Gridiron32

Gibbs Baseball Stadium, Steve Hunley Field, Home of the Eagles

Just to let you all know, as of right now, and I'm about 95% sure, Halls will not be on our schedule.

I just want to know what Vic King was thinking attempting a fieldgoal on first down especially after a penalty backs them up another 5 yards. All the momentum was on their side after stopping AE's first OT possession. It was a great game, big hits and big plays. That's was playoff football the way it should be.

What did you expect from the TSSAA. The whole process is skewed. I feel sorry for you all making that drive to Stone and Scott. Been to both and it's way to far to drive for a regular season game. Playoffs I could understand, but regular season?? When was the last time Alcoa played AE & Fulton. I remember the district in the late 80's with Holston, Maryville, Rule, AE, Fulton, Alcoa. Those were some games.

Well here goes my 2 cents. The entire classification process is a joke. All they did was create another layer of football playoffs. Instead of 5 classes, we have 6. What for? I don't know. It was thin with 5 classes, now with 6 it has watered down the entire process even more. Now we have 192 teams that will make the playoffs out of 310 or so schools eligible. As for the redistricting process, I think they just sit around pulling names out of a hat. There seems to be no rhyme or reason. We have been told one thing, but I'm sure when it comes out there will be something different. I wish the coaches and administrators would stand up and quit letting Ronnie Carter do as he pleases. It's time for a new direction for high school sports in the state of Tennessee.

As someone from a family full of educators from elementary to college, I find your statements asinine. And trust me year round school would benefit most children. I am a proponent of year round because we experienced it with my first child until we moved. It was wonderful. Maybe you should put on a teacher's shoes sometimes and see if you could handle it. From your statements, I doubt you could. And teachers are just like anyone else, they complain about their job. I bet you've complained about yours plenty. Next time, think before you run off at the mouth. If you haven't noticed, those guys on the sidelines leading the kids are teachers. And if it weren't for a teacher, I'm sure you would have learned to spell or type your backward, insensitive thoughts all by yourself.

I used to live in the Tri-Cities and loved going to football games up there. Dobyns-Bennett has perhaps the best atmosphere and yes they probably average 6-8 thousand depending on the game. I agree about the visitors stands, but when you look over at the shear size of the homeside it is impressive. I also like the experience at Elizabethton back when Dave Rider coached there and the Witten brothers and Vince Redd were there. It was an electric atmosphere also. I know it's not Tennessee, but Gate City, Virginia is a fun place to watch a game

Sorry about that, didn't seem to make all the keystrokes! 1985 - Highlander Braggin Bowl - Gatlingburg, TN @ Gatlingburg-Pittman HS / W, Chucky-Doak, 10-0

Got a picture of the Grainger helmet at the KFOA Media day and it looks good. The uni really looks like Auburn. Overall it looks really good. But I will miss the Pioneer Blue.

Gibbs High Eagles Bowl History 1984 - Little T Bowl - Lenoir City, TN @ Lenoir City HS / L, Happy Valley, 13-6 1985 - Highlander Braggin Bowl - Gatlingburg, TN @ Gatlingburg-Pittman HS / W, Chucky-Doak, 10 1986 - Highlander Braggin Bowl - Gatlingburg, TN @ Gatlingburg-Pittman HS / W, Johnson Co, 13-12

I believe that the colors are orange and blue along the lines of Auburn. I may be wrong, but I think I read that back when they were deciding on a mascot.

