smokey16

Lil Buddy? It is interesting to listen to another brilliant mind from the 'boro. I would have to venture and say giving up 400 yards of total offense is not considered beating yourselves. If you would like, go back and listen to the post game comments or look up the article in the Saturday's paper and read Rankins comments. He readily admitted, "we couldnt stop them and they ran all over us". We beat ourselves was never mentioned. If you recall, which I'm sure you do, Dickson fumbled twice inside thier own twenty last year giving Riverdale 14 points. Had Dickson lost, then they could say something about beating themselves. Anyways, that was last year and ancient history. This year could be interesting as well and I hope it turns out to be as good a game as last years, regardless of who wins. So there you have it BigWesHall Gmoney word em up lil buddy. By the way, lets not get carried away with the Big Red Machine stuff. There is only one Big Red Machine in Nashville and that is an all boys high school off of West End. They are also known as MBA and I am quite certain they have earned the right to call themselves the Big Red Machine.

I apologize for confusing you on such difficult subject matter. I could see how you derived the idea that I was saying Riverdale doesn't have a chance, I guess, even though it was not even remotely posted on my thread. Wake up and read to what is written, not your own blissfully ignoraqnt interpretation. All I am saying is that Dickson will be ready for the match-up. I never said they will steamroll them this year. I said LAST year was not a fluke and I gave evidence as to why. In case evidence is misinterpretated, it means "proof". There is no doubt that Riverdale is favored and they should be. They are ranked number 1 in the state. All Im saying is that Dickson has the ability to slow the game down and burn some clock. If they can do that they have a chance. A few years ago Riverdale was ranked in the nation going into the playoffs and a 6-4 Dickson team went to Riverdale and knocked them off in overtime. There was no doubt that Riverdale had a better team that year as well, but when Dickson ran the playclock to one on every snap it was difficult for the Riverdale offense to score from the sidelines. If Dickson cannot run, they are doomed. If they can, they have the ability to keep it close going into the fourth quarter. That is if Mr. Nolan and Coach Rankin do not call the game off.

Did you get a good view of the game winning kick. How about the vol fans leaving and saluting the gator fans like yourself with our own version of the "chomp". Enjoy the Gator Bowl!

Fluke? Wait a minute hs sports fan. I would hardly say that last years win was a fluke. Dickson County had a great ballteam last year. Evidence of that was when they took their first play from scrimmage to the house. In addition, I wouldn't say putting up over 300 yards rushing in a high school contest is a fluke. I would call that a tail whippin'. The Dickson offense steamrolled Riverdale last year. However, that was last year. I think it is important for people to realize that Dickson will not try and keep up in a track meet this friday. They have too much coaching experience to go into a game with these type of athletes and try to "catch them". I think people are in for a surprise. Dickson can establish a running game against anyone. They are big and physical and their style of football is to wear the defense down. If this one is close in the third quarter look out. Also, the game is in Dickson and they love their football down there. Some of the predictions made on this post are unbelieveable. 42-0 is a joke! I say Riverdale is the favorite and rightfully so, but, keep in mind the old cliche, "three yards and a cloud of dust".

Are you kidding me? What do you mean "never have". Go back and ask around and see if Henry County hasn't been tough in the past. In the early ninieties they may have been the "toughest" and most physical program around. You need to research the "never have" statement because obviously you "never have".

Many states are much bigger than the state of Tennessee. I would agree that "some" states have the need for eight classifications. There are more people living in Los Angelas than in Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville combined. I see the point and it is valid. I am merely think the atmosphere of the game was more intense ( from an attendance perspective ) when there was only 3 classifications, and the public and private schools played against each other. I would say I am not the only one who feels the same about the current system. Every year we are presented with the same question, who would beat who. Years ago that question was obsolete because the answer was addressed on the field. I know of countless sports fans who want to see "the big boys" square off. When the split arose, there were many rivalries that were diminished. In the early nineties there was three classifications and they were seperated equally and fairly. One rivalry that comes to mind is the Overton vs. MBA matchup. During that stretch they became huge rivals. The winner of that game generally went on to win the "district". Only two teams went to the playoffs from each district so every game was extremely important. I'm not saying that games today are not important but a team can go into a season knowing that if they only lose 4 games they will make the playoffs. Back in the day if you lost two it usually meant "barbecue time". The rivalry I spoke of (MBA and Overton) even carried over into baseball. You could be assured that the winner of that regional final ( which it was these teams for seven straight years) would move on to the state. Now when they play it doesn't mean anything. Last year MBA was without doubt the best team in the state. But it would have been interesting to see them play, say Franklin. It is no secret that Franklin had the fastest team in the state last year and it would have been nice to see a game with that type of magnitude. People will say MBA would have whipped them, but the old saying stands true, "you never know".

