ucfpunter9

I heard the same thing second hand. I have heard their new strength and conditioning coach is busting the kids tails. The players seem to really be fired up and cannot wait to spring drills. Good luck to the toppers throughout the winter

I am glad to hear that is the case, but we have never (or very rarely) been out-"athletisized". We have had plenty of power, speed, and agility. It is team and personal discipline that has killed us in the past (okay...and some bad breaks). Until the team recognizes that the rest of their life decisions impact their onfield performance and future opportunities we will continue to see ANY coach struggle. It would be helpful if the coach would insist upon it without major repurcussions.

Some of you guys continue to amaze me either you can't read or comprehend about smitty.

 

Go back...take out his short tenure at Ezell Harding a private school......after that is taken out....show me where smitty has gotten anything done with public school kids. Do your research. Heck, make some phone calls back to where he has coached. He talks the talk but WON'T and CAN'T walk the walk.

 

You guys have a huge blow-up coming.....you just don't know when. I told a bunch of Indy people about him and got some of the same responses. He probably felt that he had left a disaster at Indy....and believe me the big talk, lies , and false promises could have done it...BUT... the school promoted a great assistant who pulled the guys together(several of the same ones who went down the tubes last year) and you have a team in INDY who is playing in the 5A state-semi-finals and not one person there will give smitty any credit because he didn't earn anything.

 

But Indy turned it around and look at them today....look at you....get it????

Well...I prefer to be optimistic and hope that we all (including me) learn from our mistakes as we go along. At least that is what I sincerely hope for at SH.

Unfortunately, Science Hill enjoyed much of the same this year. As usual, loads of talent and nothing to show for it. Am I the only one who feels this is deja vu all over again....and again...and again. Is the goal every year to beat DB or is it to develop a winning program???? Coach Smith made an immediate impression-----was that immediate impression borne out in the results this year???? Who made the hiring decision?? Are they pleased???? Are the administrative folks happy ---did they get what they wanted?? Kids need to understand what it takes to be winners-----talking doesn't get the job done. Parents have some responsibility in the scheme of things too. They basically need to support the kids, coaches, etc and leave it at that. Too many parents decide to go ahead and pretend they are coaches too, that they have somehow gained some insight about which kids need to play and where---and ultimately we all know where that ends up don't we?? I have an idea---quit bitching, find a coach who is a proven winner, support the kids and for a brief moment, act like an adult. In a few years nobody will care anyway! It's supposed to be fun.

If you wanted a winning program...we had that...but were we the "best we could be"? The reason the goal is to beat DB is they are the perennial (sp) champion of the conference. If you are beating them it is likely you are beating everyone else as well. Anyone that doesn't respect that program is not being rational or objective. Coach Clark has done more with less than any high school coach I have seen in my many years of watching and playing football. I believe that is what most of the people who say that beating DB is a priority really mean.

I agree with your post in most aspects. I do believe that parents play a large role in the discipline issue that I bring up time and time again. With some of the things that have gone on in the past and this year...if it had been my kid, the least of their worries would have been what the coaches were going to do to them. Also, whether you believe the kid should be playing at that position or not...support the kids! Even if you feel that your kid should be in their place...support the kid.

it disappoints me in the fact this years team had almost NO injures... compared to my senior season (2004) and still only won three games. we were without IMO the best overall QB SH has seen in 5-6 years Brandon Shoun and a WR in Justice Joslin playing QB and still won four games and gave DB a decent game when they were ranked number one in the state, also our three-year starter at fullback JD Scott was down from a S. South scrimmage AND our Pre-season all-state FS Drew Turner was out by the Betsy game to name a few.... we were playing with so much inexperience it was stupid and still managed to win four games. I know it is only one more but the talent level was SO much higher this past season as well as an offense that is exciting, we were running the I-formation with a undersized oline. It just urks me that my team finished better than this MORE talented team... good luck next year... Adams, Kinley, Green, and Smith are going to have to step up big this next year they are the most talented returning IMO.

Yeh...that year was the one that many of us looked forward to, but it was simply not to be. That one could not be laid on the coaching or the players. It was just part of the game. As for your last statement...those guys need to step up as athletes and young men and play the game as a team with no showboating, trash talking, or off-field escapades. Plenty of talent...but it has to be blended with discipline. If Coach Smith is ready to insist on that (and I have NOT seen evidence of it yet...but it can still happen) this team could be quite good.

