boorelly

Yes they did have a combine. It was the same day as the combine at West High school. They had a bunch of kids out. Theycame from Roane County, Blount County, Anderson County Hamblen County, green County and a couple from area schools in Knoxville. Most of the kids from Knoxville were 08 graduates. Several colleges were there. I hear they have the results posted on a internet site. Perfomance training (AE personal training group) ran the event. Had some great 1 on 1 competitions. They did bench, broad jump, vertical jump, pro agiltiy, t agility, 40 yard dash (10 and 20 yard times were kept concurrently) , and 1 on 1 drill. great showing. Several kids got calls after the event.

Remember that game. It was on all the news stations. That was the year after the 1-9 season. Stevens 1st year. On TV they showed the 1 ref signaling incomplete and from the other side of the field the ref held up touchdown. Fom what i hear the player didn't have control of the ball in bounds. But you are right they gave them an extra down and extra timeout. Game should have been over. It was an uproar in Knoxville. I did catch the game the next year. That was Cory Anderson's debut. They put him in after halftime. His first play he jumped over the center and sacked the QB nearly seperating his shoulder. Harriman must have a special team this year. This probably will be Ae's best team since Stevens left. Their freshmen class is reported to be one of the best in AE history. Bold statement but we will see. Let me know what happens at this scrimmage. Kingston is one of my favorites this year in the region. I know you guys know a lot about them.

I think I heard that was true. I think a couple of kids from Oak Ridge came. I will call around and find out. i know AE is big on getting kids in school. Ask around also. I think they did have a combine a ouple of weeks ago. Not sure though.

Austin East is true. graham and Tapp wanted to get together (through one of HHS coach). I asked myself why would AE and Harriman scrimmage. Nothing against Harriman but AE is one of the top teams in the state in 3A why HHS. I mean I heard they beat 5A science hill 6 TD to 2 in a spring scrimmage and a lot of their skills wasn't there. Also the starting QB was not there and he is one of their main threats. When asked AE coach wants to prepare his team against the discpline of the wing T and for Harriman he wants to see his team defensively against a lot (I mean alot ) of team speed. AE players said they heard HHS was physical and coach wants them to learn to play assignment football. A coach said Graham wanted the scrimmage for film work and teaching tool before the season begins (they play Webb and Catholic in week 1 and 2). I think the coaches are doing it for developing their teams. If HHS competes well then it has to give them confidence going into the season. I am going to the Oak Ridge scrimmage that weekend unless it is on a saturday. I think this scrimmage is on the first saturday of August.

Kingsport and Ooletewah. I think these are game OR can win but will be tough. If they beat Kingsport I think they can run the tables in the regular season. But I do think they need a loss before the playoffs. With all the negative OR can't lose early to Fulton or DB. It will kill the morale for team and the city. The negativity will be crazy. My scenario for good post season is beat DB and maybe lose to 1 of region foes (either WB or OHS). Stevens history shows he sometimes needs to get refocus and a loss is a great way for this to happen. Finish 2nd in region. Get to host a playoff game and team is refocused in the playoffs. Can't lose to Farragut because don't want to have a loss before playoffs. Plus their farragut. Oak Ridge wannabees.

There still the team to beat. AE looks good and transfers are really going to help them.. You are going to hear about how good Catholic is and I am sure their great. Kingston is going to be hard to handle and AC is AC. They always put out a good product. But Fulton right now is the team to beat...especially in November!!!!!

One thing about it the games will be played. And I still only see 2 teams beating OR if that.returning QB(s) (both with experience). Line could be pretty good.They have some skill guys. I hope their coaching staff focuses on their season and not couch potatoes like US!!! Good luck Wildcats, Tornadoes, Roadrunners, Falcons, Rebels, and Cobras. Instead of coach bashing...most of it is personal and has nothing to do with coaching, how good will the wildcats be on defense. Last year their defense wasn't very good. Who will tote the mail next year. I think Stevens got Stephens happy last year like he did with Albert harris at AE. I know at AE he had several backs that could tote the mail but Harris gave him the big hitter. Stevens seems to get blinded by the big hitter. Stephens was a great RB (would call more of an athlete than an RB...Gulmire was a RB) he would make the big play but also cost you sometimes trying to get the extra or big play. Their WR are athletic. Very impressive and I think they all were coming back. Watched them play AE freshmen and JV and Alcoa freshmen in a jamboree I seen some potential. But I also hear they have some kids that may be ineligible. Please instead of coach bashing lets talk football.

