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The Stratford program pretty well bottomed out with a winless 2009 season, and has begun a slow rebound since, starting with the hire of Michael Steel as Principal in 2010. Steel puts a priority on the football program being successful and on building support in East Nashville/Inglewood for Stratford football. Also, Stratford is in its' first year as a STEM Magnet school, which in general means more smart kids and fewer knuckleheads in the general student population. Stratford went 3-7 in 2010 and 5-5 in 2011 (first non-losing season since 2006)----- a far cry from SHS' glory years, but there's some light at the end of the tunnel now that doesn't seem to be a gorilla holding a flashlight. Also, there are some decent youth programs in the 206/216 zip codes that didn't seem to be present a few years ago. There are plenty of good athletes out East---- the challenge is always getting these kids to play football, so a hard worker with some charisma will be needed. But this isn't the hopeless situation that it seemed like, say, 3 years ago, when the start-up East Lit program looked like a death blow to Stratford football. But the right combination of coaching skills and sales skills could revive a sleeping giant.

Don't have a BA background, but know some of the players in the discussion. My 2 cents worth. Athletic Director- Patrick Abernathy Head Coach- Jack Pittman (with Paul Wade as an infintesimally- close 1A)

Merry Christmas to all---- here's hoping that everyone celebrates Our Lord's birthday with an act of random kindness, which for Our Lord is HIS favorite Christmas gift.

Let me give that a +1 and elaborate further----- there is such a thing as "fast-twich" and "slow-twich" BRAINS, and a "fast-twich brain" (the guy that moves on instinct, and his instinct is almost always right) is like chopping 2 or 3 tenths off that 40 time. And you always identify those fast-twich brains in pads.

It is absolutely astonishing to me that East Lit applicants outnumber Stratford applicants over 10 to 1. Stratford is in its' first year as a STEM magnet school (and I'm of the opinion that smart's good for football) and has a Principal in Michael Steel who puts a priority on a good football program. In '09, they had bottomed out with a winless season, but since Steel's arrival, they went 3-7 in 2010 and 5-5 this year with increased fan support in both seasons (although in that area, Stratford had nowhere to go but up). Of course, as far as long-term tradition, Stratford doesn't take a back seat to anyone in Metro as the alma mater of guys like Joe Campbell, Cory Fleming, Michael Coleman, Patrick Abernathy, etc. This is no disrespect to East Lit, a fine school that's done well in its' short football history. But that kind of applicant differential is loco.

However, I think the Hillsboro opening has become official now: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111220/SPORTS07/312200085/2072/SPORTS

Richard Campbell??????? (Logical candidate, as both a Stratford alum and former Stratford HC).

Actually, I wasn't aware of this thread until a day or 2 ago (I spend more time on the 3A/4A board than here), but there wasn't any "insider" knowledge involved with that---- Murphy Fair's site briefly showed Hillsboro as open, and has changed that since. Actually hope Moreno stays---- from everything I've ever heard about him, he's an excellent coach, but it seems like zoning changes and being in the Wilco district have hurt him in the W-L column.

1- I'm in agreement that football is, unfortunately, something that the Metro school system doesn't "spend" on (at least to the same degree as other urban areas in the Southeast). Memphis is putting down fieldturf at some of their high school stadiums---- the Metro Nashville programs can't even get their stadiums resodded with high-quality grass, so when you see good grass on a Metro football field, it's probably because they got the Titans' grass and turf from last year (the Titans resurface LP Field annually, with one of the Metro schools getting the previous years' field surface). It's a shame, too, because Metro HS football programs that are well-supported are the antidote to "the life of the streets". 2- Stratford has a principal in Michael Steel that is very supportive of the SHS football program and puts a high priority on it, and this has had some impact there (in 2009, the year before Principal Steel's arrival, Stratford was 0-10------ they improved to 3-7 in 2010 and 5-5 in 2011). It'll be interesting to see who the new Head Coach is. 3- In the Metro programs, the big challenge is getting the athletes who CAN play football TO play football (and then, once you get them, making sure they do what they need to do in the classroom to stay eligible).

