TryNotToSuck

I think it is great for Huntingdon to get their turf field. I don't know if Dyer County will get one, their field is usually in great shape. However, with Huntingdon getting theirs, I do believe you will start to see the dominoes start to fall. I could honestly see Milan, Haywood, Lexington, Hardin County, Adamsville, and Peabody get a turf field in the next 2-3 years. North Side, Liberty, and South Side desperately could use turf fields and even more, but the school system and the county does not support athletics in Jackson, which is sad. However, if I took a guess on who would be the next school to get turf, USJ has my vote.

Lexington won the tournament and they only gave up 4 runs in the tournament. So...Lexington

He won a state championship and Dresden won a state championship. It's a win-win situation. Does it hurt to see him leave? Yes. But if Dresden people knew he is going to leave Dresden in the summer or after the 2017 season, then why would March 21st, 2017 be a big deal? There's about 6 weeks left in the school year, about more than half the class probably know by now whether they'll be pass the class that he teaches (if he teaches a legit class like Math or English). Gatlinburg-Pittman is probably a top 5-10 job in the state, simply because it is in Gatlinburg. Don't blame him and Dresden people should congratulate them.

I'm curious to hear the rumors as well... But I will say this in regards to USJ, I watched their middle school team play twice (I have relatives that play middle school football at two separate schools). Their middle school team struggled. They were beat physicality, size, and they had a hard time stopping the run (which is what 90% of middle school teams should run on offense). They also didn't have that 'athlete' they stood out like the other teams had. Now, I know a High School coach probably could careless about their middle school team until the players are High Schoolers. I don't know what the future looks like at the high school level right now (talking about the freshmen and sophomores), but I will say this, I don't know if the future of USJ football is necessarily bright. We all know that Coach Bradley is supposedly to be an offense genus, but I'm curious to see how he is in the player development of things. So lets say if Bradley leaves, will that be the reason? Probably not. But it's something that needs to be considered.

It just shows you where the TSSAA currently stands and how much of a joke our state association is. First of all, the TSSAA have a lot of similarities with the NCAA. TSSAA would not be able to make some sort of profit, therefore, they are not sending these teams (including Riverdale girls) to national tournaments across our great country. The TSSAA has missed the purpose of High School sports. I want to see high school athletes across our amazing state enjoy playing the sport he/she grew up playing, playing with many friends as teammates and against friends from schools just down the street, which most of that still applies. The common goal for a High School athlete is to win a state tournament, work hard for the opportunity to get a scholarship and play at the collegiate level, and tell stories to friends, family, and their future kid(s). I brought up similarity with the NCAA because coaches can leave schools and join another school just down the street without any punish. However, kids are being investigated by the TSSAA for transferring (where'd you transfer from, why did you transfer, etc.) for no reason at all. I hate for these kids because this 'system' has flaws and will continuously have flaws. I don't know how much profit the TSSAA makes per school year, but I've always wonder where does that money go to? All the money they make from football and basketball, where does that money go to and what's the purpose of the money? I've always wondered that, just haven't received an answer. I feel bad for Memphis East, it's a great opportunity for those boys to play at a state (don't know if they're playing at New York City, just know they're playing at New York) that some of them will probably never visit, it is a great opportunity for them to play at the national level and get recruited by other elite schools across the country on national television, it is an opportunity for those young men to tell their future kids that "I played a basketball tournament against this dude in New York, and now he is in the NBA" or something that relates to that. Instead, these boys will continue to win AAA state championships until Penny has had enough and decide to coach somewhere else. Their game against East Hamilton was not even close from the tip. But with this and screwing up Middleton in the new region alignment in football (using Middleton as one example knowing there are more schools) just shows us how bad the TSSAA really is and how unthoughtful they are about decision making. Money takes a backseat in situation like these, memories and experiences out weigh the money by a lot.

Did you go through the internet to look up your argument? Good job! Not being sarcastic at all, I have no idea where UAB, South Alabama, and Arkansas State are at in women's basketball. Just stating teams that relatively close to the West Tennessee area that are D-1 schools but aren't SEC schools.

I think a lot of people view high school sports different, especially from the ladies game. If my daughter had offers from UAB, South Alabama, Tulane, Arkansas State, and Western Kentucky, then I would strongly consider her going to one of those schools (Not SEC but it is not Ohio Valley) But if my daughter had offers from a UT-Martin, Murray State, Chatt, then I would probably let her consider the D-2 route. At the end of the day, it is her choice. But if my daughter does have offers from the teams I said first, but ended up at Union, then we would probably have to talk. Nothing against the lower-tier D-1 schools and D-2 schools. Pretty much what I'm saying is that there is a line, but it is her choice and at the end of the day, she is going to a University for a discounted price or a full ride, so I'll be happy.

