EASTFAN

You are correct it was 1969, sorry about getting my year mixed up.

This is true East's won in 1966, but we haven't been close since. Now we are just plain avg. football team with bad coaching and player devolepment. It seems like I am reliving UT football mess all over again. Until East get the right coach nothing is going to chance.

Sound like another long year for Morristown West. Having to play the teams on this year schedule is going to be stuff. I knew playing 6A football was going to be rough, but I thought this year they would be better.

I believe spring practices is going on now for both Morristown High schools. Has anyone seen them practice or scrimmage another team? I just wondering how many players each team has and does it look like they have spend the offseason in the weight room.

Surely someone out there has some type of comment. Over 100 people have read my post and not a single reply to my post. No-one from either high school cares enough to comment one way or another. This show me where Morristown is really at. No wonder they are building Lakeway Christian high school. I guess most parents are done with both high schools, education or sports is just not getting it done. It is really hard to change what is going on to the football program at East high school when no-one seems to care!

I am not sold on neither of are High School coaches. To be fair, Sanders has to play 6A football and last year was his 1st year on the Job. Now at East, Wells has been there 5 years and hasn't been close to beating Morristown West and plays in one of the weakest 5A region in the whole state. East should be 7-3 every year base on the talent they have had the pass few years. What is so sad, this year team has a chance of being really good, but coaching is going to do them in again. Both schools better get there act together really soon, because the new private high school off Exit 4 in white pine is schedule to open 2019. There is enough family at both school that can afford to send their children to a private school, and the best athlete will have a chance to get Scholarship. Just maybe this will shake the powers to be into action before it is to late.

That is my whole point, East’s Academics are avg. and Football is below avg. East’s has a good boys’ basketball team the past few years, and the girl softball team lost in the sub state this past season. What I am trying to get across, is excellent comes from the top. What is Morristown East ranking academically in the state? They are just below the middle in all round performance when it comes to state test scores and funding. There maybe things that I do not understand that is hurting Mr. Johnson from reaching the goal. Just like Tennessee had to let Butch Jones go, just maybe we need to let some others go too. I can only judge base on what has happen under his watch the last 10-15 years. It just seems to me East’s is avg. in the classroom and on the field. If some has facts to prove me wrong, please post them.

You have hit the nail right on the head, Principal Johnson can be a butt head. He is the reasons we are in this mess with Coach Wells to start with. Why would you hire someone who has a career losing record? Just like Teachers, it is Mr. Johnson job to make sure they perform their dues. When they are not, he must let them go. Mr. Johnson needs to ask for Wells to step down at Morristown East. If he doesn’t I am going to make a point to see him removed from being principal. This shouldn’t be too hard, because I know the school board has been getting complains on him for years. His support from the teachers to the school board hasn’t been good for the past few years. If we are lucky he will retire, I know he is old enough. I got some letter to write, I will keep everyone up-dated on my progress.

Money is sure not the reasons for our problems in upper east Tennessee. I bet the money that is going thought DB & SH is a lot more than many of the Knoxville schools like Central & Halls. I know for years Morristown West was the standard in upper east Tennessee. They were the only team to beat Maryville twice in a 6 or 7 year run Maryville had when they played 4A football. The different was Morristown West hired Don Woods. As a supporter of Morristown East Football, whatever the coaches ask for we in the booster’s club work to get it. Even if we must reach into our own pockets to do it. Like I have said many times, Morristown East should be better than they are, because there is enough money and the school facilities are one of the best. Would you keep paying your doctor year after year if the results where you kept getting sicker. At some point you got to cut that Doctor lose, and find one that can help you. The problem is Coaching!

Morristown East is returning at least 6 to 8 players on both sides of the ball next year. We have the hole backfield back and are best WR. As always it come down to coaching. Until we get someone who know how to run an offseason workout program, we will never complete with region 2. This region is weak up front on both sides of the line. East’s for sure is weak up front, I would bet they do not have a single lineman that can bench 300 lbs. or even his body weight. That is why I am so hard on East’s coaches, because I haven't seen any improvement in the weight room the last 4 years. That is the number #1 reason we lost to Morristown West every year, they are a lot stronger up front physically.

I just have a hard time blaming 14 through 18 years old players. when they are only doing what the coaches tell them. Back when I played in high school and college, we would do tackling drills it until we got it right. The coaches would beat that softness out of you or you wouldn’t play. My main point is it starts at the top, if you have bad coaching the kids have no chances.

This is plan embarrassing that this conference couldn’t win at least one playoff game. I have been after some coaching changes at Morristown East for the past few years, but it looks like the whole region needs some changes as well. I can speak about Morristown East problems, because I see the same issues every week. Very soft up-front on both sides of the lines, and we still haven’t learned how to tackle. East’s gets pushed around up-front because there is no commitment to offseason workouts. What do you guys think the problem is with this conference? Is it the spread offensive or just bad defense? We have enough talent in this conference to complete better than we did tonight. This has been a really long season for sure.

