hsfbinsider10

The story isn't finished yet. The question now is: How will Wild and Hazelwood do this year and would they have done better if they had played JV last year? I've seen freshmen not improve their sophomore years and not even much better their junior years. It's like they get a level of performance locked in their heads. That's why I say give them chances to be succesful and they'll carry that with them later. It's not all about who's better, but how should you develop a player.

From what I'm hearing McFall is talented but needs seasoning. His release may be quicker simply because he's smaller, though I think someone said that EJ had the quickest release though he won't play catcher. I think some freshman can be successful but in the long run it may hamper their total high school career. A quality player can use a year of "success" on the JV level to gain confidence that will make for a good three year varsity career. The biggest danger is having a freshman do poorly on varsity and having those seeds of doubt placed in his head. That said, I have seen freshman do quite well on varsity at other schools. A compromise might be to bring a talented freshman up every so often during the season to gain some varsity experience while playing JV ball and contributing. At JCHS, we haven't been very good at doing this sort of thing over the years. We've had more juniors "playing down" from time to time than we have had freshmen playing up.

Thanks for the info. Kory wrestles--is he going to get a late start with baseball?

EJ caught some in the summer and fall and is quite active back there with a good arm, but I hear that the job is Miller's until/if he shows he can't make it happen day-to-day. Both Belcher and Miller will have to show some maturity as first-time starting juniors, as will Long and Sherrod as first-time starting sophs (provided either one starts), if Jeff wants to go from good to great. First base is also going to be a question mark. Who is going to catch for Greeneville?

Halls and SD, the class of Knoxville. Farragut is, well, Farragut and you can never count them out. Bearden may surprise a few folks. Oak Ridge and Heritage have the same problem--one that I'd be censored if I brought it up. Will Powell and Central be better this year?

Sherrod talks a good game--we'll see if he can play one. I think Belcher will have a greater first time impact for the team. He showed more power and a better overall batting approach and was a better pitcher for JV last year. BTW, since when does "arm slot" make a huge difference in hs ball? If you can control your pitches, hit your spots, vary your velocity without changing arm speed, you'll be succesful at the hs level. Certainly Crouch's future isn't in pitching, but I've heard he has great control. As far as leaving him in CF, why not put Sherrod there if Crouch does throw?

I'm sorry, I meant the district tournment though JCHS won both last year. Pitching will be the issue--I admit that. Ben still pitches and had some strong relief outings last year that will give him starter experience this year. Not sure about EJ--he always reminds me of a story I once heard about a guy who could through a baseball through a brick wall, if he could hit the wall. Joey Belcher will be a solid starter this year as long as he doesn't try to overpower people. That gives JCHS three starters (with Story) who I expect to do well. I believe the surprise fourth starter may be Crouch. The kid is a competitor and will win ball games on sheer will and fortitude. Of course, it weakens the defense if he pitches because he won't be out there roamin' the gaps and throwin' out Greeneville runners at the plate. Seriously, I'm not sure how the rotation will come out beyond the first three, though I have heard that Crouch is throwing some. Beyond that, I guess the Pats will have to pray for rain. I do know that when these seniors were sophs, they all played JV because of the amount of upper class talent JCHS had and they only lost one game--somebody had to be pitching then.

Some people question as to whether JCHS can "reload". Seeing as they have won the district three years in a row, I think they have answered that question each year. I think some folks will be surprised by the quality of some of the JCHS first year starters even if they are seniors who have been patiently waiting. I am not saying this team will be as explosive as last year's team (it may well be); I'm just saying that they have the horses to be in the race and their championship tradition will give them an edge over M'town West.

Order of finish: Jeff County M' West M' East Greeneville Cocke County Cherokee Logic: JCHS has two all conference players returning (Story, Crouch) and has a couple of other seniors that are quality players who had the misfortune of playing behind a couple of other quality players last year and did not have the exposure that Story and Crouch had. If they can find the pitching they need (I hear Crouch may take the mound some this year), they'll be tough because they will score some runs. West has a lot of young players from last year that can only get better and a quality coach who gets everything he can from every opportunity. If they get some quality starts, they could challenege JCHS for the title. East and Greeneville are the wild card teams, capable of beating any other team on any given day. Marshall should give East a win or two that they could only get with him having a good game throwing. The Greenies will win a home game or two that they would probably lose on a neutral field. So you never know. Cocke is improving but losing the POTY is tough. Cherokee has a new coach, do they not?

