thebeave

I agree, but how can you forget Christy Hicks? Meeeoooowwww!! Or better yet, Paige Duncan. The looks, the handles, the shot.........the trifecta baby!!

After all of this, you finally proved me wrong on one thing, my typing skills........ On that note, I will bow out as well. I have fielded too many phone calls, private messages (it's only $12), and e-mails telling me I am wasting my time and reminding me that you can not educate the uneducated. Dudley scores again, it could have been for UTM as they tried harder than anyone......... I'm going to Dyersburg.

I choose to disagree based on my knowledge of the issue at hand. At one time, I was considered a man "in the know." That still applies in this arguement. As for my definition of an idiot, I believe it is a mentally deficient person with intelligence in the lowest mesurable range. I'm going to La Cabana to revisit the Ring of Fire......... Dudley (and the beave) scores again......................

westviewman, you are an absolute idiot............. Hey heavyD, the drizzle made the difference, haven't seen anything that color in months!!!!!!!!! Dudley scores again, and westview man just smoked away some more brain cells............

" I fell in to a burning ring of fire, the wings went down, down, down, and my screams went higher. My back end burns, burns, burns, like rings of fire, like rings of fire.................." Dudley scores again, and westviewman wasn't there to see it.

Nashville area vs Northwest Tennessee. You didn't do very well in math did you? The law of averages my friend. Tennessee Tech can recruit locally BECAUSE OF THE AREA IN WHICH THEY ARE LOCAL. They are 90 miles outside of Nashville. The 6 of the 10 players on the UTM roster are from Tennessee, five of those are from West Tennessee. That is 60% They do not have one player for Florida, and the one from Mississippi is right across the Tennessee line. Nine of Tech's 14 are from Tennessee. That is 64%. Explain to me the difference. Bigger cities in a geographical area, more to chose from. Herein lies another recruiting issue. If you are from Gibson County and on a recruiting trip, what would impress you more: A dinner at the Olive Garden in Jackson, or the Catfish Grille or La Cabana where you come out smelling like an armpit? Geographical location makes a HUGE difference. What is your arguement? The Van Atta's had a successful program at UTM compared to all past standards. Also, Gary has a very successful women's program at the college level in Nashville. Please. Van Atta has taken over a successfull program at Trevecca that will continue to do well. He also took on a succesfull program here at UTM. And since you are so tuned into what UTM is doing, why did he leave? If ignorance is bliss, you are a very happy person. You don't love UTM because you have not offered one viable solution, refuse to look at what is blatantly in front of you, you cannot answer any question posed to you with a resonable response, cannot even begin to see both sides of the arguement, and I doubt you have ever even attended a game. Keep your head buried in the, uh, sand, I'm sure it is warm there on this wintery day. Dudley scores again....................

Also, if UTM is being outrecruited by NAIA school due to rules, perhaps UTM needs to rethink if they belong in the OVC conference. Personally, I do think they belong in the OVC. You can't have it both ways. You either abide by the DI rules, or drop out. Also, it is not just about the rules. UTM's coaches are being forced to come to the OK Corral shootout with a butter knife. Not only against regional schools, but against other Division I schools as well. Not to be overly critical, personally I don't think anyone at UTM knows how to recruit. Like who? Football had their first winning season since 1993. Mens basketball has finally made the OVC tournament and just might win their first round game. I doubt this next statement, but some say Jeremy Kelly will enter the NBA draft. Don't see it, but that is a rumor. They did everything the could to get Trey Pearson. They have a kid from Fulton and Savannah. Campbell has been seen at Bolivar more than anyone. Tara Tansil is fixing the mess left behind by her predecessors, give her a little rope. You can't expect 10 years of sub-par performance to be erased within two years. Softball is one of the top programs in the OVC. Volleyball is two years removed from a conference championship and NCAA tournament appearance. The old coach quit working hard, program suffered this year. They WILL be back within the next two seasons. Baseball is, well, suffering. Marketing is not the problem. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make them drink. If you don't like the product, you are not and will not support it. The other problem is that people in the community will do nothing to fix it, only complain. Dudley just scored again..................

