GovMan

Reese McMahan was a very good QB at WBHS.  He also deserves consideration as the best. IMHO

Absolutely OR2.  It's hard for me to pick between the two: Reese and Tyler.  Both great competitors ... great athletes ... played both sides of the football.  Both were great at baseball and basketball as well.  Reese may have been the "toughest" player ever at WB.  I can think of one other qb I really liked a lot, Strong X.  He was the last one to beat Maryville ...

Also, when you mention WB greats, you must mention Tony "Meathead" Robinson and the Walker brothers.   

Yeah.

They just gave up 40 per game last year.

and will win twice as many games.

Got it.

JL,

I'm going to believe we can do it!  Who thought that Julie could beat Ned in "The Next Karate Kid"?  I mean, Ned wasn't as "bad" as you, but he was awfully darn close!

If the staff "stays intact" it can only mean one man.

 

 

C. J. Shores.

With Jimmy Long as O.C.  and Jason Tipton as D.C.

The Process starts today. ...

I'm hearing that "The Skipper" (Skip Murrin) is going to be head coach.  Steve Bledsoe is going to be Offensive Coordinator and Stan Burnett the Defensive Coordinator.  They're talking to former Governor-Kevin White--to be Special Teams coach.  And Ronnie Summey is going to be Director of Football Operations.  Of course this might just be a rumor ...

Gov-Man ole #88 iz a goodur one.....Rebull cards ere a good envessmint......Hit taiks mommaSTARS evur bit ov 10-15 minetts two git thait $10 baick, down att tha El-Jimmydores.......

Stars...I get my money back in Kenjo coffee!

8:30 on a cold,snowy Thursday night and my doorbell rings. I answer the door and it's one of my favorite Red Rebels, Matt Young, going door-to-door in our neighborhood selling Rebel cards. The Govman purchases two ...I'm such a push over! So impressed with this young man...dedicated, hard-working, and so polite.

RR and JL.......Thair wuz onlee one mastur ov tha "cage match" on Perm Hill.....Tha Grait Ron Wright....(bow yorns heads).....Pitchered beelow Ron showin' tha bloody Don Carson whut "peanut butter" rilly tastes like.....

yeah but you gotta be careful because that coal miner's glove on Carson's right hand was loaded with some type of foreign object.  Of course, Ron would then stomp that right foot a few times, thus "loading his boot."

I believe a lot of this is semantics in the athletic culture we find ourselves in.  I have always hated the word "recruiting" when it comes to high school athletics.  It just sounds illegal.  BUT, what I'm finding is, that a good coach has to be able to "sell" their program even to the kids who are already zoned for his/her school.  I'm not just talking football, I'm talking all sports.  

If there is a really good football player at Carpenter's Middle, who is zoned for William Blount or Heritage, is it considered "recruiting" for a WB or Heritage coach to try to talk to that kid--or his family--and sell the merits of attending the school he is supposed to attend?  If that is the definition of recruiting we are talking about, then I believe that coaches must do it.

Do you think it looks good for the football player that came on to the floor and sucker punched Tallent and sent him to the hospital?

As my father always told me, "two wrongs don't make a right."  I missed the game because of a prior obligation, so I'm not qualified to say much other than WHOMEVER was involved in instigating this embarrassing situation needs to be disciplined.  Regardless of whether you were representing WB or representing Maryville.  RW87 ... your comments on an earlier post about how "it has always been this way at WB" do a disservice to a lot of us folks at the school who have tried our hardest to raise our kids the right way and teach them character and responsibility.  It is easy to stereo type people --- county people do it concerning city people and vice-versa.  Truth is, both schools and both groups are made up of people who we need to learn to judge based on their individual actions and merits.  Not fair to lump everyone together--on either side--and make broad accusations.  It was embarrassing, as a WB graduate and supporter, to see the photos in the paper on Saturday.  I hope on both sides of this, that justice is dealt out as best as possible.  Kids will be kids.  They still need to be held accountable for their actions.  But to see parents get involved ... that is disturbing to me.  

