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If you think that the sole reason any kid goes to one of these schools is to play a sport or sports, then you are sadly mistaken and I will not be able to convince you otherwise. If you knew anything about these schools, you would understand that your premise is faulty. All kids that attend one of the schools of which I speak must behave, participate, and toe the line socially and academically. If they are only looking for a ticket to a college athletic scholarship, they would be much better served to attend a public. The kids at D2 schools are looking for, and are willing to work hard for, much more than that.

As a graduate of a small private school and an athlete at that school as well, I can tell you that some students go to privates for a chance to play sports because they feel they will have a better chance to play one or more sports at that school instead of a larger public school. Some students go there for academics and happen to have a some athletic ability. There will also be kids who start a private in Pre-K and turn out to be great athletes. Yes, there is a packet a family can fill out for financial need (similar to an old Pell Grant app for college) if the family qualifies the school actually decides how much to distribute from the pool of people eligible and that person can not play high school sports if they receive this help. Yet at a PRIVATE school there are people in the community who also donate LARGE amounts of money for tax donation purposes and in return their kids tuitions are covered and it just so happens that in certain circumstances it will also cover other students cost of attending. Also, star athletes can get busted by undercover cops for trying to buy marijuna and only a very small article will end up in the local paper just saying three students were caught. Yet a non athletic student fails a random drug test and gets kicked out of school. Yes, the majority of parents at Privates are more involved, but look at the boy girl ratio of some privates. My particular school is definetly where you would send your boy if he were into sports, the athletic director literally runs the school, he may not have the title of Headmaster, but make no mistake he's in charge. You also need to look at the amount of students at a Private that play sports and have the ability to take lessons, play club ball, travel ball and AAU as opposed to the number of athletes at a small rural public school. Most of the students at the public school do not have the same opportunities and it is not a matter of priorities in most cases. There are alot of people of public schools who just are not able to send their kids to privates even though they would like them to have the opportunity. There are a great deal of things that go on at private a school when it comes to sports, some are right and some are wrong and it is not going to change. Although, I love the small town rivals, all privates should be in their own division, that way they can do whatever they want when it comes to getting players and it really won't matter. And yes there are kids who sole reason they go to a private school is to play sports, I know them, I have played with them and they will tell you that is the only reason they went to the private, as a matter of fact that is the only reason that I went to a private and the only reason my sibling went as well. In the end you realize you have made some great friends, you may be better prepared for college, you were able to experience some things you would not have at a public school, but you walked through the door the first day with playing ball on your mind, not "Oh boy, I hope I meet some really nice people and get to go on a trip to Washington"!

Thanks for all the feedback. We are not moving for academics or sports, this move would be for family reasons. I have three children: one in high school which is not an athlete but has a solid academic base, and currently one 7th grade boy who is naturally athletic and is not that interested in studying and a 6th grade boy who loves playing sports, has the heart of an athlete but not quite the natural ability as he would wish and he doesn't mind studying. Moving 3 kids at this age who have been involved in a lot of activities is not an easy mountain to climb. Sports are great for kids, I personally think academics are more important because the majority of high school athletes do not go on to play after high school. Just like the majority of people on here with children, if my children want to participate in sports I want them to have the opportunity so I will let them tryout for any sport they want, just as I want them to have the opportunity to go to college. Since I do have 2 children who are into sports I knew I could get some good feedback here, I have already checked on the academic aspects of both schools. One reason I ask on a football thread is one child loves football and the other basketball, I'm just trying to look at all angles and all of your feedback is greatly appreciated. As far as the private thing goes, if my child can get a good education at a public school I would rather spend my money on AAU or travel baseball, we can go and see a lot of places as a family and you can meet some great life long friends. Thanks again for your feedback.

No, I don't think he will be the Coach next year. Personally, I don't know him and he may be a great guy but as for moving the Lebanon football team forward it doesn't look as he can make that happen. Lebanon High School football needs to be taken out of the hands of some of the COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS! Obviously, if they had such great knowledge of the game of football, they would be coaching football instead of sitting on Stumpy Lane in an office or where ever they roost during the day. Lebanon High has the ability to do great things, if some people would back off and let them. What you have now is a classic case of you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.

I know I will get some biased reactions, after reading this thread I believe I can also get some honest opinions. I have been watching both Smith County and Gordonsville sports only a short time trying to make a decision on a possible move to Smith County. It is my understanding that your child can go to either school in the county. I am wanting some honest opinions on the coaching at both schools for boy sports. I am interested in things such as: experience, their ability to get the most out of a player, do they have kids themselves in the school who are also playing and do they play some players as a trade off so their child will play on someone elses team, basically do they pick the best line up from their talent, how a big a role do politics within the community play. I am looking for the school that utlizes their best talent, I am not interested in playing any type of political games, I simply want to be a spectator, watch some good athletic events and want the best place for my children. I don't need any opinions on any players, whatever decison is made I know as a new student, you have to work hard regardless.

COWBELLS

Afraid Crane won't be there to see it........ Really...........

Probably not this year, but if most people in Lebanon get their wish, next season should start looking better.

