John_316

Is the rumor of coachh17 leaving the friendly confines of Elizabethton for greener pastures true??? It would be a big loss not only for the students at T.A. Dugger, but also for the Elizabethton high school basketball program. But as long as coach is "prayed up" and following the word put in his heart by the Holy Spirit, then he is making the right move

Dear Sallee, 1. My apologies for misspelling your name. 2. As for your question, "Can you please tell me what was so encouraging about that article?" Here is a portion of Mr. Fritz's story, copied from the on-line version of the Press: "This isn’t trying to take away from the Rangers’ accomplishments. Certainly any time a team lines up it has a chance to lose, so succeeding every time out so far is a superb achievement for Mike Ensor’s team and shows a lot about their character and willingness to work hard to be successful. It’s an encouraging thing for the Rangers to be 7-0, something much needed for a school that has rarely experienced winning seasons in football. Ensor has definitely taken the right step in making sure the Rangers had a few easy games to build positive spirit on the team and in the school and community." That answers your question, I hope. 3. Most Christians wouldn't pat themselves on the back when they call people names like "idiot" and "bias (sic) jerk" and "weasle (sic)" or "weisle (sic)" or make threats. These are taken directly from your mother's posts on the Fritz article thread: "The idiot that wrote this article does not understand football and if he ever played, he was probaly about as good at it as he is in writing about it. The boys playing Friday night will decide who wins, not some bias jerk in a newsroom." "He probably don't even know the shape of a football." "If the majority of the people are curious then they need to pay their 5 buck and come watch then play not listen to a weasle." "He has now crossed the creek and I sure hope he has good waders." "by Doug (the weisle) Fritz" To sportiemom: Certainly everybody is entitled to their own religious freedom. But my Jesus doesn't tolerate such open hate. My God is a God of love, a God of forgiveness. Perhaps if you tried an approach of love it would be a whole lot better. Perhaps try reading some of the kind things he wrote about Unaka's basketball team just seven months ago. The things he said about Donald Ensor were very complimentary. But again, you are free to continue your practice of Christianity while spewing hate and put downs on a site probably read by thousands of impressionable teenagers, just like your daughter. - - -- - - - - - - -- -- And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 1 Corinthians 13:13.

After reading most of the commentary between Cloudland and Unaka -- and other football threads like Elizabethton -- I wonder exactly what direction we are going with the Coach T threads. Is this a forum of hatred? If so, perhaps it should be so named by Coach T. How many of these hatred-filled posts would be worded the same way if people were held accountable for what they wrote? In other words, how many of these people would stand up in front of others, and the person they attack, and say the kinds of things they say on here? Perhaps some would, which to me is even more sad than what goes on here. Because that would mean the person really believes this is the best way to go about things: to attack and try to humiliate someone if they do something you disagree with or don't like, instead of trying to talk out differences in a reasonable manner. As for the game tonight, I think it should be a spirited contest with no hatred exchanged between the players. I would hope the team that has worked the hardest to this point would win, whichever one that should be. And, as always, I hope that people could learn to exchange ideas of differences instead of resorting to put downs, name calling and threats. ------------------------------------------------------ He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who ruleth his spirit than he who taketh a city Proverbs 16:32.

This was an encouraging post, unlike the hatred Sportiemom displayed on the Fritz article thread. My question to Sportiemom is this: Would you want your daughter sally, or kids that you have coached who look up to you, to know that you are the one making such posts of hate? Do those posts reflect the way Mike Ensor and other fine leaders at Unaka want these young athletes to grow up to be? I happen to know that Mr. Fritz is a Christian, which of course doesn't make him perfect but at least he's looking in the right direction. I have spoken to him and I know that his intention was not to "put down" any athlete or coach at Unaka. He did, in fact, write several encouraging words about the Unaka football program in the same article that you personally attacked him for. You are free to write whatever you want on here, but try to remember that your daughter and other kids her age may find out that what you have written. And you could lose a great deal of respect in a short amount of time. ------------------------------------------------------ He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who ruleth his spirit than he who taketh a city Proverbs 16:32.

Harry Farthing. Hands down. Elizabethton never gave him a chance. Before you think otherwise, this is not a knock on Ken Hardin. He should be given the opportunity to prove himself. This is just support of a man who has earned a chance to be a head coach at the high school level in softball or basketball. --------------------------------------------------------------- Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

Valnessha Redd is one of the most wonderful young ladies I have ever met. And your post has been reported to the moderator. I hope you are banned for making such comments about a wonderful 16-year-old young lady. You should be ashamed.

Valnessha Redd is one of the most wonderful young ladies I have ever met. You say a young lady is "sorry" because she doesn't root for Unicoi County? Are you serious? I wasn't rooting for Unicoi County, either. —————————————————————————————————————————————— He who ruleth his spirit is better than the mighty.

Just a wonderful job by Mike Wilson. Of course, the players should get most of the credit, but it takes good coaching, too. Guess this win counts as a Big One that Wilson couldn't win. So much for that theory. Just remember one thing, however, it will take this effort plus some to be successful in the region. Don't be satisfied as there are bigger fish to fry. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A man that ruleth his spirit is better than the mighty.

