colonel

Braynt Gaylor. He has been there around six or seven years. Has been the Off. Coordinator for the last two years. He is from Oak Ridge and played high school ball at OR.

I've missed any word about the quarterback from Kingsport Dobyns Bennett, Duran Ferguson. Did he sign any where?

No offense, Rebel27, I was not trying to insult you. I was only asking if something had changed with their offers from Marshall and UT. I was not gigging you over something that you said was going to happen and it didn't. Usually if a kid commits very early like they did (asked by the coaching staff to verbally promise to join their program), they are usually going to be signed to some kind of a schlorship. I saw the news article were Fulmer showed up with a schlorship offer for Campbell. I am just curious what the situation is with that offer. Will it be a late signing. I am also curious about Defatta and his Marshall situation. Were they going to sign him to a schlorship or ask him to be a preferred walk-on (not a bad situation). Ian O'Conner punted for them last year and didn't do that bad. I also know that they have a kicker/punter, Marty Biagi (Shelbyville,KY), on some kind of schlorship. I have seen him punt and he is no push over. Just wanting to know some of the inside word, which you apparently seem to have.

What is the situation with Franklin's Campbell and Defetta. I read on here where they had commented to UT and Marshall respectfully. I have not seen anything in the media at this point where they were signed. Did something change?

This game was closer than the score reflects. AC poured it on very late. AC was very happy to just win and get out of there. Loudon always plays AC tough down there. AC may have been looking past them to some extent, but still they knew Loudon was dangerous. I hope Loudon can keep the same drive and intensity for the rest of the season. They have very good size and skill. Beyond that, focus and drive are everything.

I believe Captain Kerr said "Dive", "Dive, "Dive". Ten yards and cloud of dust. Cardin, Mounts, and Surface in the full house. Smash mouth football on the line. Colson is the trigger man. Folk music was the ryhm on 'D' (Chris Folk that is). Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe AC garnered over three hundred yards of rushing in the 37-7 win at Greenville. Outstanding job, AC.

Didn't John Gregory graduate. He didn't have the season last year that he should have had, but I believe he has potential at the college level with his punting. The kid at Clinton has the talent to be very good, but he will be taxed out with having to play both ways the entire game. I've seen the kid from Powell and he is good. I don't know his stats, but I remember him putting alot of points on the board last year. I believe Fillmore of Mo West is setting in the drivers seat. As a junior, he hit something like 12 out of 15 fieldgoals with a long of something in the mid 40's. The biggest point being his over-time game winning fieldgoal that put Mo West into the state Championship game. I've seen him up close and he is solid. Watch the kid at Halls. That is Ian O'conner's (Marshal U.) little brother. With kicking, it could be anybody. Watch for the sleepers.

The Ray Guy Kicking Academy at www.prokicker.com. Besides having Ray Guy himself, there are several local big names with this group. Jeff Hall (former UT all-american and all-time leading scorer), John Markum (Vanderbilts all-time leading scorer), Aaron Hunt (Clemsons all-time leading scorer and Oak Ridge HS grad), Gerald Robinson (Former MTSU All-American kicker and coach of former Hall's Mr. Football Ian O'Conner), and James Wilhoit (current tennessee placekicker). These are just a few. Great people and great instruction (individual specific instruction, they will not clone you). The cost is reasonable and about par with others. Locations are nation wide with Tennessee camps at Knoxville on April 17/18 and Murfreesboro (MTSU's kicking camp) on June 10/11. MTSU's camp is run by American Football Specialists (same group without Ray Guy). I am also told that the Colquitts are a possible for instructing in the Knoxville camp (held at Farragut High School). In the 70's, Ray changed the pro kicking game completely with over ten years punting for the Oakland Raiders (career 42 yard average). If a pure punter ever makes it into the NFL hall of fame, Ray will be the first. Ray was also accomplished as college placekicker with a 61 yard fieldgoal at the U. of Southern Mississippi Ray doesn't miss a camp that has his name on it and instructs the entire two days. THERE IS NO MAGIC, ONLY HARD WORK. www.prokicker.com

Fulton had better find a kicker. If they play a close game next week, the advantage by far will be with Macon.

