ULfan

I think alcoa will whip them like a pup

You are probably not helping your chances being on this board.

I heard carp coached, Smith came in late and might be out this week due to Family emergency. Do you know.

I find it hard to believe that Elizabethton has done this poorly, as the largest AA school in the conference they really seem to have struggled. What seems to be the problem, is their just no talent.

Is it true that JC had some players out or is that just rumor, if so who was missing.

UH has a good record but not played a real tough schedule. Hampton is good but I think they are peaking too early. Cloudland has played a tough schedule and battled through numerous injuries. Unaka is battling injuries now. I think this conference is up for grabs. The next two weeks will establish a clear cut favorite.

No disrespect but Hampton beat a much better Unicoi team last year. This year unicoi lives by the jumper and on a bad night anybody could beat them. Lets wait til march and see who the Class of 1a and 2a in East tenn is.

I will be more than glad to talk about it come March. You guys better believe that it is tough to Knock off Cloudland, Unaka and Hampton come tournament time. However, I am glad to see you buffed up your schedule.

You guys want make state, while you are playing Washburn, Unaka and Cloudland are playing Knox Bearden and UH is playing Greeneville just a little different level I think. You have to play tough teams to be tournament ready and win sub-state games.

The question was asked what about UH this year that is their conference teams, I was giving my preseasson picks.

My predictions Hampton, Cloudland, Unaka, UH, North Greene. But thats why they play the games.

I say Sullivan East wins the classic.

where did this kid play at last year? And I hope CD does have a good year.

Sounds like last year, remember you have to get there to win it.

My opinion Mark Byrd, a monster line and some other good players had a lot to do with it. Put Byrd on any team and they are instant contenders. Coaching is very important it can win the close games. But when teams are blowing other teams out it has a lot to do with athletes. The more athletes you have the better opportunity you have to succeed. I think Hampton has an excellent coaching second to none but to compete for state titles you must have many athletes. Injuries, fatigue and other circumstances come into play. For example when Cloudland ran into AE in the playoffs more atheletes no competetion.

Thats kind of like Hampton having twice the kids as Cloudland, Unaka, Grace and Jellico. I feel thats why they have been dominant the last 2 years. The fact that they have just a few more athletes on the field.

As a neutral in the Elizabethton situation, I have never understood why elizabethton didn't go after an established coach, don't get me wrong Witten was as good player but that don't mean he is a good coach. Does the team seem to be improving or is this just another hire him because of who he his family is?

Hampton is probably not the best team in the state at this time, I hope they can get there but they have received plenty of recognition for what they have accomplished so far. They have beaten two decent 3a teams which are playing up in 4a and one of them "might" make the playoffs. Things work out better when you earn the hype on the field. Sometimes to much exposure causes turmoil within the team. Maybe come December they willl be the best 1a team, but right now I feel they have a ways to go.

Hampton has a good ball club but they would get destroyed by the 97 squad. This year they are great 1a team but if they were in 2a THEY WOULD JUST BE GOOD. 3 rounds and done.

Congratulations on beating the worst team in Carter county.

I think the last time Hampton and Alcoa played Hampton won. could be wrong, I think 1996. Alcoa would be done with the dogs by halftime but I bet elizabethton wouldn't get out of the first quarter.

I am not a Hampton fan nor Oneida but I have to say why would Hampton need to make any excuses, They beat you and thats the bottom line. I have never understood those that brag about a loss. One kind of loss and that is a bad one.

Who is going to get the basketball job and when will announcement of Witten be made?

I think coaching changes needed to be made. Elizabethton is doing what they need to do to get their atheletic programs turned around.

The bottom line is as AD, you have the responsibility of all sports programs. Football and then boys basketball is the big money makers for atheletic programs. Any one can look at the elizabethton situation and see they had a heck of a baseball coach but the big sports were not being successful. As an outsider I see nothing wrong with telling an AD you either need to focus on our sports programs or you need to coach. Both were not being done effectively.