GIJoe

Clemson site says ankle sprain injury that he hurt earlier in the week (report says he was in a boot.)  Re-aggravated it on the landing during the game.  Just a sprain that will be fine in a couple of weeks. Great to see East Tennessee kids (Rodgers and Higgins) play quality minutes in the game. But the OU vs UG game was one of the best I've seen.  Couldn't watch the whole Bama-Clemson game because that 1st game drained me.

Having used to have lived in Oak Ridge, it would be hard for a player not to live in the district to play for Oak Ridge.  Oak Ridge takes a lot of pride in their academic achievements and teachers qualifications district wide.  Their tuition is outrageous compared to schools surrounding. Not familiar with recent teams rosters but it is hard to prove their players live outside district.  In the 70's and 80's it was rumored that Oak Ridge could always get a player needed through the Plants.  If Oak Ridge was to recruit they would probably look for some big kids.  So if some 6'3-6'5; 260-290lbs. kids come to Oak Ridge in next couple of years, I'm calling in on them. lol. Great season Catholic and Beech. Catholic way to bring it back EAST!!!!

PassiveA... the Public School of Knox Catholic Art and $cience Magnet Charter University of Tennessee Prep $chool is now 5A and should at least, by the number of blue chips, Rivals Stars, and College offers, should be the favorites in 5A

I doubt they have him at slot because of size. He definitely can play RB.  Maybe it's to make teams expand, maybe to get him acclimated to pass game more. Maybe it's because Gaddis ( old ball coach) knows what he can do at RB and wants to find out what others can do. Wasn't Graham a RB his freshman and sophomore year. I could have read it wrong but didn't he have almost 900 yards as a freshman and over 1300 as sophomore. I don't think they are concerned with his size.  He's just short. Looks pretty solid. I seen games on TV and a couple live and all his runs are not outside, he runs inside too.  Big run against Farragut was inside and Dobyns Bennett run on news highlights looked like that was a lead play. He reminds me of Dykes and a player that played for Bearden several years ago. So I guess Ed Jackson boy Tre is not playing? A church member daughter knows him and says he wants to focus his arts (I hear he is unbelievable actor, dancer, and singer). But he will run track .  As you guys/gals can tell I'm big track fan. Where and who are you playing in the jamboree.

The lineman are waiting for the turf and Jumbotron. Trust me you all are not the only ones with that problem.  I hear you hung with Maryville and last year you guys were not terrible offensively. I guess I have 1 more week before I become an adversary.

HVA looked more athletic than I thought they would be.  Still big concerns upfront and overall depth. In regards to scheduling, the regions have set dates for region games by the weeks. i.e. week 3,5,7,8,9, and 10. It is up to the coaches to find non conference games that would fix those open weeks.  Teams like Oak Ridge have definite Rivalries that they would like to fit on their schedules. "MOST coaches"  would like to play the rivalry games (gate$$$$) early because the records won't affect the attendance ($$$). Also MOST coaches would rather play tougher games early and build from them than to get a false narrative and find out late that they are not ready for tough competition in the playoffs. Finally and probably the most reasonable, coaches have to play games that FIT the other schools openings because not every region has the same region game weeks.  So to say it is stupid or not smart may be a little oversight but your opinion. I am thankful Gaddis brought back what should be a yearly game with HVA. Just for location alone, we may be the closest school to OR. Very similar in academics also. Lastly when you're a program with a history of greatness like Oak Ridge "to me" (my opinion) it would seem rather weak to look for cupcake schedules. But fans like it because they can brag for 6-8 weeks then blame the coaches that they played to weak of a schedule.  Glad I don't coach.

Funniest thing about some OR fans is every year they say they will under achieve. You remember what a lot of you said their record would be last year? the year before that? the year before that (I think you went undefeated in regular season.  The last 2 years you beat the teams that were in the State Championship with one of them winning it.  Pessimism is understandable but I think you should be a little more optimistic. If your reason for having the pessimism is lack of talent then give the staff credit for over achieving. I was at the Webb game and from the beginning just didn't seem like they were excited to play. I stood on OR sideline before the game and the coaching staff had to call the players up because they were so flat during pre-game.  I heard staff keep saying get last year out your head.  Still had chance to win both games you lost.  Even in the first round, I hear it went to the last play.  

I will say HVA we looked like we have some athletes on the outside. I worry about front but wasn't as bad as I expected. Scrimmages will tell a lot.

QB and Graham stays healthy I don't see 4 losses. Turnovers and injuries are key to OR season to me. Watching them at MC 7 on 7 I seen a faster group, coaches did less telling what to do on plays more fixing little things for instance vs Alcoa WR coach told WR to use body to create separation by leaning in on defender. Your QB coach told QB that foot spacing were too straddled. You can tell their QBs were reading coverages. I was on Alcoa side bleachers and heard #2 said I should of read the hole. Every other year it seemed players were learning offense. Defense coached talked about run through upfield hip. They just looked better prepared and seemed to be more united. 

41 minutes ago, WilleTheWildcat said:

LOL, no but I have the okay from wifey for us to go down to Atlanta next season to watch a glass of sweet Tee wash down a Rambling Wreak.

So far, I have an orange Tiger Paw hat, a white long sleeve Clemson t-shirt, a purple Clemson t-shirt. an orange National Champs t-shirt with the # 5 and Higgins on the back, a pair of Clemson crew socks and a pair of purple mesh shorts. On the wish list is Clemson PJs and a # 5 Tee Higgins jersey. They only sell five jerseys with name and numbers per year so Tee will have to do really well there to get that honor. I could get a Watson jersey now but it would not be the same.

Ok, Oak Ridge fans, name the last Wildcat to play for Clemson?

