Falconstatman

Hey, FHS rebel 27 I work in Decherd and thought that after work it would be good to go over and check out some of our opponents so I went to the three way scrimmage on Tuesday, but left after the lightning and rain. I couldn't help but notice that Franklin H.S. didn't have very many players dressed out at all. Are your numbers down, or did Tim just leave some back at home. You should be proud because you have a great head coach there in Tim Johnson, of course I am biased because he is a former Falcon.

Thank for the replies guys, but we still don't know for sure then whether or not the super. vetoed the idea of playing at MTSU or not. I agree with you leadoff- Did these people not know that if there was a school that there would also be a football stadium. If they were opposed to that, why did they wait until they started building the stadium to protest? They should have started protesting as soon as they announced they were going to build the school there.

Has anyone heard how the stadium issue has played out for the new school in Murfreesboro. I talked to a Coffee County parent of one of the players today, and he said that right now they don't have anywhere to play the opening game against C.C. which is supposed to be a home game for Siegel. Do I understand right that the neighbors surrounding the school protested about building a football stadium so close to their houses? Did these people not realize that when you built a high school that there would also be a football stadium built there also?

As far as Lincoln County goes it will depend a great deal on how much the Falcons turn the ball over. Last year we turned the ball over 31 times in 11 games, that almost 3 times a game. There was one game in particular, that L.C. out gained the opponent 350 yards to around 150, had 0 yards in penalites, and lost the game by turning the ball over inside the 20 3 times and giving up easy tds. I am not knocking the other team, they did exactly what they should have done by putting the ball in the endzone. That's asking a lot of the defense, putting them in that position that many times and expecting them to come through every time. Most of the seniors that we have this year have been starting since they were sophmores. Maybe this will help in the maturity dept. And while I fully understand that every team is going to turn over the ball some it's just part of the game. We really need to cut down on ours drastically, to do what we are trying to do, and our kids are fully aware of this. Sometimes when you dwell on something too much it becomes much harder to overcome because it's on your mind too much. I read somewhere where former college and pro football coach Jimmy Johnson never used the word "Fumble" he always said to protect the football, because he said that it gets on guys minds too much and makes them even worse fumblers.

If you watch the scrimmage closely you might be able to tell how a team is going to look, at the beginning anyway. When you have one teams first team against the other teams first team you can get a pretty good idea, but that doesn't usually last very long because the coaches will try different players in different positions after a little while and then you really can't get a very good idea about it. But that's what a scrimmage is about, trying different combinations. That's really the main purpose anyway, to put different kids in different places and see how they react in game type situations. And of course I have seen in the past one team jump out to a lead and start substituting players while the other teams leaves their starters in, and come back to take the lead and then brag about beating the other team, which in reality they scored on the 2nd and 3rd. stringers, but a lot of time they don't happen to mention that. But used like it was intended, it is a good tool for the coaches to get a good look at a lot of different kids. And anyway you get tired of beating up on your own teamates and want to hit someone different.

I agree with you completely Jacketpride24. A kid has to love the game now days to be able to play. When you consider that it's pratically a year round sport now. It is extremely hard to play more than one sport now and be sucessful at either. After football season is over you get a little time off, then the off season training starts, then spring practice, then summer weight lifting, then a short dead period, then fall pratice begins in 90 degree heat and two a days. You also lose some kids every year who have to choose whether they want to play sports or get a job so they can get their own car and have spending money and for a teenager that's a tough choice. Now I know that a lot of parents will buy their kid a car when they get old enough but, that's not always the case. I think that the numbers are down almost everywhere because of these factors and others. That makes me think that the kids that you see out there today really do have maybe more of a love for the game, than the others that were out there in the past who were maybe straddling the fence as to whether or not they really wanted to play or not, because several years ago it was not as intense as it is now. And if your heart is not fully in it,or you not quite "sure" you want to be there, or if you are only out there because moma or daddy wants you out there you don't need to be out there anyway.There are also many, many other things for a teenager to do today than there was when I played several years ago. I would rather have 40 kids that really have their heart in it and are serious about it than 90 kids which only half really care what's going on. It gives you much more time with each one to make them better than wasting your time and theirs with someone than really doesn't have their heart in it. I think that Oakland won the state in 84 with about 30-40 kids dressed out so it can be done. Sorry I didn't mean to make his a War and Peace novel, but it takes a little time to get my point across. Thanks

