tradertwo

I think that Friday night will clear up some things. If TCA is in the game late, I'd include them with the top of the class. Meigs Co. is an unknown here in the west, as wells as CA and Trousdale, and I'm not ready to bury Adamsville just yet. If UC dominates TCA, then I believe that either Peabody or the Tornadoes face Waverly to go to the 'ship. Waverly barely squeaking in at #10 is a joke...they will give anyone above them in the poll all they want.

"Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it." Mark Twain This quote pretty much sums it up for me. Whatever issue Kapernick had with whatever entity, disrespect of our flag and anthem was a horrible way to express it. The flag is the very symbol of this country, the anthem written to glorify it, and choosing to show outward contempt for it was the same as having contempt for all who ever have sacrificed for it, not for those few who he felt wronged by, or the current governing body. Pat Tillman is a personal hero of mine...he had fame and fortune as a pro-bowl defensive back for the Cardinals, yet gave it up in order to volunteer to fight for the same flag that Kap wouldn't acknowledge. Mr. Tillman never returned to his family, but it was for their (and all Americans) way of life that he made the choice to go in the first place. Pat Tillman's life was worth no more to him than every others who has fought and died for our freedom was to them and their loved ones, but I used him as the example for the obvious...he was in the same league as Kapernick, and chose to fight and die for the same flag that Kap "spit on". I revere the right to live as I choose, and protest what I feel is wrong...I also have the sensibilities to respect the entity that gives me those rights.

Give people a little respect, and most will return it. If fans didn't love their teams, there wouldn't be a forum for us to share information and opinions. Language like that isn't well received here either.

Easy now...I didn't make a prediction, just an observation. Lewis County has a good football team, and your fans have every reason to be optimistic about this season, but to dismiss Trenton, Union City, McKenzie, TCA, Adamsville, Mitchell, ect...as a "gimmee" in a playoff game is just nuts. In my honest opinion (it and $6.00 will get you coffee at Starbucks) the representative from our side of the state should be decided between the Peabody/UC winner and Waverly, but I admittedly don't know what Mitchell has this season, and as "my" Lions proved last year, anything can happen if you believe.

Yeah...I hope that it's a good game too!

All school systems implement their own policy regarding student enrollment. Public, Private, and Special School Districts adopt and police their own rules regarding zoning, tuition, and even busing. TSSAA only gets involved with eligibility issues such as recruiting and transfer.

Nothing is certain, but LC has two major obstacles. Problem #1 is Obion County. Not traditionally strong, but they have some good wins this season. Problem #2 is the 2A teams from the west...somewhere down the line Lewis Co. has to deal with at least one of them, and there are more than a couple who are capable of coming to Hohenwald and sending the Panthers home.

I think that you're right. We (Scotts Hill) just aren't very good this year, and save fumbling on the one yard line going in to tie the game, we played Dresden heads up. We haven't gotten much better since then, and I'm sure that Dresden has...Peabody is on another level than both.

I didn't care for the "Clampett" reference in your first post, but I didn't want to jump to any conclusions about your intent...since you've made it perfectly clear what you meant, I'll reply. York Institute is there because one of the greatest sons of Tennessee sacrificed his beliefs for the good of his community. A. York never wanted his military actions to be glorified. He didn't want fame or money for himself, but after seeing what education could do for the children of Fentress Co., he allowed Sgt. York (the film) to be made, only after declining for 20+ years...allowed it in order to build and fund the school, not for personal gain. The man is an icon, and the school which bears his name deserves a little more respect than "Clampett", if only for that reason. BTW...save the "I don't care what you think" reply, I'm not into conflict and won't engage in a back and forth. The man is a patriot and hero to Christians and Americans alike, and I felt compelled to defend his namesake.

Potential to get ugly, or to be a decent game...Scotts Hill has some players, just sort of lost at the moment.

Depends on how long it takes for the USJ kids to get completely "bought in" to Stroup's philosophy. I spoke to him yesterday, and he said the same as you...there were flashes of the coming together that all teams with new coaches have to do against Haywood. I can tell you exactly when it happened for us at Scotts Hill...Gleason game late in his first year, a game which we lost, but the difference was astounding from one half to the next.

You avoided the question. The short answer is yes, Huntingdon would be favored in the game, which says that they should be placed ahead of Dresden in a poll. I agree that rankings and polls are just for conversation, but why even bother with them if you don't believe what you're putting out there? Nobody is ever going to release a poll in week one that would be considered accurate at season's end, and I don't have as much of a problem with dropping a team for losing to a "better"(higher ranked, or bigger classification) opponent, but I don't like it when pollsters drop a team for losing such a game beneath another, then adding that they still think that the team they have lower would beat the higher ranked team...just put them in the order that you think they'd finish head to head.

