meritage

Maryville would win, but they are both overrated.  They would both be dogsnotted in the big boy classes of other states.  Hoover alabama, And trinity out of kentucky would be 2 schools not that far away that they should play, but they want to guarantee a undefeated record so they will never leave the state to play the big boys from surrounding states.  They are both fools gold, and bottom feeders.

I see you've researched it thoroughly. I hate to introduce some facts but feel compelled to do so. BA plays multiple out of state games every year. For example, 3 out of state games last yr and 3 in the 2016 schedule including Trinity, Olive Branch and a team from Dallas, TX. Yeah i know its tough though having BA known as bottom feeders and getting "dogsnotted" to boot!!             

that would be one heck of a matchup if these 2 teams played whew talent everywhere.. Corn was insanely good, but his oline that year was insanely good as well.. That game in 2012 though I felt BA had way more talent and was the better team, but their QB blew the game for them at ensworth playing his worst game he ever played in high school.. This years BA team would match up well bc of their interior front they had and their dynamic QB something they didn't have them and that's always a wild card to have

That BA was extremely talented and played with a 1st yr coach. 9 srs went on to play college football and that does not include guys like sanders and barnett.  Cody has told me more than once he wished he could have had that team one more yr. They did not run the same offense that is installed today.  Every skill starter on that team except the QB ultimately either won an individual or team relay sprint c-ship in the spring. Every single DII AA sprint ch-ship was won by BA - all football players with at least 1-2 records set that still remain and their times were not only the best in DII AA but also the entire state in most events.  More speed on that team than any i've seen at BA. OL was the weakness. Ensworth was a powerhouse that yr but so were a few other DII AA teams    

Brentwood Academy head coach Cody White is a superb coach and a better man. I am ELATED for him and these kids.

 

MBA is a fierce rival. It's always special to beat them because they're extremely well-coached and talented. Great season for the Big Red.

 

It's great to be an Eagle.

Agree Wes - very pleased for Cody and the team. He and his coaching staff have done a great job this yr. Talent alone won't get there - also requires strong coaching and some breaks. We've lost out on one or so of those in yrs like 2010 and 2012. A great game to watch that's for sure.MBA was there every step - tough to see someone lose this one but glad to see BA bring one home.  

My main point was not to criticize the coaching. McCallie is not a passing team yet had 270 yards passing. Since we didn't see the same game maybe you can help me by recounting one single downfield pass that was not to a back or slot? My point was BA had no cover scheme for McCallie's dink passes and they need to work on this or else they will see this again in the playoffs.

 

BA was lucky to come away with a win Friday evening. If not for the hail mary catch by DT, Cams kick off return for a touchdown and TT interception in the end zone it could have very well not ended well for BA. McCallie had 140 yards rushing btw 90 in the second half. BA shut them down  in the first half. Those dink pass plays opened up the run game.  I understand this is football - win is a win.

 

For the record I have never criticized a coach from BA on here since I have been posting. I have criticized the play calling on 6 occasions since I have been on this board.

 

Ensworth 2013 in the playoffs

MUS squared in the playoffs

Trinity

Baylor

McCallie

 

I have also praised the coaching / play calling and players this year ( MBA- Ensworth- University ) I feel as if I am fair with both. I am not a cheerleader just call things as I see them just like you.

Appreciate your response. I don't want to get into any argument on a msg board. i agree with you on some of your points for sure. I have seen though a number of comments this yr about BA coaching, and i don't think they were always fair. Of course it comes with the territory as they say.  I could certainly add some "frustrating games" to your list that's for sure (2010 playoffs ensworth, 2012 MUS playoffs, etc) but i think they were always a result of everyone involved. BA always has talent, some very good talent,  and i'll say in some instances it actually hasn't always made for the best in regards to teamwork (in our experience).  This group seems to be playing as a team and that goes a long long way. In the end, i'm sure both of us just want to see a c-ship ball for once at BA.     

