MSURacer

It is not a false statement. In the 5 class system, the top 4 from every region make the post season, regardless of record. In the current system, you aren't guaranteed anything unless you finish 1 or 2, with everything else being determined by results, regardless of what district you play in. If your district is good enough, you could have as many as 5 teams in the playoffs. And if your district is bad enough, you could have as few as 2. The current system is better designed to weed out the bad teams than the top 4 vs. top 4 system. Again, I'm not saying the current set up is perfect, but I find it preferable to the previous system.

There is no system in which everyone will be happy. However, the current system seems more advantageous for more schools than the 5 class system was/would be. I keep hearing a lot about schools not wanting to be over matched in district play. To that I say, there will ALWAYS, I repeat, ALWAYS be teams who are over matched, regardless of what district/region/classification/whatever they play in. I also don't understand those who say the current system leaves too many results that aren't decided on the field of play. What do you mean by that? If you win enough games, you're going to be in the playoffs. Is that not the point? In a 5 class system you will see more of the following: farther travel, bigger regions (advantageous for some, disadvantageous for others), and more teams with losing records who make the playoffs. I'm in favor of keeping the system as it is, but what do I know, I'm just a fan.

I know they're expecting to have a very good bunch this season, and we get the "pleasure" of hosting them week 1. For better or worse, we should find out where we stand pretty quickly. Good early season measuring stick.

I'm not sure. They might have had quite a few players involved in other spring sports, but I don't know. I usually don't put much stock into spring scrimmages, but I didn't know they'd been dominated like that. Either Beech is very, very good, or Dickson isn't as good as I think they can be. Either way, my picking them second is based solely on what I heard they have coming back, coupled with last year's results.

Still a couple months short of fall practice, but how does everyone see it shaping up? I know very little about a few teams, but here are some of my early preseason takes. 1. Henry County- Graduated a lot of talent, but still have some very good players coming back and a lot of good young players to step in and fill the void. It's far from a given that we take the district crown for a 4th straight year, but even still, we've only lost 1 district game the last 3 years, and we will still be a tough out for anybody. So I'm putting us on top until somebody knocks us off. 2. Dickson County- This could be their year. The stars seem to be aligning for them somewhat. Henry County is replacing a lot, while Dickson brings back 17 or 18 starters off last year's 8-3 squad. Plus they get us at their place this year. This will be their best chance in a long time. 3. Clarksville Northeast- Two words: Look out. Another team with a lot coming back. 18 starters return from a team that finished 7-5 last season, including stand-out quarterback Jalen Reeves-Maybin, who might be the best, most explosive player in the district this season. Honestly, I think this could be the best team they've fielded since Travis Stephens was there back in the mid 90's. Also another team that gets us at their place. 4./5. As it stands, I think Clarksville High and Springfield are interchangeable at this spot. Even though CHS lost their stud quarterback, they are usually solid coming out of Clarksville. Springfield has some good talent returning, but with an entirely new coaching staff, it's hard to tell how they will look this year. I personally would lean towards Springfield, because they do have some good looking senior talent, but like I said, Clarksville will likely be ready to play. 6. Kenwood- Been a rough few years for them. Not sure they can compete for one of the top spots, but Maleek Hall is a STUD. Their running game will get them some wins. 7. Rossview- Admittedly I know nothing about them, but I expect much of the same. 8. West Creek- See #7. 9. Clarksville Northwest- I don't think they've even found a head coach yet. They might have trouble winning a single game. All in all, I do not expect a cakewalk for Henry County this year. I think that we, along with Dickson County and Northeast are all legitimate contenders. Also, Clarksville and Springfield could surprise people. Should be the most interesting year since the new District 10-AAA was formed.

To answer the question, I'd have to say Lexington is until they do some damage in the playoffs.

How is a program with back to back championships and 3 straight title game appearances even in this discussion?

