NWTennSports

Well, I don't think anyone is taking FA -- or JCS, for that matter -- lightly. But, so what if we are? We're not playing in the game. I'll guarantee you that there are about five coaches and 53 players who aren't taking FA lightly. And, they're not looking ahead to JCS (or McKenzie). In fact, you'd probably be amazed at how detailed UC's scouting report on FA already is. We're simply talking about level of competition -- not just this year but in the previous couple of years as well. And, yes, UC was only 5-15 the past two years before this season. But, either one of those "bad" 2A teams at UC would have been a very good 1A team. If that hurts your feelings, so be it. Oh, and I agree with the assessment of some on here that say UC's 1A region is not very strong. Indeed, as I understand it, recently a former UC player came up to a former UC coach and made this comment: "Well, coach, we went from playing in the toughest 2A region in the state to playing in the weakest 1A region."

Don't be surprised if this game is a blowout -- not a blowout by epic proportions (see Alcoa's first-round win), but a blowout of 3-to-4 TDs. Then, don't be surprised if UC beats JCS next week by at least 2 TDs, if JCS can get past McKenzie. I'm just saying that this season has made it very clear to me the difference between 2A and 1A in West Tennessee. And, I'm not just talkng about what UC has done to 1A teams. Look how USJ struggled in 2A after years of dominating 1A. This is one of those intangibles that people are always talking about.

I do recall one MC fan talking to another about a player going out with a broken finger, but I don't think there were any other serious injuries. .... In fact, I don't recall the game being stopped for any length of time due to an injury.

Lexington painted the visitors' locker room pink. .... The dog ate my homework. .... she said she was on the pill. By the way, to the MC cheerleader I thought I made some eye contact with, why didn't you throw me the Nerf ball?!?!?!?

Well, so much for that prediction.

BULLETIN!! BULLETIN!! BULLETIN!! On the bus ride home, Marshall County threw another interception. Hey, don't get mad. When you give up half-a-hundred-plus-12 ... in the playoffs ... then you have to expect a little fun at your expense. I was at the at the game with treefitty and backindaoc, and I was very impressed with Lexington's running game. Not too many teams could have stopped that juggernaut tonight. It will be interesting to see how LHS matches up down the road in the playoffs, but I'm sure Lindsey & Co. are concerned only with Creek Wood right now. And, believe me, MC's quarterback not having a hot hand wasn't the reason for the loss. In a word, the reason was: LEXINGTON. Now, I do want to ask a serious question: Was there something wrong with MC's regular placekicker? I saw #42 listed in the program as the kicker, but #32 did the kicking. I think he would be the first to admit that he's not a kicker.

Surely, some common sense will apply here. Otherwise, you will coaches across the state teaching the "Untuck defense." In other words, coaches telling their kids to untuck the opponents' jerseys during a tight game. Pandora's box, anyone?

Ahh, Messick and Prep. .... Those names ring a bell as Union City opponents. UC played Messick wwwaaaaayyy back, maybe in the 1930s, at Crump Field, and Prep was a bowl game opponent one year.

Tiptonville Earthquakes. .... pretty cool nickname considering Tiptonville sits on the banks of Reelfoot Lake, which was created in the early 1800s when an earthquake forced the Mississippi River to flow backward. I believe Tiptonville's neighboring town, Ridgley, was known as the Green Waves. There were several schools in Obion County before consolidation -- Rives, Troy, Hornbeak, Woodland Mills, Obion, Mason Hall ... to name a few -- but I can't think of their nicknames. Hey, Humboldt old-timers, can someone enlighten me on the past Humboldt High School nicknames: Yellowhammers and Rams??? Thanks.

I'm partial to the Union City High School Golden Tornado Marching Band. ... I remember at the Clinic Bowl in Nashville back in 1997. Vandy stadium officials were in awe over the fact that lil ol' Union City pulled up a big 18-wheeler hauling its band equipment. Can someone tell me the Munford website?? Finally, I noticed a disturbing trend while attending Kentucky football games this year and wanna now if its happening in Tennessee as well. Are bands more and more not performing at -- or even attending -- football games?? I know some have contests far away the following day, but I don't like that trend, if it is going on.

Well, ol' Drew slung it around enough to set two state records against Union City, and UC still beat McKenzie by three TDs, hanging half-a-hundred-plus-two on the Rebels in the process. I'll take a good running game and some semblance of a defense any day.

You do realize that this is just plain Halls and not Knoxville Halls, right??? The Halls that UC plays in the first round is located in West Tennessee, has a record of 2-8 and isn't even that good.

You do realize this is just Halls and not Knoxville Halls, right??? The Halls in this thread is 2-8.