Just out of courisity SD 189, why did Soddy Daisy have 10 starters out? Were they all injured or something else? Not trying to be nosey, just wondering how that many starters could be out at one time. Thanks

Lincoln County Falcons can be heard on 105.5 WYTM-FM in Fayetteville Pre-game at 7:20 and scores from several area schools at half time and post game show. Play by play by Jack Atchley, Color, by Don (Worm) Dickey, and Stats and various comments at half time and post game by Donny, and Shawn Honey

I know that Lincoln County is not in East Tn. but middle Tn. but, Kelly Holcomb of Lincoln County led the Falcons to the state championship in 1990 and played against Todd Helton in the semis, at Neyland Stadium before a huge crowd for a high school game, and started for four years at MTSU. He also is still playing pro football, for the Cleveland Browns, and in the opinion of many people, including myself, should be starting ahead of another pretty good Qb. in Tim Couch (Kentucky). I may be wrong, but, I think that he is the only Qb. from the state of Tn. that is playing in the pro's right now, the kid from MTSU, I can't think of his name but he came in a couple of years after Kelly may be still be in the pros, but I don't know for sure. Kelly had a rifle arm , was very intelligent, and without a doubt, the most mentally tough kid at that age that I have ever saw. I never saw him get rattled on the field. I think that best all around athlete at Qb. that I've seen was without a doubt, Ingle Martin of MBA, I didn't see anything that he couldn't do, and do very well too. The Matthews kid from Tullahoma was also a very good qb. also. That's just my 2 cents worth.

I agree about the Murphy Fair book whole-heartedly, if it doesn't come out before the season starts like it used to, I don't buy it. I can get good info on this site on just about any team that we play, but it is nice to have the copy lying around to pick up and read any time you want. I enjoy reading about teams, in other classifications, in different parts of the state during the season. Myself along with three others do the games on radio and it makes it much easier to have the book to use as a guide in show prep. While it isn't Murphy's fault, there are always kids that transfer, quit, or get kicked off the team between spring practice and fall pratice that remain in the write-up's about the teams. Last year we had two or three that were written in as starters or key players that were no longer even on the team. Maybe this year the book will be out by at least late July anyway.

Yes I agree, he is a talent. I hope that it's not true for his sake. He had a pretty good game last year against us. It is such a waste for some of these kids, we have sure had our share of this type of things. We've had 3 Mr. Football's and only one that I know of went on to complete college and graduate and that was coach Thompson's son Jay.

I saw a post earlier this week that said that Oakland had lost one of their top players, and I noticed that there's nothing about it on now. was this just a rumor? I hope so, because you hate to see someone become ineligible because of things such as that. If you did lose him, I know how you feel, we lost 3 players in the off season for various reasons and all were starters last year and two would have been seniors this coming year.

We have changed it somewhat since last year, and have also switched our open date, and will play Warren Co. later in the year. This is the best that I can do at this time, it is pretty close but it may not be exactly correct, especially toward the end. We picked up Chattanooga Howard to fill out a 10 game schedule. Franklin at home Week 0 Blackman at home Week 1 Open Week 2 Riverdale away Week 3 Franklin Co. at home Week 4 Oakland away Week 5 Cookeville away Week 6 Coffee Co. away Week 7 Chattanooga Howard at home Week 8 Warren Co. at home Week 9 Cumberland Co. at home Week 10 I may have the Chattanooga Howard and Warren Co. game flip-flopped . Last year we had our open date towards the end of the season but we swapped the Warren Co. game with the open date this year. I hope this is not confusing as it sounds. Our complete and correct schedule can be found on the www.tssaa.org web site later on in the summer.