Finally, solutions, Thank you. Some food for thought. 1) Agree completely. Just remember that if Poston will come here, she is local!! If she doesn't, it isn't because of the lack of recruiting. Two NAIA schools are all over her already. 2) Free t's at a high school is an NCAA infraction waiting to happen. UTM does things like that already at their games. The have " Weakley County" and "Obion County" nights which are a success. Marketing is really not an issue at UTM. People are just choosing not to go. Go to a game and you will see the lengths the school goes to so that some type of atmosphere is created. The ESPNU game for the guys was a huge success. They, however, could do more. 3) I would not want to play Union right now. That could be a disaster. Union would have everything to gain and UTM everything to lose. As far as scheduling Lambuth and Bethel, they do that already in the pre-season. As a member of Division I, you are only allowed to play a certain number of games against opponents on a lower level during the regular season than you (NAIA, Division II, III). As for your assumption that "loses would put people in the seats", Bethel and Lambuth cannot compete with UTM. As bad as UTM is, they still beat Lambuth by 15 this year in the pre-season and Lambuth has had a stint in the NAIA national rankings. When Kendall Cavin came back with Tennessee Tech a few weeks ago, the crowd still stunk as it did at the Lambuth game. 4) Football, you can do that and it has worked at UTM by scheduling games on Thursday night, which still interferes with Middle School football. Basketball is a different beast all together. Most High Schools are playing 3 games a week. Wednesday is church night, high schools cannot play on Sunday. That leaves five days to play three games. Plus, every other OVC school supports their team and game nights like Thursday and Saturday are set by the conference. Most high schools play on Tuesday and Friday. Where are the fans? Keep them coming. It's not that people want to dismiss others opinions, it is just that some understand the dynamics of what is going on. Oh, and Dudley just scored again.................

Great to be back. Between diapers and actually watching and supporting our local teams (High Schools and UTM) play, it has been pretty busy!!

My point is this: if you are going to lose, better to lose with players from the area than with players from Florida Why accept losing? Weakley county teams do not and that is why we have two teams making runs at a state title. Again, show me who we need to get that will make an impact? We have been losing for 10 years, fix it now, show me how. I hope our lady Charges don't read this post. I apologize that some who write on here don't have any confidence in their ability. WESTVIEW LADY CHARGERS, I BELIEVE IN YOU! Please show me where anyone has shown any type of doubts about the abilities of the Westview and Gleason basketball teams? You are reaching. Everyone who has posted on here believe in Weakley County teams so much that they are driving to So. Fulton, Trenton, Dyersburg, and Ripley to support these players....are you? I hate that people in Martin do not believe in the ability of our athletics. That is a perfect ending statement for you. You slam UTM and then just "hate that people in Martin do not believe in the ability of our athletics." And I hate the people like you try to undermine the abilities of people to provide Martin and Weakley County with a top notch athletic program, whether it be with or without local talent. I hope that future college athletes, whether local or not, are not reading the garbage you are spewing. My point is this, provide me with answers instead of remaining one of the problems. Oh, and Dudley just scored again...........

I now remember why I quit posting................................ We have two number one TEAMS. I guess that means that we should just go out and sign every kid on the Westview and Gleason squads just because they are the top ranked TEAMS in the state. Quit taking things at face value, look a little deeper, if that is possible. The reason we have two top ranked teams is that we have two great coaches in Frazier and Stephenson. We have an AAU program that kids are driving 100+ miles to be a part of. We have kids that are good at alot of different things on the basketball court that make great TEAMS. Hudson is a big time point guard. Stefanie Riggs at Dresden could be another player if she can get back on the court. What other girls in Weakley and the surronding counties could come in and make a difference at UTM right now besides Hudson? Answer that question for me. I really want to know. Show me what I am missing!!! The few, the proud, the Pacers!! Great point Wescharge............ Dudley scored again.................and who cares if she plays defense as long as the person she is guarding doesn't score 41!!

unbelievable..................

