osunut2

Why does it seem like all of these district 3-AAA threads are getting so far out of hand?? First we had to close and reopen the Powell thread, now this one is heading down that same road. Someone always has to have the final word it seems. Why don't we just get back to the topic at hand??

Let's try and pick up where we left off in the previous thread, excluding the meaningless drivel. I'm still curious to know about tailback DeShawn Mobley. Is he going to play this season?

I think it's pretty safe to say that we've all conceded that you know a lot more than any of us, in regards to the kids that play middle/high school football in North Knox County. I'm betting that you probably know more about pee-wee/grasshopper football than we do too.

Is it just me, or does it sound like Cat could tell us the entire life story of each one of these kids (who their parents are, where they live(d), who their favorite rock band is, etc). That's a little bit creepy...

Ditto. This back and forth was entertaining at first, but now, the dead horse has been beaten into a bloody pulp.

Cat, who won the freshmen game between Powell and Central last year? I didn't go and I don't really follow freshmen ball, but I'm just wondering if that "classless trash talk" motivated those kids that day. Also, I was wondering if you happened to know what a syzygy is. I couldn't tell you who those starters were, but I can tell you everything you could ever want to know about the B&W mPower nuclear reactor that TVA plans to build at the mothballed Clinch River Breeder Reactor site, if that's any consolation.

Wow, I don't know if I've ever seen someone ruffle your feathers this much, HTV. I think he might look at you a lot differently if he actually knew who you were. Oh well, thank goodness for the anonymity of these message boards. By the way, who actually won that freshmen game between Powell and Central last season?

I too am curious to hear some predictions, since I don't really have any insider information. Powell has made the playoffs every year since 2001, and on a few of those occasions, they were not expected to even compete for a playoff spot. However, I've learned never to count this team out, especially with the current coaching staff in place; last year, the 2-platoon system really did it's job, as evident in the game against Clinton last October. Is there any news on DeShawn Mobley? I know that there was a question about his eligibility earlier in the spring.

Central has always been a solid football power, and I respect the work that Coach Helton has done over the years. There is a reason why Central and Maryville met so often in the playoffs during that period, no one will argue that. However, to say that Powell is completely classless and that Central is not ("we dont allow our players to [trash talk]"), I just don't buy it. From what you've said, I'm guessing that you only see Powell from the sideline once a season, so how can you infer that these guys are classless based on one single incident that you witnessed? Matt Lowe is a very animated coach, and a lot of non-Powell fans have criticized his uber-enthusiasm. I look at it this way - if his kids are keeping their noses clean, getting good grades (that's an issue on every team), and his attitude is motivating his players, I see nothing wrong with it. You are right, this is a sports forum (not an academic board), and I only mentioned my graduation date because you thought that I didn't have a dog in this fight. For the record, I'm a huge sports enthusiast, but if you aren't educated, speaking aloud on a sports forum such as this will make you sound like a fool. I was simply trying to point out that one incident of trash talking shouldn't throw an entire team under the "classless bus." There will always be fans and players on every team who feel the need to talk, and surely Central isn't any different from Powell, Halls, etc, in that regard.

I can't speak for HTV, but I graduated as Salutatorian from Powell in 2001. Powell has only missed the playoffs 3 times since 1990, and those three times were during my time as a student while Clark Duncan was coaching there. Central was at the end of a "rebuilding" period then, having missed the playoffs 3 straight years, until my sophomore year of high school when they made the playoffs in 1998 (the first time since 1994). For the record, I no longer live in Powell, and I haven't lived there since I graduated, so I can't comment on the general attitude of the team or the town today (since I don't play for them and I don't have any kids that play there). However, I find it very hard to believe that they could be any more classless than Central, based on a single incident (if you want to call it that). Even though it's been roughly 10 years since I've been there, this just seems a lot like the pot calling the kettle black. Central wasn't exactly the class of the district then, and I doubt that it's any different now. I guess what I don't understand is why you want to bellyache about something that is so commonplace in football? I don't agree with trash talk, but it's hard to complain about it when the guilty party backs up the talk. Just ask Lane Kiffin what that feels like after September 19th. Sometimes it's best to do what Teddy Roosevelt said - "Speak softly and carry a big stick."

I hate to weigh in on catcall's meaningless dribble, but HTV is usually right on the money. Catcall, if you'd been around coacht longer than a couple of months, you'd probably have figured that one out before making a fool out of yourself. For the record, a quarterback walking across the field saying something like "I hope it is better than friday night" may be viewed by some as classless, but I think it's safe to say that we've all seen a lot worse on the field. If the shoe were on the other foot, there is a 99.9% chance that a Central player(s) would do a little trash talking himself. It definitely wouldn't be the first time, and I've definitely seen worse between those two teams (especially after Baron Huber and Lee Smith transferred to Powell). However, if that's something that will stick in your mind for 365 days and serve as a little extra motivation, use it.

Agreed. I don't think Maryville will have any trouble "adjusting."

Halls definitely has a challenging schedule this season (as does the majority of the teams in this district). Hardin Valley is a total unknown, and I don't really know how competitive they will be this season. The remaining 9 games could all go either way, considering how improved Campbell County was last season and the number of close games Karns had last year. I think this entire district is wide open, despite the talent that we'll see at Clinton this year. Clinton must avoid anointing themselves as the team to beat - "great" expectations can really hurt a team, especially when things start to go south.

Excellent point. Look at the Powell-Clinton game last year. Had Hazelhurst been healthy enough to play the entire game, the outcome would have been a lot different. When Clinton got behind early in the second half, they didn't have Hazelhurst available to earn those clutch yards. Darian Stone tried to do too much, and he clearly got frustrated in the 2nd half of the game.

I agree, Clinton's O-line was the clear weak spot on offense last year. Hazelhurst has the ability to make something out of nothing anytime he has the football, but in order for this team to really turn the corner, they have to protect Darian Stone.

You took the words right out of my mouth.

Stone was an excellent talent at QB last year (much improved versus 2007). After last year, everyone could see what he is capable of, once he got more experience under his belt. However, he still is very raw, just like Kier Houston was at Powell. If Stone can become more consistent and put those tools together, Clinton could win the district title. There doesn't appear to be a dominating force (on paper) in this new district, so a more consistent Stone would make Clinton very dangerous. I don't really know who will challenge them, although Halls, Powell, and Central all had good young teams last year, plus Anderson County should be solid again this year, so I would think that this will be a competitive district, regardless.

I agree, I think most expect Farragut and Bearden to move on, but I think the Powell-Bearden game will be a good one. I wouldn't be surprised if Powell came out on top. These teams should be fully-rested, so we should see the aces on the hill for all 4 of these teams.

Showers look pretty spotty today, so hopefully all 3 games will be played today. Tomorrow could be a wash though.

Showers look pretty spotty today, so hopefully all 4 games will be played today. Tomorrow could be a wash.

How is the 3-AAA tournament progressing, despite the weather? Any updates?

Good to hear that the planned end date is mid-July. That definitely gives them a buffer, just in case. HTV, as far as you know, is there going to be a stadium dedication or anything like that, once the stadium is completed?

If I understand correctly, the plan is to have the new stadium ready for the home opener, which is the last Friday of August. While that is still 3 and a half months away, is there any concern that it may not be ready by then?

Anyone willing to post a few pictures of the new stadium construction?

HTV, Is Knox County still planning to build new stadium seating at Powell for 2009?