boorelly

One reason why I know so much about AE is I'm good friends with a couple of their coaches. I go over Coach Tillmans house all the time. Him and coach Graham are good friends of mine. We all played semi-pro football together one year. I also know Stein or Coach Stevens because I hung out in Oak Ridge when I was young and after high school. I also have family that lives in Oak Ridge. AE's progress I watched with a caring eye. I also went to AE. We sit over Tillmans house or on the boat and talk about football every weekend. Former UT starting lineabcker and Washington Redskin, Joe Cofer also hangs with us. We talk about AE often. Coach Graham always have the kids with him and Tillman over his house on the weekend. So I have met a lot of them. Great kids. You see why they have such a bond with their players. These kids look up to that staff. With study hall, communtiy service work, going to the movies, cleaning their stadium. work-outs, meetings, practice and games , they spend most of their times with these coaches. I have been fortunate to be apart of it. I heard about the kicker through Coach Stevens. He played football as a freshman but didn't play last year to concentrate on soccer. He has a great leg. I promise you this year you want see any else kicking kicks. AE will have a kicking specialist. He may not have the leg of the kid from Beardan or Lenoir City but he will get the job done. Very consistent from 20yardline in. But that is without a rush. I went to see them work-out Tuesday and he gets great height and distance on his kicks. Go to the stadium during the week and check him out. He is going to be good.

AE should contend for another state championship. They have several questions to be answered. #1 QB position. Jeff Phillips an All-State candidate at SS will be playing QB. He is a good athelete and should do fine. I know they would rather have him at DB. AE offensive playbook is simple but very large. This spring their starting J.V. QB ran the team. The offense didn't get any work during the spring scrimmages. Half the time they couldn't get the snap. Which brings me to the next question. The O-line. Big, strong, and agile but no fight. They have hard working discipline kids that don't have a competitive bone in their body. (With two exceptions Antonio Minor (sr.) and Tyrone Jackson (so)) Minor will definitely be one of the top O-Lineman in the state (6'4 313). He is very good and dominates his side. They are loaded at the offensive skills. This is the most depth Stevens has had since he's been there. I counted 8 Wr's that are very good. they have 6 RB's that are all good. If the QB and O-line gel together they will be better than last year. defensively they are much better than last year. Their front seven will be one of the tops in the region. Secondary is young on the corners but they have ample amount of playing time. The DB coach plays 7 -8 DB's in a game last year. Both starting corners played a lot vs. Independence. it was a learning experience for both of them. They played against the best which makes them very comfortable. AE will play that in your face defense again this year. Trusting in the secondary to lock WR's down and the front seven to dominate the LOS. Their defense team speed is remarkable. A buddy of mine went to the Central scrimmage and he said that their defense team speed is the difference between AE and other teams. This years kicking game will be a lot better. Ae has a lot of depth this year and should be able to put together great special teams. The kicker is very consistent and accurate. But he hasn't faced a live rush yet. Stevens will have them ready by the fall. they willtake some lumps early but will improve during the season to be a contender. Don't be surprise if they are back in the Boro in 2002. a lot of things must go their way. Round 4 match-up is the key. Stevens is pacing his team to peak then.

Is that counting the Vocational program ro not. AC does not count their Voc. program toward their school enrollment. They list it as seperate entity.

One reason why there is so much descrepancy concerning Anderson County enrollment has to do with it's vocational program. Lady Mav is probably right. there are probably over 1000 students in the school but somehow (L.Kerr) they do not count there vocational program students toward their enrollment with TSSAA. If other schools would/could use this it would be to their advantage. That's why we have so much respect for Loudon and coach Daniels. He could have griped when they told him to move up to 3AAA but he wanted to play the best. He took on a challenge. Also Austin East should be 2A. When the new attendance counselor of the school did the actual numbers they would have been well under the qualifications for 2A. coach Stevens doesn't care if he is 1A-5A he feels he can compete. I am personally glad AC went 3A. I really enjoyed the hype and the atmosphere of the game. Our kids look forward to playing them this year. With them in 3AAA our region is the toughest hands down. Every week you have to compete. I like the way Scott County and Lenoir City head coaches are going with thier program. Gibbs will surprise some people this year. Watch!!!

Thanks AE roadrunner. I don't think this thread was started to throw arrows at other teams. None of us that represent AE or East Tennessee has made nothing but positive comments about Crockett County. Great coaching staff and great players. AE didn't play a great game that Saturday morning. They made too many mental eras. I watched the highlite tape and listened to the comments coach stevens made. He told his team that CCHS had punked them, they were running faster, hitting harder, and playing stronger than his roadrunners. He said the coaching staff has made no adjustments at half time because none were needed. Aehad their manhood took. Also didn't help to have star receiver suspended for one quarter for coming to curfew 10 minutes late. AE offense and team for some reason didn't have the snap they usually have. Their defense wasn't all there mentally. If they were playing Knox Fulton or Anderson County they wouldhave gotten beaten bad.

Thanks AE roadrunner. I don't think this thread was started to throw arrows at other teams. None of us that represent ae

Fulton freshman and J.V. teams always have great records. But varsity changes for some reason. A Fulton parent< mother at that, told me that. Her son went undefeated in freshman ball 2 years ago. They are talented and should be a contender.

Kingston has always and will continue to be a top program in 3A in East Tennessee. If they make it to the play-offs, they will always be a contender. Largely in part of their tough region and the scrimmages they have pre-season. They may lose a game they shouldn't but they always play against tough competition which help prepare them for the pace of a championship game. One thing I learned this year as a fan is how important it is to schedule tough teams and scrimmages early. I.E. Austin East. I thought they were crazy to schedule Independence after I seen the score. But Stevens knew what the purpose of that game was about. "To be a champion you must see a champion". Also before that I thought he was crazy for scrimaging the teams they scrimmaged in the pre-season. Once again he proved me wrong.(4 way vs. Clinton, Cleveland and Soddy Daisy and 1 week later scrimmaged 3 way with Seymour and Morristown West). This year I heard they scrimmage in a 4 way with Maryville, Murfreesboro Riverdale, and Soddy Daisy. He tells fans that ask him why such tough pre-season and first game? It prepares us for the pace of a championship game. Against good teams you have to learn the 3 P's Preparation, Patience and Perserverance. Coach King also does the same with his pre-season. I heard AE coaching staff say that Kingston scrimmages Oak Ridge this week. Just an example of the point I'm trying to make.