tradertwo

Not wanting to start an argument here, but you've got it wrong. First of all, if you win 800 games, you ain't too bad at teaching how and why basketball. Next, fastest and most athletic team in the state? They're not typically great teams, but Memphis will send some athletes to the regionals, and I've seen some others that were athletic enough to dispute that too. Just my opinion, but too many folks take their coaches for granted...there are things that all coaches do or don't do as well as other coaches do, but to assume that a new hire would be better (or even as good) than their current coach is a stretch.

Agree. Coaching tactics take care of issues like holding the ball, or you lose. Basketball shouldn't just be who has the best athletes, but the most disciplined team and the best strategy. One floor, two baskets, two teams, one ball...equal opportunity for both teams to implement and adjust strategy to maximize their advantages and minimize their weaknesses. If you wan't nonstop action watch the WWE, but I personally like the cerebral part of the game as well as the athletic competition.

The kid who "went bananas" was #4 from South Side...missed hardly a shot all night. JSS did lead early and late, but MC led at the half, and for a long period of time. Nail biter in the last minute, not...nail biter of a game, I think it was.

I think that the main point of BPM's post slipped by unnoticed...not only are there several small townships within the boarders of Gibson Co., almost all have been declared Special School Districts. These all operate independently of each other, with their own School Boards and Directors. If I remember correctly, only Gibson and Carroll counties have traditionally had these districts in Tennessee, with some talk of trying to repeal a law forbidding creating more such districts in order to appease concerns regarding the Memphis City/Shelby County situation a few years ago. I believe that was resolved by creating Charter Schools and leaving the laws regarding Special Districts as it stood.

Totally agree. McNairy won't overlook anyone...they were generally thought of as a middle to low end of the district team before the season, and have progressed into (imo) the best team in the district. They lost a nail biter to South Side in the championship game, where one kid had the game of his life to beat them. Coach Riley is the real deal, and is in his first season...they may lose, but they aren't apt to take anyone for granted.

Northside McNairy Crockett Dyersburg

I've got a feeling that your feeling may be gas. Also beginning to see that you waaayy overvalue Adamsville for some reason. You picked the 'Cards over SH in their first meeting, and that's understandable...nothing much to go on. You then picked them to come to SH three days after the Lions beat them by twenty, and win on SH's home floor...SH led by 36 when the left end of the bench took off their warmup jerseys. Now you have A'ville over Northside, and SH losing by 25 to McNairy? Scotts Hill is a true longshot to be in the game late against the Bobcats, but they have been playing well lately (narrow loss to Riverside on their floor after leading all game, and a "phantom" intentional foul that was the worst call this season, then beat A'ville twice and Chester Co. easily to close out the season), as opposed to Adamsville, who hasn't played well at all lately.

I think that ONB pretty much nailed it,starting kids too young says more about the parent's wishes than the kid's. I also agree that too much emphasis is on winning at the very young ages that kids are starting organized sports nowadays...if fundamentals, technique, and discipline are taught correctly, winning will come in time. Kids are all put together (mentally) differently...I have seen parents push their children past the point where the kid enjoys it, while living (or reliving) their own lives through them with different results. Very few kids handle that kind of pressure well, while most are anywhere from uncomfortable to downright unhappy to even be playing at all. Keep it about your kid's wishes, and his/her enjoyment...nobody knows your child like you should, so evaluate the timeline to accommodate the amount of interest that they have in practicing and playing. For you to be a part of coachT, and be so involved in sports that you wonder when to "start" teaching your son the game, you must have had a great experience with sports when you were young...just remember to ensure that your son has as much fun as you did, and everything else will fall in place.

Been knowing BPM (and reading longer) for a while...never known him to mislead, and rarely "forwards" misinformation without fully verifying. If BPM trusts his source, so do I. Because you know a guy who knows a guy...well, enough said about that. After you've proven to have inside knowledge for a few years, perhaps I'll trust your source as I do Big Purple's. Not that I don't believe you about Hugh being offered...Jerry Glanville used to leave playoff tickets for Elvis, but Elvis didn't pick 'em up.

