missingthesouth

Not even close...........Maryville vs. Alcoa. I've got buddies from Northeast and South Carolina who started coming to the game in 1999 and have only missed the 2004 and 2006 games since.

QUOTE (appstatefan24 @ Dec 7 2008 - 02:35 PM)

was it just me or did Maryville seem very unorganized

I knew an app state player who used to wear number 24. Are your initials MM?

As a Maryville follower, Congrats on a great season. Congrats to Hillsboro. Hillsboro was the better team on the field and the scoreboard. Two well coached teams. Congrats to Hillsboro. You deserve to be State Champs.

Too bad. I wanted Gaddis and Quarles to go head to head. Good luck to Maryville and Hillsboro.

I thought Jordan had a broken collarbone and was done for the year?

Thought I better start this thread now cause if not people will just sink off till around spring. I know we did grades for coaching in the middle of the season but now that the season is over I`m interested in seeing how everyone grades the individual units as well now. Might as well give mine to kick things off

 

QB-We didn`t ask ask Zack to do very much in the passing game, so when we did we basically had to have perfect execution because there weren`t many chances for Zack to get into any kind of rhythm. The passing game was up and down for the most part, can`t say that we passed very well or very badly. Zack did do a very good job running the offense and managing the game(at least when the got the play in on time) Option was up and down much like like the passing game, its hard to gauge how well we executed the option because we may have been calling for Zack to hand off more than keep and set up the pitch. Didn`t seem to me that we actually got out and ran the option very much.

Grade-B+

 

RB/FB- I`m going to say up front that the grade for this group is going to lower than it should just because of the sheer number of fumbles we had. We lost some games for no reason other than turnovers, and fumbles from this group was a large part. Other than fumbles I thought our backs did a very good job considering how many men in the box they had to run against. We basically rode Brooks to wins in most games.

Grade-B-(should be an A)

 

WR/TE- We underutilized this unit for much of the season, so its very hard to give out a grade. Most of the times our WR just blocked, we did have a great average per catch number from all of our WR's(none averaged below 9yds a catch but we only completed 24 passes all year) We didn`t use our TE at all, forget glorified blocker, our TE was just an extra linemen.

 

O-line- Another unit thats very hard to grade, we asked our line to block 8 guys just about every play. Its a wonder we were able to move the ball going up against that many guys in the box. Personally I think the line did a great job considering the circumstances, we had our share of guys get beat, but we also dominated the line of scrimmage at times. My grade might surprise some people, if it does just consider how hard it is to block as many guys as we faced most games

Grade-A-

 

D-line-Tell of two units, we got great production from our DT's, but our DE's barely ever showed up. I can`t think of another time when we`ve had two playmakers at the DT spot. We probably have had similar guys before my time, but I`ve never seen it at Jeff County. The only thing this unit didn`t do very well was rush the passer, which is where our lack of playmaking DE's came in IMO

Grade-B+

 

LB-Like most good Jeff County good teams, the strenght of the defense was in the LB's(especially in the middle). Yeary was a search and destroy missile all year, we haven`t seen one LB make so many plays on his own since who Todd Collins? Out of all guys we`ll miss next year, Yeary has to be at the very top.

Grade-A+

 

CB/Safety-Achilles heel of the defense, I know we had some injuries, and we didn`t put our guys in the best position to make plays, but when it came down to it we simply didn`t get it done in the secondary. Secondary got better when McFall was put at CB, but we still struggled overall.

Grade-C-

 

Special teams-Didn`t add a kicker till right before the 1st game, so its a wonder we were so good in the kicking game. Kicker came in a did a great job(S.Hill comes to mind), punting was up and down but we didn`t lose because of it. Did some good things returning when we had the chance, and we really never gave our opponent a chance to set up a return.

Grade-A

 

I`ll save coaching grades for another day, thoughts?

Is the mercy rule in effect in the playoffs? I've seen two Maryville games in the past 3-4 years and both those were semi-final games against Tennessee High and last year against M'Town West. If I recall, the Tennessee High game was about 35-0 in the 2nd quarter. I think the West game last year was 28-0 and Maryville more/less took a knee with the ball inside the M'town West 40 with less than a 2 minutes to play in the half.

Still in effect in playoffs?

20-19 Maryville

Todd Collins Jefferson County

Science Hill is bake sale away from Spurrier hire

By RON MORRIS

rmorris@thestate.com

SCIENCE HILL HIGH School is not giving up. The rumors continue to circulate this week in Johnson City, Tenn., that the school’s favorite son, Steve Spurrier, will be its next football coach. Keith Turner, Science Hill’s athletics director, can hardly contain himself with anticipation of Spurrier walking the Hilltoppers sideline.

