pedo_29

Grundy County is looking for two games - preferably with one team to play home and away- for the upcoming season. Games were already scheduled but unfortunately Coffee County was a late cancellation. Anyone interested should call coach Chase Jones at 931-607-6382

Are you disagreeing with facts? I did opine that this was a bad hire. But there is a big difference in saying that three years ago and three weeks ago. To say I started trying to cut his legs from day 1 isn't factually correct. And to insinuate that a newspaper column would be detrimental to Davis' ability to develop this program is just not realistic. From the onset Davis' biggest problems were a complete lack of discipline in every facet of the program and a poor strength program. Nice guy. Good dude. But he wasn't ready for this job and all that comes with it.

Oh I'm very aware of what I have written. That's why is found your comment that I didn't support coach Davis from the start very interesting. Because that simply isn't true.

Really? Tell me more.

Coffee County Central's Lee Davis will be gone.

LOD I understand you have a prior relationship with Lee and I can respect that. But I think you have received some bad information. Most all athletes at Central High School have weight lifting classes and there is a state of the art weightroom next to the practice field that is available for the football teams use everyday they want it. Lee Davis has all the control over that weight program that he wants. But just like most other things in the program, he hasn't asserted any control here. The problems with this football program go to the bone and this only scratches the surface. One big problem is Lee never bought into this football program or this community and, in return, this football program and this community never bought into Lee. He failed to establish an atmosphere of discipline from the foundation and that has hampered the ability to build anything. Not just messy locker rooms, but embarrassing locker rooms, loose attendance requirements (of himself and players), back talking, lackadaisical practice atmospheres - all of that started his first year and he did not learn from these mistakes. This lack of discipline has shown off the field with off-the-field problems. He has not shown much concern for his players' personal well-being and character development. His only concern is: "can they play Friday night." ... He has first string players who have suffered head and neck injuries in the game with five seconds to play in blowout losses and his answer to why they weren't removed: "I can't take them out they won't let me." That kind of says it all, doesn't it? Who won't let him take them out? The players? Who runs this program? Because of that he has set the tone for what this football program has become, which is the worst 6A football team in the state of Tennessee according to playoff power rankings. Coffee County has never been a football power and contrary to what people want to think, never will be. But a .500 team most years with a few special groups to take this team to 7-3 or 8-2 on rare occasions is very feasible. As long as Lee was here it was never going to happen. He may be a good OC, but he is not ready to commit the time to be a HC at this level. I wish him well in his future endeavors. I hope he lands somewhere where he can learn the ropes a little more before he gets another HC job.

But your name says it all, doesn't it? Former boys coach Andrew Taylor is among the list of finalists for this position. He is among four, I believe, narrowed down from a pretty big list. We should know pretty soon.

With all due respect, I am sure that Mr. Rozier feels a sense of loyalty to his coach. Most players do unless the coach is a complete tool. Lee isn't a mean person. He is well intentioned. There is always attrition with a new coaching staff. Some players feel loyalty and may kick around the idea of quitting. Others who didn't play will come out for a new staff. But the bottom line is, if you don't want to play because your coach is gone, unless he was completely railroaded by a political situation or moral wrongdoing, then you aren't playing for the right reasons - which are your school and your teammates- and honestly, a little bit for yourself. If a player wants to quit, it's unfortunate, but you aren't showing anyone anything by not participating. It takes moral fiber to fight through any sort of adversity and a head coaching change including the guy you've played for qualifies as adversity. And to someone else's point, sure the players' opinions matter. And I'm not saying this towards any particular player but if you let the players (14-18 yr olds) run the coaching search the hire will be the most laid back, non working coach you've seen. Players, and people as a majority, by habit will take the path of least resistance. I do it sometimes. we all do at some point. The question is how does a player feel about his coach 5 - 10 years down the line when his maturity level allows him to reflect and see what exactly it was that coach did for him or her. Did he push me hard enough? Did he work as hard to make the team betters he could have? Did I enjoy my time? Do I wish he would have pushed me to work harder because I did slack and I could have been better? Time will tell on the future. Until then I would suggest the players keep their minds on what they can control and that's the offseason workouts and the dedication to the program. Who coaches next year or the year after that is not controllable by me, them, or the coaches themselves at this point. I had many a disagreements with Bill Price over the years. I often voiced them. We even had little arguments before the coaches show about stuff he did on Friday nights. But I never questioned a few things: his work ethic, the players' work ethic, his weight program, his team's physicality, or his agenda. I participated in his weight program through baseball - nothing compares. I watched through the years his team's practice and play and they were very no-nonsense, down to business, hit you right in the mouth type of team. Coffee county misses that identity. We won't out athlete anyone. We won't outsize many. So we need an identity, which I think we have struggled with lately. Are we a run first team? We should be with our personnel. Our we pass first? I don't know. Balanced? We aren't talented enough to be balanced. Most good high school football teams done thing really, really well and try to do the other thing decent enough to have somewhat of a threat. We pass it well now - still went 2-8. I heard for SO many years: "if we could pass at all we would win 8 games." Good luck next year, Dee, and the rest of the football team.