This may seem odd because you are "sure" of your source, but I'd bet the farm on BPM and his knowledge of the program. If all the facts were laid bare, I figure he'd be closer than anyone to what really was/wasn't offered and to whom.

Maybe not many, but some of us did!

I have no Idea who has applied (everyone), but there'd have to be one of the "monster" big names in the hat for me not to offer McConnell. There's a lot of variables involved with bringing in assistant coaches/coaches staying...with Morris just stepping away from football, I'd assume that the assistants would all stay, but McConnell would probably want to bring at least one or two with him that he knows. Make the situation comfortable for him, give him time and leeway to do it "his way", and Milan would be back to their heights soon. For those who say that Milan isn't a top job because of( ...insert reasons here), they have the intangibles that are hard and time consuming that have to be established to be a top tier program. Community support and tradition have to be built up in most places, but are established well already there. As for some of the "bad" losses...they're just bad because Milan is Milan in the first place. The Liberty loss was mentioned, but they played for a state title...not a bad loss unless you're expected to go to Cookeville every year. Back to McConnell...he is relatively young, so prospectively would be there long term. He's offensive minded, and likes to spread the field. I firmly believe that this is the way to the future of HS football...the pass/run option doubles the responsibility of defenses, and the keys that determine the reaction of the defense. His defenses swarm to the ball...if one guy makes the tackle, ten are there to make sure, and his teams have always played and acted with discipline. No guarantees in life, but there's a lot of upside with McConnell.

40 + people applied for the job...someone will move there for the opportunity to continue Milan's tradition, it's done for less every year. To give you an honest answer to your "would you move..." question, I'd have to wear those shoes awhile. The nature of my work is a flat plane...the more I do, the more I am compensated. Coaching is different...many factors outside what you do contribute to success or failure, and that is why Milan and their tradition will be someone's motivation to move. McConnel and Milan would either be a complete disaster or the homerun off the top of the scoreboard. If the administration and players would buy in to what he does, there's a good chance that he takes their offense up about two notches, and returns Milan to THE team from the west.

Know what...? You could "fix" everything that you seem unhappy about. When your district's election schedule rolls around, pick your papers up, get 25 registered voters to sign, and run for School Board Representative. Can't wait for that...contact your Director of Schools or SB Rep., and ask to be placed upon the agenda for the next meeting. Milan is a great job, but the idea of paying a coach the relative sum of an average teacher along with a high profile coach's salary, while not contributing in the classroom is ridiculous. Coaches with "great" jobs usually teach some non EOC course schedule for a portion of the day, then a planning period (which the state requires anyway), then football for the latter portion of the workday. Each system set's their own policy...if you can sell the board on the idea of a $75,000.00 salary per year for coaching related duties only, it can be done...just be prepared for the other coaches and teachers to knock on your door with some fair questions...soon. BTW...Even top tier jobs west of Nashville (Dyersburg, Henry Co, USJ). entail teaching or supervision responsibilities along with coaching, even the privates. Only a select few of the prominent private schools hire people to exclusively coach, and mostly just those with monetary affiliation to larger entities (churches, ect...) are able to afford that luxury.

Wow. No way he's a "bad" hire, but Milan definitely has more viable long term options waiting like kids at Christmas. Woods has held "dream jobs" or at least very favorable circumstances at almost every stop, and has yet to fully commit to anyone. 95% of the coaches in Tn. would have been happy to have stuck with most jobs that he has happily left for greener pastures, but that doesn't make him a bad coach, and maybe his history of short but successful tenures fits Milan's bill too...there just might be a young coach out there that's not quite ready yet that will be willing to come home in a short few. Don't know a thing, but I'm trying to help BPM keep a positive outlook...frankly I'm shocked that the powers behind the Dawgs don't feel that there's a more solid candidate (or three) out there to lead their program long term.

