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NonUTFan, shells and shorts is a good idea for walk through, polish and times when the state say’s no contact allowed. IMO, the practice philosophy of full-time shells create low numbers and not protect low numbers. Hoping that makes sense to you. The supervising athletic directors or other coaches should have strongly suggested full padded practices. As the commercial goes, everything else is uncivilized. As an outsider, we haven’t any say in the going on’s within interscholastic athletics. However forums provide a platform to voice one’s opinions. As an insider or a fan you should give Coach Davis time to tweak and correct his team’s deficiencies. Sources have been positive about this coach and his background. Proof will be in the pudding. Good coaches will agree that certain standards must be met and should be judged by the body of their work. If this coach is well connected he will probably be bringing in other ambitious quality coaches over time to help MJCA to a successful competitive level of play. This goal should be followed-up with MJCA building a traditionally rich football program. The school is in a prime location with an excellent venue. You build it and they will come! Last week’s game we attended was a bit painful for the Saints. Were their blocking and tackling less than desirable? Yes. Could they get off of blocks and pursue well? Sometimes. Did they display good clock management? No. Was the game penalty riddled? Yes. Can this coach turn them around? Absolutely YES. Will he? Hopefully so! It is quite difficult to overcome habitual bad habits. How might these kids have developed bad habits? Could it be, by practicing TWO HAND TAP football instead of TACKLE football? Perhaps with JR’s 2013 team practicing in helmets and shorts or helmets, shoulder pads and shorts Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays throughout last season? With full pads only on game day? IMO, too bad success evaded the 2013 team which had some very good players and some very tough players that also includes some of this year’s team, on that squad. Knowing anything about the game of football should enable you to easily list multiple adjectives to describe why that would be a very poor practice philosophy. Any and all responsible for condoning any risky practices, especially with kids should be in a different profession! Maybe this is a piece of what this new coach has to overcome? He seems to be practicing with full pads and certainly deserves the benefit of any doubt because he’s fighting from behind the eight ball trying to undue the previous coaching in 2013? Last year and the last thirteen years of this football program seems to simply get swept under the rug and business as usual? It really doesn’t matter? But it does matter. Fact of the matter goes back to, if you do what you have always done you will always have what you always had. What about the kids? They deserve much better. When you hear parents saying, “I just want my son, (our son), to survive the season†or “we should have transferred our son two years ago when we were thinking about it,†gets irritating when the experience should be rewarding and fun. Thus in this school, it seems no one stands up to be counted or no one stands up and says it is my bad, my fault! Again, giving this new coach time for improvements for this current team is a reasonable expectation. As long as he makes headway, they may be on the right track. He may be the leader needed to guide this ship. As said before, they have 5-6 games left.Time will tell.

I truly believe improvement in 2014 is the key to their future. This coach should be alright if he tweaks and corrects his team’s deficiencies. He absolutely seems light years ahead of PC’s previous head coach hire J. Roberts. Why did last year’s team 2013 practice in shells and shorts throughout the season? Why was that permitted for any number of reasons? Why? When talking about fewer numbers or fewer skill players or what have you, it seems to me that it's crucial that importance is placed on player development and sound football and sound football practices. If you always do what you have always done, you'll always have what you always had. We wish you well MJCA! Would like to hear from the faithful their opinions of the Saint's performances over the next 5-6 games regarding improvement?

I need to add "Discipline" to the following of a previous post regarding competitiveness. MJCA can certainly be a winning football program and be built! The pronouncement this year will be in improvement verses good competition. Competitiveness comes in terms of skill development, scheme and technique soundness and having fun playing the game itself. I personally hope this current coach is good at what he does except his quotes in the Lebanon Democrat has open the door that has me wondering quite a bit? In their second loss to Middle TN Christian, "It is about missed tackles,†Mt. Juliet Christian coach Dan Davis said after his Saints slipped to 0-2. “We have to go back to tackling and learning how to do that. We are getting better every week and are getting ready for the district." Two weeks prior in the home opening loss to Whitwell, he said, "There were a lot of missed tackles," Dan Davis said following his debut game as Mt. Juliet Christian coach. "We spotted them way too many points early. That changes our game plan." Offensively gaining 116 yards and given up 1042 yards in two games won't be as ugly if MJCA steadily improves and develops into a sound football team? We attended the Ezell Harding game which was overwhelmed with penalties. The amount of calls that have gone against MJCA were incredible. Ezell deserved their first win as they played better overall. Our thinking, this was just a bad day for the Saints, However, the MtJulietnews.com reported the week prior, “You get long gainers, you get a holding penalty, you get down inside the twenty a couple of times, hold, things of that nature will pull you out,†said Saints coach Dan Davis after Mt. Juliet Christian fell to 0-3, vs Oakdale. Following up on that story, a fan commented that if there were 10 holding penalties then there were 15 holding penalties as well as other penalties against MJCA, at home, in the Oakdale game. Davis went on to say “We have to work on cleaning up the details.†In football, a team must win the turnover battle and minimize penalties. There were at least 3 interceptions and three fumbles for the Saints as well.