A friend of mine has a son who long snaps for Anderson County, Danny Bowie. He is a senior and has snapped since he was a sophmore. He has deep snapped this entire year at fifteen yards with times that average between .55 to .7 seconds (snap to punters hands). Also very consistent. He is considering walking on and specializing at a I-AA school which has the degree program he wants for a major. He is one of the best I seen and should be somebody's special teams anchor in a couple of years.

Mav10, I was told Tony lambert was strongly encouraged to apply for the Scott job a few years ago. He did not apply. Why? I don't know for sure. TL loves AC, but I'm sure he really loves SC due to it being his home. Sometimes home isn't the best place to work. Don't use the fact that he lives in SC against him like some held it against Clintons former head coach, KC (who is a good man). TL is a winner whom the players and community love. He walks the halls and practice fields daily, stoking the fire.

Josh Kerr applied for a graduate assistant position at LSU. It was not a full assistant coaching position. I am not sure if it was actually offered, but when the position came open in the AC schools (and it was offered), he took it. I believe he wanted to coach along side his dad and just to stay close to home. Some think LK is hanging on to groom Josh for the head coachingposition. I've been told by one very close that Josh doesn't want to take over for his dad for it would look like he didn't earn it. T. Lambert will be a great head man when LK is done. That is if he doesn't get stolen away by a school that makes it hard to turn down. TL likes AC. The football team has an excellent booster club (AC quarterback club). Alot of this nice equipmemt is purchased by them (not sure if that includes uniforms or not). These people for what ever reason choose to support the football program. It is my understand that the money taken at the gate on friday night ballgames goes to support all athletic programs at the school (again, it's 'my' understanding). The two people over the quarterback club are two very smart, honest, and hard working people that do for the love of it (they don't have kids currently playing at AC). They are excellent organizers and managers of the money they raise and spend on the program. It is my understanding that the players get their warmups from selling Maverick cards (discount cards to area merchants) during the preseason. That is if they sell a certain number of the cards they are given, they get these nice items (again this is 'my' understanding of how these things happen).

CD (or Redzone), I was thinking that you were about my age in school. If you remember Barrett and I came down and worked the '89 MTSU kicking camp with Rick Sang (I also think I remember Ohio States Pat O'morrow coming with us). I remember meeting you and JL there. Email me at colonel2304@yahoo.com, I'd like to hear how you've been doing and find out where Lisle is these days. JC

Hey Redzone, I also kicked in the OVC around that time. If you don't mind me asking, are your initals CD, JL, MC, or GP. MY guess is MC due to you saying you were a soph at the time we had to go to the ground. It would have been my senior year. My college roommate, B. Barrett (a punter), became good friends with the place-kicker MTSU had about that time. Boots thought B actually attended classes in the Murf and played for the colonels on the weekends. You him.

bloodscanner, give me a yell at colonel2304@yahoo.com.

I AM ME, I instructed in the camp that John attended. I instruct in many of the Ray Guy camps as a punting/placekicking specialist. I am not the real John Gregory.

If you are refering to John Gregory, punting is his strength. It's my belief that he just tries to fill the need at placekicker. Part because his team needs it and part because he enjoys it. John did attend the Augusta, GA Ray Guy camp last winter. He did very well at his punting and was probably the best amoung several kids who had already signed scholarships. His placekicking was average and I say that with no disrespect. At one point, I remember the starting punter for the Univ. of Arizona telling him to drop the placekicking for he was that good at punting. You'll see him at the next level if he chooses to pursue it. Keep those eyes down, ooltewah.

