DCHS

The District tournament finished DB, SHHS, and THS. As it should have been. No knock on the county teams, the city teams should win every year. They have more talent, better facilities, more funding, longer tradition, etc... However, it is sweet watching them fall. Sadly for the conference in the last 20 years, only one county team has won the Regular season (Central '89 co-champs) and one district tournament (again Central in '06). It is not the county schools fault. Annexation has taken a huge chunk away from many of the county schools potential talent base. When you have every advantage, you should win. It is because of this that NE Tennessee has trouble outside of Region 1. If DB was in Knoxville, Chatt., Nashville, or Memphis I would promise you they would have recent state titles in every major sport. Same for SHHS. They are different because they have Middle and West TN talent year in and year out. They (and DB) just have no comp up here. Anyway, good luck to all teams.

Mo. West, Greeneville, East, and the four spot will be a dog fight this year. Could be any of the others.

I know on paper Science Hill is the front runner, but Crockett could be the best of the rest next year. They will have a great 1, 2 punch in the starting rotation with a junior and soph. next year. They should make some noise.

Who controls the conference this year? Mo. West? Who makes the playoffs? Who could be the dark horse this year.

With the summer schedule finished, who looks good? Will any one challenge DB and Science Hill this year? I think it will be another all city school top three this year with DB and SHHS at the top. Central, Boone, and East could upset one of the front runners but it is probably unlikely a county school will finish in the top three.

Don't write Crockett off this season. They have an experienced group coming back and the addition of a very good transfer post player should spell some trouble for teams this year. They will finish in the middle of the pack with a potential upset or two this season. It will be an exciting season in the Big 9.

According to the article in the Tennessean East and Central will drop down to the 3/4 A football district. AA in basketball and baseball. DB will play South, TN High, Volunteer, Crockett, Boone, and Science Hill in the new conference. I dont know how they got their info. but I have heard East and Central have dropped to under 1,000 students enrolled currently. This new plan will help in gas, but I dont know how it will help DB be ready for the playoffs. In half of their conference games the starters and second string will done by halftime. I guess they will beef up their non-confernce schedule. Good luck to the Tribe this season. They are NE Tennessee's best hope to go down the road this year.

With the budget crunch in the state we may see even less $$$$$ for all sports teams. One central office member in our district said sports may not get funding next year.

It's sad to here that this great program is suffering from so much turmoil. Coach Campbell is one of the best coaches in East Tennessee and always has his teams playing hard and maximizing their potential. However, it seems since the two transfers came in for the 05-06 season things have been a little unstable. Ever since then whispers began about the infighting that was going on within the team or with the coach. I dont know if all the gossip was true but hearing what you have just posted it sounds like things have come to a head at Boone. To be honest, I dont know why anyone would want to coach at the high school level anymore. The constant egos that have to be stroked of the players and parents. The bashing by armchair coaches in the stands. The unrealistic expectations by all stakeholders. Being met after games by angry parents. Not to mention the countless hours spent trying practice, study game film, promoting your program in the community, summer camps and practice, preseason conditioning, giving attention to your feeder schools, and lastly teach your subject. (Which by the way pays 80% of your salary.) Winning isn't good enough anymore. SHHS boys coach has averaged over 25 wins a season and they want his head on a platter. Coach Bright dominated the district 3 of the last 4 years and she was constantly bashed by a lot of parents and fans. I dont know a boys coach in the Big 9 that doesn't get criticized constantly. If you are doing something immoral or unethical then you deserve the criticized but in most cases they are not. It just seems like a thankless job. There are the supporters and positive fans but the bad out weighs the good. I believe the days of 30 and 40 year coaches are gone. The legends like Van Huss and Warren recieved their fair share of blasts but I dont think it was anything like today. The juice just isn't worth the squeeze. Whatever the problems at Boone, I hope they get it fixed.

I think it is Stan Eggleston. Was the boys JV and varsity assistant coach at Dobyns-Bennett for years. He was a great player at Emory and Henry College in the late 80's. It will be a great hire for FHS.

The problem is with the boys coaches in the Big 9. Their ego has gotten in the way of thinking clearly. Why did the girls coaches vote Kim Bright COY for the third straight year? You could make an agrument for Barnwell or France. They voted for Coach Bright because she won the conference. Now if the pre-season 9th place team would have finished 3rd or 4th, I bet the coaches would have given that coach the COY award. But that didn't happen. East was picked 3rd by some and 4th by others. Where did they finish? 3rd. They did what they were suppose to have done. Someone said East was the "feel good story" of the season and that they were "underdogs." I'm sorry but they were far from underdogs. Great guard play and a soild post player will win you games. East also had depth. David Crockett was the underdogs. I am and always will be a county guy, but you have to be realistic. Coach Morgan does nothing but have success everywhere he goes. He maximizes potential better than anyone in the league. Put any coach in the conference at DB and I bet they are at home right now thinking about the baseball season instead of preparing for the state tournament. What is even more ashame is the fact he has never won the award outright. It is sad that the Big 9 has not made it out of the pre-1970's mentality. If any coach in the league would have done what he did this year they would have won the award. Read between the lines.

