fatherreb

In five decades of watching high school football, this is the only instance where I would describe the on field situation as dangerous. There was clear intent not to beat the other team but to maim the opposition. To apply parallel justice, in society we sequester those who are a threat to others around them. A fine does not sequester, neither, I think does it deter - especially when the perpetrators will not be the ones paying the fine. Playing football in the TSSAA should be like driving: a privilige. If a school demonstrates it behaves as a drunk driver, threatening others around them - liscence revoked. To put it another way, what I saw on the field was beyond the pale of poor sportsmanship. It was criminal. Not an exaggeration in saying that.

Afraid I have to agree. A shame that Brice can't do more freelance for them. Noticed that some of the stats were incorrect and others had no stats at all. But to state it more positively, Blount Today only publishes 2x a week with one writer and manages to give really good game and behind the scenes coverage. Stefan Cooper is awesome.

He hit 39 according to TSSAA website. Played for Brentwood Academy, then went on to set most of the kicking records at Auburn.

As the father of a kicker, I can certainly understand when people misunderstand or overlook the kicking game. I'm interested to here about the stats of the kicker you mentioned. As a point of comparison, here are some specifics for Zach Sharp, who will be kicking for the East on Saturday: 70\71 PAT's year and 157/159 career. Set new state record for consecutive PAT's (111) 80 Touchbacks on 97 kickoffs, 70 yard average with 4 second hangtime. Many through the uprights. 10\13 fieldgoals on year, 33 career field goals is 2nd best in Tennessee history - ahead of James Wilhoit and behind John Vaughn. 257 career points is team record and likely state record if such was kept. In addition to Mr. Football award and selection to All Star team, he was preseason all state selection and winner of several regional, district and county honors in all four years. Set team records of longest field goal (50), most PAT's, field goals, total points in year & career. Started 60 games in career. Won several national level competitions in field goal kicking. Won the UT camp with a 55 yard field goal off the ground. Has been ranked in top five nationally in the major kicking services, being recruited by several D1 schools including UT, MTSU, Va Tech, UCF, Wake Forest, Penn, etc. Please compare.

Thanks for the thread Spanky. Today was a sweet day for Zach (and his parents). It was quite fitting that several of his senior teammates were in the boro for the press conference before the Mr. Football luncheon (something that all teams playing in championship games do). In particular, so great that Tommy Wilkinson and Jared Miller, who have snapped and held for Zach since middle school could be there today. Wished the whole line could have been there too - football awards are always team awards at the end of the day.

Understanding my hopeless subjectivity, I've decided to stop waiting around for somebody else to say what I think must be said about the 2011 class of Rebels. What has consistently been said is that the talent in this bunch is "down" from previous and subsequent years. No stars. No recruits. The gap in an otherwise unbroken string of stellar groups of gridiron greats. There is a a measure of truth to some of this. What started out as the biggest freshman class is now the smallest. Yes they got hammered in the 8th grade by Alcoa (who hasn't gotten hammered by this Alcoa bunch - a team I maintain that top to bottom is the best I've seen in Tennessee history ever and I've seen some good ones). But mostly I think this mentality toward the senior class is way, way overblown. Let me be specific. Stian Romberg has simply worked his tail off in the classroom, on the basketball court, the weight room and the football field. He's now being recruited by major D1 schools as well as the Ivy League. He represents the very best of Maryville tradition in every way. Preston Burnett ranks among the speediest in Maryville football legend. Made some great plays for us this year, who knows what he could have accomplished with more touches. Dez Horne is getting looks from colleges and rightly so. He's fought through a couple of tough injuries this season and may yet prove to be a game breaker. Did you see him run across the field Friday night to make a devastating block that sprung Prevo for another 10-12 yards? Amazing speed and selfless effort. Refreshing in a world of prima donna receivers. Ditto with Clarence Langley. His quiet, hard working way makes him the prototypical Maryville player. Jared Miller did nothing short of reinvent himself into a seriously bulked up DE when it became apparent that the Rebels were stacked ahead of and behind him at qb. Bet you didn't realize that he's also been a holder since middle school and owns a piece of Tennessee football history in the form of two placekicking records. More on that in a moment. Dalton Graumann is the poster boy for Maryville football. Great attitude. Works hard. Fantastic family. He makes everybody around him better. Nick Coode is the greatest team leader you've never heard of. Don't tell him he's undersized. On second thought, go ahead and tell him. He'll use it as rocket fuel. Tommy Wilkinson would also be considered undersized in every way but heart. He is a madman on D, and is quite simply the most consistent long snapper I've ever seen in high school. Along with Jared Miller, he's a huge reason that Maryville special teams are so special. Austin Canfield probably has the most underrated arm of any Maryville qb ever and is a kid you want your daughter to marry. Zach Sharp - yep he's mine. Any other position besides kicker and everyone would know his stats. Here's a sample: most consecutive PAT's in state history (111). Tied for 2nd in state history for field goals made (32). His 71 yard kickoff average is about 13 yards better than Michael Palardy at UT and with significantly better hang time. Set almost every kicking record at MHS including most career points (246), most field goals, most PAT's (149) longest field goal and with one more point will tie the all time kicking points in a season total of 89. In addition to being a Mr. Football finalist and ranked 16 in the country on Kohlskicking.com, he will start his 59th game Friday night (which I'm told by someone who'd know is a Maryville 1st and quite possibly a state 1st). Not bad for a "down year."

