boorelly

This goes to show the mindset of "a" Lavergne fan. He wants to get a coach back who is known for making the playoffs versus a coach who has been to the big dance twice and won it once. Stevens will do well there if supported. He is a hard worker and will try to put his team in the best position to win. Do you think Lavergne's Oline could play power football in that region? Maybe by spreading it it gives them the opportunity to play to the stregnth of the team. I can remember the Oak Ridge fans begging for Stevens to go. Now they see it may be the talent and not the coach? Question- When coach Thomas was coaching was the district the same?

Who do you think stood out at the combine. I heard they had kids from Memphis and Nashville there. I seen I think players from Chatt Howard at McDonald.

AE named new coach today. Robert Gillard last years Defensive Coordinator and close friend of Grahams. Talk in Oak Ridge is Graham got him to Knoxville by telling him he was only going to coach 1 or 2 more years and no more and it would be a perfect situation there. Thisis Gillard's second head coaching stint. He was the head coach at Sheffield High in Memphis. From what I understand after coaching in Memphis he is built for AE. He's been through it before. Tillman is staying too. Don't know if Gillard is keeping anyother coaches. Just know he coached Al Wilson and Daniel Brooks.

I don't know if AE community would want a white coach or not. But AE, Brainerd, and Howard are the only opportunities for a minority coach to get a job in East Tennessee. Not saying that it is fair or right but until the hiring pot has more variety I doubt the powers that be would not let that happen without seriously looking at a minority first. AE has had white coaches, but are those coaches willing to live in the neighborhood with their players, attend their churches and community functions, be able to deal with the social cues in that environment. Like I said AE football is bigger than just on the field. That what i have to give Graham credit for. He made it bigger than the field.

I don't know who your son was but sound like he spent a lot of time with Bragg. I just learned Bragg class was for students who needed to recover a class because they flunked. I really didn't get a chance to know Bragg. Met him at a combine. He seems to be a good dude. Graham thinks highly of him. Graham did not leave for money. He had a time frame to move on. He told his coaches that this upcoming year would be his last year at Austin East but this this opportunity came up. I know he wanted Gillard there to takeover for him after he left. He felt like Gillard's experience with the environment would make him a perfect fit. Gillard was head coach at Sheffield in Memphis. He coached at several colleges and was D coordinator at Memphis Ridgeway in 2002 when they won the state. He was offered the JCM job in 2008 but too much mess in Jackson so he resigned the position and coached in Mississippi. Graham commented on Gillard knowing a lot of college coaches and the ability to get kids at the next level. Graham felt Tillman is ready to be a head coach also. He had been there with Stevens and Graham the whole time. He also said Bragg would be a good candidate. I told him about what I heard about Bragg being hot headed and Graham laughed and said, with that freshmen team they can make a lot of people hot headed. Graham doesn't think Bragg would leave the opportunity hehas to come to AE. He said Bragg can continue to improve his craft without the pressure to win now. It is better when the pressure to win is from yourself because you don't have a short timetable. AE can burn out a young coach if he lets it.

Kids want Coach Gillard or Tillman. They want to keep it the same as possible. Not just for football but Graham had it like a family there. They want it to stay in the family. Coach Bragg left the family and a lot of the kids said he wants to come back because of the talent but how long would he stay here. He just got to new school why would he leave. I don't know him just heard Graham comment on him. And I know they stay in touch with each other. Graham thought highly of Bragg and proud he is where he is. One of the coaches questions if Bragg could handle the fans without losing it. He said Bragg had a temper. Graham has been used to the pressure. That is something else a new coach has to consider. Eastside is very demanding without giving anything back. That is one reason why I think Stanton left. I pleaded with Graham not to take it too. They are just so negative there. Wouldn't doubt that was a factor in his leave also. But wouldn't it be great if Rankin could take it. But I don't think he would do as well. He likes to have total control and on the eastside it is just not going to happen.

I hear former Austin East coach Kwayu Graham is interested in that job. He has family that attended that school. He is also good friends with Laron Jennings who foundation works with kids in the Chattanooga area.

Does anyone know if Graham is still at AE? I hear he has already left to NC. When is AE going out for spring or did they cancel until new coach. I hear they were going to scrimmage Oak Ridge.

