GeneralForrest

I think Forrest will score. Can they average 28+ a game? 

Can they STOP anybody? 

On 3/7/2024 at 9:36 AM, Jchannel1738 said:

I personally know Palmer. He's a good dude and a heck of a coach. I would say you guys made out golden with this hire. He's going to do great things with your program. He took a very poor obion county program and made them relevant. 2 playoff appearances for a team that has only had 9 winning season in school history. He's a miracle worker in my opinion 

when i was briefly shown his plan and program, i thought "this is simple stuff. ive been asking for some of this stuff for almost a decade. why dont more coaches do it?" 

but give him credit. he's doing it. so far

chapel hill has amigos and country diner as well as another mexican place, a bbq place called holy smokes, dominos, sonics, a pizza place called viking pizza, and a subway!!  last time i checked anyways

On 2/23/2024 at 4:08 PM, fredjones said:

Tom Kreager would be the expert on this.

for sure lol 

"he stepped down"

duh. that tells us nothing. 

On 12/19/2023 at 5:10 PM, CoyDillard said:

Anything is possible but losing Villazon, Grissom, Bell, etc.... will definitely hurt. I'd say Marion with Fayetteville and Forrest battling for 2nd.

i love the graduating seniors. truly. but littles bell and grisom are better than their brothers. and fields is another animal. so is tincher. and the new 9th graders are no slouches. 

On 1/20/2024 at 11:22 PM, CoyDillard said:

It's possible you come into Jasper with a better record than the Warriors. Marion has to go to Fayetteville and Sequatchie and have added a pretty good 5A team to this year's schedule. Rockets could be playing Fayetteville at the end of the season for the region title. (I hope you guys have a good clock operator for the ending) 

forrest has had their youngest team in a decade the last 2 seasons, a horrific coach, underused the younger (9th and 10th) grade talent they DID have, and still lost by a combined 9 points to marion in 2 years.  

On 1/14/2024 at 5:18 PM, CoyDillard said:

Not sure they're under the radar. Will Forrest be improved under a new coach? That remains to be seen. Learning a totally new offense will have some growing pains but fortunately the Rockets will play Marion and Fayetteville at the end of the season. By then they may have a better grasp of it. Do I think they can come into Jasper with what the Warriors have returning and potentially adding? Personally I don't think so. Stranger things have happened but that's still a tall task. I wish the Rockets luck next season but I'm hoping you're 2nd in the region. Hahaha

doesnt forrest return many of the same kids that played marion within 9 points COMBINED the last 2 seasons. i dont get this,. 

On 1/14/2024 at 5:18 PM, CoyDillard said:

Not sure they're under the radar. Will Forrest be improved under a new coach? That remains to be seen. Learning a totally new offense will have some growing pains but fortunately the Rockets will play Marion and Fayetteville at the end of the season. By then they may have a better grasp of it. Do I think they can come into Jasper with what the Warriors have returning and potentially adding? Personally I don't think so. Stranger things have happened but that's still a tall task. I wish the Rockets luck next season but I'm hoping you're 2nd in the region. Hahaha

NOT SAYING its a cakewalk.  but you underestimate the extent to which the previous coach was holding back some really good athletes. all i am saying, is at least the coaching will be more competitive. it will come down to which athletes execute. 

i hope forrest continues to stay under everyones radar with this new coach. marion beat forrest with an inept coach the last two years by a combined 9 points, 

On 1/11/2024 at 2:13 PM, LetMeSpin said:

Yes

THANK YOU. any other info to share. what was the meeting like

have the kids met him yet

yessir

looks like the average forrest liberty ms game

Some good 8th graders headed their way from what I hear

56 minutes ago, howdoitknow said:

I tried to lead you to the answer.  

waste of space

42 minutes ago, catamount said:

I will chime in.  I do not have a dog in the hunt, but I have been very close to Coach Palmer at one point early in his career and have tracked him ever since because given the opportunity.........I will hire him in a minute.  Forrest......This is what you are getting:  He is without a doubt one of the best QB developers in TN.  His offenses have been dynamic.  He is very good at finding tendencies in defenses and exploiting them.  Very detailed practices.  He has a phenomenal off-season program, not just weight lifting, Team building exercises based on competition and the will to win that You will see for yourself in short time.  Despite the setback at Shelbyville, he is a family man with a strong willed bride.  They survived the situation and have become stronger.  He is at Forrest because he wanted that job and it gets him back to MidTN where he needs to be.  I foresee him being at Forrest for the long term if he will be allowed to do his thing.  He is good people.  Congratz to Palmer and Forrest.  It wont take long to see results.

I'm loving this one. Thanks for this insight. Great stuff. 

1 hour ago, RocketHouse said:

I could sign that letter. Well said. 

PS- You're getting all soft this week. 

I'm relieved. 

2 minutes ago, Salem said:

In your defense, the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. Props to the admins. I have been critical professionally but they stepped up and did the right thing in my opinion knowing they would catch grief from a few loudmouths until the new guy got his program going. 

well said- 

3 minutes ago, LeroyBrown said:

Also, his reaction to not getting the job is proof enough

i wasn't aware. i am not going to ask you to elaborate. You can PM me if you like. 

