NWTennSports

Just a random thought here. Would love to read all opinions. I really like the "Battle For The State" idea. Hat's off to Sycamore's coach. I hope it continues and eventually becomes an event where every state champ from the previous year can't wait to play in. So ...... What are some thoughts on taking that concept and extending it throughout the Southeastern region of the USA (if it's not already being done)? Try to get some state champs from each state: Tennessee, Kentucky, the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida -- I've seen some of these big 16- and 32-team super-brackets (you should check out that Fifth Third Bank girls thing up in Lexington, KY. Man, that's a lot of estrogen!) -- and maybe do something like that with multiple gyms used. .... Rotate it between states every year. .... Or, if brackets are too much to mess with, try doing on of those all-day classics and bring in maybe 16 (eight games), 18 (nine games) or 20 (10 games) teams in, match 'em up according to enrollment, tip off Game 1 at 8 a.m. and then just have at it until the day's done. With most states crowing multiple state champions (Ky. does not, but that simply adds to the state's mystique, and the Sweet 16 is an event, indeed), getting at least one champ from each state to commit each year should not be too much trouble. Just a thought. What say you?

When, as a head coach, you go into a kid's home to recruit him, you have to do several things. Mainly, you have to sell your school and your program to Mom and Dad as much (if not more) as you have to sell them to the kid. Then, you have to take on any perceptions the kid and his family have about your school. Look at what Pearl is having to battle right now: UT fires its coaches Peterson was popular, had connections to the UT family and was MJ's roomate in college but couldn't win Jerry Green won but ran an undiscplined program I hear about your kids (and the football kids) in trouble all the time The only place in Tennessee you recruit is Memphis UT is a football school The only basketball name at UT I've ever heard of is Pat Summitt But, one of the big things with kids today, above all that other stuff is: What style of ball do you play, and can you get me to the NBA So, Pearl has had his work cut out for him. And, while he's winning, it might not be playing so well in some households that his best player is a high school Mr. Basketball ... from Kentucky. ... I've never suffered from an inferiority complex, but I understand how that can strike a nerve with some people. I think Pearl is doing a great job. I love the fact that he goes to high school games, sometimes just to watch, and gets his name in the paper (although I'm not big on "Pearl kicked out of another gym" headlines) ... And now, his selling job is easier. He has actual proof that the school is taking hoops seriously with the major building projects (luxury suites and a new practice facility) going on. ... I think he's gonna be getting more and more in-state players in the years to come, and I hope he's at UT for many many years. Is it just me, or does Pearl remind you in a lot of ways of Ray Mears when he was hired. ... High-strung guy from the north with a national championship on his resume, lives basketball, tries to incite the fans (of both teams) on game night. He's even taken to the color ORANGE like a duck to water .... I half expect him to slowly walk across the floor at Vandy just as warm-ups are ending wearing a BIG ORANGE blazer I love Pearl. Looking back, he seems to be better than everything we've tried since Mears: DeVoe was good at game management and good at getting the most out of his kids most of the time but not a great recruiter (Dale Ellis, Tony White and Fred Jenkins, and that's about it) ... I would love to have DeVoe as a scout. Houston had very good sperm but not much else. O'Neill wrote the book on being a jerk. .... And his teams were BORING Green couldn't keep his injured stars on the bench during a fight. Had he stayed, Tennessee might have become the Miami of basketball Peterson was a good guy but wrong for the task at hand If he stays and is given the necessities to recruit, Pearl could do something VERY SPECIAL at UT before it's all said and done.

I'll cut mine down to 1. No. 1 Union City ... because, as Ricky Bobby might say: If you're not first, you're last.

Man, I was about to get really steamed about this thread. I had gone well over 100 posts and had not seen any mention of the Golden Tornadoes from Union City. Then, I saw a post from my buddy backinthaoc, talking about UC moving down to 1A "next year" .... so .... I looked at the date on that post .... 2005. so ..... I went back to the beginning of the thread for the date .... 2004. oh well, now I know. So, speaking of UC, I've seen them a couple of times, and I've read a lot about them. VERY good team this year. Balanced. Make up for lack of size with amazing quickness and stamina. Can literally run you right out of the gym. Could have very easily beated Brentwood Academy in that Battle For The State thing at Lipscomb and then just flat-out ruined much bigger (team size and school enrollment) White House. Repeat? Very possible.