Would have been nice if Coach Smith had put in some discipline.

This is a nice, concise, and accurate depiction of the problems at Science Hill. The prior coach struggled with the same thing. Some of these athletes come with baggage...that doesn't mean you let them lug it onto the field. The beginning of your tenure is when you let it be known that the trash will NOT be tolerated. Instead we get seperate standards for kids based upon their talent (and even that evaluation is tenuous). Great X's and O's will not win championships and is not even the most important attribute of a high school coach. Developing young men is. The things that have been allowed to happen (without repurcussions) since I have been here are astounding to me...and my kids were not little Johnnies that got chewed out...I'm talking about serious stuff that are life issues. Someone needs to come in here (and it's not too late for Coach Smith) and tell these kids that they can be great, but they will have to do it the right way...not just during the season, but all of the time. Beating DB (or any other good program) doesn't start in the fall...it starts now!

Ahhh WaCo, you of all people should know truthfulness does not mean one can not be a fan. Afterall, should we not forget all of your replies last year on DB? Cant wait to see your responses on DB's next loss on any sport.

I have to agree with DBWATCHDOG in a way. I am a SH supporter and yet a big fan of Coach Clark, but sometimes you have to show respect for those coaches in the conference that have really turned things around at their school. Coach Clark has always been a "class act" and he does seem to develop the athletes on his team in a well rounded fashion. He and his staff treat the opponent's players, including my sons, with the respect and dignity befitting true competitors. This does not mean that he should get "Coach of the Year" every year, and with what little I know of him, he'd probably agree.

Okay . . . This will probably be one of my last posts on coacht and I would like to say that I have enjoyed reading and posting the last two football seasons. Our time is up with high school football (until the grand kids come along).

 

First of all, I would like to enquire about the status Jonathan Metcalf? How is he doing? I have being praying for the young man.

 

Second, congratulations to Dobyns-Bennett for the win Friday night. You guys capitalized on all of our mistakes. That is what good teams do. It has been my experience that D-B program is a class act. Observing the D-B faithful from the visitor side is quit a sight. It is obvious the tradition is deep and the support is strong! Good luck this week, I will be pulling for our Region 1 brother.

 

It has certainly been a tough year for us at Science Hill. Lots of finger pointing and blame to be passed around, I guess. I hate it for our seniors especially. There is no need for our boys to hang their heads. Most of us cried after the game mainly because it was our last. We gave it all we had. There is a good crop of younger athletes coming up and it is my hope that through our tribulations this year, Science Hill will be better and stronger in the future.

 

As for the kind comments about #44 Aaron Trent . . . Thank you! No, he hasn't committed to any college yet. (Va. Tech wants to make him into a defensive tackle?) We are going to see where the Lord leads. And if He leads to Taft University (home of the Jumbo's) then so be it.

Having had the pleasure of meeting Aaron and seeing him in situations off of the football field (my guys played some basketball with him last year) I can say he seems to be a fine young man with a great future in front of him that is not dependent upon "football" success. It should be the goal of every parent and every coach in High School to have that said about every football player. That will not be accomplished by taking the easy way out of decisions such as the incident with the player in which the head coach circumvented his assistant coach's disciplinary move. Some of the coaches truly do want to establish fundamental discipline that will serve these kids far better than a 200 yard game would in their future. Press clippings turn yellow over time while character does not. I'll support any coach that views the role of developing kids as citizens more important than that of getting them a college scholarship or even a state championship. I don't even care if he dresses like Gilligan and does an onside kick with the lead! Right now the jury in my head (multiple personalities I guess) is undecided, but some of the word I've heard disturbs me.

Best of all to Aaron...and I pray that God leads him in a direction that will make him most useful to His kingdom.

I attended the game and can say pretty confidently that Trent didnt run any plays at full back and Hill ran two or three series at quarterback. Hill didn't complete a pass, lined up under center, and did not have a scamper on his feet.

 

All I have to say is, its either the quarterback or the coach. The spread is exactly what Science Hill needed to maximize the talent they usually have. Either the quarterback(s) can't get the ball to the receivers (which they can't do) or the play calling is just wrong.

