Eddie

The option is a TREMENDOUS high school offense. Rice ran it to perfection. He's not the fastest kid under center, but he certainly made good decisions and never put the ball of the ground. Well done Wayen County.

Mt. Juliet has the most potent offense I've seen in years. Jerry Joslin is a VERY good coach -- but I don't think even he can pull a rabbit out of hat against the Bears. 44-13, Mt. Juliet.

This is the BEST Mt. Juliet team I have seen in 20-plus years. Skill players are outstanding, very well coached and apparently still hungry. If the defense gets a couple of stops along the way every game, they'll go DEEP into the playoffs.

Cumberland is 3-1 after a 31-26 win at West Virginia Tech. The Bulldogs lost senior Da'Juan Manning to a broken leg in the first half. Outstanding young man from Gallatin, solid special teams player and was the "nickle" OLB in passing situations. Open week Oct. 1, then a six-game stetch of Mid-South Conference games begins with a trip to Rome, GA and Shorter College Oct. 8.

Lebanon's 5-6 fullback Juicy Apple ran accounted for nearly 200 yards in total offense and scored two TDs. QB Patrick Maynard was sick all week, but ran for 100 on 11 carries and completed 10-of-12 passes for 146 and a score. The LHS defense still needs work. Mis-direction just killed 'em. Crack-back block by a Lebanon WR took Nunley out for all of the fourth quarter.

Did Gallatin's No. 55 play?

It's best to clear the air early -- perhaps with a meeting prior to spring practice. Tell the parents you will be happy to discuss ANYTHING about their child EXCEPT playing time. And NEVER should that parent bring up the talents / abilities of another child.

IMO -- here's a perfectly acceptable question from a parent "What does my son need to do to get more snaps -- work harder in the weightroom, give more effort in JV or on the practice field?"

Unacceptable question -- "My kid was an all-star in junior pro, he's better than that stinking Johnson boy -- what have you got against my son?"

Nearly 40 kids showed up. Several were absent due to church trips & football and at least three were there who were coming off injury and unable to participate. Coach Black had two guys from his college wood bat team there to help him conduct try outs along with the guy who finished the season as coach of the Lebanon American Legion team. Heat was a factor early on. They would go for 30 minutes, then had to take a 10 minute break in the shade of the dugout. Still, they got out of there around 6:30 / 6:45. He seemed very organized. They took a little infield, shagged fly balls, then everyone had a round of BP.

Congratulations to Bradshaw on his committment to Belmont.

New Lebanon High head coach Brian Black will hold tryouts for the 2012 team Wednesday, July 27 at 4 p.m. at Eskew Field (Babe Ruth Field) in the Baird Park Complex. Players should come prepared to play / practice with pants, cleats, etc.

The books are IN at Sudden Service locations across the state. The 231 S. location in Lebanon has them at the front counter.

Cumberland is moving ahead with a rehab project for the existing on-campus football stadium. Phase 1 involves tearing down the existing bleachers and pressbox; then replacing with new. Seating capacity will be roughly the same, but will include chairbacks in the middle. New pressbox will be 3 times larger than the old one -- with air conditioning.

Phase 2 (next year) will involve building a concession stand / restroom structure.

Phase 3 -- (2 years down the road) will put the finishing touch on Kirk Field -- artificial turf. A big concern is the water runoff from the tennis courts and parking lot behind Memorial Hall. This will have to be addressed before the turf is put down. Engineers are looking at a large retaining pond (empty when its dry, full when it rains) to be located at the back corner of the football practice field. This might hold the runoff water long enough for the neighborhood drainage pipes and ditches to do their job.

BTW -- Coach Alexander was the 2010 Tennessee Sports Writers Association College Football Coach of the Year.

Slone's coaching position was terminated June 10 after 7 seasons. He still has a job teaching at the county alternative school. New coach is Brian Black, 27, native of Illinois. Was at Whites Creek this past season as assistant -- was given top job two weeks before start of season. Struggled after filling out team with mostly first year players. Former assistant at Springstead HS near Tampa. Pitched 4 years at a D-3 school in Illinois. Young, upbeat -- presently coaching the Old Hickory Bats in Nashville College wood bat league. Found this info online at wilsonpost.com

wilsonpost.com has posted the Rowlett goes to MJ story

Powell took Friendship Christian to the spring fling all four years as head coach. Record of 119-56 at FCS.

McNairy County native Brian Brown will be the next coach of the Tigers. He's got 20 years head coaching experience at McNairy (12 yrs) and Dyersburg (8 years). Record of 414-183 (.693 winning pct.).

Does the name Brian Brown ring a bell?

Spoke with Alexander himself around 2 p.m. Monday. He's staying.

Despite reports to the contrary -- Dewayne Alexander is STAYING at Cumberland.

Friendship scored 12 in the bottom of the second inning -- highlighted by a grand slam by Chris Hall. Final score FCS 14, Marion County 1.

Having graduation the night before an important game is not a good thing...FCS takes this one in 5 innings...

Game time for the sectional has been pushed up to 12 noon as Marion County will hold graduation Friday night. Same goes for the MC at Friendship softball game.

Game time has been moved to 12 noon Friday as Marion County will hold graduation later that evening. Same goes for the baseball game between MC and FCS.

District 9-AAA updates -- Gallatin eliminated Lebanon 3-0 Monday at Drakes Creek. Beech knocked off Wilson Central 8-0 at Wilson Central.

I heard (QB) Chowbay decided not to play baseball in favor of hoops. Is he still playing football?