GrantRamey

I've been told the keep an eye on WB. But nothing concrete. I assume the WB fan base isn't happy, but haven't been around long enough or covered them enough in the past to know that for a fact. They want him gone?

Rankin bragged on Hawkins after the Fulton game like he was his son. Can't pass up the opp to write that story if you've made Rankin giddy to the point he brags on you.

Thanks for the heads up. I'm new in these parts. Moved to Maryville in March, but I've assumed the whole time that Greenback is in Blount County because they're in our coverage area.

Most surprising? The fact that I haven't found what it is that's in the water around here. How can two teams in one county be so successful? How is it even possible?

That's a good question. I'll get that answered eventually. Until then, ask my dad. Or WesVLT.

What are the chances all three Blount County schools make it to Cookeville? Alcoa has the most obvious path. Seems Maryville (at least in the semifinals) and Greenback has more of an unknown factor in the brackets.

Sorry Red Rebels. We should've done a roll call.

The weather girl.

I actually was never sent to Greenback this year. Which sucks. Was scheduled to go out there one week and got switched on Friday afternoon. CAK/Alcoa II is a great question. Especially after how much of a difference Alcoa's two-point conversions made in the first meeting. It's back at Alcoa, so that's huge. And no, I'm not one who thinks a team from the west side of the state will be any better than these two when it comes to the 3A title game. Might as well hand out the trophy in the quarterfinals.

Never mind. It appears CoachT doesn't allow the name of that site.

And by "unapproved" I mean unapproved website. Not sure how that got there.

pepvol, I've honestly never looked at those unapproved website rankings before Kreager tweeted them the other day. Not sure how they compare, or rank, teams across regions of the country.

Comparing any Maryville team against any previous Maryville team would rip a hole in the universe. Nick Myers is just another quarterback in GQ's assembly line. Can throw, can run, can manage. I don't know where they all come from, but they've been great. Myers has made a lot of people forget the loss of Patton Robinette. And that's not an easy task. Heritage is on the right track behind Tim Hammontree. Be it a long road back. But headed in the right direction. William Blount is a good question. And I suppose it starts with whether or not David Gregory is back next year. And personally, I don't have an answer to that question.

Braylon Young is a junior. So I could see them not being interested in him when other guys, like Loy, are seniors.

Yeah that's a good question. I'm not certain of the process, but it would be hard to pick any of the names you listed ahead of the other in terms of deserving to be honored. Kind of felt like Greenback's Richard Seymour got left out, too.

For those interested, we'll be chatting about Blount County football and the second round at 5pm. Come on down.

Since I've got you here F5: It's not that I'm less proud of other stories I've written, but my story in tomorrow's Daily Times on James Hawkins making his own breaks is one I was very happy to write. Gary Rankin loves to brag about the work Hawkins has done. Also an Alcoa basketball story in tomorrow's paper to get you ready for the Blount County jamboree. Tony Jones says his squad is ready to 'make amends' for the way last year ended.

Here's the post from last night in the Blount County Youth football thread. "Ok, then it's official. Thursday at 5pm it is. I'll create a thread for 'Blount County Football Chat — Round 2' in the Class 5A/6A football board on Thursday shortly before 5 and we'll go from there. We can chat as long as y'all want to or as long as people are taking part. I'll just have to leave in time for the hoops jamboree. Be there or be square."

It was, and is still, Thursday at 5pm. Not Wednesday.

Ok, then it's official. Thursday at 5pm it is. I'll create a thread for 'Blount County Football Chat — Round 2' in the Class 5A/6A football board on Thursday shortly before 5 and we'll go from there. We can chat as long as y'all want to or as long as people are taking part. I'll just have to leave in time for the hoops jamboree. Be there or be square.

Thursday at 5pm work for the two (or three) people that seem to be interested? I'll be at the Blount County basketball jamboree after 6ish.

Pepvol says he works nights. I would suggest early afternoon. Place would have to be a thread on here until I get something else worked out. Time would be whenever works for everyone. Thursday afternoon? Around 2pm? That work for anyone? If not please suggest otherwise.

So no one really responded to my post from Monday morning. Should I take it that there's not much interest in trying to create a chat before Friday night's second round?

Hey guys, This is Grant Ramey from The Daily Times. Thanks for all the, um, above compliments. I can't speak for what's happened in the past at our paper -- I hired on in March of this year -- but I'm welcome to suggestions, tips or any other input you guys would like to provide. I agree with you all that Tom Kreager does a great job at the DNJ. As does Jesse Smithey at the KNS. And I also agree that a live chat is a great idea. Unfortunately, I'm not certain on the logistics of getting that set up on our website (I'll ask those that would know and see what the possibilities are there). But in the meantime, if you guys want to set up a time and a thread on here to chat about Blounty County football, I'm more than willing to make myself available and do just that. The only nights I'm unavailable is Sunday and Monday (my off nights). The same goes for chats concerning Blount County basketball and baseball, when the time comes. I'll go ahead and warn you guys that I won't have answers for coverage questions (since this is a youth football thread). I'm a sportswriter. Not an editor. I cover what I'm assigned. I don't make the assignments. That's above my pay grade. We all have bosses, right? As far as scheduling a time, Wednesday nights (church nights) are usually pretty slow in terms of prep sports. So I'll throw that out there as an idea to get us started. Once we figure out which day works best for everyone, we'll zero in on a specfic time to make it a 'live' chat. Early afternoon, evening or late nights depending on what the majority wants. Maryville, Alcoa and Greenback are all alive and well as No. 1 seeds in their respective football brackets and quads, so there's no shortage of storylines to chat about this time of year. William Blount and Heritage aren't off topic either just because their in offseason mode. Once we do get something set up (if this is something you guys want to do), just make the name of the thread obvious and consistent week to week. Something along the lines of 'Blount County Preps' or 'Blount County Football.' I guess it's also worth noting to spread the word on here and we'll see if we can't get a good chat going. Reply below and we'll start working on we'll find a date and time that works. For any other questions, concerns or comments I can be reached at the following: Office (usually in between 3 and 11pm) at 865-981-1145, if im not there leave a message; Email: grantr@thedailytimes.com (work) or rameygrant@gmail.com (personal). And for you guys on Twitter, you can follow me on there at @GrantRamey. I welcome any questions on there, also, because I'm on there constantly. My wife can vouch for that. Thanks in advance for the input. And apologies if this post is filled with typos, misspellings and comma splices. Tapped it out on my iPhone in the wee hours of the a.m. Thanks, Grant

Apologies. There, second post.