LSMFT, This is my last reply to your ramblings because obviously you want to enter a battle of wits and I would really feel bad taking advantage of you. Not once did I ever say that everyone would like it, but I guarantee that when there were 3 classes, match-ups were better, playoff berths were earned, and state championships weren't given like candy. I loved the bowl games when they were an option. Did you know that to be eligible for a bowl game you have to win 5 games yet to make it to the playoffs you just have to finish 4th regardless of your record. What sense does that make? Now all of a sudden everyone wants to make a big deal about driving and hour or two for a game. Where exactly was that logic 15 years ago when this system was put in place? As for dropping Halls and picking them back up, it wasn't my decision either way, but I will continue to support my Eagles no matter what. As for the links to other state associations, if you could have comprehended what I wrote, then maybe you would have understood that I was talking about marketing prep athletics, policies and procedures that have been mandated, initiatives that have been enacted, etc. The TSSAA is in business to serve the needs of its members schools, yet it continues to fail in that objective. It continues to promote its own agenda that has been conceived and implemented by a privileged few. Speaking of change, I'm all for it as long as it betters the present situation. This new playoff does not better the present situation. It muddies the water. As I stated before, why not 4 classes across the board and a public/private split? For some reason, the TSSAA continues to believe that our state population can handle 6 classes as other states like Georgia, Texas, and California to name a few. But why should you understand anything logical, I forgot you're from that great and mighty Halls! You all have the world completely figured out. (By the way, that's sarcasm again)

LSMFT Well, lets see, last time I checked, I'm not a principal so I couldn't really make the hiring decision. Next, I fully support the administration's decision to hire Coach Conley. Last, what exactly does us hiring a new coach have anything to do with what I was discussing in my post? No where did I mention it. What exactly are your qualifications for questioning my post. Apparently you don't have the mental capacity to comprehend the overall point or direction of my post. If you read it completely then maybe I would or could understand your apparent attack. But since it is about on the level of my 4 year-olds reasoning and comprehension skills, I'll just laugh at it like I do about 98% of these posts. On second thought, my four-year old would have understood it. (LSMFT, just so you understand, thats sarcasm. I didn't want you to feel inadequate for not comprehending)

Does anyone have a clue what is wrong with the TSSAA? I mean really, who came up with this crap? All we need is a 4 class system and a complete public/private split. Why do they continue to pull this junk? And why is it that the coaches and athletic administrators continue to allow this bunch of fools the authority to continue this behavior and decision making? It is really becoming a joke. What happened to you play in a district, you win it, you go the playoffs? Now we gotta have multipliers and at large bids. back in the late 80's/early 90's, you had to be top 2 in your district to earn (I say earn because you really did back then) a playoff spot. You had great match-ups from the first round on. None of this lets play 2 rounds of rematches like we see now. I've got an ideal, how about the schools let the TSSAA go out of business and start over with a new state association. Really, what is the TSSAA really doing? I can schedule games and umpires and referees. Insurance? Give me about 10 minutes and I can get you an insurance guy. Putting on playoffs and championship tournaments? I've got a trophy guy and a camera, Our local ball park could host the Spring Fling. Someone please explain to me what is so important and essential about the TSSAA???? Why are they needed? What truly unique qualities are they bringing to the table to further the growth and development of high school athletics. I see nothing they truly offer. Has anyone looked at other state associations? I challenge everyone that read this to research and see what other states are doing in terms of development and marketing and management of high school athletics. Hey TSSAA, it's not rocket science and its not curing cancer or anything, why do you continue to make it so difficult? FHSAA GHSA GISA NCHSAA Look these over and tell me what you think

You'd think there would be a tournament pass or something. I thought the same thing when I was reading the info on the TSSAA website.

Are you at the Game? What inning? How have they played? GO LADY EAGLES!

I checked the scoreboard and it tells me the Eagles went to Erwin and pulled off a big win against a very proud and tradition rich baseball program. Any details on the game. Unicoi was playing some good baseball and was very hot. I was watching the Lady Eagles earn their trip to State. GO EAGLES!