I hope you are wrong, because a lot of teams play in regions were there are only 5-6 teams. That is why you have 4-6 or 3-7 teams making the playoff every year. As you know, the top four teams make the playoff. My issues is, Coach Wells has backed into the playoff every year with an even record or below. I think two years ago the only reason East's made it was because Boone & David Crockett got into a fight and couldn't go to the playoff. East's is very lucky they didn't have to move-up to 6A like Morristown West did this year. East was only 70 or so student short or they would have been in 6A. The problem with some many people is they set their goals to low. Making the playoff should never be the goal. The goal is to win a State championships and anything else is not good enough. Let's ask Maryville, if finishing 3rd last year was good enough or maybe Greenville this year if they don't win the state championship. East's has had and has now the talent to be a factor in 5A football. The only thing holding them back is coaching. Why not tell your son or daughter that C's in school and a low ACTs score will be just fine, it just matter it you pass. Lets see the surprise on their face when they keep getting turndown trying to get into college. Just like Gators and Vols this year, beginning avg. is not good enough. That is why changes are being made.

As an East’s High supporter losing by 21 or more points has happen 4 to 5 time this year already. We have enough talent to be in every game, it just come down to coaching and players discipline. East’s has had trouble stopping any teams power running game ever since Coach Wells took over 4 years ago. Just plain bad coaching, when you have size on the offensive line and will not use them on defense. Wells doesn’t want anyone playing both-ways, but if you are giving up 300-500 yards rushing you got to try something different. What makes matter worst is the offensive play calling can be just as bad as Tennessee. If coaches will let the kids play and not coach like they are afraid to lose, East will give Smokey Bears all they want come Friday Night. To be clear, I mean not to punt the football when you are pass the 50-yard line and only have 2 yards for a 1st down. If you cannot get 2 yards, you shouldn’t win the game anyway. Here is your chance Coach Wells, you have the next few weeks to earn a right to return as Head Coach next year. With as much Talent that is returning next year with the right coach the sky is the limit. Based on your first 4 years at East’s I just do not think you are the one to take us to the next level.

I will agree with you on Coach Wells showing some class after the game, but that does not make him a good coach. You are correct, East got out played again. Here in Morristown we have been dealing with Terrible tacking and questionable play calling for the past four years. This team would return John Dalton (Starting QB who go hurt) next year along with the hole backfield. I just want what is best for these young men and base on Wells four years, he is not it. What I really would like to know is from any other East High School football supporter, give me some reasons for Coach Wells to return next year as Head Coach. Lets take away that Coach Wells seemed to be a good guy, other than that it will be hard to justify his return.

What about the mess at Morristown East with Coach Wells? He back into the playoff just about every year with a losing record. what so sad about it is the talent he has wasted year after years. Morristown East should be in the hunt for a STATE Championships in 5A with the talent they have had the last 4 four years. It is just terrible East's cannot stop anybody who is physical and runs right at them. All we get is excuses that we are little or we are young. If Wells new anything about the weight room, he would know size doesn't meaning anything. He didn't we at Campbell Co. and he will never win at Morristown East. Oh by the way, he is 0-4 against Morristown West!

You have made my point. Just plain bad coaching for the whole year. What make this so bad is you could see this coming when they hired Wells 4 years ago. With the talent East's has had the last 4 years, you would think in one of those years we could have beat Morristown West a least once. Even if this coaching staff somehow back East's into the playoff, the do not deserve another chance next year. East will be returning a lot of talent next year. We need someone to come in and coach these kids up and show them how hard you have to work in the weight room. The best East can finish is 3-7, that is really sad with the talent this team has. I am looking forward to next year already!

At this point I will take any good new. Coaches Wells and his staff need this game. If they lose this one we are looking at 1-6 going into our open date. Their chance of making the playoff will be just about over. With this team being mostly underclassman it make no-sense in keeping this staff another year. They could'nt do anything with this years talent so why would anyone think it will gets better next years. If a change is not made maybe the problem is a little higher.

1-5 said it all. I know that East’s has had to deal with some injury this year, but the reasons for being 1-5 is not the cause of it. There is enough blame to Go around for the players and Coaching staff. I just have a hard time blaming players when they are doing what they are told by their coaches. This team keeps beating itself with stupid penalty just about every game. Personal foul penalty are the ones that drive me crazy. I know you will get a few every now a then, but these personal foul penalties are costing this team any chance of winning. This starts with the coaches. Every week we get “I am having to challenged them a half-time to play harder speech. It seems to me that the kids have lost all respect for the whole coaching staff, because they keep getting these same dummy penalties every week.