Austin East is not typical job. There are a lot that goes into coaching there. This year team has a bunch returning but what about 2 years down the road. There a lot of things not just on the football field that is needed there. That is why Graham was so important there for the last 10 years. If you ask the kids at that school and in that community he was very important to all of them not just football players. I know him personally and know of the committment and passion he had for all those kids over there. Even when Stevens, who I'm cool with too, was there it was Graham that was the face of the program in the community. If you think back to 2002 a lot of kids in the community started going to other schools. Graham was able to close the borders the last couple of years and keep the players. The new coach must be a staple in the community. I think new meat could be helpful, a fresh start always is but it has to be someone who is willing to spend some time there. Because from what I hear the teachers there have to work longer hours and more days. So you have to want to be there for more than football.

I hear the same thing. I hear Gillard and Tillman (another Oak Ridger) are applying. They have a lot returning and I know the kids are hoping for someone in house.

I hear the Austin East Head Coach Kwayu Graham is going with him. His son slipped out they may be moving but didn't know where. Don't know if this is true yet because he is out of town. He did not answer my call. I think it would be stupid of him to leave Austin East, they return everyone for the next two years. This year their offense was all underclassmen and only replacing 4 defensive players. They were mostly sophomores. I hope he stays at Austin East and reap the benefits of the work he has out in. I do know the only job he would give his head coaching job up for is to coach with Joe Gaddis. I do know that he was going to go to Paris a couple of years ago but an accident kept him here. I hope he stays at AE, that school needs him. But if coach Gaddis does get him he will get a good one. Great teacher of the game of football and life. Good luck to coach Gaddis.

I don't have a dog in the fight but can we say "Emerald Youth Program". I have relatives that will tell you that. We all know itbut if Fulton wasn't winning they wouldn't go. Graham said it best on the radio last year. "If Mexico had great industry, wealth, and prosperity there would be no border cotrol. To close your borders you have to win". That is the attitude he took at AE. He invested intheir little league program and isnow starting to keep his kids and get a few.

Why do think that? Were they discipline at Hillsboro or athletic as heck. Because I hear the latter. I guess winning brings about discipline. Was Joe Gaddis program discipline when he coached at Oak Ridge? Someone told me to ask that. Both questions I am not implying nothing. I am just debating with my buddy from Nashville and I just want to get some thought. I hear Oak Rige is having organized QB and WR throwing with the coaches. I don't know if that is legal or not. Once again I hear this. I don't really care because I hear everybody does it. But my buddy tells me. I think his son plays for Hunters lane and he is just jealous. Get back on top Cats. Cardinal and Grey is back to stay!!!!! Please beat Clinton. Stanton you my boy and all but darn you have to beat Clinton and Beat Farragut. Maybe you can go and help Graham out at AE, you did give him a shot. Lol

You want me to start naming some major arrest at Alcoa. Alcoa has a great program. Remember Ae did something to Catholic that Alcoa could not do with Maryville. Beat them when it counted. AE scrimmaged Alcoa a couple of years ago and I did not see a domination. I seen AE score the first two series an then when they subbed Alcoa hit summers on 3 bombs to score again. I bet you don't remember that. Also I watched AE come to Maryville in 2005 and tied them in a srimmage. Also the next year I watched AE go to Oak Ridge and tie MHS 2 to 2 in a 4 way. Jaren troutman threw two bombs. Anthony Anderson and several DB's did not even scrimmage that day. You all are going to be surprised about how good AE is. IF THEY ARE able to keep that freshmen class together (I hear Graham is cleaning house..no more Marshall incidents) you will definitely see. I always give Graham credit for taking in Brian Summers and handling his recruitment. Ask Brian what he thinks about AE and discipline at AE. Even a preacher child can make the wrong choices. Should we blame God our creator for the wrong choices we make. If not then don't blame the pogram. Image is what the media makes it. By the way go to Knox County schools web site and see which schools has the highest incidence report (stealing, insubordination, skipping, fighting, violent crime, and drugs) in Knox County. You will not find AE in the bottom three. But the media makes it major. " The gun incidence, the student told a teacher they had a gun on them for protection after school and the teacher told the principal. Also there was a shooting at AE. Well there was gunshot 2 blocks down on magnolia and a parent of an Ae students called it in. When the police asked where are you at she told them I am taking my daughter to school at AE. the report on news said "shooting at AE". I would love to see this game. But when I see a team in region 2 AAA that didn't make the playoffs beat the number 2 team in Alcoa's region, I have questions about how overly dominant they are. They are great program on a great run. Blount ocunty honestly ought of get credit for their programs. From the litlle league to high school. That county has set the bar high.