Dresden was #1 last season, unquestionably. This season is different, and if I'm voting in a poll I vote them in order that I think they would finish in a round robin tournament. Gordonsville won it all a few years back, and started the poll at #1 next season, even though they graduated all but two starters, which I thought was ridiculous. Do you think that Huntingdon would be favored right now on a neutral field against Dresden? If you answer yes to that question your post above is a direct contradiction.

Safe travels BEM, and tell that son of yours that I'm proud of him too. High school athletics is a love of mine... it's taught me that perseverance conquers problems, made me respect others more, taught me life skills that I still use today, and introduced me to some wonderful people that I'd never have known otherwise so I don't view sports as "just a game" as it is to some. The team that your boy has joined takes those things to another level completely, and though I don't know him personally...he has my utmost respect.

Let me ask you a question Spider2YBanana...are you that Glenn man? He always talked about who was real fast like you just did 'till some of them Jasper people made fun of him and made him leave. I liked Glenn because I live in West Tn. and I don't know who is real fast over where you are since he left. Roy used to give a synopsis of games and read from his Murphy Fair book about who was big enough to nock holes for runners and who was the best passers and pass catchers on all the teams there, but I guess Murphy asked him not to so more people would buy his book. Now all I do is eat fudge rounds and drink hot cocoa and read about the SP and Jasper people patting each other on the back and telling how their team is better than theirs. I liked it better before the SP people and Jasper people were good friends and used to argue and paint stuff, and I ain't joking.

My reading comprehension is pretty good...LOL! I got what you were saying, and that you said "IF Coach Riley can...". I was letting you know that he already has proven that he can with this same group.

Riley has a relationship with some of these kids already...he also has a state championship with them, in middle school. If you think that he (Riley) isn't an "old school" coach because the kids have good relationships with him, you need to watch him coach. Discipline on and off the floor and maximum effort are required at all times, or you sit. You travel to away games...you dress accordingly and behave like you represent your school, or you sit. I could keep going, but you get the message. How can you be hard on kids and still have their respect? You respect them, and let it be seen that you care about them both on and off the court. Riley can be a gem, if "they" let him coach and support him.

I'm not a Milan fan, just a football fan who appreciates well mannered supporters of their respective programs and schools. To gain respect, you have to win and lose equally with some dignity...no excessive bragging when you win, nor whining when you lose, and that's not to say that some good natured banter among rivals isn't interesting and fun. Just saying that creating a thread suggesting that the Milan faithful are sore losers, or embarrassed by the loss to a good team isn't too gracious.

I'm guessing that you're happy that they did, and guessing that you are envious of their program's tradition too. Milan fans support their team well, and they always give credit where it's due...win or lose. Nobody wins them all (Alcoa and Maryville lost this week too), but the good teams learn and move on to the next one. If Milan fulfills their potential this season they will make a deep run in the playoffs that just may result in a trip to Cookeville, and losing in week two to a good Peabody team might help them to refocus and do just that.

From the time Scotts Hill "created" their football program until three or four years ago, they were a two wins a year team themselves, losing games by some lopsided and embarrassing margins to "average" teams...Middleton was always one of those two wins. I'm not bashing the program, and in fact I've always said that the Tigers have the potential to be a top 1A power with all their prospective pieces in place, but unless they've vastly improved, nobody who makes the playoffs (outside Memphis) has much to worry about. Get all the athletes in the school to buy in, and a coaching staff worthy of that talent(the current coach might be great, not questioning the coaching) and nobody takes Middleton for granted again.

I haven't seen Middleton in two seasons, but they are rarely any different. Pieces that look good, but as a unit...awful (no disrespect intended). They have enough exceptional athletes in the average year to be one of the premier programs in the west, but you'll have to visit the gym to see them. WC will have no trouble getting the W, and next years starters will get some practice.

Decent improvements, but too many mistakes. Turnovers seem to hurt young teams more than those with experience, and we made some at costly times...going in to score to tie the game and put it on the ground at the goal line, then give up the long run to go down two scores immediately. Congratulations Dresden, on a good team and great sportsmanship...kids on both sides laying licks, then helping opponents up afterward. Safe travels home, and hope that we can keep this game on the schedule going forward!

We've got a lot working against us. Graduated all the skill position starters on offense, the two leading tacklers and all starting secondary. Now the coach has to be absent after the team not being ready for in game situations last week, stemming from the officials calling 24 penalties on us and 2 on our opponents. If all that doesn't make us mad enough to play our hearts out I have no idea what would. Everything points to a Dresden walkover...I wouldn't bet on it.

Tracy Chandler. I'm not going to get into a back and forth about Lott and his coaching ability or a lack of...Lott has been mentioned to be replaced often over the past few years though, and if the "right" people in Selmer get pushy about it, don't bet that it can't happen.

Not buying that at all, the"trouble" with kids not wanting to play started when Bland left, and will end when the "right guy" takes over. Been there and witnessed it for myself...Scotts Hill had 22 players when Stroup accepted the job, forty something the next year, and between sixty and seventy from then forward. All positive aspects of a program begin with the coach.