“It would be a dream come true,” Turner said when reached by telephone late last week. “It would be a once-in-a-lifetime thing for a high school to have someone of that caliber come back. The interest, participation, support is going to be magnified beyond what you would ever imagine.”

Turner confirmed the job had been offered to Spurrier.

“If he wants it, it’s his,” Turner said. “There wouldn’t be any interviewing with him. We know what he can do. All he’s got to do is just tell us.”

Spurrier could not be reached for comment. He said on Saturday when his contract with South Carolina was extended to six years and by $500,000 annually that he is happy in Columbia. He said is not interested in any other job, although he was coy in not addressing the one in his boyhood home of Johnson City.

Eric Hyman, USC’s athletics director, was stunned to learn of Science Hill’s continued interest in Spurrier.

“Miami and Alabama are one thing; Science Hill is quite another,” Hyman said. “I hope this does not mean we have to renegotiate Steve’s contract again.”

One source very, very close to the scene in Columbia and Johnson City said everything points to Spurrier leaving the college ranks, even without a day of coaching experience at the high school level.

That source is a close relative of Spurrier. OK, it’s his brother Graham, who lives about two blocks from Science Hill High. (Hey, sources do not get any closer than that). Graham Spurrier did not request anonymity in speaking to The State about his brother.

“They’ve been down the last several years, mediocre at best,” Graham Spurrier said of the Hilltoppers. “So they’ve needed a new shot in the arm. Maybe he’d be the perfect choice to give them a shot in the arm and bring their competitiveness back.”

Spurrier often has said that he selected USC because of its football history, or lack thereof. His mantra at USC has been about accomplishing “a lot of firsts.” That was reason enough for Spurrier to give Miami and Alabama, schools with storied traditions, the brush-off during the past couple of weeks.

Well, Science Hill can offer the same less-than-stellar football history as USC. As a player, Spurrier led the Hilltoppers to a state high school baseball championship, but Science Hill fell short in basketball and football when he was there in the early ’60s. In fact, Science Hill never has won a state football championship, and the program has fallen on hard times the past few seasons. John Bowles, the former coach, could not manage a .500 record in his eight seasons.

Worse, Bowles’ teams did not fare well against Dobyns-Bennett High School from nearby Kingsport. Just as Mike Shula probably lost his job because his Alabama team did not defeat rival Auburn in four seasons, so too did Bowles’ tenure conclude without a win against its closest rival. Science Hill’s losing streak against Dobyns-Bennett is 13 games.

“That would change in a hurry,” Turner, the school’s athletics director, said of having Spurrier as coach. “The ability is here, the athletes are here. Steve’s offensive schemes would be tremendous with the athletes we have.”

Science Hill and Johnson City have still more to offer Spurrier, who has long owned eight apartment units near the high school. Turner and Graham Spurrier confirmed that the Johnson City Country Club and The Ridges, an exclusive private golf course in Johnson City, would offer free year-round membership to the new coach.

Since Science Hill already plays its home games at Memorial Stadium’s Steve Spurrier Field, Turner has assured Spurrier that the school’s baseball field and basketball gymnasium also would bear his name.

Money might seem to be an issue, but Turner said the school’s booster club is taking up donations to help increase Spurrier’s salary. Turner has a couple of aces in the hole as well.

Science Hill High alumnus Matt Czuchry, more commonly known as Logan Huntzberger on TV’s “Gilmore Girls,” has indicated to Turner that he will make a sizeable contribution to the Spurrier cause. Then there is Science Hill High graduate Andrea Millen Rich, the wife of New York real estate millionaire Howie Rich. Turner is confident the Rich family will make Spurrier very happy when he accepts the Science Hill job.

“We’ve ironed out most of the details of the contract,” Turner said.

Turner said Spurrier fans should not read too much into the coach’s decision to continue recruiting for USC and to lead the Gamecocks in the Liberty Bowl late this month. Turner said he could wait for a decision about his new football coach well into the summer.

He added that it might not be a coincidence Spurrier has plans to play golf in Johnson City this summer.

You have to give credit to both coaches. Neither were as dominant before Rankin and the current Maryville coach were at their respective schools. Who wins? Who knows? Would be a heck of game! Classification doesn't matter. I think Alcoa would have won all but 4A this past year.

Maryville again.

Great Job Stanton and the Wildcats.

