CyclonePride

What is the schedule for the Happy Valley tournament? You know at least this thread has provided some comic relief!! When is anybody gonna talk about the games? I don't post much anymore but do read the boards occasionally. Man have they changed. Now its all name calling, pot shots, chest beating and "mine is bigger than yours" mentality. The Alcoa-EHS football thread is a disgrace. Oh well signs of the times I guess.

EHS coach Shawn Witten is Jason Witten's older brother. As a DB and WR/QB Shawn led the Cyclones to the state semifinals every year as a player, losing close, somewhat controversial games to Maryville (twice at least) and Knox Central. I believe Shawn is two years older than Jason. Shawn played four years at WR at Va Tech, starting at least two I think, including the year they made it to the NC game. Shawn was a grad assistant at UT for two years before taking the Cyclone head job four years ago. The program was down when Shawn took it, having had two coaches in the 6-7 years since Shawn's grandfather, Dave Rider, retired as HC. Coach Rider was a legendary coach for whom the field is now named. So Shawn knows how to win, and while EHS might not have the horses right now to run with the Tornado for 48 minutes, I guar-an-darn-tee they have the Heart. GO CYCLONES!!!

Coach Dugger is a totally committed coach, and will not be outworked by anyone. History has shown that this trait is both a strength and a weakness in coaches and Dugger is no exception. Do you not think that South Greene pushes the envelope in their girls program? Of course. Duggers past troubles are from overzealousness. Other coaches in the area respect him but would turn him in a New York minute. Sounds like Cove is on a fishing expedition, trolling for info. My advise Sparky and coachH is "Dont feed the troll". I do think Dugger was a little over the top going to the Boro for a playday and not even getting to play the real heavyweights for his efforts and expense. Im confident there are playdays all over ET that feature quality competition. But its his program and his call to make. EHS ladies should continue their reign over the Blue Devils this year. Let hope they can beat Greeneville/So Greene this year when it counts. Go Cyclones. Shock the Tornados this weekend.

Finally a couple of good posts in an otherwise classless thread. I guarantee you Alcoa's coach isnt talking the talk of the mouths on here and neither is Witten. How bout both sides quit trying to out Johnson the other and talk about the game. Stop this mine is bigger than yours talk. Alcoa is obviously a heavy favorite. But what about the matchups and schemes both teams run? Dont make this thread a total Jib Jab session...

Elizabethton will give Alcoa a better game that you arrogant Can City fans think. Even the best teams can have an off night especially when you take your opponent for granted. Keep that big head gettin bigger Coa-ites.

OK GLee, I will bite. What other changes are on the table? I know they want Shawn Witten for FB coach, bad; and supposedly offered him the job sunday. No word yet. Fallback position is Pierce, which will not satisfy the masses. Ned Smith is the likely BB coach and he will be an improvement. Baseball coach could be anyone. But whoever it is will be a huge step down from Payne. What else is in store? Other coaches/administrators to bolt or be Payned? Alexander to Iraq?

I'm just sick over the turn of events at EHS. You guys are right on point. Alexander is showing his true colors. He doesnt care about the students; he only cares about his agenda. He wants people under him that he can control. Lets review what has happened: Pless is on the hotseat in football, and gets promoted to principal, where he will likely do a very good job. Football job open, which is really not a bad thing. But,t hen, with AD job open, Wilson, who is on an even bigger hotseat in basketball, gets promoted to AD. That was a done deal in early spring, even before Payne was relieved in April. Wilson wanted out of boys basketball and made no secret of it. Remember all the info on this board months ago. Payne didnt know it but his lot was cast when Alexander took the directors position. To make a place for Wilson, you demote the guy (Payne), who is getting the job done on both fronts. Makes sense doesnt it! Give the guys on the hotseat promotions and raises and run the best coach you have off. It just stinks.

Keep dissing the cyclones. Will make em bring it harder. Cyclones have two runners who could win it individually: JJ and Adam Green(finished second last year). Tyler Ross is a senior who has run real well of late. Soph's Chris Brumit and Ryan Green (Adam's bro) will be names people will know after saturday. Seniors Jordan Peters and Drew Laporte are not your average six and seven men. FRA and Pagers, keep thinking the CLones are a one or two horse show. Coach Presnell will have these boys ready to RUN come saturday. Bring home the gold......again EHS!!!!!!!!!!

Hardin is not a point guard, but may have to play there to get on the court. He doesnt have the quickness or ballhandling of a true point guard. EHS will not be a one man show this year. The transfer from SH is real real good. Jordan Peters is back and can score. EHS should be much better than last year even without its leader Charles Peters. Unicoi will be tough to beat though.

Baughman will be missed for sure, but moreso for her rebounding than ballhandling. I think the ballhandling will be okay. Her offensive rebounding skills were the best Ive ever seen for a kid her size. Weems seems to me to be his own man and will not be taking orders from or catering to any of the wannabe coaches in the stands. EHS basketball, boys and girls should be interesting to watch this year.

