A Father Ryan great Tommy Bateman passed this morning from complications of a massive stroke last Thursday. My prayers go out to his family and the Father Ryan community. He and his son were the first father-son duo to win a state championship in football and wrestling. He was a mentor to so many both players and coaches.
R.I.P Coach Bateman and my friend Tommy. He will be missed.
Didn't mean to suggest that MBA was scared. It was just logical. We were rivals therefore there was no need for them to play an extra game that was hard when you were in 5A. I should have said it a different way. I coached those teams and and in 97 we were able to defeat MBA twice once the series began. That is Ryan's last victories. Didn't mean to make you think you guys were scared only smarter than most teams.
The decision was based on a rebuilding process. We wouldn't have had the success in 97 if we had not done what we did in 95-96. Also MBA decided not to play us because we were 4A. The powers at MBA did not want to risk a 4A team beating a 5A team. Which was totally understandable. We did play them in 2 qtr jamborees in 95-96. It solved nothing and proved nothing but it satisfied the diehards for that 2 year period.
Wes it will be BGA 6th, PJP II 7th, and Ryan 8th. Overall record BGA 4 wins, then head to head PJP beat Ryan. So, BGA at Baylor, PJP at Briarcrest, and Ryan at MBA.
Thank you for your well wishes and they are received with open arms. I appreciate the fact that you understood my tone and accepted it. Question though; Was it a down turn in the economy that hurt the numbers? I don't know but were there a lot of people moving to Alcoa, Maryville, and Oak Ridge during that time? I remember in the 80's and 90's Jeff Co. was a team to fear but just like Lincoln Co. and other areas a plant closes and the numbers dwindle. In this case it may not be warranted but it did happen in rural areas about that time. After your response you might be a good apple:).
DVP I am big fan of Marty and his style of coaching. Now it is not for everyone but winning a State Championship is not easy and something that can't be just sneezed at. I wish you would let him be. You tried to sue him. Didn't work. Try to bash him. Didn't work. Call Robert Jemison the AD and I promise you he will laugh you off the phone. He has a lot of respect here in Middle Tn as far as coaching goes. So, he and we are not good enough to know what kind of great football that is played in east tn. He has always defended people from Jeff. Co. and said they are only a few bad apples up there. Guess I might (and I said might) have just met one. Good luck in 2010 may the patriots make it to Cookeville and play right after Marty
Sorry to be so late Owlbooster but knowing those two teams well what was the boorish act committed by that Father Ryan. Those were the last years Ryan beat MBA. I just went back into the archives and watched them tell me why you have said that.