My view point on the Campbell Co. Game Friday night. Morristown East’s was in the dumpiest pass coverage known to man. Why play off WR 5 yards? It becomes pitch and catch right down the field. The QB for Campbell Co. throws the short to mid-level passes very well. If a team is going to throw a lot of short screens, you must pressman cover their Wideout. Get real physical with them off the line of scrimmage. I know someone will say they will just run right by us. This is true, if the other teams have those type of athlete. Campbell Co. has quicker receiver then guys with a lot of speed. QB for Campbell Co. really doesn’t like contact, if your teams get after their QB with some solid hits, he will start short arming his passes like he did against East’s last Friday night. By the way, that keep everything in front of us Coach Wells worked out just great didn’t it. Campbell Co. passed for almost 400 yards. Penalty’s, what in the world was going on? Yes, I think the Zebra’s. we’re picking on East’s all night. How many penalties did the Zebras call for lineman down fields or lineman in the backfield. East’s had 175 yards of penalty yards just in the 2nd half. This Zebras crew should be ashamed of themselves on the way they called the 2nd half. You have no chance of beating anybody with that many penalty yards. East’s didn’t help itself with all those un-discipline penalties. We had at least 4 personal foul penalty because, we haven’t learned how to keep are mouth shut. Every time you started running you mouth or get into some type of pushing match with another player you are hurting your team. The offense game plan was good, it just hard to get anything going when you are fighting the Zebras all night. I could tell after what I read in the newspaper this team wouldn.t be ready Friday night. Coach Wells, you must play to win (Cherokee game) not afraid to lose. Let the kids play, attack on both sides of the ball and let see what happen. Playing this bent but don’t break defense has gotten us off to 1-3 start. I really hope you let the Dog’s loose this week against Bristol, because getting to 2-0 in the region is all that matters.

if your statement is correct, and come down to execution. Then who fault is it when your team doesn't execute the game plan. Coaches are responsible for getting their team ready to play, and base of the 1st two weeks the other teams coaches was better at it. This outmanned things up front is not the reasons they lost their 1st to games. Morristown West and Jefferson Co. did when the battle up front most of the time, but turnovers and terrible tackling had more to do with losing. Yes, I fell this team could have or should have won their 1st two games, because the talent is there, I just thing Morristown West outplayed us in the 2nd half and we were never there against Jefferson Co. One thing is for sure, we better be ready for Campbell Co. or it could get way out of hand.

Great game by Morristown East and a good job by coach Wells and his staff. There must have been a come to Jesus meeting last week, because this is the best East has looked all year. I know calling out East High coaches for not getting the job done the first two weeks can be hard. I know East’s has talent and it is up to Coach Wells and his staff to do their job. I have no problem giving the coaches correct when the do a good job. My take was the offensive line finally blocked somebody. (I wonder what changes were made up-front) Offense play calling was good for a change, you kept Cherokee off balance all night. The defense finally started hitting people, you were the more physical team tonight. Football is really a simple game if you just follow these 5-game rule. Must control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball Do not turn the ball over! Do not beat yourself with dummy penalty (this is still a work in progress, why too many motion penalty) Do your job! If you your man is the quarterback, then you tackle him every time the ball is snap. To play great defense, everyone must carryout their assignments. Must win the special teams battle. (This goes for kicking, receiving and punting) I expect the same level of improvement next week against Campbell Co. or we will be looking at another repeat of the Jefferson County game.

　 　 I think Jefferson Co. is really good up front. I would give the edge to Morristown West on the offensive line and Jefferson Co. on their Defensive line. Overall I think Morristown West is better, because their QB Foreback can really throw it. Jefferson Co. is going to need more speed in the backfield to make that offense work against teams in this region. Most of the teams in this region will be able to match Jefferson Co. up front. So you are looking at low scoring games because I think Jefferson Co. defense is pretty good. They are going to have trouble keeping up with the speed of DB,SH,MW and just about everyone else in this conference. Jeff. Co. Defense will have to hold teams scoring down to give themself a chance in the 2nd half. Offense they are running is a ball control offense so it they get behind by a few scores, they could be in trouble.

　 I watch one of the best teams in the state Greenville High school last friday night. They are as good as any team in the state, that includes Maryville & Oakland. Greenville has beaten DB & Morristown West already this year. Both DB & Morristown West are 6A and Greeneville is 4A so school size has nothing to do with it. Come down to players and coaching, you can only play 11 players at a time. Yes depth can be a issues, but it only come up when you play a team with equal talent, We will see this week, this is the 1st region game. We have to win this week or we are look at o-5 for sure. We have Campbell Co. after playing Cherokee, beating Campbell Co. was going to be hard anyway. East's has got to start showing some type of improvement this week or the season could be lost.

Terrible coaching, we couldn’t block or catch the football. This is plain embarrassing we looked this unprepared for a live TV. Game. The blame fall squarely on the Coaches, basic fundamental of playing football is missing on this team. If you cannot get the snap from center, you have no chance on offense. Who is responsible for East offensive line? They haven’t blocked anyone in two games. Major changes have to be made up front. East must find someone who can snap the football, and find a player or two who are willing to block. East’s has too much talent in the backfield going too wasted, because there is no place to run. I have been watching this erratic and undisciplined coaching staff for the last 4 years. You know the football Mantra, you see the biggest improvement from week one game too week two. Base on the faces in the stands from East high supports, week two improvement was missing for sure. I know this is a long seasons and things can get turn around. I am not falling into the trap, we have always improved as the season has gone a long. This is true, if you base it on wins the past few years. If you investigate more closely, you found out that just about every team is really bad and has a losing record. My perspective is, East should be completive in every game, because the talent is there. If someone else has a better explanation for this mess, please respond.