pking34

I would think the DL coach already on staff, JP Craig, maybe Moreno and Campbell would give it a shot. I heard over fifty applicants for East. Stratford has reopened the position for a second time. That means the position has been open for three different times now. They must not be getting what they want. I know at one point only four people had applied. What would it take to win at Stratford and how is the overall support there?

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.

I've been singing that chorus line for a long time. But of course you have to start somewhere and typically that is with speed, verticals, pro agility, bench, squat, etc... One of the things I have also wondered about is why all these times are taken with the kids in shorts and t-shirt? I've never seen a college football player on the field playing without his equipment. There are kids who run practically the same times with pads on or off while others are slowed down by the weight of the gear. If you really want to know how fast the kid is going to be while actually playing, put him in pads and then time him. At any rate...whenever you find the kid who has all the characteristics listed above combined with the physical tools, then those are going to be your bonafide All American types.

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.

On one of the first pages of this thread I predicted six metro openings. We now have four out of the six. The two left are Hillwood and Overton. I think Bubba stays at Hillwood for another year. I still think Anderson leaves Overton if he can find an assistant position somewhere else. How about runtheball goes to Hillsboro to ruin Claytons big day and then he can bring Anderson for a Hillsboro reunion. So who are the frontrunners for Stratford (only four applicants), East Lit (over fifty applicants), CR, and Hillsboro?

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

No way,maybe RC though.

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

pking34, on this same thread under the general football section (not 5a-6a schools) says that Hillsboro is open.

 

pking34, can you repond here on this thread?

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).

It was an entertaining game, esp for an all star game. Mobley was a beast at rb. Azubike was the most dominate player on the line of scrimmage. Beaty and Belew were the best receivers.

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.

This game is a joke. I keep hearing clown music in the background! If I were P-C, I would try to identify a long-snapper before next year.

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.

Best wishes to him. He did a good job in a difficult environment.

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????????????

Wait a minute Shady. There wasn't any Harpeth posts at all until you guys started raining the insults down. Let's be honest. SEC caliber speed? That will be worth the price of admission. How in the heck do you lose 5 games with tv players all over the field? Harpeth will limp into this game blind in one eye and can't see good out of the other. Good Lord willing and the creek don't rise maybe the Indians can hang around for a quarter or two.

 

Anybody with a computer and a key board can see who P-C has faced and they have lost to some good teams like CPA, Lipscomb, MBA, BGA and Maplewood. C a l P r e p s has them as the 2nd ranked team in 3A with a 5-5 record and CPA's #1. I know I can speak for most Harpeth fans in saying we appreciate P-C getting that 8 seed so that we can play at home rather than play in Metro. Let's not start the my Dad can beat your Dad argument though. How about talking football instead of trash.

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.

SSDD 5down & 5 across

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 .

Very good advice. Most (if not all) coaches, ADs, principals, etc. would be more than happy to assist in getting a program started.

 

There are a lot of things to consider in doing this, such as current student body and anticipated participation. Another option would be get a short-term plan together (3-5) years to go to 11-man, but perhaps start in 8-man. Just a thought.

+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.