TedLNancy

I once heard Hall of Fame coach Bob Shannon of East St. Louis (IL) high school speak at a coaches clinic. He coached in an inner city school in one of the highest crime areas in the USA. He said that he never cussed his players. He told the us that cussing wasn't tolerated in the English classroom and he would not tolerate it from either his players or assistants on the football field. I was fortunate to play for a coach in West Tennessee who didn't cuss his teams. He would yell when he needed to and believe me, he could get his point across very strongly. Luckily, he was smart enough and enough of a gentleman that he could make you understand he wasn't pleased with your effort without using bad language. It can be and is done by many great coaches. While it is true that high school kids will cuss each other, isn't it great when they have a coach who role models appropriate speech!

Yesterday in the DL/Dyersburg game, the go ahead run for Lipscomb was scored after an umpire overturned a call. Lipscomb Coach Ernie Smith, appealed the original call at first to the homeplate umpire, he over ruled the call and the runner was safe. Naturally, both sets of bleachers saw things the way that was best for their favorite team. The Dyersburg coach came out and calmly defended his team. I thought both coaches stood up for their players in a very sportsmanlike way. In today's Tennessean, the Dyersburg first baseman, Tyler Lyons, was quoted as saying "They made the right call switching it back. I definitely came off of the bag." What a tribute to that young man! In a day where many athletes look to blame officials, this young man stuck up for them, even when the call hurt his team. Both coaches handled the situation professionally and Tyler Lyons proved himself to be mature beyond his years. He is a credit to his family, his team and his school. I hope good things will always happen for him.

Per the Princeton football website, through 8 games he is in 3rd place on the tackle charts for them with 54 tackles. His performance at the 05 Blue Cross Bowl was one of the best I have ever seen from a high school player. Pound for pound, it may be the best. LEADERS GP Solo Ast Total TFL-Yds No-Yds Int-Yds BU PD Qbh Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf 51 Cody, Steven 8 22 52 74 5.5 - 19 2.0 - 12 . 1 1 2 . . . . 43 Britton, Scott 8 18 51 69 4.5 - 20 3.0 - 17 . . . . . 1 . . 17 Cates, Wilson 8 31 23 54 3.0 - 8 . 1 - 25 1 2 . . . .

Fantastic guy who loved kids. There will be a huge void in Nashville track in the future. Bill will be missed.

Amen Coach B. I am sure a lot of athletes think the jewelry rule and parts of the uniform rule are picky and pointless. While I might agree, they better learn in the early meets before they face a major consequence in a big meet. I have seen several athletes dq'ed from regional track meets for competing with jewelry-even though they had been warned to remove it. I still remember a shot putter who was told to remove his state championship football ring. He told the official it was stuck and wouldn't come off. He was told, "then you are no longer in this competition." That ring came off in a matter of seconds.

Mac's team is having another great year. His Ripley Tigers are now 11-0 and are the number 1 ranked 3A team in North Mississippi. They play in round 2 tonight.

Sycamore won't get a chance to be number 1. They have chosen not to compete in their subsection meet. Does anyone know why?

The transcript of the BA vs TSSAA supreme court hearing is online. It is an interesting read. The web address is: http://www.supremecourtus.gov/oral_argumen...ipts/06-427.pdf

From the Tennessean: "Smith admitted his starting lineup defies the perception of private schools. No one can allege any of the five were recruited to play at the school because no coach can judge prospective talent of a 7- or 8-year-old." Why did the coach make this statement? What was the purpose...other than to prove private schools don't recruit? That's something better left unsaid. In the original article, there are no quatation marks to indicate that this is the coaches statement. Coach Smith was quoted several times, but not in the quote you made above. The coach may not have made that statement. It may be the reporters statement.