Totally disagree with "Reverend Spurrier's philosophy, if true. Having been around athletics all of my life, I found just the opposite of what you speak of with your experience. With that type of dynamic and internal politics they show an extremely poor example to those they serve.

Albertpine, totally agree with your “Webb†comment! Totally agree with nonUTfan #152 comment as well. Excluding all TV games, scrimmages and jamborees, tonight will be something like my 8th game attended. Best game to date was Cumberland vs Cumberlands last Saturday. Exciting, well coached and well played on both sides of the ball! Mt. Juliet HS has also been playing solid ball since their opener. This year and the last game against the 8th grade Zion Christian Academy, the right offensive guard #59 (who also played dtackle) open stepped with feet parallel to the side line and perpendicular to the line of scrimmage, opening a lane of 3-4 feet between himself and the tackle on every pass play. Combine this open lane with the other pressure, Katie bar the door! The QB was in peril at all times. Absolutely the most bazaar thing I’ve ever seen. In a nutshell, if you have the better athletes and playing poor competition then you should win going away. A true measure often does not lie in wins and losses, it lies in how well you play and competed. GoldTrident, your comment One of their coaches, during halftime of a game where they were down by 21, told the visiting crowd to just wait on these 8th graders to come up. They would be dominating by their junior year. OMG (goodness), that a boy, coach! The fans can’t wait! Show me, don’t snow me is the old saying. Proof is in the pudding! Always was and always will! Show football improvement and skill, not we’re bigger, stronger and faster than everyone, because everyone who trains gets bigger, stronger and faster. How you put it altogether makes all the difference in the world. What was his definition of dominating? Did he mention the MJCA 5-6 grade football teams or the number of games they won and skill skill levels from last year or this year? In addition to seeing the 5-6 grade teams, I saw several MJCA 8th grade games where they won every game, last year. Saw a bunch of plays being run. Good plays but not exactly executed with skill and technique. Often outnumbered the defense with motion, without any defensive adjustments and without any decent pursuit by the opponents etc. So if he refers to this as dominating or their defense as dominating and it’s commonly believed, then fans can wait 4 years of 40 years and it probably won’t matter.

CBG, can generally agree with you here except that most schools and IMO including MJCA, would likely accept and welcome any and all athletes to come in and compete and earn a position and help achieve their long term goals. From what I have seen over the years, outside of one case perhaps, parents at MJCA have little effect. All changes are the responsibility of the coaches and parents would need to understand what good sportsmanship and competition is all about, This is something the head coach certainly would address at the first parent coaches meeting and failing to accept the truth of a situation would probably cause that parent to be looking in from the outside. As far as premier positions, all positions are important including the scout teams! As you said, it takes a full team and full team effort to win state titles. Besides a program that is on the rise, steadily shows improvement and ultimately develops a winning tradition will carry the day.

This is an older post but has some rhetoric. Regards to #2, MJCA doesn't need financial where with all to get a top tier coach. Those figures would have 100's upon 100's of applicants and therefore an outlandish comment. The culture must change and certain individuals either admit their errors and move on, or are removed by those who are not satisfied with the current culture or they will continue to have what they always have had. #3, No matter a young or an old coach makes no difference, a quality coach, in addition to their current budget, booster club funds, etc., can and would generate additional funds through their expertise or experience to help build and buy the tools needed and help turn that school into something great athletically. BUILD AND THEY WILL COME! Develop those players that are playing. Again, that is what I hope this current new coach does. It starts with proof in the pudding and that is improvement of the current team week to week. Those who want to know can see how they perform this Friday's night at their homecoming game? Finally, an oxymoron? The comment " if your goal is to win a state championship I am not convinced that everyone is on board with that type of commitment," could very well be true, but then there is something seriously wrong with those folks. Then there is what several parents had commented on, the multitude of times the athletic department at MJCA marched out and bragged about their 8th grade team who had gone undefeated last year. Questions are; were those kids fundamentally developed? did they play great football? did they play a competitive schedule? or was it to pump up a feel good moment and milk it for all it possibly was worth?

