hillwoodfan

Denton, you out there? This is your good buddy, Mark from CC.

Yes he will be back at receiver and very happy for it. Appreciate the good wishes. As far as basketball goes, he just didn't enjoy it much his junior year and thought he would enjoy being their biggest fan more his senior year, which he did. This of course was much to my disappointment, I'd much rather watch him play than sit in the stands with him.

He is going to Morehead State in Kentucky.

Although my son is graduating from Hillwood next week, I'd like to wish the new coach all the luck in the world. There is talent there if he can figure out a way to tap into it. As far as all the conversation about how "bad" Hillwood is, my son is graduating with honors after taking many courses of AP classes and some IB courses...and Hillwood is one of a handful of schools in the state to offer IB program. My son will be attending college on a full ACADEMIC scholarship and also will be playing football at a DI AA school in the fall. Also as editor of his school newspaper, he won numerous awards from Vanderbilt for the quality of the paper and it's writing. So, I feel safe in saying he got a pretty fair education from Hillwood. Also as far as the diversity, he has said many many times he would not trade that "education" for any education in a Williamson county school where every student looks and dresses like he does.

Very good info LOD. Also I may add....dont assume anything was sent in regardless of how good you think your guidance counselor is. They are sending transcripts for every kid assigned to them. So follow up with college coaches and the NCAA. I know coaches who called for my son's transcripts 3 times and never received them until I had to make a call. Don't give up....it could all pay off in the end!!

Big Chief forgot to mention also coaches having to take car loads of kids home after practice and games (and not into the best parts of town) and many kids have to be done with practice in time to catch the activity bus home at 5 pm. Do I think metro has the best coaching.....it doesnt matter what I think, it is where I chose to send my kids, so it is what it is. Do I appreciate the good they do...you better believe it. My son will have more good memories of his coaches than bad ones. As bigchief said...they have to do ALOT of fund raising. Coach Link may have his faults....but I see him at more events raising money for football and baseball than any other coach/teacher I've known. These are the things metro coaches dont get enough credit for.

Yes, it was a fun game to watch! The players came out with a lot of energy and gave it all they had. If it were not for a couple of silly offensive plays called at the wrong time....who knows what could have happened. It has been a long season for the team and especially the seniors.....if they play with that much heart again on Thurs...regardless of the outcome, they can and should walk off the field with their heads held high! Good luck Toppers!

Paul Clay is the starting QB. Dont get me wrong, he WILL be a very good and competent QB. He is only a 10th grader and has not played a full game there yet, so he will make mistakes. Almost every one of his picks came from trying to throw deeper than he can at this point. He did get into a great rhythm with Clodfelter in the 2nd quater before once again he went deep with bad results. Then he went out with a concussion (had to be taken off in an ambulance). Hopefully he is alright. The 2nd half the cobras went strictly running the ball and ate up the clock.

Yes...4 unforced interceptions in the 1st half will cause the score to be lopsided and you throw in a punt return for a touchdown and you will get crushed. If the burros watch the tape they will see in the 1st half the toppers shut down the cobras passing attack by playing aggressive man to man defense. The only real rushing yards that Whites Creek got was from their QB scrambling when he couldnt find anyone open. I think Hillsboro will handle them by at least a couple of touchdowns.

I too dont know enough to make a prediction, other than one with my heart. But I am curious about your reference to the Bellevue Steelers. My son grew up playing in that league as did many on this topper team.

As far as the refs...the worst call was not suspending the game.....there was no way the kids or fans should have been out there and being surrounded by lightening the way we were.

Antonio Lewis is the real deal.....thanks to him, we won one that we probably didn't deserve. He is getting letters from a number of DI programs.....I know Alabama and Auburn. Not sure of anybody else. Clodfelter, at TE or wideout is capable of turning a game around much as Antonio is running the ball. Last night Clodfelter was open much of the night but our QB....Darryl Weaver, was too busy running for his life from the Eagles blitz that for some reason we couldnt stop. Clodfelter also is getting some interest from Memphis, Louisville, South Carolina, also Columbia is writing him almost daily. He has gotten an offer from an NAIA school also. Sorry no stats. The only ones I know of was Jared had 20 yards recieving on 2 catches and Antonio had just enough yardage to win. LOL. Good luck Independence....you could not tell you were a new program last night.

I know the toppers are looking towards this new challenge. There seems to be a little more intensity in the summer program than in years past. I agree with what has been said previously. The real question will be depth. I think the toppers have the starting talent to compete. The good thing about the blow outs last year is everybody on the team got a ton of playing time. Hopefully this will work to our advantage. If we can stay healthy and some younger players step up, we could be fighting for a playoff spot. If we dont stay healthy or younger players dont step up.....it could be a long season.

