nashrancher

Dylan Phillips OL Centennial

I agree, two great teams with talented kids and across town.

I know we love to jump on someone when they hid behind a front of character and made an assumed horrible mistake, check that a crime. If he did, he should be hanged. I do agree a person in this country is innocent until proven guilty. So we should withhold our opinion until that time as hard as it may be or as bad as it looks. Having said that, remember, trashing the entire school over one or two bad people is like trashing our country because of a bad President. There is a great student body filled with with wonder young men and women. No, I am not staff, just a parent of two kids who attend Centennial. Everyone is sick but, like other great programs, it will rise above this too. We cannot hold kids responsible nor should we make them suffer for the actions of an adult. This would be like saying anyone who is Catholic should be held responsible for the actions of many bad priests and the kids are bad too. This site is about football. We as adults should rise above and recognize the hard work of the players and the coaches of the Centennial football team. We should also recognize that our team as not had any arrests or serious actions that would reflect badly on the team. So instead of being like the rest of humanity, I would ask that you accept my apology for Brown's, self-righteous attitude in his letter and recognize that many of the things he said reflective of the school are true. I ask that we don't beat the young men playing and support the coaching staff that very well may be carrying the heart of the school on their shoulders going into this last game and the playoffs. So I wish your team the best and I hope you do ours.

First, I don't think Antioch was a below average team. Do they have room to grow, sure. So does every other team in the state. But, they were an entirely different team than previous years and most of it was coaching along with some great players.They also played with class. I wish they got better support from their fans. As for Rector, this whole thing and even some of the threads above I attribute to a stupid human nature thing. For some reason, when people make it to the top, rather than trying to get there themselves, they try to break the others down since they can't achieve the same level. My older son graduated from Ravenwood. As I have said before, I wouldn't send my other kids there for any amount of money. But, that is me and not anyone else. I moved them to Centennial due to Rector and Dr. Brown. They are class acts, they have inspired an entire school to do great things. Rector like many coaches may not be the right coach for every kid. He wants to win, he wants his team to want to win and you better be prepared to do whatever practice and work it takes to get there. But guys, this is football. It isn't soccer or volleyball. Football hurts, it is tremendously hard work and can be dangerous as we have seen from the Tulane player last weekend. Why play to just have fun. I think if you were to ask the Ravenwood parents if they would like Rector back, they would beg for him to come back. But, I think he has found a home for a while where people respect him, see what he and his coaches along with administration have done for a school and a community. So lets keep this about football. As for playing dirty. Sure, dirty football has been around for years. Apparently so has dirty baseball, cycling and many other sports. In football it is more the nature of the beast of hitting and something get out of hand. But, I don't think a team of high school players (including Indy) are dirty players unless their coach is a thug. Dyson may not be a greart coach but, he is not a thug. Were the players frustrated, I am sure and they may have made mistakes. But, I don't think they concentrated on playing dirty instead of playing well.

Centennial by 14 just in coaching differential. If Centennial brings their A+ game, it could go over 24. I think everyone needs to recognize Rector took the old Centennial 2 deep in the playoffs. This is the start of his team and not much of the old Centennial left. It could get tough to beat them in this county except for well coached teams and strong programs like Brentwood. On another note, Rector"s former OC has put together a real team at Antioch anchored by a stud running back. It is good to see a metro school making great progress. But their team deserves to see more fans in the stands. Congrats!

I think the toss up game is Franklin vs Hillsboro. I think Brentwood vs Ravenwood will be over in the 1st. I think Centennial will be a romp at 28-10. If Centennial puts it on them in the first, Dyson will come unglued and start making mistakes like with Brentwood.

I say Centennial by 14........