Honestly, PC doesn't seem to understand what it takes to win or build a winning tradition with all the assets and great people available within that community. It certainly should matter who MJCA hires! (Excluding this years hire, jury still out) PC's track record for football coaching have been atrocious for the most part and from all info gathered his basketball coaching lacks substantially in many areas. Proof for those not in the know is to go see his teams play and evaluate. BB season will be here before you know it. Sound coaching for MJCA is critical for a needed turn-a-round. MJCA can certainly be a winning football program and be built! The pronouncement this year will be in improvement verses good competition. Competitiveness comes in terms of skill development, scheme and technique soundness and having fun playing the game itself. I personally hope this current coach is good at what he does except his quotes in the Lebanon Democrat has open the door that has me wondering quite a bit? In their second loss to Middle TN Christian, "It is about missed tackles,†Mt. Juliet Christian coach Dan Davis said after his Saints slipped to 0-2. “We have to go back to tackling and learning how to do that. We are getting better every week and are getting ready for the district." Two weeks prior in the home opening loss to Whitwell, he said, "There were a lot of missed tackles," Dan Davis said following his debut game as Mt. Juliet Christian coach. "We spotted them way too many points early. That changes our game plan." Offensively gaining 116 yards and given up 1042 yards in two games won't be as ugly if MJCA steadily improves and develops into a sound football team?

I've attended youth, middle school, high school and college sports for decades. Great time regularly attending practices or competition metro or many hours away road trips to various counties because it's in my blood. The last several weeks soccer and spring baseball told many new stories as they always do. MJCA rarely hit my radar for lack of interest until learning of MH departure 2 weeks prior to their spring practice. Ran into a disgruntled parent at a store and later spoken to players who were hot. They loved playing for him and according to them he motivated and had them moving in a positive direction when informed by the AD that he would no longer be the head coach. If one wishes to know if MJCA's new football coach is good at what he does after 13 years of what the record shows of poor football decisions made by MJCA hiring brass in their sports programming, then GO WATCH THEM practice. We'd love to hear what they are accomplishing and this would give basis to comparing what is unknown to what is known of practices of the past. With one call, I confirmed MJCA like many high school teams are now in the middle of their spring practices. Spring game next week. How about observing and talking with this coach before or after their practice? How about asking for some time to talk or clarify with PC the AD or the members of the hiring committee about their evaluation and answer all questions? What interview questions were asked and answered or demonstrated? Parents and students should have the right to be more informed if there is question. ANYTHING SHORT OF THAT MAY PROMPT A MEETING UP THE CHAIN. The fruit is always on the tree, is it not? Many athletic coaches talk a great game but good ones bring out the personal best of their athletes regardless of the cards they are dealt. If it turns out that there is no improvements in the attitudes, skills, performance and welfare of these student athletes within the football program, then those who hire should find something they are good at and leave the hiring to those in the know.

2minutedrill, again I concur with most everything you just said. However, I believe a coach, perhaps this new hire DD and his hired or voluntary staff can be successful with the football program, the kids and the parents IN-SPITE of having "major issues stacked against them." While there is no doubt that the admissions department coordinated with the athletic department probably needs a major overhaul to bring more bodies into the door as you say, I also believe that just ONE person, one coach or a small group of people can be the difference maker(s) and win the battle to help full-fill the mission statement of that school and it's sports programs. I further believe that good football coaches would have won a great deal more games or had a great deal of more improvement with the personnel that MJCA has had under previous coaches not including MHarrison. Lastly, Webb is just another school and I agree that if the administration doesn't want to play all comers especially within the district, then I liked to know the truthful why. Thank you 2minutedrill for your comments as it enable the thread to continue and you are enjoyable to read. Referring to HARDTACKLE, I wished he would answer my simple question in post #112, outside of being really nice people or great character guys, what made in his opinion Coaches PT or JR even good at coaching football, much less than better then the new coach whereby the jury is still out on? He just stated that he only had one complaint but it seemed that all he had done in his four prior posts on this thread was "complain!" He complained that you (2minutedrill's) "real coach" post #111, was "the most ignorant post" he had seen on this entire forum, ever. He complained that your (2minutedrill) applauding for MJCA for hiring a real coach was "proof what a stupid comment" that was. He complained that "being an assistant at PC is no criteria for hiring him," referencing the new hire Dan Davis? In post #113 he continued to complain that he "just did not like the statement "real coach." In post #115, he complained the administration hasn't changed and won't change, coaches should not want to be part of MJCA, etc.. Above, he wrapped up by complaining that I stuck my nose in where he didn't appreciate it. With all that said, he said, in post #113, "my only complaint."

