KWoodroof

Before I die, I'd like to see Watertown play Gordonsville. There's a charm to small-town, small-school football that you just can't duplicate, no matter the talent in Ravenwood-Maryville, or MBA-Ensworth.

I will forever be impressed that Quarles took the time to console several Ravenwood players as he walked across the field. Truly classy.

Out of curiosity, what does one feed trolls?

It was certainly a wild game to watch. I can't imagine anybody picked 17 total points for this one, given the way D2 scores have looked this season. And you can't count Bowers' teams out until the referee holds the ball over his head; they're just so poised. And while it has nothing to do with football, really, the game didn't seem to have that underlying nastiness that seems to have been present for a number of years. Certainly both teams played (and hit) hard, but you didn't have the yapping at one another after plays, the pushing and shoving, or the whole range of stuff that really has no place in the game. Yeah, I'm old, and remember all sorts of outmoded concepts like sportsmanship, personal accountability, and class.

Might help if the game wasn't played on a Thursday night. Both Div 2 games could have been played last weekend.

It's 7-5-6a (all offensive players eligible receivers by position i.e., on the end of the line of scrimmage or legally in the backfield at the snap, and eligible by number (1-49, or 80-99). All defensive players are eligible. It's not actually my rule; it belongs to the National Federation of High Schools. You should ask your boyfriend to explain a little about the game to you. I think you'll enjoy it more once you understand some of the basic points.

The line of scrimmage is established when the referee signals ready for play (2-25-1). Crossing the line prior to the snap is encroachment (2.8 Situation A,example c). Doesn't matter which team does it.

MBA wins as the tying FG is wide on last play. 10-7

I haven't posted much here in the last two years, for a variety of reasons, one of which was that it ceased being enjoyable. Everything became nasty and viciously personal. However, one thing i said on more than one occasion was that the BA posters were far and away the classiest and most informed posters on the board. They knew what they were talking about, they were gracious when they won, and classy when they lost.

MUS is a very hard group to put away. We have some painful experience on that score.

Always good to see BlueMom on here. Everybody be safe travelling tonight, and stay warm.

I was at the scrimmage at MBA last year. If I didn't have a previous engagement, I'd go. It was a great game against a very classy program. I can't say enough good about the Henry Co people.

They scrimmaged HC last year, and there's a relationship between the programs. I haven't heard who they're scrimmaging, but that would certainly be a good bet. And if it's like last year, a very enjoyable game.

An excellent point. I lived in Florida for a number of years, and one of the jokes was that St Tomas Aquinas' JV team was Boyd Anderson's varsity. Beware the Law of Unintended Consequences here.

I have no dog in this fight. I'm in Middle Tennessee, and couldn't find either of the schools involved with a map, compass, and guide. I don't know any of the parties involved. But I am an official, and have a slightly different perspective from others. My thoughts and opinions aren't any better or more valid, so take them for what they're worth. I officiate football, baseball, and ice hockey. For my money, baseball is infinitely more difficult than the other two. Fans disagree with calls in a football game, but usually there's enough of a crowd that one or two problem fans tend to get drowned out. Further, distance from the field, and the length of the field provide a buffer, both in terms of time and space. And security tends to be pretty good as well. Hockey is very similar: play moves away from the problem fans, and the mechanics of officiating mean that sometimes you're on the boards near the crowd, other times you're on the boards near the players. Plus, the construction of most rinks makes a lot of the complaining indiscernible noise. Baseball is very different. The plate umpire is in the same place for the entire game. The base umpire is in one of three positions, all within the confines of the infield. I am a stationary target for the entire game. Most high school game crowds are small enough that you can hear individual hecklers. It's pretty much impossible to tune them out completely. And since the umpire makes a decision on almost every pitch, there are lots of opportunities for hecklers to make themselves known. Engaging fans is always bad, unless there's some sort of actual danger (for example, throwing things onto the field). Yes, you know there'll be complaints and catcalls from the stands when you take the job. But over the years, as society has changed, it's become much worse. Not only is it much more prevalent and unrelenting, it's also much more personal and vicious. There was a time when hecklers were a little funny, even if you were the target (like the fan who suggested I poke a couple of holes in my mask). But mostly they're nasty and mean-spirited. It becomes wearing, aggravating, and frustrating. Without passing any comment on the umpires involved in this incident, I certainly agree that officials should always conduct themselves in a professional manner. But a steady diet of abuse has an effect on anyone, even a professional. Especially if that abuse consists of repeated comments that would earn you broken jaw if you made them to a stranger in a bar, the aggravation compounded by the offender's smug reliance that he is safe because the official is expected to behave in a professional manner. Even the best and strongest people have breaking points. Again, I'm not addressing the umpire's conduct in this situation, nor do I condone unprofessional behavior. But I understand how it could happen. Lastly, in the wake of this incident, we were reminded to leave the field together from the winning team's side.

