rabidwildcatfan

Not all of us got mad. Especially not TNBreakers. He just likes to have fun. There seem to be a lot of similarities between this year and 1991. One difference for you Brandon100 is that Brentwood Academy is not there! I believe the similarities will continue . . . Oak Ridge 30 Ravenwood 0 Spencer Gulmire, Player of the Game, and may even throw a touchdown like Summers!

For all of you, Never said a discouraging word about Lussier, although I am curious if any of you know his opinion of Gray at the end of his coaching tenure? I have heard rumors, but would like for the "experts" to weigh in. I believe that Lussier is both a fine man and an excellent coach. I would agree that he and Stanton talked, but Stanton is his own man, as are the other coaches, and they decided who would play where. I would also agree that he is happy for the current Oak Ridge team. I don't think that Gray is happy for this team or the coaches, only bitter. Again, Gray could post huge numbers against many weaker teams, but Oak Ridge did not get a lot better from the start of the year through the end of the year, nor did they do a lot of different things from year to year. As Nick Orlando pointed out, Oak Ridge became a Wing-T team and stayed with it regardless of personnel. Out of curiousity, did Bearden run the Wing-T this year? You can make all your assertions about all the talent on this team to try to take away from the job th e coaches did this year, but I would say there was just as much or more talent in 2003 (remember Gulmire and Booker were both there). Also, for all you people that love pointing out all the stats compiled by Gray's players, McMahon, the all-time passing leader, was there. Oak Ridge did not score well against a young Murfreesboro team that most people correctly considered being a year away from being dominant. There was some new blood on the offensive coaching side in 2004 that I believe had a positive effect on the gameplan for Riverdale. Compare the playcalling between the Riverdale games in 2003 and 2004, or any game prior to 2004, before you just dismiss this. By the way, I have had one on one conversations with Gray, although it has been awhile. I have also had one on one conversations with other coaches. I will in fact tell you that Coach Stevens had a good laugh out of the thought of Gray and Lussier picking his starters. Now, three questions to all you Gray supporters. First, are you just bitter that he didn't get the head job? Second, if Gray was still going to be the offensive coordinator at Oak Ridge why would he go to Bearden for the same position? I would love to hear how this can be considered a positive career move. Finally, what is Coach Stevens and his staff going to have to do to make you realize that they have put their mark on this year's team? I honestly believe that most of you are not willing to give this staff any of the credit, but are more than ready to put blame on them should things not go well. Bottom line is this team is in the State Championship, despite all the controversy and upheaval surrounding the coaching change, despite putting in a new offensive and defensive system, despite having a first year quarterback that missed spring practice because of injury and wasn't chosen (no matter what some of you might believe) to be the starter until a few weeks before the season began. As I said to start the post, CONGRATULATIONS COACHES! Let's finish the deal!

For the person that was curious if I was just a Gray basher, I would reply as follows: 1. He did not change his offense to suit his players. He ran the Wing-T no matter what. He might have mixed in a little bit of other formations, but not very often. And to answer your next question, I don't have a problem with the Wing-T, because it is hard to argue with the success Concord DeLaSalle had running it. Unfortunately in Oak Ridge, we haven't had quite the athletes that Concord had. 2. He did not look to getting better, but merely posting stats and numbers against weaker teams. Playing weaker teams is the time to work on the things you will need down the road. I believe the staff has done a better job of doing that this year. When Gray was the offensive coordinator, we would keep running the same basic plays against weaker competition. Sure, you are going to put up big numbers, but you lose the chance to work on the things that you will have to do against a good team when your basic plays are shut down. 3. His passing game was based almost exclusively on rollouts or very quick short throws. Certainly there was a place for this in the offense and it remains in the offense now. However, a well coached team can stop this. Go look at the film from 1999 OR vs. Sevier County. Sevier County covered the guards and came hard off the end. Oak Ridge could not get passes off all night. This was despite the fact that the Thomas kid that played receiver for OR was getting behind the DB's. Had Oak Ridge had the straight dropback game for downfield in place, which could have been worked on in some of the blowouts, it may have been a different ballgame. And please do not try to convince me that Adrian Porter was not a good enough athlete to learn to take a three step drop and throw the fade pattern, I won't believe it. If you want to cite the Riverdale game from last year as his offensive explosion, I would suggest you look at the similarities with some of the things Oak Ridge does this year and figure out the common denominator as far as coaches go on the offensive side. 4. If you want to get into stats, no first year starting QB has had the statistics that Gulmire had this year. You can attribute that to many things, talent around him included, but others have had just as much around them and not produced how Gulmire has in their first year starting at QB. I believe this is in part due to the coaches using the whole field on passing plays, rather than cutting it in half by rolling out all the time. 5. I have no doubt that Coach Gray would have been a disruptive force with this team. I can even understand why, given his disappointment at not getting the head coaching job. Gray probably was liked by many players, and I am sure he can be a positive force in some ways. However, I think that Oak Ridge is better off without him. As for all the predictions about head coaching jobs and state championships for Gray, a head job might happen, but I would bet the house against a state championship.

