ClemsonDad

In response to Bill Morgan (and completely off the course of this thread): Tennessee produces lots of D-1 players. UT just chooses not to recruit them. The fact is that they prefer out-of-state players, for whatever reason. I could go down a long list of players in the past few years that could have played at UT but UT didn't recruit them. The best example is Cory Robinson of Knox Central. I don't care what he has or hasn't done in college, the fact is that he was a big-time prospect as a high school senior. He was 6'5", 230 pounds with great speed, work ethic, and skills. On the Tennessee All-Star team, he was heads above everyone else on the team, and that team included several that were signed by UT. Why wouldn't UT want a Knoxville kid? I have no idea. This year, Darius Bowman of Chattanooga Notre Dame was another one that was heads above everyone else on the Tennessee All-Star team. He's going to UNC. If ever anyone had NFL written on them as a high school senior, it was Bowman. In my opinion, UT should definitely recruit more local kids. Who is going to lay it on the line in the tough times, some kid from California whose main goal in Knoxville is to make it to the NFL or some kid from Philadelphia, Tennessee (Bruce Wilkerson) whose life-long goal is to play for the Orange and White? Chuck Prugh from Maryville has been the back-up center to Scott Wells for the past two years (and this one). Coming out of high school, UT wouldn't even look at him, despite a 6'4", 320 pound frame, excellent speed, tremendous athleticism, and the best first step I've seen in high school football. He signed with Carson-Newman out of high school, quit, then walked on at UT. He finally got a scholarship this year. The starting punter for Auburn is Cody Bliss, a Tennessee boy. The best high school running back I've seen since Albert Davis, Sr. (Carl Stewart)--at Auburn. The list goes on and on. Touchy subject for me; I have a personal interest in this one. But I will admit one thing: I pull for whoever is playing the pale orange.

Philster043: You know I think you're a great guy and all, but you are analyzing/coaching too much. There aren't many people in this whole state that can second guess GQ's play calling. I wouldn't dare and I've been around this game since the 60's!

Susie, Susie, please don't go away. Most of the time that I get on here it is to see what you've written. Goat and NIN just don't get it, do they....

Oh, Susie....when are we going to get you to come over to that REAL shade of orange; not that pale shade they use across the river? If you only knew.

and I, for one, find Susie to be the most entertaining writer on here. As for consulting me about Susie's identity, I honestly have no idea. Is he really a male disguised as a female? Or is she really one of the most knowledgeable Blount County posters on here (she seems to know everyone and everything). Does she/he really live on Nebo road or in one of Maryville's suburbs? Is she/he really a Maryville fan or a carefully disguised non-fan? NIN, if you find her posts offensive, then you just don't have a clue, do you? Keep it up Susie-Q! and I'm still looking for a campaign treasurer....

I'm still waiting for Suzie to identify herself (hisself?) so that I can move forward with my County Commission campaign....

One thing that hasn't been mentioned enough is that Carter has a very good football team; easily the best Carter team in years. When they got off the bus, I got worried. They had some really stout looking young men that had obviously spent some serious time in the weight rooom. It might have been fortuitous to play them early in the season!

Suzie's posts are the most entertaining on here. And if she/he is as smart as I think he/she is, you can read a lot between the lines. GovMan, I agree that your daugther will do fine wherever she goes. You know where mine went and I'm glad of it, but I am a personal testimony to what can happen if you apply yourself, regardless of where you attend school. She'll be fine. And since I know her and her parents, I can tell you that she will grow up to be a happy, well-adjusted adult. On another matter, I'm considering a run for county commission and would like to hear from you and BillBlunt on that matter. I would welcome Suzie's opinion too, but I don't think she/he will reveal who they are for something so trivial as a run on county commission, even if it could impact her beloved Nebo Road.

and I ask again: why were 17 and 18 still in the scrimmage in OR's last defensive set? and forgive me for being trite, but were you the one who didn't know to lay down the chains when players were coming your direction, the one who was loud and obnoxious, or the quiet one in the white shirt? and yes, this was a good day and probably a good scrimmage to watch from a fan's perspective. A scrimmage at Oak Ridge and Big Ed's pizza afterward make for a good match. This is the best Oak Ridge team since '97. I don't think they have the linemen to go too deep in the playoffs, but they are good. And for all the quibbling on other posts, Oak Ridge is still a well coached team.

