Tornadoes78

I had not planned on posting again this year.  I am sick and tired of the seemingly endless hateful BS spawned yet another year by an EHS-BA game.  But I wanted to answer the many who have questioned the MUS coach for NOT running the ball late in the game.

 

Ahead 10-0 late in the 3rd quarter and already in easy FG range for Wunderlich around the 12 yd line, MUS had to have felt that one more TD would put the game out of reach at 17-0.  After their opening drive, the Owls were averaging about ONE yd per rushing attempt.  That's not going to get you into the end zone.  The pass was under thrown, intercepted at the goal line and run out to the 35.  The incredulous 4th quarter is history.

 

MUS had ZERO rushing game.  Their only runner Wright was a skinny WR-DB recently converted to RB only because their star (guaranteed Mr. Football finalist next year) RB Colton Neel was out AND their other RB Bradburn was also out.  They are both Juniors and assuming they will be back next year at full strength, you will realize in 2014 the magnitude of this loss. Wright is 5-9 155 lbs soaking wet as they say. 

 

Yet having said that, with the benefit of hindsight, I too would have liked to have seen a few rushing attempts to keep the Ensworth defense "honest" and to run off at least a little time.  After all, MUS had arguably the best punter in the state if they were stopped.  Every play it became more obvious that MUS was not going to run the ball, Ensworth went more all out at the QB.  We all saw what happened. 

 

The MUS coach (Alston) gambled and lost.  It is grossly unfair to make comments like "Is this his 1st game?"  MUS had amply demonstrated the quality of their coaching staff by what they did to a bigger, stronger, arguably more talented and athletic team for 3 quarters.

Owl - thanks for the post.  I have a lot of respect for the MUS program, MUS kids and your posts.  MUS played the best game this year against EHS.  They held #10 in check and had him at half his usual rushing average at the end of the first half and the MUS defensive front handled the EHS line better than any team this year.  

There were a number of EHS fans that felt that if MUS scored and goes to 17-0 the game was effectively over.  Clearly your coach knew what he was doing and the plan came very close to working.  From my view point - MUS at full strength and this game could have very easily gone the other way.  Looking forward to next year. 

Congratulations to the Owls on a great season.

What's telling is that the TSSAA has disregarded an official's account of an incident in toto. That's telling.

I agree with you on this. TSSAA has disregarded an officials account of an incident "in toto" because it is inconsistent with the video footage and the accounts of the witnesses that saw it all. Telling in the sense that the TSSAA actually did the right.  Good for the TSSAA.

Score?

21 to 20 _ West

Has the 2nd half started?

Yes - 8:05 left in the third.

Not really...officials still retain the right (responsibility) to file an unusual incident report for anything untoward that happens after the conclusion of the game. The rulebook contains a "caseplay" addressing a similar situation (a fight immediately after the conclusion of the game). This raises an interesting point: the association could have granted the EHS appeal that states in substance that the game was over and the official lacked the authority to eject anyone, but still suspended coaches based on conduct after the game. That they did not is somewhat telling.

Based on what I saw in the Fox News clip, from what I saw at the game, and from what the players told me - nothing happened after the game was officially called that would lead to an ejection.  Considering this - I think that your point is off base.  "That they did not is somewhat telling." is not meaningful since nothing happened after the game was called.

You obviously have a little trouble reading. I never said anything about disliking or hating anyone or the school. I voiced my opinion about the facts, an posed a simple question

You added the hate and bashing. The truth is the truth.

Ok - seems like counseling is needed here and given your mental state primal scream therapy will most likely work best.  Step out into the aisle - raise both hands over your head and scream "I hate Ricky Bowers!".  I know the Wal Mart customers in the check out line will not like this but we have to do it to help you.

I guess when I get to 68 posts I'm allowed to have an opinion. Sorry about that.

Not really - you can be misinformed and full of hate in any of your posts you have proven that.  If you don't like Ensworth then don't send your child to school there.    If you don't like Ricky Bowers fine - stay away from him.  I guess that enough people care about Ensworth for whatever reason - that it bothers you enough to go the effort of joining CoachT then bash the school, Bowers and team.

The MUS team played exceptionally well - held #10 to half his average per yard in the first half, pressured the QB all night and played the Ensworth front better than any team has this year.  Hats off to MUS.

