tpoole12

Hey Guys and maybe Gals.. Sorry to start a thread and vanish but me and ATT has been struggggggling with my DSL service for a few days. I'm back at work, (Shhhh!!!!), but thought I should reply. Red Rebels, good to here from you. Hope you and yours are well. I will probably see you at the ball field soon. Jake, I guess your about right. I too would like to see some changes. Time will tell.. Plumb, The "bell" goes to the winner of the Heritage / William Blount game each year. Probably since the Gov Man era at WB. Thats a LOOOONNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGG time ago!!!!! Horn Owl, Glad to hear from you my feathered friend. Like orngnblk said, I was speaking of the Greenback Cherokees, but since you brought it up, I may just have to make a run to McMinn County when you all are there. I always enjoyed going to McMinn for a ball game. Great facilities, great people and a good looking quarter horse!!! I'll be keeping tabs on the Owls. Try to keep Void, 2seem and BigHairyOwl off the field!! I haven't seen owl fanatic post for awhile. They may affiliated with the new school across the interstate now. See you on the threads. Orngnblk, I support the Cherokees when I can. I know several people down that way. I actually played on that field as a Lanier Eagle. There as still a few of us left that remember the old Foothills Conference. Lanier, Greenback, Porter, Townsend, Walland and Friendsville. Didn't have to travel far in those days. I wish you all well and I will make a trip down this year for a game! Thanks for the replies tpoole12

Hello All Not got a dog in the hunt but would like to hear from some the people who do. I know Alcoa and Maryville will reload but I'm curious about situations at WB and Heritage. Who are the players to watch and what are the names of some up and coming? I've noticed that Heritage has to travel the first three out of four games but at least they have a five home / five away schedule. WB opens on the road at Sevier County, then enjoys a three game home stand. They have a common opponent in Jefferson County. Maybe that will give us a hint about who gets to keep the Bell. I've noticed that Central is back on the schedule for WB. Maybe schedules will settle out finally. The first few years after re-alighnment is probably tough on coaches and athletic directors. I still miss some of the banter I enjoyed with some of the old region opponents before the TSSAA changes, but with the cost of fuel now I'm not sure teams could afford to travel that much. I know that fuel cost will be a big factor in determining what game I attend on friday night this year. Good luck to....(alphabetically) Alcoa, Heritage, Maryville, and William Blount. I'll be seeing you some friday.. tpoole12 PS: GO Cherokees... I will make it a point to get down your way!

Thanks Starz Eye hope ewe are well. Eye wuz hoping sum won whoo nose wood let us no whoo is playing whoo. Eye wheel weight four more info.. tea poole won too

Hey everyone.. I'm out of the loop. Who plays whom? What teams will be there? When and where? Anyone in the know give us a breakdown of how your teams look and how you think they will fare this year.. Hope everyones doing well. Good luck to all.... tpoole12

Hey williebgovs04 I also heard the same and also wondered about their longevity. Richie is a very good defensive coach and will get the best from his players. I think if he had stayed the course with defense and had let someone else deal with the offense during his interim head coaching year at WB he might still be the Govs head coach. I wish both he and Scott well. It will be tough to satisfy some of the Irish faithfull. I think that in the big scheme Catholic is at a big disadvantage. Though they have the means to get some great players its tough to beat 40 to 45 players with 15 to 20 for an entire season. Hope you are doing well. Get a thread going when the Govs start spring practice so I can keep up a little............. tpoole12

Solly I agree 100%............... tpoole12

A great game by two great teams... Congratulations Maryville Rebels!!! tpoole12

Jake I am aware that what he runs is not wing t. I like it better than the true wing but as you said I'm not a fan. I am not a Gregory fan like you but I do wish him success because I care for many of the young men who will play there unless they and their parents choose elsewhere. I really feel he did the program a diservice trying to implement a new system his first year in with only four weeks of practice in the fall. He did and still does have a QB that can stand in the pocket and pass. His name is Zach Owens. Zach started varsity his whole freshmen year and put up respectable numbers. But still, I'm not going to beat a dead horse. I would only like to challenge Gregory to work to become a better coach, try to surround himself with the best staff he can and spend more time on special teams. Mistakes in this area cost WB more losses the last two seasons than any other part of the game. "and thats all I've got to say about that" tpoole12