This topic made it into the Los Angeles Times. See it below. ERIC SONDHEIMER Recruiting rule faces test at the top court Eric Sondheimer January 10, 2007 It's an ingenious argument likely to be debated in gyms, football stadiums and law schools across the nation. Brentwood Academy, a private high school in Brentwood, Tenn., has been claiming 1st Amendment privileges for violating the state's anti-recruiting rules. Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear the case, Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Assn. vs. Brentwood Academy. Oral arguments are set for April, with a decision expected during the summer that could have implications nationwide on high school sports programs. The case is in its 10th year of a legal quandary, and it's the second time the Supreme Court has intervened. Combined legal fees have surpassed $3 million. It started in 1997, when Brentwood, which has won nine state football championships in 21 title-game appearances since 1974, was fined $3,000 and put on four years probation for sending out letters and making phone calls to a dozen incoming ninth-graders, inviting them to participate in spring football practice. Brentwood officials claim the students had already signed contracts and paid deposits to attend the school and were eligible to practice with the team, but the TSSAA ruled the school violated recruiting rules because the students weren't officially enrolled. Brentwood filed a federal lawsuit, claiming its free speech rights were violated. A U.S. District Court judge agreed, along with the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Now, the Supreme Court will have to decide. "At the end of the day, if the Sixth Circuit opinion is upheld, it's going to create problems for maintaining discipline, order and competitive balance at the high school level," said Dan Lazaroff, director of Loyola Sports Law Institute. "And it's going to create questions whether associations can be effective in protecting exploitation of high school athletes." Brentwood insists it supports a strong recruiting rule, but the issue revolves around "whether a school giving information about a permitted activity to students already committed to the school can be censured for initiating contact with students," according to the academy's headmaster, Curt Masters. The fact the Supreme Court is being asked to decide whether a high school recruiting rule is unconstitutional is the perfect subject matter for Sports Illustrated's weekly "Sign of the Apocalypse." The dissenting opinion in the Sixth Circuit Court decision offers an appropriate overview of how out of whack this case is. "High school football is a game," Judge John Rogers wrote. "Games have rules. To have federal courts, under the guise of applying the enduring principles of the 1st Amendment, reverse the ordinary application of high school football recruiting rules — where the core values of the Amendment are not even remotely involved — unduly trivializes these constitutional principles." In 2001, the Supreme Court decided in a 5-4 vote that Tennessee's sports association was a state actor, subjecting it to constitutional oversight. That opened the way for Brentwood's 1st Amendment claims. The case could have profound national implications because most state associations that run high school sports programs have similar rules barring recruiting. Because it believes the court's decision may affect its interests, the National Federation of State High School Assns. is likely to submit a "friend of the court" brief in support of the TSSAA. Some state associations may do the same. "Recruiting is part of college sports but not at the high school level," Bruce Howard, director of publications and communications for the NFSHSA, wrote in an e-mail. "If some schools were allowed to recruit and others could not, it could have a devastating effect on high school sports." Competitive equity would go out the window if there were no recruiting rules, but two courts have already ruled that fostering competitive equity is not a "substantial state interest," so now it's up to the Supreme Court. Do they really want high school sports to deteriorate into a college sports-like scene, where schools hire compliance directors, employ recruiting coordinators and athletics becomes as, if not more, important than academics? "This is a critical test," said Jim Staunton, CIF Southern Section commissioner. "We're opening the door for coaches up and down the state to have football open house night, basketball open house night. I worry about that being an outcome. I worry that individual coaches would be able to induce kids to come to their school for athletic reasons." In the end, will the Supreme Court support Brentwood's 1st Amendment claims? "It would make it very difficult for any state to regulate recruiting by any school, and it's hard to imagine the court wants to go down that path," said Erwin Chemerinsky, a Duke law professor. The good news is that the chief justice of the Supreme Court, John G. Roberts, was captain of his high school football team in Indiana, and he should be able to apply first-hand common sense to this case. Hopefully, Roberts will recall the fundamental reason anti-recruiting rules exist and why high school sports associations must be able to prevent schools and coaches from illegally contacting students: to protect the integrity of the game.

