Yellowstone

Just can't fathom why someone in Metro does not see a huge opportunity for improvement in this area, and it would improve the overall atmosphere in the school. I know some of the schools do not have the best students, but every school has a "rough part of town" people come from. Making athletics a priority would give a school a tremendous shot of momentum in improving the overall educational atmosphere. Just like one time to see a Metro team win the state in football or boys basketball. It's been awhile. Best chance is for East Lit in basketball / Pearl-Cohn or Maplewood in football.

I think the problem with Metro athletics is that it starts at the top. Register doesn't care, so the principals for the most part don't. Certain schools can be successful. Hillsboro, Maplewood, East Lit. I think McGavock could do well. When Metro went to Comprehensive schools, it killed the neighborhood rivalries and small knit communities. Now the schools are a bunch of failing, disfunctional academic institutions that is more of a circus or zoo than school. The student body is rough. Nobody can tell you about Metro unless you have taught and coached there. It's unlike any school district. Example. McGavock. Huge Population. Why aren't they more competitive? They have a large pool. They have a competent coach in football and boys basketball. Amongst that student body, there are athletes everywhere. Organized off seasons are difficult. No parent involvement. Meaning....no getting junior to school for a work-out, throwing, shooting, etc. Whites Creek, Hunters Lane, Maplewood all have their own challenges.

It depends on the school. Metro has one AD for all of the schools. He sits in on the interviews, but the principal makes the final selection. Example: Antioch situation Glencliff hired Keil (former Lebanon coach) because Wilson is the principal (former Lebanon principal) are "boys" to coach boys basketball.

This is correct. They have a contract with these folks, and everyone in the program has to have a permanent position placed before any outsider can be hired. A metro executive principal told this to one of my colleagues's faces (and he was a Math teacher). They ended up giving the position (which included 2 asst coaching positions) to a guy with Teach for America that couldn't coach anything.

The problem is Metro. Metro needs to wakeup and understand.......if your sports are good, your school is good. It works hand in hand. Those schools have the kids walking the hallways to be competitive, they just choose to be mediocre. I wish one principal in Metro would go outside the box and actually put a competitive staff together on the field or court. Metro pays more than any other county around along with Williamson. They could attract some top coaches. Example: Finley at Cheatham County. How and why would that guy not get a coaching job in Metro? People apply and want these jobs, however there is NO support. it's SSDD constantly and the landscape needs to change. Just don't understand how this incompetency has gone on for so long.

My point is that the CPA state championships were won without real X's and O's coaching. He basically out talented everyone in AA, and by a large margin. The question raised is we really aren't sure how great an in game strategist Maddux is, because he has multiple D1 players over the last 2 seasons on the floor at the same time, where a good AA team is lucky to have 1.

Coach Spann never had 4-5 D1 players on one roster, or 2 top 100 players on his roster. Are you serious with this comparison? My point is, Until he brought in his version of the Fab Five, he didn't win the title. Most of time, talent does win out. Except his talent is on par with some small college teams.

You are really informed. He is in the Lipscomb Hall of Fame. Played for Meyer. Meyer's favorite player.

Taking a look at this situation, while I think Coach Maddux would do great at Lipscomb.......we really do not know how good of a coach he is. Comparing his teams to others is apples and oranges. He does well with the talent he has, but looking at things equally........the talent on his roster is better than anyone outside of Memphis. Sure, he makes some adjustments, but his teams are exceptionally talented versus the ones he is having to play. That's what makes him such a polarizing figure in TSSAA and high school regards, but would not be an issue at the mid-major level. Point being, if he was ejected in the 1st quarter of every game this season, would CPA really lose that many games? Probably not. Comparing his teams to the Maplewoods, MLKs, Lipscombs, and East Lit.'s is not a real assessment of how good an in-game coach he is.

I think everyone is aware of Coach Maddux's "recruiting ability" on the high school level. But would be suitable on the collegiate level. I know a lot of coaches would be thrilled to get him out of the high school game and TSSAA altogether. Including Greenbrier (Bradshaw), Riverdale (Lindsey), and the Brentwood Franklin area (Bonds, Allsmiller)

Rumor is that they are cleaning house with the disaster of a President they hired and anyone associated with him. Is Coach Farmer out? And is Coach Freudenthal back in? What in the world is going on at that place?

I can guarantee you they have. It's not a big deal, public and privates both do it. You win some, you lose some. Let's get back to the topic.

I think Ayers would be a great candidate if what you say is true. Bowers would be great as well. I just can't see Ensworth's golden child leaving where he is the head guy in control making great money to go with the 365 day grind of being a college head coach. Let's face it. Lipscomb basketball has been irrelevant in the Nashville scene since Belmont has basically dominated over the past 5-8 years. Belmont has what 6 NCAA appearances? They need publicity, and Maddux would do just that. If Lipscomb moves to the "safe choice" of hiring an assistant, they will continue to be in the same situation they are in. Ayers isn't going to come in and challenge Belmont for Nashville pub, or challenge in the ASun for that matter. Ricky would win, recruit, and be relentless.