How can anyone care or be exited about Ensworth winning another state title?  If you can afford the best car you should win the races.  As far as Ricky Bowers as a great coach...send him somewhere like JP2 and see how good of a coach he is!

Congratulations - this may be a first.  Join CoachT and your first post is a confirmation that you are a member of the "I hate Ricky Bowers Club!".  Maybe this somehow fulfilled your life's goals.  

Congratulations to MUS for a great year and a hard fought game last night!  The effort on the field by the MUS players was outstanding.

Why didn't Mr Classy's quarterback just take a knee??

 

None of this would have happened.

 

Kinda like making a late score unnecessarily huh??

I will assume from this comment that you are unable to read and comprehend the English language.  The reasons for the quarterback not taking a knee has been explained multiple times in the preceding posts.  Welcome to the party that has been over for some time now.

No doubt it was a late shove, but it could have been a lot worst. The worst broadcast crew I have ever heard. There was no risk of injury to the QB, I would have thought that the kid cut him in the back of the knee the way they were carrying on.

No risk of injury to the quarterback - not even sure where to start with this.  Other than being shoved into a concrete wall, unexpectedly, by a 6'4" 245 LB while running - sure no "risk".  The broadcast crew is two high school kids - their comments should be evaluated based on that.  

I believe you are exactly right....but what got under "white caps" skin was Rickey's demeanor during the game. He is known to give the refs an earful during games. Ricky probably was on edge being a rival playoff game, close score, multiple penalties, tuck in shirt blah blah blah. Instead of white cap calming Ricky down during game, he decided to let it go till the end when they met up.

He is Ricky Bowers, the arrogant little kid in school that tested other kids until he gets his butt whipped

Now now Jelly Belly - grade school issues still lingering?  Even if true, which I highly doubt based on the people I have talked to that knew Bowers, this is way out of line.  I think counseling would help you - this is 40 plus years ago.  Let it go man.  

so the official just decided to "go mental" and throw the coach out as he was being invited over for thanksgiving dinner? No provocation whatsoever?

I can't personally say what happened to cause the event in the Fox 17 News film - hard to know.  Most people at the game would probably say there was "tension" between the Ensworth sideline  and Michael Loyd (white hat) during the game.  What I am certain of is that sending Ensworth players to the sideline, after the play had been called in the huddle and the team lined up, for a jersey infraction on at least three occasions reflects something from the white hat.  One other point - very near the goal line when Ensworth was lined and attempting to score the white hat steps in, stops the play, says to number 12 for Ensworth "I am going to pretend to fix your helmet while he ties his shoe" indicating toward an Ensworth lineman.  Not sure what this was all about - but I interpret this as an attempt by the white hat to impact the game.  Strange series of events - glad that it is all over and Bowers and Wade are able to coach the 54 young men who have been working toward their goal since July.  This group of seniors is special and this game Thursday should be about them and the other young men.  - I am moving on. 

What if the coach assaulted the official? What about all the other coaches that were ejected and paid the fines based off a miss application of the rules? Pandora's Box for sure!!!!!!

If the coach assaulted an official after the game is over - simple, call the police and have the coach arrested for assault.  A little bit of a stretch on this point.  Not sure about the other fines, etc. in the rest of your post.

the officials confirmed that he used profanity, as did his assistant. the fox video did not have the entire altercation, just the tail end of it. either way, the game was over and the coaches' should have been getting their players off the field rather than bumping and f bombing the ref's. jmo

Just a few points - the official saying Bowers used profanity - really doesn't confirm it.  The players around him that I talked to said he did not.  You are right - the Fox 17 video does not capture the entire incident.  The players I talked to were around Bowers on the sideline when the late hit occurred and this was not on the Fox 17 video.  The Fox 17 video is shot after the incident is over, the players separated, and the officials had ended the game.  The players are actually going through the line in the background shaking hands, everything had calmed down, when the official ejected Bowers.  

