boyfromsi

VG,

Thanks for the kind words. Yes, I am nice guy, but I love high school football, even though growing up in a basketball state. Tennessee may not have the greatest concentration of blue-chip football players, but dang-it, I'll put the typical Fri. night game atmosphere in this state against anyones. That is why as a fan I am more than just a little ticked at the current football alignments. I hope you coaches can see that as well. BTW, one thing this state has on FL is the quality of the football coaches. Much better here.

Takedown,

I'm still laughing....actually as long as I pay to get into games I will find a way to express my opinion to the powers that be. Actually, how do we fans let the TSSAA know what we think?

That is true. I guess I need a history lesson here: why then was BA a 5a school? I guess I don't buy the argument that the larger school don't want them or MBA or whoever else in the higher classes. Maybe they do, but it is the wimp's way out. I guess where I come from it is not unusual to see a private school of almost 2000 students. We could argue the meaning of fairness until the cow come home, but what I have seen in most of this debate is that fairness is being defined as what is "fair to me." One part of the debate I am most distressed about is the assumption that privates can only be successful by cheating somehow. I did not go to a private high school, but my wife did. From my experience, it's not the schools that search, but the parents who search out the schools. I know that runs counter to the predudice of the majority of posters to this forum, but I'm sorry it is true 99.99% of the time. The other is called recruiting. However, the fact that parents choose should not ever be thought of as evil or some kind of unfair competitive advantage.

I do not favor a total split, but a system like Florida's where the schools are brought together at the state semi-final level. (I hope I got that right). That may still make the Cloudland folks howl, but at least you know the stronger small schools might not get picked off early in the playoffs. All that I know, to completely split the privates and publics simply because of who they are does nothing but harm to Tennessee athletics.

Pujo,

You are way too kind. Now that we agree, let's start working on the rest of board. I'm ready to see the best play the best. Shoot, I'm ready for Riverdale to have playoff competition before the semis. Heheh.

Silverpie,

Thanks for the update. I wish the TSSAA would study FL's solution to what I feel is our problem. As far as the larger privates, let's bring them altogether. I couldn't imagine a FL playoff with St. Thomas playing Tallahassee Lincoln or Pensacola Pine Forest. That is real football competition. What we have now is much less. I wish our state athletic authorities would make that a major factor in their decision making.

Pujo,

I agree very much with your assessment. Your school (Cloudland) is an excellant example of a community that prides itself on excellence on the field. I don't think you all could be more dedicated. Hopefully I can get around to seeing you all play. As far as the split, if you take out the privates from Class A (in football), that still leaves 40 schools. To me, that would be more than enough to make a class.

Now, only if the powers that be could listen to some reason.

Having just lived in Florida. I would say that there athletes are definitely better across the board. They are hugely underrated in the National media. I would say that the Fri. night game atmosphere in better in East TN. I had a blast last year.

Neil Thompson

Oak Ridge

Pujo,

Can we face facts here. Sunbright is never going to win a football championship in the state of Tennessee. However, my first high school football game I watched was their game with Wartburg Central last year. It also happened to be the best game atmosphere I witnessed all of last season. There are many schools across the country who have never won a state championship in any sport, but they still gladly field a team. Trust me, I am sympathetic to the plight of small rural schools. Check out what the Florida High School Athletic people did with small schools. They seperated them out into a much smaller class, recognizing that there was an insurmountable talent difference between them and metro area privates. I don't see why TN could do the same. I would limit the class size to about 30 schools. (which is still almost the size of DIV II). And, if I got my count right, would cluster those schools at less than 300 students per school. What do you think?

Neil Thompson

Oak Ridge

(new to the state)

oops!! That should be pretty GOOD defensive line.

... Still hoping for an intelligent discussion on Oak Ridge Football.... anyway, we should be a better team, the only hanging question is replacing a pretty defensive line. However, the schedule is pretty brutal. We have DB, Sevier, Ooltewah and Soddy Daisy on the road. That said, I am glad we are playing 2 strong teams from our neighboring region. I like the strong competition. See ya tribe in Sept. at your place!!

Neil Thompson

Oak Ridge

RHS,

I am new to this state and I live pretty close to Rockwood (Oak Ridge) and frankly from an outsiders perspective, the forced split between privates and publics is some sort of sick joke. I have lived in Illinois, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida and now Tennessee. If the problem is indeed between very small public schools (such as Roane and Morgan county schools) and metro privates, then seperate just the small publics into a class of their own (like Florida) and bring everyone else together. When comparing states, I don't think that any state our size has public high schools this small that haven't already been consolidated. So... I do somewhat understand Rockwood's (and even more so Sunbright's) plight. However, the TSSAA has made a grave error with the DIV I / II split. Bring em back.

Neil Thompson

boyfromsi

Oak Ridge

Based on what I have seen this spring (I know spring practice often doesn't predict the fall results) oak ridge fans will see a much improved team.

Boyfromsi

Recent FL transplant

I am new to Tennessee. I grew up in S. Illinois, went to college in Arkansas and have worked in GA, FL and TN. From an outsiders perspective, I am appalled that the TSSAA is even contemplating splitting out the publics and privates, much less doing it. From strictly a fans perspective, this is very bad for high school football in this state. I personally want to see the best play the best, period.

Frankly, there is too much envy going on here that will, in the long run, hurt the sport of football in this state.

Given that, I am sympathetic to the plight of small town schools having to compete with metro area privates. It is a problem. However, I think if you look at Georgia's experience with the multiplier, that is the better solution. In other words, put the privates with the bigger schools.

From what I know, he has been much more valuable to the team as a defensive end. And, after seeing him in the weight room yesterday, we should see very good things from him there again this fall. But, of course, you never know what the summer will bring.

Boyfromsi

***Go! Wildcats, Go!***

Cory Booker, if he can stay healthy and play every game (missed 4 games last year) he should have a great finale year for his career.