I'm surprised more Union City fans haven't jumped into this debate, which has been pretty good. I have to admit that I was skeptical of the Golden Tornadoes in the preseason considering their 5-15 overall record the previous two years, even going so far as to tell people that I only saw three winnable games on the schedule. I expected the Lake County and McKenzie games to be really tough challenges, but UC beat the Falcons by four TDs and hung half-a-hundred-plus on the Rebels. I thought West Carroll would give them fits b/c of that deceptive offense, but UC shut them out. Sure, UC lost three times, but two of those (Milan and Westview) are among the top 2A teams in the state, and UC was fairly competitive against both, while the other was a 3A team (Obion Central) albeit one that finished 3-7 and a game that UC probably should have won. In fact, in its seven 1A games, UC outscored the opponents, 322-78 with two shutouts (an average of 46-11 per game). UC's 356 total points this year currently ranks, I believe, fifth-most in school history, which dates back to 1903, with the four previous best coming in 1997-2000 when UC posted an overall record of 52-6 and advanced to the 2A title game twice while losing in the semifinals the other two times. My point is this: Union City, after decades as a tough 2A team with title game appearances in 1997 and 2000, seem to have some sort of intangible that makes them a big BlueCross Bowl possibility. I think UC gets past the first two rounds, then will have a big test against JCS. UC would go into that game on a 7-game winning streak and rolling in confidence. Beginning in the quarterfinals, all those intangibles are huge. Am I saying UC will win state? No. I'm just saying that this appears to be a team to watch out for over the next five weeks.

OK, I'm gonna jump off topic, so I'll make it quick ... I just had to respond to the girls' b-ball stuff. First of all, you're right, Dyersburg has won the last three meetings: 70-61 at Troy and 53-51 in OT at Dyersburg last season and 57-50 at Dyersburg in the 03-04 season. And, as far as saying the Lady Rebels haven't been the same since Spencer (whom I like) left, you're right again: With Spencer, OC was 3-5 in the postseason and did not advance past the first round of the regional tournament in either of his two seasons. Under Eddie Suiter (whom I also like) last year, OC won the district tournament, finished runner-up in the regional, won its sectional game in Memphis and advanced to the state tournament. And, since we have some people here who are hung up about banners, the Lady Rebs can hang 16 for district tournament championships, six for region tournament championships, nine for substate/sectional wins and 13 for state tournament appearances .... all since opening the doors in 1961. No state titles, sure, but one runner-up and some pretty good tradition, by anyone's standards. Oh, the football game. Well, they'll play on Friday night.

Is that legal? Maybe someone should contact the TSSAA about this. By the way .... it's spelled: BUTT

You actually WANT to go to Panama?!?!?!?

Nate Coleman's press agent, ladies and gentlemen! Next up: "Coleman for Heisman" campaign. Hey, just having some fun.

Years of research. It's my thing.

For the record, Union City and South Fulton have played at least five times, UC owning a 4-1 record. Records indicate that football at SF began in 1918 and then took a break after the 1929 season. .... All meetings between the two programs took place during that span. Scores.... 1922 -- South Fulton 31, Union City 0 1925 -- Union City 56, South Fulton 0 1926 -- Union City 43, South Fulton 6 1928 -- Union City 30, South Fulton 0 1929 -- Union City 19, South Fulton 0 The last time the two teams played, T.F. Wallace was Union City's first-year head coach, while Albert Dumas was heading up the South Fulton program. So, the big questions are ... Will UC run its win streak to five in a row over the Red Devils, and will this be the fifth shutout of the series???

I am assuming that political correctness has dictated that the Maryville REBELS no longer wave the Confederate flag? I'm merely asking. Is that what' going on?

I agree with that. I've long been a proponent of 4 classes -- not only for football but 4 classes across the board, or at least in football, basketball, baseball and softball. .... I have always found it odd that a state with more schools playing basketball than football had more football classifications than basketball. ... 4 classes for the major sports would bring about a consistency in regions/districts and the ability to play natural rivals. .... The money issue is easily solved as well. Where the TSSAA would lose an entire classification of football playoffs, it would gain an entire classification for basketball postseason, as well as baseball and softball. One of these days -- and maybe gas prices will be the catalyst -- the TSSAA will have to look at the issue of consistency in its classification process.

If I pay for the VCR tape and provide an address in a PM, would somebody tape the game and ship it to me?

Speaking of movies and wondering which ones count .... Porky's III .... centered around the boys' march to a state championship and how they out-smarted ol' Porky, again.

I completely forgot about Long Gone ... Great baseball movie (by the way, Teller speaks!!!) I also like The Junction Boys, but I wasn't too impressed with the Southern accents of those Aussie actors. And, just for fun, how 'bout this one: Fast Break .... Bernard King and Mr. Kotter. Finally, does Dodgeball count? Because that movie's funny right there. I don't care who you are!