The crazy thing is, something like that might be the only way for a couple of those schools to be competitive. But I still don't understand how schools such as CHS and Northeast manage to be at least respectable year in and year out, while others look like they would be better off playing in 2A, literally. Keep in mind, Northeast does this with a 4A enrollment playing in a 5A district. They, along with CHS, seem to have at least some sort of emphasis on athletics, so what I don't understand is why the other schools don't at least make an attempt to follow suit. I can't believe someone in administration would say "it's not about winning games", when talking about athletics. I know that's not all high school athletics are about, but give me a break. Something as simple as an attitude change could do wonders over there.

It's too early to tell whether or not this team can make a deep playoff run. At this point, talent is not an issue, it's a matter of whether or not they continue to improve and come together as a team. I'm not sure what is so hard to understand about that. This isn't the first time we've lost a large, talented group of seniors. We've done it before, and we've reloaded before. You seem to care an awful lot about what's going on in Paris. Looks to me like Gallatin has plenty of issues of its own to focus on right now.

You've got to be kidding me. Is there still no head coach? If not, do they expect to win a game this year? Or better yet, would they rather not even field a team? I understand priorities, but I do not understand some of these schools that don't even appear to be trying. The kids at that school deserve much better.

I guess I'm a little late to the party, but I did see most of our spring practice. Still some kinks to work out, but that's what spring practice is for, finding out where you're at. Outside of the horrible tragedy, and some "off field" issues involving a few graduating seniors, I'd say it was a good spring for the program in terms of where we are. To me, this team looks like it has the early makings of a pretty good one. I've seen us have worse looking springs before, and then follow it up with a very successful season. The size and speed are both at a good level, it's just a matter of getting it to come together. They'll get there.

Mark Williams- Gallatin Howard Stone- Columbia Derek Rang- Powell

Yep, either 2B or 3A lol

Great landing spot for him, too. I don't think anyone has been better at developing QBs than the Packers.

I thought Love was the #3 RB behind Benau and Henderson Either way, just some ridiculous speed in this bunch.

I knew he was a good player at Grove last year, but I didn't know he possessed that kind of speed . I guess "Show me a little love" is fitting. With all these guys who can run, we might have to go from "Big Red" to the "Big Red Blur".

My guess would be either Henderson or Benau (both sophomores). But I could be wrong.

We might not be AS BIG of a threat next year. Nobody is disagreeing with that. But we are the defending state champions, and will still more than likely be A threat by the time the playoffs begin. As I said before, we didn't graduate our entire roster. There will still be plenty of good players on the field wearing red this season. Some who've already had their presence felt, and some who will be new faces. We might be young in many spots, but we will have a well coached, talented team on the field next season, even after graduating "13 college signees". That's what powerhouse programs do.

I guess it depends on your definition of "significant". Yes we graduated a lot of talent, which nobody has disputed, but we can reload with the best of them. And we still have some very good players coming back. We might not be as good as last year, but we'll still more than likely field a very good team this season. I don't know, I'd at least like to see spring practice before I start talking us up. But if recent history has shown us anything, it's that we will have plenty of kids who are capable of stepping in to fill the void.

Didn't you guys go 8-3 last season? How are things so bad?

Well, best of luck to Coach Wilson...except when he plays HC. Hopefully all this talk about players moving is just a rumor. Springfield was looking like an exciting upcoming bunch. Also, good luck in getting a good staff together if all those coaches are indeed going elsewhere. That could very well be the most important factor if Springfield wants to continue to build on its recent success.

Well said. He had some very good teams at Henry County back in the 80's and early 90's too. Of course, back in those days, state titles were harder to come by...especially in the largest class. But he's one of the best around for sure. And you're right on about the kids. Never seen a closer-knit bunch than the group we had last year. From the coaches all the way down to the JV.

What's the time and place of this, olddevil? HC field house? Great way to kick off spring.

He is an excellent football coach, and so his son. We are lucky to have both. Hopefully he sticks around for a good while longer. Still a lot of talent in the pipeline. If he does retire sooner than we hope, I wouldn't mind "junior" getting an opportunity of his own... Wasn't that "originally" the plan at Dyersburg?

Maybe, but Inman consistently fields one of the better middle school teams this side of the Tennessee river, and they have been doing so for years. If they did indeed get "manhandled", you can probably expect a much different/improved bunch by the time fall comes around.