Ok, just got in from the L.C./Smyrna scrimmage and here's the results, Overall, L.C. won 6 tds to 2 for Smyrna, in the jv. action L.C. scored 2 tds. to 0 for Smyrna Varsity was L.C. 4 tds to 2 for Smryna. It was a hard fought scrimmage with several hard hits being dished out from both sides. For L.C. leading the way was tailback Josh Gregory with 14 rushes for 165 yards, with two long runs of 68 and 70 yards, the first being on the first play of offense for L.C., after those two long runs all the other yards were much harder to come by. Michael Edmiston finished rushing the ball 11 times for 35 yards and passing he was 5 of 12 for 86 yards,2 ints. Also Charles Emmons rushed the ball 9 times for 78 yards. L.C. finished the night with 307 yds. rushing on 40 attempts and 86 yds passing, for 393 total yards It was another excellent effort by the Falcon defense led by sr. to be L.B. Julius Kelso, facing a good Q.B. in David Wolke who finished the night 7 of 16 for 59 yards, 1 int. Also backup Smyrna Q.B. # 2 (didn't get his name) finished 2 out of 3 for 36 yards. Smyrna also had a couple of good running backs, sorry but didn't get their names having not had a Smyrna roster. Smyrna finished the night with 115 yds rushing on 46 attempts and 95 yards passing, for 210 total yards. Both teams offensive stats reflect both Jv. and varsity action because it's hard to really determine a starting point with a lot of substituting going on. No fumbles lost and 3 ints. thrown by both teams.

Really, to tell the truth, the L.C. defense looked better than the offense, and I know that sounds silly since L.C. scored 5 tds., but Gallatin helped us some by turning the ball over about 4 or 5 times and at least half of those fumbles were the result of a very hard hit by a Falcon defensive player. The top returning defensive players are DL. Lamar Divins, and Theo Horrocks, and Nose guard Caleb Jean, L.B.'s Julius Kelso and Micheal Underwood, Defensive ends, Adonte Hockett and Adam Stubblefield, and Defensive Backs, Chanze and Arrington Bryson. If we are going to make any kind of run we had better do it this year because the majority of the starters are seniors. We have several underclassmen that will see a lot of playing time and have a good sophmore class coming in, but you usually win championships with seniors dominated teams, and most of these kids that start, have started since they were sophmores. The key will again be to not turn the ball over, like we did so many times in critical situations last year( 31 times). That's nearly 3 times a game, (11 games) and you won't win many games doing that. I hope we don't get rained, or should I say stormed out, again Monday night against Smyrna, we'll just have to wait and see.

Anyone got any scores or details from the Franklin Co. - Lavergne, or the Coffee Co. - Shelbyville scrimmages?

The Smyrna scrimmage was postponed today (Sat) until Monday at 6 o"clock at L.C. . As far as Michael Edmiston, our QB. I haven't really talked to him about where he is going to go to college. I know that he has been sent several letters from quite a few schools but just who exactly I don't know. He is a very good athlete that can probably play several positions. He has a very strong arm and can throw the long ball very well, he just probably needs to work on the intermediate throws to become a complete qb., but he is no slouch even at that. He's probably at his best when things break down and he takes off running, he has excellent speed (timed at 4.5 in the forty) and is pretty illusive even at 6ft.2 about 215 lbs. I mean everyone can improve on their game reguardless of how good they are. We're looking forward to seeing the Smryna Qb. Monday, he is supposed to be one od the top three or four Qb.'s in the state and one publication has him listed as the 6th Qb.in the country. Hope the weather holds out! Smyrna got all the way down here today and had to turn around and go back home because of the bad weather.

