Wildmanfan

I think you were supposed to get in that one

It will not be an exact science. A lot of key people will not be in attendance. There are 4 or 5 of them running track.

The game seems to run in slow motion to Rankin. He wins by having good ball players. But he can see something on one play and exploit it on the next play by making suttle changes or play calls on offense. That is one thing I am hoping Stevens will bring to the table. Last year our last three offensive series Rankin simply stacked the line and brought the house. I am no coach and reguardless what I might say I have a lot of respect for the former coaching staff at OR I just thought there should have been some plays called that would have forced Riverdale to play a little softer at the line and Given Scott a little more time. But hey hindsite ids 20/20. By the way good luck to Riverdale, I really hope we are practicing on thanksgiving again. And looking foward to a cold night in November. If I am not mistaken if we win the region and get by a tough DB squad we will be hosting Riverdale. Everyone is saying DB lost all their players and arent expected to be as tough this year. Just remember thats what they said about Oak Ridge last year. The only thing you can expect out of DB year in year out is that they are going to bring it and you better be ready.

You know that brings up another point. I think Oak Ridges Schedule works really well for getting a lot of upcoming players in some real games and steadily builds towards the end of the schedule. Some might say you take a chance loosing someone towards the end of the year that the kids are banged up by the time they get to the playoffs. I dont know bout you all but when I was that age bumps and bruises seemed to heal overnight. I can stump my toe now and it seems to hurt for a week LOL

2003 Oak Ridge Riverdale game at the "SHIP" It had everything that makes a great game great. I mean it was snowing like crazy the wind was howling. I felt like I was at the frozen tundra. Just kidding the field wasnt frozen. I was though. The thing that made it so great was the snow, the wind, the 8000+ screaming fans and a game that went down to the last 9 seconds with no one knowing what was going to happen. I don't see how it could get much better from a fans perspective. ROLL CATS ROLL

I have been in Oak Ridge for 16 years so the best teams I have seen here that didnt win state was the 2003 and 2004 teams. I think last years team was better than the 2003 team. Even though the score was closer in 03 aganist Riverdale The events of the last 1:30 of the game were nothing less than pure excitment. RD had the ball' all they had to do was hang on to the ball and they fumbled. OR recovered and got it inside the 5 I think and enough time to run it at least once and then throw it or try a run again but instead went for a pass on the first play and it ended up an RD int. But I think If OR had been able to make the adjustments aganist Riverdales blitz in the second half last year it would have been a different story. We were as good a ball team as they were just not in the second half on that night. I of course cant say we would have beat them they are without doubt a very deep and talented group of kids that work hard and are coached very well. The deserved to win. But this is the best teams that Didn't make it to the big dance.

CCReceiver.. your attitude is what your community needs. Thanks Tank I wasnt sure. And as far as I am concerned I would like to see yall in the second round. Start winning and you will be surprised by the support you start to receive. I actually think Oak Ridge puts alot of pressure on its kids and coaches. They are expected to win. Winning breeds winners. I mean if it really doesnt matter who wins and who looses why keep score? The thing that this community seems to forget at times is that these are High School kids. Many of them sure do not look like kids but they are just kids.

Bingham has already grown about two inches from just last year and he did indeed bench 280. I have talked to coach stevens and I feel sure he will bring it with saftey blitzes and a lot more action. Well whos it gonna be Reed Parris Bingham or Wells is the big question 4 positions 5 guys?

I may be wrong but doesn't CC scrimmage OR this spring? Believe me I was a CC fan last year. Everybody loves an underdog story. BUT....Oak Ridge is the big dog in the east (with all due respect to DB)...thats not braggin. The fact about Oak Ridge fans is this. We can talk the talk cause our boys can walk the walk. Its called confidence. When you establish a winning program the likes of OR then you can speak about OR and CC in the same breath. ROLL WILDCATS ROLL

As far as I am concerned the entire Oak Ridge secondary could be one of the best in East TN. started 3 juniors and one soph last year Coffey: tied most int's in a season (could have had the record except he let one fall cause it was a fourth down play... he let it drop at his feet ) Reed: Second leading tackler solo and asst. Parris: Third leading tackler didnt start till game three or four Bingham : Just a sophmore last year no stats kept but he broke up a ton of passes

Ok whats the pre-season polls gonna say 1-10 "let the debating begin" (stewart scott)

A scoop isnt worth much if its wrong. Ask channel 10! If Tank used this websites' message boards for his information, he would have reported Ron Grey as the new Head Coach at Austin East Friday of last week. As far as that goes how many other members of the media even post on this message board? If they do how many let everyone know who they are? How many people on here let others know who THEY are. I frankly have a lot of Respect and appreciation for Tank and David using this message board. Those two guys are in a position to take a lot more heat for anything and everything they say than any of us. My fightin days are over but when it comes to throwing a little lip service around... not that they need it... but I for one have their backs.

I learned a good lesson from my man at the Oak Ridger. I will believe it when I see it.

Hey Brother I was just on the phone talking to an "insider" LOL not really but I just said the same thing. I think he deserves a head coaching job. I do know he wanted the OR job so bad he could taste it. The owls are poised to have a good season again this year.

As I was pondering the trip to the first game LOL and was thinking how nice it would be If the schedule would allow one game one place and playoff game if it happens at the other. I am not just talking about this year. I dont care who you are it is tough to beat a team twice in their backyard.

LORD WILLING AND THE CREEKS DON'T RISE I know I am getting ahead of myself here and I am not trying to disrespect any teams we have to play to get there but IF DB and OR win their regions and we make it to the third round would't we be making another trip to the belly of the beast?

