ballcurmudgeon

Sigh.

As much as I love Rhea County, I guess we deserve Allen. He is as bad as the Rhea County Schools Administration so it should be a marriage made in Heaven.

You are both wrong and right. You are correct that you don't hear much from me from coaching change to coaching change. I don't bash coaches or players, or get on Coach T to show everybody how much I know about offense, defense, conditioning, or whatever. You are wrong about why I get on Coach T, which is to remind people that there appears to be a structural problem at Rhea County that has little to do with coaches, players, or fans, but does have a lot to do with stability. I stand by that statement and you can tell me to shut the blankety-blankery up all the want but I have as much right to post on here as you do. I think I know why you want me to shut up but I will continue to post from time to time as I see fit.

Oooooh, I am so sorry that I have offended your inept relatives. I can't believe you would suggest that I "man up" and go talk to them. I find it amusing that you would use the term "man" in the same sentence as the Rhea County Administration. If these clowns had a pair of testicles between them we would not be in this position today. My manhood is not the issue here.

While I am on this rant,let me be clear that I not just talking about football. Other sports are suffering as a result of Inappropriate involvement by certain School Board members and a Director of Schools who bends to their will. This too will pass, and when it does, Rhea County athletics will return to a higher level of excellence. Let's hope that time comes sooner rather than later.

Coach Cameron is also a fine man who has been very unappreciated here in the county. Why would he want to subject himself to the abuse he suffered under Messemer and Levingood before? You know that old saying," The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result." I am guessing that the folks who have brought us to this point are very pleased to be in a new district. That way, the favored coaches and cronies can appear to be successful.

Jerry Cook is a fine young man, but he should think long and hard before he decides to work for Messemer and Levengood. He should wait until these two retire. Then, maybe Rhea County can get back to hiring a professional Director of Schools. That will improve athletics at the high school. Trying to hire local good ole boys for administrative positions has resulted in way too much political interference in athletics. A few changes on th School Board would be helpful as well.

Anybody see the Chattanooga Times article this AM where they interviewed Jason Fitzgerald and Andy Kelly? Nice interviews. Impressive young men. Too bad Fitz had such poor support from Rhea County Administration that he decided to go elsewhere. After reading the article I sat back in my recliner and counted how many good ball coaches Rhea County has either run off or made so miserable they left. It was pretty impressive and included several sports. Way to go, Rhea County. Maybe no one will notice that future records could be due to us being in a weak district.That said, I hope our teams do well and I will certainly pull for them. And I wish luck to our former coaches who are now working in school districts that appreciate their value.

Un-Silent Majority was extreme, to say the least. Hated most Rhea County coaches except Favorite Coach, who he apparently believed should coach all sports. He was also a big supporter of the Rhea County administration who ran off most of the good coaches. UnSilent Majority has shown himself to be either kin to the Rhea County Administration or kin to Favorite Coach. Let bygones be bygones is fine if you don't mind the damage people like UnSilent Majority and his kind inflict on local sports programs. I will always pull for Rhea County and I will always support our Rhea County teams, including all our new coaches. I still believe the Rhea County Director of Schools and Rhea County High School Principal have damaged our athletic program. I know this pains you, Un-Silent, because you obviously have some kind of connection to the Administration, not to mention Favorite Coach. As for your BS answer that you have gone away and given your handle to some poor unsuspecting person who wants to post on Coach T but does not have enough sense to establish his own account, if anybody believes that, I have some property in the Rhea County flood zone for sale.

Is this the same UnSilent Majority that blasted Coach Fitz and several other Rhea County coaches? The same guy who upheld the Rhea County Administration when they ran off more good coaches in all sports than any school around? Is this the same guy? What are you smoking?

I think the Rhea County administration has hurt Rhea County in recent years with their treatment of loyal coaches and their coaching decisions. At some point people will see this. Walt Cameron is one example of poor treatment. He will be missed down the road. I could name others in other sports.

Bradley County and Walker Valley both have good teams and tradition.

I just wish we still had him in Rhea County but I wish him luck.

Congratulations to Coach Fitzgerald. A good man and a good coach. Hixson's gain. Rhea County's loss.

As for Ole Ballcurmudgeon, I have said repeatedly, I am not into bashing coaches or players. I have said over and over again that I am concerned about the Rhea County Administration's lack of professionalism in general, which I believe is harmful to stability in our sports programs. As a curmudgeonly old man, even I am surprised at the sexist comments that dismiss the womens' opinions on this thread.The only thing more surprising is how few people you had to pick from in your coaches survey. When Coach Fitzgerald resigned you had to stand in line to make a comment on CoachT.com. For some reason, after this football season, things got really quiet. Go figure.