Over the past few months I have heard various rumors circulating around the idea that members of the TSSAA are hoping to drop back down to just three classifications. I support the idea because I think it helps diagnose the true state champions. When the state leaped up to five classifications there were many rivalries lost. And accompany that with the split of public and private and there is a definite setback. What do you think?

I was not trying to say start the public versus private issue. Thank you FHS27 for clarrifying my statement. However, it is premature for you to say that any team would have gone 2-5 in those regions. Two years ago Brentwood won the state championship with a very good ballteam. I believe Brentwood Academy beat them 17-10 in the opening game of the year.In addition, itzme, congratulations for picking up on the one loss of Germantowns season. Im sure CBHS's pep rally the next week was excellent. You cannot make the assumption that because of this loss any school out of the public school system would go 2-5. I remember Riverdale beating CPA by 50 last year in a close contest. The point that was trying to be made was that MBA and BA carry the reputation for DII. Until your beloved CBHS squad plays in the championship as opposed to watching it then they will be placed on this list. Anyways, the topic was not classification, it was a region question

I would like to hear who the coacht community labels as the toughest region in the state. I would have to say that Region 6-5A is the toughest. Week in and week out the members are forced to play the likes of Franklin, Brentwood, Dickson County, and a tough Centennial squad. Add in the mix a coaching change at once powerhouse Henry County and you have the makings for a thorough region. I am not saying that this region is hands down the toughest but I would like to know which one you guys feel is. I understand that MBA and BA are in division II, but lets include them as well. Outside those two dynasties the private schools are not as athletically sound as the public school system.

You guys are exactly right. I watched Beech last week against Dickson and Dickson rolled over them. Greenbriar should be okay in that game. Dickson scored on every possession in the second half.

1. Riverdale- everyone is back. Look forward to week 4 in Dickson. Revenge factor 2. MBA- until they lose in Tennessee 3. Brentwood Academy- for now, have to beat MBA in crunch time to jump ahead 4. Franklin- they have a great coach with great athletes. 5. Hendersonville- good group returning from a playoff team. 6. Hunters Lane- high spirits after last season 7. Dickson County- well coached and always physical. Tough to beat. 8. Brentwood- very sound and disciplined program. 9. Centennial- have to beat three horseman in 6-5A to move up. Opportunity soon! 10. DCA- returning a potent running game with quality back There you have it, the unofficial TOP 10.

During the 1988 season the Dickson County Cougars put up a perfect 15-0 record. They followd that season with 10 regular season wins going into the playoffs in 1989. They accumulated a twenty nine game winning streak over the two seasons before losing to Gallatin in the semi-finals. That game went to three overtimes. Evidence to prove that they belong on this post is easy; the proof lied in the backfield. They implemented the "smokestack" offense that year and found it to be extremely successful. At fullback they had Chris Huddleston who had over 1600 yards in 1988. Behind him was a better than average player named Jeff Vaughn who went on to win Mr. Football in 1988. He had over 1900 yards that season giving Dickson over 3500 yards rushing from the two backs. Accompany that with a tremendous defense that didn't give up more than 10 points all year and you have a solid, physical football team. Vaughn has to go down as one of the greatest backs in the history of Tennessee football. He was in the process of signing with Alabama before he got into trouble and ruined his chances. Although many of you may not remember this team there are many who do. The year they won state (1988) they had a tough road to travel to win it. In the quarter finals they played an unbelieveable Whites Creek team that had Vandy standout Shelton Quarrels, also a future NFL player. The next week they played Hendersonville and they had Dwayne Dotson who was an unreal linebacker and running back. That game was tremendous. Over 14,000 people packed into Dickson's stadium. In the opening round of the playoffs that year they traveled to Bolivar and carried over 8,000 fans with them. I know it sounds exaggerated but the people of that era will validate the claim. By the way, they gave up 17 total points in the playoffs that season. I know that these recent teams are very talented and deep, but the physical presense that Dickson brought during that stretch was unstoppable. Anyways, here is the top 5 in my meager opinion: 1. 1988 Dickson County- absolutely unstoppable; literally punished opponents 2. 1995 Brentwood Academy- great athletes with great depth and great coaching. 3. 1992 Stratford- four backs over a thousand yards 4. 1991 Brentwood Academy- if this is the year with Speedy at QB and Henry at TB 5. 1999 MBA- Most sound and disciplined team ever

It is unfortunate that nobody has mentioned Dickson County in this post (at least in the first three pages). Last year Dickson County was a team that ran through nearly every opponent on their schedule. After looking at their stats I was highly impressed. They had four backs with over 650 yards rushing a piece. That is pretty much smashmouth if you ask me. During the region championship game AT Franklin, they accumulated 489 yards of total offense and 367 of it by ground. That is not to bad seeing as how Franklin gave away the game to Germantown in the playoffs. Surely the Franklin players would say that Dickson was more physical and relentless than Germantown. Although Germantown won that ball game, Franklin did not have a Franklin type of performance.