Who knows if he will ever see this. Maybe someone will share.  I'm sure there will be disagreement with some of this too.

Other than the obvious South Pitt/Marion folks, I think Forrest has some of the best people here. We are tough on our coaches and even occasionally players, although we try to limit criticizing kids unless it's constructive or just matter of fact (Johnny fumbled, etc.). As for Coach Palmer, a lot of this he will have heard by now. That's ok. 

Here goes- 

Dear Coach, 

Welcome to the Forrest community. I myself live near Cookeville. There are a bunch of us far and wide. The Rock is a special place. The folks in charge of these decisions felt you were and are the best man to lead this program. There won't be any shade from me on that decision. You're welcome here, and as far as I am concerned, you're a Rocket for the rest of your life, regardless of your tenure. 

The families in Chapel Hill are some of the best people on Earth. Sure, like families, we bicker and gossip. We aren't perfect. But we defend our own and we love each other. We have each others' backs. And we will have your back. 

The kids. Where do I start. I'd say learn about the McClendons. That's the epitome of Rocket football. The McClendons and the teammates they played with. Forrest, with a McClendon, beat teams like 5A Page (they were 4A then, in 2016), Tyner. Meigs. Lewis twice, the best Watertown team in the last decade, and more. They also reached 2 quarterfinals in the last 5 seasons. The toughness is second to none. Here's a bit about those boys. 

Tyler- Class of 2014. Running back, linebacker, D line and state wrestling champ. 

Zach- Class of 2015. Running back and linebacker. 2015 Mr.Football runner-up. 

Nick- Class of 2020. Running back and linebacker. 2 time state wrestling champ.  

Micah- Class of 2023. Running back. Defensive back. 

Each seemed better than the previous. They were all connected by DNA, and yet each seemed to add to the previous ones stats, accomplishments, toughness, and will.

Tyler resembled a freight train in motion. Zach was impossible to bring down. Nick threw up a gallon of vomit then went in and scored the winning touchdown against Summertown then had an appendectomy that night. Micah was paralyzed on 9/11/2020 while making a tackle, and his heroic comeback brought the town together, and is perhaps the McClendon family's greatest achievement. They are a special family, and you can't know the Rockets without knowing the McClendons. 

2 recent former coaches have gone onto impressive careers elsewhere. We don't want you to do that! Coleman went to Summit and won a state title in 5A. Kriesky went to Centennial and now Blackman, and has been to semis. And of course there is Murrey E. Holton. I'll trust you to do your own research on him. 

This team is driven by kids named Hill, Bell, Cantrell, Fields, Grissom, Patrick. Tincher, Allen, and more. The last 3 middle school teams (next year's freshman, sophomores, and juniors) went undefeated in middle school- 23 straight games, and won 3 straight championships with Coaches Johnson and Russell and their staff.  

The school has run Wing T since Moses was in short pants. Changing to a west coast style will be challenging, but the kids will work hard. And they will hit. And play defense.  

There's some stuff out there about your past. Guess what. We all have a past. I think for the most part people will mind their business, and sincerely hope and pray for your success. They will want the kids to win a lot and score a lot and play hard defense and special teams. They will also want their kids to became better young men, from being in your program.  

I'll try to be optimistic for the most part, while at the same time calling out any head-scratching decisions.  Just like family would. I'm a fan who really watches for feel of the game type stuff. @Salem is the X and O guy and he loses me in about 10 seconds with his knowledge. The last coach did baffling things in every game, didn't connect with the kids, and seemed to spiral with criticism. He did get the team to 2 quarters, but believe it or not, with the division Forrest was in, those were both underachieving years. Now we share the region with Fayetteville, Marion Co., Cascade and Cannon Co. None are pushovers and the first two of those have hardware cases with Gold and Silver. 

That's it. Nothing fancy. Just, make this your best school yet. We are hungry for it. For all the good things you've done, be even better here. You're in a family, and every family member has their role to play. 

Sincerely, 

The General

3 minutes ago, Salem said:

Far too much respect given to that butt hurt troll.

maybe, but i took it as an opportunity to just put my position on all the moving parts out there for whoever was wondering. 

44 minutes ago, LeroyBrown said:

Good post General. I like Johnson, but the idea that he should've been the next HC is laughable. Everyone in coaching circles knows that this is a good hire, and trying to bring his personal life into it is despicable. If CH folks want to get personal, they should look in the mirror. Lord knows one of their native sons (who moved on) is far from a beacon of morality, nor is many currently tied to the program. Best of luck to Coach Palmer and great job administration for bringing in a proven guy to lead the program. 

gasp, we agreed on something?  I'd have not used "laughable" if for no other reason than respect. 23-0 in 3 seasons is immortality in my book.   

but otherwise i agree with your post. 

On 12/3/2023 at 4:58 PM, GeneralForrest said:

i suspect a complete bungling of this. 

i was wrong. and i will own it. 

On 12/4/2023 at 7:26 PM, Rocketboy21 said:

The rockets hire Ryan Roach out of Knox Central, congrats!

i mean....WTH