Morton, You are niave! Dr. Stephen Staggs is a former Lipscomb athlete and parent of 2 former athletes. He delivers a lot of babies in Nashville. Dr. Staggs has a great eye for athletic potential in new born babies. In the case of each of the Lipscomb girls, Dr. Staggs called his good friend Ernie Smith and told him about the little girl who was a 5 star prospect. In each case with this senior group, Lipscomb had the parents under contract before they left the hospital. They even gave 2 of them jobs (Bennet and Roller) years before the births to lock up potential.

I think there was more to it than simple contact. It has been awhile, but I seem to recall that what BA called a "harmless communication" was an invitation to 8th graders from other schools, who had "signed contracts to attend" BA, to participate in their spring practice. There is the potential for harm there. If those kids did participate in spring drills for 3 or more days, they would be ineligible in football at any other school for 12 months. What if they changed their mind over the summer and decided to go to Hunter's Lane, Antioch...? They would be ineligible without a change of residence. I may have my facts wrong, but if my recollection is correct there was the potential for harm to those students. I am sure that the ramifications of making kids ineligible should they change their minds would not have occurred to any involved in this, but there is a good reason why the TSSAA rules are designed to protect kids and schools are supposed to abide by them.

Welcome back Eddie. I didn't know you were out yet. I ran into Clarence Rutherford and Wallace Cleaver at the Mayfield homecoming and they told me you were up before the parole board this fall. I'm glad that they let you out early. Look me up the next time you come to a game. I heard Bo will make some of his famous venison kabobs and bald eagle gumbo tonight. Any chance you will be there tonight? Gopher is usually at the games. I'll have Chuck call you. I am sure he has your number. Ted

Didn't you ever see the movie "A League of Their Own"? Just as there is no crying in baseball, there is to be no humor in football. Have you never seen ESPN college game day? It's all business. No smiling, no humor, only x's and o's. Lee Corso is Mister serious. When he put on that hog mask last Saturday morning, well, it was as deep and life changing as when Winston Churchill rallied the English by saying "We shall fight them on the beaches. ... we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills;..." Since we only want x's and o's here, then lets get down to where the rubber meets the road. How will Lipscomb adjust to trips when Giles county puts 3 wide and how will Giles County adjust to Lipscomb shifting their tight end from one side to the other? That is what we really care about! By the way. I apologize to anyone who was offended that I referred to Hollywood, baseball, NASCAR and history in this post. I am sorry for any distress it may have caused.

Here is one just for you. There was an expert who knew all, About East Tennessee football. His hopes were sky high, and he is living proof why, rednecks turn orange in the fall.

If they arrive before kickoff, Giles County fans should find plenty of seats on the home side. The Lipscomb crowd will start to settle in about 7:05. Many of them had to stand last year when Lexington took over the home bleachers. As for the bagpipes, Coach McCadams' famous ancestors were twin brothers, Angus and Shamus McCadams. They were the cavalry platoon leaders who served as the right and left hand men of William Wallace in the famous battle at Old McDonalds farm. One relevant question for all of the Lipscomb fans who will arrive late this week. When you get to the stadium after kickoff and try to work your way to the seat in the middle of the aisle, should you go down the row facing the field or facing the pressbox? I am always uncomfortable when I face this. If I face the field, then I could be exposing my rear to a whole family. The other way could be even worse. What is the proper way to make your way down the row? Serious answers will be appreciated.

It says next to the scores that 8 events have been scored, so it must include those 2 events.

Page is the team to beat. They were sectional runner-up to defending State champs MLK in 2005 and return most of that team. They will score a lot of points the next 3 weeks.

I still remember when the seniors met the week before 2 a days to get equipment and to have a meeting before camp started. Coach Daryl Walker snapped his fingers and said, "It will all be over just that quick. Don't waste a minute of it." That was 28 years ago and it still seems like yesterday. I will always be endebted to the men who coached me and for the lessons I learned. While it was a great 4 years, you sound like the kind of young man who will always find joy in life. Things will be different in the future, but if you learned those lessons well, your best days are still in front of you.