OK ... now I'm off to Sunday School!

"The other coach was from down the road where they found the last one..." -- incorrect.

Red,

WB is missing a game on Sept. 25?  Also, interesting Alcoa v Maryville and WB v Heritage on the same night.

Johnny L,

Please don't take out my knee, but I wore the first ever basketball  and baseball uniforms at WB and neither contained "royal blue".  That might have been what the official color was listed as, but in both of these sports, we had more of a light blue--almost greenish color blue-- on our uni's.  Red Rebel or APB, what blue was on the first football unis?  I believe it is safe to say that there has never been a "uniform color" when it came to "uniform colors" at WB.

I was once told by the original A.D. (who happened also to be my uncle) that the reason the very first color of blue didn't stick was because it was difficult to find accessory merchandise (i.e. coach's attire, booster club items, etc.) in that color?  It was supposedly changed then to a more accessible color of blue.  

If he's not there already, I would say that Randall is well on his way to claiming this distinction.  You know, Lee was pretty prominent through college with his basketball accomplishments (especially NCAA tournament records he set) but I think Randall is/has put himself on a whole separate "stage" from the rest.

Govman....where are they going if not WB?

Btw.....Happy New Year to you and your family.

ML,

You hear different things and a lot of it is "here-say" so I usually just try to wait and see, but I know of at least a couple of families from Carpenters that are keeping there options open and have at least explored possibilities of Maryville, Webb, & Alcoa.  Its interesting because Carpenters does not feed exclusively into WB.  Part of their students are zoned Heritage and I believe there is even a "bubble-zone" where the student can attend either.

Happy New Year to you as well friend.  Saw your boy up at the Renasant Tourney yesterday eating a big plate of barbecue.  How does that kid stay so skinny ?!?

Gov you might not believe this but one of the girls on W.B.'s basketball team that has to play on the JV team this year because she transferred from Heritage, I've known since she was born. Next year I will be pulling for her even against Maryville. 

She's an incredible young lady Barn.  Have really enjoyed getting to know her this year.  And she will DEFINITELY help the Lady Gov's next year ... a very solid, capable player.  IF the Lady Gov's can continue to get the players (at least the majority) who are zoned for WB, they have the potential to build something pretty special over the next few years.

Well, with Christmas approaching, here's a rundown (and my ranking) of District 4AAA girls based on the observations I've had in head-to-head play versus William Blount.

1.  Farragut - *has not played WB, but after a slow start, the Lady Admirals seem to be gathering steam.  Quality wins over Maryville, Heritage, and Hardin Valley.

2.  Maryville - impressive win over WB last evening.  Dominated pretty much every phase of the game.  Great upside because they are so young.  

3.  (tie)  Bearden - WB gave them a great game, losing by 4.  Very athletic and they may have a little more depth than Heritage.

3. (tie)  Heritage - Knocked off WB in overtime.  Great senior leadership on this team.  Always well-coached and ready to play.  

4.  William Blount -- exciting / frantic to watch.  Living and dying by the three-point shot.  I thought last night versus Maryville was their poorest performance of the season.  One thing I love though is that they kept playing till the end.  Just seemed like the threes wouldn't fall.  I'm excited about the future because our team is so young and they have shown they are capable of competing with good teams.  Gonna have to start getting to the basket--lay-ups and getting to the foul line.

5.  Hardin Valley - quality team I think, but with losses to WB, Faragut, and HV, this is as high as I could rank them.

6 & 7.  Don't know much yet about Lenoir City nor West.   Lenoir City has more wins, but I did note that West played Heritage a really tight game (3 points I believe at the end).

Second half of the season should be fun!  

My memory is fading in my old age but wasn't there some kind of call several years ago in a Maryville vs Heritage game that the refs completely screwed up on? Some type of misapplication ? Am I just dreaming this?

Hey all you that have already given up on Maryville in the second quarter.  Have you been following the Rebels very long?  Cool your jets a little guys.