No way a public wins such an appeal...I'll side with Ensworth on the "bad judgment" portion of the argument, if that's me calling the game I keep my composure and Bowers coaches the final play (which there should have been by rule), however...the ref had every right to eject the coach in that situation should he have chosen to do so. In order to overturn the ejection there should have been a misinterpreted rule, which there was not. A defensive penalty as the clock expires requires the offense to snap the ball, thus the game is not over. Physical contact with an official justifies the ejection (not required...but it happened), which was the ref's judgment in this case. In review of the situation, TSSAA has opened Pandora's box by reversing an official's in game call based on his judgment of the situation alone. Maryville vs. Whitehaven in the championship game just last season is a good example...clear evidence on film that a call with no merit cost them the gold ball...how did their appeal turn out?

The TSSAA made their decision based on a misapplication of the rules not a judgment call.  On film the game was signaled as over, albeit incorrectly, the signal was given and the referees no longer had jurisdiction other than filing their reports.  The comparison to the Maryville/Whitehaven bad call is not a relevant comparison.

Not saying he did. Just what I read in the newspaper. I don't think the tssaa said anything about that but that the official had no jurisdiction to eject him. My question is what happens to a coach or player who does curse an official after the game is officially over? Just wondering if tssaa has opened a big can of worms.

I understand the question now - good topic for discussion - sorry I misunderstood it.  I am highly skeptical of anything printed in "Pravda on the Cumberland" and the players I talked to said Coach Bowers did not use profanity.

So to play devils advocate here with this ruling a coach can curse at an official or whatever he wants with no penalty since the officials have no jurisdiction after the game is over. Not taking sides of who was right or wrong in the altercation just putting something out for thought.

You something for thought is off base.  No one on the field confirms that Coach Bowers used profanity.  The Fox 17 film caught the incident after the game had been declared officially over and  it is easy to review and pretty clear what happened.  

Didn't they end the game with :02 left on the clock after the ordeal?  Due to the strange ending, this was not a normal game due to the circumstances of the 4th down play.

 

I think everyone involved had some % of the issues that occurred, no one is 100% at fault, and certainly no one is 0% at fault.  It is what it is....deal with it.

No - the game did not end with :02 on the clock.  Time had expired when #12 for Ensworth ran out of bounds.

Can a player be sent off the field if their jersey is not tucked in?

First, I am in no way a Ricky Bowers fan and I have worked the chains when we have played them and yes it seems his primary job is to be in the refs ears. With that said if they didn't like what he was saying during the game then that's when he should have been ejected. This is not the only thing that the refs should have criticized about. How do you stop the game, make a kid sit a play because their shirt wasn't tucked in. What a joke. Just so happened it was the starting tailback. Nothing wrong with making them,tuck,in the jersey but to make them miss a play. Something going on. Not sure what your saying about if it were an inner city coach, everyone is inner city compared to Ensworth, it's $30,000 just about to go there. I don't see any other school having to deal,with this issue right now. That ref is wrong and everyone knows but since people dislike Bowers so much it's ok, but really it's not.

Not that it matters - an Ensworth player was sent to the sidelines on three occasions during this game due to a jersey not being tucked in.

 I hope that's not true , kids should be allowed to make a mistake without having something like this shut down on them , that's what Learning is all about , correcting mistakes . 

Pep - sorry I was not specific enough.  This particular game has pulled down from the livestream on the Ensworth.com website.  I don't know for certain but I think the program will be continued with some input from the school to correct this particular situation.   

Whatever company live streamed that game should be in trouble because there's no way that announcers should be able to verbally degrade a student-athlete in a manner such as that. That was poor class all the way around. Period!

The live stream is a student project that has been pulled down.  Lots of raw emotions in this situation and probably a lot of things done and said that lots of people wish could be taken back.  Not necessary to fan the flame on this one.

One point that needs to be made - Goodwin and Barnett and their families are friends and the young men talked on Saturday.  From the young men's perspective this is closed and over for their part in this.  The ejection matter needs to run its course through the TSSAA. 

There isn't a nine point play in football.

DUH - yea.  Still, take away the late hit out of bounds and we aren't even discussing this.  Whether you take a knee or not - and then run the time off is not the real issue here.   I think the decision to evade and run the clock down was a smart play call considering the opponent on the field.

Scoring 9 or more points in 9 seconds would have been quite a feat....

Yes - I agree it would be quite a feat.  Having seen Sanders and Swofford - to me - don't give them a chance.  I have a lot of respect for them and their line.