TheBoredGuy

I like Henry County to win the region, meself.

Good post, RipleyTiger54. Nice to hear the perspective a player from the program and not someone basing things on hearsay.

That's a really badly informed statement. I think Crockett County has done just fine running from the double wing over the last several years. 05: 29.4 PPG (with their starting QB out most of the season) 04: 26.8 PPG 03: 36.7 PPG 02: 34.9 PPG 01: 27.3 PPG Yep...looks like a team lacking in offense to me.

If they'll be better than last year, where they finished 2nd, how do they not have the horses to win it? How do you end up putting them 3rd behind two teams that lost a lot more on both sides of the ball than McKenzie did? Doesn't make sense.

McKenzie might have lost Hayes, but they have most of their starters returning from last year, including 3 excellent wideouts in Smith, Rogers, and Tucker. And Carr isn't going to be any slouch behind center. I'm liking McKenzie to win the region at this point.

This region is loaded. Will probably be one of the toughest to predict. That said, I'll take Crockett County as the region champs. They're more loaded than people will give them credit for going into the season. And Dyersburg will be really good again, but remember how many games they won last year by the skin of their teeth. I've been hearing that people in Covington believe (not the coaches mind you) that they'll have the best team they've had there in years. And that's saying something. I'm also on the Obion Central bandwagon. Darren Bowling is unquestionably (in my mind anyway) one of the best coaches in WTN. Like others have said, there will be some good teams missing the playoffs in this region.

Or maybe, just maybe, I can speculate that ND has more to offer than UT. Not a ND fan, not a UT fan, though it's clear you are. I wonder how much that clouds your ability to see both sides of the argument? I have no inside information. I simply said that an offer from ND is probably going to be tough to say "no" to. But since you asked what ND has to offer, here's a start: 1. Charlie Weis, a guy who has been very successful in the NFL and I would imagine knows how to prepare players to get there. Not too bad a college coach either, considering what ND did last season with what was essentially someone else's players. 2. ND is a higher profile school nationally than UT. Period. Playing for ND will get you more national attention. People nation-wide talk about ND. Listen to any ESPN Radio broadcast during football season. 3. Playing on national network TV pretty much every Saturday. Not Jefferson Pilot or ESPN, either. I mean ABC. I mean NBC. As of right now, only two of their games aren't on either one of those networks (Air Force and Navy).

Just to be clear, because I'm not sure my post was, I do not believe a private school will win 7-2A before the next reclassification. And that's nothing against USJ, or JCS if they do indeed get placed in that region. They've both got excellent programs, and both have scored quality wins over schools in higher classifications over the last few years. But beating them in non-region is one thing; beating them in-region is quite another. The biggest reason is depth. When you're playing in a region with schools twice your size, you're typically not going to have the depth your opponents do. More two-way players and fewer opportunities to spell your starters results in a worn-down squad in the second half.

Goona be hard to say "no" to ND, I'd say. They've got a lot to offer...quite a bit more than UT, IMO.

I agree with much of your post, Kublah. But on a private school winning 7-2A before the next reclassification? I'll take that bet.

Did they move the game forward? If I'm not mistaken, JCS played DCA in week 0 and USJ on Thursday of week 1 last year.

Taking the opportunity for a cheap plug, On The Ball Magazine's West TN Football Preview will be out on Friday, August 18.

Fact. He's going to Liberty University for a professor-track position in their sports management school. There's a full article on this in today's Sun, but it's not currently available online.

Two words: Pitcher's duel. Wish I were in the Boro to see this one!

I hadn't heard Argo left GC. Who's the new coach there? Milan & Huntingdon, as others have said, battle it out for the region title. I think Humboldt bounces back and has a good season. Lots of experience returning for them on both sides of the ball. The final playoff spot is up for grabs. I like Dresden right now due to their returning talent, but I reserve the right to change my opinion multiple times before the season.

They finished 3rd in the region, yes, but remember that Massey missed most of the regular season. They did advance to the quarterfinals last year, once Massey was able to get back and work off the rust. I'll beg to differ that Dyersburg and Covington didn't lose anything. Each team lost some key players, Covington especially with Freeman, Adams, and Rivers all graduating. Not to mention a fantastic coach.

Brandon Springer plays QB, not RB, unless Coach Barger is planning on moving him this year. Jarvis Perry is 6'3", 230, according to Unapproved Website.

In West TN, Crockett County will be my early favorite for "the team to beat". They return with a loaded senior class with guys like Massey, Perry, the Johnson brothers, Cobb, not to mention the junior Matt Reynolds. They're always well-coached and will be as talented as they've been in a few years.

At this point, I believe Fayette-Ware will contend for the region title. Don't think they win it just yet...but they'll be in the hunt and will make the playoffs. Liberty lost some good seniors, but the way that school's growing, it probably won't matter too much. They'll make the most of their last year in 3A. McNairy, Chester, and Lexington all lose talented SR classes. They're kind of a mystery to me right now.

Chris Donald. Cody Crocker. Solid O- and D-Lines. More of the usual from Mustang country this year.

If he gets drafted this summer, which is a very strong possibility, his plans will change.

Expect him to get drafted this summer. If he does, plans might change.

It hasn't.

Thanks, backinthaoc. We're looking for someone to help cover in Obion County (especially with OCCHS, as the school hasn't been too receptive to submitting articles). Do you know of anyone who might be interested in writing on a freelance basis up there?

Thanks to all who added players in the thread. Now to address a couple of things mentioned... rolltide1911: We are a free monthly publication covering all West TN sports outside of Shelby County. No one here considers Shelby County to be a part of our area for sports purposes, just like Shelby County rarely covers anything outside of Shelby, Fayette, and Tipton. There certainly are many great ballplayers there, but Shelby's not in our coverage area. gerrybertier: Thanks for the compliments! And keep your eyes open...you might be seeing OTB in Middle TN in the very near future.