Are you insane? You are going to post that the current coaches did not decide who to start? This has to be the silliest assertion I have ever seen. Did Lussier just leave a lineup card for Coach Stevens when he left? Get real.

If there is any comment that I made that you want to dispute, then I would be glad to discuss it. If you just want to call names, there is no discussion to be had.

I wanted to be the first person to congratulate the Oak Ridge High School Football Staff for a tremendous year. As I am sure many of you know, the coaching search was rife with controversy. There was immediate turmoil on the remaining staff, due mainly to Ron Gray and his actions, but the staff brought it together and have done as good a job as anyone could have hoped for to this point. First, the move to demote Ron Gray, if he chose to stay, was genius. It basically forced Coach Gray to leave the coaching staff, where he would have been a completely disruptive presence, due to his feelings over the coaching search. Second, the ultimate decision to play C. Gulmire at quarterback has been fantastic. Revel Coffey is a superb athlete; however, having him at wideout makes this team very similar to the 1991 team at the skill positions. Teams are faced with the decision to man up the receivers in order to play eight in the box or play seven in the box and get mashed by Spencer Gulmire. To Revel's credit, he has gone out been a leader, played his butt off, and been the game breaker at receiver that Oak Ridge needed. Third, the offensive scheme and playcalling have been much better than in years past. During the Ron Gray era, Oak Ridge cut the field in half in the passing game because almost all passes were thrown on rollouts. This was predictable and much easier to stop than Oak Ridge's current passing scheme. Although Sevier County was a great team in 1999, it was painfully obvious that they were honed in on the rollout game, which was great coaching on their part. Oak Ridge could not adjust and go to a dropback game, despite being able to get behind the DB's of Sevier County because Oak Ridge had not worked on it all year. This brings me to my next point. Fourth, this team from the start of the year seemed to be focused on getting better for later games, rather than running up the score (although we just couldn't help it against Clinton). This was a trait that was lacking under the previous offensive coordinator. Sure Oak Ridge blew out lots of teams, scored lots of points, and had some individuals that put up huge numbers. However, there was a sacrifice of not working on the things that were not as easy to execute, but that would be needed down the stretch for tougher games. Staying focused on the big picture is tremendously impressive from such a young staff. Finally, I would like to take my hat off to the head man. Coach Stevens was well aware of the circus that had been the hiring process. He held his head up high and showed nothing but class and dignity. Also, if we are to be honest, Coach Stevens has the added pressure of being young and African-American. Many people out there were probably hoping that he would not succeed, which is disgraceful. Despite all of this, he has not just succeeded he has thrived. No matter what happens Saturday (hopefully a Wildcat win), the coaching staff deserves a lot of credit and respect for the job they have done. Go Cats! Let's finish the deal.

What exactly did Warren do to get suspended? All I saw was a newsclip of him spinning the ball after a catch. I would think that there was more. Can anyone enlighten me?

From what I have been told, both Ravenwood's QB and RB are dangerous runners. They do run the spread, so maybe not a power running team, but they can run. Also, don't assume that spreading people out is just to throw. By spreading people out, you have less people in the box and more room to run. Sometimes the best way to "block" someone is to spread out and just move them out of the play by formation.