AE and Alcoa will be a great match up. AE does well against teams that are conventional. I formation with down hill running. The difference between AE and other teams you play is they can matchup on the outside defensively and load the box on you a lot like Fulton. Offensively you have to account for several players. One thing people don't talk about with Ae but is true (I heard a coach at Catholic say this) they have better special teams than in years past. They don't get returns on them but their great at blocking kicks and returning kicks. Their not as bad coached as a lot would tend to believe. Remember their head coach is a friend of mineso I 'm a little bias but if you ask coaches around they will tell you they do a goods job. They are now getting football saavy kids. Before they just had athletes that played football. Many of them not playing til high school. Ths is something a lot of people don't know about AE. It will be an adjustment for Alcoa more so than AE. They played as tough as a schedule as anyone. What I mean by this is Catholic is big, physical, well coached, and FAST. Anderson County is the same, Fulton well they can fly and difficult to figure out. AE coach believes in playing games early to get a pace for the playoffs. They are used to playing in big games. Besides the Maryville game how many games does Alcoa play with capacity crowds. I am asking because I don't know. AE plays at least 4 every year. So they are used to that atmosphere. Oh by the way back to discipline Brandon Warrren, Summers (who graduated from AE), what is Duck doing now. AE football team average ACT is 19.6. Go to the school and ask the guidance department. I didn't know this myself.

Let us all remember that these are kids we are talking about. Catholic and thier coaches need to be congratulated for thier efforts. No region 2-AAA team has won the state and finished undefeated. They were the first. In the last 8 years a region 2 AAA team has been in the championship winning 6 out of 8. I am out of town but no the pride of this region. They play each other tough but respected every team. I remember Graham on the pre-season show predicted Kingston to be the threat. Every coach have a lot of respect for Scott County. And Livingston Academy won it in 2005. Once again with are without those AE kids reality is KCHS are champs.

AE and Catholic have renewed their rivalry. From what I heard no one would play either. I think Catholic called AE and AE accepted. I hear Ae is playing Ooltewah and Mo East also. I told my buddy Graham was foolished playing a schedule like that. But Graham is big on preparing for playoff pace.

I heard AE has a tardy poilicy that if you are tardy to school or class 3 or more times it results in suspension. I think that is why he was suspended. i could be wrong. I did hear he was going to South Carolina for a football visit that weekend. Is it official he was suspended. Because of their popularity athletes to me are held at a higher standard at all schools. AE/Fulton both get talked about as far as that. I guess it easier to notice when they don't play and the negative they do, than the positve. Good luck Fulton and AE in the tourney.. bring it back to the east side.

I think all these guys do a good job. Ae probably has one of the best starting 5 in the area. The problem to me with them is the experience or lack of coming off the bench. They just don't have true basketball players with experience coming off the bench. Haven't seen Bearden but watcheed Oak hill on TV and they didn't look that impressive. Fundamentally sound but not overly dominating. Austin East did go to Arkansas over Crhistmas and beat some of the top teams in the south to win that tournament. I'm in east Texas now and it hit the news about them beating one of Louisiana's best teams. Don't know who will win but AE did beat Bearden a couple of years ago when no one gave them a chance. no pun intended. I heard the twins may commit in football to Prairie View A&M. Is this true.

AE DOES A GREAT JOB WITH RECRUITING. ONE OF THEIR TEAM RULES IS FOR ALL JUNIORS TO TAKE THEIR ACT TEST THEIR JUNIOR YEAR IN ORDER TO PLAY IN THE SPRING GAME. THEIR COACH MAKES THEM DO THIS REGARDLESS IF THEY ARE GOING TO BE RECRUITS ARE NOT. ALL KIDS ON THE PATH TO GO TO COLLEGE HE SUGGEST THEM TAKING IT UNTIL THE SCORE ABOVE A 19. ON SIGNING DAY IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE LAST TWO QB'S SCORED (TROUTMAN A 26 AND MONTGOMERY 23 ON ACT). D.J. ROBERTS SCORED A 23 FROM WHAT I HEAR. (BAY BAY IF READ THIS CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG BUT I THOUGHT YOU SAID A 23.) THE JONES TWINS ARE QUALIFIERS ALSO ALONG WITH JACOREY SMITH. HE ALSO MAKES THEM ALL TAKE THE ASVAB TEST FOR THE MILITARY, REGARDLESS IF THEY ARE GOING TO THE MILITARY OR NOT. AE HAS A ACT PREP CLASS THAT REALLY HELPS THEIR FOOTBALL PLAYERS MAKE QUALIFYING SCORES. RECRUITING I HEAR CHANCE MAY COMMITT TO UAB AND CHASE LIKES A PAC 10 SCHOOL, BOWLING GREEN OR MEMPHIS. WE DIDN'T GET COVERAGE OF EAST WEST GAME. WE USED TO GET TO SEE KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE BUT THEY MUST CUT THAT GAME. I DID HEAR FROM MY TENNESSEE HOMEBOYS THAT DJ ROBERTS GOT DEFENSIVE MVP IN THE ALL STAR GAME. I KNEW HIS DAD. HIS DAD WAS AN ALL AMERICAN AT CNC. WHERE IS THE BIG PLAYER FORM CATHOLIC GOING. I HEAR COACHES TALK A LOT ABOUT THE OTHER PLAYER FOR CATHOLIC #67. WHAT KIND OF YEAR DID COZART HAVE? I KNEW HIS MOM MOVED AND THOUGHT HE LEFT WITH HER. I READ ABOUT ANOTHER RB AT CATHOLIC SO DIDN'T THINK HE PLAYED. GRAHAM TALKS ABOUT A STUD FROM KINGSTON HOW BIG IS HE.

