southernpride

This long thread is a perfect example of why Sequoyah football has so many problems. the divisions between the two communities go way back and there doesn't seem to be any unity whatesoever. It amazes me that so many adminsitrators and coaches feel compelled to use this very public forum to debate and has out these issues. It doesn't help your community and it certainly doesn't help your cause because most of the the people who read this thread is the very people you are paid to teach and coach. It is therefore no wonder why they perform the way they do. If this is 1/10th of what they hear at home and in the community then why should they come out for football or any other sport? You guys need to let this rest and put it to bed. Since you are the Chiefs, I suggest you bury the hatchet and move on. I know of at least three coaches who have told me they would not touch your school with a ten foot pole. Not because of the challenges with your kids but because of this type of backbitting. I hope you guys hire a coach that can get control of that program because all this stuff is not helping.

Boosters can help pay a head coach or put together an inncentive package without the approval of the TSSAA. As long as the administration knows and approves of what is done, there is no rule violation. I will promise you that the top ten to twelve percent of head football coaches in the state earn about twice what the county pays them through booster contributions. I know one coach who earns the flat $3500 the county pays, plus a local car dealership provides him with a DEMO to drive each year, switching it out every six months with a new one. The local boosters pay him for summer work (about $2500 for work in the field house, cutting grass, etc.) and he also gets a nice Christmas bonus for every win. This sort of thing happens at schools that are succesful and there ain't nothing wrong with it. Other schools pay extra for weight room duties and some match the head coaching supplement check at the end of the season.

Tommy Tharp??? or McKnight?

You need to hire a coach like Coach Edens. Thats what the locals want even if they don't know it. Mac was a winner but he was not Coach Edens. Coach Tharp, well not like coach Edens. The last coach, was NOT coach Edens. You had better hire someone who loves football, knows football, and has the ability to build a program for the long haul. There may never be another coach in the county like Coach Edens but he set the standards for all who follow.

I posted about this on another thread but heres my take: 5-5 is the BEST that SCHS can delivery and that would be a remarkable high water mark for that program. They simply do not have the genetics in that county to produce a big time HS football program. They have nice people and good students but NO SPEED whatsoever. Now that the FREEWAY is 4 lane between them and Ft. Campbell, they may draw some talented young Army Brats as more familes move West to get away from Clarksville but that is the only hope for the Rebels. They will probably defeat the two weak programs on their schedule and beat Houston County for the second year in a row, but after that, who on the schedule can they defeat? Adamsville lost to them last year but I think that may not happen this season. Is Coach Holdiay still at SCHS? Someone suggested they had a new coaching staff? If so, this will be his third year as head coach. The real test of a head coach is what can he do when he has had three years to develop a program. This should be his year if things workout but you can't measure a team's success when the only teams they play are Gleason and Houston Co.. When they start beating Lewis Co or teams of that calibur, then we will know they have found their place in the ranks of quality HS football programs. Look at it this way. If they develop a strong offensive line, they can win with one or two good running backs but if they don't have the overall speed in the backfield, the best they can hope for is 3 yards and a cloud of dust. I just don't see them going beyond the first round of the playoffs even if they go 5-5 in the regular season. Again, 4-6 or 5-5 is a great finish for the Rebels but I don't see it. Probably 3-7 is more likely with a good start 2-0 and a win against Houston Co down the road.

NO. 5-5 is the BEST they can delivery and that would be a remarkable high water mark for that program. They simply do not have the genetics in that county to produce a big time HS football program. They have nice people and good students but NO SPEED whatsoever. Now that the FREEWAY is 4 lane between them and Ft. Campbell, they may draw some talented young Army Brats as more familes move West to get away from Clarksville but that is the only hope for the Rebels. They will probably defeat the two weak programs on their schedule and beat Houston County for the second year in a row, but after that, who on the schedule can they defeat? Adamsville lost to them last year but I think that may not happen this season. Is Coach Holdiay still at SCHS? Someone suggested they had a new coaching staff? If so, this will be his third year as head coach. The real test of a head coach is what can he do when he has had three years to develop a program. This should be his year if things workout but you can't measure a team's success when the only teams they play are Gleason and Houston Co.. When they start beating Lewis Co or teams of that calibur, then we will know they have found their place in the ranks of quality HS football programs. Thats my take on the SCHS Rebels and I think it is about on the mark.