Not sure what an "unset" is but I can tell you firsthand that the Rebel coaches spent copius amounts of time in the film room this weekend, have boatloads of respect for the Ads, and as a team are not even thinking about DB or anybody else. Challenge: show us a game in the last decade where Maryville thought "too far ahead" and were "unset."

Districts don't win games. Neither do quads. Teams do. All of the chest puffing about districts and whining about too difficult quad seedings has been lost on me. Not gonna complain that my team (#1 in 6A) has been placed as a 2 seed in a quad with the #2 team in the state. Just look forward to a chance to beat them

Thanks for the chance to make the case! Zach Sharp - kicker for Maryville. New state record 111 consecutive extra points. 29 career field goals is 4th all time in TN history (and counting) 70 yard Kickoff average with 4+ second hang time. 85% Touchbacks. School record (tie) 50 yd. FG vs Heritage, 6/8 on season and perfect beyond 40 School record holder for most points in career - 215 and counting, most kicking points in game, most field goals in season and career. Highest ranked kicker in TN in the two major kicking services (Chris Sailer and Kohl's) Named to "Top 12" national camp by Chris Sailer Pre season all state (Murphy Fair) Been recruited by LSU, Bama, UT, MTSU, VA Tech, Ivies, etc. 4 year starter (55 games and counting - might be a record if such was kept). Highlight film: http://www.ihigh.com...deo_888312.html

One of the Admiral coaches is a friend. Says they fear Cody Rule's injury may be ACL tear. Man, I bleed for him and that team that is now decimated by injury I think he said every starter in the backfield is down. The end of a season is a colossal deal in the world of a high schooler. Thought the Admirals competed pound for pound as hard as anybody we've played all year. We needed a game with blood in the water near the end of the reg. season to see how we handle adversity and to find or maintain our edge. We got that kind of game, but not sure I want to face the music about our response. Yes we had some circus catches, some great individual efforts (how about Stian Romberg on D?), but you wonder about basic execution,silly penalties, each play getting max effort, etc. Someone may well tell me not to give aid and comfort to the enemy with regard to future opponents. I say, go ahead and be honest or don't say anything. Here's what I'm going to do: cheer louder and harder, encourage the players I know to seize their opportunities, play at potential, and provide authentic leadership to the degree they're able. Finally, remember it is just a game, but one with amazing possibility for teaching us all if we will be good students.

Time for a take. Both teams will have impact players missing tomorrow. Not unusual for week #8. My take: Rebs 31 and the Ads 17

1. Back from White Station in '09 Championship. Haven't tackled him yet. 2. Riverdale - Semifinal '09. A non-event after so much hype and anticipation. 3. Again I'll go with White Station. At least on this end of the state they were unheralded. Most thought the Maryville/Riverdale semifinal was the "real" championship game. Oops. 4. Fewer restriction on noisemakers, banners, etc. 5. Hook and ladder - v. William Blount, 2007 6. Early 00's v. Melrose Final score: 7-6 7. Why argue with perfection?

With ya all the way Govdude.

While its your perogative to stop short of commending the Admirals staff, I'll gladly stand by my comment. I think Cortney provides as steady a hand as any helmsman in Knox Co. They may have the best group of young assistants around as well. They're winners. They're former Rebels. Finally, Gerald Robinson is the best special teams coach in the state. The record books are filled with the names of kickers he coached while at Halls, and he's voluntarily groomed many others around E.T. who are playing on Saturdays. The staff has taken a lot of unproven players coached them up, assembled them well, and now have a noteworthy victory against Bearden and the "unstoppable" Devrin Young. No, I don't have any relatives coaching or playing for the Admirals. I do however appreciate a job well done. I have to agree with Pepvol regarding your officiating comment. You don't really want to go there. Let's face it, officiating is probably going to be lackluster wherever you go. Our games at Oak Ridge and Bearden bordered on circus acts at times. It is what it is. By and large, Farragut had some great pieces last year, but they failed to execute in the clutch and some developed temper tantrum tendencies down the stretch.

PV - I don't care for Thursday games either, for multiple reasons, but most of all for the players. Its seven hours of commitment for them from the time school's out till the games' over. If a paper is due or a test is to be taken the next day, too bad. The school may receive benefits for playing the games (when they're on tv), but not the players. I will say the past two Thursday games were while MHS was on Fall Break, and that did help. Like I said there are multiple reasons, some football related and some not. I understand that other sports play during the week, but they don't ask for seven hours where study can't happen.