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I was told there was some questions regarding how I was able to get WBHS into Region 1 and out of Region 2 three years ago so I thought I would come on and let folks know. When they did the realignment in 2021 they had 4 teams in Region 1 (DB/SH/JC/MOEAST) and they had 7 teams in Region 2 (WB/MHS/CLE/BEARDEN/FARRAGUT/HVA/BRADLEY.) Remember West R was thought to be 5A. So we decided to ask if we could play in Region 1 instead of Region 2. I know most folks will say it was solely to get out of Region 2 but there was actually more to it. We thought if we could move to R1 we would have a 5 team league which made it easier to make the playoffs and also allowed us to schedule 6 non conference games instead of 4. In order for us to be able to win the appeal we needed the 4 Region 1 schools to approve which they all did because schools like DB really didn't want a 4 team league either because they would have to find 7 non-region games which isn't always easy to do. So it only made sense to even it up some. Then on that same day TSSAA moved West Ridge to 6A which actually made both Regions have 6 teams. 5 League games and 5 non-league games. Now I thought that was a good move for us but low and behold we went 0-10 the first two years in that league and ended up winless even in our out of league games last year as well. This year has definitely been fun starting 4-0. Some would say we made the schedule easier. Well last year we played Karns, Heritage, and MO East and lost 42-14, 38-20, and 63-7. We just finished playing those same teams and won 35-27, 29-28, and 45-35. Yes those teams have not had good seasons thus far, but, after suffering through an 0-10 season, it's fun to see the coaches and players have a little success. In 2022 we went 0-10, lost in 7 mercy rule situations, and our smallest margin of loss was 18. It was miserable for everyone. I was most impressed by the fact that not one coach left the staff and we doubled our numbers in the program from 50-100 after that season. The coaches and players have worked very hard and I am happy for them. It is fun again to show up on a Friday night knowing we have a chance to win and the games are generally going to be competitive. I think Friday's game will be a very competitive game and whoever plays the best will win. Last year I could not even give away all of our free tickets to West Ridge. This year our band is going and a bus full of students are making the trip. Amazing what a few wins will do, Some folks who are around successful programs all of the time may not understand our situation because they have never been a part of something like last year. It was brutal. Being able to win a few games helps the morale of everyone here at WB and with a little success maybe we can get some additional athletes out that have not wanted to play due to our recent struggles. Then maybe we can play other schools around here that have basically been able to name the score on us the last decade. I have always been a huge proponent of competition. Classifications by size are, for the most part, silly. There has got to be a success component built in to make Friday nights more enjoyable like a lot of states have. No one wants to go see 63-7 games. Hopefully we can get there in TN one day. Just using enrollment size is, in my opinion, LAZY. Thanks to Broadway Barber Shop for being a proud supporter of WBHS. With a win Friday, he is giving out free haircuts all day on Saturday if you wear WB stuff in......all shades of blue are accepted. Scott Cupp Athletic Director Which Blue High School 865-621-3065

What a 72 hour period. I could write a Chapter in a book regarding this situation. I have been on the phone with TSSAA for way too many hours. I have learned a lot as well. My coaches and players have learned a lot. One thing is for sure...moving forward I will strongly encourage my coaches to not just tell kids not to leave the bench area but to practice it. It's easy to just tell folks that but it needs to be repeated over and over with a code word. Just make sure the assistants use that word and everyone knows to stay put. Because if you don't practice the situation lots of times emotions take over. Now as far as the players on the floor. I strongly advocated that all players on the floor with the exception of WB 20, FHS 12, and FHS 3 be reinstated. WB #0, #5, and #11 simply tried to help their own teammate and get them out of the fray...just like FHS MVP #4 did. I was told by Bernard that they do not want any players trying to help. They want them out of the way so the officials and administrators can do their job. I see their point....but that is really hard for kids to do in the moment. As far as playing the remainder of the game tonight....that is the right thing to do. Play until the clock reads 0;00. Then shake hands and move on. And someone asked what does Farragut stand to gain? Well they can at least end their season on the floor and get an additional win tonight (barring a miracle), and get a substate berth which is big for Farragut. It doesn't happen all the time in basketball. The bottom line.....both schools have had a great season. Both schools have quality kids. The game got physical and this was the result. It is not a good result for anyone but it happened. Folks will serve their time and I will do my best to make sure that we do better if this happens again. Because the one thing that could have been easily avoided was leaving the bench. And we did not do that.

then you don't follow me. I fully hold my coach and our players that came off the bench accountable. @ScottCupp11

The officials are not Knoxville. I wish they were. They are from the Smoky Mountain Organization which does the Morristown area. Had we had our normal officials (Knox South) that we have all year, none of this would have happened.

