OmahaVol

unapproved website/unapproved website has Brentwood Academy losing to Franklin Centennial 31-24 on 9-26. Did this really happen?

That's the problem right there. There are way too many classes for the playoffs. Tennessee should have no more than 4 classes.

Yeah. That was a great team. We got as high as #17 in the nation that year (USA Today) before falling to Oakland in the quarters. Of course, I move to VA and they win state. Lol

Just my soph year, then moved to VA. Some of the top players that year were Jerry Colquitt at QB, Joe White at FB/LB, Shawn Summers at TB, Curtis Booker at WR, big Richard Howard on the line, just to name a few. I played a backup LB. I went to Knox Webb the previous 5 years before moving to Oak Ridge in 89. (No, I'm not blade runner or ranger 7).

Oh geez! Not you again? You're worse than Pepvol when it comes to grasping the English language. Omahadork? Really, are you in middle school? I'm not even going to entertain you there FELLER. (Whatever that means). Is that outhouse Ebonics for the hillbillies?

You're a complete idiot if that is what you got from my last post. I never said trusting GQ over me makes you egotistical and maniacal. I said that I respect GQ and Maryville. Then I said YOU are egotistical and maniacal. (Two different sentences about two different things). You didn't excel at reading and comprehension did you?

Okay Pep. I tried to reason with you in an adult manner, but you obviously can't handle it. We were all that age once and I certainly didn't get all butt hurt when someone gave a little constructive criticism about my school. You can stay in your little bubble world then. I respect GQ and Maryville, but certainly not you. You're egotistical and maniacal. That's a bad combination.

You're missing the whole point, Pep. It's the fact that Maryville and it's fans have so much pride in their program that I want to see them represent TN. I think they would do very well and it would be a great experience for the kids and the fans. Listen, I admire Maryville and the success they've had. I would just love to see them compete OOS. At least, regionally. I see some of the other strong TN teams go out and represent. They win some and they lose some. I think it's great they do that. You can still keep your local traditions with Alcoa and you would still have 1 or 2 openings for a game like that. Maryville is a great team and they have been better then Oak Ridge for a decade and a half now. (The exception possibly being a couple seasons early in the 2000s). Oak Ridge is a shell of the team they once were. When I was there I played in 89 then moved to VA my junior year. We had a great team in 89. Undefeated and nationally ranked until we got caught looking ahead in the playoffs and got upset by Oakland in Murfreesboro. Of course, the next year I move and Oak Ridge wins state. Just my luck! Plus, that year OR took on Tilghman from Paducah,KY and lost a heartbreaker. That would've been a great experience for me as a young kid and I missed out on it. Tilghman isn't any good now, but were a top ranked team back in those days. All in all I don't despise Maryville. That's not the case at all. I always root for them to be successful. It makes TN look that much stronger nationally. That, in turn, amps up recruiting from the exposure of playing OOS. So, please Pep, don't take what I say the wrong way. I really do mean well and have good intentions.

Well Nerd, yes, they could get all three (trophy, money, and a cookie). The cookie would be filled with pride and the opportunity to experience playing another school with pride and tradition. That could last a lifetime to some of the kids that might not have the capability to ever travel OOS. So, actually, it is people like you that are ruining the high school experience.

And I'll keep doing this every year until Maryville steps up. All of D II does, Riverdale went to OH, Blackman went to AL. Even when I played back in the late 80s/early 90s Oak Ridge played KY power Tilghman and Rhea Co played Prattville,AL. It can happen. It's okay to do it. Maryville is the best public in TN. Go out there and represent Tennessee. There is no reason why they can't schedule a home-and-home with Hoover, an Atlanta power (N. Gwinnett, Buford, Peachtree Ridge,Marist,Milton), North Carolina (Mallard Crk, Butler, Independence), South Carolina (Byrnes, Dorman, Rock Hill). All would be regionally close and all are on the national radar. If you want to keep playing slappies during the regular season (minus Alcoa), then go ahead and keep your Blount County title. Maryville is a great team with a great tradition. Get out there and show it.

Pep, Maryville has dominated the public side of Tennessee going on 15 years now. That's the team every public fears come playoff time. However, winning D II is a different story. I'm quite sure wouldn't have been as dominant if the privates were in the mix come playoff time. Also, your assessment of the national rankings is grossly wrong. 15-20 years ago national rankings were worthless. Teams rarely played OOS. The last decade has been totally different. There are multiple OOS games now. Teams from Cali are playing teams from Florida, Texas, S. Carolina, Jersey, etc. Teams are playing all kinds of OOS games all over the country. It's time Maryville steps up or they're gonna get left in the dust nationally.