Compared to.....what?

I mean.....Jacksonville or Knoxville? I think he realized that he could get a job that's identical to GCA just in Jacksonville, he would just have to wait a year or two. Good luck to GCA, hope y'all get a good quality coach.

That's a good question. We should tell East and Riverdale to send their teams to these national tournaments (they deserve the right to showcase their talent on the 'national' stage) and then whatever penalties they get from the TSSAA would be the answer to your question.

Nice idea, but it's a bad idea. I thought it is a great idea to get all the sporting events from the start of the school year, to the end with spring fling happening before Memorial Day. I think the sports calendar should stay as it is. Yes, they're going to be days a baseball game is going to be played in 45 degree weather and will be at 40 degrees when the final out happens. Just like there are football games while the temperatures are in the low 90's in August and early September. Yes, the majority of the state have seen some sort of snow today, but to the teams that tarped their field, will have the opportunity to play on Monday, while the ones that didn't, would have to wait and see. Why change it?

I think you're right. I do believe that the competition as a whole in West Tennessee is down a little compared to the state. Westview has been the most consistent team for years now, and they have done their due diligence in sending players to colleges. North Side was that way as well when they had Sha Brooks, Gwen Delk, and LaVanda Ross as they all went to Murfreesboro year in and year out, and went to the next level and play. Where's Obion Central? Are they down a little compared to their 2012 days? North Side can't find any talent to be competitive in games, and they have a below-average coach. All the schools south of I-40 aren't really state tournament worthy teams. Bolivar is down, Lexington is consistent but couldn't find ways to get to Murfreesboro. South Side is on the rise. Dyersburg and Dyer County did send a team to state. Just seems like you got to have a legitimate D1 player in order to win state. I don't know think Obion Central went to state while they had Chassidy Fussell, Milan didn't go with Chantel Poston, but North Side did go to state with Sha Brooks. Speaking of those three ladies, we haven't had a player that went to a Big Ten, Big 12, or SEC school in West Tennessee for a while.

You're also forgetting Gabby Crawford from Munford who will be a senior in November. Had a 20/20 game in the district championship. Recruited heavily by SEC schools.

Don't worry!!! He complained on page 24 I believe that playing the tournament games at MTSU would give a home court advantage to the Murfreesboro teams. Not like Stewarts Creek just rolled into Cleveland and beat Bradley Central in a win or go home.

Pretty idiotic for you to say that. If they play football at Neyland, then that would give the advantages to Alcoa and Maryville. If they play basketball at the FedEx Forum, then that would give East, Mitchell, and other Memphis teams an advantage. There would always be a "home court" advantage no matter what the state tournaments are located. The only thing is, playing the tournaments at MTSU (which is a great city and arena to host) does not give anyone an home court advantage. Why? Because no one plays their homes game in the Murphy Center.

I totally agree with the miscommunication of the whole transferring saga. A player really knows where that program stands by the end of his/her sophomore year (what type of coach, the future, how good is the class behind, and who's a sexy team near the area). If a player wants to play for another team in order to increase the chances of winning state, he/she will do anything in their will to do so. Can't fault the athlete or the school that is succeeding.

Everybody in the state of Tennessee knows there is a shortage of refs/umps, but I didn't believe that would be the case for the whole USA. Get it? There's a difference. Second thing is this, I don't look at articles on if there is a shortage of umpires and referees in the U.S. Why would I do that? It's a waste of time and it's something that's not in my control. Besides, they always say "don't believe everything you see off the internet." Third thing is that I relate to the players. I talk to them during games. For the ones that makes a valid argument, you have to tell them your explanation on why you made the call. They know the game. To sit here and act like players can't have a little argument is absurd, especially if there argument is really valid. There is a younger generation of citizens that are workable. I don't know why someone would believe the younger generation are completely 'unteachable' just because there are a certain percent of our younger generation are not 'unteachable.' But a younger generation person may not want to be an official, that's their decision. And to think the younger generation of umps/refs are running off because the 'most guys don't want to work with someone who's unwilling to learn' is clearly what I was referring to my first argument. There's a point where the older guys of refs have to nick-pick and criticize every little mistake the younger guy made. That's probably one of the reasons why they run off. We have to let these guys go and ref, and then tell them what happened when there's a right time to do it. But to sit there and believe that the shortage of refs in the state of Tennessee is blamed by coaches, fans, a few players, and the younger generation is pretty naive.