How did the QB from Powell do I read his name on line on the team. Think he is very under-rated. I got to see him this summer and on internet. He looked darn good. I told a coach at Texas Tech about him. Who is recruiting him. Good for DJ Roberts and Styles. I played against Robert's dad at Carson Newman and watched Styles father play at Knox Central. I watched AE play Catholic last year and Coulter #67 was a beast. I thought defensively he was better than Hood. I hear Hood became a beast at TE. That has to help his recruiting.

I was going to stay our of this but I couldn't. First of all congrats to KCHS for bringing it back to region 2 3A. As most of you know, I am a good friend of caoch Graham. He told me don't call the radio station and don't reply on no message boards and/ or blogs. I have to set the record straight though. Graham did not say the kids could play. At the time it was let out he said that he did not talk to the news sentinel. The only person he talked to was Channel 8 I think he said Phillips has called him. He teaches class until 2 pm. Then he had a department meeting afterwords. He couldn't have spoke to anyone until around 3 pm at great legnth, the story was already out he said those things. I talked to a beat writer (Smtihey)from the sentinel and said he said Graham did not say it and he said graham did not tell him that. Matter of fact Graham called him and asked him where did they get that. The truth is Graham met with the kids on Sunday. Anyone that knows him knows he has high character standards. That doesn't mean kids don't stray. Every Wednesday they do a character building class. Turtle your son knows this. Also Every Thursday morning at 6:30 am Graham and his coaches have Bible study. This man was very upset at the players in trouble. Talking to one of them they told me that after they won against Kingston Graham ended his after game speech saying the good Lord has blessed you, be thankful for your blessings, our team, coaches, community and school has been put down, but the good Lord has giving us another day together, don't forsake him. Celebrate this win but do it the righteous way and don't forsake him, do the right things in His eyes, don't forsake him. If any of you see any AE players I bet they will recite this to you verbatim. I had several tell me this after the game. Back to the decision. Graham told the kids (the 8 accussed) that he was very upset with them and he has to think about what he was going to do. He said he was going to call some of his friends and other coaches and ask for their opinion. But that the kids would be punished. The players at that time told Graham who actually out of the 8 did steal something. He told them if you were there you were wrong for not talking your bother out of it. He told them he will decide later. At that time the AD came to his office and fussed at the kids, he told them they will be allowed to play. He told Graham not to say anything abot the matter just this is not a school matte therefore he could not comment on it. (it would make more sense for him to say they were notplaying for the opponent to ease their mind and maybe not focus like they needed to.) He told Graham that his decision was for them to play because he doesn't want to jeapordize the remaining of the kids. He said he had already spoken with administration and they decided the kids could play. The kids were put on probation at school. They had to clean up the school before school and after school. They were not allowed to practice until all of the work was done. I asked Graham what his decsion was going to be, he said suspend the kids who actually admitted stealing something for the remaining of the season and sit the remaining players for the first half even though they did not steal anything. This was Monday night before it got out and before the Super made his decision. Graham did say that when first asked by a teacher he told them I don't know this is not a school matter, so I guess they can play but I don't know what is going to happen. The teacher told him it was on the news and he received an instant message. It was then Graham read that he said something he didn't say. I read all the blogs on the news sentinel and wanted to respond but I wanted to keep my word. Graham was at practice that Wednesday but was in meetings all day Wednesday dealing with the decision. Fact: In 2006 Graham suspended 17 players for making an F on their report cards and would not let anyone play until that F became a C. They lost to Webb, Kingston and held on in first round to beat Seymour. I know he would have stuck with his values in this situation. I always hear on these lines about coaches getting out coach, especailly black coaches. I read how M em Mitchell got outcoached. But when they win they have better athletes. Last year when AE beat KCHS it was all about them not having class for jumping up and down on the field but when they beat AE one of their players took the catholic flag and put it in the middle of the field at AE. When talking about AE look at their football players graduation rate, GPA, discipline hearings, etc. etc. Also ask Judge Irwin what he thinks about coach Graham's integrity. My nephew has been in trouble and Judge Irwin pulled some strings because he knows that coach graham has a way of getting kids to go down the right road. This man has got kids out of gangs, off drugs, wanting to graduate and go to school. Oak Ridgers who knew coach graham would agree with everything I am saying. As far as football he is one of the best around. I seen their little league program and for him to make a contender out of that fiasco, believe me he is a great coach. One thing I want you to now is because a team has a bunch of black players doesn't mean they are great athletes. If so Senegal, Ghana, and other African nations would win in the Olympics in every sport. Of course that doesn't happen. Remember not many of the inner city teams players can afford to go to football camps and go to private trainers. Give the kids at KCHS their credit as great athletes. Being a private school enables them to go and get athletes. No body complained before so why complain now. KCHS done a fine job this year. They are the first team to go undefeated and win the state in region 2 3A. All others had a loss or two so great job. Great teams are great no matter what classification they are. Catholic kids are used to winning period. They will compete next year. And so will AE. They have a great freshmen class (undefeated beat Oak Ridge, Catholic and Farragut freshmen by 2 or more touchdowns). KNowing Graham I know he would like to play KCHS again. 45-0 whew. Well San Antonio is great and I look forward to coming back to Tennessee in May. Hopefully we want have to deploy anywhere else in a while.