Ok...I think all of you forgot about William Blount.  Already beat Gatlinburg Pittman, Webb and Oliver Springs....and Tonight Hardin Valley.  Only loss....Blackman!

etnhoops,

If you'll look back over to the previous page, you will see that the Govman has not "forgot about William Blount".  I kind of like the idea of flying under the radar, but with each win, this gets a little tougher.

From Coach Wilson's son Joel:

"Update on dad: He progressed by leaps and bounds during the night. He woke up and is able to eat. They're moving him out if ICU today. We thank the good Lord for hearing our prayers and thank you for praying with us."

It's good to see the Lady Govs of William Blount getting some attention and moving up on some people's "Top 10" lists.  Coach Wright has a young and very exciting team that is a lot of fun to watch.  I believe one of their defensive sets is called "chaos" but if you ask me, you could just call their whole game plan that !!!  

It's 32 minutes of running, pressing, shooting 3's, and lots of player rotation.  Impressive wins over Webb, Gatlinburg Pittman, and Oliver Springs among others this season.  Took a little bit of a beating last night from Blackman, but I'm fairly certain they won't see too many more teams of that caliber for a while.  (In 30+ years of watching b-ball at WB, Blackman would most likely be the best girl's team I've ever seen take the floor of the Marvin L. Boring Memorial Gym).  One positive take-away, the Lady Gov's came out and won the third quarter against the Lady Blaze (19-9), but then Blackman asserted themselves again in the fourth.

I'm convinced on any given night, WB's girls can beat anyone in their district this year IF their shots are falling.  Their primary deficiency is strong post play, but with the style of game they are playing, they neutralize that fairly well.

Phillip played two years before the team 75 team. We were sophomores his senior year. He lives just up the street from me now. Steve and David Compton were great football players. Steve broke his leg in 76 and that probably cost them a second state championship. He was as tough a guy you would ever meet. The 76 team lost to Rockwood in the semifinal game played at Alcoa. They turned the ball over 4 times which you can't do and win.

If I am recalling correctly I believe Steve broke that leg against Friendsville ...

TopDawg,

Good advice.  Sometimes you don't even realize it.  At one of our home football games this year, I had an acquaintance who was a fan of the opposing team, walk out of the stadium past the press box staring daggers at me.  Honestly, I was / am not aware of how my announcing bothered him, but obviously it did.

As I think about it, I have probably heard more "homer" P.A. announcers at football games than I have basketball games.  How about you?

I hope everybody realizes I was just "joshin" with my Ralph Lauren / cocktail comment !!!  Sorry if that contributed to this conversation degenerating, it was not my intent.  

But dang, think about how good Jimmy Gaylor would look in a RL Polo Cashmere hooded-pull over coaching top!

Can anyone tell me why the TSSAA has made it a rule this year that PA announcers can no longer say anything during live ball situation? Was informed by several refs last week this was a fact. An example of what can't happen since this rule went into effect: John Doe has break away layup and clock would still be running after shot. PA can no longer state that the basket was scored by John Doe, no matter if it was a layup, 3pt, or reverse slam. This has taken the "home announcer"out of the game. wish i knew what the "real" reason for this decision was? I would be interested in hearing from everyone on this especially announcers and coaches. 

I was told recently by one of our boosters that he had heard that "p.a. announcing" was a point of emphasis this year, but he didn't tell me a lot of specifics.  I do know that we have had one team in our district (Knoxville area) where the p.a. announcer was completely "over the top."  Trying to draw attention to himself rather than do his job, which is to simply announce the game.  From experience, it is difficult sometimes to not show more enthusiasm during the game for the home team's made baskets than it is for the visitors.  And maybe that's ok?  I've certainly been guilty of doing it myself.

I am ok with the "home court advantage" of playing run-out music and announcing your team as they take the floor, and putting more emphasis into the introduction of the home team starting line-up, but I do believe there is a "thin line" the p.a. person needs to be careful of crossing during the actual game itself.  I think it is important that the p.a. person realizes that he/she is not a radio/tv play-by-play person.  

I also believe that when your school is hosting a district or regional tournament, that all teams should be treated equally, even during the pre-game.  That's just me though ...