Seldon

Very nice comments, Coach. As a Farragut fan, I heartily accept your apology. Thanks. Now, when are you moving to the next level? Don't you think a young man with your energy and obvious coaching skills ought to be doing your thing at the college level? Besides, I'm sure the rest of the KIL would encourage a move on your part.

bhs, what are you talking about? By "you'd know it", I mean exactly that. No threat, just a statement of fact. I wasn't "going off" on you, just disagreeing. If I were "going off" on you I would not be near as mild and reserve, thus, "you'd know it". Apparently you DON'T remember correctly because I never said a word about the refs handing Bearden anything after the Regional game and I don't know where you came up with that. Made a fool of myself?? I commented about the regular season game last year which, yes, I believe they handed Bearden and clearly explained why. In addition, I have yet to find anyone to refute the obviously poor call at the time. Farragut lost the Regional this year because they didn't play well enough when it counted. I would suggest that you get your facts straight before attempting to call someone out. As for me, I will stand by my words and actions because I can substantiate and offer credible examples for any claim I make. I have been consistent in saying that last year, Bearden was the better team. In turn, it is quite apparent that this year, Farragut was the better team. As for comments about fans, no one ever implied that EVERY Bearden fan was a poor fan. I know several who are very gracious and pragmatic; always have been, always will be. I also know some who are absolutely the worst; who actually believe that every time Farragut beat Bearden this year was because of the referee; a complete inability to accept that Farragut might just be the better team.

I don't buy that assessment. As a matter of fact, after FHS went to Georgia and beat two of their top 5 teams in as many days, two different fans from Georgia commented that they felt like Farragut played more like a club team than a high school team. I agree.

mrh11 and lcsoccer, You mention Farragut's weaknesses that CBHS would find easy to attack, mind pointing out what they are? This should be interesting.

Oh good grief. Quit trying to rationalize a legitimate call, you sound like a 10 year old. WATCH THE VIDEO!! There is NO question that it was a hand-ball and there is little question that it was on purpose.. Nick may have been trying to get his body in position, but in so trying he OBVIOUSLY extended his arm to block the ball. Get over it! Farragut won, fair and square.

lcsoccer, smaller is not always quicker. If a 140 pounder battles an equally quick 165 pounder, what happens. We're not talking about 140 vs 210.

Irish, there is no issue, I asked you a question. I believe you alluded to the probability that Farragut would have beaten you. I agree, and probably rather handily. What was the score to your game with CBHS? Now do you see why I asked the question?

Hey Irish, How do you guys think you would do against Farragut?

bhswins, I wasn't going off on you and I'm not on your back. Trust me, you'd know it if I was. I just want to make it clear that there was not a controversy on the handball other than what Turner and some Bearden fans are trying to make of it. Spahr clearly, repeat clearly extended his arm with the intention of stopping the ball. That is a violation of the rules and the result was a deserved penalty kick. Eric Turner and some select Bearden fans (not necessarily yourself) just need to face reality and get over it.

Nashville would be perfect for soccer. No team would have home field advantage in the finals. OK, it was a joke, so don't you Middle Tennesseans get your panties in a wad.

I was impressed with CBHS, but to say they would beat either team may be a stretch. They seemed quite talented but I think they may have trouble with the speed and strength of both Bearden and Farragut and with Farragut's depth. Still, it would be a nice match-up.

Thank you bigfrase. Seeing is believing.

That's a lie, they most certainly did. They received it and sent it back to behind where the player had been down. Sorry, try again.

bhswins, You may be correct about pushing up, but check the picture that CoachT has posted or check the video run by Fox Sports in Knoxville last night. Both show that the Bearden defender extended his elbow to stop the ball. Seeing is believing. The handball call WAS NOT controversial to anyone other than the non-objective Bearden fans. The only question is whether or not it was intentional. Whether it was intentional or not does not change the fact that it was a handball and should have resulted in a PK. Turner, and the rest, just need to accept the fact that the better team won, and did so 3 out of 4 times. Turner's remarks were not only way out of line but totally uncalled for.

According to the Sunday article, Turner called Farragut being in Memphis due to the expanded format "a gift". According to Turner himself, in an article on 5/18, "I think bumping the state teams up to eight from four was a good move because you're getting the best teams from a region there," Turner said. "But nobody likes the prospect of playing Farragut again." Gift, huh? I guess we know now why they didn't like the prospect of playing Farragut again. By the way, how was the THIRD goal a gift? No man advantage, no call or non-call by the ref, no PK; Bearden had just as much opportunity to score as Farragut.

Yank, cry and whine, that's what happened with the Bearden fans. Of course Farragut couldn't beat them without the referee cheating. Of course they won with a gift. No credit given to the players or coaches, just complaining that the refs gave the game to Farragut. The refs must have given Farragut TWO goals, but they can't seem to explain the last one. Typical.

Hey Yank, you should have been there after the finals; I think your opinion may have been changed.

Don't know how good "that good" is but something to keep in mind is that the best teams win; they dominate, get by, or win ugly, but they do what they have to do to win. Bearden wins; Farragut wins; sometimes they look great, sometimes they look uninspired, but they win. No other AAA teams in the state can say that this year. Bearden has beaten some very good teams and lost only to Farragut. Farragut has beaten, and at times destroyed some very good teams and has only lost once to Bearden. From what I have seen, these two teams are several steps ahead of every other AAA team around. Period.

Excuse me? There is a HUGE difference between me and Brentwood. I am an individual and Brentwood is a town/school. Perhaps you incorrectly assume I am a Bearden student/player/fan; again you are incorrect. Nothing could be further from the truth. I just know Bearden soccer and am somewhat familiar with Brentwood. If the two played 10 times, Bearden would win 10 times.

Donna, apparently you misunderstand. Bearden played a lackluster game with a ho-hum attituded, and STILL handled Centennial with no problem. I have seen Bearden at their best and believe me, you are lucky you didn't. Brentwood is not near the level of Bearden. As for your "waltz in the park", hey, if it was adulterated years ago by those who misunderstood the expression, it is STILL incorrect. Think about it, what sense does waltz in the park make, anyway? And you don't know what my side of the world is, so don't make assumptions. If you want to see the two best soccer teams in the state, be at MRSC Saturday afternoon. Farragut and Bearden are easily the class of Tennessee. It isn't even close.

The club teams in Knoxville rank very well in the State and region. The 86 Diadora team were State champs and showed well in the Regionals. The 85 Knoxville Select has been one of the better club teams for the past several years with 2 D-I State championships and a Regional semi-final. The core of the Diadora team consists of players from Farragut and Bearden with some players from other East TN schools. Same with the Select. The difference between the Knoxville area and the Nashville and Memphis areas is that there are fewer competitive teams. The Knoxville teams tend to recruit the best players from the area, depleting the talent pool for other teams.

donna-muller, what game were you watching? First of all the handball call was a good call; secondly, Centennial was fortunate to only lose 3-0. Bearden played with little emotion and still clearly dominated the game. The Bearden scores may have been the result of CHS mistakes or strategy, but they were never really in contention. Simply a matter of a superior team playing down to their competition. p.s. The expression is "walk in the park", not waltz.

I don't know, Irish. I've seen a couple of your club-mates have success stopping him. The key is to not give him any room to operate. He's good, but he ain't all that.

Actually mrh11, I'm hoping those good ole McMinn boys ain't real bright and take my words to heart. Farragut can use all the help they can get. Again, just a wee bit of the ole sarcasm.

Farragut is really slow, not very skilled, has a very shallow bench and almost no offensive attack. McMinn should not even play their starters and save them for the semis .