bulldog13

What are the rumors floating around about a Grand Jury investigation. I would have to think this would be in the newspaper. If not the high school has done a real good job of keeping this quiet. Please someone fill me in.

What I believe what needs to be said about this whole subject is the product that was put on the field was no where near what Rhea County football has been or what is supposed to be. I believe the players tried hard but were not put in a position to succeed. Yes the late hire had some to do with it but with many players returning the leadership and direction of the program is where I find fault. I was embarrased by all the personal foul penalties. Plus I do not recall in the last 8-10 years, the officials having to bring players together like they did in 3-4 games this year to tell them to act right. Let alone the delay of game penalties and other penalties just not being organized and prepared. The actions towards the players at practice, in the weight room and the training area, plus the obsentity laced half-time talk at Walker Valley was enough to make me sick that this was a Rhea County coaching staff. This is a proud county, with great football tradition and the players and fans who are involved deserve and demand better treatment than they got this year. The administration needs to gather all this information and make the right decision and remove some of the parties involved and start over. At least then the school would have the winter and spring to be prepared for next season.

A few thoughts on this season so far. I do not remember the previous staff making all the excuses I have heard and read about from this staff. Someone made the comment that Coach Green said, "all it would take to beat Brainerd was to be in a little shape and line up correctly." Either we didn't line up right or we must not be in very good shape. Might want to have a little more resect for your opponents. Keep bad mouthing the previous staff and more players are going to walk. 38 left. Earning respect by bad mouthing other people is not going to get you anywhere. How can this staff and administration really think staying in 6A would be a good thing if by enrollment the TSSAA would drop Rhea County to 5A. I beleive the players are trying their best and are working hard. Maybe a little more encouragement instead of all the bashing may bring more success. I like the uniforms both home and away. But for Rhea County stadium and especially Bill Horton field to look the way it does is an absolute shame. Our players deserve much better than to play on that type of field. Have a little pride and work ethic, take care of the playing field at least. Been coming to games for many years and that is the worst I have ever seen it look. Enough of the off the field stuff. Take the opportunity in front of you Eagles and continue to work hard and be prepared. We are still behind you and we wish you all the luck against Bearden and for the rest of the season.

I saw that Bledsoe beat the Golden Eagles 4 to 2 the other night and McMinn Co. handled the boys pretty well Friday in the 7 on 7 match ups. It is early but allowing a 2A-3A school to score that easy and for a not great McMinn team to score 4-5 times and than to score on their 2nd and 3rd units does not bode well for the Eagles. On another note; I thought the school colors were Kelly Green and Gold. Sure looks like were staying with the Hunter Green and Gold. Players and coaches were wearing hunter green stuff at the workouts. I heard we had new uniforms coming in. Why do some sports get to wear what they want and others are told to wear something else? Personally, I do not care but it would be nice to have one set of colors instead of 3-4-5 shades of green and adding in vegas gold--packer gold--or yellow. Official practice starts Monday, so we will see. One last note it's a shame the head coach or coaches do not know who the returning starters are. The Rhea Herald News mentioned other teams returning players, but we do not know. It doesn't matter if you will start this year or not you are still a returning starter. Another slap in the face to some of our players. They deserve better especially in their own local newspaper.

So one day until dead period ends and workouts start back up. Who are the assistants under Coach Greene? I've heard that Davis is also done at the high school. Coach Guthrie may be going to Spring City also. With Mitchell being the only holdover from the previous staff. That leaves Fitzgerald, Cameron, Hampton, Davis, Cook, both Smith's and Guthrie maybe gone. 8 coaches, I guess that is what the administration wanted was change. Nice going, a 6A football program with a head coach and 3 assistants.

Conflicting reports in the local paper and the times free press. Messimer says Adams is a stayer with his shortest stint of eight years at one job. Ward Gossett did his research and found 3 one year stops a two and one three year stop. Did Messimer just make it up or did he do any research? I hope the Rhea Herald news clarifies their report and puts accurate information out for the public.

If that is true, it tells alot about the type of players (player mentality that we have here at Rhea County) You have two coaches who are assistants and another volunteer who will be employed soon showing up every M-W-F morning to try and instill some type of regular routine to these players. If you do not like the coaches than either move or don't come out. If these types of comments get back to these coaches you may have a new head coach and fathers who the administration hires as assistants. This is laughable. You posters or more exact players possibly want a coach who will let you slide when it comes to working out, practicing or even going to school. But you want to win on friday nights. When you don't it is the coaches fault. The previous staff put in countless hours watching tape, evaluating players ability, going over strategy maybe more than any other staff in Tennessee and it still wasn't good enough for you. I would like to hear Davis complain about things the way some of you do. In my dealings with him he is a very positive guy who is always loking for the best way to help the kids. If that means pushing them to go a little harder than so be it. I'm sure the coaches at McMinn, Ooltewah, and Cleveland are eating cookies and sipping lemonade during their workouts. Get real, if teams want to win football games, their players show up and work hard. Keep waiting for the next Saban, because what I hear he works his players pretty hard too. If you don't like Davis tell him. But quit making excuses about players not showing up because he is running the workouts. I for one am even more on the bandwagon to give him his shot in leading our program.