Who is the new head coach at Stewart County? I know they made some improvements last year and have a great young pitcher. What's their outlook this season? How will the new schools play into the mix this year?

Let me ask a few questions for all those who might be interested in this job: 1. How many kids are coming back next year? It's a small school, I would think the talent level would be a concern for many coaches. 2. How much is the supplement? It's a small rural town so I doubt they will be able to compete with Georgia and Hamilton Co pay where most of the better coaches live in the Tennessee River Valley 3. What is there new schedule?

The state of football in Gainesboro is almost non existent. Very little support, bad facilities, very little money, and very little talent. The only coach who is going to touch this program is some local guy or some young coach who needs that first head coaching experience. Either way, not much hope for success unless they get real lucky. Pay ain't too bad, about $5,000 plus teaching supplement, but few quality assistants and no one wnats to move to Jackson County! The only positive is you will have a better situation that my wife's alma mater, DeKalb HS! Hopefully, you won't end up with a couple of youth football coaches. lol

Could it be that Coach Atkins may be interested in Sequatchie County HS? Yes, he is a proven head coach with a great offensive scheme and Coach of the year in Eastern North Carolina, but word is his wife wants to be back near their son in Chattanooga (their son lives in Red Bank) and he may be willing to take a pay cut to keep momma happy!

You should bring Coach Atkins back from NC. He was Eastern North Carolina COACH OF THE YEAR and runner-up for the statewide honor. He coached in TN for 15 years and I think he would do a great job talking about the West Coast Offense. He has always been a promoter of coaches and a defender of your organization on this website. Why not offer him a chance to speak at the clinic.

Link to Story FREE PRESS: EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA FOOTBALL HONORS: Coach of the year: Lee Atkins, South Lenoir Overall player of the year: Matt Tripp, Ayden-Grifton Offensive player of the year: Brandon Rouse, South Lenoir Defensive player of the year: Brandon Sutton, Greene Central FIRST TEAM OFFENSE: QB: Brandon Rouse, senior, SL RB: Matt Tripp, senior, A-G RB: Eric Whitfield, senior, NL WR: Joseph Skinner, senior, SL WR: Dreyan Willis, senior, GC TE: Stuart Brooks, senior, APA OL: Allen Brown, junior, A-G OL: Steven Hill, senior, APA OL: Thomas Maxey, senior, SL OL: Jordan Smith, senior, NL OL: Justin Wellington, junior, GC K: Ricky Jarman, junior, NL FIRST TEAM DEFENSE: DL: David Kelly, senior, SL DL: Miguel Mervin, senior, KHS DL: Quan Outlaw, sophomore, SL DL: Brandon Sutton, junior, GC LB: Mario Brown, senior, GC LB: Justin Byrd, junior, SL LB: Brick Crowder, senior, APA LB: Matt Tripp, senior, A-G DB: Jonathan Hernandez, senior, SL DB: Dreyan Willis, senior, GC DB: Curtis Wright, senior, GC P: Quan Outlaw, sophomore, SL SECOND TEAM OFFENSE: QB: Cameron Shelton, junior, GC RB: Daniel Greene, junior, A-G RB: Tyrone Spencer, senior, NL WR: Terry Locust, sophomore, KHS WR: Harrison Walston, junior, GC TE: J.L. Summers, senior, A-G OL: Jeffrey Braswell, senior, APA OL: Jordan Ervin, junior, KHS OL: Darren Gorham, junior, GC OL: Justin Potter, junior, SL OL: Josh Stocks, sophomore, A-G K: Mike Jones, sophomore, KHS SECOND TEAM DEFENSE: DL: Kenyatta Hardy, junior, NL DL: Bruce Patterson, junior, NL DL: Andrell Tyson, junior, A-G DL: Justin Wellington, junior, GC LB: Josh Reece, senior, NL LB: Tyrone Spencer, senior, NL LB: Eric Whitfield, senior, NL DB: Stuart Brooks, senior, APA DB: Reggie Johnson, junior, GC DB: Carel Rogers, senior, SL DB: Mike Sims, senior, GC P: Graham Williams, senior, APA