If I had two weeks I would look at the 2nd half of the BA / McCallie game and fix the cornerback and linebacker coverage issues. Ralph went into the locker room knowing he could not run on BA so he threw dink oasses the rest of the half and dang near got back Ito the game- at one point down 6. I realize nothing was on the line last night but some of Ba's bad habits appeared last night while up 31-6 early in the 3rd quarter. Play calling was great until that point --- then blah ...............

 

Give credit to Ralph for the adjustment. He also gave other teams a look at some vulnerabilities of BA. Time to fix them over the next 2 weeks. If you don't I can promise playing the teams we whipped the first time will not be quite so easy the second time around. BA just can't let teams back into the game while up big and MCCallie ran down the field 5 times on BA using the same plays. BA never adjusted .

 

 

I've refrained this season from commenting on your consistent criticism of BA coaching when they don't perform to your liking but nothing when they win. There was a pretty significant lack of execution last night, and i think a little of "we have this game won".  All on coaching? Hardly. The fact is the LBs are undersized esp without Max and McCallie focused on stopping BAs big guy on the DL, and no one else stepped up. They gashed the front 7 a lot last night. We must have watched diff games. There are times when your players get outplayed as BA's did at least the 2nd 1/2 and you hold on to win, and you count your blessings. That was BA last night.   I think Cody (who is a good friend by the way) and gang have done a good job this yr - i see a better functioning coaching unit - albeit DII AA is not what it has been "corporately" in past yrs.  You have a great chance to win the c-ship and these young man are a good team. Should they win, it will be the players and coaches executing 110%.  No team in DII AA is so talented that they can win on talent alone. I hope you win it but like any c-ship, likely some luck, solid playing but also some struggles.

Pretty thorough beat-down that had the highights shown during the Titans game yesterday by Fox as some sort of local area high school game of the week...

 

off topic, but if you are a BA fan, cool piece on Graham Shuler, former Eagle starting at center for Stanford.  

 

http://www.campusrush.com/graham-shuler-stanford-cardinal-1418311467.html

Well not to veer off topic but titans mgmt probably realized they'd better start showing highlights from other games to entertain fans  even if they are HS as the titans sure don't have any. What a pitiful franchise. Place looked 1/2 empty on TV. If they are not careful, this franchise will end up having to leave here. they are losing the fanbase 

BA year in and year out has more talent than any team in the state. Seeing them underperform shouldn't be a surprise.

Well a long way yet to go obvously in DII this season. I guess we'll have to see if they can get by that reputation this yr. No doubt BA has a challenging sched incl the OCC games. The hope is this staff has them peak at the right time. We'll see

I love BA. I love the culture of the school and what the school represents. I have put 3 kids thru school there since 6th grade. In most years the football team has more athletes on the field than any school in D2 if not the state. Two of college footballs best players were on the same team if anyone needs a reminder and I can go back to 2009 and compile a list of teams and players who should have but never did. I am not here to criticize a high school football team. Life is much greater than football - but I would like to vent

 

Last night I watched a game that in my mind was won by a coaching staff and lost by another. There are bright spots on BA's sidelines but from my standpoint the play calling and the creativity to make adjustments to what the other team presents is sorely lacking. With the exception of Cam Johnson's 70 yard TD and the last drive where Trinity was in prevent Defense BA maybe had 120 yards of total offense with much of that on QB sneaks. I do believe Trinity is a national top 25 team but no one will convince me BA does not have more talent on this team than Trinity.

 

I have been around the game too long. How can BA only score 13 points with 3 SEC lineman and a WR who will more than likely will be the top recruit out of TN next year and a senior dominated team. BA should be able to run the ball on anyone and should be able to complete drives with the tools they have on offense.

 

I give credit to Trinity. They wanted it more- were better prepared - they executed better and they out hustled a more talented team. I don't understand shuffling in multiple QB's and running backs in such a big game. I don't understand the play calling. It is at times as unimaginative as any I have seen. You can get away with it when you play teams that are not so good but when you play great teams you need to be able to see the field and adjust. BA ran the ball - was ineffective with its passes and trinity loaded the box and knew exactly what was coming. We all did.