Great effort by the Lady Eagles! Everybody Hits, Everybody scores! Good Luck at State

Not that 25% are better, but that I would allow my child to go there. Every school has it own unique issues in regards to academics, extracurriculars (athletics included in this category), community support, facilities, etc.... But when I look at the schools in Knox County (where I was born, and have come back to live), there are only 3 or 4 schools that I would feel comfortable with my children attending when these factors are taken into account. LSMFT, Thanks, its ok to be a Red Devil, heck there are some Red Devils I couldn't stand during our days in high school that have become good friends! Our kids even play ball together. I know, I know...Gibbs and Halls people actually coexisting, who would have thunk it?!?! I'm an Eagle forever, but it just gets under my skin when people continually downgrade people that I know personally. People that work hard and have for a community and school. I know not everything is as great as people want it, but it isn't at every school. Even at the schools where all seems well, I'm sure you can find those who will try to break it down, find fault with a coach or administrator, or who have had a bad situation occur. Thats just part of it all. But I will cheer on my Eagles just as you cheer on the Red Devils and I won't apologize for it. I hope everyone has a great day.

To all you experts on the Gibbs coaching situation, thanks but we don't really need your input. My silence has been in effect because why should I banter with people that have no say in the decision? Why should I care about people who have not, never will, and don't care about the program at Gibbs? Are any of you going to be lining the field next year? Or opening your wallet for any of our fundraisers? Or taking time to support the team in any manner? Thats right, not one of you have I seen at a booster club meeting or game or anything else. I know the people that work behind the scenes at Gibbs and those people are dedicated come you know what or high water. For a kid to transfer because of athletic reasons tells me more about that child's parents then about the child. If the kid and parents don't want to be at Gibbs, transfer as quick as you can. As for your comments about the administration, I know all of them personally, and I would rather send my children to that school under those leaders then send them to 75% of the schools in Knox County. So once again, as my father always says, opinions are like a certain part of your anatomy, and everyone has one. So I suggest you don't cast stones at those people and situations that you don't know.

Better watch out.... they hung an elephant up there back in the day! Elephant Hung in Erwin Just one of those historical tidbits that I find fascinating. I've seen AE play a couple of times season and when they decide to really play, they are hard to beat. Good size and not afraid to use it. Kenny Jones is a banger and gets physical. Sounds like a great game. What does Unicoi Have this year? Any stats on the Blue Devils?

The 2008 Lady Eagle Softball Invitational schedule has been updated. Thanks Lady Eagle Softball

I believe that Rule and Holston closed in 1991.

What do you wanna know about the youth program? We've got one and it is getting better each year, but it also faces the same problems as any other youth program in the area, funding, coaches training, facilities, etc. But as a parent and coach in the program, we are challenging ourselves and children to get better each year and we are seeing our kids succeed on and off the field. In fact, I'm quite proud of our kids and coaches and parents.

Well, well, well, I was waiting for this to happen. Now everything is the coaches fault because kids don't play. What a cop out. My parents would have never allowed me to not play for some coach just because I didn't like him. What message is that teaching the kid? Now you have given that child an out for when he is grown and has to work for a boss that he doesn't like. What's he going to do, quit job after job till he finds a boss he can work with? Sometimes in life you gotta get tough, play through pain and learn something from it. That's what wrong with society, everyone wants the easy road in life and life ain't easy. It takes hard work, sacrifice, and determination. It's really easy to say " I don't want to play for that guy". I've played for coaches and with players that I could have cared less about, but they were not going to deter me from my goals and aspirations. A lot of the problems with kids walking the halls are because they are lazy, with no work ethic and expect everything to be handed to them and coddled while the parents have set no expectations for their kids. I expect my kid to come home with straight A's and he does. Is he rewarded? Yes, with self satisfaction because he worked hard for his grades. I expect him to play hard in every sport or activity that he pursues. Does he? Yes, because I and his mother have taught him that life is not easy and it takes hard work to succeed. I will never allow my child to quit something that he loves just because "he doesn't like the coach". Many parents today make life too easy on their children and allow them to make decisions that the parent should make. Well, unfortunately it is about who you are. If you act like an idiot, don't take care of school work, and walk around with an attitude like the world owes you something, then it is about who you are. Honestly, it sounds like sour grapes to me, was you child not good enough to play? Did you think he was Peyton Manning but he ended up being Ryan Leaf? Was you child made to follow rules and standards that you never set forth and when a coach did it was too difficult. That's what it sounds like. By the way, could you please proof read your post and correct obvious grammatical and spelling errors.