race. Race is a true issue. As far as race I said as a black male in a leadership position I would not want to be a coach. My opinion.... black coaches are held at a higher standard. I'm not the only one to think this. Read Tony Dungy's book. ask Willie randolph. Ask John Thompson ask Richard Nolan, ask Dusty Baker, ask Ty Willingham, ask Art Shell, ask Sylvester Croom, ask Herman Edwards, ask coach Chaney, and the list goes on and on. Matter of fact I went to listen to the coach of the team in virginia ("remember the titans") he said he went through the exact same thing. go online and read it. Good thing they didn't have internet. But my statement was an opinion of mine. I will be the first to admit that Stevens seem to get complacent after getting to the championship. I admitted that lost ole dad was right in that the buck stop with the head coach. I will admit that the Clinton incident could and should have been handled differently. Black, white, hispanic, jewish, oriental or middle easterner doesn't matter. Wrong is wrong. But to say he isn't qualified and hasn't done a good job (maybe not great but how many high school coaches are) is wrong. Go and check winning percentages of the former Oak Ridge coaches. (including Hale) then check stevens. What other coach besides stevens has been to state more than once. The funny thing about this is the same things were said about every coach I mentioned before. Oak ridgers are known for research. Research this. I grew up hating Oak Ridge. They were smart, rich and good in everything. So I thought. Then I found out that there is a segment in the population that are past through the school system barely reading and writing but past through. This was before no child left behind. I thought oak Ridge was a liberal city (NOT POLITICALLY) and everybody got along.I never could figure out why Shawn Summers never came back. And when you talk to him he says they will turn your back on you. You ever wonder why Mike Caldwell is not involved with Oak Ridge. Where is Jamie Redmond and why didn't he apply for the head coaching job? Why didn't Graham come back or attempt to come back with Stanton.T hese guys are about my age and I played against them growing up. The truth is part of the reason Stanton is getting this is because he wasn't a lot of your first, second and/or third pick. And powers that be wasn't you this time. They picked what they thought was the best man for the job. After the third time around. How can a guy with his credentials not be the first pick. He coached in big games, he has won the state. Everybody talk about Coach Ranking at Alcoa but Fulton beat them. Stanton Steven only lost 3 X in 8 games to them. Anderson County beat Oak Ridge a couple of years ago. And that team was in Stevens region. Race is an issue whether we want to talk about it or not. I also don't like blacks, which I am, using the excuse of being black for why their not progressing in life. That is why it is a good thing about being a christian first then a man, then a father, then a husband, then a friend, then black. When I heard that Stevens went to a parent house to talk to the parent about keeping his kid on the team because he didn't want his son to play for him when he first got there, I thought that was stevens first mistake. Because when you let parents dictate your decisions you already gone wrong. Not a coach but I am a supervisor and know a little about leadership. I 'm tired once again I wrote a novel. I wish oak Ridge a good season. i think if they can get by DB and Ooltewah they may go undefeated. Playoffs anyone can win. Watch out for Clinton they could give the cats problems. If cats have good chemistry they could be good. They have both QB's returning which is a good thing. i hear their offense line could be good. Only problem I have with stevens is get an offense and stick with it. Don't change with the talent adjust with the talent. But get your identity on offense and keep it. (Heard that from coach Sparks at Carson Newman) It sometimes takes a couple of years as a coach to find out all the kinks but you will never find it out if you keep changing. One change I hope you get rid of entirely is the cards. Didn't see them in the games I went to this past year. Put them in the shed and don't bring them back out. I hope you see my comments as positive although argumentative thoughts. Also I want to apologize to coach gray. I made comments about hi mthat is undeserving. He is at Catholic I read and has nothing to do with Oak Ridge topics. I hear he is a great X an O coach (heard this from ....drum roll.... Coach Stevens). Good luck to the mighty Wildcats, Stevens and the city of Oak Ridge. Get the pride back. Talk about the football coach during basketball season but support him during football. good Luck...