I read some of LARRY's comments with disgust. Why do you wanna hate? It's pretty pathetic to want a bunch of 15- 16- and 17-year-old kids to get "drilled" and a "whooping" Union City fans are only expressing their pride in a program that won a state championship last year and 4 since 1990. And, undefeated through 12 games is saying something, I don't care who you are. ... UC fans are also sticking up for the western end of the state against the obvious middle and east section bias on these boards. Speaking of bias, since Union City is essentially an all-black team, I'm gonna take some of your comments as racist. Here's a thought: Go to the games, enjoy the competition and check your hate at the door! Maybe UC will get beaten, maybe not. ... Whatever the outcome, I just hope it's a good game, a competitive game, and a FAIR game.

Union City? No. Not under the current regime.

I don't care what people say, I'll take any one of them at my alma mater RIGHT NOW!

Well, honestly, how good could the Rebs REALLY be??!?!? After all, their center graduated.

I was there at your game. Couldn't have decribed them any better myself.

This is a great publication. It does good things for student athletes and students who are looking into writing for a living. I thought the West Tennessee hoop preview section was excellent. I loved the detail and the format. I've been meaning to e-mail or call John and tell him another great job. Everyone pick up a copy ... or two.

TREE, BACK ..... Wish'ed y'all would've called. I had nothing going on tonight! I was working at the office late (you'll see the result of that labor in the Wed. MM), but I would've left early to check out the Rebs. Well, maybe some other time. CONGRATS to Eddie and Bill. Let's put all the rumors aside, leave the men alone and let them coach their teams. What a concept, huh?!?

Ok, now who is Lil dookie again??? .... And, tell me more about this Susan

41-21? Is that the score I saw? 41-21? Now, UC's getting blown out by 1A teams? So, in their last five losses* dating back to last year, UC has given up 52, 49, 52*, 46 and 41 points. Yeah, this is where I want the UC program to be. Jeez, gimme a break. * Milan game was a loss. You wanna hand your hat on a forfeit, be my guest.

I'D RATHER WIN THEM ALL, DADGUMIT!!!! WHY SCHEDULE THEM IF YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO WIN THEM!!!!! I HAPPEN TO LIKE 15-0 OVER 11-4!!! IF WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO CARE, THEN LET'S JUST FORFEIT AND SAVE OURSELVES THE TROUBLE! JEEZ! WHAT'S SO DARN DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND HERE????? by the way, if this wasn't coacht, you can dadburn bet the language would be a lot more vulgar. by the way, part II, tell me again how 2005 ended??? Was that another one of those games that, hey, didn't really matter b/c it wasn't "region?" Oh, but yeah, they GOT TO Murfreesboro. That's all that really matters, right??? Losing? Big deal. We got there. People who don't mind losing are, quite simply, losers. if winning and losing doesn't really matter in certain games, then on those nights, let's take down the goalposts, put up soccer nets and play AYSO. Maybe a little T-ball, too, hmmm???? Gosh-darn-it, I can't stand people who don't mind losing sometimes.

Son, I hope you're ready to beat Milan's butt!

Well, for your information, King, I DO CARE. I'm a UCHS Alum, and I do care that we lost to Westview, and I do care if we get beat by Milan, and I do care if we get beat by Obion County Central, because those games DO COUNT, as far as I'm concerned! There was a time when the mighty Union City High School football program could compete with those schools. Not only compete, but beat their butts (even Milan, every once in a while - look it up; Shanks beat Tucker regularly) ... So, it ticks me off that we can't beat those teams anymore. ... And don't give me that "We're a smaller school now" bullcrap, either. Excuses are for losers, and I'm tired of them. If UC wasn't in Class 1A right now, we'd be looking like those pitiful teams of the 1960s. So, King, you can not care all you want to. But, they put the games on the schedule for a reason, and not just to make money and not just to get ready for "region." ... Those are rivalry games. They're program games. They define who you are and where you are, as a player and a team. They're bragging rights. THE DO MEAN SOMETHING!!!!!! Don't like it? Fine. Go cheer for Red Boling Springs.

Can you catch a std by tackling? They gonna play football or shoot one of them nekkid movies??? Thank you! Good night! Try the fish!