L.C. scrimmaged Gallatin on Monday at Gallatin, and both teams had a pretty good showing. On the J.V. side Gallatin won 2 tds. to 0, With L.C. turning the ball over on downs (10 plays each on offense) on the Gallatin 1 yd. line. On the Varsity level L.C. beat Gallatin 5 tds. to 2. L.C. scored 2 tds.on long passes and Gal. scored 2 on long runs by their Qb. which looked to be a very promising young athlete with very good speed. After about 2 series each both teams substituted different players in and out for the remainder of the scrimmage, which is what a scrimmage is intended for anyway, to get a good look at a lot of different kids in different situations. Gallatin turned the ball over several times on fumbles, some just plain dropping it, or mishandling a handoff, and other times by just good hits by the L.C. defense. The standout for Gallatin had to be without a doubt, the Q.B. #17 (who also played defense) who I don't know his name but, I'm sure we will after the season starts. For L.C., Q.B. Michael Edmiston had a solid effort running and passing the ball for 112 yards and 2 tds. Jr. Tailback Josh Gregory had 115 yds rushing and Soph running back Charles Emmons also added 139 in both jv. and varsity action. L.C. hosts Smyrna Saturday at 3p.m. at Falcon Stadium.

I was curious as to this myself. I attended the game against Huntland and I though that Colinwood left their starters in the game way longer than I thought they would with the lead that they had. And although I don't have a dog in the race, I talked to several people that went to the Cascade game and they though the same there. While it is the offense's job to try to score I guess it is just each individual coaches descision on how many points they need to score. The only thing is, every year you lose good ballplayers, and the shoe might be on the other foot later on down the road, and coaches do not forget if they think the score has been run up on them.

I fully understand what you are saying lawdawg. Maybe a warm front will come through before Friday! HA! No chance of that I'm afraid. It does worry me that the cold weather will bother the Falcons much more than the Jets, because we're are not nearly as big as the Jets, no body fat on our skill people, although our lineman will probably not be bothered nearly as much. Like I said earlier if the Falcons can eliminate the turnovers that have killed us all year, then we will have a good chance, if not we're in trouble. You cannot beat good football teams turning over the ball.

I think that key to the game will be turnovers, and the fact that C.C. has a huge line that might wear down L.C. But L.C. has fumbled the ball 28 times this year which is ridiclous. It always seems to come at the worst posible time in the game. That has really hurt us this year, and although I know that the kids are not doing it on purpose, it is way more fumbles than it should be.I don't keep up with points after turnovers, for the opposition, and it's probably a good thing that we don't, it would probably make us sick. I think that C.C. will most defendantly have the size advantage, along with the home field advantage, while L.C. should have the speed advantage, and I hope the temperature isn't as bad as some are saying, for Friday night. I hope they have a heater in their pressbox or I may freeze to death!

Yes, the Lincoln County QB.'s name is Micheal Edmiston, and he is a great talent, but, that having been said, we cannot continue to make the mistakes that we made in the 3rd. qt. tonight, and hope to beat a good football team like McCallie Both teams played hard, and Qb. for McCallie is a great ballplayer himself.When you turn over the ball 3 times in your own territory in the second half against a good team you are not going to win. But, it's been that way all year, it seems like we shoot ourself in the foot almost game, but, I guess that's the growing pains you have when you have a young football team like L.C. has. Mostly all Sophs.and Jrs. But give credit to McCallie they didn't quit when we went up 14-0 in the 1st. qt. They just kept plugging along. Good luck the rest of the year and in the playoffs.

Just wondering how the region playoff picture was shaping as far as who will finish 2-4, I know that Riverdale will probably finish 1st.

It is funny that about every year someone starts a rumor that Coach Rankin is leaving and it never pans out. Well I'll tell you, if Coach Lewis Thompson retires after next year, ( And I hope he doesn't) like has been said, we will gladly take Coach Rankin down here at L.C. The man is a good football coach and that's the bottom line.Seems he is never given the proper credit that he deserves, it's always that he has so much more talent than the other teams, and at times he probably does but not always. The problem is, we probably can't afford to pay him as much as the bigger schools could pay him.

I think this is right. If L.C. beats Cumberland Co. and Franklin Co. beats Cookeville, then It's Franklin Co.-Cookeville-L.C.-Cumberland Co. If C.C. and F.C. both win then it's C.C-F.C.-Cook.-L.C. If C.C. beats L.C. and Cookevile beats F.C. then it's Cookeville-C.C.-F.C.-L.C. If L.C. loses to C.C.then they(L.C.)are 4th regardless of how F.C. and Cookeville come out. I hope this is close to correct.:confused: