TankTalk

I just got to work with Coach Puryear one year, but what a heck of a nice guy. I really hope he lands on his feet, in a good situation.

I just got to work with Coach Puryear one year, but what a heck of a nice guy. I really hope he lands on his feet, in a good situation.

Obviously, you read my comments the way you wanted to read them.

This doesn't come from this year's decision, but from years of obvious bias to the eastern part of the state. I, personally, would love to find a corporate sponsor and begin handing out a couple of East Tennessee awards alone, using an actual fair and KNOWN panel to choose the winners.

Gaston Miller's numbers speak for themselves. Riverdale's dominance in the Mr. Football awards speaks volumes about that outstanding program, but there is no way since 1993 that no East Tennessee player doesn't deserve that award as well.

For you to accuse me of trying to diminish a young man's accomplishments without knowing what I do for a living, or the time-consuming effort I have put forth to make sure student-athletes get what they deserve, is not fair at all. Is it arrogance on your part? I don't know ... I don't make judgements about people I don't know personally.

I was simply saying to me personally, the award is a joke. I should have said process, I give you that much. To let so many pick the finalist is one thing, by the way, I know of some 14-year old webmasters who are able to pick the Mr. Football finalist, because they have taken the painstakingly long five minutes to fill out the form on the TSSAA website. What I want ... is to KNOW who makes up the final portion of the selection committee.

I will find out, because I want to truly see if it is a body of the media that is well represented by ALL parts of the state. It wouldn't hurt to let the public know those facts.

This is true, to a certain point. Do you honestly think the TSSAA would give actual money to the schools? What they will do, is give the schools a rebate off their membership fees.

Once again, I have been proven wrong about the heart in Hermitage. But in all seriousness, PLEASE buy your tickets from the schools so they can lower their membership fees.

If you purchase your ticket in advance from a local School that is participating they will get some of the money from the ticket sale, all money from the gate at MTSU will benefit T$$AA!

The initial vote is just for the three finalist. The FINAL decision is not from that pool, according to what I have been told. Some super, secret panel of people make the final decision on the three finalist.

The Mr. Football Award to me, is a joke now. It has been and always will be. Hats off to those that win, I am sure they are all deserving.

I want to make clear, this is no way a knock on the kids that take this award home, it is a huge honor. But I have been going to "dog and pony" shoes by the TSSAA for 17 years and it sickens me to hear the big wigs talk to large crowds.

I would act sincere as well, if I was making a six-digit income off the sweat of kids who had to wash cars to buy uniforms.

If I was betting, I would say the Butler kid from ... Riverdale. Sorry, maybe next season.

I was researching the Mr. Football award, especially in 5A football and I was simply amazed. Has anyone ever seen the "select" list of media members who gets to make the final call on this?

I am not taking anything away from winners, but you would think they would spread it out some to players in the east and west, just to make themselves look better and not so biased to middle Tennessee.

After looking at the numbers, I want to congratulate Gaston Miller on the Mr. Football award, becoming the sixth Riverdale player since 1993 to take home the award. He is very deserving and is a great representative of the award.

To the other two finalist, who will be playing for a state championship, you had a pretty good season as well.

p.s. Please delete or close one of these, for some reason I got a double job ... very sorry.

I was researching the Mr. Football award, especially in 5A football and I was simply amazed. Has anyone ever seen the "select" list of media members who gets to make the final call on this?

I am not taking anything away from winners, but you would think they would spread it out some to players in the east and west, just to make themselves look better and not so biased to middle Tennessee.

After looking at the numbers, I want to congratulate Gaston Miller on the Mr. Football award, becoming the sixth Riverdale player since 1993 to take home the award. He is very deserving and is a great representative of the award.

To the other two finalist, who will be playing for a state championship, you had a pretty good season as well.

Let's not soil the pages of CoachT.com with speak of the "chicken man." I have already threatened his life about wearing that hat in Murfreesboro!

I don't know bounder, the seating alone is 8,000 I was told. You throw in the four deep on the fence, both hills covered, my estimate is actually closer to 11,000 ... but I was terrible in math.

Let's keep on bragging on all these young men, cause both sides played a good game. Oak Ridge just won (finally).

As for the offical attendence I'll try to find out monday. For some reason that figure is hard to find sometimes. Maybe our AD is trying to keep the numbers from Mr. Carter and the T$$AA. My bad, that would never happen but I just had to get a dig in on the T$$AA. I will try to get the numbers. My guess would be 8500 but what do I know I'm only the cooking coach.

Count me in

The online guy picked the wrong story ... I have no idea how that got in there, but I did go back and forth on my selection.

I thought I had totally deleted my first draft, but those online gurus have a way of finding things. I think the one that ran in the printed newspaper is the one that counts ... at least I am counting it to my total.

well tank how about an official apology for you goin against our boys in the paper what were you thinkin you got to believe this is a great team that will go all the way

well, that story is part of my season-long "First Look" series. Would be rather silly to talk about Oak Ridge there, when it is designated as a gander at their opponent.

Is it Friday yet?

The steps will just tire out the fat sports editor ... they really should provide me with a cart or something I can ride back up the hill on.

Not scared, but they will be watching to see who the steps tire out.

 

Anybody ever fallen down them? Now that WOULD be embarressing.

I can't figure out much about this match-up, but I can pretty much guarantee that Riverdale will not be scared when Oak Ridge walks down those 72 steps ...

All of that cooking has affected your brain ...

Like I've said before I'm the tall,slender,good looking one. Some people will debate the goodlooking part. And I'm usually running my mouth. Just ask for Bounder, I'll be over the grill and wearing a black apron that says "Cookin Coach"

Best I can do is meet ya in Cookeville Dad. I will sing to you as I drive you to Blankenship ... will that do?

I feel rather guilty that I will be getting paid to watch this game ... I am very excited and know this will be a LONG week.

Best of luck to two great programs.

After reading some of these posts, I now realize that Oak Ridge was just lucky in the first game against Farragut.

The line at OR can't block, Spencer can just run one play, the coaches are sad ... how in the heck did they ever win? I am really scared now about Friday's game, the Admirals will come to Blankenship and show the Wildcats how to play football.

Many more posts and I may pick the Admirals by close to 50 against the lucky Wildcats.

I can confirm that Spencer Gulmire is a finalist for the 5A back. I don't have any other names, however.

I have been wearing out my "On Demand," watched it four times this week.

Tank, do you know if there will be a replay of last weeks game on CSS?

It was so early when I saw DB, that I can't get a real read on this game. Playing there will be a great advantage, but my heart says Ooltewah wins this one.

Someone told me he was the QB during the 60-62 years, so according to that, he would have been 0-3 against the 'Cats.

Here is the series overall record, thanks to the Voice of the Wildcats, David Clary:

1957 13-27 (L)

1958 27-0 (W)

1959 13-7 (W)

1960 7-0 (W)

1961 33-7 (W)

1962 20-19 (W)

1964 7-13 (L)

1966 13-27 (L)

1967 13-25 (L)

1968 7-7 (T)

1969 21-14 (W)

1970 13-28 (L)

1971 12-7 (W)

1979 50-0 (W) State quarterfinals

1993 18-15 (W) State quarterfinals

1997 23-7 (W)

1998 6-3 (W)

Oak Ridge leads the series 11-5-1

Old time Cat fans love to play the Toppers. Some still call them Johnson City. We played a bunch in the 50's, 60's, 70's. Tank, or David C, what's the all time series record against these guys. If I remember correctly the last one was decided by a 41 yard field goal into the wind and driving rain, 6-3. I thought that kick would never get there.