braveheart

Also, just wanted to mention that just because someone wasn't reported, that doesn't mean that they weren't illegal. GCA got away with that one.

I am gonna cut you some slack here because I know most at that school have no idea as to what has gone/goes on there. I am beginning to think that maybe you are one of those. If so, I sympathize with you. The Pastor and GCA Board are very good at keeping things hidden. The below link is an article about the self report that they were not able to squash that made the paper. They were able to spin a lot of what happened last year to make themselves look good. Im sure if you placed a call to the grandmother of the kid who was reported last year, you will get a different story than what the Pastor and school Administrators at GCA have communicated. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/apr/24/grace-wont-be-penalized-for-another-violation/

NEVER be an apology???? That statement in itself is a big reason for all the hatred. What hypocrites!!! You have destroyed any witness you have in this community. I guarantee if another team had cheated you out of post season and state appearances, you would be crying for blood. I really hate the example you setting for all the young athletes at your school. I only hope this doesn't encourage and excuse them to use this same unethical choices as adults that your adminstrators, coaches, and pastor have.

GCA had more than one ineligible player on their football team last year, they even self reported a second player (I can look up the link on the Knox New Sentinel and post it for you if you'd like). Funny though, how several families got together to pay that player's (who GCA self reported) tuition over the last several years, and yet this year his family all of a sudden has the money to pay his tuition. And that same player just so happens to be one of your best defensive players (he is listed in PrepXtra as a leader in tackles and sacks). And as for previous years, Adrian Wannamaker lived illegally with the Pastor's son and paid no tuition while playing football and basketball. Speaking of basketball, you had Dillon Pridgeon as an ineligible athlete from FL playing basketball while living with a coach here in Knoxville the year prior to the Williams kid being reported. In fact, over the last 4 years, GCA never put a fully legal team on the football field or basketball court. There are rumors of illegal players this year on the football team, as well. I wonder if that will be reported again at the end of this year, too. These are reasons you have been a successful program. You continue to do whatever necessary to win, illegal or not.

First of all don't talk crap. Don't act like you are not a GCA fan with your "I have no dog in this in this fight" comment. You and I (and other posters had a pretty "colorful" discussion last spring about GCA and the allegations against them. Here is just one of your posts from May 19, 2010: tnvols2010 Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 39 Joined: 08-February 10 Posted 19 May 2010 - 06:15 PM ALL THE GOOD PLAYERS ARE STAYING BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS ABOUT MORE THAN A RING. IT'S ABOUT PRIDE. THEY ARE GCA RAMS....SOME GREW UP FROM KINDERGARTEN ON IN THAT SCHOOL AND THAT'S ALL THEY KNOW. IT'S ABOUT BROTHERHOOD. THEY KNOW IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO TO STAY. TO SHOW EVERYONE THAT JUST BECAUSE THE PROGRAM WAS HIT WITH A PENALTY THEY STILL WANT TO SHOW EVERYONE THAT THEY ARE THE BEST 1A TEAM IN THE STATE. WHEN, AND I SAY WHEN, THEY GO 10-0 THIS YEAR WHOEVER WINS THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP WILL ONLY BE A PAPER CHAMPION. YOU GUYS AND EVERYONE ELSE WILL KNOW WHOEVER WINS ONLY WON BECAUSE GRACE CAN'T BE THERE. AND AS FAR AS "EXPOSURE" CLASSOF2002, AT THERE SPRING SCRIMMAGE, CARSON NEWMAN, TUSC., MTSU AND I BELIEVE WESTERN KENTUCKY WAS THERE SCOUTING ABOUT 5 GRACE JR'S AND A COUPLE OF SR'S SO I THINK THEY WILL BE JUST FINE. THERE IS MORE TO LIFE THAN THAT RING. AND IF THEY DO TRANSFER THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO TO ALCOA OR MARYVILLE TO EVEN BE ABLE TO SAY THEY HAVE AT LEAST A 90% CHANCE OF WINNING ONE ANYWAYS!...IF THEY GO TO KARNS, OR POWELL OR CLINTON, WHO'S TO SAY THEY ARE GOING TO WIN ONE? WHO'S TO SAY THEY ARE EVEN GOING TO HAVE A WINNING SEASON?...AT GRACE THEY KNOW 10-0 IS ALL BUT IN THE BAG. 9-1 AT THE WORST!...THAT'S A GUARANTEE! For someone who just started following GCA this year, you sure know/knew a lot of their history. GCA is hated because the school is so incredibly arrogant in everything they do. I have yet to see any true repentance or apology from them for all the schools they have cheated out of post season play that was due those teams. Until we see some class,repentance, and humbleness from that school, you will continue to see disrespect and hateful attitudes towards them. And finally, GCA finished neither 10-0 or 9-1 ar worst as your post above promised. Did GCA even finish first in their district this year?

