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You have quite concisely defined exactly what is going on at Ensworth and many (most) other D2 schools on a daily basis. Thanks for that! Oh, and by the way, Ricky  misses Corn, Corn had crazy skills.

Thanks, I know that I did define what is going on, you must have accidentally left out the parts where I wrote about it in your quote of me. That's ok I understand that it was implied. Yeah Ricky may start for himself, I think I wrote that somewhere, you must have forgot to quote me on that one as well. Oh and I can change quotes too;)

Anyone else think it's ironic that Bowers in his prime wouldn't start for his current teams? Unless of course he was coaching himself. That seems to be a trend around the D2 scene though doesn't it? Maybe some of these coaches should worry less about what they don't have and focus more about what they do. High school football is about working hard and earning your wins. It's about developing young boys into young men by teaching them how to live both on and off the field, and how to work towards being the best and doing what they are capable of. We've lost that though. It's all about numbers.Yeah some coaches are still doing this, but not in Division 2. Until a coach comes along that decides to try to change this back, I'll never watch another game.

Losing to Overton is a sign of bad coaching if you ask me. Athletically Overton is a little better year in and year out but Father Ryan generally outworks and out coaches them. I guarantee you can ask any kid over at Ryan who isn't a recruit what they think of Bruce and they'll all have the same response. "I don't wanna play for that man." His time should be numbered if Father Ryan wants to stop being the laughing stock of d2 football and get back to competing with the rest of the league. You can't be a good coach and not trust your players.

What's that saying mustachio? Don't argue with a fool or he will bring you to his level? Maybe if Ryan would get smart like the vols who admitted to making a mistake, this wouldn't even be topic.

It's very tough to go D1 as an athlete when a bad coach can't make a recruiting video. Check mate there. Obviously something was going for Dooley if UT hire him. But why do you care if Ryan keeps Bruce so much? Do you have a crush on the man?

How many players has Father Ryan sent D1 recently?

How bout them Vols pep? Derek Dooley fired because he couldn't produce wins? Dooley did decent at LA Tech (Bruce at Oak Ridge) but failed to compete in the SEC (Bruce at Ryan).

No Father Ryan closed down.

There must be another Bruce Lussier. If you played for the same Bruce Lussier today, then you wouldn't have the same feelings. You should read the post on page 3, obviously you were one of the few who still wanted him around. You can certainly have him back if Oak Ridge wants him badly enough.

Never said the athletes at the purple school are "better". Just said they won't play for the coach. Well wouldn't you rather be 7-3 than 3-7? Father Ryan may not be a state champion football program, but where they are is unacceptable. I heard Nick Saban was interviewing for the job there though. That would make things interesting dontcha think?

Pat Simpson seems to have no problem making "my" athletes state champions. Check "your" facts on athlete quality sir.

Think about it, these kids aren't living in the past, they're living now. And most of them want to know what you can do for them not the other way around. Get some good athletes and Ryan will be back on the map. Don't know how you do this but you all seem to have all the answers so have a go at it.

So a lack of athletes is the problem? Sorry Bro but I think it's a bit more than that. "Athletes" are quitting the team because of disrespect towards the coach and the way he interacts with them. The coach is not the only problem, but he is a major portion of it. Where is mustachiomence? Bring us back on track

Word on the street is that Brucey is on the way out. Anyone wanna confirm?

"You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear". Until Ryan starts getting more silk purses you aren't going to excel, who or how you get these purses I don't know. But it would seem that more people need to be involved than just the head coach. Doesn't matter who the head coach is he can't do it all. Maybe you could bring in Lou Holtz, probably wouldn't make any difference if policies don't change. Just saying.

I don't understand what you mean here, that Bruce's loving coaching and inspiration aren't the problem? Don't sit there and tell me that TFI lacks athletes. High school football is not supposed to be who has the biggest fastest guys, but who has the most desire and will. It should require a coach who knows about his players and develops them as people, not operates them like a business. I bet Bruce doesn't even know the names of half of his players parents, or care what his athletes did this weekend. If you don't believe me, send your kid to Ryan. He'll grow to hate the sport I guarantee it. A high school coach should be a father figure, not a boss.

Bruce is a horrible coach. He doesn't base his offense on what he has, but what he wishes he has. He has some hard-nosed boys over there, but until he can get his head out of his own smug ####, he won't be a winner. He needs to go so Father Ryan can compete again in the state on their best level

The period 2000-2007 had Leen, Marable, Simpson, Keller and Cleveland all TN high school guys that placed D1 in the NCAA's. Also Raymond Dunning had a very strong NCAA Division 2 career. There were also other guys that wrestled NCAA D1 from this same period, such as Whitt Dunning, Manson, and Manley with a couple of these guys being NCAA D1 qualifiers. You could also throw in McCroskey, Johnson, Wright and other NCAA qualifiers towards the tail end of that period. This group was also very accomplished on the high school level, Fargo champion, Sr. National champ, Sr. Nationals finalist. Add Kyle James, another Fargo placer. Probably forgetting a few. There were some great TN wrestlers to watch during this period.

 

After 2007, just don't see the same number of TN high school wrestlers graduating with those credentials or potential. Croy may get there, Watson, Baker, Hooker and a few others? The State has not been turning out as many wrestlers that are having success at the next level or seem to have that potential. It could just be a slump, but it seems headed in the wrong direction. I agree that the TN AAU youth org is getting stronger and its the right place to start, but suggest other changes at the high school level as well.

From this year's class alone I can think of at least 9 guys who went D1, and a few who went D3, I think you need to wait a while before you start counting those kids out. Also, Marchetti is at west point, look for him this year, Manly at stanford, they're pretty good last time I checked, From The Bros, Bauke is at Air Force with a couple years left and the Johnson brothers are at the Naval Academy. No we haven't had a placer in a couple of years, but I would wager thats about to change here soon. I advise you either change your screenname to mocs2007, or accept the fact that its 2012 and be proud of your present representatives.

Hate? No, actually respect the "boarders" quite a bit for their academics, facilities, alumni and other things, but in wrestling I want them to be better than they are. Go be a top level prep school. The current rules giving them a leg up on other TN schools has just built a system that rewards our "boarders" for mediocrity (compared to similar national prep schools). Jealous, yes, of wrestling fans in New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvannia and other places where they get to watch some of the top programs in the country. I have to drive to Collins Hill High School or hope that someone comes in for the Cleveland duals to find a top 50 program to watch.

 

Let's change the topic a little and I think this gets to the same place. Who thinks the level of wrestling in Chattanooga has gotten better over the last 10-15 years? Other places in the state? Are our wrestlers and teams doing better or worse on the national level? If the answer is "no" we are worse off, which I believe is correct, then it is time for a change. Seems I have heard that slogan recently related to 4-years and politics? The old "let just buckle down and work harder" in the current system doesn't seem to be cutting it. Our TN high school state tournaments need to be tougher and there needs to be some TN national prep teams being successful on the national level. What productive changes do others propose?

What makes you think that we're worse off? we recently had a Super 32 placer, multiple NHSCA placers, A top 30 program that was beaten in the traditional state, almost ten seniors wrestling in college and several top 20 ranked wrestlers, a top ten junior duals team, D1s best wrestled D2s best in dual matches for the first time in a while, and all three regions of the state won a state team title for the first time in state history. The only problem that I see is that the competition is evening out, and chattaboogie isnt the clear cut best region anymore.Last year was a pretty solid year and I don't by any means think that the competetion in Tennessee has gotten any worse. Also, Baylor didn't even win state last year, yes they had some transfers but no they didn't recruit. They need to stay in the state to promote better competition among the D2 teams.