Ftballfanatic

Since you admittedly do not know me personally,I would appreciate it if you would confine your comments to football and my knowledge thereof and not uneducated speculations about what kind of person I am. As far as my knowledge of the game well, I grew up in a football family...my daddy and both his brothers were coaches in the 50's and 60's and a good chunk of the 70's. I grew up on the sidelines and was always around anytime there was chalk-talk. I can guarantee if it were possible for a girl to put on the pads and take the field back in my day, I would have. I was the team statistician, trainer, water-girl and if called on, QB'd the practice team. And even with my advanced age and failing body parts I try to stay current. And you are right that the rankings don't mean jack...but if a 60 year old granny with failing hips and a computer can evaluate stats, schedules, and margin of victory, I don't understand why a local sports writer can't.

Well i speculated you were sad and bitter from reading your posts, and you speculated from reading my post that i was uneducated, which proves you don't know me either, so i guess we can call it a draw.

BTW how did your devils fare in close ballgames this year when the talent level was fairly even, in my opinion that is a far better measuring stick of a well coached team.

barb owning a computer and making almost 3,000 posts does not make you an expert on high school football, and when you make statements like the one about claiborne having enough talent to have blown out their conference foes it shows you don't know as much as kev-o said. The better measuring stick of a well coached team is winning close games vs teams they are evenly matched talent wise with especially when they play on the road. How did your devils do in close games this year when they played teams that were close talent wise? Also the polls mean nada in high school football, why get your panties in a wad when the playoffs will take care of rankings. I do not know you personally but your posts make you seem like a sad and bitter person.

This won't be the blowout that greeneville has been putting on their conference foes but the devils will pound central. The devils are very good, probably got the best kicking game in the state, including UT, and burley is a tough place to play so it may be a long trip back down I75.

For crying out loud, i click on the claiborne-brainerd thread and get to read a lecture on barbs vast football knowledge, how refreshing, never seen that before. Barb u should just give it a rest big daddy is making u look silly. Brainerd may be the best team claiborne has seen so far including greeneville, i don't know a lot about them but they beat austin east and i know the roadrunners are very good. Claiborne would have to win the turnover battle in a big way to advance in my opinion.

I have to disagree with you on this one point. Greenville is much better than brainerd but that still does say claiborne will beat them. I do like your point about barb though.

You may be right, i don't know much about brainerd, but they handled A-E pretty well and the roadrunners would give greeneville a good game in my opinion.

For crying out loud, i click on the claiborne-brainerd thread and get to read a lecture on barbs vast football knowledge, how refreshing, never seen that before. Barb u should just give it a rest big daddy is making u look silly. Brainerd may be the best team claiborne has seen so far including greeneville, i don't know a lot about them but they beat austin east and i know the roadrunners are very good. Claiborne would have to win the turnover battle in a big way to advance in my opinion.

No winning might breed confidence but it does not work both ways. I guess I'm just having an issue with you all not standing behind your team....tell me why I shouldn't believe WE will beat the fire-snot out of Claiborne instead of calling us arrogant. I have yet to see one post from a Claiborne fan that even hinted at confidence...that my friend is a confidence-killer.But alas my little fanatical friend I am not a coach, merely a DEVIL FAN and it isn't logic its FOOTBALL. Underestimating the ability of your boys to persevere and overcome will be costly to the program in the long haul. Claiborne is going to have to give up their traditional 1a "rivals" if they are going to be competitive. Its just gonna take a monumental butt-whoopin' to drive home the point.

Sorry barb, not meaning to argue and not going to, but it most definately goes BOTH ways when you win you gain confidence, and when youre a confident team you win.

I am not a claiborne fan but i know coach liles from my coaching days and trust me they are doing it the right way. At some point when they have 65 kids to work with instead of 30 they probably will strengthen their schedule although i doubt they would ever drop a rival like hancock or CG regarless of classification because of their history and proximity.

As far as confidence goes i guarantee their players are confident or they would not be 8-1, and that is all that matters, whether their fans get on coacht and pound their chests at how good we are has zippo to do with what the players do on the field on friday night, fans don't play players do.

Oh ok, as long as they feel good about themselves its okay to get the fire-snot beat out of them in the play-offs....I totally get it. The cheerleaders must be beside themselves trying to find something that rhymes with mediocre...

