LEON

Will not be the first time , probably should have said Henry County, Hendersonville could be capable of finishing first but I do believe Beech wins the region with the final playoff berth going to either Springfield, Portland or Hunters Lane with the Jackets more than likely being the favorite for the last berth. I guess that’s why we tee it up .

Looks as though everyone on here believes Beech and Henry County should be the top two teams in this region and it looks as though it should go that way. The next two should be a dogfight for the remaining two teams for a playoff berth. I would also expect it would be a chance for the region to move on into the next round with some rematches of the regular season opponents. I haven’t heard anything from the Portland or Hunters Lane fans and how their teams should look this fall. Portland will have a new head coach in Hunter Hicks an alumni from the glory years of Panther football , I believe they lost quite a bit of their starters from last season and lots of injuries during the season to starters should at least have given the younger players some game time experience.

Prayers to the family and friends. A very talented writer and follower of high school football and not knowing him just hearing about him from those who did know him , he was wonderful human being. He will be badly missed . May God bring some peace to his family and friends. R.I.P. Donovan.

Sounds like another solid squad for HC.

GWAVE1 I was in Gallatin last week and drove by the Wave Yard and the new bleachers look really nice, hope they didn’t move them too far from the sideline like most stadiums today. The Wave Yard is still my favorite place to watch a game especially when it’s a good competitive game. Lots of great memories over the years there. With the renovation I guess that all but ends about a facility being built at the school , hope they continue to play there it’s truly a great place and I know it means a lot to the Gallatin family.

How did the scrimmage end with MBA ?

Could be tough year for the Jackets with unfortunate injuries and losing such a talented senior class not to mention off the field decisions that will be a detriment to the feeder system of SHS. I cannot believe the largest city in Robertson County with the largest sales tax revenue that a large percentage goes to the school system no longer has a middle school . Before this past school year there was Springfield Middle and now it’s closed and is now Innovation Academy (magnet school ) . A large percentage of SMS are being bussed to Coopertown Middle which very late in the summer had no football coach, the previous coach left for a different school system. I have no idea if a coach has been hired yet or they wont have a team. SMS provided SHS a majority of its players were as most lived within the city limits and many walked to and from practices. Now they’re being sent 7 miles out from the city to Coopertown Middle which has always been a feeder to SHS even before the middle school was started those students came to then Springfield Junior High as ninth graders and then on to SHS. I’m just curious if a coach was ever hired ? I noticed Greenbrier Middle hired a coach right before practice began , a coach may have been hired without my knowledge, hope someone can answer that for me. In late summer you could always see players at SMS walking to and from practice in a program that produced many undefeated teams over the years practicing in the hallowed old bottom below the school where Boyce Smith molded his teams. The busy highway 49 is not a place to walk down with no shoulders or sidewalks let alone it’s out 7 miles in the country. Now the director of schools has left for an adjacent county and will miss out on this decision. This is in no way a knock at the Innovation Academy or CMS , I just think this would never happen at any other cluster of schools in the school system. This is something that wasn’t well thought out for middle school students in the Springfield cluster , I know the system had to answer to some disparities in this cluster in the past, unfortunately they may have to be again.

Robert Farmer has sadly passed away . He succeeded Jimbo Pearson as head coach at Springfield after he unexpectedly died of a heart attack in the spring of 1976. Coach took over in the fall of 1976 leading the Jackets to the Volunteer Bowl . His 1977 team won the District 10 AAA championship and the Jackets to their first playoff appearance ,he left his coaching position after the 1978 season to go into administration. Prior to school integration in 1970 he was head coach at Bransford High School in Springfield coaching both Football and Basketball at the historic African-American school. His 1967 team won the Blanket Bowl defeating Chapel Hill and finishing 10-1 , the Lions defeated highly ranked Franklin County 6-0 in the 1967 season , he also led the Bransford basketball team to a District Championship and Region Runner-up and State Tournament quarterfinal finish in 1968. After leaving coaching at Springfield High he went into administration becoming the principal at Bransford Elementary in 1979. Coach Farmer will be missed and prayers to his family and friends.RIP Coach.

Got mine on Amazon, also available at Robertson County History Museum on the historic square.

Seen some great games sitting in those stands. Was there problems with the structure because its capacity was second to none on the visitors side. I do know the steps were extremely far apart and this fat old guy had issues with no railing. Will the home side be replaced also ? Still one of my favorite places to watch a game , right on top of the action. The Wave Yard , Lafayette ,Hartsville , Greenbrier ,Portland and Carthage about the only old style , on top of the action facilities left. I used to love our old Boyce Smith Field in Springfield prior to downsizing in 2005.can’t accurately date them but hear some games that the place was rocking . 1981 Springfield at Gallatin, Whites Creek at Gallatin playoffs ? South Pitt at Hartsville playoffs,Hartsville at Portland rematch 2000’s , Covington at Greenbrier 2000s , Hartsville at Carthage ?most were very cold but hard to beat atmosphere.

Prayers to the family. Alumnus of Springfield High School played for Coach Jerry Pearson both of whom won State Championships. RIP.

Prayers to the family and friends.