Kingcohn are you from Dover??? papatj, there are some great places to live and I'm sure he loves NC, but you know there ain't nothing more beautiful than the Hills and Mountains of East TN! I'm not a native of TN but I think it is the best place to live! The creeks and streams of TN are some of the best in the nation. Take a hike through the Smokies and tell me is there a better place to live?

Congratulations to Coach Atkins for being named Coach of the Year by the Free Press (AP) in Eastern North Carolina. He took over a team on August 1st of this year that had only been to the state playoffs one time in school history. There was ZERO expectation of more than one or two victories this season in what has been described as one of the toughest 2A regions in the state (they only have four classifications) and he broke all the school records winning seven games this season and taking his team to the playoffs for only the second time in the schools 42 year history. He had over 4 games of 400 yards or more and that says a lot for his style of football. Also, his starting QB broke six school records this year. I spoke to him on the phone yesterday and he said the article would be in Sundays paper. Again, Congratulations CUZ and way to go. It's too bad he had to go to NC to land a head coaching position. I know both he and his wife are very happy on the East Coast but I would love to see him back here in God's country. If you need a head coach and are on a search committee you can't go wrong with Coach Atkins. Let's try and get him back in Tennessee in the next few years!

FISH!

Congratulations to Coach Atkins for being named Coach of the Year by the Associated Press in Eastern North Carolina. He took over a team on August 1st of this year that had only been to the state playoffs one time in school history. There was ZERO expectation of more than one or two victories this season in what has been described as one of the toughest 2A regions in the state (they only have four classifications) and he broke all the school records winning seven games this season and taking his team to the playoffs for only the second time in the schools 42 year history. He had over 4 games of 400 yards or more and that says a lot for his style of football. Also, his starting QB broke six school records this year. I spoke to him on the phone yesterday and he said the article would be in Sundays paper. Again, Congratulations CUZ and way to go. It's too bad he had to go to NC to land a head coaching position. I know both he and his wife are very happy on the East Coast but I would love to see him back here in God's country. If you need a head coach and are on a search committee you can't go wrong with Coach Atkins. Let's try and get him back in Tennessee in the next few years!

He will not be back next year as a head football coach. The decision to hire the youth football coaches was a last minute one and the school board and director of schools already regret it. They will have an extensive search (hopefully) and hire a man who has high school experience as a head football coach that can get boys interested and motivated to play football. I'm not being negative just telling you the facts!

Where do I start? First of all, they will have to open up the search for a new coach because of TSSAA regulations. Neither of these men are certified to teach and neither have coached HS football for five years in the state, therefore, neither will be back next year unless it is serving as an non-faculty assistant coach. Second, I am a retirec Metro coach and I live here because this is my wife's hometown. I chose to support the Tigers because of her but I can't sit in the stands and watch these coaches. It is just too painful! I will give money to a program when they make up their mind to do what is right by these kids. Farley and Cantrell were terrible football coaches. Farley may have been good at one time, but he had long since lost the ability to coach at this level but at least he knew how to conduct practice. Cantrell is a nice guy (as you said) but he did not know how to manage a staff or run a program. He too may have been a good coach at one time but the game had passed him by. Fuller was promised something that he did not receive, he left in frustration and there is no doubt it hurt the program. BUT it all goes back to the central office. When they decide they want to really do something positive for football, they will hire a professional high schoool football coach and allow him to bring in at least one or two good assistant coaches. They will spend some money on Tiger Stadium which is in need of sandblasting, painting, and a lot of repair! The condition of the field is not good and the locker rooms need some work too. Third, the coach in question contacted the school because the job was posted on the INTERNET and he spoke to the principal and the superintendent and was willing to come and bring two retired assistant coaches from Metro with a combined 65 years of coaching experience between them. Instead, he took a job in another state at a school that had not won more than 3 games in as many years and is now one of 5 undefeated teams in the state. He was willing to take the job but the school board drug their feet. How do I know? Because I called him and asked him to apply for the position! With all the success he has had I fear he will stay in that state and not return to Tennessee. But we can find a good coach if we start the process as soon as the season is over and do it right! This season is over and many boys are going to quit this program and many will never come back! Coaching high school football isn't anything like coaching PEE WEE football. Fundamentals are the same but the speed and skill level at high school changes the way you approach the game and how you conduct practice. Scouting teams is very different and how you approach defense is too. We need change and it will come at the end of this season. These men are just caretakers and they know it. By rule, they will be out at the end of November unless no other certified teacher steps up to ask for the job. Its too bad for the seniors. Maybe they wouldn't have had a successful season anyway but we will never know.