Thank you for the insight and I would agree that whoever survives this district, will be strong team into deep May. However, we are focused for 2017 which the first pitch is in 8 days, and not 2018. In addition to the teams I've listed, I didn't include McNairy Central in the mix.

Honestly, I don't know why people are doing a prediction on these state tournament games (I'm kind of calling you out Vandychris, but you're not the only one that does it. A lot of people that do it in football). Everybody from their respected regions will pull for their representative teams, I (who lives an hour from Huntingdon and about 75 minutes from Dresden) will pull for those teams. Just like I will pull for South Side in AA because I personally know their coach and have respect for the Lady Hawks. I did see Dresden and Huntingdon both play at Bethel, I like Dresden. But again, I'm only saying that because I know Dresden is tough defensively and I no absolutely nothing about Summertown. Get it???

South Side looked pretty good in their scrimmage against Trinity. They have done a good job developing a good pitching staff. Would that be enough to finish top-2? Right now, I don't think so. I say that because TCA lost a lot from last years team and I said that South Side looked pretty good. Question that refers to next season... Would the postseason rules still apply? Only two teams would advance out of district? Because Riverside, Scotts Hill, Adamsville, Lexington, South Side, Chester County, and North Side is a tough tough tough district... I feel like North Side is one year away from competing. Senior and Junior classes aren't the best, but they have done a great job getting a good Sophomore and Freshman class, just hopeful they would get a another good Freshman class to back it up.

Great game between two teams who left nothing else in the tank. I thought Huntingdon did amazing in the paint in quarters two and three and shot well behind the arc. TCA got punched in the face once or twice and they responded well. Unfortunately, I thought the transition from the 4th quarter to overtime killed TCA momentum. They had pretty much all the momentum in the last 2-3 minutes in the 4th. In overtime, I thought Huntingdon re-setted and play their game in the overtime. One of those things where there was a loser and a winner, that's all! This game was worth more than the price of admissions! Kudos to both teams! Game: A Atmosphere: A+ Officiating: C (thought they could've let a few things and let the girls play)

You're right, but missing something. First thing first, I did not look at any of the articles that you put on here (in the first page) so you ended up wasting your time to prove a point when majority of Americans know that there is a shortage of umpires/referees. I ref a high school sport, I will not say what sport and association because that is my business that needs to be kept to myself. I will say that this upcoming school year will be my 3rd year of being an official. Is my association short? A little. Are we desperate and dying? No. My point is this, I get asked a ton of questions of what does it take to bring in more and younger officials in the game. I specifically don't know how to answer that because I feel like there are a lot of good answers to it, but not a 'great' answer. We all have different opinions. I like officiating and I plan on staying in the business until I am no longer physically able to do it or gets burned out and do something else. The one thing I will say about being a ref is that there a lot of refs that are jerks too. Towards players and coaches (behind their backs). I will say is that a referee/official should not constantly tell their partners about what happened if his partner made a mistake. In other words, an older official should not tell the younger official what happened if the younger official made a mistake. It has to turn the younger official off. Also, I believe that every official should do everything in their will to stay in shape over the off season. Coaches and players have an off season where they improve their themselves to be better, I would love to see officials at least maintain their shape in the off season (I don't think a lot of officials do that). If an official does not do that, I believe it is not fair to the coaches and players. My opinion. Yes, referees/officials are going to get chewed out sometimes by coaches, fans, and probably a player or two. It is bound to happen and it fits in the job description as an official. If an official can not handle it to a certain point than the official should question whether being in the officiating business is right for him/her. Not every fan and coach is a douchebag, sometimes when they have an argument, they are probably right.

Why would a school have the option to move the postseason tournament when they have enough to sit, which I believe Humboldt has. I don't know how exactly who determines to host district and region (something I would like to know), but it's a good opportunity for the school to host a great tournament and make a little money off of it.

South Side 75 Liberty 46 Westview 56 Haywood 44

Looks like I will be attending this game tomorrow night. I was debating between this game or Westview and Haywood, but people are telling me that Westview should be fine, so I will take their word. I like Huntingdon, but TCA's resume is no joke and cannot be taken lightly. I hope a great game between two great fan bases who supports their young athletes! P.S. are the BBQ nachos in the basketball games just as good as the ones at football? I know some schools have different concessions staff and I can tell a little different (my school mainly).