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ftballmom22, Some advice hardearned. Do not limit choices, by any measure. Put his stats out to everyone, in every venue. Search the internet for some of the free sites where you can post info. But, most importantly, email, snail mail, or fax, every college at every level you can find. Very, very few players at any level in Tennessee can afford to be picky. That is if their priority is to play at the college level. Do not ignore all levels. Div II and Div III have no real athletic monies, but they have enough grants to put together some impressive packages if the player is good enough, and has good grades, and is active in church and community. All of those things are very important, maybe more so than the athletics. Some here will tell you that if a player is good enough, coaches will find him. I have one thing to say about that, BULL. Most schools don't have the time, money, or resources to find every viable recruit. Hint: conference websites have links to the individual schools, from there it is a hop and a skip to the coaches. Prepare a tape of FULL GAMES, they want to see the totality of play during a game, not just highlights. Prepare a resume, include all stats, not just lifting ability, speed and agility is just as important or more so for an incoming freshman. Recruit services are generally just going to do what you can do yourself with a little imagination, don't waste the money, use it to produce the film and mail it. How do I know this? My son had NO interest up to Dec, in a very few weeks I was able to get him the attention he needed and he had offers from schools in Ohio, New Jersey, Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, as well as Tennessee. All of them respected programs, and none of them had heard of him before my email campaign. He would not have had the opportunity if I had not done that. Plain and simple, start now, let coaches know he's out there, have the tape ready to send immediately upon request, don't eliminate any level. Does it really work? My son signed with Tusculum, (where he really wanted in the first place), and may well play in the fall. He also was able to turn down offers from schools with multiple national championships at their levels. Nothing like that for a confidence booster. Do it, it's not hard, and if you start now, you can really generate interest as you keep them updated on his progress in the fall. Good luck, and I sincerely hope he finds the school of his dreams.

C-N should be fine as always. Top competition in conference could be Tusculum again. TC's main strength this year should be the D, with a weakness in the O-line. So, both schools should be playing to the other's strength. Possibly a tie again?

Ron, The same thing could be said for Unaka and North Greene also. The schools are too small to have to split athletes that way. A good dynamic coach or support from the administration could solve alot of that. Unaka has a headstart in the coach. North Greene will have a new staff this year (still undetermined).

your right dlu what a poor choice. One of the top schools in the area academically, close to home, conference champs, top 25 in the country, NFL draftee this year, NFL scouts there for the last several years. Byrd really made a bad choice. By the way, that's sarcasm in case you are incapable of comprehending.

Moose, I don't think anyone has anything to worry about with North Greene, Unaka should be able to handle them well this year. Nearly did it last year. Cloudland should take it again, Unaka second, NG maybe third (depends on who the new coach is and what he brings), the rest a toss up. Just my opinion, but it looks as if the cream of 1A is still in Carter County.

Hey warrior, good to see ya! How's everyone in the Valley? I hope to get to see you all play at least once this year. Jordy hittin the weights? He should be a real monster on the field this year. Tell him sprints is where it's at, I happen to know that a local college that he might be interested in is requiring their OL to run the 110 in 20 sec. That is 8 of them with 75 sec between. He get's his stamina up there and I don't know if anyone in the area will compete. How about yourself? Everything going good?

You are correct, they are returning 2. I do know that at the spring game, Baugh outshined the lot. In fact, with the signing of Byrd (if he were to play the position) that gives them a total of 8 QB's. All of that is irrelevant if the OL doesn't perform though. I was told that the ball did alot of dribbling on it's way back to the QB during the game, not a good sign at all! Again you are correct. Mark will have an uphill battle. But, I've watched him at least once each of the last 4 years, and I've yet to see him miss stepping up to a challenge. He has a great head on his shoulders, and the most awesome body control I have ever seen on a young man his age. I think you will be pleasantly surprised, Mark is a great kid and a real asset to the team regardless of his contribution on the field.

who's it sponsored by?