Winning breeds confidence, and confidence breeds winning, you have obviously never coached a team that had to build something that they had never had before with marginal talent, a winning tradition cause your logic is flawed and would only work with a team with superior talent. With your logic if you coached claiborne they would be home come playoff time watching some other conference team geting the fire-snot beat out of them. I'm sure they will take the playoffs and a cheer of mediocre from their cheerleaders over the alternative.

Whoa Big Daddy....To be the best, you have to beat the best or at least play the best. If we played Claiborne's creampuff non-conference schedule, we'd be undefeated....whatever doesn't kill you will make you stronger and having a tough schedule early galvanized this Devil team...and FYI, Greeneville subbed in the Grainger game midway through the second quarter and played JV most of the second half.

I thought #8 did a great job at QB....is he a Freshman???

barb what works for greeneville don't necessairly work for everyone. Claiborne is where they are at right now because they are fundamentally sound, VERY well coached, and they did exactly what they should have done to be where they are schedule wise. They could have played that tough non conference schedule like greeneville gotten their brains beat out lost confidence and these conference games they have been winning close they would have surely lost, or they could have done just what they did soften up the non conference schedule play a good team in gibbs and build some confidence in a team that physically is no better than CG or SG the very teams they have beaten to be where they are. Sorry, but claiborne did exactly what they should have done to build some confidence and get kids that were walking the halls interested in football, cudos to the bulldogs on a great season.

WOW barb I thought you would get it....but apparently not judging from your response above to my post to greeneville#1....you know what people in 4A outside your conference say....Greene ville plays in a weak azz conference (true) the Devils have played 4 good teams all year and lost to three of em(true)....calling the conference co-leader at this time 8-1 and ranked "overrated" and having a creampuff schedule just reinforces their idea, and does nothing to help the Devils, or the conferences perception....as I said in my earlier post a strong Claiborne team is in Greenevilles best interest. So keep on trashing em if it makes you feel good but u r giving ur own team a backhanded smack IMO.

 

I said in another thread that Greeneville's JV could give most conference teams a run for their money....I have no problem giving credit to other teams....as far as playing your JV vs Grainger so did.... Gibbs 60, Grainger 14 ...which kinda takes the luster off your statement since Gibbs was one of Claiborne's non-conference creampuffs.

EXCELLENT post bidaddy devil fans can show some class congratulate claiborne on an outstanding season and say good luck next week, or they can act like arrogant buttholes continue to slam a team that they are going to play for their conference title and at the end of the season say our conference really sucks, we really had a bang up season we beat ONE good team all season. It's really quite simple.

That was a great ballgame and with how we played against the talent level we faced, I like our outlook this season. The AE band was great. Oggs is a great player and the 2 so. kids are the real deal. Good luck this year to the roadrunners and hoped you enjoyed your trip to Motown.

Howell is a great looking athlete....don't know exactly where he would project at the college level, but he is versatile enough to play either side, kind of reminds me of the Teague kid at Tennessee. Also his running style reminds me of former Cane Anthony Span only in a bigger package.

Lots of athletes on both teams, and a great high school game, great setting as well....Burke-Toney stadium is one of the better venues in East Tennessee to watch high school football. The decision to install turf was a good one as the field was a mud pit by mid-season in years past.

I was proud to be a member of this year's team. I appreciate all that Coach Liles has done for me. I like a few of my teammates feel that we got COOKed. No one can't disagree that we were supposed to have a decent year until we lost our QB due to another coach. Our replacement did all that he could but, our old QB left due to another coach of a different sport actions. I think that this coach's actions will continue to affect the success of my BB team this season also. Why would any school allow for one coach to have this kind of effect on their sports program? Many of CHS students, athletes, and fans know what I am saying is true.

I don't know much about Claiborne football but I did hear you got a new coach helping out. If he is half as good a coach as he was a high school and college player you got a good one.

I love this thread about the mighty Claiborne Bulldogs.

By the way the answer to the question is...........NO! they have not since becoming THE CLAIBORNE BULLDOGS beat a team with a winning record.

 

2007: Claiborne was 4-6, they beat Chuckey Doak (3-7), Union County (3-7), Hancock County (0-9), Pigeon Forge (3-7).

 

2006: The greastest year ever for Claiborne Football: Thomas Walker?, Chuckey Doa(2-8), Union County (2-8), Cumberland Gap (4-7), West Greene (0-10), Gibbs (3-8), Grainger/Rutledge (5-5), by the way 5-5 is not a winning record. Fulton, who they bragged they would beat 8-64.

 

2005 Claiborne was 5-5, they beat. Thomas Walker?, Chuckey Doak (2-8), Union County (2-8), West Greene (0-10), Gibbs (2-8).