 

No one will convince me BA was not the more talented team last night athletically. Trinity as of now has one 2 star and one 3 star rated player from the class of 2016. No one is rated as of now in the class of 2017 or 2018. The first drive of the game last night looked all to familiar and predictable to me. QB sneaks on 3rd and long may work against teams of lesser talent but this is not youth football. Even Steve Spurrier has admitted his shuffling of QB's and personel was not always wise. I don't understand it. BA still has a shot but the coaching staff needs to start by looking at itself in the mirror and make changes. i give the play calling in big games a failing grade

I won't argue with you about some of the play calling but Triinity totally controlled our OL the entire night. We could not run ball outside of scrambles by JO. That's not all playing calling.  They were quicker and certainly more determined in the trenches than BA. And likewise, once the defense wore down the same was true on the defensive side with the 4Q being owned by trinity.  Lots of hype about the BA OL - was not there last night. And BA does not have the speed they have had in yrs past - yes Cam certainly does but in fall of 2012 for ex, multiple breakaway guys. BA won every single state sprint c-ship that year, not only setting a record in 1-2 of the them, but also having the best times in any classification across the state in almost all of them and also having top times in a couple vs states across the country. Every one of those guys was a BA football skill position guy (and if i recall correctly ramsey only ran in one of those events by the way).  Receivers last night were not getting themselves open other than johnson. Anyway I agree there was some suspect playcalling but trinity came to play.  Talent is there but both ends, coaches and players need to step it up and not take for granted, "wow we are talented".    

Prayers for the kids and families involved in this terrible tragedy.

for those of us who knew Mickey, our hearts are breaking tonite.  He lost his father 2 yrs ago and now his mother has to endure this pain. He was at our home on occasions and he is a wonderful young man. I have 5 HS/college age kids and  i can't help thinking what if this were me. Our youngest was friends with mickey when he was at BA.  I don't know God's plan in this but i hope his mom can find some way to see that plan although right now i can only imagine the pain she is going thru. This family needs all of our prayers. Hug your kids tight tonite. You never know what will happen tomorrow. Puts football and any sport in perspective. Small compared to the enormity of this 

I just hope that means Coach Etter's wife is also gone. Whew, nice lady but does not stop talking to/cheering the baylor players the entire game. I mean she doesn't take a breath for 7 innings.

George Q along with Ricky B have the 2 best coaching staffs in the state. No offense to the other fine coaches out there but they just know how to make adjustments as the game ebbs and flows. They know how to win what they have and they know how to exploit another teams weakness.

 

My point remains - playing a sched like the schools in DII AA play is unlike any other in the state or many other states for that matter.  the level of play is superlative.   

MUS is not out manned...if u look at the number of division one signers from must each year u will see that the owls rank in the Upper tier of privates...they r not out manned in any regard...and yes theIr staff does a great job.

I'm not going to argue about the level of talent on any of the top DII AA schools.  It's top notch across the board. sitting here watching the M-ville/O-land game and one word come to mind - SLOW. Does not compare to the top DII AA games.  Can you imagine if these schools had to play in successive wks (or "almost" successive wks) - EHS, BA, MUS, McCallie, MBA, Baylor, and on and on, plus the out of state powerhouses that the top DII AA teams play?  Middle of the pack would be the best they could do if that.  It's evidenced by their refusal to play the teams i just mentioned as they know the eventual result, and I know for fact those turn downs have occurred. two yrs ago, BA had 8 kids go to play with DI schools - 8!!!! -  many other schools  have similar "resumes".  Having lived in other states and having a son who played with kids like jabrill peppers, i can tell you DII AA football here is some of the best you will see anywhere. I was in texas last wk with my BA pullover on and was stopped by someone who commented about BA and DII AA football.  Happened in VA a month ago. Yes MUS is good, but so are the other schools I mentioned.  I laugh at the rankings by the Tennessean, USA today  etc.  - the folks ranking have no clue about the various "levels:" of football in this state. Whomever wins DII AA is the best team in the state.                    