Alcoa's enrollment for 2009 was 541 students (I couldn't find a 2010 enrollment number for Alcoa). GCA enrollment number for 2010 is 515 (with the multiplier), as you stated in your post. As close as the enrollment numbers are for both GCA and Alcoa, it seems the topic of this post is a very valid discussion. Again, I'm not sure of the cutoff enrollment number for moving from A to AA, but GCA has got to be close.

Feel free to check actual 2010 enrollment numbers for Alcoa for 2010, but I found record that their enrollment for 2009 was 541. With the multiplier GCA is 515 enrollment for 2010, per Indian's post. Not sure of the cutoff number for A, but GCA has to be close to the AA - 3A classification that Alcoa is in.

Just to further validate the 20% increase in enrollment you mention above, this is taken directly from the homepage of the GCA website (www.gracechristianrams.org): GCA Experiencing Record Enrollment for 2010-2011 Enrollment for all new student applicants is now underway. We are experiencing a record number of applicants for the 2010-2011 school year, with several classes nearing capacity, and waiting lists may be created soon. Our high school is showing more than a 20% increase over current enrollment!

I agree. No class, no integrity, and no repentance for all the cheating they've done.

Not seen Rockwood play yet, but I do know they have put together some impressive wins this season. As for Wartburg, I saw them against Coalfield last week and certainly didn't see any issues with their conditioning. Wartburg's issue was not being able to execute. Several uncatchable bad passes, and good catchable passes that were dropped, that could have been game changers. When Coalfield's QB went out during the game, I thought Wartburg would be able to capitalize on that and pull out a victory. However, Coalfield hung tough and persevered. Personally, I didn't think I saw either teams A game that night. I think both could have played better. Nonetheless, kudos to Coalfield on a hard fought win!

Where can I find the list of enrollment numbers that determine A, AA, and AAA classification? What does the enrollment need to be at a A school in order for it to be required to move up to AA?

Good call Hater1. Disgrace Christian Academy has only beaten a 2-5 Grace Baptist team this year, and the 2 district teams you mention above, who are now 0-7 and 0-6 respectfully. Obviously, they are not the team they were in years past with the ineligible players. Congratulations Rockwood!

Let's see now... after tonights loss to Rockwood, Disgrace Christian Academy is now 3-3, with their only wins coming against three single A teams (Grace Baptist with a 2-5 record, Tellico Plains with an 0-7 record, and Midway with an 0-6 record). Not sure who you're talking about crushing, but obviously you are not the powerhouse you think you are. To be bowl eligible and play against another team who didn't make the playoffs, you'll you need to finish the season 5-5. That's probably what you should be concerned with at this point. Also, just like to mention that whether you challenge a crappy team in your bowl game that is A, or a crappy upper division AA or AAA team, your still playing and possibly beating a crappy team.

You're bragging about playing in a bowl game against a another school who didn't make the playoffs either??? Kudos to Disgrace Christian Academy for such an accomplishment! By the way, keep your tickets to your "Bowl" game, as most of us on this thread will be attending playoff games between legitmate and legal teams.