I've bequeathed sufficient funds to CoachT to purchase a herd of goats, with the provision that they pasture in the Div II board to deal with trolls (See "Three Billy Goats Gruff" in the event you don't remember the beloved Norwegian kid's tale)

You've caught me...can't stand any of them, especially the smug so-and-so's from MBA.

Confused as to whether he's talking about the closet or a debutant ball. I'm not sure I'd be very taken with either event.

What's telling is that the TSSAA has disregarded an official's account of an incident in toto. That's significant.

Not really...officials still retain the right (responsibility) to file an unusual incident report for anything untoward that happens after the conclusion of the game. The rulebook contains a "caseplay" addressing a similar situation (a fight immediately after the conclusion of the game). This raises an interesting point: the association could have granted the EHS appeal that states in substance that the game was over and the official lacked the authority to eject anyone, but still suspended coaches based on conduct after the game. That they did not is somewhat telling.

I went to MBA with Ricky. He was competitive and showed no lack of self-confidence, but he was never arrogant. Coaches loved him because he worked incredibly hard, was highly motivated on his own, and possessed game knowledge equal to his pretty impressive physical talents. You've completely missed the mark in your assessment.

An official can file an "Unusual Incident" report over any matter he feels the TSSAA should be aware of. This includes issues that are in violation of the rules, but does not stop play or call for a game penalty (improper markings on a field, both teams in dark jerseys, etc), in-game issues (most commonly ejections), or post-game issues (fights, misconduct by players/coaches/administrators/crowd).

You're right, of course. The trolls can be so annoying at times that otherwise rational posters react with hyperbole, hence statements like the one suggesting a number of Div II schools could beat every public school. (I tend to avoid hyperbole, preferring instead sarcasm). Most of us realize that on a yearly basis, Maryville's list of peers would be pretty short, if it actually had any writing at all. I can't root for you Saturday, as I was zoned to Hendersonville, and had numerous friends there. So I'll root for Hendersonville, but I'd bet on Maryville. Hope you have good weather and a safe trip.

From the NFHS Rulebook, 2013 Edition... Rule 1, Section 1, Article 8: The game officials' jurisdiction extends through the referee's declaration of the end of the fourth period or overtime. The game officials retain clerical authority over the game through the completion of any reports, including those imposing disqualification, that are responsive to actions occurring wile the game officials had jurisdiction. Rule 3, Section 3, Article 3 A period must be extended by an untimed down if during the last timed down of the period, one of the following occurred: a. There was a foul by either team and the penalty was accepted, except for those fouls listed in 3-3-4b (none of which occurred here). b. There was a double foul c. There was an inadvertent whistle d. (Not applicable, applies to touchdowns) Rule 3, Section 3, Article 5 At the end of each period, the referee shall hold the ball in one hand overhead to indicate the period has officially ended, after delaying momentarily to ensure that: a. no foul has occurred b. No obvious timing error has occurred c. No request for a coach-referee conference has occurred d. No other irregularity has occurred The casebook also details an incident where the referee leaves the field only to find that there has been a penalty on the final play. He is required to return and settle the issue. I've distanced myself from the facts of this incident, but I suspect that untangling a late hit out of bounds would occupy more than a couple of minutes, during which time the officials maintain jurisdiction.

It's not that we don't HAVE to compete with other classifications for a state championship...we don't GET to compete with them. We didn't request to be thrown into this situation; it was forced on us.