This is what I do know. AE WR/DB 6'5 Chase Jones rated one of the top DB's in the city will not be there. He is in Orlando playing in AAU National Championships. But tons of skills. They will be sound both offensively and defensively. They destroyed 5A Science Hill high school this spring. A lot of their players were not there due to track and having to work spring. I think they only had 30 players this spring. They have around 80. They are young but very athletic. Haven't been to practices but hear there is a lot of excitment there. Heard Fulton coach say that AE was loaded this year. Have 8 very good RB's this Good for AE and Harriman. AE gets to see physical wing T. Harriman gets to see a lot of team speed. Defensive front is very good.

I heard the same thing. I do know that if he had practice any days with Fulton without moving he will be ineligible. I doubt very seriously coach coatney would allow this. As far as AE remember Troutman sat out, summers didn't play and RB Jared Neal, Chi town, didn't play last year and Ae could have possiblygot him eligible (he was eligible for track). graham didn't push it because of what happened with troutman and illinois governing body is a lot different from the TSSAA. and it was just too many questions. The kid from Oak ridge mother moved to Knoxville where I think she had been working for a while. My neice attends her program. It was probably a gas thing for her to move back to Knoxville.

Great question. I wondered that myself. When the job first came open I thought Redmond would be one on the short list. I think he coaches or coordinates at either Brentwood Academy or MUS or MBA one of the big private schools. Never had head coaching experience. Alot of my coworkers thought it would be a former QB named Lorending. He coaches college ball and was a college coordinator. By the way what did Mike Caldwell take? I am the same age as everyone you named. i played against them in little league and most of them in midget ball. (We...Alice Bell beat them by the way)And I know they were all close. They played Football for Mr. Redmond, basketball for Mr Graham and baseball for mr. Lamuno. They always played together and were very close. Could be Stevens don't know. Didn't know him then. I got to know him at AE. Wouldn't think that was the reason because none of these guys came back at all. When I first moved back to this area and started working at the plant, I think Eric Thomas and Kwayu coached the midget program. I used to work with Graham's mom and I know they took their team to Florida. But the other guys seem to left and never really got involved with Oak Ridge program. Like I said Shawn Summers didn't sound to enthuised about OR football. He just said they turned their back. Don't really know what that meant. I did hear when Stevens asked Graham before if he could go back to Oak Ridge would he go with him... Graham said no. When I asked he said he wanted to be remembered as a player not a coach. Then he kind of laughed.