The spread offense is a great offense if you have the personnel to run it AND they are disciplined enough to make the right decisions. Do they have the right personnel? Questionable. Do they have the discipline...in every sense of the word...NO. I am with another poster online here in that I believe the offensive line is not the issue. Disciplined decision making is. I still see an unruly bunch of players mouthing off on every play and getting called for unsportsmanlike conduct, mental errors, and even some physical errors that could be remedied by harder work and focus. The discipline has been an issue at SH since I have been watching the program, and it is exemplified on and off the field. To truly be successful it will have to be addressed and what better time to do that than after a coaching change? I hope that Coach Smith is doing the right things to turn it around. I am no longer connected enough to the program to know.

I am told UT has invited Science Hill's middle linebacker, Aaron Trent for a visit. He will be a senior next year.

Pretty amazing for a kid that couldn't even make All-Conference! Actually, he is quite deserving and seems to be a fine young man.

One name that is curiously not resurfacing is Coach Overbay. For once I wouldn't mind seeing the "interim" removed from Interim Head Coach. A good guy....

From what I understand Science Hill is serious about having one of the best football programs in the state. At least that is what Keith Turner the Athletic Director says, and why not? Science Hill football should be as competitive as their basketball and baseball programs.

I believe Keith will put forth his best effort to get the right fit. It will be a tough challenge given the sometimes contradictory pressures of what needs to happen and what some want to happen. I do, however, have faith in his motivation.

I don’t know what the expectations of the coaches at the beginning of the season was, but I know my son believed in his heart ever time he stepped onto that field they were going to win! Except for the Ooltewah game, that was the first time all season I heard him say he didn’t think they would win.

I'm with you on that one....my kid NEVER thought they couldn't win.

Are we sure Coach Nelson is a done deal? I have been on the road today and I haven't heard any news yet. I know this has been a rumor but I thought it was only in our neck of the woods. Ralph has been rumored for a couple of jobs and I heard from a pretty good source that he flat out said no he was staying put because he has a freshman class that everyone on Weaver Pike is pretty excited about. Ralph is in a pretty good situation he has taken a school that has very little football history and turned them into a MLC contender. He has been great in the community and has generated a lot of excitement in East football. He is a hero at East and can stay as long as he wants. Wait a minute maybe he is the guy for the Hill then. With a school of SH's size and the calliber of athletes there, there is no reason the Toppers shouldn't be a major factor year in and year out in football just like they are in basketball and baseball. I would like to see what Ralph could do there.

 

All that being said, maybe Johnson City is more of a basketball town than a football town. The university and community loved football so much they let the school president blow up the program. Don't give me all the so called reasons I've heard all of them. As for Science Hill, if the JC school board and the Topper administration and boosters were so gung ho for football then why has nothing happened before now.

Truthfully it is an NE Tennessee issue. We assume that by playing well against area teams we are capable of competing anywhere. That is simply not the truth. The commitment level of the athletes is nowhere near what it is elsewhere in this state, much less in states such as FL and TX. To win big games against those teams you can't start preparation the week, or even two weeks before. You need to start as soon as the prior season ends. From my seat I did not see a motivated team. Is some of that coaching....maybe...but no one can motivate each player...they can create an environment in which they can be motivated, but the motivation has to come from the players. Coaching is a tough job and the decisions on personnel are difficult and emotional ones. They are not as "clear-cut" as we would think. It will take a small nucleus of determined players, that can motivate their peers to seek excellence, that will create a lasting success. They will exhibit that desire by their discipline on and off the field. As good as many of the players were this year, few could say that they did that. It has to be for more than one year. It has to be a way of life.

It's not really bad even from an academic standpoint. The kids that hold back end up getting 'free' college credits and some actually enter college as a sophmore. But, back to the topic.............It's a done deal..........Ralphie is the man. This has been in the works for quite some time actually.

I would contend that it represents a fundamental issue of what we are in school for....is it to make a "great football team" or prepare us to move on in life, or college (if that is the direction your dreams take you). If it is good academically, lets do it for everyone regardless of athleticism. That would negate the "advantage" that the coach is trying to attain. That is the problem with the minimum standards set by the NCAA. A kid that scores 750 on the SAT probably shouldn't be in college in the first place. If he has the talent to play football, let the NFL fund the "farm league" that brings it out. Don't make a joke of the academic institution by putting him/her into classes as if they are qualified to be there. Okay...off of my "soap box".