Hey bigman, get your head outta the sand. GCA was also nice to Wannamaker kid in allowing him to live with the Pastor's son and going to school at GCA for free, thus being illegal. They were also nice to the kid they brought up from FL to play basketball in allowing him to live with a non-related family, thus being illegal. And as mentioned in your post, GCA was most recently nice to a football/basketball player over the last 4 years in that the church paid his tuition directly to the kid's grandparents, so that they could in turn write a check to the school for the tuition. Nice scheme to cover their tracks, except the school never counted on the recipient actually telling the truth to the TSSAA when questioned. Sure is a lot of kindness going on at Disgrace Christian Academy, unfortunately it is all directed toward athletes.

I feel your above post actually adds credence to my earlier one. Being in Knoxville, GCA certainly has an advantage I'll agree, but to get as you say "on the map" you have to have success. No diss to Berean, but how may colleges around the state are aware of this Knoxville 1A school in GCA's district? You also mention Rockwood HS and Greenback HS as being dis-advantaged because they are not in Knoxville. I certainly agree with that, as well. Not being in a major city certainly does not give them the exposure that GCA has. And for those schools who are less advantaged by geography or lack of success, there is some animosity GCA because those schools did things legally. GCA's success it why (per your post) McKamey's desk is loaded with college letters. Which brings me to my point, GCA is on the map because of their success, the issue is how that success was achieved. A few years back, the Greenback basketball team lost to GCA 4 times during the regular and post season. As I recall, each time by only a 1-4 point spread, with the final loss coming in the Regional Championship. Had not Wannamaker and Williams been on the floor, I don't think GCA would have beaten them (just my opinion for what it is worth). Because of the loss, Greenback drew University High away and lost by, I think 6 points. By the way, University High ended up beating GCA by approx 25 points at the state tourney. Had Greenback beaten GCA, they would have played Hampton at home and had a better oppotunity to advance to the state tourney versus having to play the top seed away. Instead, GCA took this opportunity away from them with 2 illegal kids on the court. This being just one instance of how teams were affected by what has transpired with the illegal activity at GCA. My earlier post provided a link to an article about 2 other instances in football. Sorry for my harsh response in my initial post, I just felt the "10-0" and "paper champ" comments showed an arrogance and a lack of repentance for what has being going on for at least the last 4 years at GCA. This school has affected a lot of schools/families in the area and I just think a little compassion/remorse is in order.

Since your screen name indicates Clinton and your mention Hazelhurst, I assume you have ties to Clinton High School, and are probably friends with the GCA head coach. Therefore, I understand your defensiveness. I beg to differ on the scout comment, though. While you may have scouts in the bleachers for Clinton 5A games, unfortunately not often are scouts in the stands for 1A games, unless that 1A team is running roughshod over everyone. As for your example of Hazelhurst, that kid is special. A two-way LB/RB, All County, All Region, All-State 5A, East/West All Star participant, on the ESPN TN College Prospect List for 2010, Knox Sentinel Player of the Week on numerous occasions, and who has rushed for 230 and 288 yard games. Obviously, a 1A kid with those credentials will get noticed. I'm talking about the 1A kid who may have missed an opportunity for a small school scholarship, simply because his team wasn't at the state tourney to be seen be the small school scouts. The scouts that are at State evaluating higher level talent and in waiting, just happen to come across a 1A talent. I personally know a few kids who were/are good enough to play at the next level (again for a small school), but were never seen by a scout during the regular season, districts, and region games. Unfortunately, 1A talent is often overlooked by scouts who favor the AA and AAA schools.

The arrogance and lack of accountability at this school is unbelievable! Not only do they post garbage such as the above, they continue to advertise all their "VACATED" 2009 football season accomplishments on their school website. And to boot, they held a sports banquet this past weekend and passed out trophies. What message exactly were they trying to send the kids by rewarding them for something never legally earned? I guarantee if another school functioned illegally for the last 4 years and kept GCA out of the post season, Grace would be crying for blood. The attached link shows how GCA affected at least 2 schools in the area with their illegal play, and there are many more who were denied opportunities because of GCA's actions. I'm sure there are several athletes who missed out on college scholarships in being denied the opportunity to be seen by scouts at a state tournament they should have participated in, but were denied that opportunity by GCA's illagal actions. The school should be asking for forgiveness, not spewing arrogant comments such as the above! http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/Sports/ ... p?ID=75428

Did anyone ever confirm if the rumored self report were true or not? This has been kept very quiet. By the way, the boy involved in the whole violation issue at Grace was given the choice to either withdraw or be expelled. He has since withdrawn from Grace.