28-0 Maryville. Sounded like it could have been 42 or 49 zip. One thing I don't understand with M'town West is that with such a great running game, seems like they would take spring ball and fall practice to develop a passing game. When you know you have strong running attack, you can let that sit aside during the time when the games or scrimmages don't count or you have weaker opponents and develop a passing attack. Throw it 25-30 times in a scrimmage to make sure you are at least competent in the passing game come later in the season when it really matters. Unless you are a Melrose or a Hillsboro who can big play you with the run, I think you have to be able to be balanced with your offense. Surprising West didn't make this game any more competitive. Congrats to Maryville. I'm not sure I would have thought they would be sitting where they are right now based on what pre-season predictions were.

The only Rebel game I saw this year was the Powell game. Powell coaches abandoned the run too much in the game. Watts is the most elusive, hard to tackle player in the region. If the Powell coaches would be patient with the running game and stay away from the pass, i.e letting Watts run around, they would have a great chance to beat Maryville. If I were the Powell coaches, I would let Watts carry the ball 50 times Friday night, i.e Roll out or running the option.

They did move it and I agree that Central did a good job on that last drive, but, Maryville always seems to score enough to win. I think Central has a great QB but I think he tried to do too much tonight and he forced some throws. I'm sorry that he couldn't pull it out tonight. He is a class act and deserves all the credit in the world for being a gutty performer; however, Maryville seems to always make the plays when it has to.

Do I think Central could beat Maryville if they played again? NO. And I don't think it will be as close as it was tonight. But hey, I never pick the right lottery number so I'm sure I could be wrong with picking Maryville over Central later on. All I know as they will meet again and I won't have the opportunity to watch on TV. Too bad those teams can't play for a State title.

I think inside the 20 is called the red zone??? And I'm sure you would agree inside the 20 is called "threatening the endzone".

I thought Central's offense was better than what they showed. The Maryville Defense is better than I thought. Looks like Maryville will move thru the playoffs again. I think Central's best chance to beat Maryville was tonight. With Maryville's Defense, they look to be moving toward M'freesboro again. Central's offense never threatened the endzone and I don't think Maryville will give them gimme TD's again like they did tonight. Maryville played unlike Maryville tonight and still won.

Maryville will have to have success running the ball until the QB gets some confidene. I've heard that Baker (5'10-190) is a back that will be hard to bring down. I think if the Maryville QB has some positive throws early in the game, Maryville will a good chance at beating Alcoa. If the QB plays not to lose, then Maryville will have a hard time winning. I can't see Maryville playing not to lose, they seem to always play to win. If they are going to lose, they play to lose big, which means they play to win. There are no moral victories for them. Maryville's coaching staff has always taken chances. I think the one thing that has been successful for Maryville is that they have always played to win. I wouldn't be surprised if Maryville does an onside kick if they kick off first. They always seem to do the unexpected. They will take chances which in my mind makes a team more effective. When Maryville is outmanned, they seem to surprise by using surprising plays.

The Maryville front 7 is as good as Maryville has had in the last 10 years. Too bad #98 graduated as he was a heck of player but I still think Maryville has a decent shot at stopping Alcoa. They will be challenged by the great running backs Alcoa has. Maryville's D will have to carry the load as many have said for Maryville to beat Alcoa.

Any truth to the rumor that South Carolina (Spurrier) is now recruiting Thompson?

I'm a friend of a person at UT. I went to UT to visit him a couple weeks ago and got the pleasure of watching UT practice. I got to the complex and Maryville and Alcoa were finishing practice. I wondered........if Maryville recruits, why wouldn't the players that I saw practicing for Alcoa not be practicing for Maryville. #1, #2, and #3 for Alcoa looked like much more imposing players than anyone Maryville had practicing for them. I would like to know the facts on the recruiting....why wouldn't Maryville have those guys if they were recruiting as hard as much as people say on here. Just curious? Maryville doesn't have anyone at the skilled positions as talented or imposing as those 3.

Does anyone have the facts on recruiting? If Maryville is recruiting, they should be playing in Div. 2. If they are recruiting, they are doing a poor job.

Good post GWAVE1. Gallatin had the late Corey Lewis (class act), Bubba Dunn, Gibson, and Talley. Great team. Would have been state champs had the game been 3 quarters. Gallatin ran out of steam at the end.

Jeff County 87. Their speed could play with the teams today. I've not seen a better player than Todd Collins in high school since.

I watched the regular season Central game and the semi-final game against T'High and #52 looks like he has size and the ability to run. Just a junior I think. I saw him run down the Central tailback on a screen pass from behind. I would say he has D-1 potential because of decent size and athletic ability. Looks like he has the ability to make plays inside on D.

Jeffrey Smith is an athletic player which I think may be a bit undersized for 1-A but is a legit 1-AA player. I don't know if he is getting many looks but should at the very least at the 1-AA level.

Thanks Somedude. I'm out of state so TV won't be an option. I'll log onto BCR. Thanks again.