Faninthestand, I noticed that you started a sentence with "And". I also wanted to point out that in the sentence which you criticized him for not using a period that you forgot to use one. Before you criticize anyone, I sugest you yourself learn to speak/type properly. Now why don't we forget about the English lesson and get back to football talk.

I know Moore went to Hillsboro as a Freshman coach...who else left?

OH MAN....with a prediction like that from kitty-fish...we should go undefeated!!

Hey Catfish....last year you predicted us to lose every game and I think your record ended up being 1-12 against us. Thanks for prediciting us to get beat up this season!! LOL! Defense...as far as Overton goes, they did not lose much at all to graduation I don't believe.

Lilal....please know your facts when you come on here....Hillwood wasnt allowed to have spring practice, and since they lost their QB...they really needed to have spring practice this year!! That could hurt them early in the season. I would love nothing better than to see the toppers on top....but let's be realistic. Last year their toughest game was Hillsboro, this year they will meet teams of that caliber week after week, and I'm not sure they have the depth to do it all year long. I think they will be competitive and I think they could end up 7-3 or 3-7 with only a play or two a game making the difference in the record.

I agree that a complete game should be sent along with highlights. I know for a fact that coaches dont throw these away. They do watch the tapes...there is no way for them to see every kid "live" and they dont only recruit kids from their camps. If you have a high school coach willing to make many copies and send out for you...great! Not all coaches do this. If you are able to go to every camp at every school that you may be interested in..go for it....but dont discount tapes and say they are a waste......I speak from experience, they give kids exposure.

He is 6' 4", 200 lbs.....4.6/4.7.....strength is the biggest issue....has always been a 3 sport athlete and never given the weight room the proper attention until this spring.

I am a parent who has a son that is a rising senior, from a school that does NOT have a great football reputation, note my screen name. I cant even tell you when the last time this school even had a kid recruited to play football. Anyway, my son who is white, is being recruited by many D1 schools. He has already been offered a full ride to one of the top NAIA schools in the nation. I'm sure alot of what FatCat says may be true...I can't disprove any of it. But I do know if a kid works hard, has some athletic ability is a little lucky can garner some attention even without going to a football powerhouse. My advise to the parent with a freshman.....don't talk to him about college football yet. My son almost quit football because of the pressure we put on him. Let your son enjoy the game for what it is...a game. Others have told you to have him focus on grades....nothing could be more true. It is a shame what I see going on with some kids with all the athletic ability in the world but have not been given the proper attention in the class room and now cant get into school. Take the ACT and SAT early and OFTEN! Schools will take the best or even the best combination of scores on these tests. When he starts playing varsity level make highlight tapes to send out after your junior year and send them out to EVERYBODY at EVERY level. Dont discount any school just because YOU think he is D1 material.....kids do fall through the cracks or get overlooked. A free education at an NAIA or D2 school is just as good as one at a D1 school. Good luck and enjoy the ride.

You are right....5A will be a different challenge....but I don't think it will be a whole lot tougher than going against the Hillsboros or Stradfords of 4a. Also the toppers should field a MUCH bigger and better offensive line than in past years. If they can give Antonio just a sliver to break through he will be tough to bring down once he gets past the line.

Chief, yes I was at the game where he got his 400th win (it was against Independance and we were lucky to win it). Yes I LOUDLY support Hillwood at every single game and will continue to do so. The 400 wins is a HUGE accomplishment, I'm not trying to take anything away from any coach. I am only calling it as I see it...my own opinion if you choose to agree or not. Lets talk about this season and not 22 previous ones. I feel Hillwood has the "talent" to play and beat any team in the district outside of Franklin and Hillsboro, for some reason they are not getting it done. One can choose to place blame wherever they want, I feel it is as much on the coaching as it is on the players. Fans of the coach, I'm sure will respectfully disagree with me, but there is no reason to take it personal. If YOU wish to discuss it with me.....I think you know where to find me, I would love to have an itelligent conversation with someone that is not as involved with the team as I am. Go Toppers......I hope you prove me wrong and upset Franklin.

I would be shocked if FHS and the burros dont meet in the championship. Dont look for Hillwood to repeat last year's results, Franklin has much better outside shooting than last year's Hickman County team and Franklin is much much better coached than the toppers are. The same can be said for the burros.....a very well coached team that knows the meaning of playing as a team on both offense and defense. I dont see any other teams in the district upsetting these two teams, the only team with a chance is Ravenwood with their coaching and very physical (and I can't believe how they get away with some of their fouling) players.

Look for Antonio Lewis and Jared Clodfelter of Hillwood next year. Antonio is extremely fast and strong and Hillwood will have to play him a lot more this year than last (he sat last year after Hillwood built big leads). Clodfelter at TE is over 6-4 and 195 lbs. Great hands and has deceptive speed, also an exceptional blocker. He should have an outstanding year if the Toppers can find a QB to throw him the ball, and once again, if the Toppers hope to have any success in 5A they will have to throw more than last year.