MSUBac2001

Being a numbers guy myself, the one that has always stood out to me is Rockwood's record versus private schools in the state tourney. In all the years Rockwood has made the state, they are only 2-10 (the record actually could be worse, I may be forgetting a few loses) with their only wins over private schools at the state being over Friendship. For what its worth, RHS has a winning record vs. public schools at the state. Rockwood was also beaten soundly in the 2 games with JCS last year. Trends (and the numbers you provide would) definitely suggest that JCS would be favored tomorrow. So if I was a betting man, I would take JCS, but hoping this is the year Rockwood bucks the trend.

It's funny how sports in Roane Co. go in circles. The Rockwood/Harriman rivarly has evolved over the past 20 years. In the late 80's/early 90's, RHS-HHS had a few bench clearing brawls and really, REALLY hated each other. Then, by the mid 90's our games were competitive, yet social. During my upperclassman years at RHS, several of the Harriman players and us would meet at home plate and shoot the bull for 15 or 20 minutes. Before the drop to single A, the hated rival for both of us was Kingston. I can remember Harriman coming to our games with Kingston and vice versa to cheer against the Jackets. I think the drop to single for both schools plus Rockwood's immediate emergence as one of the top Single A teams in the area, then Harriman's development under Andy in the post-RD years has really heated the rivalry back up. Truth is it is great for 2 Roane Co. schools to be in the state tourney. I hope one of them brings back Roane's 1st state championship because the best finish we have is a runners-up by Kingston in 1993. Should be an exciting week in the Boro.

I don't think so. For many years, the regional and substate were single elimination games & with all the Roane Co. teams in the same district (except Midway) until 1998, only one could advance past to the substate. Since the state has went to both regional final teams advancing to the sectional game, Rockwood, Harriman, and Oliver Springs have made the state, but not 2 from Roane County in the same year. I am pretty sure it would be a first in baseball

Did you not catch this as a reference to Gene Hackman in Hoosiers?

What's the story on Cofer leaving? Just decide to give it up? For what it's worth, Rockwood hasn't hired outside of the school in, well as far back into at least the 80's if not earlier. I don't know if there was a coach between Eichelberger and Wilkerson, but Eichelberger was the coach from the 60's-70's, Wilkerson was a Rockwood graduate that took the position, Lane stepped in after a year as an assistant coach for Wilkerson, and then Cofer took it when Lane left. I would expect an internal hire of an assistant (if possible). On the other note, Rockwood's talent is bound to drop, the run from 98 until now has been amazing compared to the past. RHS was never EVER a baseball school until the drop to Single A in 1998. Even Lane's first 3 years ended with losing records. Two district tourney championships ('92 and '94) and a tourney runner-up ('97) is all Rockwood has to show for the 27 years between '71 and '98. It will be interesting to see who the coach will be.

Supposedly, the official schedules are suppose to be sent to the TSSAA before the season. If a game is not denoted as a JV game there, then technically, it should be an official game. However, many schools don't always denote the JV vs. Varsity on this schedule like they are suppose to, so it may have been meant to be a JV game the whole time. Sometimes, with the other coach's permission, a certain number of starters do play in JV, often at 2nd positions, to get newer starters more game time experience, or to allow pitchers more work after injury or when they are struggling. This normally happens though by mutual agreement. If you truly believe that there is some dishonestly going on and integrity issues, then you should contact the coach directly, Coach Lay (if he is still at MTC) and ask him about it, or call the TSSAA.

What was the score in the Mt. Pleasant game?

The only reason Alcoa hasn't scored 60+ points in many, MANY games this year is because they usually pull their starters in the 2nd half and really try to run out the clock. If Rankin took the NE Patriot approach, Alcoa would probably be averaging 60+ points a game this season. This game will probably be just like most Alcoa games. The only way DCA will win is if Alcoa loses the game by their own mistakes. DCA probably has a better chance of taking advantage of those mistakes than many teams, but I just can't see it happening. Alcoa 48 DCA 14

You are preaching to the choir on that one. I don't expect them to lose & would be shocked if they lost.

Sure Alcoa can lose, but I don't think someone can beat them. It will have to be a game where the opponent plays great and Alcoa makes stupid mistakes, beats themselves. No team in the eastern side of the state (if any part of the state) is better than them, but on a given Friday, who knows what will happen. Thats why we play the games. That being said - Alcoa should win by 14+

As much as I would like to see Rockwood win this one, realistically the only way Rockwood stays close is if Alcoa turns the ball over, A LOT. If AHS play its worse game of the year (TO, penalties, coming out flat, etc.) and Rockwood plays its best, then RHS could steal it. If the teams play their normal game Alcoa will win by 35+.

I keep reading about how Maryville keeps rolling along. If the Rebels do win it again, which they very well may, I think they need to look at playing some big out of state teams. What would be the chances of Maryville playing someone like South Panola out of Batesville, MS? Comparable size schools, same type of domination in state, same type of winning streaks, both ranked high nationally. I could see a game in Murfreesboro for both schools, as they are both 3 to 4 hours from M'boro. It would be extremely interesting to see how the best schools from neighboring states would do against each other. Any of you Maryville fans think Quarles might be up for a challenge like that and might be interested in setting something up? I know that would be a HUGE deal for the SP team.

