GIJoe

Bubba lol. Middleton looks like a Bubba. Big Ole Boy!!! I hope he does too. It was on social media. Didn't know they still recruited kids.

Darel Middleton out of Powell... If he's at Independence then he is at a great program. If he does what he is supposed to(????) then they will get him to the next level. WOW....That's a major surprise... Independence, they get the best. Was this in the Knoxville News Sentinel? I did not see it.

Can you guys put the Booker kid back deep against us. Leave Graham on sideline as much as possible. The Jackson (#6) kid will be a problem too. Matter of fact Graham plays better with Higgins, invite him to Clemson so he can hang around Tee for week 1 of the season to make sure Tee adapts well. I told one of the kids on our team to have Jones to buy the defense a net with small holes to tackle Graham. Once captured put him in a can and lock it. He somehow gets out of tackles and then zoom. Not to mention you can't see him and then he runs by you. Watched Oak Ridge highlights last night and don't know many returners besides #22, #6, #2 and #4.

Our people are saying Oak Ridge is playing at HVA because they are getting started late on their turf. They said principal wanted to get started earlier but that would call for graduation to be somewhere else (Thompson Boling, Civic Coliseum, ORHS, etc.). Some higher ups said "NO". So for the next 2 years HVA will play OR at HVA. OR first 4 games are now on the road. Forgot to add....please don't send OR any lineman until after HVA game!!!!

Seen that too Willy. Did talk to Geahams dad and asked if he was looking at LSU, Clemson. His dad laughed and said yes to go to see coaches that knew him since he was a baby to work on things to make him better not recruiting. Coach G said they are very realistic about chances to play after high school and tells Jordan to play for his team, school and city. Best way to get scholarships is through making the grades. I've seen that in a tweet before and on an interview coach did with a blog show.

Seen that too Willy. Did talk to Geahams dad and asked if he was looking at LSU, Clemson. His dad laughed and said yes to go to see coaches that knew him since he was a baby to work on things to make him better not recruiting. Coach G said they are very realistic about chances to play after high school and tells Jordan to play for his team, school and city. Best way to get scholarships is through making the grades. I've seen that in a tweet before and on an interview coach did with a blog show.

Willie just going by late in the season having to play a lot due to injuries. I don't think they were as good as they've been in previous years. So I figured it was due to lack of experience.

At HVA track meet and OR Graham is very fast. A couple of players said they lost 2-3 OL but many returned that played last year. They also said OR DL will have experience too due to injuries last year. You guys got some good looking kids out for track.

We (Hardin Valley) play Oak Ridge in week one. They will be more athletic aand faster as a whole next couple of years. They want have a Tee Higgins but it will allow the more to use everyone which I think offensively will make them more dangerous. Defensively they will be better. Jordan Graham is one of the top returning backs in the area. He's dangerous every time he touches the ball. Where is this game played next year.

He plays basketball doesn't he? He is pretty good size kid. Good BBall player too.

Dykes is more of a slippery runner with good speed. He runs hard. When you think he down he pops out and breaks it. Good moves too. Reminds me of an Oak Ridge RB when I was last here Shawn Williams. A little bigger than Graham but not overly big. Dykes probably will be at spring practice. The head Football coach is the track coach also. As far as lines...well let's say at the least we are even but I would probably give you guys the edge...YIKES!!! No our QB left. Our defense was very good last year and we lost a ton. It could be a shootout because I know Graham and company may have holes to run through and if Graham breaks its TD. Both teams have good defensive staffs so the kids will be ready and watching some of the athletes you have out for track you probably will have a better defense than last year. Just glad to get this game back.

Wasn't Oak Ridge QB an underclassmen last year? If so is this the first year OR may had a 2 year starter at QB since Coach Gaddis has been back?

Will it be at Blankenship or the High School?

Fulton has done a great job too. Most coaches understand that criticism comes with the territory. Sadly they can't critique our us on our jobs. I would love to be in the workplace with bloggers and sit and watch a coaching staff critique us. Well I'm retired now but if they were to sit with honey bunch (wife), I'm sure she can give them plenty of info to complain about my job as a stay at home husband. lol. But we know they can't. Many high school coaches are paid very little but give a whole lot. Rides home, meals, listening ear, a dollar here and there and loving heart. Not to mention a whole lot of time. It's a lot easier to be in the chair after the play or the game than while it is going on. But it is fun to type my opinion and see if it sticks. By the way Fulton will be very good in 5A. Skills are probably the top in 5A.

I was at the track meet and those kids were smoking. In regards to Graham, he did not run as well as he did last year. He looks bigger and that may be a factor. Also if he works out heavy during track it will affect the football players speed.A administrator from Oak Ridge said their football players have to do football workout after track practice. If that's the case then it will effect their legs. Look for them to get back in track speed in about 2 weeks.But I seen Graham on TV and live and he is fast. Track speed and field speed or different. Barrett is fast on track but not fast on field. Graham, Howard, Forbes, etc. are fast on the field and a track. Very proud of our RB Aaron Dykes. He looked faster.

