toejamwarrior

Amen brother

Dan Winfree

In my own personal opinion, I believe that celebrating in the endzone is taunting and is very unclassy. But when you get to the sidelines and want to dance and get the crowd pumped up, then feel free. Its not taunting the other team and its definitely not going to get flagged. My only conflict with that is that sometimes the players get to doing "vulgar" gestures when they get to celebrating on the sidelines. If youre going to celebrate, show some class and some respect for the people that came out and paid money to see you play. You probably wouldnt have those nice jerseys without that money.

No I did not play 1st base for the 71 Bears.

I'm not saying they don't have the want to anymore. A spectator made that comment to me. I believe they do have the want to. MJ's flaw is toughness. I've heard about their practices. Crawford won't let them go full speed tackle and rarely lets them go full pads during practice is the word. Tackling skills are not born in a player, they are achieved through tackling drills in which the player makes a FULL tackle. ( You know, the kind that happens in a real game). A kid can be tough as nails and still be a sorry tackler. If a team cannot tackle they cannot stop an offense. I know MJ has the want to. I can see it in their eyes when they come onto the field. Serious practice in which the players want to get better is what is needed for MJ. You can go through the motions all you want in practice, but when gametime rolls around, going through the motions WILL NOT cut it. You have to exhibit uncommon effort and unmatched will to win games. Something MJ has a great potential of achieving. But it's the players' choice whether they want to put forth the extra steam in a game. The best way top achieve that in my opinion is to practice it all week long and play like you practice. Want to is what MJ has. Do they have the will to go the extra mile? We'll find out when the dust settles and MJ finishes another season and begins preparing for the next.

The Freshman team at MJ is scarce to say the least. With possibly only 19 players, the freshman squad doesnt look hopeful. As for any varsity level talent at MJ, it has been there for years. The only problem is one person can't win games. It takes a team full of heart and talent to win games. I was told by a spectator that "Mount Juliet just doesn't have the 'want to' anymore". As far as talent that has been in the past and in the present I'll start with 2000 which had several talented players: Michael Bochette (R.I.P.), Landon Larson, Josh King, Charles Shannon, Trey O'Neal, Shane Lee (who is serving in the middle east as we speak), Adam Cates, Matt Johnson, and more from that year. As far as 2001 when the Bears had 27 players: Jason Sanders(but was injured throughout most of the season), Coche Tiger, Montez Greene, and a little man by the name of Heath Murphy (who had more heart than anyone I have seen play). 2002: By all means Curtis Grah, Zac White, Zach King, Davey Burke and Chance Weatherford. 2003: Most noticeably Chris Humes and Steven Whitehouse and that Simms character. So have the Bears had talent in the past? Yes. Does that answer your question?

I would have to say Hillsboros uniforms are pretty eye catching.

Mt. Juliet and Wilson Central is a hot rivalry between friends, former friends, and enemies. No doubt that both teams despise the other. Central, having 3 different head coaches in the 3 years of its existence, actually looks like the program has finally turned around. Central comes extremely close to breaking the lose streak and beating Cumb. Co. but alas, loses by 3. WC v Lebanon: Excellent game for Central. Central made the first strike going up 7-0 in the first quarter but late in the 2nd half while down 17-14 WCs QB fumbles in the endzone and Lebanon recovers for the TD to go up by 10. Now, in my theory, if WC had just taken the safety and not given up the touchdown, WC would have won this contest 21-19. But in all reality no one will ever know the outcome of this game if things had gone differently in the endzone. But none the less a much improved Central team thus far. Mt. Juliet after a successful season making it to the playoffs in 2000 going 7-4, goes 1-9 after the split of the county to go to Wilson Central. Only few months before spring practice is scheduled to begin for the upcoming season, highly respected coach Dan Winfree is fired for no particular reason from his coaching duties. Bring in David Crawford. Crawford who formerly was an assistant at Farragut High School in east TN and also at Maryville College brings in the no huddle (not the hurry up) offense. Seeking success far better than the previous year, the Golden Bears, after a couple of close defeats, go, yet again, 1-9. So for 2 years Mt. Juliet sees little, if any improvement in season record. The 2-18 MJHS opens up this year to a very stormy night against Shelbyville. Expecting a win, the Bears go down 21-0 early in the 1st quarter. After a brief stint of hope and cutting the lead to 7 Mt. Juliet eventually falls to Shelbyville 40-21. Now after a devastating defeat to Pearl-Cohn (34-7) the Golden Bears must hope for an extremely focused week of practice to prepare for Central. Central looking like the better team may very well break the old 0-22 streak this week at dear Elzie Patton Stadium in Mt. Juliet. However, Mt. Juliet, known for its ability to defeat Central in extreme conditions (27 players in 2001), may very well go to 3-20 for the past 3 years' seasons. The defining factor in this game will most definitely be WHO WANTS THE WIN MORE??? Will it be the Golden Bears of Mount Juliet or the Wildcats of Wilson Central? Any thoughts and predictions on this game?

Being the first team in TN to beat Beech, and about to be the first team to knock off Shelbyville in the playoffs.

I feel this will be a tough game for both teams.I know the Bears won't have Welch, but I know the rest of the team will step up in her place. I know nothing about Hillsboro, so I can't say mauch about them, but good luck to both teams. And in the sake of being a fan, GO BEARS!

During the MJ vs Columbia game this past week, Zoccola and Sparkman met. Sparkman was down on the ground after the hit and was out the rest of the first half.

Mount Juliet's is this Friday against Columbia.

Let's just let the kids at these schools play football and have fun. Isnt that what sports are about? To have fun? Or did everyone get caught up in all the glamour of fame and W-L records? I believe the most important thing for a student athlete is to have fun in what he is doing. I know my son is having fun at MJ, and he doesn't care who lines up against him, hes going to give his best and play hard. If they win, wonderful, but as long as they have fun, thats all these kids at MJ want to do. So I say we stop worrying about the county and the coaches they had, and start worrying about whether the kids are having fun in the program. Lets all just shut up about the old coaches, theyre gone, best of luck to them, but for the sake of these kids, let them play football. Go Bears!

AE-Fulton, who will win this battle?

Will Fulton be any good this year? I heard they beat South Doyle in the jamboree. Any thoughts on the Falcons?