 

2004 Claiborne was 1-9, they beat. Thomas Walker ?

 

2003 Claiborne was 1-9, they beat Thomas Walker ?

 

So in five years you have NO QUALITY WIN!

ScottIndian

Well you asked me to read the whole thread to see who the classless ones were so I did and I must say you are at the top of the list. This is your post from page ONE post #7 above....and you think THEIR fans are classless....you sure went to a lot of time and trouble to dig up those stats to run down Claiborne's program and I saw no posts by Claiborne fans slamming ANYONE before your post....it is apparent from the first line of your post that you have an axe to grind with Claiborne for whatever reason....maybe someone from Claiborne kicked sand in your face as a youngster who knows regardless posts like these serve no purpose but to run down someone else and should be deleted.

Good job claiborne! 3-6 so far this season, your counterparts across the river are 7-3! Why dont you guys tape some of my favorite tv shows next friday night while im at CG's playoff game! Good luck next season, NOT!

I am not a Claiborne fan....but I hope that your lack of class is not a reflection of most Panther fans.

How has west performed against a GOOD passing game? I've heard not too good.

For that matter how has Greenville performed against a good passing game....there has not been two teams with good passing attacks in the 5 rivers conference since Cody Baugh was at Greenville and Jared Pallazola was at Mo-East...and the Devils were fortunate enough to have Baugh on their side.

I have battled a bit this season with some of the insighful Claiborne fans. Since correcting them on several issues and explaining how little they actually know about the land scape of East TN football I have yet to hear from their supporters since the CG game. I do always love to get in on anything that involves Claiborne because of their fans. their loyal fans are always so quick to point out how good the Bulldogs are in their pre-season scrimmages. but anyway it is all in good fun from my end, I think they get a little personal at times.

 

But anyway back to the game. I like Grainger.

 

Grainger: 34

Claiborne: 19

Does Claiborne and Scott county play each other?

Grainger should win by 14

When Bulldogs get into it with Grizzlies....well you know the usual outcome. If the Bulldogs could contain McBee they might keep it close...but they won't.....Grainger by 3 TD's.

Well, you do know your east high football and I agree 100%. They do have good atheletes to play the positions that you mentioned for the future. A strong dive back (Helton?), at least one speed back (Blanton), to run outside, at least one good possession WR (Clark), an athletic QB (Howell) with the ability to run and throw while moving, as well as carry out all the misdirection fakes that make the wing-t go, and a mobile O-line. The whole issue is that these guys are green and as you said, the only teacher is experience.

Sometimes change is necessary (injuries), and sometimes the best change is no change. It is hard sometimes to do when you are struggling, but patience will win in the end. Confidence is a strange thing, but one game soon everything will click, and you will see athletes that are playing to make plays rather than athletes that are playing trying to avoid mistakes, which is what they are doing right now.

To be effective running the wing-t offense you must have a strong dive back (Mozier), at least one speed back (Dockery), to run outside, at least one good possession WR (Harris), an athletic QB (Ramsey) with the ability to run and throw while moving, as well as carry out all the misdirection fakes that make the wing-t go, and a mobile O-line that has the speed to pull. Last year Hatcher landed at a school that had the perfect personnel to run his offense, and they put up record breaking numbers. All of those players either graduated or are no longer with the team. That is a lot of offense to replace, especially with inexperienced players.

The exact same thing happened with coach Smith. He stepped into a perfect situation the first year he came to East with personnel that could run his power I offense. A big strong O-Line, a bulldozer FB (Bower), a fast strong back with good vision to run between the tackles (Francisco), a possession receiver (Simpson), a deep threat (Penland), and a QB (Palazolla) that had a strong accurate arm to deliver the ball, and seldom turned the ballover. That team probably had the most balanced offense in school history and is the only East offense to have a RB run for, and a QB pass for over 1,600 yards in the same season.

Smiths second year offense struggled, just like Hatchers has, but the good thing to remember is most of them became Hatchers record breaking offense of last year. It takes more time for young players to develop as offensive players, and the only teacher is experience.

Here you go. I have thought about this for YEARS.

 

MASCOT: Wildcats (Morristown's Junior High mascot)

COACH: Woods or Hatcher - You could not go wrong with either selection. West wins state a few years ago with some of East's players. A 6'6 WR named Simpson sure would have helped.

 

There are other schools that have that many kids. It would take a completely new building out on 160. It would be worth it, but they would not even think about trying it.

