papa chaos

Mixed bag of emotions here in Rebel-land. Couldn't be happier for GQ. Can't imagine how he'll ever be replaced. Great coach. Better man. We'll miss him for sure. Go Rebels!

Another great game between these two teams. Some observations: - Turbyfill (I think that's his name), the safety for Alcoa was EVERYWHERE. What a stud. - Koko is a stud. I don't look forward to seeing more of him in the future. - Was that yet another Tyson in the backfield for AHS (the guy with the dreadlocks hanging out of his helmet). Only a sophomore? Geesh. - The AHS qb was on the money with those bombs - AHS will win out from this point forward if they stay focused. They were better than their record last year as evidenced by the fight they gave the Rebels. I was nervous for most of this game. I thought GQ was calling it too conservatively with all the ineffective run plays that he kept calling. It's always a wake up call for me when I sit back at the end and see 42 points on the scoreboard and wonder how I ever could've thought the offense should've been run differently. It felt like he was protecting the QB a little bit but it also served to make the passes so much more effective when they were called. Why do I ever doubt that man??? The turnover on the kickoff was a backbreaker. I thought this was a great demonstration of high school football in East TN and I'm really glad for all involved that they got this opportunity. Very cool.

Well spoken. I also started off thinking big win, but the more I read up the more I think it will be closer than I'd like. Alcoa is HUGE.

Couldn't agree more. I couldn't tell you how many times I've heard the AHS faithful on the field after a loss to MHS talking about how next year is their year and how it doesn't mean anything to lose to such a much bigger school rather than just saying good game. It is strange how little chatter their is from that bunch this year though...calm before the storm?

I'm slacking big time. Work's crazy. But you can count on a little Rebel love and Tornado hate to bring me back to the convo.

Reading through this thread has reaffirmed one of the big things I really dislike about Alcoa: the hyperbole. They're always talking about how this is their year and this being their "best team" year after year after year... c'mon. The team from a couple of years ago would have absolutely WAXED Webb last weekend. You may say your boys were looking ahead, but mental toughness and focus is part of the game and is part of the DNA of a team. Those truly great Alcoa teams from recent years didn't look over anyone...they just kept hanging more and more points on the scoreboard and making statements. Heck, they did it to us... I agree AHS will bring its A game on Sunday. I hope MHS does the same. And I hope it's an absolute Rebel blowout on national TV with Prevo doing something that gets us on Sportscenter the next day.

First of all...I'm back. First login of the season, and this was the first Rebel thread I saw. mys·tique   <a onmousedown="spk(this,{lk:'nx1fkx',en:'wotdau',io:'0',b:'wotd',tp:'lrl',m:'wotdau'})" href="#"></a><a target="_blank" href="http://dictionary.reference.com/audio.html/lunaWAV/M07/M0733200"><img border="0" src="http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/speaker.gif"></a> /mɪˈstik/ Show Spelled[mi-steek] Show IPA noun 1. a framework of doctrines, ideas, beliefs, or the like, constructed around a person or object, endowing the person or object with enhanced value or profound meaning: the mystique of Poe. 2. an aura of mystery or mystical power surrounding a particular occupation or pursuit: the mystique of nuclear science. Heck yes there's mystique. Yup. The Rebels have got all that in spades.

Who would win if Superman fought Yoda? This is stupid.

prettiest venue where i've ever had the pleasure to see a high school football game. i remember the year that people were wearing t-shirts that said something like "william blount vs heritage...doesn't matter, we both beat maryville.' the mountaineers get up for the rebels.

Thanks Stars! Go Rebs!

I just woke up this morning and realized it was football season...I'm way behind. What's the schedule for the games on Saturday? Do we know kickoff times?

Thanks for the info. You're absolutely right about Jacob. He's falls right in line with so many of the tough RBs Maryville has had over the years who don't get D1 type consideration. I'm thinking of the Michael Potter, Chris McCord, Kat Kimsey type players who do whatever is asked of them and get business done for the Rebels.

What a game! Congratulations to the mighty mighty Red Rebels on bringing home another gold ball! Way to go boys! I'll reiterate what I said last week: we couldn't be more proud of you for the way that you represent your school, your families and our community. Some observations: - Missing your star d-lineman for a whole game does not equal missing your star qb for half a game - Maryville is a machine. As a fan, I got worried after the opening drive. Two series later, I caught up with where the boys already were and got comfortable and confident. - Smyrna brought the right gameplan for 90% of the game. It was like watching the Alcoa game all over again...pounding the rock lead to success. Alcoa ran one whack series against us where they got away from that, and I prayed that they would keep it up. Too many teams try too many things when there's no reason to get away from the bread and butter and it gets them beaten against such a well-coached squad. - With our QB, I do think the score spreads out much larger. I've seen MHS settle in and take control too many times to think otherwise. Just like I predicted a turnover when Smyrna went 2-minute drill in the first half, I predict that they would have made mistakes after falling behind by 2 td's early in the second half if we had been able to keep running our standar offense. One question: Why didn't Jacob West carry the ball more? I understand that Prevo was doing a great job and so was Robinette when he was in the game. But when our backup QB's were in the game, it seemed to me like running him would have been a better option than running the quarterback. I'm sure there's a reason, because I know GQ is always right. Congrats again to the Rebels!

