RHSfan

I am pretty sure that at sometime during the state tournament, every player on the team got to play. Hats off to coaches Lane, Kennedy and Cofer. Our boys can all say "I played in the state tournament". RHSfan

Congratulations, Gibbs! A great year that ended just a little too soon. I wanted to get to one of your games, but the schedules at spring fling coupled with the distance between fields and the traffic prevented it. I wanted to say hello to Tyler Underwood and Jordan Harrod. Maybe, I'll get to see you there next year! RHSfan

The Rockwood High School Tigers baseball team made history at the 2003 TSSAA Spring Fling by beating Friendship Christian, a private school. This feat, a public school beating a private school has not been accomplished at the state baseball tournament in several years. Rockwood was the last remaining public school in the tournament before being ousted by Goodpasture. Rockwood High School 2003 TSSAA Class A Public School State Baseball Champion Congratuations Rockwood! RHSfan ps. Unfortunately, this catagory, 'Class A Public School State Baseball Championship' is not recognized by TSSAA.

The Rockwood High School Tigers baseball team made history at the 2003 TSSAA Spring Fling by beating Friendship Christian, a private school. This feat, a public school beating a private school has not been accomplished at the state baseball tournament in several years. Rockwood was the last remaining public school in the tournament before being ousted by Goodpasture. Rockwood High School 2003 TSSAA Class A Public School State Baseball Champion* Congratuations Rockwood! RHSfan *Not recognized by TSSAA

The Rockwood High School Tigers made history at the 2003 TSSAA Spring Fling by beating Friendship Christian, a private school. This feat, a public school beating a private school has not been accomplished at the state baseball tournament in several years. Rockwood was the last remaining public school in the tournament before being ousted by Goodpasture. Rockwood High School 2003 TSSAA Class A Public School State Baseball Champion* Congratuations Rockwood! RHSfan *Not officially recognized by TSSAA

Amen!!! An objective voice of reason. I am all for giving the small public schools a class of their own, but think about what you just said. Separate the small publics from what? All the small publics are in class A, so are most of the privates. If you separate the small publics and give them their own classification, you are back to the public/private split. RHSfan

I am just about ready to leave for Memphis to follow the Rockwood baseball team at the Spring Fling. As you probably know, there are only two public school teams in the field of eight in the single A tournament. Publics are doing better, last year there were not any public schools in the tournament. While I am gone, I ask all you public school supporters to keep VolGen in check Later............RHSfan

BriC, We're pulling for WEBB! Good luck! Hope to meet up down there. Depending on how the schedules are, I want to try to get to some of your games to see some of our old friends playing in Memphis. RHSfan I just saw your post on the Rockwood thread. Thanks. BTW, does that mean that you are EVIL??? Good luck!

I'm pulling for Seymour and Gibbs. RHSfan

It is now Sunday afternoon, I guess you guys from Unaka will have to leave for Memphis pretty soon!! It's a long trip for you guys so be careful and good luck. Your friends in Rockwood say "Go get 'em Unaka!" RHSfan

Is Farragut overrated? Possible, but I doubt it. I am relatively sure that there is not a team in east Tennessee that can beat them; and I sincerely hope that there is not a team in the entire state that can beat them. Good luck, Farragut. Make east Tennessee proud! RHSfan

yellowdog, Why do you say: There are other sports in single A that have reason to wish for a split (or any other plan that would help level the playing field). RHSfan

ELA, Do you realize that with plan I, using a multiplier of 1.5, the following schools would remain in single A (all sports other than football): Franklin Road Academy Friendship Christian JCS Columbia Academy Lighthouse Christian Academy Hopefully, I did my math correctly. If so, what is the advantage in plan I for single A baseball and softball? RHSfan

Ego, I think I have been reading too many of VG's posts!!! He has convinced me that the problem in single A is more zoned/no zones than public/private. Therefore, I feel that the open zoned schools who wish to work the system (legally), do have an advantage over the rural publics. That being said, I would like to add that from my perspective, in single A (baseball in particular) the advantage of legally working the system is GENERALLY limited to private schools, thus the "public/private debate". RHSfan

takedown3, Reread my post. I'm saying if a 9th grader goes to a certain school because of a certain coach, he is NOT necessarily recruited. He WAS attracted. Athletes are attracted to strong programs. I don't have a problem with illegal recruiting. I can't prove it but I know it happens, both on the private side and the public side. My complaint in this 'public/private debate' is the problem of 'working the system' legally by 'attracting' student athletes to a strong program (this problem is not just limited to private schools, but all those schools with no zones). Private schools' athletic programs have copied their school's academic programs. Build a program with a strong reputation, and the better students will be attracted. Then other public schools decided they could do it also (academics and athletics) by opening their zones. Ego, You are correct, but my logic is not flawed. I just failed to mention that it works for both publics and privates. Yes, an athlete might be attracted to a grand stadium, or to a powerhouse football program, or to a big name coach. But what you must realize is in single A, usually you find those things at a private school (not always, but more than likely) not at a rural public. The example you used, Brentwood HS is AAA in baseball, the single A publics don't have to compete with them. So, you are right, it can work both ways, but in single A it usually doesn't. RHSfan

Rockwood Rocks III was a thread that was carried over from the old CoachT boards. There was a possible software glitch that was causing posts not to show up, so we just started a new thread and asked iamoz to lock the old one. This time it wasn't a problem with us! RHSfan

He might not have been recruited, but he was surely attracted. That is the problem you have with schools that have no zones. It is called, working the system, and it is entirely legal. This concept of working the system to attract athletes legally is what the single A rural publics are fighting.

The TSSAA site has corrected their state brackets. They now show Chattanooga Christian as the winner. RHSfan

Congratulations, Unaka. We'll see you there. Have a safe trip and good luck! RHSfan

Congratulations to the coaches and players of the RHS baseball team. We are very proud of you and happy for you. Good luck in Memphis. RHSfan

To the Powell Valley baseball team, Congratulations on a very good season. It is my understanding that this is Powell Valley's last year before moving into a consolidated school. What a great way to end the year! I'm sorry you guys won't be going to the state because you've got a good team. Don't feel bad, hold your heads high. Maybe this year's success will lead to greater success in your new school. Keep up the hard work. It was a pleasure having you visit Rockwood. You have a great bunch of players and fans. Good luck to you all. RHSfan

I agree, they are very annoying. RHSfan

To the Rockwood High School Tigers: See it and hit it. Good luck. RHSfan

BriC, Yeah, Rockwood won 7-1. It was a really good game. You all must have played well also. There were several good games played in west Knox today. I have lost your phone number, have your dad call me at work concerning your summer team.....Thanks. Good luck Friday. RHSfan

Dice, Congratulations and good luck to you and all of the team in Friday's game. RHSfan