I think Oak Ridge coaches have done a good job according to what many of you put at the beginning of the season the last couple of years. 8-4; 7-3; 5-5. Yet they continue to put out good product. If you look at teams that have dominant players (Tee Higgins) it does not equal State Championships, especially at his position. As a coach you are human and not every decision works. But that has nothing to do with preparation or adjusting, sometimes it goes to the percentages just didn't work. Sports nothing is 100%. Despite your preparation and thought that time it didn't work. Living in Florida and Texas I got to see some outstanding players, week in week out. I seen the teams with a Tee Higgins and a Jordan Graham (at about 6' 190). But the teams that win in that offense (which if line strength and size seems to be a problem is not a bad offense{block less}) it's about the smoke and mirrors. Higgins and Graham are fun to watch but offensively what makes the offense work is see one thing and get another. I think if the other players roles were bigger Oak Ridge finish regular season undefeated. Playoffs always a question. Once again offensively (which most fans focus on) Oak Ridge still was pretty good. But compared to last couple of years, OR defense wasn't as talented. I only got to see 4 games this year and 3 were on TV. But hopefully you don't get my opinions as bashing coaches. I would never do that. My brother and father made careers of coaching and I know every coach gives more for less. JMO

I worked in Oak Ridge from 75 - 92. Relocated to Florida then Texas. When we moved back 2005 after retirement we found a (cheaper) home in West Knoxville. My grandchildren attend HVA (2 have since graduated) and my youngest is in Cedar Bluff. I actually live off Northshore but my grandchildren played soccer, track, and football at HVA.

Milesplit is a site that keeps up with track times and information.

I'm glad Oak Ridge playing HVA. Excited to see Dykes and Graham run the ball. I think both Defenses are geared up to make others beat them. I think Oak Ridge has a few more weapons BUT will they use them. HVA has to be able to throw the ball. I am concerned with Graham getting next level, we have no one that can catch him. Reading Milesplit and it seems that a lot more athletes are running track at OR. That is scary.

Understand the confusion with middle school. But if you look at teams that were successful at the middle school age you will see they are pretty well successful in high school. Farragut's seniors won Knoxville league. (I think the private team of Petrones (made up with a lot of Farragut players won the private). Check Maryville's middle schools (multiple schools) records and look up Rhea County middle school. Watch Anderson County in the next year or two (Norris Middle). Baby Falcon program has taken some hits lately but when it was booming (state champions). CAK a couple of years ago, Webb middle was pretty good. When I lived in Texas that was what they would say. Look out for top junior high teams in areas that were zoned to one school. Mostly, great programs have great feeders. Coaching, expectations, same systems, winning attitudes and community support.

I'm a HVA fan NOW since I've been back to East Tennessee. But I started out an Oak Ridge fan when I first moved here in the 70s that is why I have interest in the program. I hate to tell you but your staff isn't as bad as you think. They took a very average team with a couple of game breakers and were state contenders. Watching the Farragut game (State Champions) I still think Oak Ridge would beat them if they played again. I think Bounder is slightly right. Oak Ridge sometimes forced the ball to Tee and when in trouble looked for Tee or Graham to bail you out. I think if their offense used others more it would forced teams to play a little more even. To me Graham is more dangerous between the tackles (can't see him til he gets to LBs and even then he's so tough to get down..i.e. the Sevier County game 2015 and Dobyns Bennett 2016, Farragut 2016) Those games were on TV and the big runs he had came between the tackle and looked as if he was wrapped up then bang gone. This years defense wasn't as good as years past. I still think two things happened. The players thought they were better than they were after starting the season 7-0 #1 in the state. (*Remember the beginning of the season a lot of you thought they would go 6-4 and lose 2 or 3 early). Secondly they drew a team that strengths offensively played against Oak Ridge defense weaknesses. A bad draw, just like I think if Rhea County played this Oak Ridge team it would have been a bad draw for Rhea County. Oak Ridge got up and then got cute is what I hear. That IS on the coaches. But they have to get credit for taking an average team and contending. Look at the record of these seniors in middle school. If they were undefeated then you can say that they were hurt by coaching. Oak Ridge did win their region didn't they. (I'm sure I'm right)

Oak Ridge I hate to tell you but football is still the king. You guys just won your region. Also your football games are pretty full because of your schedule this year. DB, Farragut, Anderson Co. were all at home. Basketball games are practically empty for you to have such a good team. There is no teams in your region that can excite a fan base to come except maybe Clinton your rival. I came a game and it was a yawner.

You obviously don't know Oak Ridge schools. Given a kid something is just not in there history. My kids went there in the 80s and early 90s. That school system takes pride in academic standards. From what I hear about this kid he does what he's asked. Very good kid that works hard in school. Oak Ridge is not semesters so his grades have to be pretty good for him to have a chance. Oak Ridge curriculum for college bound students is very rigorous,much more than surrounding counties. That's why such high rate of student college retention. Even my grandkids at HVA can take courses easier to be qualifiers at Knox County Schools than Oak Ridge. OR NCAA core classes are tougher and less to offer. Higgins will he fine and Oak Ridge will see to it that he is successful on and off the field.

Heard from a very reliable source at the school, Tee is fine. He has needed ACT score. He just has to complete and pass 1 class which I'm sure he will not flunk being that he hasn't flunked many if any classes at Oak Ridge. Oak Ridge is not semester its full year course load. I would hope the teachers work with him to prevent that.