What none of you know is that these new coaches are in WAY OVER THEIR HEADS! They have no clue as to how to coach at the high school level! Another thing you don't know is that a very good coach contacted the school principal one week before the season started and offered to take over the program. He is now in another state with a 5-0 record and this team will not win a game. Not only that, this program will be down for years to come. I have coached football all my life and this is the darkest point in Dekalb County Football History! Here is what MUST be done starting the week after the end of the season: 1. The Principal should put together a committee of five well respected members of the community to begin a two month search for a new head football coach. 2. The committee should include at least one person who knows something about coaching football, one parent of a rising junior or senior, a teacher, a school board member, and the principal and A.D. 3. The new head coach must be given a suppliment of at least $5000. No one will come here for less that is worth a darn! 4. The new head coach should be promised at least two coaching slots for him to bring in assistant coaches. Stop bringing in so many volunteers unless they know what the heck they are doing! We need someone in place on the first day of Spring! Someone who has head coaching experience and knows how to rebuild a football team. Someone who can go out and work the halls and get kids in uniform. I doubt I will go to another game this year!

While my two buddies argue and debate I will say that Harpeth appears to be suffering still from last years fiasco. Wherever Coach Winkler is I'm sure he has real mixed emotions. I think you guys had the chance to hire someone last year that could have really turned your program around and you missed it. Now, you have what you have. It was almost predictable! In fact, it was predictable. I wish you well and I hope things improve. My Tigers are in the same boat (so to speak). They couldn't win a tug of war against the cheerleaders right now. The Pee Wee coaches have their handsful!

This is a very tough region. I don't know if the scheme they are running will give them a lot of success in this region but only time will tell!

I'm sure I speak for everyone on the LAKE when I say, this young man will be missed! Too many young lives are cut short by car wrecks!

Hawaii, the one thing that Stewart County seldom has is speed! Are there any barnburners on the team this season? If not, you'd better hope the defense will be able to hold back the speed throughout that big region you guys are in. I'm afraid rebel may be right. Richland is the only other slow, rural team you will play. Adamsville is rural but they can chunk the ball all over the place. Everyone else on the schedule has lots of speed.

The year was 2001, not 2000! In 2000, Celina won by over 40 points. I think it may have been the only time in school history that Celina lost to RBS?

A few thoughts on this game: 1. Celina has one of the worst head coaches in the state. He knows almost nothing about football. 2. The Bees just put it to the Dawgs this week in a game that Celina should have won. 3. Celina has some talent. They have one of the best QB's in the area and a couple of good skill players along with Matt Kirk (a great all round athlete who should be a D1-AA prospect). They will do well against Mt Juliet Christian, RBS, and a few others if they stick together but it will be tough to make it back to the playoffs unless someone who has a clue takes over the team! Run behind Kirk and let the QB throw the ball to his backs coming out of the backfield. Okay, now I said my piece and I can go back to fishin. My wife is going to let me venture out to the lake and so I think you'd better watch out for the little red boat on Center Hill Today!