ooltewah on the cusp of becoming another Bradley?

Here a few Random thoughts: To Bluemom, if I'm not mistaken, Ooltewah brought the entire varsity/jv squad. The low numbers of Owl football players is like the elephant in the room that everyone sees but nobody wants to talk about. When you understand that there are 27 seniors, it is certainly concerning. Void, the problem with Ooltewah, whether it's football,baseball or whatvever, there are always daddies that only want little johnny to play a certain position and they let the coaches know about it. We are not going to win at this level with sophomore offensive linemen. These daddies need to get out of the way, let the coaches coach, and let them put the kids where they will benefit the TEAM. There are a couple of kids that are average skill players that need to move to the o-line. Both of these players would make good guards. There is nobody on the bench the coaches can go to and we are less than two weeks from the jamboree. As far as deep snaping is concerned, Goose Manning will be successful if you will be patient. He is a good athlete with tremendous heart and is a winner. If I know Goose, he will put in the extra time and reps to get it right. As to the defense, you need to give them a pass because of McCallie's option game. Our defense is built on speed and putting pressure on the qb. The defense will be fine, the o-line is the big question.

Did Big Hairy Owl write the Murphy Fair article? Is Big Hairy Owl still getting free ammo? Why don't you guys leave East Hamilton kids be? Is it a crime to want to go to school where you will at least get an opportunity? What if Andrew Crowe had stayed at Ooltewah? He didn't even get a shot on the freshman team, sat out his sophomore season at Boyd Buc and is now a pre -season all state db according to Murphy Fair, not to mention the fact that he made The Times Free Press Best of Preps in baseball as a junior. Ooltewah is just fine with with 27 seniors and great juniors like Goose Manning. Don't begrudge others who want to find their niche and opportunity somewhere else.

What's the rumor that the Ooltewah brass is refusing to allow their home games to be televised this year? If that's true then I believe the powers that be need to get their priorities straight and remember it's not about the money or the coach's ego but the players. This may be bad information but this is the talk on the street.

Everybody that chooses to go elsewhere is not a loser. You are an embarassment to Ooltewah with your attitude. Posters like you give Ooltewah a bad name. Please go away.....

Why are the players hyped over east hamilton? They need to be hyped over teams on their schedule. By all appearances it's the coaches and administration hyped over east hamilton. The lower niumbers on the freshmen squad says it all.