DS2001

Congratulations to the Rebels...........You took it to the Irish...I said back on page 2 of this thread that I didn`t think either team would win by a 35-21 score, but the margin of victory was even more than I thought......This game was pretty much won by Franklin in the first half when they were able to overcome some early mistakes they made and take advantage of some bumbling IRISH miscues that led to a 16-3 halftime edge.......In the second half Ryan was pretty much bottled up on the run and when QB Ryan Blair went out in the 3rd quarter with a ribcage injury, the offense went dormant......I congratulate Franklin Defensive Coach Marshall Winkler for a good game plan that kept Ryan off kilter all night.......It was a monstrous crowd at Franklin and I know the Rebel fans were happy.....I`m still proud of the Irish and I think they will learn from this loss and be ready to rebound against Briarcrest next week....

I don`t see a a scenario where the score is 35-17 for EITHER team. I think this will be a closely contested game with the outcome in doubt into the 4th quarter. Father Ryan has played well to this point and has building confidence on their side.....Franklin on the other hand is strong defensively and will not have a let down like last year.....The game, originally scheduled to be played at Greer Stadium, has been moved back to Franklin`s stadium because of the Sounds making the playoffs......This will be another Home game for the Rebels and that`s worth a few extra points. As good as last weeks win over Christian Brothers was, I think this is truly a measuring stick game for the Irish. If they can play well enough to win this game, then they have Briarcrest and Centennial the next two weks at home. They could be 5-0 going to MBA Sept 29.. That`s a lot of "ifs", but it`s the first time you could envision that scenario in about the last 6 years. I have a lot of respect for Franklin`s program. I am under no illusions. Ryan will have to bring their "A"game.

I understand that BGA has made the decision in principal to move up to D-II AAA because their overall athletics program has been competitive with the larger schools in recent years and negates the football issue. This is similar to what`s been going on at Father Ryan for the past 5 or 6 years- better than average sports programs except for football. I also think BGA is banking on a total Public-Private split in 2009. They can stomach this for two years

As much as I would like to see the Irish win, I`m going to have to go with the Purple wave in this one. They are much bigger up front than JPII was, and the big kid Chris Walker gave us fits last year..........I think Ryan is improved over last year, but I think this is going to be a tough game for them.

As an observer of Father Ryan Football for the past 36 years I must say I was truly entertained by by last night`s contest....Golden Tate is a special athlete...He dictated the way the game was played...Aaron Bateman is a playmaker on both sides of the ball..on the final drive it was apparent he was going to get the ball and still he couldn`t be stopped...After AB, my surprise player of the game for Ryan was little Ryan Berry at runningback...he gained almost 100 yards the hard way. What an electric high school football atmosphere... the place was packed by 7:00 and another 1000 or so ringed the field.....This game needs to played at Vandy EVERY year to accomodate the overflow crowd......I enjoyed the pregame tailgater and talking to many nice JPII fans...It was a wonderful night for the Catholic Community

Anybody know when the DIV.II committee is going to meet to sort this all out for next year.........Today is Aug. 14

Heard on Channel 5 sports tonight that Wolke is transferring to Western Ky.....................That`s where he should have gone in the first place

KCHS Coach What is now different, or is there a new approach from the new administration as it pertains to Coaches opinions or telling poor kids they would not be allowed to participate in Varsity sports?

I congratulate both Riverdale and McCallie for putting this game together at such a late date. This truly is good for high school football in Tennessee and will create interest throughout Middle and East Tennessee. As a fan of high school football, I would have much more interest in seeing a game between two good in-state programs such as these rather than having these two programs be forced to go out of state to find an opponent that will play them. In Riverdale`s case this backfired as the team they beat up on last year has now backed out of a return game. Regularly, Division II teams are having to resort to going out of state to schedule games. For once I am glad to see the reverse happening. Unless you are a border school that has a long time rivalry built up with a school right across the state line,you should try to play your games in state.

Many good coaches in that in that 1940s to 1980s era.... but one stood above all others in my opinion....................Tommy Owen of MBA

Father Ryan Irish August 25 7:30 Pope John Paul II At Hillsboro Sept. 1 7:00 Christian Brothers* At Hillwood Sept. 8 7:30 Franklin Greer Stadium Sept. 15 7:00 Briarcrest * Greer Stadium Sept. 22 7:30 Centennial Greer Stadium Sept. 29 7:00 MBA* AWAY Oct. 6 7:30 BGA Greer Stadium Oct. 13 7:00 Baylor* AWAY Oct. 20 7:30 Brentwood Acad. AWAY Oct. 27 7:00 McCallie * Vanderbilt (HC) *Region Game HC- Homecoming

MBA has also built a beautiful new athletic field complex for it`s middle school program over off Charlotte Ave at 42nd Ave. It has a large field that can be used for baseball as well as soccer, football and Lacrosse. It is lighted and fenced and has a nice maintenence facility to go with it. That, along with the fieldturf on the main varsity field really gives MBA adequate space for all of their teams to practice and play.