Quick points: Typical OR: MHS killed them 2 years ago in a preseason scrimmage yet the newspaper and TV in OR had the Wildcats on top. FACT: OR typically leaves starters in late, late in the scrimmage. If the kid (#23) that scored is varsity, what was he doing playing at the end of the scrimmage? QUESTION: Why were #17 and #18 still in there at the end? COMMENT: Suzie? Richard? Confirms what I suspected all along, Suzie is no Suzie at all!

LOL. Yeah, you caught that one. I actually listed two of those young men in my original post, remembered the third, went back and edited the post but obviously not well enough. The "writer" in me failed you!!! You do a great job in everything; I don't tell you that enough. A column you wrote (seems like it was about 6 weeks ago) was awesome. Our mutual friend is going to do great things for your school--you and I both know it. Take care. And thanks for the info on Stair Tech. I was born in 1953 so it was closed before I got here, but I still had never heard of it. I've obviously mis-guessed on Stars-n-bars' identity since you would be no spring chicken if you went to stair tech!

Being on staff, it's pretty hard for me to offer much in the way of opinion, since that opinion is tempered by "insider" information. But from just sitting in the shade and watching those guys, the two that stand out are Tank Baker, Tyler Maples, and Justin Huskey. They are really good. And looking at them physically, they have good size yet haven't maxed out there; they all should grow quite a bit more. There are some wide bodies in the line and they run like they are athletes! All in all, things look great for the future for the Rebs.

What the heck is "Stair Tech?" I'm an old guy and I don't remember anything by that name.

Find me one better than Maryville's Tyler Gaskin and I'll build a team around them. Tyler was last year's offensive MVP in the state championship football game and then instrumental in Maryville's strong basketball season. He's currently in Indianapolis impressing a whole bunch of basketball coaches. He could play either sport at the college level.

Good reply, 926. Folks can talk about this supplement or that but there is no substitute for hard work. However, I am not naive enough not to know that folks are looking for an edge all the time. My son played D-1 football and was perpetually frustrated with supplement (including steroid) use. If you are around athletes much, you know who is juiced. He started in the ACC without the use of drugs and was known as one of the hardest workers around in high school and college.

No disrespect intended, but I betcha VitaVol sells this stuff....

Creatine: It is quite likely that you cannot rehydrate sufficiently to keep up with the effects of creatine during the hottest parts of summer. You already should be working hard enough to be borderline dehydrated much of the time anyway, particularly in August when you put on helmet and pads. I disagree with the part about being addictive but I preach constantly that you should stay away from creatine in the summer. Ephedra: Kory Stringer. Devaugh Darling. Rahidi Wheeler. Steve Bechler. Need I say more? Steroids: Never. I'll not lie and tell you they won't make you bigger and stronger. They will. But they also make you impotent (among many other side effects, most worse than that). If you have to have them to compete, then you don't have what it takes. Let me offer one big piece of advice (and the health of athletes has been my profession for 26 years): DO NOT GET YOUR SUPPLEMENT ADVICE FROM SOMEONE THAT IS SELLING THEM.

Agree that Mullinax at McMinn County must have been awfully good. And the guy at Red Bank that retired a couple of years ago.

Oh, yeah. King Berrong definitely belongs on there. As well as Sweetwater's Bill Dupes. The guy at Kingston (Vic something) was solid. What about Maurice Fitzgerald at Pearl-Cohn? He has talent but he does a lot with it. The guy that was at Greenville so long did a good job. Whoever is at Cloudland must be awfully good. The guy who died that coached at Oneida (no disrespect intended, it's just that I'm old and senile). Of course I've got to include "GQ" on the list. George Quarles is a brilliant coach and one of the worlds truly nice guys. The proof there is in the puddin', as they say. Renfro definitely belongs on the list (Walland and Heritage).