Drew isn't the normal high school coach. As we have seen from various topics on this board, he is a polarizing figure for high school athletics to say the least. He would be more suited for college. Drew doesn't need to coach at a JUCO or crappy NAIA job to prove he can coach on that level. He is basically coaching a mid-major college team right now.

I can name a few over the last several years that were out of county. I can also name several that were zoned for other Sumner County Schools, but attended Beech. My point is that sometimes public schools should not cry foul over some players attending a private school. BHS has done fine with the players they have in and outside their zone.

Proud of Coach Carter's JV squad. Mel probably worked out a contract extension for him after the Big W.

Cartwright isn't going to Lipscomb to pitch, but she's an excellent high school pitcher. Top 5? I don't know, But give credit where credit is due. She no-hit a perennial top 5 program in the state, and at this point in the season as well. They are 21-2 in arguably one of the toughest districts in the state. Was that not impressive? If your princess no hit Riverdale, I'd be typing the same thing. Why the haterade?

Think it was a fair question, and not taking a swipe at MJ athletics. MJ athletics are one of the top programs around in football, girls basketball, boys basketball (depending on the year), baseball and softball. In fairness, in football they do have to go through Whitehaven and Maryville which is a little different animal that Trousdale County and Adamsville or Dresden.

No dog in the hunt here, but "taking AAA talent and winning against A talent" is not exactly an accurate statement. Let's not make FCS out to be CPA. They have had a winning traditon in baseball for quite some time, and some parents choose to send their kids there over MJ, WC, and Lebanon. It's not like 7 of their 9 starters were recruited into the school. I understand MJ not playing FCS and Beech not playing JPII. However, Beech has open zone in Sumner County, and have the highest amount of out of county transfers due to their location and church affiliation. Not saying it's wrong or right, but Beech has had several kids over the years that attended the school under the open zone policy and paying the 2500.00 out of county fee.

Sounds like JC is a little too laid back for the AAA level. Good thing Mel hired his good buddy's son. No practice during spring break at MJ? That program has been a juggernaut for a reason, and one of those is work ethic. Disappointing I'm sure. Those kids probably didn't know what to do with a week off. Note to JC......This isn't DII-A. I'm sure he has it under control.

In Football......Knox Webb, BGA, ECS, and St. George's are always going to be tough. DCA even beat the Commanders last season during their state championship run, and then went out against St. Georges in the Quarters. FRA is getting better. It won't be a cakewalk like you think. Especially after next season. Week to week your games will be a lot tougher than beating up on RBS, Pickett County, Clay County, Jackson County, and Watertown. If you think you will roll through Division II-A like you have the last couple of seasons, you will be mistaken. Not saying because FCS is not good, but top of that league will be better than beating Dresden in a championship game. Basketball - Guess you plan on rolling through FRA, Lausanne, ECS (top 10 player in the country), Knox Webb year after year. Harding, Ezell, and DCA have also been competitive. Baseball - you probably would be the favorite here. But since you have won exactly one title with the slew of talent coming through there, and with BGA dropping down, I don't know if it's a "done deal" by any means.

This is a subject about basketball, not the football rings. I'm a Watertown fan, and while some fans believe they should beat FC every year, that simply is not realistic. They don't have the horses in a small 1A school to compete year in and year out. FCS should never lose to Watertown. Ever. In public schools, the talent comes in cycles... As for Bradshaw's "avoidance" of playing FC because of strength of schedule, he will pick up Goodpasture in basketball. As far as football, it would make no sense for Watertown to continue to play FCS. They have nothing to gain. Throw in the fact that overall records matter, why would you want to play 2 private schools? That would be ignorant. I'm not one that says FCS is a cheater and recruit. They do attract good athletes because the other options in that area are abysmal in Lebanon and WC. I'm glad FCS bumped up the competition in their preseason scrimmages, and resulted in 2 rings. Watching them lose to big bad Jackson Christian in the finals several years back when McNeal imploded on the play calling was a nightmare to watch. They usually played about 2-3 competitive games per season. Trousdale Co. and Gordonsville. And throw in one other non-region game. They will get a taste of their own medicine in Division II-A.

The football rings don't count in basketball. Watertown should never have any business playing in a state tournament. That is more of an accomplishment of getting Watertown to a state tournament, than winning one at FCS. FCS should never lose to Watertown in anything, much less getting the tail kicked by 35 this year. But since we are talking about CMB's postseason woes and while little Johnny's mommy got mad.......it did take McNeal about 2 decades to finally win a title in football. And he has had a lot more talented teams. Speaking of underachieving in the postseason, how did FCS baseball do last year in the state tournament?

Doyle is a moonshiner and contactor up in Cocke County. Actually met him at the MJ/Whitehaven playoff game last year. Does a lot of work in Wilson Co, and is back and forth all the time. Has a godson or nephew that went to FCS.

I don't think Watertown's talent could ever match what FCS could put on the floor until this season. Considering he has taken a school that has never advanced to the state tournament to Murfreesboro, I would say he could have gotten them there, but never got the opportunity. For whatever reason. Looks like things worked out for both schools. I do think that Bradshaw was vastly underappreciated. He might have been too hard on "little joey" at FCS, but looks like the Purple Tigers have bought in.