Good job MLREB. Keep up the good work..... tpoole12

I really don't know where to start on this topic. There is alot to be said but I really don't think alot of my opinions are worth the time it would take to explain. In short almost all the problems go back to Meadows actions. Don't get me wrong, I don't blame Meadows for taking the Catholic job. He probably doubled his salary and inherited a program with all the bells and whistles in place. I would think him insane if he hadn't taken the offer. Meadows took a year off and left his staff. Ritchie Wilhite took the program. Ritchie is a great defensive coach. He was honored as such at the state level in 2007. He has made a great difference in the Lenior City program in a very short time. When he took over as head coach at WB he immediatly changed sides of the ball. Both sides of the ball suffered. Still even with a plague of injuries after graduating 23 seniors the year before, replacing eighteen starters and losing one of the most dynamic players I've ever watched (Darren Garner) the week before the jamboree he still managed to be competitive. If a few breaks would have went their way they could have made playoffs. Toward the end of season Coach Meadows started showing up again on Friday nights. It was obvious that he planned to return for 2009 though I heard rumors that he had feelers out for other jobs in the area. I don't know what happened between him and Ritchie but Ritchie was sent packing. Meadows brought Gregory in to be Defensive coordinator. Meadows held spring practice and the team looked good. Just as the school year was winding down Catholic offered Meadows the job and when all was said and done we were left with Gregory as head coach. I supported the hire at the time not because I thought he was a good coach but because I didn't want to see another group of players at some other school devasted the way my son and his team mates were after Meadows departure. He seemed to be saying all the right things but his decision to change the whole offensive system with only a few weeks of practice before season began made me wonder. During this time myself and others were working on the football locker room. It was way over due for a facelift. While working one day I found a playbook laying in the parking lot. I looked it over and when coach came in the dressing room I gave it to him. We talked about it for a while and I told him that from what I saw his passing plays ran out of the same sets as his base running game and that should give him the ability to ajust to what the defense was doing. It was at that time that he looked me in the eye and spoke the words that I will never forget.. "oh we don't let the defense dictate what we do on offense.." I knew at that very moment that he and I have very different philosphies about football. Watching my son and his team mates play last season was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I do not like the system that Gregory runs. You can win playing that style of football but you have to have the atheletes. He took a spread team returning eighteen starters and tried to run a wing / veer scheme thats been ineffective for two seasons. That style of football has been replaced and without some type of passing game to keep the defense honest it's destined to fail. I favor a spread type system in high school for the following reason. A dynamic offense will get players out of the halls on on the field because alot of people get to touch the ball alot! I won't comment any further on the system that he's running. That may be all he knows. Still, someone stated earlier that coaches owe it to the players to get better as coaches. I agree. Though I don't have a dog in the hunt. I'd still by willing to donate my own money for the coaches to go and learn how to become better coaches. Many opinions from alot of posts preceding mine are on target. I think many miss the mark. I'm sure many will not agree with me here. I hope Gregory can right the ship at WB. There has been to much turnover there in the last decade. I was a fan before I became a band parent ten years ago. As soon as my band tenure was over my son became a player there. There has been six head coaches in recent memory. No program can survive that kind of turmoil. Some posts have questioned the dedication of the players. I think any group of players that stuck with the game through that have proved their dedication. I wish the Govs well but it will require some changes in attitude by the administration, coaches, and some of the players to fix the problems at WB. If this is going to happen it will have to start with the Athletic Director and work its way down. After the Farragut game in 2009 I told him at the foot of the bleachers that he needed to get an offensive coach and that if he didn't get rid of that wing stuff he would run the program into the ground. I still feel that way but hope that Brewer, Gregory and staff will find a system that is better suited to the game we see today. I'll shut up now. There is much more that could be said but I've said enough already. Good luck to the Govenors.............. tpoole12

Well, the good thing about it was.... it was dark, I was sitting high up in the stands, and my vision is not what it used to be.............

There has been a notable difference in Maryville the last two weeks. I heard that George Quarles gave them a strong post game "pep talk" following the game three weeks back. I'm not sure I would want to be "invited" to that meeting........ Still it seems they are in post season form. Good luck Rebels tpoole12

Don't be to hard on your team. Maryville is blessed with a great coach and staff. I think your program is improving but its hard to match up against Maryville. No matter how well scheme, Quarles and company will find a way to exploit any good matchup they have. Good luck going forward. tpoole12

Not got a "dawg" in this but I was very surprised at this final. Though both teams are headed to the playoffs I feel this is a critical time for the Irish program. Good luck to both teams. tpoole12

Admirals... Good luck moving forward in the playoffs... WB seniors.. I've enjoyed seeing you grow into young men.. Good luck as you move into the next stage of your life.. Many life lessons are learned on the field.. Life beyond high school is also a team sport.. Good luck in whatever path you choose... Okay Juniors... It's your time to step up and be the leaders.. Work hard in the off season... Football games are won in the weight room and on the practice field.. Demand the best from yourself and lead by example.. tpoole12 Sorry for the edit but I forgot to mention all those "old" people they had on the field last night.. Class of 1980, wow where does the time go. Some of you have held up quite well. Others??? Not so good! Before anyone gets offended let me state that I am a 1976 alumnus of Lanier so everything I said applies to me also. Though I look forward to every day I now have to sneek up on the mirror in hopes that old ugly guy won't be there to greet me............