Great thread! I'm not going to list my favorites, as football coaches are among my favorite people of all time. I'm just going to add my 2 cents and then add to this list. Of course, being an LHS alumnus, I'm going to vote for my old coach, Bert "Chig" Ratledge. (I will never call him "Chig.") Great coach, great innovator. In 1969, we ran a wide tackle 4-4 and the triple option when no one in high school football were running those. I'll always love my son's coach, Tim Hammontree. He is another of those guys that you would literally run through a brick wall for. Heck, I was his trainer and there were times where I would try and run through that wall! I must mention one assistant in there. David Ellis, Maryville's OL coach was a head coach in Georgia and chooses to be an assistant. He could be a head coach anywhere and is definitely one of the great ones. Otherwise, I would add Punky Dalton, Dan Webb, Bill Cochran, and Ronnie Phelps at Alcoa. Earl McMahan of Heritage and William Blount. Mike White (now deceased) of William Blount. Bill Satterfield of Greenback. Graham Clark of Dobyns-Bennett is one of my favorites. Steve Brewer at Sevier County. Gary Householder at Seymour. Scott Meadows at Jefferson County. Dave Ryder at Elizabethton. John Olive of Tullahoma. It was my great pleasure to get to know Duron Sutton of Memphis Kingsbury during all stars. He's just 28 but he can coach my kid any time. By the way, RebelRon, Emory Hale is one of my alltime favorite coaches just because he was so entertaining and his football abilities were unquestioned. I was 5' away when he ate that worm (not a nightcrawler) after beating Lenoir City at LC. But politics didn't get him. Getting mad at a tight end for dropping a pass, grabbing him by the facemask 10' from the sidelines and shaking it violently was the last straw for the school's administration. You just can't do that.

Actually, you really need to hit the sports drinks and limit the water intake. The latest studies are real clear on this issue.

Nick is doing OK. He still walks with a limp. I know that the fall will be hard on him; he truly loves the game of football. Still, the best thing about this whole ordeal is how Nick has dealt with it. He has maintained his sense of humor and his drive to get better throughout. As the article stated, he has already graduated at Clemson but is staying there to get his MBA. On the day he gets his MBA (August 7, 2004), he will marry Regina Sentell. He then hopes to enter law school. I don't know about you, but he is definitely the kind of person that I would want as my lawyer!

I remember the Chattanooga Central call. It was bad. I've always thought that the worst GAME called was Heritage at Halls when Halls won the state (wasn't it 1987?). That game was over but the officials handed it on a silver platter to the homestanding Halls team. The problem I see with officials has little to do with competence. When you cross that river (into Knox County), you're generally gonna get screwed. Those folks resent what we've got over here in Blount County and the fact that teams over here in a "rural" county generally dominate Knox County teams. And don't even get me started on that Anderson County officials association. They are the most blatantly "Homer" group you'll ever see. But then our kids come home and the Blount County officials association is so concerned with being totally fair that they will bend over backwards to accomodate our visitors. The bottom line is that the Blount County kids come out on the short end much of the time. You folks may think it is bad here (OK, I do agree with some of what you've said--but I'm too politically correct to name names), but our Blount County Association is a heck of a lot better than what you'll find most places. Now as for Mike Stuart calling clipping on Toki McCray in 1997...... <_<

5th quarter at Monte Vista? If it's in the last 20, I had to be there. This one has got me. Who are you Susie? I'm not sure a non-native can figure this one out. The mission continues.

OK. I've got to figure this one out. It seems that Susie has dated half of Blount County. Not being a native, I'm pretty sure we've not dated, have we Susie? (Although I'm still not convinced of your gender.) Anyway, sometime in between taking care of Blount County's finest, I will have to scan old posts from Susie. I'm a man on a mission! By the way, on my screen, my name appears at the bottom. No big problem; I'm pretty easy to figure out anyway. But are others seeing my real name on their screens? As for C.J. and Jimmy: I agree that everyone needs fans such as those. I greatly admire the kind of person both of them have made of themselves. Jimmy is definitely an overachiever. And C.J., I just wish I could teach these kids to look you in the eye and provide a firm handshake like C.J. does. But as for being a hottie....sure C.J. looks better after the haircut and shave but he still isn't my type.