That was a good one. /roflol.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":roflol:" border="0" alt="roflol.gif" />

Now let's talk about something more meaningful. How did spring practice go for the Wildcats.(pretend I added ? during edit for bounder please excuse the period at the end of the sentence).

You would know better than me. I do know they contacted graham again. I also know that Alcoa is having one also. That is why Graham called me, I left message about the one Alcoa was having on the 8/14th to see if Ae would come. He told me he is committed to Powell right now, but he will not have the same thing happen to him as last year. His freshmen coaches actually handle arrangements, but Graham is keeping a close eye on this. If you know who is contacting coaches I suggest he calls Graham in timely manner. Because Graham did say this until they confirm with us we are not going. But he can not make any other commitments because he gave Powell the OK. He said that it was a booster president he spoke with not a coach.Now lets get on to more meanigful things. How did the wildcats look this spring?

I do not know about contact to confirm. But I do know Graham and kind of understand his situaion last year. It was kind of an inconvenience for them to go to the freshmen jamboree on a Saturday. (i think they had a team picnic the same day...what I heard when this was being talked about.) No matter what Graham fel disrespected to have been casted out as being that incompetent by Lowe. He wondered why they even called him this year. From my understanding Lowe has called Graham before why call him personally to confirm. When they need tape of teams they are playing he got it touch with him. So communication is a two way street. I don't know who dropped the ball as far as the scrimmage. I do know that both coaches should have confirmed. "phone call"...there was a confirmation...talking to Graham right now on the phone. He said they were called and told what time they were playing. That is how he knew what time to have the buses there. He also said go cardinal and grey. He said he will not comment on OR cause he is at AE. He loves OR and Loves Stanton Stevens and the internet is not a place to give his opinion of a fellow coach. Just know he has great respect for Stevens, Lussier, Gaddis and Bill Young. He played for (with) all of them and they had a lot of influence on him to become a coach. Assistant coaches always no more than the head and fans no more than the assistants and the head, that just the way it is (graham laugh). He said his wife and kids are not allowed on coacht.com. I told him my screen name so now I know he knows who boorelly is. (boorelly was the nickname of Elker Jones-OR people know him). Graham did say this what would the real Nick Orlando say. Graham thinks OR will be fine under stevens leadership. He said, Adjustments take time..and sometimes learning requires adversity. He also said(he talks too fast so my typing may have a lot of errors bounder) He said as Wildcats WE we have a lot of pride so continue to expect great things but be patient and encouraging to the players and the coaches. Le them see pride. Graham is gone. I can say you are right Lost Old Dad the buck does stop with the head coach. Also as far as the fighting. you again our right. But I can say after talking to stevens, i understand what statement he was trying to make. (not saying it was right) Don't let anyone disrespect Blankenship field. (I think a couple of years ago they tore up the field) Not once did I read anyone getting on the administration. I notice at the inner city schools they do great job preparing before there is a problem. AE/Fulton close to or more than 10,000 people never a problem. I went to Fulton/Catholic game never a problem. Went to some games in nashville and memphis administration help to prevent these things. One more AE thing. I hope OR wouldn't mind, but most of them know graham and I would think respect him. They played Fulton his first year as a head coach at AE. There was the Jaren Troutman incident. There was also a big fight at a party the weekend before. AE won the game and after the game coach Graham sent his team directly to the locker room. Only Graham and his coaches went out and shook hands. He told Fulton coaches our kids will be over there after it settles down. While both teams were in the locker rooms Graham had his players go over to Fulton locker room and shake hands. It went very smoothly because most of these kids are friends. Graham took a lot of hits on coach T about what he did. But now looking at the OR-clinton incident I think it was the right thing to do. Lost Old dad I will say again the head coach has to step up and make the right decision. Let's hope he learn this. The funny thing is he never had these problems at AE. But lost old dad you right. Oh yeah bounder.. now make sure you proof read everything I do and you do because from now on this college grad (stunk in enlgish) will proof read yours ... you internet chat expert.