Barring a career-ending injury, Azubike, IMO, will play on Sundays, very possibly as a Round 1 pick. I've never heard of a HS defender racking up 53 tackles for losses in 10 games before (especially since any coach with a lick of sense double-teamed him on every play).

No offense to Greeneville, but I'll be pulling for Maplewood to bring a Gold Ball back to Metro (I'm a Nashville "homer"). Got to know Coach Broome when he was the McGavock Head Coach, so here's to him having the biggest highlight of his coaching career.

Who your special teams snapper(s) is is extremely important, as is who your holder is on XPs and FGs. Those positions never get noticed until something goes wrong, but having good personnel in those spots is vital if you want to defeat your best opponents.

You've already got vacancies waiting to be filled at Hillsboro and Stratford.

I agree totally. Stratford became a STEM Magnet school starting this fall, which hopefully improves the environment for the next coach. But Stratford had a numbers problem in the program once East Lit started their own football program. In a Metro city school like Stratford, it's often a challenge to get all the guys who CAN play football TO play football, because the life of the streets becomes alluring to some.

Stratford Head Football Coach Jason Smith has resigned to finish his doctorate. We of the Nashville Storm will miss Coach Smith, who was superb to deal with during the 5 years we've played our home games at Stratford. But who does everyone think is Coach Smith's likely replacement????????????

Actually, Pearl-Cohn BEAT Maplewood----- P-C's 5th loss was to 6A powerhouse Blackman, who has a RB headed to the SEC in I'Tavius Mathers.

2nd round playoff matchup between Pearl-Cohn (6-5) and Harpeth (8-3). Best Harpeth team in a number of years playing at home against a Pearl-Cohn team whose record is deceptive because only 2 of their 5 losses were against 3A competition. Who do you think wins this one and why?

Pearl- Cohn probably went into the playoffs with the most deceptive regular season record in the state in 3A. Of their 5 losses, 2 were against good Division II teams and one was against an excellent 6A team with one of Tennessee's 2 best RBs. So only 2 of their losses were against fellow 3A teams----- one was a close loss against a CPA team that's got a chance to be State Champs THEMSELVES, while the other was the only surprise on their resume, a close loss against a David Lipscomb team in a rebuilding year. So whoever got P-C in the first round was getting a much tougher-than-average first round matchup.

Interestingly enough, the fastest 40-yard dash time ever recorded in the Nashville Storm's annual open tryouts belonged to a former Creekwood QB, so I wouldn't assume they don't have some athletes just because Creekwood's a rural school. But Maplewood may just be the best Metro football team this season, so if I were betting, I'd have to bet on Maplewood.

I've watched Smith County play on TV this season and was highly impressed with them. Pearl-Cohn, though, is talented enough to make this a very interesting game and have a decent chance of pulling off the upset.

Heckuva story, and an illustration of how confidence is the key to victory.

What does "SSDD" stand for (in this context- I'm very old school and have a hard time with acronyms)?????

The 2010 National Champion Nashville Storm Minor League Football Team are seeking to fill 2 Assistant Coaching positions. This is a marginally-paid part-time job, but a good place for coaches to develop their skills on a superb staff, and we don't require teacher certification. One of the coaches we are replacing is now on the staff of a professional Arena Football team. To apply, contact Nashville Storm Head Coach Charles Hunter at c.hunter57@gmail.com or (615) 589-4920. If you're not familiar with the Nashville Storm, visit our official website at http://www.nashvillestormonline.com .

+1 Don't know what section of Tennessee you're in, but in Middle Tennessee, there is a league of small Christian schools like Aaron Academy, Pleasant View Christian, and Franklin Christian that play 8-man football. It's a good league that has produced a few college players (a couple of whom later played very well for us- we've also had former players COACH in this league).

Kevin Dugan (the Nashville Storm PA announcer) has also done plenty of hoops---- he was the PA announcer of the WBA Franklin Knights and the ABA Nashville Broncs and Music City Stars. He also does PA announcing for both Antioch and Hillwood.