utvolzfan

Oh boy, where do I start?? Do I even have the energy to make this post after a long day at work? Heck yes! Ok, so I'm a former Karns player and obviously a grad (from the 80's)who grew up in the community and I have a pretty good understanding of why Karns has failed so badly for over 40 years. Additionally, I had a family member playing a key role(s) for Bearden during Brad Taylor's last couple of seasons. First on the Taylor hire, I wish I could give BarneySox2007 a "like" on a few of his thoughts. May people thought Bearden was loaded aespecially in 2012. An example of why Taylor was let go(Basically a repeat of not giving Devrin the ball on the 2) Trent Waters, Bearden RB and LB was 6' and 230 and ran 4.6. Was being recruited by a lot of schools and for various reason ended up at Arkansas St and then Dean College in Boston a Jr College. Against Maryville, he had 90 yes on 5 carries in the first quarter and DID NOT carry again until the late 3rd Q Maryville's coach even wondered why in post game. This was typical of his game management. Therefore, even though Brad is a great guy and good man, I don't see him as a strong coach. It would be a surprise if he turned Karns into a winner. As for the "why" behind BarneySox2007's wonderingly about the Beavers perpetual losing. It is complicated and the answer has changed over the years but there are multiple factors. 1. As the 70's began Howard Wells, who won Mississippi State Titles early in his career built Karns into a winner. This was 68-74ish. After, Coach Wells retired the problems began. 2. Through the 80's Karns had trouble hiring a keeping a coach more than a couple years at a time so there was a lack of consistency. Karen's youth programs repeatedly won Championships at John Tarleton and when Middle School ball existed they won as well. The problem was that many kids became apathetic after a year on the freshman team and did not play after that. In many years Karns had enough good players sitting in the stands watching to win the games being lost each Friday. The spirit was lost and the facilities were not great. 3. During the 90's this continued and there was coach after coach every two years and the best athletes transferred to other schools or did not play. Karen's did bulld a new stadium but weight room etc was behind. 4. During the 2000's the new issues were Hardin Valley and Grace as well as Catholic building a West Knoxville Campus and CAK growing into a much larger school. As these things as well as Webb recruiting Karns best athletes occasionally was hard for a school like Karns to overcome. Many Karns "legacy" athletes played for either Grace or Hrdin Valley or Webb. Karen's simply wasn't a winner and didn't have a charismatic leader. This continues today. That's the short version of a what I could have written 50 pages on. Solution: 1. Charismatic Young coach who wants to be at KHS. 2. Donor with Karns heritage stepping up and infusing some money into the program. 3. Rebuild Karns youth programs that could feed the High School program. 4. Just get a break and have a big year so the energy begins to build. Ok I'm done. Tired of typing.

Here is what I know. Taylor had a loaded team 3 years ago and refused to innovate or use his best players to their greatest strengths. He was eventually asked to leave. He is a good guy, a good man but not a very good coach. As a Karns fan and grad who had family playing for him at Bearden I am not overjoyed at this hire. Maybe it is the best Karns can do right now, who knows. Just not very excited. Will probably be the status quo at Karns.

Thanks for the summary. I have not seen the Middle TN teams play but I do know Hamilton even without their player lost to eligibility issue is going to be difficult to beat. I watched them dominate #1 (at the time)Oak Hill Academey. TheStae Titleis going to have to go through Memphis Hamilton I think regardless of what current AP rankings say.

What was the Bearden v Maryville game like. Score seemed out of line with their past meetings. Was Maryville just on fire or was it Maryville playing well and forcing Bearden into poor shooting and mistakes? What was the game summary per say?

This is a terrible hire, JMO.. Coach wasn't well liked by the players on the team the last several years. He totally mishandled he running game when he had several very good backs.

The real thing about that game that puzzled me was that Maryville had no answer for Trent Waters at TB. He had close to 90 yds on 5 carries in 1rst quarter then carry the ball again until fourth quarter. If Taylor would have run the I with that kid instead of that stupid split back set the Dawgs might have pulled and upset. Of course he did play entire game at MLB which is what he plays now at Arkansas St. Shinlever coached RB's and never had the sense to run Waters 20+ times a game. Makes me wonder if Bearden is in for mor 7-3 and 6-4 types yrs with him at the helm.