Watertown won its first District title since 1935, which I wasn't around then, but I do believe back in the day Watertown was in a district with some of the big schools in the Boro. But no matter what, last night was a great win for the team, school, and community. Friendship is a great talented team, Watertown really played their hearts out last night. I feel strongly that the two teams will meet again this year and it may be a different outcome, but it does make for some great match ups right here in this district. No matter the sport, District 8 has some great match ups that really make a person enjoy high school athletics.

Good luck to both teams, both teams have great talent. FC should have won their region, which just proves that any team can win on any given night. As far as coaching goes quit complaining, FC has had a great year, you have coaches than can bring kids in, coaches that can help kids get college scholarships, coaches that let kids play that didn't get chances before, coaches that get kids with talent out of the halls that wouldn't play before, isn't that what everyone wanted?????? I hope Hill has his best game ever, he deserves it, I will miss watching him on the court. I hope Patterson shows out and has a great game. FC does have three really good players and the rest aren't too bad either, but I am not sure they can beat CSAS no matter who is the coach. I'm for the FCS boys all the way, the ones that have stuck it out, that have worked hard to be the best player possible, that have made watching them worth the time and money spent to watch them flourish, as far as the coaches and administration go, who cares! Go FC!

How many seniors do the Bucs have?

Hello!!!!! what, did they do buy some new bats? What I remember from last year is they could not score. Because they could not hit the ball, if they were up against good pitching. I am sure they will do good in district play. They lost two of there best bats,Haley and the Farmer girl. Who is replacing them the freshman class?

Also, it's not there batting, or pitching they will have to play defense and they have been fortunate over the past years. With a new assistant that actually knows how to coach softball and with Coach Powell they should be fine.

Hello!!!!! what, did they do buy some new bats? What I remember from last year is they could not score. Because they could not hit the ball, if they were up against good pitching. I am sure they will do good in district play. They lost two of there best bats,Haley and the Farmer girl. Who is replacing them the freshman class?

No other team in the District or Region hit as well as this team, like I said in the previous post when they play the scheduled teams that are NOT in their District and Region is when you will be able to tell how far they will go and how they will do against tougher teams as it gets close to state. The pitchers they had trouble hitting were the same pitchers most teams had trouble hitting. Best I remember they hit Shelby Morris enough to win against MJ and Shelby is an awesome pitcher. Their best bat last year was Cross and she is still there.

I agree fishunt these girls are going to be fine.Coach powell has some real talent in these young pitchers .I am going to enjoy this season as these girls go prove people wrong every week when they say stuff like what pitching toe said.Get ready my friend to eat those words. I know 3 of the 4 pitchers we have .And most teams dont have anything close to these girls.They all have a desire to win and with a great coach she will mentor them and look out the sky is the limit. /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" />

They should be fine in the district and region, they still have some great hitters and more than just one or two. Outside of the District Coach Powell plays some tough competition and that is when you will really know how the season will be for the girls. Forget the pitching, this team will have to play defense this year, they have been very fortunate over the past years with excellent pitching. When I saw them playing at state last year they struggled at defense when the heat was on. No doubt they have the talent, they should get more practice this year during the season at defense. There will be no walk fest with these pitchers, but there will be more balls put into play. In single A ball they have a really good chance of getting back to state. No other team in their District or Region have the bats that this team has.

I don't get to worked up about where kids come from, you never see me on the private vs public board. Our team had a transfer, had to sit out the whole year, her whole jr. year, seemed silly to punish the girl. It would have helped having her, our lack of depth, but it probably would'nt have changed anything else, we did not go out and recruit her. There are a couple impressive players on your team beside Vaughn and Warmath. I think the Burroughs and Morrisett girls are very fine players, takes more than one or two. Sometimes, I think Friendship underachieves. They have a window of opportunity, but they need to find a way to quit losing the close ones against good teams. The young girl being mentioned, I have no clue, other than the four girls I mentioned and perhaps Hays, no one else made any kind of impression with me.

Best quote I've read on here about FCS girls basketball. You hit it, underachieve. I don't want to say the PLAYERS underachieving is costing them close games, it could be a combination. Don't want anything taken the wrong way, the coach really is a good person, and I quess if I were any better I'd be out there coaching. But they have came along way. I don't know if anyone has worked as hard as Vaughn to get to this point, she has the heart of a champion, I hope them the very best.

Funny how people forget this senior class of girls won the J.HALE TOURNEY in murfreesboro as eight graders.But one thing for sure they are playing as a team and more wins to come. /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" />

Actually, this class were 7th graders when they won that tournament, Warmath and Hay were not there and he didn't let 7th graders play, (told them they would get their chance to play as 8th graders). Therefore, they should have been really awesome last year, but I think most all (maybe all) of those 8th graders had quit by the time they were seniors. Although, none of this really matters now. This is the best FCS girls have been since Brown left. Their hard work is paying off.

warmath came in as a freshman. To me that isn't a transfer.