Honestly, not as many as now. From 1988-through 97, I know RHS never played 30 games in a season and thats counting the district tournament. Of course, Ross played before that, but I would assume things didn't change much until the time around Lane's 5th season as HC. The best overall single season record Rockwood had until from 1971 to 1999 was 16-8 or close to that and the most games played that I know of was 29 in 1996 (12-17 record). Coach Lane's first 3 seasons at RHS as HC (94-96), we had losing records. They did have winning seasons in 97 and 98, but the breakthrough season for Rockwood baseball was truly 1999. That was the team that started the State Tournament run. The number of games RHS has played each year increased significantly around that time and now its normal to see RHS play 30+ games as compared to 25 or so prior to that.

Thanks Oger. You are correct in that Greg Ross had the single season record and Stuart McCullough had the career (Stuart had 1 more career HR than Greg), but Wyatt beat both records pretty handily. Doesn't matter anymore though, Doughty has both in the bag and appears to be adding to the totals with every swing. Pretty Impressive.

I remember Wyatt setting the Rockwood single season and career records (was there the day he broke them), but I don't think he quite made it up to 18 or 19 in one season. Then again, before him the record was like 7 or 8 in one season, so whatever he ended up with was a lot more than before. I would assume that if anyone got over 15 in one year, Coach Lane or now Coach Cofer, would have posted the record in the TBCA.org record books. Either way, its good to see someone from Rockwood with that kind of power.

Someone from Rockwood already has 14 HR's this season with over 9 games still remaining? Is that number accurate? If so, get out the record books because no one from Rockwood has ever hit that many in one year and according to the TBCA site, 1 more would give him the most prolific HR hitting season in the history of Roane County baseball (i.e., no one has hit at least 15 in one season).

Rockwood looked solid tonight. They were able to take advantage of several opportunities OS provided plus came through with a few big hits. The pitcher was in complete control the entire game, allowing only 1 hit. Not a bad way to start the regular season for Rockwood. As for OS, they must find a way to hit the curve ball or it will be a long season. They really had some bad at swings against the curve ball & never looked comfortable at bat. Based on today's game, anyone facing OS should throw curveball after curve after curve, with a few fastballs to keep them off balance. That being said, if they find a way to adjust to the offspeed, they did have a few decent cuts at the FB, which really gives them room for improvement as the season progresses.

Is there any way we don't see an Alcoa - Goodpasture state championship game? I kinda feel sorry for AA teams. Its almost unfair how much talent Alcoa has compared to other schools that size. Alcoa will beat CP by as many as Rankin wants too.

You are probably right with a few guys in the 4.4 to 4.5 range. My comment was meant mainly toward many guys on a HS team under 4.40. There is just such a huge difference b/t 4.30 and 4.40, you really don't see many guys with under 4.40 speed, especially multiple guys on a small town team in east TN. If a guy runs 4.49 and someone else runs 4.40, the latter will run straight past the 1st guy. Either way, 4.40 to 4.5 is pretty dang fast for any team in Roane County. Sounds like Rockwood & Harriman had a good game this past week. I miss living close enough to see those games.

Actually, I was in HS with those group of guys at Rockwood (they are a few years younger). Not one of them were under 4.4.They were very VERY fast for high school, but none were sub 4.4. What we believe and the truth is often very different. A speed of a 4.30 forty is actually considered WORLD CLASS speed. Of all running backs and wide receivers at the NFL combines last season, how many actually ran under a 4.4? Only 4. There were also 8 DB than ran sub 4.4s. We are talking NFL quality players. The dictionary says this about 40 yard dash speed: Generally, any time under 4.4 seconds is considered exceptionally fast even at the NFL level. Times between 4.4 and 4.6 seconds are good for the NFL. Times above 5 seconds are typically run only by linemen, the slowest time recorded at the 2006 combine was 5.41 seconds by an offensive lineman. Now 4.4 to 4.6 is considered GOOD speed for NFL players & only 12 of over 100 players who went through the NFL combines last season ran under 4.4 (which is considered EXCELLENT SPEED). How many HS teams have NFL speed? Lets bring this to a more local level...Jermaine Copeland is probably the best athlete to ever come through Roane County. He was dominate in terms of speed and athleticism. What was the major critique of Cope when he tried to make it in the NFL? Lack of speed. Now when he ran straight past me over and over back in the day, it seemed like he was running a 4.2 or so, but he was really clocked in the 4.5 range (give or take a bit). Cope could probably run circles around 99% of the players in Roane County. Contrary to what we think, believe, or have heard, these are the facts about NFL players. So based on fact, do you still honestly believe a high school in Roane County has multiple players with 4.40 or better speed?

Harriman has multiple players who can run the 40 in 4.3? Who and what colleges are recruiting them? Very rarely would a small school have 1 guy with real sub-4.4 speed, but several?

Joey Cofer (Assistant Coach at Rockwood for 8 yrs) is now the head coach replacing David Lane.

Unfortunately for Rockwood, looks like this is another one of those years where the numbers for Kingston just overwhelm the Tigers. Too much speed and size for Kingston. Even if Rockwood can out hustle and heart Kingston, the Yellow Jackets simply have to much depth. This one gets ugly late - Kingston wins going away.

It was on 92.7 out of Harriman last week. Look for it to be on again & if it is, it will be available online as well.

David Lane resigned at Rockwood to take an assistant coaching position at Roane State. Looks like he will be the new coach at RSCC when Works retires. Not sure who the new coach will be at Rockwood