Hardtackle, your response to 2minutedrill seems quite negative, again! Let me ask, what solutions have you proposed to the MJCA program? You seem so certain that it's futile. As outsiders looking in, we're not privy to certain information and don't have to be but have you put together a team of people with similar views? Have you tried or do you believe this type of rhetoric is the answer? I believe just the opposite of you, hardtackle. I say, if a new coach is smart, he'll make his way into MJCA with a plan and ideas of exactly what he is getting into and what he will be giving back to those kids of that program, school and community. Yes, other athletes, (because they do have good athletes on campus as seen through the years) will also start coming to MJCA.

hardtackle, you referenced a post and poster above but left out 80% or so of the post and who wrote it? I believe it was post #101 by 2minutedrill? An opinion is a belief or judgment that falls short of absolute conviction, certainty, or positive knowledge; it is a conclusion that certain facts, ideas, etc, are probably true or likely to prove so hardtackle, you posted your opinion above stating all the football coaches at MJCA were better qualified and better coaches than Coach Davis, the new hire, if reading this correctly? Outside of Coach Mark Harrison, who I referenced in post #109, simply explain your basis for that opinion regarding MJCA's coaches or even their staffs for Coach Paul Townsend and the last two years head Coach Jake Roberts. Outside of being really nice people or great character guys, what made these coaches good at coaching football? These two representing perhaps 50% or more of all games played at MJCA, the past 13 years. Thanks for your insight as it's important to know why you feel that way.

MSUfan85 – Referring to post #107 Bird dogging forums for years has shown me that most posters post for reasons other than hate. Rarely if ever, that is the case. With ten exclamation points, MSUfan85, you believe that many posters on this thread are MJCA haters? You’ve read threads of EZH, MJCA and DA and interpolated your opinion about them. This shows that you can read and can count but IMO, your comprehension seems to be knowledge deficient. You use another strong adjective when saying so many people “bash†the AD, Coaches and players. If you’re trying to understand then it may be prudent to see your environment you belong. You live within the facts of that program and allow things to happen without doing anything about it. Proof is always in the pudding or the fruit on the tree!!!! Be part of a solution to a situation and not allow them to continue year after year after year. 25 wins and 125 losses is an indicator of a poorly run program. This is throughout the longevity of its football program. WHAT ABOUT THE KIDS? THE PLAYERS? THE ATHLETES? I concur 100% with bigchief’s posts. Note his second post on February 17, which reads “You should have kept Harrison, too.†Quote from MJCA AD, “Coach Harrison has expressed great planning and vision for the MJCA football program.†“We are excited about the product that Mark is going to bring the MJCA program.†From all gathered, this coach was good for the program! This new coach should be good too but what how will his tenure end? Finally MSUfan85, you posted your son is part of the football program, do you truly believe that the previous football coach was a good hire? The Wilson Post wrote, I have never been around such hard working and determined players," Roberts said. "They have done everything that I've ever asked of them, and I sincerely hope that I have left the program in better shape than when I first took the job." Being there for some time, kids in the immediate programs, strong opinions and willing to scold others who wish to express themselves freely in a forum that is quite frankly, the best!, gives me pause to even respond to you MSUfan85.. There are things on the record because they have happened and are not opinions. These things can be verified by anyone putting forth the effort. I invite you to research the record, to re-read the posts of this thread and think them through!!!!!!!!!! If you always do what you’ve always done then you’ll always have what you’ve always had. MJCA will someday be one of the top schools and athletic programs in Tennessee when people get their eyes off of themselves and put those eyes solely on the kids.

I have never ever voiced an opinion on this awesome forum before but will add my two cents. I really enjoy several of the posters and in particular 2minutedrill who always has intelligent opinions and great insight. You seem to understand sports, athletics, coaching, programs and the like. With that said, the above post in my opinion is 99% accurate. You stated that the problem at MJCA isn't the coaches they hired and I say its both the coaches they had hired and the ineptness of the administration to attract more students to the school. The proof is in the details but first look at the peripherals. For the historians, they can verify that in roughly 13 years of football at MJCA, the teams have won something like 25 games and lost 125 games. That's a 20% win clip if accurate. The question should be, who is evaluating who? and who is evaluating what? With that said, the new coach Dan Davis seems like a go-getter. Talked football with him briefly while employed by PC in the past and really like the guy. IMO, he should be the beginning of huge changes over there and not just in football.

2minutedrill Just my opinion, but the problem at MJCA isn't the coaches they hire. It's the ineptness of the administration to attract more students to the school. They are located in a prime area that can draw from several elementary and middle schools. Unless they can get some depth, it doesn't matter who the coach is. They are going to have an uphill batter against Webb, FCS, DCA, etc. "Changing the culture" needs to happen from the top-down. I don't see how an athletic director who literally hasn't done anything relevant in any sport since joining the TSSAA can be looked at as a visionary. The mentality over there is "we are a poor little private school against the others in the region", and that attitude is what needs to change if anything is going to.