TRIBE1

JPATS5, Just a little correction for you, Jennings hasn't signed anything to play for Vandy because he can't if he is just a rising senior. He may have commited to Vandy, but as we all know, it means absolutely nothing until his name's on the dotted line. I think Jennings would get a lot of time at Vandy and he is impressive, so I hope he is commited there. If I had to guess a state champion right now, I would have to go with either of the teams who played for it last year, Brentwood or Riverdale.

By saying "hold their ankles firmly," it's not as if I mean to park a truck on them. Use your head man, and maybe if the Patriots tried that drill then they could have tackled a DB running back in the last 10 years. Sorry, it was just too easy to sneak that in there.

Don't know if this is exactly what your looking for but I know of a pretty decent tackling drill that teaches leverage and forming up. Have the tackler line up with another player about 2 feet in front of him standing straight up, and at the same have someone hold the tacklers ankles firmly. The the tackler will not be able to move his feet when tackling and must learn to form up and explode their hips through whoever they are tackling. Also, we used to run a very simple drill that teaches linebackers how to use their arms and hands to get off blocks. Simply line up the tackler and then have two other kids on on either shoulder of him about 5 yards away and have them come at him. If the kid doesn't learn to throw a forearm to get off the block then they will learn very quickly at this drill.

You know that you have a good thing going when someone says that if you overlook Bearden (lol), then you might have an away game the first round of the playoffs. Who knows when the last time DB had that horrible problem was?

1) Graham Clark, Dobyns-Bennett: Every year he takes the talent he has and pushes it further than anyone expects. 2) George Quarles, Maryville: He keeps the Maryville dyanasty going. 3) Mike Lunsford, Cloudland: Takes a bunch of small-town boys to the top every year. 4) Scott Meadows, Jefferson County: He's won everywhere he's been. 5) Stanton Stevens, Austin-East: A master motivator.

REBELRON, The DB-Maryville scrimmage should definitely be a good one, and hopefully I can make it home to see it. Ted Wilson is very well respected in Kingsport and is actually the music minister at my old church. He did quite a bit for DB football also, and the only reason you might not hear as much about him is because of the program Graham Clark has turned DB into. As for DB and Gate City, I could talk all day about it. We used to scrimmage Gate City every year in the summer until 1998 (could be '99) when they decided not to come back anymore after we embarrased them in Kingsport. They used to play us with Jake Housewright and Chad Beasley (formerly of Va. Tech) and the difference between 5A Tennessee football and A Virginia football became apparent very quickly. (SPEED). There used to be a huge war of words between the two schools about not only the scrimmages but playing a game. I know that their coach was asked by DB to play during the season a couple of years in a row and he wouldn't, but who knows what the deal is now. Anyways, Gate City is a quality SW Virginia football program and a game between the two would probably draw close to 15,000 people I bet. Personally, I would love to have that game played simply because I played at DB and used to hear all of the Gate City people talk about how they would demolish DB. There definitely is a huge rivalry there even thought the two don't play, and if they did then you would see two towns that revolve around high school football go at it.

JPATS5, No, I am not superstitous and that is not what I'm saying. You have been on this website guaranteing victory after victory when your boys havn't been past the quarters in a long time. It is not smart to do that ever, but especially to jack you jaw about a team that you havn't beaten in 10 years. You talk about all these great players Jeff. County has, but they are the same ones who lost to DB twice last year, and for some reason that doesn't factor into your decision at all. Frankly, I don't care what the Patriots wear when they play DB this next year because that will have nothing to do with the game. I have seen DB with even less speed and talent than this year, and we beat Jeff. County then. The point of this is to try and figure out what must be going on inside your head to start guaranteeing wins two months before the season even starts, especially over DB. Peace

It could happen, but is highly doubtful. DB may not be lining up with the talent and speed they have had in the last 6 years, but you must remember the region that they play in. I honestly don't think that a few of the teams in that region could beat DB's JV team on a good day. Jeff. County will be improved this year and a pretty fast team, but I don't see this being the year that the curse is broken. My guess as of now is that DB will go 9-1 or 8-2 in the regular season and win the region once again.

JPATS5, Keep in mind that before the Patriots can smack around a team from the 'boro, they have to go through Kingsport. Oh well, I guess that aint happening.

Whats up bud, I havn't heard a word about this transfer from Jackson. The only place that I have heard anybody speak on it is on here, so who knows what's going on. I hope he is for real, and elgible to play with all of the TSSAA rules. We should know alot about this years team after they go through their summer scrimmages including Maryville.

His name is Duran Ferguson.