Two weeks of workouts in. Not a great showing for our hometown boys. Many, many missing players. But that was to be expected without a head coach. Mitchell and Davis are putting the boys through the workouts. Mitchell is the interim head coach but Davis has organized the lifting and running program. The players who show up seem to working hard, but there is just not enough of them. Incoming freshmen seem to be the most consistent showing up. With interviews done, I will say that not hiring Davis would be a mistake. Five years in the program and knowing what we have coming back gives us the best chance to be successful. The timing of all this was bad, but Cook left before spring practice began. Cameron resigning, Fitzgerald resigning and than Hampton joining them. Also Jason Smith and Jesse Smith left before any of that. Some stability would be what we need for the boys and as quick as possible.

Don't go to the every practice I've attended he is yelling at someone. Coach Fitzgerald was a fine coach also and I have seen him get on players also. Your point about going with the hometown boy makes no sense and I am from here. That may be our problem, it certainly looks like that with some other things that go along with the school. I for one have been very pleased with Davis and believe he should get his shot also. Coach Cook is good also. I am not going to turn this into a ripping of one coach to promote another. They both would be good choices. Cook seems to be coaching at Chattanooga Central now and Davis is still at Rhea COunty. I, like the players that I talked to, believe Davis would be the logical and right choice. They can see that he wants them to do well both on and off the field. Success can be measured in many ways. I believe Davis is the way to go and I will not change my mind because others beleive a hometown boy should get his shot.

After doing a little research and talking to a couple players, they believe that Davis would be a good choice for the Head Coaching position. They believe he would be a coach that would work the boys hard but be fair. He always brought some fun to his basketball practices, I beleive this would carry over to football. I don't know what he would do on offense but a coach who has that many years as an assistant has had to of run several types of schemes and offenses. Him knowing the talent that we have would be a key in his choosing what offense would best suit the players in our program. His knowledge of an overall football program is good but he may also bring some new things to the program that in a way would be new life. It all comes down to this program is in a tough spot. With few teaching positions to fill with possible coaches, stability in the staff with what we have could be a key. I believe if Davis were named, Mitchell would stay on because Davis would allow Mitchell to coach the O-Line and work in practices for the most part the way it has been. With Coach Jeremy Fitzgerald wanting to also stay, his enthusiasm and knowledge could also be very helpful. Davis may be able to keep Hampton in the loop if he does not find another job. He could also use Coach Revis in a bigger role. He does a great job with the players and in a bigger role could provide some great insight. Who knows, Davis could even try to persuade Coach Cook to not leave and be the new defensive coordinator. With workouts starting Wednesday the quicker this is done could prove to be the way to go for our 2011 season and beyond. A solid group of freshmen need a good summer like the rest of the boys to get us winning again and back in the playoffs!

Right, everyone has an opinion, but he may be exactly what we need. Organized and a disciplinarian, also a coach who gives chances to all in practice and than plays the best players. Not because of who their momma or daddy is. He could instill the true team concept that we need to get back to.

I was just wondering, Mitchell does not want the head job and Davis is the only other person who has been on staff for the last 5 years. Checking a program from last year, I see that he has like 23 or 24 years experience with coaching football. Why does anyone not think that he would be interested in the head coaching position? He has worked in several of the programs here at Rhea County and done a great job. Our special teams have won us numerous games over the years. Jash, Hester and Rickert plus Spider Monkey have all earned All Region honors. He has good discipline, is very fair and has great knowledge of all aspects of the game. I do not see him moving anytime soon with a daughter (I think a 9th grader) and another son who has done well in little eagles and the dizzy dean league. I see him moving this program forward in a very positive way.

I was just wondering, Mitchell does not want the head job and Davis is the only other person who has been on staff for the last 5 years. Checking a program from last year, I see that he has like 23 or 24 years experience with coaching football. Why does anyone not think that he would be interested in the head coaching position? He has worked in several of the programs here at Rhea County and done a great job. Our special teams have won us numerous games over the years. Jash, Hester and Rickert plus Spider Monkey have all earned All Region honors. He has good discipline, is very fair and has great knowledge of all aspects of the game. I do not see him moving anytime soon with a daughter (I think a 9th grader) and another son who has done well in little eagles and the dizzy dean league. I see him moving this program forward in a very positive way.