boyfromsi

Oak Ridge scrimmaged Cumberland Cnty with Oak Ridge outscoring the Jets 5-1. We are very deep at running back with Spencer Gulmire, Leonard Blair, Emanuel Isang and Daniel Johnson all running well. The starting defense did very well in pretty much shutting down Cumberland County Wing-t attack. One real down spot for the Wildcats was the passing game; there is much work to be done this summer. That should improve over time. Both starting lines play very well, there will be no drop-off in line play from last season to the next. Cumberland County, while not the fastest team in the world, was fundamentally sound, especially on defense. They tackled well and looked to have worked hard in their off-season conditioning. Good luck to both teams as they prepare for the upcoming season.

Yes, Tribefan it is. Come on up! There is a small gate of $2.00 though.

I look for the SD - Oak Ridge game to be a great one this coming year. We did lose a lot, but I prefer the term "reload." Based on what I have seen at Spring Practice, we should be just fine if the boys keep working as hard as they been working. BTW, Spencer Gulmire, as an upcoming Junior, will do just fine picking up where Corey left off.

Bump again.

Bump for Govman's comments.

I agree, McBride is an awesome talent. Looking forward to next year's game at your place.

Oops! Very red faced here. TribeFan, is Milsaps graduating? Anyway, very good Soph. linebacker coming back. With a coaching change, it is hard to tell. They were very impressive last year. Last year's game vs. Oak Ridge was much tougher than the score indicated. I thought this was a team that was hurt bad by graduation, but we'll see. I'll adjust my list as follows: Oak Ridge Soddy Daisy McMinn County William Blount Ooltewah Bradley Central Heritage Farragut Sorry about the oversight.

Ok here goes my early take: Oak Ridge - Yes, they are graduating 30 seniors. This includes Cory Booker, all 4 starting D-linemen, 4 Offensive Linemen, both safeties and 1 starting D-back. What do we have coming back? Starting Q-back, starting running back, backup fullback, 2 starting lb, one of which is already the all-time leading tackler in Oak Ridge History. Returning corners and recievers both have significant playing time. Lots of speed at running back. If the line and some of the young DBs can get up to speed in a hurry, then Oak Ridge should do very well again this year. Soddy Daisy - Should have been better last year. The coaching change should do them a world of good. Impressive size both on the line and in the backfield. William Blount - The Wojo years are over, but Coach Meadows will probably do his magic again. Defense should be solid. Receivers are a big question mark, lots of droped passes last year, didn't see much at the lower levels either. This is a team that needs to start believing it can win the big game. Ooltewah - If you thought last year's team was young...look out for the most talented sophomore class in the region. 2 good rbs and qb with both size and speed. Should make some noise, especially late in the season. However, I think they are 1 year away from contending for the region title. Bradley Central - Can they get their athletes to go out for the team? Who knows. If BC can get more players, they could make some noise as well. Heritage - The new coach has a track record of turning losers into winners. Can he do it at Heritage? Heritage should be better, but the lack of team speed is a probably in this region. Farragut - very good rb, but nothing else. This region should be wide-open for the top 4 spots. All teams have some important holes to fill. I will know more about Oak Ridge with the start of spring practice this Monday.

Well, maybe we can expand on more than 5 word answers. I think this will be one of the more interesting years in the short history of this district. We have 3 new coachs, all with proven success in the past. I know it is really early, but it would be interesting to see several of us break down their expectations with a little more detail. This should be a much more competitive region this time around. Don't be suprised to see the region champ with a least 1 loss in the region. I'll give my breakdown a little later today (gotta get back to work).

Oak Ridge with the championship decided on the last week against SD.

Rebel78, While WB played us about as tough as anyone, I still don't see them taking the region. However, the game will probably be close as usual.

Oak Ridge vs. Kingsport DB - Wk 3. Best out-of-district rivals east of the Cumberlands hands down.

I think coach Shattuck will be able to pull some guys out of the halls and field a better team than last year. However, with the region they are in it will be tough for them to improve on last year's record. He is a good coach with solid comunity support. Within the next couple of years, I expect Clinton to be competitive in this area.

Yea, I noticed how well Meadows did against us last year.

Almost like the year before. Yes, we had 30 seniors, but of those who played, most were first year starters. Personally, I think we will just be reloading. We have good linemen returning, we have 2 excellent linebackers returning, one of which is already our all-time leading tackler. I expect us to start out a little slow but finish strong. As far as making to the semis, it will be very tough to make it past DB with all of the personnel they are returning.

I agree, SC will eat up Powell's guards. Powell's only hope is to turn Unger loose, to me she has played too tentatively lately. However, I don't think that will happen. SC by 25.

Yes, Coacht and then we have to delete the replies as well. BTW, thanks a bunch for the time you put into the best prep site in the country! Nothing else compares. For me it is $12 very well spent.

6D, the only people that make TN a laughingstock are the ones who would seperate the public and private schools.

From this football fans perspective I would rather see this state imitate FL or GA, than the states who have the split. Yes, I know TX is split, but how many TX privates are football powerhouses compared to their public schools which are known powerhouses. I have lived in FL and GA and I have seen privates and publics compete on a pretty even basis. Again, I think TN is unique in that we have VERY small public high schools that most of our neighbors don't have anymore. The problem is not privates here. I say let's see up a 1a class of small public high schools and throw the rest into the mix and divide them evenly. This throws the privates into classes with larger schools and evens out the competition some.

Now Silverpie, you wouldn't advocate us imitating Canadians would you?

I think you're actually making sense now, Antwan. I would rather see us look like FL or GA that South Carolina.

But is it for the reason that privates have a competitive advantage over the publics?

So the envy-mongers are still going at it? Baldcoach, congratulations on a well-played championship. Again, why is this a Tennessee thing? Show me any state where there is the attitude that privates have such an overwhelming advantage that they shouldn't play public schools? Why should Tennessee have this unique distinction of seperating publics and privates solely on the basis on a perceived compet advantage. I still see this as a poor old-country boy envying the rich kid in the big city. Of course, in this case, there are more poor old-country boys than rich city kids.

So why can't publics do better in #1 or #2? Oak Ridge does a pretty good job in those areas.

...And permanantly institutionalize a severe the biggest case of an inferiority complex this country has ever seen. Sorry, the people in this state need to grow up. Read the story about Huntingdon in the Jackson newspaper. See how a community supports its schools and athletic programs. Sorry, in states where public and privates ALL play together you don't hear much complaining about unfairness and cheating. (Of course, I grew up in Illinois where everyone recruits) Again, I say lets bring them all together, put in some real rules and sanctions regarding recruiting (FL has an excellent rules on this) and raise the level of play in the sport of football in this state.