Things can get ridiculous when you use comparative scores to rate teams. I remember in 1977, Notre Dame won the national championship with 1 loss. Ole Miss beat them early in the year. I read an article where a sports columnist showed the absurdity of comparing scores by pointing out that Ole Miss lost to Southern Miss, who lost to..., who lost to... He was able to take it to the point that somebody like Slippery Rock should be named the National Champs. So here goes, Alcoa beat McCallie 45-35; giving them a 10 point edge. McCallie beat BA by 7 in the regular season and lost by 3 in the playoffs. I'll just give McCallie a 4 point total edge over BA. This makes Alcoa 14 points better that BA. Maryville beat Alcoa by 20 points. That makes Maryville 34 points better than BA. Since D II champion MUS beat BA by 28 points, then Maryville must be 6 points better than MUS. Also, If we take playoff scores, CBHS beat BA by 2 points and then lost to MUS by 4 in the finals. I could make a case that both Alcoa and Maryville are better than the D II finalists- thus proving that a 2.8 multiplier should be applied to schools in Blount County. Comparative scores really mean very little. Different circumstances on different nights make them unreliable. The outcome of BA and Ravenwood in week 1 can't diminish what Ravenwood did in December. They are both great teams. I know that you started your post in fun, and I am just following suit (but please don't take this to the Supreme Court. I will give you this. In my humble opinion, the toughest region by far in the state is DII AAA. There are a solid group of football teams that would do extremely well in 5A football in the state. They would challenge for the crown year in and year out. Since they can't play at the end of the year, we will be left to argue about who is best. That's part of what makes sports so entertaining.

I doubt either team is doing any "Smack" talking. They are focused on getting ready to play a game. Most of the junk on here is probably coming from high school students who don't play (meaning their chief source of football knowledge was learned on a PS2 or Xbox), or college students who are either trying to rile up others (bombsquad) purely for the fun of it or didn't learn a lesson 2 years ago (hsfball) when he had to eat a large crow. The 2 teams will likely act with great class and sportsmanship Saturday. It should be an exciting game. Lipscomb will ride into town with a disciplined team that plays hard and Livingston Academy roll in with ton of momentum. LA will probably bring a much bigger crowd as they try to finish off a fantastic post season. It should be fun.

MR. Facts. Lipscomb's enrollment is 513. 513 x 1.8 = 923.4. The TSSAA handbook states that class 3A in football is made up of schools that have enrollments of 667 to 983. Now I'm just a graduate of a rural West Tennessee high school, who lives in Nashville and sends his kids to Lipscomb, but by the math instilled in me at my public school, 923.4 would easily fall into 3A. The moving up more than 1 class rule didn't apply to Lipscomb. You won't hear many Lipscomb fans moan about the multiplier. I think the increased participation levels at a private school is an advantage. I think the multiplier is a fair equalizer for division one. If Lipscomb is out there recruiting, I have to wonder why they only have 1 minority player on the football team. If you look at many of the D II schools, there is much more diversity than that.

We three kings of Orient are Tried to smoke a rubber cigar. It was loaded, it exploded... Now we are only two!

What do you have in mind Mr. Haskell, public floggings? Maybe stocks and chains could be put in the end zone and the coaches should be placed in them and forced to watch the game tapes. Coaches get way too much credit when teams do well and way too much blame when teams lose. You must have players. Does anyone think Steve Spurrier is less of a coach at South Carolina than he was at Florida because they are getting whipped now? There probably are some out there who think that. Coaches spend hours each week in practice with their players, watching opponents on film and putting game plans together. Then some local barber, store clerk, meter reader, lawyer... sets in the stands for 2 hours a week and knows what should have been done. High School coaches must play with the hand that is dealt them. They can't go out and recruit the missing talent, unless it is walking in their hallways at school. What sport did you play in high school Eddie? Elementary school kickball.