The Rhea County administration let school board politics and know-nothing families back them into a corner when it came to coaches. Currently, you do not have long lines of experienced, successful coaches chomping at the bit to coach at Rhea County. The word is out. Look back at how few applications Rhea County got for the softball or baseball coaching positions (none or nearly none) not to mention other sports that had few applicants. And the top pick for the football job bailed at the first chance he got. The current administration chose to make life hard for the loyal coaches (in several sports) who stuck around despite low pay because they loved the community and the kids. Instead, Levengood and Messemer chose to let school board members and family members tell them who should coach. In order to get new coaches they have had to provide benefits they denied to previous coaches. My guess is that the school system is spending more money to meet new coaches demands than they spent when the previous coaches were there. And they have to work hard to cover up any mistakes new coaches make so Rhea County fans won't figure out the truth. The problem is deeper than coaches and players. Look back at the past several years and what has happened to Rhea County sports. The problem is at the top. We need professional adminstrators, not politicians and family puppets.

The coach from Cumberland County.

Just remember - always follow the backstory. Check out who on the School Board is pushing Levengood's buttons when it comes to coaching in all sports. It is there. Greene might be smart to let Ole Jerry in the press box. Great ego-stroke. How many professional (I stress the word "professional") directors of schools do you see in press boxes wearing a headset? As for Messemer (the other half of the Dynamic Duo)from what I can determine, Messemer is taking sports advice from his family - that was very clear when it came to softball. Most people in the know in this part of Southeast Tennessee understand that one softball coach was not rehired because she was not playing Messemer's neices. Forget about blaming coaches (former or current) or our great Rhea County kids - just look at the bigger picture and you will figure it out. I am not a coach at Rhea County. Have never coached at Rhea County. Have played enough to know a bad situation when I see one. It is not the coaches. It is the administration. If you create a negative environment you will have negative results. The problem is at the top. Wake up, Eagles fans.

I have no interest in criticizing the kids or the coaches for this unfortunate year, but to suggest that the Rhea County Administration might "do the right thing" is laughable. The Rhea County Administration is part of the problem. They would not recognize the "right thing" if it slapped them in the face. Levengood and Messemer are to blame for the coaching revolving door at Rhea County and the instability that resulted. Earlier, someone said they did not know who is on the Rhea County School Board which is also a problem. Levengood will make coaching decisions in hopes of securing support from certain school board members. Pay attention to the bigger picture and you will get the picture.

I don't know anything about rumors. What I do know is that instabilty and revolving coaching doors at Rhea County High School does not, and will not, lead to a successful athletic program. Every time I bring this up somebody accuses me of being a coach (which I am not) but I will repeat my thoughts - the Rhea County High School Administration is weak and devoid of professionalism. I will be surprised if Coach Greene sticks around any longer than he has to.I predict he will bail at the first opportunity. Who could blame him?

good effort, Eagles.

Yawn.

See my other posts to see what is wrong at Rhea County.

I just posted on a different thread about Rhea County but I will repeat a short version here. The kids are playing hard and not looking for excuses. The new coaching staff is working hard and not looking for excuses. Unfortunately, some want to blame the previous coaching staff who also worked very hard with no support from their Principal. The previous staff did not look for excuses either (although they had plenty to offer). The real problem with Rhea County athletics lies with the current administration. The High School Principal and the Director of Schools have turned Rhea County athletics into a political game. The Director of Schools supports, hires, and fires coaches according to how many votes he can pick up on the Rhea County School Board. The Principal at Rhea County HIgh School follows that lead cause he needs the Director to ensure that he keeps his job. To compound the problem, the AD is clueless. Rather he chooses not to see what is happening in order to keep his position or he is too dumb to get it. That explains why coaches from multiple sports are bailing the program. I am not a coach, have never been a coach, and am not employed by Rhea County Schools. I am simply a long time fan who is sick of the politics that has ruined our athletic program. The Rhea County School Board needs to worry about academics, student performance, and school facilties, and get their noses out of athletics. I understand that at least one member was mad cause his child could not play on the baseball team, but his job is bigger than that and he should have gotten over it long before he stuck his nose into things he clearly does not understand.The former football coaching staff was denied planning time prior to games, weight room training, and you name it. Do not fault the players. Do not fault the current coaching staff. Do not fault the previous coaching staff. The core is rotten. And you can find it in the Director of Schools office and the High School Principal's office. Check it out.