News flash. Last year Matt Lowe made a statement saying AE freshmen showed to freshmen jamboree without being invited. He told that to stevens and to coach Nix at Alcoa. i am actually a friend of Nix because I used to go to church in Alcoa at Mother Love. A lot of Alcoa players went there and talked very highly of coach Nix. So I think he is very truthful person. Of course Stevens told Graham and Nix told me. Graham made a good point in saying with their school budget why would he pay for a bus if he wasn't invited. Secondly before Oak Ridge, Alcoa and others start coming AE always came. (When no one else would come). And it wasn't Matt Lowe who invited him it was the booster club president. Well The booster club pres called coach Graham and apologized. Matt Lowe still hasn't said anything about it. Just goes to show you anyone can make a mistake. Talked to a college coach last week at UT. He made a good point about Stevens (A lot of people in Knoxville thought Stevens was good for football in Knoxville-brought integrity back to AE). How many players were offered college scholarships with Lussier. How many players ended up ineligible. It was so good befoer Stevens but were is Rock Hardin now. .What about Cory Booker,etc. etc. etc. This is what a UT coach said. Honestly thinks Stevens hasn't had the hosses. Said the Clinton thing was blown out of proportion and it was the Clinton assistant that came to Stevens. Once again this was a UT coach. Finally From what I ehar from former players one time Joe Gaddis told the fans at clinton if you spit on me are my players I'm going to jail. But then there was no internet I guess. Stevens is a proven coach. He has done well in my opinion at AE and OR. 5A region has gotten a lot better. Credit to Farragut, William Blount and Ooltewah. Out of those teams Oak Rdige and Ooltewah will probably be the ones who continue to be good. He is a good enough coach to make a threat every year. When you talk to other great coaches they all will say Stevens is a great coach. Ask George Quarles, Buck Coatney, Courtney, Meske, Brewer, and graham Clark they will all say he does a good job. So any players reading this you are probably reading the opinion of someone who has never coached, probably never played past high school, and/or doing this for political reasons. You have a good coach. But furthermore you have good coaches. I am pretty sure they all work hard and all of them want you to be successful. These people on here want talk about how many of your players get high before the game. They want talk about how many of your players are selfish and does not do what the coaches ask them to do. They do not talk about how many players miss workouts and have a bunch of excuses or when the play called was a good call but the players didn't execute it. Funny thing is this is at all high schools. I did play past high school at a major D1 school. I have never been a coach and as a black male nor would I want to be. All you hear is negative. When you win you got better players, when you lose you got out coached. I read these boards and not once is there anyting positive about Stevens. I may disagree with people on hear but never have put down a coach or a player. I have my opinion about who I think will win and why but never make it personal. Well stevens i can say you have won a state championship. Be proud of it. You have gotten there more than once (not just at a 3A school). Have one of the highest winning percentages in the state of tennessee. You continue to believe in yourself. Get your coaches to believe in you and everything else will trickle down. Don't let these people get you down. Early success brings complacency get back in the war room and go to work.

A Mac is at Carson Newman playing linebacker for former Austin East Grad Carl Torbush. I know some more Fulton kids still in school or graduated. graham did say he wuold think there was because they have had some excellent student athletes there. The one that came to his mind was former QB I think jack weztcal i think graham said. Was a very smart student. I don't know him but Graham says he was dang near a genious in the books. I would say the big lineman is still in school too. (sister played bball for UT). Both of these schools deal with a lot of negative way to go to both staffs.

Got a reply from the headman himself...Maurice Davis gave up football and track at VSU joined the military (to pay for school) and going to school on GI bill. PJ Moore played football at TSU gave up football and is on an academic scholarship at TSU by the way made dean's list. Arsenio Moulden full scholarship at Virginia State gave up football and went to UTC were he is a student. Kelvon Yancey an All conference as a freshman at Concord college in WV gave up football now he is a junior at UTC. Most of AE football players from 2003 and on are graduates or still in school. Even Tyrone jackson and Steven Soles the two kids in the infamous police fight are still in school at Lane College. They have several players that have graduated and either in grad school now or in the workforce. Don't know about Fulton. I think pritchford is still in school at UTC. I read turtle's post and did some digging. Way to go AE..Graham and staff.

lets add Austin East and Cahttanooga Brainerd and Howard and make it a big classic. Battle of the bands etc. at TSU

Hamilton is home, Freeney is home, Higgins is home. Smith and Humphries ar ethe only that have signed. All are good kids good luck to them. I hope the others get on the right track. Remember not every athlete is a college student. But these are all great kids that are yong men now.