I agree with the poll but it will change here soon.....If only BlueMom was around to see her McCallie boys play this well........she was a frequent poster in her day

You are likely correct but toughest division/conference in the state and its not close - multiple teams could win it.  some of these top DII AA  teams have been playing top out of state (and nationally ranked) pgms from the Midwest and mid south for yrs. that any other pgm in TN is rated higher than any of the top ones in DII AA is pretty funny. this is TN football at its finest. Look at the commits. Fri nite will put on display maybe the 2 best teams in the state. will be a great matchup   

I have seen mccallie as high as number 17. When you factor who they have beat this year .

 

What I'd like to see is Maryville and Fulton playing a sched that teams like BA, Ensworth, MBA, McCallie, etc play.  That would be interesting to say the least.  

I agree with you about the defense Meritage. The year end ranking ( and I am using the site that I like the most and quote often ) of Ensworth last year was 64.2. McCallie currently has a 69.3 rating - highest in the state and rightfully so. They have beaten 3 previously undefeated and top 65 teams nationally with 2 ranked in the top 30 at the time.  

 

If you take the top 5 teams from last year in D2 (central /east) we averaged a rating of 51.1. This year the top 5 teams average 58.24. To put that in the proper perspective I looked at Ohio and took the Catholic League South schools and threw in St Edwards who was ranked number 1 nationally until a loss to Elder. LaSalle, Moeller, St Xavier, Elder and St Edwards average out 60.1. If you just look at the catholic league south's 4 teams stacked up against our top 4 ...the teams in d2 are rated higher.

 

I am not so sure Ensworth is down so much as I am thinking the league is up after looking at the data. Our league is ranked number 4 nationally if you compare d2 to the other leagues around the country and the strength of schedule is ranked 4th as well. 

 

If McCallie wins out by beating BA, Ryan ( who is also up this year versus last ) MBA and likely one of the top 5 teams we talk about here........then I am not sure you can't include them in the conversation. They seem to be playing better offense and defense than anyone in the league at this moment. There is still a lot of football left and I hope a healthier BA will be somewhat of a game changer but I just could not find another year where we had so many teams ranked so high and so much parity within the division.

Interesting data points.  I sure agree with you on the "parity" and the fact that there are no easy games in the division. Week after week after week you need to bring your A game. Toughest scheds in the state and its not close.  As we always said to our boys and daughter when they were (and one still is) playing various sports at BA, the playoffs are the deal. Anyone can indeed win it this yr esp if someone finds a way to play just a little defense. Not a good yr for a punter to show off their skills for college scouts - pretty boring for them.   Some great games ahead.       

If mccallie wins out the rest of the year they will more than likely rank as one iof the best teams in d2 for some time and have a top 5-7 national ranking . Cal preps has mccallie ranked 17th nationally and if they beat BA they will move even higher.

Don't think I can agree with you on "one of the best d2 teams in a long time".  the defenses in D2 are worse than I have ever seen them since we moved here in 2009 and I began watching d2 play.  yes the offenses are good but defenses aren't close to what they were in yrs past.    

I have 3 kids at Bremfwood Academy ... My 2 boys play football. We are not looking at this game the way some of the east tn folks are seeing it.

 

Science hill is better and our defense is banged up. My option ok is SH can go toe to toe with BA much like MBA did last week. If this game is a man handling by BA I will be shocked. I think Malik is elusive enough to avoid our front 7. We just do not have anyone on our team who can simulate what he can do. Our QB is a similar player and both should be fun to watch

 

We are good but I have been impressed with SH . Expect a closer game than people are expecting on here

 

 

Bigdog - just read this thread after coming home from the game. great game and fun to watch - you are right BA was fortunate to pull it out.  seems both defenses took a vaca but can't take anything away from the SH QB - great player - fun to watch. I'm posting because I was always trying to figure out who you were.  After seeing your post here, with the help of my sons (one who played football @ BA,  graduated and now a redshirt f-man playing college ball )and one who is in the same grade as one of your sons we figured it out.  BA will have some tough games coming up regardless of some of the guys coming back but this team is young and it bodes well for the next 2 yrs.  ANd, looks like ralph could possibly win a state c-ship - pretty ironic that he could not do it at BA with teams that had more talent than anyone in the state. BA could be there in the upcoming yrs IF they can find a way to improve on and play consistent strong defense.   