EHS will definitely be improved this year. The kids will like playing for Wilson more than they did for Hardin. They will be thin in the post, but loaded at guard.

All those listed were not starters but did play significant minutes. I'd say we return probably seven on both sides of the ball that started. Biggest shoes to fill are Derek Naves at LB and TE. Most all starters back at the skill positions for EHS. You better cover our receivers, they can go the distance. As for parking/time to arrive, I would suggest getting there at least an hour before kickoff and you should be able to find parking on a neighborhood street within a few blocks or park in the Ingles parking lot and walk up the hill for easy access in and out.

Who was the other gentleman in the photo?

McKinney would make an excellent assistant coach in both basketball and baseball. With the recent Creek defections, I would think he would a good addition to their staff.

We just had a school board election last fall didnt we? Roper had already been hired. The recall petition is an option, but what do you do if its successful, and then you have an election and Ed gets his third vote and Roper is fired. What has really been accomplished? Spending a couple hundred thousand to buy out Roper and hold the election. Keep the school community torn apart all summer and into the fall? Make Ed the supt? This town is divided on this. Ed's detractors are not nearly as vocal as his supporters, but make no mistake, they are there. The internet scandal at EHS happened under his watch. Those hollering for full disclosure better be careful what they wish for.....

Roper is on solid ground, till his next contract comes up! He will not back down and apparently he has the support of a majority of the board. The only option to reverse this would be for the board to terminate Roper and pay him the balance of his contract. That isnt going to happen. The students and parents can meet all they want. Richard Sammons can threaten all he wants. The decision will stand. Today's Elizabethton Star has a very enlightening interview with Roper. The focus now needs to be on getting the best possible replacements at EHS for all open positions. I hope they look outside the system for the baseball coach and principal. The irony is that Ed is still principal till the end of the month and may at least try and fill the two coaching positions. Should be interesting. GLee: Sammons is the joke. The city council has no power to tell the elected School Board anything. Sammons showed his ignorance in yesterdays Star. This is not like the electric system.

Couple of comments. Mondays meeting will be a mess. If Roper is smart, he will have a press release ready that goes into some detail about the recent actions. Ed's supporters won't be satisfied no matter what, but thats not who Roper needs to justify his actions to. The board and the community in general deserve to know the underlying reasons. I suspect with Ed, the overriding reason will be insubordination. He has been pubicly critical of Roper from day one. Like him or not, he is Ed's boss. For now that is! If Ed has three votes on the school board, then Roper is gone, if the city can stomach a buyout of his contract. If Ed doesnt have three votes, then Ed's reassignment will stand cause I dont see Roper caving on this. I just hope for the sake of the system that whatever happens, its over quick.

GLee, I agree. Coach Ellis was not only a great coach, he was a great teacher, father, friend and member of the community. The big Kahuna they called him. Im sure the administration would love to have a man of his character and ability to take over the baseball program today.

But CountryBoy, it was EA who made the call to fire TH. Not Roper. This from TH's own statement in this mornings JC Press. There is much more to this than meets the eye. Complaining parents, alone, dont get you fired, usually. The test of Roper's tenure is riding on whether he can back up his firing with proof.

I chuckle at some of this bantering. Some spout stuff off as fact, when they are just speculating. I'm not going to play that game. I would say though that when the dust clears, those with open minds might just think the high school needed the housecleaning. You cannot have a subordinate dictating policy to his superior. The school is bigger than one person. Roper will have to defend what he has done. Perhaps Alexander will as well. Its not going to be pretty. I guess thats why they call us Cowtown........... By the way, EA fired Hardin as BB coach earlier this week. Roper had nothing to do with that move. And according to reports, the TH firing was unrelated to the McKinney firing. Its all as clear as mud.

I do not know the whats or whys of Alexander's reassignment. From news reports, he was not told either. He does deserve an explanation. Roper had to know that he must be prepared to defend his decision publicly. He seems to be a guy who makes measured decisions. The last supt fought this battle and lost. Who will win this round?

Dream, I wouldnt rush to a conclusion without having the facts. I suspect that when the truth is known, if it ever is, the public will understand why these moves had to be made. Dr Roper is a professional administrator who came into the job without knowing anyone. Perhaps you have it backwards. It appears that the good ole boy network is on the way out and each educator/administrator/coach etc will have to stand on their own merit, which is how it should be.

Done deal. McKinney and Hardin are out. Cyclones are looking for new head boys basketball and baseball coaches.

With McKinney apparently out as coach, who will the cyclones turn to? Looks like cyclones are also looking for a boys basketball coach with Hardin resigning today. My guess is that the front page of todays Elizabethton Star gives a hint as to why both of these are out. Any wild guess as to their replacements?

Where is Sullivan Central's coach going? Are the Cyclones going to make any coaching changes? Will the injured cyclones (Atkinson and Smith) be back at 100%? Elizabethton's JV team did much better than their varsity this year, on paper at least. Who from that group figures to be on the field?