supersteve17

I know Frahn D'Anjou, who played football at Baylor in the mid 1990's, was from Vicksburg, Mississippi. At the time of his high school graduation, he was Chattanooga's all-time leading rusher. I think he signed with Mississippi State but not sure how much he played there. Not sure what happened to him after MSU. There have been a few other high-profile boarding students, but most of their good athletes that are not from Hamilton County are from North Georgia or somewhere in the local area. I'm sure someone with more specific knowledge could enlighten us. I think that Baylor and McCallie are unique in that they are boarding schools (Tennessee Temple may be also), but that aspect of their environment has had very little to do with their athletic success IMHO.

I'm with ya'! Not trying to be argumentative, just trying to make a point about the financial feasibility (lack thereof) of televised HS games in the Tennessee market.

I just checked the internet and there is a Shorter Colege that is a two-year school affiliated with the AME church. It is located in North Little Rock, Arkansas. I stand corrected!

There is a Shorter College in Rome, Georgia. I think they are DIII or NAIA. Could this be the one?

I think you are correct about the first part. Not so sure about the second. In some years in the past Video Sports was the only way most "Clinic Bowl" championship games could be seen -- and that was only available by purchasing the video tapes. I think the simple fact is that this will not be a money-maker for Comcast at all, DI, DII or any combination of the two. Tennessee's television market simply will not support the cost involved in the production of these games.

Not that Bighurt needs any help, but I think that he was pointing out that your bias (like mine and everyone else's) colors our view of this debate.

Glad you are glad.

Coach Turner's statement in that same article is, shall we say, interesting. He seems to imply that private schools have some mystical advantage over his Tyner Rams. He didn't think there was much of an advantage in the opening game in the fall of 1997. He has only lost once to the only private school in his region since the inception of the multiplier (if I'm not mistaken). That private school brings a rather large gate to "the hilltop" every other year and occasionally in the playoffs. I would think he would want to keep that private school in his region! It seems the magnet Rams may have some advantages over every other team, at least east of Nashville and not in Blount County! As for T. Layne's concerns about private schools, I wonder if his "concerns" should be focused in a different direction? His baseball, softball, and basketball teams have done well -- at least been competitive (girls' basketball more than competitive!). Are there some frustrations over the inability to maintain a quality football program? They have great facilities and seem to have tremendous potential. Their middle school programs are typically very good with good numbers. Are Sequatchie's problems (whatever they may be) the fault of private schools? Will ridding his region of the two or three private schools that might potentially be competitive with his school solve their problems? I really don't have a "dog in the hunt" any more. Whatever the BC decides to do is fine with me. Maybe a split is best for everyone concerned. (I personally think it would be a sad day.) It does seem that confronting the issues at home would be a better place to start for some of us.

Do you honestly think there would have been a split and the multiplier, et. al. if football was not an issue? I will grant that those other things (McCallie wrestling, Ezell-Harding dominating softball, etc.) may have been contributing factors, but Hargis was correct IMHO in saying that football was the impetus behind the split. The "revisionist thinking" may be coming from some other source.

You don't get it, do you? Girls' basketball doesn't count! (It is the exception to "private schools dominate" that tends to break down the arguments.)

If this is who I think it is this is a quality person and a good baseball man. Are your initials K.A.?

Congrats to these kids! What website was this posted on? I'd like to check it out!

Just to echo what Baldcoach said, those two guys have been at BBS since at least middle school. Like a lot of bigger kids, they have been "late bloomers" in terms of development, but they are coming on. I know Devin's brother (Darryl Caldwell, Jr.) graduated from BBS in 2001 so his family has been associated with the school for a few years. BTW, his dad, Darryl Caldwell, Sr. had a nice career in the NFL after playing for UTC and TSU in the late 1970's or early '80's. I know he played for the Jets and Bills. Also played one season or so in the USFL with Memphis and Reggie White.

Thanks for the info. No offense to her. I just couldn't think of her name. She's a great player. Has she signed or committed? I believe she has, just can't remember where. I have found that very often the really great players at the private schools are the ones that have been there since early elementary. There are obviously exceptions, but usually the later transfers (ninth grade and beyond) do not make a huge impact.

I don't know about all the rest, but "Mr. Perkins" has been helping the umps for years!!!! LOL!!!

Was that a yes or a no vote?

It's Ralph and Karen Weekly, co-coaches of the UT Lady Vols softball team. BTW, how do you "play physical" in softball? Just wondering. Us private school supporters want to know the secrets!

What about the public school's history of domination of girls' basketball? Did the private schools not work hard enough or show enough determination?

Doesn't hurt me. I'm very happy for Forrest and their supporters. They deserve the victory and kudos. Obviously my remarks about this being the turning point of domination by private schools were tongue-in-cheek; however, the comments offered by some posters are very telling. It seems some believe that the "hard work=success" theory espoused here often in the past is true! At least Forrest believes it! Is that to imply that Trinity (or the other six teams at the state tourney) did not work hard?

Chapel Hill's Forrest Lady Rockets defeated Trinity to win the class A state title. Evidently they didn't hear that private schools are superior. Will this begin a reign of terror by public schools in Tennessee in class A softball? Forrest has been very good for quite a few years -- at least ten! I hear the Renfro girls are transferring to Middleton in anticipation of this upheaval. Seriously, does this win destroy the myth that public schools can't compete with private schools in class A softball? Nobody told Forrest they couldn't win!

The fact of the matter is that it doesn't matter what the good coach thinks (no offense coach). Independent schools in Tennessee are such a small minority that they have NO representation on the TSSAA Board of Control or the Legislative Council. They (independent schools) will do what they are told to do by the powers that be (or else they will drop out of TSSSAA -- which is not very likely).

That probably differs from year to year. My daughter graduated from high school in 2003. I know when we played against Goodpasture at that time, most of those girls had been there (at GP) since grade school. I suspect that Goodpasture's tradition attracts a lot of young elementary girls who aspire to play softball at the highest levels. That doesn't mean they all pan out as superstars, but a lot of dreams have been planted in young girls' minds by players like Pieroni and the current shortstop (can't remember her name). I bet the same thing happens in communities like Alcoa, South Pittsburg, Maryville, etc., where athletic programs are traditionally strong.

Once again, all "issues" aside, congratulations to both teams on tremendous seasons. JCS deserves the kudos. Huntingdon also deserves praise. Why can't we focus on that?

This thread should be moved to the Public-Private discussion board -- and probably will be.

JCS won the state championship over a tough Huntingdon squad 10-4. Congratulations to the Eagles after last year's runnerup finish. Way to go! I know Jaxman is one proud papa!