If you are looking for instruction in ET only, the two camps around Knox I am aware of are UT's summer camp and American Football Specicalist's spring mini camp. At the UT camp, I am told that Craig Colquitt and Faud Reveiz direct the kicking part of the camp. I don't know how effective the camp is due to the large number of campers, but Craig and Faud are legends. AFS is the group that directs former Oakland Raider great Ray Guy's summer and winter camps. The mini-camp is in April and it lasts only one day (all day). Jeff Hall and Gerald Robinson (Ian O'Conner's kicking coach) were present this past spring. After this you have to travel. Ray Guy's summer and winter camps are nation wide with the closest ones being in Murfreesboro and Richmond , KY (Eastern Kentucky Univ.). There are others groups as well, just do a search for kicking instruction. Shoes for soccer style kickers and punters. If you just kick, a good plain leather soccer shoe will do fine. Most the popular model I've guys use is the adidas Copa. Very soft leather that molds to your foot like a driving glove. Buy it about a half size to a full size down from your street shoe. If you play multiple positions, you want a good dual purpose shoe. I see the most guys playing offense and defense, then kick in Nike Speed TD's. It is a football shoe with slightly longer cleats and the one cleat at the tip of the shoe (soccer cleats don't have this cleat). Obviously you'll want them to be low cut for good toe depression. For straight on guys, there are only a few models. AFS sells stryder kicking shoes. They have been around forever (I believe Ray Guy used them back in the day). Ray Pelfrey has some that are of the most recent design (Get ready to pay for them). Check out following sites: www.prokicker.com and www.pelfreykickingcamps.com. I have been through both and believe each has it's own positive points.

Splainshornet, You better watch what you say for your credibility is slipping. AC doesn't have it's own officials. You might be just saying that to dis AC, but I am going to say it the way I understand it to really be (as I was advised by an actual high school football ref). The officials are randomly assigned each week to different games by a central body, which I believe is in Knoxville. The refs aren't assigned in the same group, but as individuals. It's my understanding that each ref can accept the assignment or pass to do none. I don't believe they can trade out. I know one ref that does one to two AC games a year and off the field he says he'll toss AC's LK in a heartbeat. I'll respect anybody's opinion, but they better stay credibile.

Since the topic of fans was brought up, did anyone care to notice the two fulton fans/students climbing on the west goalpost pad and doing a humping motion on the pad. Also some field equipment was damaged on the practice field between the stadium and the west parking lot (no vehicle impact marks were present). It was fine and intact at halftime. Don't know if this was Fulton people or not, but remembering the damage the fulton players did to the AC school two years ago makes me suspicious. On friday night, fulton was the better team in every faze except special teams. The Fulton team deserved the win as did their fans. However, the above actions were classless and vile.

Spartawarrior, Have faith and believe. Dickie will have them playing to win.

Bighurt, What about a RB/DB/Back-up QB (helped win 3 or 4 games last year starting at QB), and WR that also kicks and punts. Over 500 yds rushing last year, several touchdowns (rushed, received, and thrown), long fieldgoal of 45 yards last year (2 out of 3 fg sharing time with a senior kicker), around 50% of his kick-offs go into the endzone, punted for about a 36-37 yard average (only four games, but the net average was very close to that as well). He is also a big hitter with 4.5 forty speed. I have not seen a "utility" player better so far (I'm sure there are some out there, but I've have not seen them yet). Sean Mounts, Anderson County.

Boorlly, let me correct the rumor you heard just in case it somehow "gets out". Sanders had a very common surgery to the area just below his back. Apparently the healing of the area took longer than expected due to a problem with the sutures. He has since been released (as I am told) and will be ready for fall practice (not sure about the passing league). With 4.5 speed, steroids would do him more harm than good.

Does anybody know if they scrimmaged anyone this spring?

I am mostly familiar with the knoxville area. Look for the kid at Karns (can't remember name, but kicked 56 yard field goal last season), chris yarlett at maryville, Bearden will have another good one (can't remember name, but has picked it up the colquitts), oak ridge's austin keathley, drew mcmillan at kingston, sean mounts at anderson county, and maybe a younger o'conner at halls. Not too familiar with middle tennessee, but brentwood high has a good senior and an underclassman coming up. Franklin apparently has a duo. Don't know anything about west tennessee, but a kid named john kermit laughrey at Mckenzie. Just a freshman last year, but proved that he is cool in the post season oven. Not the complete list for I am sure I forgot some and there will always be some sleepers.