Yes they could. Independence is dangerous. They should've beat Blackman.

You're right about USA Today. They are horrible at rankings. Always have been. Ensworth and BA could beat Maryville. It's 50/50 IMO between those three. Maryville would stomp a mudhole in Fulton. Fulton is comparable to Alcoa.

Not at all disrespectful. Just realistic.

I gotta go with: Maryville-Oakland Hendersonville-Whitehaven

I like PC Central to advance and play Hoover, but for Hoover to win. There's only one team that would beat Hoover in 6A, and that is Clay-Chalk. Please don't tell me you think Spanish Fort or Opelika would beat them? Certainly not Shades Valley? Spanish Fort might've had a chance, but didn't their star QB go down for the season?

I keep reading posts that say Hoover is ranked #1 in 7A AL this year. I have a feeling Fairhope and Phenix City Central might have something to say about that. The best team in AL hails from 6A anyway, Clay-Chalkville. The last ten years or so it has been either Hoover or Prattville that has ruled the roost in AL, but not this year. Hoover is still a very strong team, and capable of winning state, but if Blackman is going to win this is the year. I'm pulling for them to represent TN. Go Blaze!!

The only poll worth anything would be a compilation poll. Some blog sites actually have these polls. The most up to date one has Blackman at #48. Believe it or not, Knox Fulton is actually ranked #41. Those are the only two teams that received enough votes to get a rank in the top 50. There are about 6-7 media, HUMAN polls out there. You can't trust computer polls like unapproved website or unapproved website. They don't take into account the human element of an intense rivalry, weather, injuries, etc.

Here's the skinny on this game. Years and years ago I started blogging on high school football sites. Being from the Knoxville area I, naturally, started on this site. I have since moved on to the national sites. Serving in the military allowed me to go and watch many different teams from many different parts of the country. This, I feel, has given me an advanced knowledge of high school football on a national scene (not trying to toot my own horn, just stating I have a lot of experience). That being said, Tennessee usually represents very well (especially the privates). Typically, they rate between 10-15 as best state in the nation. This year Tennessee is a lot stronger nationally. The privates are as good as they normally are, but the publics have stepped up. Blackman, Maryville, and Oakland are all top 100 teams nationally. Hoover, as most on here know, have been a national power since they opened there school. It is a football factory. This year, however, they are slightly down by comparison. Most years they would beat every team in Tennessee, but this year they be another top 10 team mixed in with Blackman, Maryville, Oakland, Brentwoid Acad., McCallie, Ensworth, etc. They are still top 5 in Alabama, but Alabama is down this year. (Clay-Chalkville is #1 this year). Hoover started out losing their first game against national powerhouse Miami Central 24-21 then went on the road to Georgia and got beat down by national top 10 Colquitt County 35-14. Since then they have run through 7 straight slappies. I think Blackman has a legit chance to win this game. It will be a war, especially since it's a road game down in Birmingham. That makes it a 50/50 game IMO. I'll say Blackman 27-24.

I have no problem eating crow for that. I love it when TN represents itself with a solid performance against a national power. Well done, MBA! It looks like Ensworth and MUS are both solid this year. Ensworth routed a somewhat decent Lex Cath team(top 5-10 in KY) 62-14 and MUS was impressive knocking off the defending AR state champs(Fayetteville) 42-20. Ensworth could be something special this year. I wish they would've played Trinity. I wish Ensworth would've scheduled an OOS powerhouse. This would've been the year to do it.

I can't believe that no one noticed that MUS just stomped a mudhole in the defending AR state champs 42-20!? I thought you guys were real high school football fans? Way to represent the state of TN, Owls!

It'll be another Byrnes debacle. BA is better than MBA and they got trounced by 30. Trinity could put 70 on MBA this year.

I didn't mean to put a sour damper on things, but I'm a realist. Trinity is a real national power and BA is just simply not what they used to be. As much as I hate to say it Trinity will do the same thing to MBA. I just hope they don't lose to Trinity as bad as they lost to Byrnes.

Look guys, I am from TN and have followed TN football for years. I have also followed football on a national scale for years. Trinity will hammer BA by 3+ TDs. Trinity should've played Ensworth the last two years instead. BA is just not the same national powerhouse they used to be in years past. I just wish Maryville and Alcoa would've stepped up and taken on an OOS power like BA and MBA does. That is why I always root for BA and MBA.

Wow, nice comeback. At least the privates(also Alcoa/Riverdale) are stepping up and challenging teams from other states. You must be proud to be the big fish in the little pond.