I keep hearing every year from everybody that Science Hill has the most talent in Football in this area. We know that in Basketball and Baseball that is true. I know when these guys come out on the field they do look the part. I've never even spoken to Bowles but I here he is a good guy. The problem is he has to be a good football coach also, and I don't think that has played out at Science Hill. As for the "crap over this year over here", Clark is a good man also and a fine coach, but he does have issues that have cost DB in the playoffs. I predict he will correct those issues.

Coach Bowles is a good guy. Quite frankly he has had to coach with a very negative public opinion of him since I arrived in this city 5 years ago. At that time they were already hollering for his head. It was amplified last year and he had to be in "circle the wagons" mode this year. Not an easy way to coach! I take firings quite seriously. We are dealing with people's life. I definitely wanted to see changes made, but I do not know that the present head coach could not have made them. I was planning to talk with him over the next few weeks to give him my opinions and I will never know how he would have taken them. I do like giving people the benefit of the doubt.

FYI, Coach Overbay is a fine man and will do a solid job as interim. If he is selected as the final choice I will likely try to meet with him as well. Most parents want to see just & EQUITABLE treatment of their kids. I have always viewed all of the kids as "mine". That being said, I believe that justice sometimes requires a harder hand than some might find acceptable. Some of the discipline issues that arose were ignored due to the pressure that the coach was under. Given support from the community I believe he would have behaved differently. Look at how discipline is handled at UTK for example! It is a lot like businesses today. We tell them to take a long-term perspective in their decisions, however, let next quarter's results come in below Wall Street expectations (regardless of whether the cost was taken on to ensure future success) and they holler for the CEO's job.

I liked, and still like Coach Bowles, though I have been quite disappointed at times. I wish him success. By the way, Coach Clark actually got a lot more out of the athletes he had this year than any normal coach could have.

If you go 2 years in 8th grade in TN you have to sit out freshman year. Not true in Va. Rules are rules and what GC does is perfectly legal.

Sometimes Legal and Ethical can be at odds.....

I personally didn't see a more physical team, but I did see more overall team speed.

 

Owls better watch out for QB-Watson for Sevier Co. You'll find his passes to be more accurate and his feet to be quicker than SH's. I see a weakness in Ooltewah's secondary.

 

Good luck to both teams and may the best team win.

Agreed! I would love to see the game, but 200 miles is a bit much. I really don't believe that the long pass is the choice, but the intermediate stuff should be quite effective, especially given the propensity of Ooltewah to blitz. Of course that may have been primarily due to SH's propensity to run or throw long. Once we began to throw shorter stuff we had some success. It should be a close one!

Listened to the game on the internet while I was finishing up my stay in Arkansas (listened to the Science Hill broadcast, even though it was their backup play-by-play announcer, it was a pretty good broadcast, fair and complimentary, good job). It sounded like the Owls were opportunistic and the Owls' front 7 on D controlled the line of scrimmage. The announcer just kept talking about our speed and lack of size there. The Toppers sounded like they had some success moving the ball, but just couldn't hold on to it. I WILL BE BACK FOR NEXT WEEK'S GAME AGAINST SEVIER COUNTY.

Pretty much the story of SH's year. We could move the ball, but long drives were impossible due to mistakes. The 6 turnovers noted were understated. I really can't credit the Owls for those.....unless you want to credit every other team we played with creating turnovers as well. I CAN credit your offensive game plan. That is a lot of talent and it is well orchestrated. I believe that Duannah was pulled from his normal position due to a lackadaisical fumble early on.

Good luck! You have a good team.

It should be interesting actually. SH has played well the past few games, and appears to be reducing it's turnovers. Penalties still bit them last week against a VERY disciplined team in DB. How focused will they be?

It does appear that the Owls perimeter running is strong and that could spell trouble for SH. Hopefully SH learned to "seal" this week. There's a reason they make you play the game...."paper" never beat anyone!

"I don't know much about the sevier county...the bears are overrated" That was kind of a big jump. Where do you get that they are overrated if you don't know much about them? It sounds to me like whoever wins this game (BEARS) will really have to earn it. May the best team (BEARS) win!!!

Beware....they are not overrated....if anything they are underrated. I'm not even a fan of theirs!

"A lot of DB defenders picking themselves up after plays."

 

Yeah, too bad there were SH backs under them!