You can bet this tickles me! It's gonna be nice cheering for Mark instead of hoping SOMEBODY can cut him off! Can't wait. I didn't get to watch the spring game, but I was told that OL is a big concern. Hopefully some of the 14 OL they signed this year will step up and make a difference. I guarantee that Cody Baugh, Cory Russell, et al will get the ball to Mark if they can just get the time. By the way, if you come down to see Mark play, just look for the biggest tailgatin' party going on, that'll be us!

I have spybot and popup blocker installed, and still have a popup now and again. Hey, technology is not perfect, it's easy enough to live with.

I've been keeping a eye out in the papers and the boards for news, just haven't been able to get the info! Kim Richardson has been doing some great stories on the Betsy Wrestlers, just waiting on one about my favorite! Hope everything goes great for you, him, and all the Cyclones!

Uh... Red.... The majority of the instate MD players are from predominantly white suburbs. Several from towns with "0" minorities (thanks to the Klan! Gaithersburg, and Eldersburg for example). Having been a student at U of Md., and at a couple of Tennessee universities, the student make-up is pretty close to the same. Now, I went to high school in La, my brother in Ga, the quality of athletes is not tremendously different. Coaching is different, community support is terrible here, and funding, well, did you notice that all of the revenue raising measures failed during the recent election? I guess you get what you pay for. I think perception is the biggest factor. Tennessee athletes are percieved to be inferior, therefore they aren't recruited; because they aren't recruited, they are inferior. Circular reasoning, and a self-fulfilling prophesy.

Yeah, Eric is on the way to Tusculum. I can't really say who the other is, papers aren't signed yet, don't want to jinx it ya know. But, he's a great kid! Glad to hear Byrd and Chrisman are in the game, any link to a list, kind of like to see who all is on it. Tell your brother we are all pulling for him down here, especially since we don't have to face him every year! All joking aside, I really do wish him the best.

Is Zack Potter at Elizabethton seeded?

We've had one sign with Tusculum, and one that will probably sign with Emory and Henry. Any word on that all star team?

Everyone asks about participation rates versus outcome of games. Numbers do count in football. North Greene was on the field at Knox Catholic this year (can't say it was really a game), they brought the biggest team they have had in years, 24. Knox Catholic dressed 66 (I counted), and every player played. By the time the second, and third, and fouth stringers made it into the game, NG's entire team had played and was exhausted facing countless fresh opponents. Yes, I know Knox Catholic is DII, but the schools are almost identical in population. I almost said size, but that brings alot more into it. The number of players on the field matter, period.

Tusculum signed Eric Collins 6-5 320 lb Offensive Lineman today. Eric is from North Greene in Greeneville. Nice to see a local guy getting a chance.

Red, Kids are kids, whether they are in GA or FL or TN. The difference is the coaching, support, and facilities. Not to mention perception. And before you ask, yes, I've seen them play in all 3 places as well as a few others.

I was looking at the roster and didn't see some names I fully expected. Then, following ELA's lead, I checked the full school list on the website. Hmm..... almost none of the 1A schools I expected to see, that might be why I didn't recognize any 1A players from my area on the team....

Pujo, I know things are in an uproar on the mountain, but man, what's going on with the landers? Any signees? Haven't been able to hear a thing down here in the flat land. That goes for the Rangers and Warriors too. All quiet here, need a football fix!

Man, I'm reduced to checking the local rags just to get a sniff of the ol pigskin..... isn't it spring practice time anywhere?!

I'll have to take you word on Lowe King, I didn't get to see him play in high school. Hopefully, I'll get to see him play at TC. I think TC's biggest need right now is at OL, but they are working to solve that one. Should see some "big" things in the next few days.

I think that Colclaugh getting the attention he has, and the demise of ETSU (yes I am ashamed to be a grad!) have alot to do with it. Frankie Debusk even said so in an interview last night. Of course, being nationally ranked, and a share of the SAC championship didn't hurt either!

Still waiting for the final word, it looks as if they have a total of 30 transfers, 21 signed, and 10 more to sign. Still looking for a few OL, DB, and specialty. Could be a sign of the future!

kingbrian Are all of these guys going to try to play QB? Unless I miss my count, that makes at least 7 on the roster, and I'm not sure what all the JC transfers are. Rumor has it that they have 22 JC players coming this year.