Helmsman

Can Jefferson County put the ball in the air at all? I haven't heard anything about the quarterback situation. Jeff County definitely missed the traffic directing and leadership which Clement brought to the table for three productive seasons last fall. Has anyone stepped up?

Jefferson County High School basketball is a unique situation. First off, they are crammed within one of the worst pockets of competition in the state as well as in the South. The days of glory for Morristown and Greeneville are basically over. The teams of Northeastern TN may win a title every ten years, but Memphis is a hotbed for talent for the entire nation. The East will never conquer the West. It's still nice to see such outstading athletes compete on the court and in life. People like Parker Clement and Jeff Jennings don't come around every year ability wise, but they do come around concerning genuine character. Parker was a remarkable young man, and even though I didn't get to see him play that much, I always heard of the great things that he did for the school and community while fulfilling his personal education objectives. Jeff was the same way. This is what Jefferson County basketball is all about. They put guys on the floor who see the true picture. Coach Sinard picked a group of young men that he felt would represent the county, and its different communities with pride. So what if they lose a few games this year. As long as the young men keep their lives together in the classroom and represent the Patriots with pride, winning will not be essential. Rick knows this, and it is his number one goal of coaching basketball. Lay off of the man for doing the kids justice. They will reap the benefits of this season and the comradery formed through playing their guts out on the hardwood. Let this be yet another lesson to the WINNING AT ALL COST minded individuals of Jefferson County. As long as the kids are working hard and learning the essentials of life, I will not slander Coach Sinard. I respect him for what he does.

In a three-way tie like what you have mentioned actually goes to points against. It seems llike this is an issue every year in Region 1-5A. I'm not 100% sure about this, but I think overall points against are weighed first; then, if their are further ties, scored points are used to determine seed.

Coach Hutchins will get the job done at South Doyle. He is a good man, and he definitely relates to the players well. He has experience in the big games as a player, assistant at Jefferson County, and head coach at McMinn County. Oh yeah, not to mention he has a chemistry degree; the man is no dumby. Hutchins has also coached within several offensive and defensive systems at Jefferson County and other schools in South Carolina, so he has an appreciation for doing what works. Give the man a chance, and he will succeed. That's all he knows. In responding to Swafford. I played against his teams, and they were the dirtiest teams I have ever played in any sport. They were going for knees when they tackled, and one kid even punched another in the face several times and was ejected. This isn't your typical high school football atmosphere, and I would hold Swafford accountable for all of it. I can remember Swafford coached teams coming to cheer against another team in order to get into the playoffs! Who does that? ONLY A COACH THAT CAN'T GET INTO THE PLAYOFFS WITHOUT THE HELP OF ANOTHER TEAM'S LOSS! You have a winner now. Let him do his thing. He'll get you to the playoffs.

I have to be concerned with the Jefferson County High School football program and its progress at regaining a "class-act" status. I have not met Coach Marty Euverard, but I do know that Jefferson County has some soul searching which it must consider due to its massive drop in numbers. The school has 2,100 kids for crying out loud. Doesn't anyone remember the good ole days when players looked up to their coach as a friend, mentor, and possibly even a father figure as well as a coach? Coach Kisabeth did a great job of building successful men within a positive atmosphere. He cared for the guys on the team as football players and men on a personal level, and he still does to this day. Oh yeah, Coach Kisabeth won a few games too, and Coach K will be the first to tell you that the help of a strong and supportive coaching staff helped him win games and build strong men. From what I saw of Coach Meadows, he was in it for just a select few and himself. It was almost chaotic. Coaches were coming and going, and players were playing for themselves and not the team. These facts are beside the point. Jefferson County High School football is a program of rich tradition, and when the job opens, there are plenty of resumes being submitted. I personally don't believe that it would be hard to find a man who could encompass each of the traits of a quality coach and man; one who could get the school, its different communities, and county behind him. Whenever I read that nearly forty players have quit the team by week four, it is truly disheartening because I know how valuable playing football can actually be for a teenager or young adult. The game teaches teamwork, builds friendships, and prepares children for adulthood. I really hope that what Coach Euverard is doing is the correct way to approach coaching. This isn't a tricky situation at all. We all know that if the program is run correctly, it will be successful in the long run. This "long run" doesn't solely include the football team. It includes the players' lives after their football playing days because they will be the parents, taxpayers, and workers within Jefferson County and Tennessee extremely soon. I am still pulling for Coach Euverard and the Patriots with one hundred percent, but I hope the football coaching staff, athletic department, and administration examines these circumstances with an attitude that yearns for the further development of youth in Jefferson County, TN.