 

I think anyone who thought this Science Hill team would be a pushover was uninformed. They have size, they have speed and on a wet field when D-B had nothing but pride on the line, they played an inspired game and stayed within 2 touchdowns of Region 1's #1 team. Congratulations to the Toppers on a hard fought game and good luck against Ooltewah next week!

 

To our Indians, with the conclusion of an undefeated regular season, I can only say, "Fantastic!" After every game, the other side would say, but we have better backs, but our line is bigger, but our quarterback is better - and after every game, they were faced with going back and figuring out how they lost. This Indian team has more pride, more heart, more team chemistry, more ability to make each other better than any team I've been privileged to watch. We're proud of what you've accomplished!

 

Now, what do you say you strap it on and march to Murfreesboro!

 

Roll Tribe!

Keep on pluggin'! You guys play a very disciplined game and the kids seem to know their "roles" in the scheme. They are deserving of their regional championship and hopefully will continue to play well in the playoffs.

There has been a lot of talk about our number 3 and 4 seeds being weak.......keep thinking that (that is not directed at DB, but some of the R2 folks out there)! We hope to see DB again.....Region 1 rocks!

Ok DB fans, can you now give it up for Solomon Duannah as being the best running back in the area? Could you imagine the damage he could have done if the coaches can ever find a way to create a lil more space for him....Sylvester is looking good but Isacc Kinley (22) is an sophmore too....tell me a better yet raw talent you have seen carrying the ball this year....

Solomon had a solid game, really starting to run "north-south". The best way to create space for him will be to get these teams out of the 8-9-10---and even 11 in the box defenses that we are seeing on almost every down. The short middle passing game (much what you saw DB do with Sensabaugh when we blitzed) will get those linebackers to play us "honest" and allow the blocking to seal off some lanes. The flair pass to Nat was totally absent last night and in recent games after being an integral part of the offense early in the year. Sometimes there just aren't enough "hats" to put on the defensive "hats" running the ball in between the tackles. I thought the line did an admirable job last night as well. A lot of DB defenders picking themselves up after plays. Solomon is really putting up some excellent 2nd effort on his runs, getting that extra yard or two and it led to a couple of first downs that he otherwise might not have gotten. Ball control is an overstated statistic, especially in HS. The more plays you run, the more likely an error will occur. We have to put a little doubt into the defense's posturing. Actually, I think we have seen improvement in the play calling, but I'd sure like to see some "checkoffs" at the line when the defense is well set for our play. I don't believe I've seen that all year....I'm not really sure that they have given AJ the power to do that.

I wouldn't say "should have", but I'd sure give you "could have". Takeaways from this game, we can compete with anyone, but we have to play smarter. Penalties at crucial moments and disciplined play beat us, but that is quite common at the high school level. When you play against the option you HAVE to follow your assignments or progression. When your job is to tackle the quarterback....GET HIS BUTT ON THE GROUND!!! That is hard to do, but you have to trust your teammates to do their job.

At any rate, it was an inspired and inspiring performance by SH. They should have built a degree of confidence after this game. They have to bring the same passion to Ooltewah. That is tough because they are not a "rivalry opponent".

BTW, congrats to DB! As much as I'd love to see SH beat them, I have a great deal of respect for their program. My sons tell me that their coaches always show them respect (SH players) and I know of instances where they have helped some of SH's players in their search for future playing opportunities. That is "keeping kids first". Oh....and we might be seeing you again!!!

These guys need to focus on the next game....Ooltewah I gather. The coaches and the players deserve an opportunity to focus on accomplishing a goal that hasn't been done in awhile...going to the 2nd round of the playoffs. ANYTHING that distracts them from it is really a disservice to the kids. I have personally disagreed with the coaches from time to time, but then again, I've disagreed with God a few times as well (no, I don't equate them....just noting I'm capable of being wrong). I am always leary of seeing a coach fired for incompetence with the x's and o's. How they treat players is another issue. I have deliberately stayed out of such discussions this year, but I gather that there are likely some issues there. I do not know the "scoop", but it is readily apparent that there are some highly emotional matters playing out. Firing a coach is, and should be treated, in a very serious manner. We are dealing with people's lives....and I'm well aware that includes our kids.

The crown at the Sevier field is rather noticable, especially when you're on the field. Probably won't have an impact, but, rather strange at first.

Tends to lead to a lot of overthrown balls. It truly is a homefield advantage. That...and the cheerleaders tend to drown if it rains.