If the defense scores one td in the game or gets a turnover deep and the offense scores from there, JCHS wins--otherwise it's a bloody tie or Karns in a squeeker. JCHS 20 Karns 14

Patriot Pride used my name in vain--I must respond--Sandman's response some threads ago about players who are gone was overstated, defensive, and inaccurate. He dismissed Dallas by saying it was simply a disagreement over baseball, said Stevie was just "tired" of football (why was he "tired"?), played Shivie off simply as a grade issue, said Chad just quit (he's still playing football, isn't he?), etc., etc. I ignored his response because anybody who knows KNOWS. I'm through defending my view and will only post when someone mentions my handle. The current Pats are a spunky bunch whom I admire, regardless of what could have been.

Don't forget the precedent from previous years with Aaron and Drew. Chad was removed from the team--he didn't quit. Wolfe played after the jamboree and discussed playing time with the coach and was made to feel expendable and quit during the year. In fact, the problem is that anyone with a problem is made to feel expendable. No kid is expendable in my opinion--and many more would be playing if they were "needed." Coach just needs to work on the interpersonal thing when someone has a complaint or needs the rules to be less stringent. It is those private meetings where players have made the decision to quit afterwards. Patriot Pride, the comment you made was about going 2-8 but having character instilled during that time. My point was simply that some of these kids showed character by making a difficult choice and deciding not to play. I respect the 33 (38) or whatever that are still playing. But just because they are still playing does not mean that they have more character than those who are not and, more importantly, it does not mean that there isn't an issue going on. I do hope that Coach becomes more student real life friendly and that the players who have come in under him adapt to his ways of doing things. Unfortunately, this leaves those who experienced drastic changes and uncompromising conditions gone or out in the cold. Sandman, changes at the top do bring a reshuffling in the business world; however, I didn't see the exodus of players when Meadows took over and this isn't the business world. And when was that Oakland scrimmage held?

JC4Life has a good list going. You don't know what's going on beyond the team that you are involved with now. Sure, there's no issue now--everyone else has either been run off or made to choose between other sports or home life or made to feel like so much dirt that no human could stand it (and I'm not talking about hard practices but arrogant personalities). THIS (your emphasis) team and its coaching staff are not more important than the school itself or the taxpayers who support it or the students who are supposed to have an equal opportunity to play an EXTRA-curricular sport. As a result, because of the lack of talent, depth, and experience, the team will not perform as well and the school, the community, and the other students who support the team will not have as enjoyable year as they could have. You act like THIS team is all important while all the other entities do not count for much. We all want a successful program that teaches young men those qualities that will see them through life. Just because someone isn't playing on THIS team doesn't mean they don't have character--in fact, a few, by standing up for what they believe and sacrificing a sport they love, have shown a lot of character. I support THIS team, I just know it could have been a whole lot better if it had been OUR team and anyone knowing the athletes who are not playing or have transfered cannot help but agreeing with me. BTW, JCHS 14, CC 13!

Give me a break! Shivy could make holes where none existed--he would have gained many more yards. Talent level? Only one quality player gone? Is your head in the sand? Are you blinded by so-called loyalty? I support the team as it is and I don't have to lie to myself about the talent that's gone and the issues that are there. Why do you feel that you have to say that the team is better than it is in order to be supportive? You demean several good-great athletes by pretending that they would not make this team better. The kids that are still playing play with heart and enthusiasm and I appreciate their effort but you show that you know little about football if you believe the team's performance would not be much better with four-five former players on the field. I know of one all world (Shivy) and can think of two that could have been all conference type players and a few more that left last year that we'll never know how good they could have been. Please support the Patriots by being realistic in your evaluations, not pollyanish.