I think the big guys are gonna need some help but what I hear the sophs have some guys that could possibly help out there. Just need to hit the weights hard. I know I am overlooking some juniors too that will have an impact. And yes I did forget Baldwin, and Murray I was thinking they were seniors last year I have good things to say about those guys too Murray is as tough as they come he makes teams have to consider him in their game plans. And what can be said about Murray, that kid is always in the right spot he plays that position almost to perfection. How many fumble recoveries did he have last year. Thats called a nose for the ball. SO am I right now that on defense the only two positions that aren't theoretically covered are Muholland and Mitchell's positions? I tell ya though thats two that will be missed.

Yeah win or loose I hate for any of these kids to get hurt. Like I said in the other post he is very quick. I bet he gets big percentage of his yards on that spin move. I am sure I said it will be a good game. Nobody knows for sure who is going to win or loose thats why they play the games. There is no doubt the Owls will be putting some real athletes on the field. But I have to stay with my CATS you understand!

Stevens is the man and I am sure he will put the athletes on the field. I am just having fun thinking about football season. So here is what I think it might be. This is off I am sure. There will be some kids that will work their butts off in the weight room and step up to fill some of the places I have filled with guys that would have to go both ways for this scenario to play out. Kids change alot from sophs to juniors and seniors. I have heard there are some very good linemen coming up. The Oak Ridge D will be dominating. Stevens will make sure of that. He has the talent and he has a football mind. By that I mean he can think on the run and make adjustments quickly. I really think the kids will play for him as well as their teammates and community. The secondary will be small in height besides Coffey but what they lack in height they make up in tenacity. My guess the secondary will look something like this CB Coffey CB Bingham S Paris S Reed JJ wells will see alot of playing time as well as C.Gulmire in the secondary (not withstanding the QB situtation) Coffey is a interception threat anytime he is on the field. Binghim has great leaping ability and solid open field tackling skills Reed and Paris are in my opinion two under estimated wrecking machines JJ Wells brings a little height great timing going up for the ball and solid hands as well as C.Gulmire LB Blair, S.Gulmire LB Johnson, Vane R Helton I think there may be some Juniors that will step up in the robber role, Helton comes to mind. Look for him and Bingham to run the ball on offense after halftime Blair is as hard nosed as they come he is a punisher Johnson can fly, look for him to set up shop in the opositions backfield Of course S.Gulmire has three years at that position, look up football player in websters and his picture is there. Vane is one tough kid and also enjoys laying the smackdown Helton is very fast and a solid tackler perfect for the robber position DT Whaley DT Trent Whaley and Trent are two big guys that can plug the middle I dont see teams getting very many yards in their territory Brandon Paul and Eli Manning will see some time on the D line. They will bring some speed to those positions. I look for some sophs and juniors step up here

Easy Grad...It took you three days to get your foot out of your mouth last fall. he he was that back #20 a junior last year ? Besides Gaston @ Riverdale He was the quickest back we faced last year. Truthfully 2-5A is the best all round Region in the state by far.

Oak Ridge may be a mess but this next years team could win games if last years waterboy coached. The fact that Stevens is a proven winner and a players coach only adds the icing to the cake. The Owls did have a tough team last year the game was closer than the score indicated but I wouldn't count on the fact yall have people comin back cause OR has as many or more returning. Should be a good game.

The easier question is who isn't. This team is deep and wide. No matter the talent and yes I understand some are more talented than others. What makes this team great is you will not find one person on that team who thinks they are better than anyone else. Roll Wildcats Roll

Just Win Baby If ever there was a team poised for a championship run it is this years team. I have watched this senior group of kids since boysclub and they are proven winners. They were undefeated in middle school, freshman, and jv. A lot of them started last year and now it is their time to shine. Roll Wildcats Roll

Riverdale is a safe pick in any pre-season pole. If they lost all their seniors and juniors they would still be in the mix. And I am a guy who doesn't really like riverdale but with the coaching down there you would have to be crazy not to at least consider them. Another team I dislike more than Riverdale that has to be considered is the Owls. With all that said I really like My Wildcats chances next year. They were junior loaded and gave Riverdale a real game. Good luck follows great teams but without some lucky breaks Oak Ridge would have been in the championship game this year. I mean the QB fumbles and a guy picks it out of mid air on a dead run and scores. OR qb throws a pass unlike any pass he throws all year on his way down and Riverdale is there to pick it off. Those were great plays. I am not saying Riverdale should have lost but Riverdale's men were there to make the plays like great players do. I just like Oak Ridges chances next year this group that will be seniors lost one game their 7th grade year went undefeated their 8th grade year, undefeated their 9th grade year, undefeated as JV's and lost one game to Williams,Furgeson and CO. which they avenged in the playoffs and one loss to one of the best teams to hit tennessee high school turf in who can say how long. I have videos of these kids playing boys club ball and most of them are still playing together. Roll Cats Roll

No doubt Riverdale was sumthin else. I have never seen such a swarming attack on a QB. Could have Would have but wasnt. The better team won this game tonight. I am glad the refs didnt decide the game. The only thing I can even think of to say bad about Riverdale and I was thinking as hard as I could on the 2 1/2 hours following the game driving back to Oak Ridge was your PA guy is the most obnoxious Buffer wanna be I have ever heard in my life. LOL No really those guys are tough deep and wide. I aint takin nothing away from my cats though those guys made it a game I was believing they could pull it out until the int at the very end of the game. They were movin the ball fast and hard. That was the championship game tonight If any one doubts that the wildcats were in the boro tonight just ask anyone who was there. Roll Cats Roll With the exception of a few very good players the same bunch will be back next year.