A new book has been released about the legendary Coach. His teams were year end and year out were known for their competitiveness playing one of the toughest schedules in the state. The authors Jim Garrett and Nancy Arnold have documented it very well. Coach had six undefeated seasons, his 1937 team was featured in Ripleys Believe It or Not known as the point a minute team. He also coached basketball into the early 50’s with his teams earning 4 State Tournament appearances. His all time football record of 288-116-34 is still amongst the greatest in the state , especially considering those with better records playing now play up to 15 games with playoffs which began his final three seasons. He played many powerhouse teams in the Midstate Clarksville,Murfreesbro and Gallatin to name a few and NIL teams out of Nashville with annual battles with MBA , Isaac Litton and Father Ryan among others often having attendance above 4-5,000. Coach is a member of the National football Coaches Hall Fame, Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame and TSSAA Hall of Fame among others. Coach was high on fundamentals and preparation his teams were as competitive as they come. The book contains over 267 pages of information and lots of photographs and it’s available in paperback or hard cover.It is available at the Robertson County Museum on the square in Springfield and also online with Amazon just search Boyce Smith, proceeds go to the Boyce Smith Scholarship Fund awarded each year to a deserving SHS student. If you’re a fan of high school football you’ll enjoy it , many may have played against his teams or their Great Great Grandfathers went against his teams or coached against them. I know I have enjoyed my copy .

High school football fans will find this an interesting read with the release of this new book by authors Jim Garrett and Nancy Arnold. It tells story of the legendary coach who put Springfield football on the map with his outstanding teams. Coach played and unbelievably tough schedule with Midstate powers along with NIL members such as Clarksville,Murfreesbro,Gallatin along with long time annual games with MBA ,Isaac Litton, Father Ryan among others in the old NIL. He is a member of the National High School Football Hall of Fame , Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame and the TSSAA Hall of Fame. In an era of hugh crowds at games his teams were considered tough as they come with a simplistic approach but he also was an innovator also. Several former coaches and players tell of their memories of Coach. The book is available at the Robertson County Museum on the square in Springfield and online with Amazon . This is a very nice book in both paperback and hard cover with proceeds going to the Boyce Smith Scholarship Fund given each year to a deserving SHS student.

And a winless middle school basketball coach, maybe you can buy a win , Mister midget sloth sayer ,pot stirrer , crap talker, limousine riding, jet flying wheeling dealing , son of a gun ! You better get a win or two or Buddy Garraitty will be running you out of Dillion you ol panther you ! You getting er done !

Worst I have ever seen, glad our kids kept their composure. Jackets defense, can’t say enough on how well they played. Biggest surprise after the game actual handshake line was without any incident after the in game lack of composure by Munford. Best thing about Munford they gave us Johnny Jones for the Vols , whose run to the house with less than 2:48 in the game put a dagger in Bama on the third Saturday in October in Birmingham 1983. Alan Cockrell caught Bama in a blitz and ran beauitful option to Jones . Well great game Jackets .

The 81 M J team was loaded had our Jackets in a bind trailing 7-0 late in fourth , MJ passes on their possession and Jackets intercepted a pass in MJ. territory late in fourth. MJ had the Jackets offense stagnant all game pretty much dominated the game but the Jackets managed to get the TD and linedn up to kick PAT hopefully to send it to OT. But Coach Jerry Pearson didn’t feel his much smaller Jackets could hold on to a mucher stronger Mt. Juliet team , instead he called fake PAT rolling the holder out to pass to wide open Jacket receiver escaping with 8-7 win . The week before the Jackets lost to MBA 8-7 late in fourth in the opener. If I remember correctly the Majors boys were on that MJ team that might have had a shot at the gold ,had more teams qualified then. Springfield had close wins at Dickson and Gallatin and it was first year in 9AAA moving from 10 AAA. Jackets won it with lone loss to Franklin but we’re upset by Clarksville 16-13 in first round whom they defeated 21-0 in regular season, big Harry Galbreath was on that Clkv. team. That Mt. Juliet was loaded . Overton went on to win gold Ball , the last metro team to win one in highest classification. Extra Credit History. Class dismissed.

Could see that the way Clarksville is playing now , I think Cane Ridge overlooked them last year and I don’t see Cane Ridge doing that this year. Go Cats hope you get the win.Playoffs should be automatic for next couple years for Cats in the new 6A All Clarksville schools plus DC region , I’m just hoping the historic Springfield-Clarksville game is continued.

Maybe not 74 but 77 that was I believe the year was MJ moved to highest classification and was a tough team , Howell Flatt had some great teams but unfortunately that was only one team per district went to playoffs and it was predominantly Gallatin except for 1981 when Springfield won it . Howell Flatt was on the staff at Springfield in 1972 the first year after the Boyce Smith era and also one Coach Smith’s star players was on the staff at MJ during those powerhouse years during late 70’s and 80’s . History Class is dismissed.

They didn’t in the jamboree on their home field , I know it was just jamboree and several ER starters didn’t play maybe they treat jamboree like we do playing as many players as we can I Pull for East , I think your DC was at Springfield in the Myers coaching years , he and your head coach having won a state title as players and are doing a great job and know what it takes. Chattanooga Tyner is probably down the line and that outstanding speed the Indians have over the other opposition they face now will be evened out or better. Hope ER wins it all , but it’s not basketball it takes depth when moving up two classifications but don’t worry about who you don’t and likely will never play unless classification warrants it . Go Indians and Go SPT.

Little Joe plays more like a Hoss , one great player.

I would think it would favor MJ , with Page playing on their own rug and on some of their Willco rivals.

In 1991 the Jackets went to Memphis Ridgeway in qtr finals winning 27-13 , the wind was unbelievable that game , I remember we ran a toss sweep and ball went backwards down field. We played at home against Trezavent in 1993 also in qtr final winning on our way to winning State Championship..