I hear they are scrimmaging Austin East. That will be a tough one. They have some transfers that are very good. Had a great spring. A lot of weapons. DJ Roberts is raising aws one of the top players in the state.

I thought the scrimmage was played hard but the weather affected the play. Was kind of sloppy.

Jamie did not play. I'm guessing Chi is the transfer from chicago. I know he looks like a player. But #14 looked good at RB and Watts did not play RB he played QB. Therefore Chi scored late against the younger players. He did not get a lot of reps. The series he was in at RB the had several bad QB/center exchanges. I thought it was 4-4. Glad to see AE working on extra point this early. /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" />

CHS 4-AE 4; I don't think either team was very dominating. 1st series Central offense went backwards. A fumble that would have been taken for a touchdown blown dead. Then an interception. They hit a deep pass on play 8/9 against a secondary that had never played before. Besides the Jones kid no one else would probably play in the secondary on Friday nights. (2nd Jones, Graham, Dean, Robinson-possible starters (got these names from a parent and little league coach). AE one series went 7/8 plays without getting a snap. (wet ball in gun). Also I notice Graham ran the ball 10 straight plays. One of their assistance said he was working on getting good at the veer game and was not going to go away from his goal in spring. AE did not have starting QB Antone Dean/Brandon Lopez out the whole spring. Central scored on big plays. Screens, Reverses, and Deep passes. Ae did put together a couple of drives scoring on 2 and running out of plays in the first series on the 22 yardline (play 10). But Central did not have their stud jamie Wilson. Both teams were impressive in the conditions to me. Both teams kid played hard. I noticed it wasn't alot of fighting and stuff that usually happens at AE Central scrimmages. Ae had probably 25 players total. I talked to a number of their starters in the stands. AE did not have a first team the whole spring. And I doubt very serious that is Central's first team that started out yesterday. The transfer from Oak Ridge was very impressive at MLB. Along with QB #10. Did well when he was in.

Heard the same thing. They beat science hill 31-12. I heard SHHS scored late in the scrimmage against some young kids. It was off of turnovers by a kid trying to play QB. AE only has 40 players at that scrimmage. I understand their starting QB Antoine Dean did not scrimmage and probably will not scrimmage Thursday. A lot of kids are working on grades, AAU bball or in track. Graham wasn't in Oak Ridge this weekend didn't get to talk to him. His brother did say that besides Dean they only have 1 player to have ever played QB in high school QB. One kid is a transfer from Carter he is the only one with QB experience. Their defense from what I understand did not give up a first down. (doubt that will happen against central unless everyone is there) Last time I talked to Graham he said a lot of their skills are out for some reason or the other and they will have a lot of the younger kids getting reps in the spring. The taller of the Jones twins had a good scrimmage saturday. Scored once or twice. The other brother and the big tall DE did not scrimmage, I heard they had a AAU basketball game.

seen practice yesterday. AE was clicking offensively. Very structured and relaxed setting. Missing skill players though. The jones twins are going to be special but no burners that AE is used to. Several kids are out with track, grades, or working. Will really be able to tell in July.

Is it true that Austin East HighSchool Head Coach Kwayu Graham has applied. He is goog with working with diverse populations and getting kids out. This year he has sveral D1 prospcts. Kids all graduate and many qualify through NCAA clearinghouse. They do a great job getting kids out of school. Very good youn coach also. Let me know if you heard this

At this point I would leave if I was Stevens. No win situation. Bless the man heart. A lot of you know the real reason you want him gone. coach Gray is available, I hope he can get the job. "Get Gaddis out"; Get Lussier out" now "Get Stevens out". Who would want to come there. Webb coach Meske said it best, we played their middle school team and they were not any good. Stevens should have never went. Everyone in Knoxville knew Ae was going to be down the next couple of years. They lost a lot of kids to Fulton and I don't think Stevens wanted to wait 3 to 4 years for the next crop. Maybe the money was better at Oak Ridge. I don't know but for a coach that took a team that hasn't made it past the third round in over 15 years to the championship I just couldn't do it. Sad things is this website is open to the public. I wonder how many players on that team get on here and read this. they have a lot of incentive to follow the coach. /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" /> Wow. Booked in the fall huh??? They have neveer talked about since the fall huh??? It is embarrasing though. And kind of funny. /roflol.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":roflol:" border="0" alt="roflol.gif" />