cbg you are probably not too far off..... I think it will at least be 3 years and possibly more......First of all the berm, additional landscaping, and reconfiguration of the softball field that was agreed to by Ryan and the City of Oak Hill has to be completed before anything else can go forward. The minimum cost for these modifications is $500,000. The school owes approximately 4 million on the recently completed Fine Arts Auditorium and Library. All future projects included in the master plan,(Stadium, Band room expansion, Auxiliary Gym/Weight facility, Tennis Courts, Resurfacing of the Track, and Field Turf for the football field) will be built on a "pay as you go" basis. That means that the funds must be in place PRIOR to the start of construction. Although I would love to see a stadium constructed tomorrow, That debt that is currently owed needs to be partially retired before any new capital projects begin. Otherwise tuition increases are going to continue to outpace the cost of living. We are coming up on the 80th birthday of Father Ryan High School and we have NEVER had a stadium. I know the administration thinks having one is important and is working to get us one......Just don`t know when it will be. PS. Looks like we will be playing 4 "home" games at Greer Stadium this season if all of the details can get worked out. The Sounds have been very helpful in accomodating us..............We actually played two seasons there in 1978 and 1979.

I noticed somrthing Coach Rankin said at his Alcoa press conference. He said he was "looking for a smaller community for his family". Translation: I didn`t mind coaching Riverdale to umpteen state titles. I just dont want MY own kids to actually have to go to school there...............

Father Ryan`s game with Farragut was rained out Friday night and rescheduled for 1:30 on Sat.

The Coach involved with wining and dining Charles Hathaway and his family was then MBA basketball coach Ricky Bowers. His hand was slapped by the TSSAA and he has continued on only it is at Ensworth now.

This is the first game that I thought the 1.8 multiplier has kept a private school out of state competition. Clearly David Lipscomb would be at Murfreesboro next week under the old setup as there are NO teams in class A that are the caliber of Bolivar.

As sad as this situation seems to be, unfortunately, it` s common at private schools where the power is consolidated in the hands of a few influential people. The other famous example of something like this happening was a few years ago when King Carlton Flatt of Brentwood Academy told then head football coach Tom Moore to take a hike because he felt like being the head coach again. Flatt convinced the new headmaster at the time (Masters) to go along with the Coup d`tat. Nevermind that Moore had coached BA to D-ll runnerup two years in a row. He was well respected and had been a loyal assistant for several years previously under Flatt. Funny thing about that story is that BA hasn`t done any better than runner up since then. You really never know who your friends are.

I predict no one will come within 15 points of the monsters of the midway. In fact this upcoming tournament run will probably be pretty boring for BA after playing in some of the holiday tourneys they played. Wright and Bone are growing tired of playing against these private schools full of mostly Mommas boys. They are ready to move on to the Big Show. The biggest problem Pitts will have is getting all of the ring sizes of each of the players so that he can order that big 4peat cahampionship ring

MY Suggestions................... Less Divisions not more....NO TEAM SCORE...NO TEAM SCORE....NO TEAM SCORE......... We have a Dual state Tournament last time I checked.........................This Tourney is for INDIVIDUALS......make the tourney a "Mano on Mano" affair and forget about the team stuff . See Indiana State Tournament for a model.....It IS a spectacle!

I`m Not surprised Ensworth is having success this early. The Ricky Bowers/David Pack recruiting effort is ahead of schedule. They have identified potential student athletes in the past couple of years and gotten them into the Ensworth System. Financial Aid is a given for those who qualify and their facilities dwarf anyone`s in this area. Ensworth makes no secret they want to be preeminent private school in the state and they are on a mission to achieve there goals. Just look at what they have done with freshmen and Sophs.

Good post Feverfan,.......I`m a Ryan fan and I thought both student sections were really into it and having a good time. I would much rather go see a game with an atmosphere like that than some yawner with the gym about 1/3 full. The way the game ended was simply stunning. Either Coach Sneed designed a great play or the Irish defender got lost, but Golden Tate was all alone on that 2 foot shot as time expired in overtime. I guess I`m old school, but I love intensity. And there was plenty of it on display Tuesday night. Some nights when I go to games it looks as if the teams are just going through the motions. That is not the case when these two teams get together. The girls game was a good one also. I for one appreciate what this rivalry is becoming. Let`s work to keep it fun and keep it in perspective. Both schools have one big thing in common that bonds them together........Their Catholic faith.

Bottom line in D-II football is that you have to win....period or you will ultimately lose your job. The Boards of Trust at most of these schools see winning in football as key to attracting good student athletes. Look at Baylor and Father Ryan. They were not winning enough so you see what happened. Sometimes you can win and still lose your job (see Tom Moore) The pressure is always there. BGA felt they had to make a move to stop the bleeding.

It is so diluted now with 8 State champions that the days of the 20,000 plus crowds for a game are forever gone. If you can get 10-12,000 for a game now , you should count your blessings. I saw where Valdosta Ga. won the AAAAA title game in front of about 11,000, so its being watered down in many states.