You say that those 15 incredible starters started last year? That's funny because I think DB beat the Jefferson County dynasty for the 10th year in a row last year. Man, I hope those 15 men have been bustin their tail this summer, cause they have some strong words to live up to. And to be honest, when I was playin at DB (which is included in that 10 years), we got up more to play Greenville (4A) than Jeff. County. You can talk all you want to about ruling Region 1 this year, but until it happens (and it hasn't in a long time) then you are simply diggin yourself a bigger hole. I remember Jeff. County fans talking this same stuff when Ricky Upton was around and nothing ever changed. Good luck to the Patriots, and they had better play well or they might not even finish second.

Hey Trav, This kid even picked the Hill over DB for next year! Now thats some funny stuff. Its people like this that make DB what they are, LOVED OR HATED, BUT NEVER IGNORED.

10 YEARS

DBAlumni2000, Thanks for all of the thoughtful insight. I am truly proud to have played on the football team representing somebody like you. Maybe you just have a little bottled up anger because you never got to play. It's OK man, things will get better.LOL I'll tell you what, let's do just wait and see what happens this next season for two reasons: 1) You cannot win an argument on an internet chat board (so there is no sense in getting so torn up about it), and, 2) DB always makes the playoffs and that won't change.

DBAlumni2000, I hate to tell you, but if you graduated from DB in 2000 and knew a lot of the starters on the football team, then you knew me. I graduated in 2001 and played outside 'backer. I'm not gonna tell you that "you my friend know nothing about football," because I don't infact know whether you do or not, and that would be just plain childish. Anyways, DB is not returning many people this year with experience on either side of the ball, but I have seen teams with less talent than this years be very, very successful. The one other thing you must remember is who is coaching this team. Graham Clark just doesn't lose many football games because of the way he runs the program. Those kids would go to war for him or any other player (I know I would have), and he is a motivator. Granted, DB is not loaded this year like '98, '00, etc. but go ask an Oak Ridge fan if they would ever count DB out of the playoffs. By the way, the Joe Erwin kid who everyone has been talking about on here just happens to be my cousin. He has a great arm, but really is better on defense. Joe is at least 6'3" and weighs maybe 195 and can really hit. His only problem might be that the other strong safety is pretty darn good himself for DB, but he blew out a knee last year. Anyways, DBAlumni2000, let me know who you are and maybe we can catch up. Peace.

DBAlumni2000, Your awfully negative to be a DB alumni and to say that they won't make the playoffs is pretty ballsy. When was the last time DB didn't make the playoffs is my question?

Dobyns-Bennett has a junior with a rifle for an arm playing QB this year unless someone else comes on strong. You know what that means, Lamon Williams could be catching balls left and right. From what I have seen, DB is gonna be a little green at some positions, but overall I can see another trip right through Region 1. Jefferson Co. is supposed to be very solid this year and they have been steadily improving, BUT, have they ever beaten DB since Clark has been there? NO, and until it happens then nothing changes.

Boorelly, One other thing, they are playing in the regular season again now so you might want to check your schedule. Also, if I remember correctly there were a bunch of Oak Ridge players with their heads hung the last two times the two have played. Maybe thats because they got dealt with both times. Peace

They still gotta play them Injuns from Kingsport!

I havn't heard what exactly is going to happen with this year's signees. I do know that Gerald Sensabaugh, a rising junior out of Dobyns-Bennett High School has been given his release by ETSU and is probably transferring to UT. Michigan, Virginia Tech, Marshall, and Wake Forest have also contacted him, but he is definitely D-1 starting material. He started his first two years at strong safety, and was all-conference and preseason all-america. I didn't think that ETSU would give releases to anyone because they are still going to play this year, but I'm glad they did. The situation at Georgia can only help the players, as two of Georgia's basketball signees for this year were released from their scholarships and allowed to sign with another school because of special circumstances (a stupid coach). The situation at ETSU is definitely a "special" one and hopefully all of these kids will get the chance to continue their careers and play somewhere else.

JPAT55, Sorry, but you are not right. When DBIndian99 was a senior, my class, which included Johnson, Sensabaugh, and Henry was sophomores. The year that Jesse was a senior we went to the semifinals, as we did my senior year in 2000. The junior class in the year you are referring to was actually very weak and the juniors carried the team the next year when they were seniors, but definitely not in 98'

BHSFootball, It is great to hear that you are confident in your team this year and I would like to say that I wish Bearden all of the best, BUT I think you might have put your foot in your mouth by saying that. The first game I played against Bearden was in 1998, and not once from that time until now (I don't know about before then) DB has never lost to Bearden or even come close. Once again, I wish the Bulldogs best of luck this season, but I just don't see them dominating Region 1 and especially DB.

Have ole' coach Flatt give a ring to coach Clark at Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett and I'll guarantee you that if their schedule is not already full then they'll play you. That would automatically be one of the biggest games in the state and I know that Clark would take it if the schedule's not full.

You can never count out the Indians from DB.