True, but the rest of the league is up for grabs. It will be a real interesting season. Science Hill is the class of the league but going undefeated is hard to do. Especially in baseball. That little white pill has a way neutralizing superior talent. Unlike any other sport baseball is truly a game where any body can win on any given night. All you need is one pitcher that change speeds and throw strikes and you have a chance at the high school level. This year in the Big 9 everyone has at least one pitcher that can do that. Only problem for the rest of the league is Science Hill has a stable full of pitchers. Watch out for Crockett. They have two good lefties that can throw it a little. If they can score some runs, they could make some noise. TN High has one of the best coaches in the state so they will be a factor, South returns some quality talent, and you can never overlook a team from DB. They lost every body but I got a feeling that come tournament time, you will not want to play them. East High has a chance to beat anyone in the state when Shepherd (spelling??) throws. That kid can deal. Good luck to all teams. Cant wait for it to start.

TSSAA will not allow four games played on school nights. We play four games on school nights all season but we cant do it in the post season. Because of this, other conferences play first round games at the higher seeds home. They play the semis and finals at a neutral site. (District 1 AA does this) The tournament lasts one week for boys and girls. The finals are played on the weekends, not on a Tuesday. The Big 9 will not do this. Part of the problem is the Big 9 is controled by the AD's. The head coaches have no say in any of these matters. They can recommend to the AD's but they have no power anymore. At one time, not so long ago, the coaches selected the officals for the tournament. Another problem is the three city schools have great facilities to chose from. (If you count Freedom Hall for Science Hill). All Big 9 schools have the facilities to host tournaments. Heck they all supply enough parking for several thousands people on home football games. However, DB, THS, and Freedom Hall are in a league of their own. It is frustrating to see these amazing gyms go unused during the post-season but on the other hand the city schools have everything else so let the county schools reap some benefit. I recommend to satellite the frist round (just like the 1st round of the region) play the games at Freedom Hall. It would look like this; Monday girls satellite games, Tuesday Boys satellite games, Wednesday night girls semis, Thursday Boys semis, Friday Girls consolation and final games, and Saturday night Boys consolation and final.

During the Dyer era there has never been a Freshman contribute at the varsity level like Cross. There have been freshman to play some minutes on Varsity under Dyer but nothing like Cross. Hope he stays hungry because he could be a good one.

Last year DB played their last regular season game on Feb. 8 and played their first District game on Feb. 19th. They couldn't schedule a game after Feb. 8th because the Tournament started on the 10th. TSSAA will not let you play any more than 2 games a night during the school week now. Last year 6 played 9, 7 played 8, 3 played winner of 6/9 game and 2 played the winner of the 7/8 game. One played the 4/5 winner as usual. Last year the 1 got a bye to the region.

The One seed plays the winner of the 8 and 9 game. 4 plays 5, 2 plays 7, and 3 plays 6. One versus 8/9 winner plays 4/5 winner 2/7 winner plays 3/6 winner So not automatic region beth this year. I think it was because the One seed last year went over a week without playing. All games will be at Volunteer.

Did Murr get her 1000 pt?

I'm just not impressed with the International teams. They are good, but I would rather see quality teams from the US. Don't get me wrong the Arby's Classic is one of the best things this area has ever seen. The Tourny is run very professionally and the directors do a great job. I'm just talking about 1st round match-ups. Be honest, what are the chances of either Urspring or Tabernacle winning the tournament? Greeneville could have DB or Science Hill's first round game. So yes, I would say Greeneville has a good draw. Every local team is going to meet their match in this years tourny.

Give East a break. Let them have their time in the sun. They have been at the bottom more than they have been near the top. I have no problem hearing East fans show pride in their team. They have earned the right to brag a little bit. It is also nice to see a county school take it to the city schools. Just like Central in 05-06. I know it is early but right now it is nice. Their is such disparity between county and city schools that it hardly seems fair that they are in the same conference. More money, more athletes, and better facilities they really make a difference

What is the schedule for the tournament at Boone this weekend?

East and Greeneville have the best draw of any of the local teams. Tabernacle and Urspring are hands down the weakest (out of area) teams year in and year out in the Arbys. I would much rather see quality H.S. teams from the USA than average teams from the Bahamas and Germany. Get some quality team from the Northeast to replace them. It was neat the first couple of years but now I'm ready for a change. One note on the Patriots, if they can keep the ball rolling like they have the first half of the year they will be this years version of the 05-06 Central Cougars in the Big 9.

Give them some time. They have only had two weeks of practice. They are also very young. By the second half of the year, no one will want to play them.

East has done great this year. Ralph his a great coach that has made people forget how bad East use to be. The problem (which is also one of the reason for the their recent success) is the conference they play in is for the most part very weak. You have two very good team in THS and SS and the rest of the league is average or below. It's a cycle. Next year might be different. East will not be ready for the speed and strength of the Devils. 42-8.

Jamie Freeman. Was the JV Coach the last two seasons. Good choice. Very motivated and committed to seeing the Pioneers maximize their potential. We're happy with him down here.

That may change when the TSSAA re-classifies. Both Washington County schools and MO West are on the bubble. If they ran the numbers now, Crockett and West would be 5-A with Boone not far behind.