Let me give another side to the story. Living in Williamson County, everyone thinks it is the pot of gold academically and athletically. The problem we have is very poor organization of the zoning and constant changes in zoning. Many kids have been moved two or more times in whatever level of school they are in, except later years in high school. For instance, you may purchase a home due to current zoning and then be moved to another zone without your approval. This is absurd. Secondly, let's say you have an exception student and he wants to study a certain curriculum that only one school offers. Then you can appeal to attend that school. But, if you have an athletic prodigy, you cannot receive an appeal to attend a certain school. Not making excuses but this is why the Brentwood program is so strong. Yes, they have great coaching and tremendous parental support but, the kids play together from rec ball, through middle school onto high school without change. All of the new schools have been built south of Brentwood and have diluted the talent pool. For instance Page middle had the most talent in middle school last year. These kids were then moved to Page, Centennial, Summit and Indy. I think there should be a first come, first serve rule allowing say, 30 kids to open zone due to athletics or academics to whatever school they choose. It could be performance qualified and this wouldn't hurt anyone. We were zoned Ravenwood and our older son graduated from there. We were lucky since they allow a certain number of kids who are zoned to Ravenwood to only transfer to Centennial. Knowing what we knew about Ravenwood, we chose to move and it is the best experience of our lives. More importantly, we didn't hurt Ravenwood or Centennial by the move. I think there are far more solutions than the ones given to us. It would be apparent if athletics were important in is county. I believe it takes both athletics and academics to build a well rounded person.

I am with HighLife on the scores. But if Indy does lose, they are in serious trouble. I also agree with the assessment of Centennial against Brentwood. I think whoever has the most discipline and the least mistakes wins that game. You have two great coaches with very good teams. It will come down to heart, I think that goes to Centennial. It will be a David and Goliath in many people's eyes. If Brentwood under estimates them, it could be the largest mistakes. Let's hope Centenial builds greater discipline in the next two games and Brentwood gets too comfortable.

We are all biased toward our home teams, that is apparent. What is good to see after last night's game is, the two teams came together to support a worthy cause in Jack Johnson in the Battle for Jack. This transcends the game in seriousness. Secondly, all of the fans (on both sides of the ball) seem to be gracious and WELL BEHAVED....(ok, except the quasi streaker which I thought was funny). As for football, there are many more games to be played before someone emerges at the top or bottom of 5A or 6A. What I can say is Centennial plays as a team, with a tremendous amount of heart, and is extremely well coached. For the previous comments about Rector's bandwagon (and his staff), he may not be the coach for every school or team, but these boys and their familes and student body are indebted to what he has done for the school spirit and are certainly on his bandwagon and Dr. Brown. What I look forward to is seeing Brentwood and Centennial meet just to see the game fought hard.

Grumpy, You should probably read more closely. I never said CHS had the best students, best behaved, etc. I said I had observed outstanding actions from the students there. I also never said they were the only ones who volunteered. I did say it wasn't up to you or I to define who CHS is or isn't. It is up to the staff and students which I see doing an excellent job. What I am defending is being called the little sister, the gang school (in other forums), the kids who will need the food from the food drive to support their graduates and other small minded statements. When I say cream rises to the top, those who are so small minded and backwards should welcome the "dog of Williamson County" to not bring down the rest of the great schools as it becomes worthy of recognition. Glad I could translate my previously simple comments for you.

I think the best way to solve any argument about football is between the hash marks. Swami, bad kids are typically the result of bad parenting. So when I see posts like Grumpy, I wouldn't expect much different. I have seen a tremendous amount of character out of the Centennial students in a number of volunteer situations, not just on the field. I think over the next few years cream will rise to the top and it will be proven both academically and athletically. This is up to the students and staff, not us armchair QB's!

I think you are pretty close. Centennial may have more of a spread, Brentwood too. But, I think in the end you are right. I think it will be Brentwood and Centennial deciding the district. But, you have to go one game at a time.

Centennial 24-9. Rector has those boys tightening up weekly. They have had injuries, especially in the OL that will be returning this week. I agree with 104.5, they are the team to watch. They practice harder and longer than any team I have seen in years. Plus, they have a huge heart. It will be fun!