As a former Karns player and lifelong member of the community I can say Karns has deep, deep problems that are not easy to solve. These were made deeper with the emergence of HVA and especially Grace, Webb(recently) and even Catholic. Most good players zoned for Karns don't stay, many other strong athletes give up football for other sports instead of playing in an historically losing program. Having Kilgore is a positive but I personally think Karns will only succeed if we get a Coach who is young,charismatic and willing to stay. He will also have to rally the community and get some folks to invest personally in facilities etc. Karns is a sleeping giant that for years in the 70's, 80's and early 90's competed at the top of the youth leagues until the Pilot type teams started recruiting and youth football changed fundamentally in Knoxville. I wish him the best, we can only get better because until 2 yrs ago when we had a winning season it had been over 30 yrs since the last one. Even South Greene and Red Boiling Springs we better than that. Good luck coach, we need it.

I would like to better understand why Vic Wharton, CBJ 2014 commit has played for three different high schools in the last 3 yrs? Why did he leave his school in Knoxville to go to CPA and then why did he leave CPA to play at Independence?

In response to the DB fan asking how they might compare to Maryville....I will give you an opinion...I thought Bearden played Maryville hard and really it was close until start of 4thQ. The DB game looked like it should have been closer but the two early turnovers deep in DB territory swung momentum DB way so the shoot out didn't really happen..but it should have.. I think both teams DB and Maryville can score and both are suspect to strong running backs on D. I think Maryvilles QB makes more mistakes passing than their past QBs have...but he is more seasoned each week. Maryville has great great discipline and the coaches play calling is worth 7 pts. frankly, either team could win especially if one makes a couple of mistakes. I will say Maryville might have an edge in sheer confidence and belief in themselves. DB has classy fan base, at least to us...Maryville fan base has won so frequently that they get a little obnoxious but I guess they have earned the right. If I had to pick it I say Maryville wins if at home and DB wins if they are home barring major unforeseen injuries.

DB played well and Bearden went back to mistakes they were making in early season. Need to fire offensive coordinator for not running the Waters kid cause DB couldn't stop him when he touched ball. Should have carried 15-20 times. DB has a good chance to go far. Good luck.

Well I have not read through all the posts but as a "casual" Bearden fan I will give my thoughts. 1. I don't pretend to know a lot about DB except that they have several playmakers at QB, Rb etc and I understand that they score a lot by getting to the edge and breaking long runs. I understand they held SH to a lot fewer rushing yards than SH was averaging. I can tell you Bearden has a number of strong players but we have a tendency to shoot ourselves with penalties and dumb play calls. Personally I feel Bearden should run Waters as their primary RB instead of part te RB and pastime FB. Nobody has stopped him especially from the I formation. He avg 10 yds a carry and look like a man playing w boys at 6-1 230 but since he starts at LB too I guess they try to rest him . I think the D containing the edges and the kicking game will decide if Bearden can win. Dawgs will score but can we stop DB is question.

Naw we were not stealing signs...we were waiting after the game though for the free "how to recruit ALL of Blount Co. Seminar " being given by the Rebel booster club members who do the weekly traveling seminars..

Space3, unfortunately..I feel like you will get your wish. Losing to Campbell Co is bad enough not to mention how O Ridge beat us down..but what I saw against Central..we are just not very good..talent or scheme wise..the talent probably limits the schemes. If I could suggest anything to the Karns coaches it would be to walk the halls between now and Christmas and get all the athletes that simply are choosing not to play to suit up next year and give it a go in the spring..that's the only quick fix.

Bearden had a couple of injuries last Friday against Farragut. One out for year and another key player that seems uncertain. Should still be favored heavily though..would like to hear from Heritage fans. I know they had a few strong seasons a few years back but they have struggled last couple of years. Last year dogs won decisively.

Pepvol, I go to Karns games as I can..my son is zoned for West Valley and he wants to go to the games for his school. I'm not so selfish that I chose my school over my 13 yr old. Many people who live in the Karns zone do chose to send their kids to private schools though which is their choice. I understand that many public zones lose kids to private schools but Grace is exceptional at pulling Karns kids to their school because many people who attend church there send their kids to the academy. This impacts Karns.