I am Scott Cupp the AD at WBHS. I spent most of my day yesterday on the phone with TSSAA trying to get them to listen to myself and Coach Dodgen. The report made from the head referee was inaccurate. Here are the parts he missed: 1) All of WB bench emptied on the court. Uh..no..we had 3 players (#4, #24, #12) who do not even stand up. So these kids were ejected by the official. So when I told TSSAA this they said, "well you can appeal." I said I shouldn't have to. 2) The report also says that #5, #11, and #0 were ejected for "making contact with an opponent during a dead ball situation" and entering the altercation in an "aggressive manner." Uh...no...they did not make contact with an opponent. The TSSAA told me that I should appeal. I said I shouldn't have to. 3) The report says that Farragut #4 (District MVP) was ejected for "making contact with an opponent during a dead ball situation." Uh...no he did not. My argument with TSSAA was let's get myself, Coach Dodgen (Farragut AD), the official, and TSSAA on a zoom call yesterday and go over the film and discuss each player 1 by 1 and "get it right." They refused to listen. Here is what should have happened by the book. Farragut has left #13, #14, #4, and the one kid who did not leave their bench for a total of 4 players. WBHS has left #4, #24, #12, #5, #2, #11, #0 for a total of 7 players. We could have finished the game 5 on 4 if they wanted us to. However I told the TSSAA that we were fine not finishing the game. Farragut deserved the win and deserved a shot to advance. Then Farragut would be playing Bearden tonight with those 4 players plus they could bring up some JV kids to help with subs. Obviously it would be tough but at least they would have had a chance. Same thing for the Sub-State game. It would be tough but they still had some good players playing and may could pull it off. But at least they had a chance. I fought all day for Farragut because they are a good team with 6 seniors whose career should not be ended because of one official. However, the TSSAA refuses to listen to guys like myself (28 year educator/coach/administrator/AD) or Dodgen (35+year educator/coach/administrator, AD.) Instead they only listen to one official who provided an inaccurate report. What they have done to the Farragut kids is criminal. We can point fingers all day about who started what and why it happened. That doesn't really matter. It was an intense situation in an important game and sometimes emotions run high. I am proud of the administration at Farragut and WBHS and all of those in charge for quickly de-escalating the situation. No punches were thrown and no fans were on the floor. I have labeled it as more of a meet and greet....definitely not a fight or brawl. I will continue to work to get a better outcome for the kids....but my it sure is disheartening to try and get the powers that be in the TSSAA to cooperate. In all actuality, it's just plain sad.

We do CFA Bags. Seriously...I coached Hunter is weekend baseball a few years back. He is a fine young man. Great student. Good dedication. He will definitely help us.

Now Mr. Sox........if you want us to succeed so much....why would you want to take our QB away from us? Seems contradictory.

At WBHS every sport has their own account. So football has to share nothing with anyone. They obviously bring in the most money but they also have the most expenses. Some think that football shares their money with the school. Not at all. The school operates with their own money as well. I have two separate accounts where I fund raise so I can help smaller sports when they ask for it or if we need to buy something that is outside a sports regular budget. It actually works very well. A sport will have however much money they want to have and can buy what they want as long as they have the money. We really thought we could win 5+ games this year. And then play MHS in the playoffs. Well it backfired. I truly believe had we won the game at Jefferson County where we blew it at the end we win 5+. But because we have been mired in losing games since 2008 it doesn't take much to send us spiraling within a season. And that is what happened. Regardless we move forward into next season with the same schedule of course. After this year we will definitely talk to Derek again and see what we can do.