I agree that Smith would've been great, and maybe later in his career he will "come home"...McConnell has probably opened himself up for schools to "come after" him with offers by putting his application in for the job at Milan, and I believe that he would've been great there too. His offensive strategy is progressive for Tn. high schools, but I think that will be the trend for successful teams in the future. McConnell has done great things at Waverly, and is "home" there, but I think that sometime in the near future someone will make him an offer that will be hard to refuse. Anyway...good to hear that it's coming to a close in a timely manner. From experience, early summer just ain't a good time to be without a coach, and I have confidence that with all the choices available, and the focus to win, that Milan will be fine with whomever they choose.

This is the epitome of stupid. To legislate the punishment of a minor (and his/her team) for the actions of another is Ludacris. It's the home teams responsibility to provide security for games, NOT the TSSAA, so why on earth would they even consider monetary restitution to themselves necessary? The schools pay a membership fee to be associated with, and adhere to the rules of TSSAA, and in turn receive (in theory) benefits...private citizens have no such affiliation, they simply are charged an admission fee. For the TSSAA to hold a minor's eligibility financially responsible for "$500.00 ransom" is just moronic...technically, minors aren't legally responsible for themselves.

Coaches salaries at public schools are public record...pull it up on Milan Special School District website or drop by the BOE. Of course they could negotiate a higher or lower amount before signing a contract with whomever they decide to offer.

Merry Christmas to you and yours BPM...hope that 'ol Santy Clause brings you the coach y'all need to keep the tradition going!!!

Not taking away from the fact that you won convincingly over the team that beat them, or your dominance for the last couple (and beyond) of years...Huntingdon's skill and speed made some really good 3A and 4A teams look bad until they drew into their shell for the playoffs. Usually they have a built in excuse like injury to a key player, or another great team (WC) had a big night, but not this year. I haven't a leg to stand on...y'all won easy over the team that beat the Mustangs, but I'm still thinking that a week 7 or 8 game with no pressure goes to H'ton.

You had it figured out bass...Huntingdon just blew their shot. They were the class of 1A, but as usual lost to someone that they shouldn't have. After them, I had stated many times that I thought the next 4 (at least) were from the east. Not trying to 'dis anyone with that, especially Cornersville, but the Mustangs should be polishing that ball.

Chester Co. isn't a one man team. Other than the "shooter", the point is athletic, can score, and finds open teammates...they have a wing player that's smooth to the basket and shoots well, and they have some role players who do a good job, the least of which has some size, but hasn't shown much focus or intensity. They're not going to finish first in the district, but you can't have a bad performance against them and not worry about the loss.

Exactly...although I am affiliated (fan of) with Scotts Hill. We are a young program, and until recently we had a 20 x 24 "facility" that served as a locker room, weight room, and dressing room...far from turf on the field, but we're getting further along towards where we want to be.

One last time, as straightforward as I can say it...and no, I'm not trying to be a smart aleck by doing it this way...just seems as if I can't leave anything to the imagination. 1 I'm not a Springfield fan. 2 If they weren't very good I don't care (refer to #1), but kids are not trash. 3 the "proud" part of your post doesn't include me (again...refer to #1). 4 If the post that said that they were trash was one of your 13, you ARE a jerk...if you were not the one, I never said that you were a jerk...said the guy who posted that was, and hope that you stick around long enough to figure out some of the folk's character who have been around awhile. 5 Anderson County probably was better than anyone in the west, but it's not like the best two teams in a classification were from the same side of the state never has happened before...it doesn't concern me either way (refer again to #1). In case that doesn't clarify it enough, my post did not concern either team playing in that game, it strictly was about someone bad mouthing innocent kids...period. This was the third or fourth post with me attempting to establish the intent of what I said or to whom I said it, and it is the last one on the matter. Since I went into such detail for you, I'd like to know what the weightroom comment was supposed to mean...I couldn't connect those dots at all.