21??? Wow. Don't know about 21. At least, I hope it's a better game than that. so, what exactly is a slaw skeezer?!?!?

First of all, I question the statements of UC having better coaches and being more fundamentally sound. Not saying UC's are bad, but that's a pretty insulting comment to the Lake County staff. Second, are you saying Trousdale would have beaten Aloca, Maryville, Riverdale, Melrose? Don't think so. When Trousdale was classified to 2A during the previous four-year cycle, they chose to play up to 3A (they'll tell you it was to save on travel; I tell you it was to avoid Alcoa). ... (Oh, poo, I've stirred up the TC people in a UC-LC thread. Don't hate the player; hate the game.) By the way, I DID graduate from UC. I love the Purple and Gold, but I'm also a realist.

Coaches can talk, but its the players who walk. .... All my esteemed friend "back" is saying is that teenage kids DO read newspapers, they DO pay attention to ranking and they DO overlook some teams at times. Anybody can talk about being disciplined, but that doesn't account for everything. .... Look, Crockett will probably win. But, hey, all "back" is saying is don't be surprised if Crockett loses. And, not just because the Cavs happen to be overlooking the Rebels. The Cavs could be totally focused, totally in the mindset of playing the Rebels, totally devoid of all other thought, totally living in a bubble with a big Rebel man logo painted in it and still get beat b/c for one night, for one three-hour period, anybody can beat anybody. Don't think so? Ask the players on last year's Covington team. .... That's all we're saying. We're not dissing your Cavs. Hey, I have great respect for coach Pratt and the program he has built. He's done a great job. I know him personally. I wish we had more coaches like him. .... But, all we're saying is that no game is a guarantee. .... Let's just hunker down Friday night and have us a football game!

My thoughts exactly. ... Seems to me Byrnes got just a little bit of home cooking early in the game. Was that PAT by Glades good or what??? Typical. Great showcase for High School football, and the zebras actually think ESPN is there to see them. ESPN's gonna have a great H.S. football schedule this year. I need to get ESPNU some kind of way. And, lets all head up to Ohio the 15th and 16th of Sept. for the Ohio vs. USA challenge. That should be a GREAT weekend of prep football. ... Wish we had something like that in this state. I can see Maryville, Alcoa, Riverdale, Melrose, Hillsboro and some of those schools hosting some top programs, maybe at MTSU or LP Field (formerly The Coliseum, formerly Adelphia), if they get field turf.

I think it speaks volumes that the band and the obnoxious dad are tied for the top spot in this poll. The band that continues to play even during plays (even though its supposed to be against the rules), and the cheerleaders yelling "SCORE" when their team's defense is on the field. Those are two other VERY annoying things. Youth sports would be so much more fun if only those youngsters didn't have parents.

I work up in Bluegrass country now, and one of teams I keep an eye on is Greenwood. The Gators were 2-8 last year, some problems resulting in several players not being on the team last fall. The roster has about 90 kids on it. Greenwood is Class 4A, the largest class in KY (until next year when the state goes to six classes). ... Anyway, I just want some details on the game. Does Greenwood look like it has some potential? Is the score deceptive in some way? I can remember, several years ago, when Union City and Portland played in the second round of the state playoffs and Portland won, 42-21. They sounded that train whistle after every Portland score. ... Man, I still wake up hearing that train whistle ! !

Not surprised by outcome. Not surprised by score.

OK, back ... or, as I sometimes refer to you: Big Bro. ..... I'm gonna tell ya this for the last time. .... The Jax Sun doesn't do much Obion County coverage b/c they know they can't compete with the product on the newsstands up there. .... Yes, yes, yes, they claim to be West Tennessee's complete news source, but why get in a get into a dog fight with a Pit Bull when you're nothing more than a wiener dog??? So, be happy that you have what you have locally as well as On The Ball (fantastic, by the way), and don't worry yourself about Josh and the Jackson Gang. I can't tell you how many times I would get upset hearing someone say to me "Why can't the Sun come up here and cover us?" Some would even try to put stock in the Appeal. JEEZ, GIMME A BREAK!!!!! I WAS THERE, DANG-GUM IT!!! You didn't need the Sun there!!!!! I really wish some of y'all would get over the notion that bigger (in terms of newspapers) is better. Screw the Sun. Read your Mess. And, get on with your lives.