Gaston played some DB against Oak Ridge. He played some corner after #14 (I think that was the number) got run over by Spencer and sat out a few plays. He fell and was beaten for Oak Ridge's second touchdown. I'm sure he had many better days on defense during the season. Oak Ridge reserved Spencer for defense whenever Riverdale crossed the 50 yard line, and he had a large impact during that time.

Good post Riverdaleman. I did not mean to blast Gaston. He is a very talented kid and should have been used more early in the game in my opinion. I was just frustrated that lots of people seem to be quoting just the stats of Friday's game to say Gaston is better than Spencer. This misses a lot of value of the yards gained and ignores the defensive side of the ball. Either player is deserving, and both are very impressive athletes who showed nothing but class on Friday. Good luck to Gaston and all the Riverdale players in the future.

Quit being so nice! It confuses me! Let's hope the similarities to 1991 continue. In 1991, Shawn Summers and Oak Ridge beat Central lead by Todd Helton in the state semi-finals (probably the best HS game I've seen). Todd Helton won Mr. Football the Monday after the game. Oak Ridge beat Gallatin 30-0. I'm sure Spencer could live with history repeating itself. Go CATS!

Shaun Bohannon was the best athlete on this list, but might have had the least heart and leadership. Also, for his size ran with little power. You put Summers or Gulmires desire, heart, and leadership in that body, and we would be seeing him on Sundays. Corey Booker was a great player, but again was not a leader. He also broke many long runs, but was often shut down in Oak Ridge's bigger games. Eric Menefee was very good. Played on a team that was loaded and may have had a State Championship, if not for an injury at Jefferson County. Shawn Williams is the most underrated. Huge heart. Would play his guts out for you. Also could have been an all-state defensive player if given the chance. There have been few if any as quick as Shawn off the ball. What separates Gulmire and Summers from everyone else is simple: heart and leadership. If you had to have one yard late in the game, these two guys get the nod. Their equally humble nature means that when either actually speaks, their teammates take notice. Which one would I take? I couldn't make that call. Would rather have both and make Shawn an option quarterback (check the stats from 1990 Anderson County game) with Spencer toting the rock. You would also have two great linebackers for defense. Finally, Shawn and Spencer both care about nothing more than winning. Not stats, awards or all the other hype, just the wins. That's why they play(ed) the game the way it should be (unlike Brandon Warren - for you OR nole)!

Statistics can be very misleading. Gaston is a great player, but many of his yards against Oak Ridge were meaniongless. On the last play of the first half, he gained at least twenty yards that meant nothing but stats. He had similar gains after the game was 17-0 for Oak Ridge. However, Spencer shares in some of the credit for the success in the passing game. I don't think Riverdale had 9 men up to stop the fullback trap. Did you also notice that anytime Gaston and Riverdale had something going on offense Spencer would come in, and the drive ended. How did Gaston do on defense, other than getting roasted for a touchdown? As far as I can tell, it is the best back. If you include defense, it isn't even close. All that being said, I know Spencer well enough to know that he is playing for the trophy he cares the most about on Saturday. Go Cats!

Clinton fans are the undisputed fans of one thing . . . talking trash. Their fans made bold predicitions about the boys and girls, but both are out in the first round of the region. When things don't work out as predicted (which is always) the Clinton fans start to work at the other thing they are good at . . . finger pointing. Coaches, refs, transfers, it has to be somebody other than the players they have, because they are world beaters. Get a clue! The coaches at Clinton are bad, but there is not a lot of talent on these teams.

Franky, The trash talking on this thread was started by a Clinton fan. Look at the title of the thread and the first post. I don't understand why a Clinton girl's fan would trash talk about Oak Ridge, because it is just opening up for humiliation. You are right the average fan does cheer more for the boy's game, but how much junk would Oak Ridge fans hear if your girls could actually beat them just once this year? Is Lee still on pace to play after Christmas? What about Blake Sharp? Look for you at the next game.