The thing that I always love about being a Maryville fan in a game like this is knowing that the boys will be prepared for whatever comes at them. I literally don't think I've ever seen them shell-shocked. Even if they come in and get down early, each player will have complete confidence that if the gameplan the coaches have drawn up is followed, they'll have a chance to win. Trust cannot be undervalued. On the contrary, I've seen a number of teams (and yes some at this level) get shell-shocked by how multiple, complex and efficient the Rebels can be. This thread is fun. It reminds me of the old days. For the first few years that MHS was making annual appearances in the gold ball game, it seemed like every team we were about to face was certain that we didn't quite belong there for some reason and that our competition was weak or that we'd just gotten lucky with some "trick plays" along the way. I'm in no way saying that anyone has stated that in this thread...but it feels like those days when most people felt like we would find ourselves overmatched. That has shifted in the past couple of years, and quite honestly it feels good to be back there again. Quick thoughts: - If you think great speed is the key to beating Maryville, I think you're wrong. That was less the recipe Alcoa used than the battering ram followed with great speed approach. - If this Smyrna defense really is as fast as the one Hillsboro had in (I think) 2005, then it will be the fastest defense I've ever seen and they better be careful to keep containment and not overpursue. GQ has seen fast defenses before. - I agree that this thread isn't about MHS/AHS, but I take issue with anyone who would suggest GQ isn't the best coach around. I'm really excited about this game. I hope that the Rebels can get it done. Win or lose though, I'm incredibly proud of these boys. I'm not sure I've ever seen a team grow as much as this one this year. They represent their school, their families and this community so incredibly well.

Wow...23 pages and it's only Tuesday! I love it! The one thing that jumped out at me as a theme in this thread was the way that people want to discount the past. I'll agree that what happened seasons ago may not be one of the more critical factors in this upcoming game, however, I don't think you can write off the experience of having been there before. Except for the Freshmen on this Rebel squad...they've ALL been there before. And I think that matters. So, no, maybe Maryville hasn't played as tough a schedule this season as Smyrna has. But this won't be the first time that we make it to state and the toughest team we see all season meets us there. And if we win, it won't be the first time we've won under those circumstances. But if you're thinking that the MHS squad hasn't taken the steps to be prepared to play in this game, I think you're wrong. Does that mean they'll win? Absolutely not. But if they beat the best team on their schedule and it's the best the state has to offer, then I don't think you can complain about strength of schedule much. What I can guarantee is that you've never seen a coach who will gameplan you as well as GQ and that you've never seen a team that will execute that gameplan as well as these Rebels. More often than not, that translates into victory. I'm excited to see this game. Is MHS considered an underdog?

So I'm reading this thread and I think I've heard both teams make the claim that they've improved since the first meeting. That made me want to take a closer look to see if it would put my mind at ease going into this game. Here's what I found: Prior to the first meeting: - Maryville had played 3 of its 5 games against teams that finished the season with winning records. They went 2-1 in these games scoring 36 points per game and allowing 11.6 points per game. - Bearden had played 2 of its 5 games against teams that finished the season with winning records. They went 3-0 in these game scoring 47.2 points per game and allowing 13.6 points per game. Since the first meeting: - Maryville has played 4 of its 6 games against teams that finished the season with winning records. They went 6-0 in these games scoring 37.3 points per game and allowing 9 points per game. - Bearden has played 5 of its 6 games against teams that finished the season with winning records. They went 4-2 in these games scoring 33.2 points per game and allowing 22 points per game. So, since the first meeting, MHS has increased scoring production entering the first matchup by a point and decreased points allowed by 2 points while Bearden has scored 10 fewer points per contest than their average entering the MHS matchup and has allowed 9 more points per game...all against similarly qualified opponents. The data tells me that MHS has more statistical claim to scope of growth since the first matchup.

I can't believe the playoffs are already here!! I've been out of town so much this season, that I've not had much of a chance to be at many of the games. I'm around this weekend and looking forward to seeing the Rebels start off another postseason the right way. If my memory serves correctly, the first round of the playoffs has been when the Rebels have been least focused and most prone to mistakes in the past. I hope they bring their A game tonight. Teams from the NET haven't faired very well against the Rebels in recent years, even when they've come highly touted. I don't expect tonight to be different, but I do expect to see a better than advertised team from Science Hill. They always seem to have talent up there. Unrelated to tonight's game...one of my fondest memories from football when I was in high school was at Science Hill. I think it was 95 or 96, but SH had a good team. Their stadium was rocking and all the fans were tossing toilet paper rolls all over the place. Then the band came out at halftime and put on a show to match what the team was doing on the field. I think WB only brought about 15 students/fans to that game outside of parents and band members. That was sad, but all of us got to see something pretty cool on the other side of the field.

This whole working for a living thing is really starting to interfere with my fan-dom... Last week, I had to miss the MHS game because I was in Texas on business, and now we're playing on Thursday night...while I'm in Minneapolis on another business trip. Killing me! I was fortunate enough to get to watch what I'm told was the top team in the state of Texas last week, but I'd much rather be seeing the Rebels than randoms in other parts of the country. I think Maryville takes it, but I think Mr. Young and company will keep it interesting. You're always one play away from putting 6 on the board when you've got someone that explosive in your backfield.

This is one of the rivalries we all looked forward to when the reclassification happened. Last year was a really good game, and I thought that OR gave Maryville all they wanted. I really hate that I'm going to have to miss the game this season (and all the banter that's sure to take place this week leading up to it). I am, however, looking forward to watching some high school football in Texas this Thursday and Friday night and seeing what all the hype's about... Go Red Rebels!

Well I've got the mighty mighty Red Rebels in this one. Tons of improvement from Week 1 to last week, and I expect to continue to see that in traditional fashion of a GQ-coached team. Not that we get to overlook any opponent, but if things are as the McMinn fans are telling us then I'm glad we get a rainy game under our new quaterback's belt in a game that we don't expect to be one of the toughest on the schedule. Go Rebels and good luck to all for safe travel and a safe game.

what is this 37% thing all about?

I agree that it was a false start and that the flag was deserved. I was simply trying to bring a little common ground to that discussion by stating that it's easy enough for different folks to see the same things different ways based on perspective (both emotional and physical). I thought it was a well-called game.