Yellowstone

LHS is also needing to add a football coach to Coach Harp's new staff..........so they would have interest in both candidates from that perspective. Don't know how it will shake out, but SC might be a good fit for OCoordinator/Offensive Assistant and HBC from what I'm hearing. Since Atwood teaches at FCS, I would suspect he would be a lot tougher pull.

Spoke with someone within LHS adminstation. Caven and Atwood are both on the short list and should be contacted soon. Think LHS has a better opportunity to land Caven as he is already in WCS school district and could keep current teaching job.

Wait a minute, Redsman doesnt get credit for the Caven candidacy.......LOL

Just an update: LHS baseball and softball gigs are up on TSSAA.org as of this morning.

Then that should attest to the overachieving this season at MJ. How many seniors did they have, 12? And only one is moving on to the next level?

They might be interested in that LHS gig..........if you win 12-15 games and finish middle of the district, you are a winner. LOL.

If you admit they overachieved this season, you aren't one of the crazy parents, LOL. You know the ones I'm talking about (some aren't even parents).........team lost quite a bit from 2012 and was literally one timely base hit away from making the state tournament. I am a huge Purvis fan from a coaching and accountability (baseball wise) perspective. The only reason he isn't coaching is because of himself. I hate it, but that's the way it is. Baseball at MJ is on another level as far as expectations go, and it's hard for anyone who has never actually done it, or seen it, to understand it. I'm not 100% sure that Carter is leaving (like anyone else, I just hear through the grapevine).....but it wouldn't suprise me. The job itself I'm sure just takes a toll on you. As for anyone in coaching high school athletics.......I think you are much better off being the guy who follows the guy who follows the legend (in this case Purvis).......than being the guy that follows the legend. I also think with the politics and demands on these high school coaches.......you are better off being the guy who builds a lesser program into a winner (see LHS athletics the past decade), than taking a job at an established program (like MJ).......makes for a long season when you have deal with parents that think "Little Timmy" is going D1 based on his high school career..........

Purvis is never going to get another chance to coach at MJ. He already has 2 strikes and is lucky to even have a teaching job. After his 1st mishap, he is fortunate that it was swept under the rug. While LHS is terrible at baseball, if he comes in there and overachieves he could do very well there. LHS's baseball job is obviously not the level of MJ, and you probably has less rift-raft to deal with. As for Coach Carter at MJ........Nobody can be prepared for the dynamics of some of these high pressure programs. Not worth the headache for a coaching supplement to deal with fundraising, the boosters, and the crazy parents. Wouldn't be suprised to see him heading to TSSAA............ As for Shelton, I am pretty sure he has his years in in Kentucky. I could not imagine him commuting to Lebanon everyday. With the new school and facilities, LHS is very appealing from the outside. They have been irrelevant in the big 3 sports for almost the last decade, and think they are making strides to change the landscape. Bringing in Sam Harp to coach football was the 1st step. If he can't win in Lebanon, then the place will become a graveyard for high school coaches.

Shelton is probably interested. Problem is he lives in Kentucky, and I don't see him commuting or wanting to move. I know he was miserable this year and the job he left for wasn't what it was made out to be.

. Because he wants to coach? And he isn't going to get to do that at MJ.....ever again. And because he can easily transfer teaching positions within the same county. LHS would be a great situation. There is no pressure to win, they are terrible. He can easily overachieve, and be a hero. Ask Coach Carter how much he likes walking into that juggernaut MJ program? With the expectations, booster club, and 15 asst. coaching parents. That's not worth the headache.

If 8-22 overall and 2-8 in the district (with a last place finish) is competitive..........you should think about what your definition of competitive is. Just to put things in proper perspective: Gallatin was 5-27 overall and won 4 district games. Portland was 10-15-1 and won 3 district games. 9AAA was way down as a whole, and LHS finished last in district play. I will give the credit they did play tough in the tournament.........but the .267 winning percentage was probably the death nail.

Good point. Football and Baseball did not produce on the field. I think looking at both....Crane just didn't win enough in a tough league. Baseball didn't do anything and the league was down across the board. Softball - she resigned for personal reasons. They had a great year this season. Boys and Girls basketball have the right coaches in place IMO. If Harp can't compete in football, it isn't about the coach........I agree, there is a bigger problem. The district in football is a bear with Beech, MJ, WC, Hendersonville, and Gallatin. Even Portland has improved. There are no easy wins for sure.

Heard Lebanon might be interested in 2nd chances................

I was thinking more of Rob (I left Metro and 15k on the table for this?) Brown.

Hearing the same. Takes a special person to handle that baseball gig.

Jody Atwood or Shaun Caven at FCS would be my first 2 calls. But LHS never does anything that makes any sense (except their football hire, which I'm sure the administration or boosters will mess up at some point).

Mob............I hope it's a gang.

This has definitely been the most "competitive" tournament thus far. All of the teams are solid and whichever teams makes plays and gets the right bounces has won. Several teams have had the chance to knock out Goodpasture, but they keep fighting for 7innings. They never panic, even when they are down. The last 2 Goodpasture games have really been a testament to how they have just willed themselves to come back. Chester County and Lexington aren't slouches either..........I just think to win 3 games in one day out of the losers bracket is going to be close to impossible to defeat GP twice.

Unless something weird happens today, I don't see how Richland doesn't win the title.

As far as "best pitchers" at the state tournament..........Here are just some thoughts I have as a random spectator. There have been a lot of quality pitchers and a lot of them have carried their teams. The Ashton Edwards / Cori Jennings matchup yesterday was a great matchup. I've seen Edwards pitch twice, and Jennings pitch quite a bit. Both are great and I enjoy watching both. Not to take anything away from any of the girls, but here are the one's I like: Edwards stood out to me as pitching. She has been the most dominant I've seen. Now, the competition in A is not what it is in AAA, but in softball, I don't think there is a significant difference between teams at this point. If you are at the state tournament as a Class A team, you are probably better than a majority of the AAA teams. She is a K machine with excellent command and control. Great pitch placement. Jennings has great command and mixes things up as well. The best pitching matchup I've seen thus far has been the Gordonsville/Richland game. Several others I've enjoyed watching: Makenzie Prince - Smyrna - totally has shut down every opponent I've seen. Great command, pitches, and is a K machine. Girls that are "pitchers" for their high school teams, but they can flat out play - Heather Norris - Clarksville - has been a great pitcher and player for Clarksville. Has really put this team on her back. For them to be at this far in the tournament is a tribute to her. Mimi Cartwright - Goodpasture - Nobody has done more with less than her. Definitely not the most talented squad, but they just know how to win and get it done. Same with Norris, has put th team on her back both offensively and defensively and is just wired different. Excellent leader. Sammy Jo Ivey - Chester County - another great high school pitcher and player. She can hit and play. Young and upcoming pitcher hope to see again: Brooklyn Lee - Dickson County - great young pitcher. Hope DC can make it back to watch in the coming years. Good squad. Chance to redeem themselves today to get back to the finals.

What's the deal with the Soddy and Smyrna game? Has it been played yet? Result isn't posted on TSSAA anywhere.

If FCS can't win it with this draw, then venture to say their program is a little overrated.

I hate Riverdale. But they can play ball North of Nashville off 1-65. Greenbrier, Goodpasture, Beech, Davidson Academy.........some years White House.

Speaking of politics in school sports..............

They have a shot.......just have to keep winning. AA is going to be tough to win it all depending on who gets there. A lot of perennial powers are still in play. Gibbs, Unicoi Co., Goodpasture all still in the mix........Camden, Lexington, and probably the hottest team, Greenbrier still alive.