tnwareagle

Bobcat fan, are you from Pickett County? I grew up in Byrdstown, and that was before any classifications. It didn't matter if you were big, little, public or private. You competed just the same. Funny thing is that until TSSAA told these small schools they couldn't compete, and then made all the different classes, they actually competed with them. Yes, there may be some advantages that a private school may have, but publics have their advantages too. I really don't care what they decide. Whatever it is, there will still be complaining and people talking about unfair advantages.

You have a valid point, true....however, I still maintain that it just gives better competition to the other schools. I hate winning in a weak district by 20-30 points. I would much rather compete with some of these privates that make the districts and regions stronger. But, the privates are not always better. In girls basketball, the privates around here are weaker than the public schools. I guess it is just what you want out of the experience.

Why the complaining about private schools... It seems like many of you just can't stand competition... I always loved seeing the Baylors, McAllies, Alcoas, Maryvilles, Oak Ridges, etc on our schedule..... It meant a heck of a lot more to beat good teams like them than weaker teams. I don't want to win a championship because the better teams are not there. I want to be a true champion and defeat the better schools. Me, I would never want to admit that a school or team is better than mine. I want my kids to think that they are just as good and teach them to simply go out and compete.... Excuses and whining is all that you are teaching these kids. It's not a true championship if you win by default!!!

Go Meigs..... Congrats to Sammy!!!! I am proud of the Meigs Tigers!!

Really!!!! Most of the athletes that I know who change schools. only leave one school over another because they are/were not getting to play at whichever school they left. It was a better choice for the students, because instead of sitting on bench, they were playing. Personally, I have NO issue with transferring, although NONE of my kids ever did. They ended where they began.

I don't know about some of you (well, yes I do), but I have always wanted my kids to play AGAINST the best... The way you are carrying on, it seems that you feel the privates are better than the public schools in sports. However, I still beg to differ. The private schools never beat us at basketball. Only in track and field, but even then it only made our athletes better to run against them. But even If that is so, then I would want my child playing against the better teams game in and game out. I would rather lose by 2 to a better team than be a district champion in a district where I dominate and win by 20 each night. In the classroom, do you have your students taking regular or remedial classes instead of honors, because they might make a B in an honors class instead of an A in the regular??? Is it really fair that my child has to be in the same class with a kid whose mother and father are doctors and lawyers? I mean, where do we draw the line? Let's make schools quit allowing students to wear Polo shirts or Nike shoes or Southern Tradition T-shirts, because heaven forbid, that might be an unfair advantage. I know I have gone too far on this subject, but it always irks me that parents and coaches complain so much SIMPLY because they can't stand the competition. I am so tired of hearing, "but it's not fair...." Man, teach your kids to stand up and face stricter competition and do so without making such excuses. Many of you have children who play AAU. You will face teams that are sponsored by NIKE and other all-star teams. Is it fair that those teams who recruit are in the same league as some of the more localized teams? I could go on and on, but I have said too much. I need to stay off coacht, because I just get too frustrated at all the whining!!!!

What does it matter it they are public or private??? Seriously???? Man, no wonder we are raising a society that thinks they are "entitled" to anything they want. MTSU girls defeated SEC powerhouses such as KY, GA, LSU and other schools from major conferences. It's a dang good thing that no one told them that they were in weaker conference and should not compete with these schools. The NCAA tournament is not being fair by making little schools such as Davidson and Butler play against these larger schools???? REALLY!!!!??? I just get so tired of everyone complaining about things not being fair. If it's not the public/private thing, it's complaining about open zoning. If it's not that, then it's complaining about students moving schools or coaches who "recruit." It's the nature of sports..... All is not always fair, but you should teach your child/athlete to compete no matter what the circumstances and to never whine and complain. Again, just another example of teaching this young society entitlement!!!

We already have TOO many divisions, too many state champions, etc. Too much complaining. To be the best, you must beat the best. We always had to play Memphis White Station in the boys state tourney. Yes, Memphis plays a different kind of ball and play tough games all year. But instead of of complaining about being unfair, we simply tried to get better and the goal was to beat them. We play Baylor and McAllie every year. Never do I remember thinking we might lose because they recruited players. Some of you are wanting to use the same concept in sports as obviously is not working in education----No Child Left Behind. Not EVERYONE nor EVERY team deserves to be champion. I am not for yet another split and classification. We already have FIVE state champions in basketball. How many state champs do Indiana and KY have??

i like what you are saying!!!

Yay Aaron, and good luck!!

Elizabethton is also a very talented team. Congrats to them.

Middleton from Riverdale won AAA

Blackman or UC

You are wrong.....so wrong. The players I have known that were finalists sent nothing nor did they campaign whatsoever..... My daughter never sent a single thing. Didn't even know she was finalist till she got the call at school. I resent the implication that it is something players campaign for. True, sometimes their coaches may get their names out there. Also, most voters haven't seen all the players, but these players usually have made a name for themselves across the state via holiday tourneys, AAU, and media outlets such as this one.

I like Oak Ridge in this one, because I think Aaron is a heck of a coach! They will be prepared!!!!

It is always a blind draw! Why do people always have to complain!!!!! There is no shame in being runner-up. Congrats to UC, but also to JC. Coach Brown always does a great job coaching. That's why he is there year after year. TSSAA has nothing to do with that.

That wasn't Bradley game. Must have been their second game

No they shot several and missed very few!

Rutherford County students must go where they are zoned, as do Hamilton County. Bradley County is an open zone and students can choose where to go. However, if a good athlete chooses one school over another, people still want to infer that recruiting has taken place. I still say successful programs draw athletes.

I have argued for years! Seems like anytime a program becomes dominant, people start yelling , "recruit, recruit, recruit.." Winning programs often draw players to them, more so than recruiting. All of my kids started a d ended and the same school. But believe me, after some influential parents ran off one of the best coaches in the state, my daughter wanted to move desperately. And we considered it. There are often underlying reasons to why athletes transfer!!!!

I don't see the big deal! An athlete should be given one free pass to change schools without being penalized. Sometimes a different school is a better fit! By the way, Bradley had no transfers!!!!

First of all, I have been around basketball for years and years, as a player, coach and parent. I have followed Clarkrange, Jackson County, Pickett Co, and those schools for years, although I am from Southeast TN. I have the utmost respect for the coaches and teams in that area. On the flip side, I have also kept up with Meigs County for years. They, too, have a classy coach who knows how to win. Though I have had my share of times that I questioned calls that referees made, I will say that in all my days of watching my kids play high school and college ball, I NEVER blamed the referees for a loss. For each lopsided loss that your team has, I would bet that somewhere down the line, there was a lopsided win in the foul column. I am sure you would not appreciate other teams giving credit to the refs instead of your team for the victories. Instead of making excuses for a loss, you people should simply say, CONGRATS and Good luck. Meigs County has an awesome team and are very deserving of this victory. Kudos to both teams on successful seasons, but shame on you fans for not giving Meigs the credit they deserve. Teach your kids to win and lose with class....

I still don't understand why players have to wear long sleeves under uniforms anyway. I guess its a fad, because several players do that.

Meigs Wins.. Very Impressive win by Meigs... Great coaching.

Yep.... Can't believe we had trouble rebounding. Same thing happened against Oakland. Offensively, Rebecca and Brooke played well. It's just those dang boards....ugh.. Yes, this should have been the year that they had a win in the state. However, they had four great years and will have four more great. Hopefully, Reuter will be winning some games in the NCAA tournament in the next four years...and hopefully, Brooke can help the Gators get there too.