If you'll notice the caption states that four Rams were named to the 1A All State Team. Eric Williams was the other Ram, whose name the school wasted no time in removing. Just thought it interesting how quick the school removed Eric's name (while the TSSAA investigation was still going on), but left this up on their GCA website during open enrollment.

I don't want to shock you. A school does not receive a two year post season ban and $22,600 fine for an admistrative error. The adminstrative error was used last year(2008-2009) for basketball with the FL transfer. Those can only be used one time. I do not believe you know the entire story would be my guess. I doubt any one does other than Grace adminstration. Shock me?....if you read my posts on here you can SEE or maybe you can't because you are too dumb that I DO know a thing or two about this situation. YES I ADMIT IT'S A BIG PUNISHMENT, IT SUCKS FOR GRACE TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS. I ADMIT THAT. BUT FOR YOU PEOPLE TO "CALL FOR PEOPLE TO BE DISMISSED" AND ALL THAT CRAP IS RETARDED. IT'S FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL, BASEBALL ECT PEOPLE!....A PLAYER PLAYED THAT ENROLLED AT A SCHOOL AND TUITION WAS PAID FOR IN AN "UNFAIR" WAY WITHOUT ANY KNOWLEDGE OF COACHING STAFFS OR ANY SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR. A CHURCH GROUP ASSISTED A FAMILY YOU IGNORANT PEOPLE! GET A LIFE AND STOP BLAMING GRACE OR COACHES OR WHATEVER MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER AT NIGHT AS TO WHY YOU THINK GRACE HAS SOME "UNFAIR" ADVANTAGE IN SPORTS. They understand that there are rules. Rules get broken. Punishments are given out and time is served. That's what's gonna happen there at Grace. But don't you worry. Your precious little football team can actually MAKE the playoffs now since there will be a spot open now since athletics is the most important thing here. The kid in question had no idea anything was done wrong. The family had NO idea anything was done wrong. THE SCHOOL HAD NO IDEA THEY HAD DONE ANYTHING WRONG. Did it turn out to be wrong?....YES!...will they take the penalty? YES!...do they have to answer you you?....NOPE! tnvols2010, Please stop the posts with all the hatred. We (GCA) violated and we need to be held accountable for it. My child attends GCA and I can tell you that things such as this has been going on for several years at GCA. I'm not proud of it, but it is fact. TSSAA has been investigating the school for several weeks now. Doesn't it make since that if it was just one illegal player, the investigation would have been over a long time ago? With the fines and probation being mentioned, you have got to know that there were other numerous violations found out by the TSSAA. What we need to do is owe up to our wrong doing, ask forgiveness, and move on. We continue to make excuses for our actions, but I can tell you for a fact the school and church knew of most (if not all) of the illegal activity at the school. Your posts with such a hateful tone, and the church/school not willing to take responsibility for our wrong doing, are the very reasons other schools hate GCA and look at us as hypocrites. And to the poster that mentioned people being terminated for this, you are probably right, some should be and possibly will be fired. As aforementioned, this is far from the first time illegal athletic activity has taken place at GCA. We are supposed to be christian examples for the community, so lets start acting like it and also start being accountable for our wrong doings.

I'm not sure Mercer is teaching at Grace, either. It has been communicated that he is to be the Boys Head B-Ball Coach and Campus Pastor. So while they may not have made a teaching position for him, they did create a new position for him. Seems like the athletic department is getting all the money for staff new hires at Grace (i.e. most recently a new Asst AD position this year, a new Athletic Department Admin position this year, and a new Director of Volleyball Operations position that's already been hired for next year). For goodness sake, it's approximately a 225 student high school! I guess the parents there don't have a problem as to where their tuition money is going???

I am surprised, too. I don't know Mercer, but from all I've seen in the Knox News Sentinel and have read on CoachT, he seems like a standup guy. Just thought he would have investigated GCA a little more before accepting a position there. Very corrupt program that hopefully will soon be exposed after the current TSSAA investigation.