I hope JCHS can finish ahead of CC but they have momentum from last year and we're absorbed in a soap opera. After studying things I've changed my predictions a little bit (not really! I'm just ready to get back to what the thread was about as well since I've said all I can say. The season's starting and it's time to support the young men on the field. Truth has a way of coming to the surface over time. We'll let time take over from here. I'm done.). 1. Kingsport (8-2) 2. Sevier County (7-3) 3. Science Hill (6-4) 4. Campbell County (6-4) 5. Jefferson County (3-7) 6. Bearden (3-7) 7. Karns (2-8)

I also talked to several seniors and starters who wanted to keep on playing but only because they were into it at that point. Once it was over, the unvoiced frustrations of several came out by making comments like "I'm glad it's over." I don't think we should judge any senior or junior simply because it wasn't fun anymore. That's why most kids play football--it is a game. When it becomes simply unenjoyable with little encouragement, it's understandable why some do not want to continue. This style simply robbed the motivation or will to play of a number of players. A good coach understands that differing players are motivated in differing ways and is able to bring most players along for the ride.

"Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil"--It is always the young men's or their parents' fault. I'm not so sure it worked that well at Oakland at the end either. Unfortunately, not all coaches do it for the love of the kids, just certain kids or certain kinds of kids. I know that some of these young men went against their parent's wishes in quitting while still wanting to play football--just not at JCHS but could not transfer like others.

What about the 40 other kids who are not playing football but should be at a school our size? I agree that the lessons football teaches (hard work, discipline, team play, etc.) are vastly important--that is why I'm upset--more kids should be on the field learning these lessons. Instead they have been discouraged rather than encouraged to play. Standing "for" something means standing for all--not just the few who survive or don't have other pressures on them. If this keeps going on, the coaching staff maybe "standing" alone--then what have they accomplished? I know that some kids have quit for other reasons than the coach, but the coach did not encourage them to keep playing or try to work with them to work out their problems. In a few cases, one simple phone call may have kept a kid out on the field. Just letting a kid know that "we need you" is vastly important. Instead the message is "we don't need you if you have any baggage at all." Is that Christian?

Sandman, Everyone wanted the season to go on after the Bearden game last year--even some players who may have said that they were glad that it was over with. Everyone wants to win and keep playing--that doesn't mean that everything is okay with the program. I know that there are great athletes not playing football because of being forced to put up with personal humiliation and ridicule, made to adhere to unreasonable demands, and forced to pick between football and other great loves (other sports, family, other co-curricular activities) and have had to give up football though they'd rather still be playing. Don't come down on these kids. I've seen some of them cry because they're not playing anymore. These same players worked hard and for long hours for other coaches. It's not the workload--it's the value system and the boot camp mentality where players are demeaned rather than built up and encouraged. "I love you" is too easy to say after a game and rings hollow when a coach doesn't even try to find out what has happened and why a player has chosen to quit. It simply means "I love you if you walk lock-step with me and don't question anything." Young people today can see right through that kind of smokescreen. They want a coach who cares for them individually and not just HIS program. Of the 33 (37), how many are freshmen dressing out with the varsity?

Amen!!!!!!

Who is starting where for JCHS? My depth chart isn't quite as accurate as it used to be.

Predict the standings at the end of the year DZ--that's what this topic is for. There's no need to defend U, the facts speak for themselves. But we have to take all the facts into consideration in order to predict the season finish--a number of quality players are gone from JCHS--either through graduation, transfer, or "retirement." Thus a poorer season and lower finish predicted than would have been. And only time will tell if your last sentence is true or not--it wasn't this year. Once again, no blame assigned, just a very difficult fact to swallow.

Here goes: 1. DB 2. Sevier County 3. Science Hill 4. CC 5. JCHS 6.Karns 7.Bearden It kills me to put CC ahead of JCHS!!

I'm not sure things are in a disarray either. U runs a tight ship and I'm sure the team that is out there will be prepared. Unfortunately, many of the best athletes will not be on the field or the team. I hope the kids that have hung in there have a good year, but we have to be honest, JCHS would be much better if a few fellas had not transfered or retired. This posting does not place any blame; it just states the facts (I don't want it removed or the whole topic closed!).

Wishful thinking!! Aaron Carson (3 year starter), Drew Bowlin, Ben Wolfe, Anthony Covington, Dallas Crouch (2 year starter), Steve Solomon, Chad Williams, Will Walker, Heath Trentham, and many others . . . . now Chris Shiverdecker (Sentinel Sophmore of the Year, Mister All Everything). The beat goes on!