I know Union has been visiting and recruiting Kayla Hudson since her freshman year. I know she's probably to small or some lame excuse for UTM, but that's ok Union will take her in a heartbeat. They will continue to pack the gym and win National titles with local girls and would beat UTM 9 times out of 10. I really think 10 out of 10 but I'll give them one win for you Wescharge. Keep living in your small world of UTM basketball and how great the OVC is, you are living in a dream world. First, as heavyd pointed out, the NAIA has no rules. They are so far ahead in the recruiting game with local players that it is almost an unfair advantage to even discuss this. I have seen a Division I college coach ask a high school coach to get a player to simply walk across the parking lot, just so they could get a physical look at them, because they were not even allowed to speak to them. UTM recruited their tails off in regards to Dudley. And please do not suggest that I live in "the small world of UTM basketball and am living in a dream world." Again, look at what UTM has recruited over the past 10 years, look at the record, attendance, and support outside of the UTM campus, then we can have an informed discussion. I am not the one stuck in the rut of "recruit all the local players and you will get better" philosophy. There is a list of pros and cons so long it will make your head spin. Be honest with yourself, would you go watch more games and support them if they recruited locally? The answer is no. You won't because you won't even go support them with one of your own as the head coach. Has UTM missed the boat on some local players? Sure, but spare me the arguement. For every 30 that you think could play there, only 1 could. I would know, I was one of the 30. I do know for a fact that UTM has not had any contact with Kayla, not a letter, phone call or even a visit to one of her games. If UTM is interested in Kayla its a secret. All I'm saying is I'm not sure that is the greatest way to recruit a prospect. You don't know for a fact that UTM has not "even had a visit to one of her games." They have done so on three separate occasions. You would not know this because the only games you attend are the Greenfield games. As far as the contact goes, I cannot answer those questions. That baffles me as well. Don't be shocked if heavyD's prediction comes true. In closing, UTM will continue to struggle as long as the administration does not give them every advantage they need. Dudley just scored again..................

Refer back to the above statement. UTM has recruited and signed what you like to call "local talent" and our record and attendance has still been lacking. I would love to enlighten you as to why UTM has had trouble either getting the kids they need, or missing on the ones they should get, but you would never understand. I also do not want to see this conversation turn into the ripping of hard working high school players. That is not necessary and uncalled for. The Dudleys and Hensons of the world chose to attend Union for several reasons. It is not for lack of effort by the UTM staff. There have been some instances where they may have missed one (Cavin, McElhaney), but good lord, it's not like every kid that ends up at Union or Freed could compete in Division I, even if it is UTM. Those are facts, hard to swallow, but facts none the less. I would choose Vandy over UTM, Ole Miss over UTM, Florida over UTM, and heck, if I lived here all my life, I may choose to actually leave Weakley County as well. The world is a big place, Tennessee is a big place. BTW, Dudley just scored again..................

Ahh the old "local" arguement. We have had that for the past five years and our record and attendance still stunk................... UTM recruited Dudley harder than anyone, ANYONE. If your worried about the attendence, go buy a ticket and support your hometown product. Somebody better guard Dudley.................she just scored again.

Great analysis. Dudley dropped 40 from all over the floor. Coach Russell has been saving her for four years to get to this point. She has broad shoulders and the Lady Pioneers will go as far as she takes them.

Simply amazing. As one of my esteemed buddies pointed out late in the fourth, "Dudley has 74% of Gibson Co.'s points." Note to (insert any opponent here) you might want to guard Dudley. She is #11, about six feet tall, and a heck of a lot better than Union. She just scored again............................

Hey WesCharge, nice no-hitter you got goin there in the 9th........... Idiot...............................

Noah Lampkins at Gleason High School

What is wrong with taking a payday? I've never read any of you chastizing the Memphis schools in years past........that's all they do. That is how they subsidize their programs. And guess what, they are actually getting better. Middleton has no weight room and you have to have a weight room to win. It takes money to buy weights, bars, machines, etc. The entire athletic department will benefit from a better weight room. It takes money to buy shoulder pads and helmets. Don't you want the best equipment possible on your 25 kids? I would. It takes money to do that. Coach Mahoney is trying to build a program in Middleton. It takes money to build a program, period. Neither Jeff Morris nor Mike Mahoney will let this game get out of hand. They are BOTH good coaches who have the health and future of their kids in mind.

Good call on that one. JCS wins big.

sniff, sniff

That is an awfully bold prediction, you went WAY out on a limb with that one!!

All this round 5 stuff gets me nervous. I might need to talk to Wescharge about those puke bags. There are four games left before that can even occur. It's like a no-no in baseball, quit talking about it!!!!!!!!

The seating capacity comment is a joke. They have the same problem in Gibson Co. every year. Not enough parking and not enough seating, yet no one complains. This part of the country loves their basketball. If two good teams get together, a crowd is going to show up.