I know it's been a tough week for the Admirals. I'm sorry for the passing of a great mentor. I will continue to keep family and friends in my prayers. Its hard to believe that we are at the last week of the regular season. It will be senior night at WB. Many teams are looking to the post season while others will be playing their last game. Such is the case this friday. Farragut won against an improved LC team last week while WB lost big to Maryville. WB has continued to commit turnovers and struggled on special teams. This cannot continue if the Govs hope to upset the Admirals. I know that there has been alot of distraction this week for Farragut but I'm sure they will show up ready to play. I will be pulling for the Govs but for them to win they must play nearly perfect and Farragut will have to make some mistakes. Thoughts??????????????????????????? tpoole12

Well.... This season looks like last season... I'm not going to beat a dead horse.... Wing/Veer....... tpoole12

GovMan I'm not sure that I worry about the "whole coach t nation" knowing that you are going, I just hope the coach t nation's wifes don't find out or many of us will share the same fate.............. If that happens I'm going to hold ole voodoo personally responsible........ tpoole12

Wow... Threads got rough since I last checked... Good job Rebels and staff. With their youth they should continue to succeed.. As far as Young goes. I'm pleased he has an offer from a D1 school. He is a quick kid.. I'm not sure he will play RB at the next level but may have a niche as a kick returner or specialty player. When he gets the ball out in space anything can happen. I wish him luck.. tpoole12

You are correct.. The game was also very simular, turnovers and special teams was the difference. After last years game the WB staff decided to put a special emphasis on field goals and extra points. Changed their blocking scheme and bull rushed parts of their staring line in practice. About all it accomplished was injuries. Some were season/career ending. SPECIAL TEAMS ARE NOT SOMETHING YOU DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME. IT REQUIRES A COMMITMENT. IF YOUR STARTING QB IS YOUR HOLDER THEN YOU ARE NOT SPENDING ENOUGH TIME WITH THE SPAPPER, HOLDER, AND KICKER GETTING REPS. MOST FAILED ATTEMPTS ARE NOT BECAUSE THE LINE DOES NOT EXECUTE THE BLOCKS. IT IS BECAUSE IT TAKES TO LONG TO GET THE KICK OFF. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE KICKS OFF QUICKER IS TO GET MORE REPS. THIS MUST BE DONE!!!! Sorry RunninRebels, I didn't mean to go off but that is one of the many lessons that doesn't seem to sink in at WB. Failure to execute in the kicking game and turnovers continue to plague the Govs. When people fail to learn from the past, they are destined to fail in the future. Good luck the rest of the way Rebels. tpoole12 PS: I'm sure there will be more snide comments directed toward me over this post but I feel we have reached the point where its time speak frankly and honestly. I think everyone who knows me knows I will continue to support the Govs but I refuse to sit back and be "politically correct" and hurt my arms waving my pom-poms.

Thoughts.... Good game Govs. Defense.............. Offense.... Good job but need to take care of the ball. Take care of the details, and the rest will follow.............. To the Raiders at Heritage. Heard a lot of names that I remember. "practice hard, play hard, have fun".. Good luck the rest of the way... tpoole12

As long as GQ is at Maryville they can win. I don't know about this year but they will alway be in the hunt. tpoole12

govfan1 I like your spirit. Regarding Evan Brown... I had the pleasure of coaching this young man when 9 /10 years old. I was always sure this young man would be a good player. He may or may not be as good as the Catholic D-1 prospects but I'm sure he's a bit quicker. More importantly he was a very good kid. His manners and attitude at a young age reflected well on his up bringing. I wish Evan well but hope that he doesn't set a sack record this week..... tpoole12

I suspected that but now that the "cat" is out of the bag.. (or dog in this case) I must say it was quite effective.. Bladerunner I miss our yearly battle of banter from the old days.. Some threads almost lasted one season to the next.. I wish the Cats well but some of the Rebels used to be Raiders. I don't think any of the little Raiders have migrated to Oak Ridge but if they have I will pull for them individualy........... tpoole12

Good Job Karns... Keep the faith.............. tpoole12