Do me a favor coachh17, find a way to get your girls one more shot at Unicoi County this season. After eight straight losses in three years, with most of them being close, I really believe Elizabethton will find a way to win. I think your girls have had enough of the Unicoi dominance and will play the game of their young lives if they get one more shot. So give it all you've got against Central and the reward may be great. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. Psalm 139:9-10.

I, too, think Wilson and Farthing have done a tremendous job with the Elizabethton program. Sure, they have better players now, but it takes good coaching even when there are good players to have the level of success they have had. Congratulations guys. ____________________________________________________________________________ Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me

Really? Any team could win 35 games in two years if they play a simpleton schedule? Really? If I'm not mistaken, Elizabethton played an even weaker schedule when it won four games in two years a few years back? So why didn't those Elizabethton teams win 35 games in two years? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

Unicoi's radio station is 1420-AM (WEMB) However, if you are about three paces out of Erwin, you won't be able to pick it up at night. ________________________________________________________________________________ Search for the fruits of the Holy Spirit, for they are more precious than gold

I have personally witnessed some great basketball games this season, but none better than Unicoi County versus Elizabethton on Tuesday. It was an epic struggle that the Cyclones appeared to have in hand. However, Unicoi took it away simply because the Blue Devils knew how to make things happen at the end of regulation and in the overtimes. Elizabethton is learning and growing and is just mere inches behind Unicoi. The Cyclones may catch Unicoi in their next meeting on Feb. 16, but perhaps not if Unicoi is as determined as it was Tuesday. Certainly Glenn Fisher and Mike Wilson deserve much credit for having their teams so prepared for a game of this magnitude.

Instead of talking about who "whupped" one team or will "whup" another man's whatever, let's interject a little peace into the issue. More than likely, this whole thing is a lot of nonsense with one person just tugging at the chains of many people. By responding to him, you feed him and therefore are just as guilty as he is: especially if you respond in the same tone of his posts. If ucdaddy makes a post and no one replies, he will simply fade away like the grass of the earth that eventually will burn and be no more. Remember that the Bible implores us love our enemies. And we can't express love for people like ucdaddy by attacking him the way he attacks us. God bless...... ________________________________________________________________________________ Search diligently for the fruits of the spirit, therein lies a treasure greater than gold

I have seen some great high school basketball teams through the years, and there seems to be one resounding theme with them: the players don't openly care who scores the points. It's human nature to want to be the person who gets credit for scoring the most, but keeping that inside where it belongs is important. The real value is playing time. Being on the court for 20-25 minutes a game proves a player's true value -- in the coach's eyes -- regardless who scores the points. And if one kid gets 20 points a game and the team wins the vast majority of its games, then the rest of the players should be happy to be part of something successful. Being part of something successful is a positive thing that shows kids the value of working together for a common goal, which will serve them well throughout their lives. And it doesn't hurt to learn humility. If another kid scores most of the points and gets the lion's share of glory, they have their reward. The player who makes the great passes or plays enough great defense to allow that player to score all those points has a different opportunity to be rewarded. MATTHEW 6:1-4 "Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. "Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. "But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth. "That thine alms may be in secret: and the Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly."

Now I have a hard time figuring out anything I wrote that suggested Elizabethton doesn't need Rikki. In fact, if you will check a few spaces back, you will see that I wrote, "Elizabethton wouldn't trade Rikki for any other player in Northeast Tennessee." But this message board does entitle you to write anything you please, regardless of facts. I will simply point out again that I said Elizabethton very much needs and wants Rikki Baughman, but she is not all this team has going for it. Again I will point out that there are 10 or more very valuable members of this team -- and it is rapidly becoming a true team. And if this group of girls continues to become more team-oriented, it will rise above the fray in postseason play -- regardless of who it did or did not play in the regular season. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son.........his only son, think about what that really means.

In the two games she did not play in Elizabethton went 1-1, beating Hampton and losing to Tennessee High. The loss to Tennessee High came down to the final three minutes, so I don't think that does anything but prove my point: Without Rikki, the Cyclones nearly beat the one of the top two or three teams in the area. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son.........his only son, think about what that really means.

1. It is rather silly, devilfanatic, to say that you KNOW Unaka would beat Elizabethton by at least 15 points if they played. First of all, you are probably making that statement without ever having seen Elizabethton play and, secondly, unless you have a crystal ball you don't really know what would happen. Third, I could say University High's girls would beat Jackson County by at least 15 points if they played this season and nobody would ever be able to prove me wrong. 2. Saying that Elizabethton becomes average when you stop Baughman is a pretty strong statement, perhaps ignoring the fact Elizabethton defeated Hampton without her. Take Rikki away and the Cyclones would become a much different team, but one still potentially capable of winning the Watauga Conference. There are at least six other very good basketball players on this team, and four others that can contribute important things in certain roles. Elizabethton wouldn't trade Rikki for any other player in Northeast Tennessee. But just because she is so good doesn't mean the rest of the girls are chopped liver. 3. As for the whole schedule thing. I, too, believe a tough schedule is a helpful tool in reaching the state tournament. But it's not a requirement. All you have to do is look at what Mickey Forrester did at Sullivan East. He got two teams to Murfreesboro -- in Class AAA no less!! -- and pretty much played a powder-puff schedule. The point is: There are no absolutes in coaching, only percentages. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son.........his only son, think about what that really means.