Best of luck RW for Maryville this season.

19 minutes ago, SweetScience said:

How'd dem Cats look y'all? Wasn't able to make it.

As I said earlier they actually impressed me from what I expected. LBs and Safeties were fast to the ball. #1 was impressive on both sides of ball. Graham will be a nightmare in slot on passing game. Martin looked like a Div 1 player and seems poised to step in to be the top target. BUT they do a good job of throwing it to a lot of different players. Oak Ridge should be very competitive with anyone they play. (Of course that's if O/D fronts can hold)

7 minutes ago, SweetScience said:

How'd dem Cats look y'all? Wasn't able to make it.

As I said earlier they actually impressed me from what I expected. LBs and Safeties were fast to the ball. #1 was impressive on both sides of ball. Graham will be a nightmare in slot on passing game. Martin looked like a Div 1 player and seems poised to step in to be the top target. BUT they do a good job of throwing it to a lot of different players. Oak Ridge should be very competitive with anyone they play. (Of course that's if O/D fronts can hold)

7 minutes ago, SweetScience said:

How'd dem Cats look y'all? Wasn't able to make it.

As I said earlier they actually impressed me from what I expected. LBs and Safeties were fast to the ball. #1 was impressive on both sides of ball. Graham will be a nightmare in slot on passing game. Martin looked like a Div 1 player and seems poised to step in to be the top target. BUT they do a good job of throwing it to a lot of different players. Oak Ridge should be very competitive with anyone they play. (Of course that's if O/D fronts can hold)

I was impressed with Oak Ridge today. Your defense is very athletic and coach was right on TV they spread the ball around to bunch of WR. They were exclusively in gun and last year they were not. We just played Ooltewah and they are very talented. 

Your first four games will tell a lot.  My opinion Oak Ridge offense was pretty good the first four games last year.  Remember they were the top scoring team in Tennessee (according to News Sentinel) until the game they lost to McMinn Co. Matter of fact I think they lost the next week after that was out. Depth is the key.  Their second tier kids have to play big.  I hear you guys got a transfer QB from the Midwest. Seen Higgins and Graham on TV Tuesday evening at the Under Armour game. HIggins is expected to do big things.  From what I seen, couldn't happen to a better kid.  My favorite Tee Higgins highlight was the last second shot versus Fulton. Second to that is the between legs dunk (seen online) against Clinton. The dunk in the quarterfinal at the state tourney this year rounds it out.   I only seen the catch versus Ooltewah still picture but heard it was amazing.  You guys have had some special players in the past.  All of them seem to be good guys.

I think you guys are better than you think.  Give Joe Gaddis a little credit.  I've kept up with Oak Ridge since I've been back. Every Off-season it seems the expectations of Oak Ridge has hit an all time bottom.  Look back each year and some of you state valid points for the demise of Oak Ridge football.  But each year they seem to over achieve.  However I do think they should have been in 2 State Championship games in the last 3 years. Two of the teams they beat went and one won it. Remember 2 years ago when the consensus was they would go 5-5 or even 4-6. But you guys went to a new offense and was able to still throw for over 1500 yards in a flexbone. Had multiple runners to run over 800 yards (Graham (fr.) and #6) Last year no one would have thought they would been undefeated after their first 5 games.  Give them a little credit.  We are very critical of Coach Jones too but they have turned into a pretty good program at HVA. 

lol I hope you're right. We lost a lot defensively which was what made our team. A lot of your sophomores played varsity last year yet your JV beat us. We may have a transfer WR that may help but not the number of athletes you have on offense. It's obvious you didn't see our spring. 

5 minutes ago, STILLNUM1 said:

A little depressing to hear about the team this year.Hopefully its not as bad as some around town think.I keep hearing 5-5 would be a good year for this team.Last couple of years seem like a huge missed chance at building mo for the future.Lets just hope for the best.Go Wildcats

What 5 teams you think will beat Oak Ridge? I see 7-3 or 8-2. Farragut should be a good game. I'm worried about us HVA (loosing so many on defense) being able to score with you guys. Fulton lost a great WR and DB (still very good) and is struggling as both of us are to find a line. West will struggle this year but will be better in the future.  DB never know but I think you play them there this year and always tough to win. The rest of the schedule Oak Ridge should win. Possible loses HVA, Farragut, Fulton, DB. 

You said that Oline was problem every year. Lol wait to you see ours.

Talk to your players today and you guys will not trick us on this offensive line crap. Players say you lost your center but two of your best lineman are returning. The guys that are being replaced where former WR the year before. The guys replacing them are bigger. One kid is 6'5 former BBall player. YOUR players say they are deeper than they've been. Plus you got Graham and Jackson. Graham was hurt most of year in track. He seemed to have a gimp in his leg in MBoro. He looks bigger too.

Guys twitter said that was Caleb Jackson (Big Edward Jackson son) not Caleb Martin.  Caleb Martin actually has several Div. 1 (FCS (1AA) offers. Aaron Dykes has a bunch of offers now also from HVA including Army Academy.

I was there of course, Oak Ridge wins 4x100 if 3rd leg doesn't pull up. He seemed hurt or something. Graham basically had to slow down and wait for baton. But he made ground quickly. On 100 he didn't look to push out on start which makes sense if a hip area injury but once up and going he motored down. I was sitting with DB parent and he said Graham is one kid who's as fast on a field as he is on a track. Not many people can convert that speed. An OR parent said on both relays relays it was only 1 SR. And they all play football.

Who is Romano?  I know he's not running on track.  He's not listed anywhere on Milesplit in any of the sprints or relays. Graham, Jackson, Miller, Wright, Thompson are only names I see.  

Will they have another scrimmage on a later date for the spring?

Cade Mays