The Maryville gate is always big. $15,000-$20,000 is the average. Most other gates are around $8000-$12,000. I would like to get where we play them for "more than a gate." There is more to it than a few thousand dollars. Like Barn said...it wasn't like this 15-20 years ago. But it is now. I am an administrator at the school and the AD so I am fine with harnessing the blame. All we can do is try to get back to where we were when I first arrived in 1999. The 2007 game was a $45,000 gate. Insane atmosphere. However, right now playing that game is not equal and is really not much fun for anyone.....except for a select few parents of MHS who then turn around and bash us. They like it because it makes them feel good. Big Joe at HHS is trying to get HHS to the same spot. It's not easy for either school...but we will try.

I would like to chime in on WB playing Maryville and Alcoa. This past year was the first time that I can remember not playing Maryville. We have only played Alcoa twice since the early 2000s. I understand everyone who thinks it is a good idea to play them...good gates...good competition...etc..and some say WB and HHS would only get better by playing the best. Well....when the program is where it needs to be then I agree. But in the last decade taking lopsided losses just hoping not to get physically hurt didn't help at all. This year once week 1 was out of the question for us (HHS got it) the only other option was week 10. Our goal of course was to make the playoffs and had we made it there would have been a very high likelihood that we would have played MHS in the opening week of the playoffs or maybe week 2 if the season had went well. Plus Derek had West wanting to play and we had HVA wanting games that week. So both Shad and Derek agreed to take these 2 years off from regular season and re-assess next time around which we will. The bottom line is, in my opinion, it is in everyone's best interest to show up to a game and not know who is gonna win. That is what makes sports fun. That is why I like the NFL. I know in high school that is hard to do, but this past year even though we had a horrific end of year record, 5 of the 9 losses were within one score and could have went either way. Right now high school football has evolved into a lot of running clocks in the 2nd half....and I think that is unfortunate. Moving forward, playing Alcoa and Maryville is not out of the question for sure. But it would be nice to be playing them for more than a gate. Time will tell.

In our discussions he was going to teach had he been hired here. As far as "is it possible," I can only guess there and say....yes its possible. However, we were not going to go down that road. We want our football coach to be a part of the school. This isn't college.

We interviewed Coach O. He is a solid coach with an impressive resume, but we chose to go with someone who was familiar with our situation. We felt like we needed that at this time. We need more than just a football coach if that makes sense. Best of luck to Robbie....it's hard to predict what the future holds.

I am excited for Coach Reeves to begin his head coaching tenure at WBHS. He was an assistant here in the late 90s and early 2000s when I arrived and WB was a constant playoff team. He worked under Steve Fickert, Earl Macmahan, John Reid, Ronnie Phelps, and Scott Meadows during this time. Even with all the turnover then, he remained loyal and stayed on staff even after some unfortunate events. He eventually went to Ga and worked with John Reid again before having to move back to East Tennessee for family reasons. He took over a struggling Karns program and lasted 4 years there before being let go. He then went and worked under Coach Hammontree for several years at HHS and had success when they were in 5A. He was also an assistant principal and got tired of all that and wanted back in the classroom so we got him back over here. He is a phenomenal teacher and we were excited to have him at WBHS back in the classroom. As far as the last two weeks were concerned he was not a lock during the process as there were some impressive folks who we interviewed who got our attention for sure. However, this time we chose to stay with someone who understands this place and the challenges it presents. He is a guy with high energy and passion. He will do everything he can to build WB back to where it was when he was here 15-20 years ago.....From the youth levels all the way up. And, like I said in the introduction yesterday "if you can't root for Coach Reeves, then who can you root for?" Finally....the WORD OF THE DAY is MYSTERIES I don't want folks sending me screenshots of Coacht making fun of MR.REEVES. hahahha.....I had to participate Scott Cupp 865-621-3065

I got the $100!!! Very nice. Well done.

Sure JetLock. Make the check to William Blount High School and in the memo put Kayla Lotz Memorial. Thank you for your contribution. And Barney I am also sure that Mayvis had no idea. That is why I felt the need to post what I did. Sometimes folks need to be careful of what they are posting. While it's fine to be critical of me or Shad or whomever you choose, it's not fine to get personal and make jokes on things you have no clue about. This is a prime example. It doesn't cost anything to be nice to others. and, unfortunately, it is becoming less and less common. Once again, thanks to JetLock for stepping up. And I put my phone number at the end of every post because it is always turned on and I am willing to talk to anyone who wishes to call. 865-621-3065