I agree with you . Can't believe I said that . CBHS is bad this year WC . Bottom 3 in division . I went to MBA - CBHS game and they looked really bad but so did MBA in the first half. I think MBA loses 3-4 games this year . Just a poll though

 

Not sure if it isn't a tie among many teams  for the spots below E-worth. I'm a BA fan but thought they did not look good at all friday night and it was not just a result of the opponent (who played them tough without a doubt). Hate to say it but I think there are some losses on the horizon for them also

Very disappointed to hear that Brentwood Academy's Sr starting QB Dawson Knox is essentially lost for the season after getting to play only a little more than a half of football at this position in his sr season. Such a tough game. Kids work hard for multiple yrs and in so many instances don't achieve that starting position until they are Srs and then these things happen. My heart goes out to this kid and others in the same situation. I'm sure Dawson was not the only one last night but it is tough on these young man to handle things like that. Puts the winning and losing in perspective   

Agree 100%. The privates are not wanted in the TSSAA. So it's time to leave. Goodbye to public vs private bickering over "recruiting" and "full scholarships". Set up some games with surrounding state private schools to make things interesting.

TSSAA will then have to figure up a new set of classifications so to continue to give out 10 to 15 state championship trophies.

I have to disagree with you a bit although you might have intended to say the same thing. The TSSAA is not the only entity not wanting the privates. In this instance, the TSSAA and publics are one in the same.  Time to leave esp as many of the top private TN pgms want to play the top "regional" teams in OH, KY, MISS, AL etc. That's what gets you noticed (and gets TN football noticed) and makes you improve - playing the best you can play not playing 1-2 tough games and beating upon the other 9 or 10.

Scrimmage drew a crowd of 4000-5000 fans at Ravenwood last night. 

I also heard ravenwood had a pep rally. 1st time i've ever heard that happening for a scrimmage

I understand your point but Dawson has played a lot of football and is a terrific athlete. I hate to use this analogy but I think BA will look a little more like Ensworth this year than previous one where they run the ball behind a massive and talented offensive line. Possibly best in state this year

 

 

was at a b-fast with a BA admin head and heard one of the key skill guys broke something today. didn't sound good esp with CJ gone 

 Ya know , I know these guys just come here to get you all worked up and all , but saying that Multiple DII Schools would beat EVERY Public School this year , and every year ... Well you're welcome to your opinion , just don't be surprised when these guys do show up . I respect all the DII schools and would love to add 11 Schools to the Mix every year , because Frankly I get tired of my School always getting beat in the Imaginary Football League .... just like I'm sure you guys do too . Good luck to Ensworth and MUS , I hope Coach Bowers and his Asst get to coach the Game , Chkn Shiiite Reffing no Doubt . 

Pep

appreciate the comments.  frustrating for sure on all sides. not working as currently constructed that is for sure. way too many "champions".  reminds me of the fockers movies - trophy for 13th place.  

I stand by my statement with one small correction.

 

I previously said, big fish, small pond. Winning a state title in this classification, being the best of 11 teams??!! Big fish, TINY pond.

I know this is tough for you to comprehend after seeing your previous stmts. I have no idea what school you represent - lower sloblovia i'd guess. you'd lose to multiple DII schools. and i'll go further than red robin - so would any public school this yr and other yrs. I've watched the so-called top rated schools in TN  outside of DII AA - one word - SLOOOOWWWW.  DII would LOVE to play for one single c-ship in TN. Of course we are the only ones who feel that way. You may want to tune into the DII c-ship dec 5th, they are the best teams in TN.  Pls let me know your school - i'll make sure we call them to sched a game. And i'll let you know what they say although i already know the answer 

DII headmasters and head coaches need now more than ever come together and bail out of the T$$AA. You have to think there is a better way to administer private school sports. After this Ensworth incident this should be priority.

exactly. I hope this starts to move something along