Well I don't think they were in the current positions - I think Skipper and John were both assistant principals, but part of the interview committee. The final say woulda fell on Duvall. I could misremembering that.

Just to interject I think John and Skipper were on the interview committee for this hire. But I can't remember for sure so someone jump in and correct that if I'm wrong. I'm anxious to see how this offseason goes.

Whitlock has a good baseball mind and should do very well from that aspect. How he handles the political circus of this system will be the true test. I wish him well.

Make sure to tune into Friday Night Thunder at our variuos radio affiliates throughout the midstate for all your high school football information. Pregame 6-6:45 p.m. and postgame 9:30-11 p.m. with scores from across the state. We have a live scoreboard online updated live. Check out Twitter and Facebook as well: Click here for the website and a station near you: http://www.thunder1320.com/fridaynightthunder.html

http://www.manchestertimes.com/?p=3886 What a shame for Coffee County. The program will have a hard time recovering! All those in Coffee County admin should be ashamed for what they have let happen. He will not continue to teach. He will teach and coach elsewhere.

Perfectly put!

Bump

Coffee County Central High School will host a U.S. Baseball Academy camp which consist of six weeks of hitting, pitching, catching, fielding and baserunning for prices as low as $99. Proceeds benefit the CHS baseball program. The academy will be held at Powers Field at 100 Red Raider Dr. in Manchester. Dates are March 18 and 25. April 1,8, 15 and 22. Go to usbaseballacademy.com to sign-up or call 1-866-622-4487.

Are you comparing Bill Price to Gary Rankin? Seriously? You must be kidding. He hasn't stayed in one place for more than 5 years. Why? And no, I'm not a bandwagon hater. I know him well. Watched him in action. There is a lot to love about Bill Price. There is a lot to dislike, too. Too much.

hahahaa only a matter of time before Price got nailed.

Coffee won't win this one barring dramatic improvements from the first two games. But for the most part, we have seen some really good games outta these two teams lately. 2003 was good, close contest ... same for 2004. a few blowouts after that and then last years classic. Coffee has this one circled. Tullahoma has this one circled. I hope Coffee County can bring the Pot back across the creek. It may be more important to people than the new coaches realize.

Exactly! Warren County rolls out high expectations every year, but don't expect any deep playoff runs anytime soon. The seniors can work as hard as they want to, and it's good to hear that they are doing so. But they have to have talent, AND, in a school as athletically challenged as Warren County tends to be, they need underclassmen support. It isn't like year in and year out they can roll out a class of 30 seniors and have 20 of them starters wth serious skill players mixed in there. A team is only as good as its weakest link usually. Good luck.

2000

Soddy can swing the sticks, Binns. Really Well. But with Hess Tullahoma definitely has a good chance. As good as Baldwin was for Coffee all year, he wasn't that overpowering type of ace that you need in these Monday / Friday games. However, not sure it woulda mattered, Soddy can really hit. First five hitters are murderers row. Have a fun climb up that hill. Ball flys outta that place.

Just David Laws.

Perhaps you didn't catch that sarcastic tone throughout that ENTIRE post, flash.

Welcome back to Manchester, RaiderOne. Should be a great game Friday. Have a lot of respect for coach Breeden and coach Weaver and what they do. Be good to see them. It's a shame one of these teams won't be in the Fling next week. Good luck. WEAR your RED.