 

Today's paper brought up opening 3 schools. I hope they don't do that!

It will never happen, but one school would be scary. Hatcher has not proven himself YET, Woods has. Good mascot name. West wins the state a few years ago with only one east player IMO, but it would have been the one on the other end of the pass to simpson.

Undoubtedly this is a typical fan that thinks their team is never capable of committing a penalty. You're simply a poor sport for whining about it on the boards when it happens and they get a flag thrown at them. Especially given that you won the game. That attitudes shows that you don't understand football and the fact that facemasks and late hits are unfortunately a part of the game and deserve flags when they happen, even if it is against your favorite team. I seem to recall that Jeff made some bad hits too and got flags thrown their way because of it. I don't see anyone on here crying foul about that and we're the ones that lost. West won the game and grats to you, but you're a terribly accurate example of one of the few poor fans out there for West that puts a bad twist on what should be a great rivalry.

 

Learn to win with dignity.

You are correct billiard13, you unlucky cue stick. Just remember every school has them, and I mean EVERY school. It is in most cases a combination of ignorance, and immaturity. Most of the ones who cry the loudest about the dishonest zebra's don't know enough about the rules of the game to fill a thimble, and only cast a bad light on their own school.

I do not know what happened.....

 

And Hatcher may be a good coach

 

But I firmly feel Morristown East messed up royally by not hiring Billy Seals.

I remember Hatcher from his days at Tusculum College. At that time Tusculum was just getting their football program started. He was regarded as a good offensive mind. Unless his philosophy has changed I hope Cane fans are ready to see a lot of 3 yards and a cloud of dust, as at least at that time they did not throw the ball much...... It is a shame that coach Seals was not given the opportunity to be a head coach, and can only tell you that in the coaching community coach Seals is held in high regard.

82cat,

You are old school and i agree with most of what you said, but It ain't gonna happen. You should feel better none the less. I liked to watch Reggie White play. After he pancaked some O-Tackle and sacked the QB he would help him up and say God bless you. Barry Sanders was a favorite of mine as well. Would always score a TD and turn around and hand the football to the ref and trot back over to the sideline never drawing attention to himself.

28-0 Maryville. Sounded like it could have been 42 or 49 zip. One thing I don't understand with M'town West is that with such a great running game, seems like they would take spring ball and fall practice to develop a passing game. When you know you have strong running attack, you can let that sit aside during the time when the games or scrimmages don't count or you have weaker opponents and develop a passing attack. Throw it 25-30 times in a scrimmage to make sure you are at least competent in the passing game come later in the season when it really matters. Unless you are a Melrose or a Hillsboro who can big play you with the run, I think you have to be able to be balanced with your offense. Surprising West didn't make this game any more competitive. Congrats to Maryville. I'm not sure I would have thought they would be sitting where they are right now based on what pre-season predictions were.

Agree. West will never be able to beat the best of the best as long as their offense is one dimentional. It is the one drawback Woods has had since he has been at West. They have not been a good passing team, and you can't line up against a team as good a the Rebels and run it down their throat all night. I don't think either team is as good as they were the past two times they have met. Good luck to the Rebels.

EVERYONE KEEPS MENTIONING THAT CARTER IS GLAD TO BE BEATING UP ON THESE 3A SCHOOLS.3 OF CARTER'S 5 WINS HAVE COME AGAINST 4A SCHOOLS GO FIGURE.

Well dad carter is where they should have been for a few years now. They have a good team, and i am in no way trying to take away from their accomplishments, but with the likes of claiborne county, union county, gibbs, and at least this year rutledge you got to admit it should be a cakewalk for carter in your region. And you said that three of your wins have come against 4A teams which is true, but can you compare cocke county 0-5, south doyle 2-3, ( with wins over 1-5 gibbs, and 1-5 clinton ) and morristown east 2-3, ( with wins over 0-5 david crockett, and 0-5 volunteer ) with the likes of central, maryville and the other 4A teams you played in the past? Regardless of classification the records at this time of all of carters 2005 opponents is a combined 16-36, a far cry from the region they played in before. Now i'm not a carter fan but if i were i would certainly be happy to be where i'm at now ( probable region champs ) and have the post season playoffs to look forward to than to be in the stacked region they were in before and possibly out of the playoffs.

Cocke county, they don't always have great talent but seem to play sooooo much better at home than away. It has always amazed me on how they can get the visiting team to get a holding penalty so many times when they score or have a big play when playing in Newport.