Warmath could have went to any school in the county since her mom teaches in the county. FCS was fortunate to get her she's not just a great basketball player, she's a great athlete. I just see people on here talking about how FCS gets all of these players and most people don't realize that most of these players were there at a very young age, that was what I was referring too earlier. I am glad to see these girls doing so well. Playing AAU ball has really helped this program also.

I heard they had some transfers coming in. I don't know who though.

FCS girls do not have girls that transfer in for basketball. Actually the last one that did was Warmath and since then not one single girl has tranfered to FCS for their basketball program.

Who knew my HAIR and my pitcher's makeup could cause such an uproar!! Well you will be happy to know, senior08mom, that I found time in the heart of softball season to get my highlights redone this past weekend... So now that THAT is settled, I will say this... You can say whatever you want about me, but don't ever attack my players... My pitcher is an awesome kid who works her tail off day in and day out and never has a negative word to say to anyone. I'm sorry that your team lost, but attacking your opponent for ridiculous reasons is very petty... Now, can we get back to softball? /blink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":blink:" border="0" alt="blink.gif" />

I have a 16yr old in Fayetteville looking to play summer, where are yall located?

We never got anything together last year and played on a team in the fall that was just 5 girls from two different high schools but most of them went back to their summer team that consist of mostly their high school team. But we are looking for a team for this summer.

We have a 16 u team from Lawrenceburg that could use a couple of players. If you don't have any luck putting your team together let me know on here and maybe we can get in touch.

Do you still have a team this year for 16u

I have 3 girls that are interested right now but one that has come to see me. I'm not saying the spot is filled until I know for sure this girl is going to play. I received a few voice mails yesterday....were you the 615 #? Where are you located?

Yes , we are the 615 and we are located in lebanon where are you located exactly and where do most of your players play school ball?

I am looking for a travel team this summer in the middle tennessee area. I play right field and second base if anyone has any openings please let me know.

Still one position open for an out fielder.

Did you find your other outfielder?

Great question Cascade 11 I was going to do a topic on this one so here goes from MrNoitAll. These coaches are from the Mid State only! 1. Don Freundenthal--Ezell Harding more state titles than any coach in state!2. Gary Davis-- Lipscomb--Has been to the state 7 times and won 2 or 3 times3. Jeff Breeden--Riverdale--Has taken two different teams to the state. Never won but has been to the big dance.4. Lee Phillips--Goodpasture--Enough said! Will win another one this year as well!5. Phil Burkhart--Rossview--Has taken two different teams to state. Never won but also has been to the big dance.6. Nancy Jackson--Creek Wood---Started a new program and has been to the big dance twice! One of the best female coaches in state!7. Phil Davidson--Father Ryan---Has won the state and will have a great chance to do it again this year!8. David Wood--Beech---Has been to the state.9.Kacy Pedigo--MJ has finished second two years in a row.10. Stephen Webb from Waverly--Has won a state championship!11.Becky Cheatham from Forrest one of the best female coaches in the state!12. Brentwood--Jamie Chiariello has been to the state two years in a row. Excellent coach!13. Mike Caldwell-- Hume Fogg--Has taken two different teams to state!14. Amy Stevens--Montery--Has taken her team to state once!15. Shane Buchanan--Dickson County has won a state championship!16. Erica Powell--Friendship Christian has been to state two straight years.17. Julie Head---Greenbrier has won state and been to state several times before!18. Bobby Wyrick of Summertown. 540 Victories, 22 District Championships, two final four appearences.19. Stacy Swinea Davidson Academy 7 trips state 2runner-ups 1state championship 20. Andy Griffin--Hendersonville---Been to the state twice.All of these coaches have one thing in common and that is that they all have been to state! I hope I have not left anyone off from the Mid State. /flower.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":flower:" border="0" alt="flower.gif" /> Cascade 11 I HAVE NOT IDEA WHO MrsKnownothing is!!! /flower.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":flower:" border="0" alt="flower.gif" />

Erica Powell has only been to state one year. This is only her second year at FCS.

I see it This way. FCS had great pitching, there appoint mostly had weak pitching. They run ruled just about every team in there distract, thats why the big run diff, that not hard to figure out. I watched FCS play about 6 times last year, Haley when she is on can shut down any team, I mean ANY TEAM. Now I only saw them when they were in tournaments, playing against good pitcher, just my opinion. Thanks for your comments. I am done with this thread. You seem to know alot more about the team then me. I just know a few of the travel ball player, most of them graduatated last year. Hope FCS has a great season this year.

One thing for sure, FCS better have good defense this year. Haley can't pitch every game, and the next pitcher is not even close to their second pithcer they had last year, (but I think she is just a sophmore and the other a freshman). The other two pitchers might do ok in the district, but out of the district they better hope Haley can do it all. From the games I watched them play last year their hitting was pretty good until maybe the last couple of batters. But I did hear the the one senoir that quit this year was one of their top batters. They may be down but they still should finish pretty strong, they still have some really good players and at least one really good pitcher. I am pretty sure I saw the sophmore pitcher play this summer and in the fall she was ok but no Haley Rutledge, although she did bat fairly well. Hope all the girls have a good injury free season, can't wait for it to start.