rbtenn

As much as it pains me to say it, the better team won tonight. Congrats to the Big Red for their win tonight. They executed extremely well and carried themselves with complete dignity, though at times the MBA fans lacked class (singing "hey, hey, hey, goodbye" to BA fans instead of celebrating with their own team). Coach Rutledge never ceases to impress me, nor does Michael Fisher. MBA again outcoached BA tonight; the Eagles didn't possess the balance necessary to come back in the game. Congrats again to the Big Red for their victory. It was well-deserved.

Wilcatfan, BA fans don't need to whine about anything. We won the game on the field and in the box score. You surely agree - irrespective of who won the game - that the broadcast was pretty crummy. I believe you could have done better....maybe!

HELP! Somebody who can broadcast a football game please apply for the job at Comcast CSS. I have never in my life witnessed such an irresponsible display of play-by-play than what we saw during the replay of the BA vs. MBA game. Funny thing to me that the "play of the game" as the intereception by MBA that, in the words of the announcers, "put the game away". Perhaps MBA fans could share some of their sour grapes with the broadcast team. Rediculous!

A rematch would be good. But, I hope both MBA and BA are focused their next opponents and not looking ahead to the Clinic Bowl. While it is "another can of worms", it is ashamed that Tennessee high school football fans can no longer witness a total state championship that includes public and independent schools playing on the field. Perhaps we can dream that someday there might be resolution by the TSSAA that brings back the good old days of a true state championship. Good luck to MBA and don't forget to practice that long-snapping!

BigRedBud, Thanks for the reply and for providing your quote from yesterday. I had not read your post from yesterday. I simply feel like too much emphasis is being placed on the officiating with little admission of crummy special teams play by the Big Red. It's easy to blame officials; it's more difficult to admit our own team's deficiencies that led to a disappointing loss. Thanks again for your comments.

Thanks, WesVols. I was at the game and shocked when the officials signaled the kick was good to put the game into overtime. I thought time had expired and the replay may very well support that fact. However, the referees did not cause the bad snap and eventual first down for BA deep in MBA territory. Referees sometimes make bad calls; long-snappers sometime make bad snaps. This game had both. And, there is not doubt coaches Rutledge and Flatt would change some play decisions if given the chance to do so. It was a great game involving two great schools and a great night for football in middle Tennessee.

I have seen few attempts on the part of BA fans to justify a bad call. I have not seen attempts by anyone from MBA to admit deficiencies in their kicking game. Perhaps the replay Monday evening will show a bad call as well as a REALLY bad punting and kicking game by the Big Red. Debating the call will not propel MBA to another championship; a concentrated effort to improve special teams play may very well make a difference in the Clinic Bowl provided MBA gets by their first opponent.

Calling the way we see them is important - calls by the referees and bad snaps by long-snappers. The bad snap happened before the apparent bad call. I stand by my comment. A good snap, a good punt and there would be no discussion about official calls or no calls at the end of that game. The replay Monday evening will likely show that time had expired; the replay will MOST DEFINITELY show a botched snap and punt attempt. Referees don't win or lose games. Games are won and lost between the first quarter kickoff and the horn that sounds the end of regulation - or, in this case at the end of overtime - play. Also, a better snap and kick in overtime may have also sent the game into a second overtime period. Perhaps the MBA faithful should focus more on special teams play and less of officiating!

It will long be debated whether time had expired in regulation play at the BA vs. MBA game Friday evening which BA eventually won. What will NOT debated is that the long-snapper for MBA simply did not get the job done when it counted the most. A good snap, a good punt and BA would most likely not have had an opportunity to score and MBA would not have had reason to whine about the officials.

It will long be debated whether time had expired in regulation play at the BA vs. MBA game Friday evening which BA eventually won. What will not be debated is that the long-snapper for MBA simply did not get the job done when it counted the most. A good snap, a good punt and BA would most likely not have had an opportunity to score and MBA would not have had reason to whine about the officials.