chsfan

There is a mistake in your team lineup. Centennial is not able to play in the Border Battle. Don't know how the mixup came about.

We would like to have 2 more teams join us at beautiful Fly Park on March 1st! If you would like to play but don't have enough pitching to play 4 games in one day, let us know. We'll try to accomodate you.

Has Father Ryan won a game this season? Everytime I look in the paper or on Coach T they get shutout.

I'll end my part of this exchange by asking you to see post #10 with the BHS fan promising plenty of horn blowing this spring(softball I assume). Obviously the FHS fan, just like all of us, has a problem with it and the BHS fan could care less. For what it's worth I first heard the horn blow 3 or 4 years ago just after a game ended. I didn't have a clue why the horn was being blown but it was quickly explained to me. I can't say here where it was recommended that horn end up! But as you say, maybe BHS oppenents should lighten up. Or better yet, win and not have to deal with it. I'll be listening for the horn this spring. With the BHS girls softball being so strong I assume the horn will need to be replaced by the end of the season.

Players cheering on the field after a big win is the norm. Always has been. Franklin blowing the school bus horn was nothing more than giving your school a taste of its own medicine. I'm sure they enjoyed it immensely. As far as this issue being a matter of opinion, this topic comes up each year in all the forums. The only people who have defended the action so far are those responsible for allowing it to take place.

True enough about the obnoxious fan behavior. Mr. Anthony may be a wonderful person, but if you are from an opposing school and you have a tough home loss, someone blowing the school bus horn may seem cute and within school spirit to you, but I can guarantee you from the other side it is like rubbing salt in the wound. I've witnessed it a couple of times and what may be a celebratory action to you is an "in your face" action to the opposing team. The horn blowing is well know around Middle TN and very much unappreciated. It's tough enough for the kids, and adults for that matter, to accept a loss without a bus driver rubbing it in your face.

"Sooner" you are my new hero!!! If you haven't figured it out yet I'll fill you in on a little secret. Whatever Flash says is gospel. He's "in the know". If you don't believe me just ask him. Good luck to Franklin, Ravenwood and all the sectional qualifiers. Stay healthy and play up to your abilities.

I know we are all looking forward to more obnoxious behavior from the Bruin folks. Can't wait!

Don't get yourself too worked up soccerdawg. I've followed Centennial very closely the past 5 or 6 years. My opinion is, except for last year, Centennial teams have been very good(a top 5 to 10 team) but unfortunately they are in by far the toughest district in the state. I don't think over the past 5 or 6 years Centennial has been any better, or worse, than Brentwood or Franklin. While they have been a very good team, I believe you think just a little too highly of them. Last season Centennial probably had the best overall talent in the state. If you saw the 1st game in the state last year you probably know the reason they lost. The Oak Ridge coach even emailed the Centennial coach the following week to appologize for the horrific officiating. That plus a missed PK doomed the Cougars, but that is the nature of soccer. The best team doesn't always win. Ravenwood proved that last night! I saw the game and I feel certain that Ravenwood outworked Centennial. The players need to be blamed, not the adults. Noone should have to get them fired up for a game in which they have a chance to advance to the sectionals and state. Keep you spirits up! You should be proud of your schools soccer over the past few years. They have become one of the top 5 or 10 programs in the state. Hopefully they will keep it up.

How about trying not to take things out of context. First you claim that I stated that the only way FRA could beat CHS was if CHS had a letdown. Didn't say that! Now you claim I stated that "we won't be fired up". Didn't say that either! As far as saying the Cougars "should have been happy with the tie". You can't be serious!!! Very disappointed is more like it. By stating that "some of them have a lot of class" could give someone the idea that some don't. Your private vs public argument is rediculous. Brentwood Academy is one of the smallest schools in the state, yet year in and year out they have one of the best football programs in the state, not to mention probably the best basketball team in the state last year. Goodpasture is another very small school and their softball program has been the best in the state over the past 5 or 6 years. St Agnes is another small school and they probably have the best soccer team in the state this year. These are just 3 examples that prove that size means absolutely nothing when comparing private vs public school athletic programs. You can put up all the numbers and multipliers you want but hard cold facts will win that debate.

My point was that CHS may have a hard time getting "fired up" to play out of district and out of classification after winning the district with very emotional wins against Brentwood and Franklin. If you go into a game lacking some intensity you will give the opponent a much better chance of beating you. As far as a "small private school" goes, ask some of the big softball programs in the state about little Goodpasture! Size is meaningless when comparing public schools against private schools.

Let's all just try to enjoy the remainder of the season. Besides, unless you're playing against the best teams in the country week in and week out, national rankings are a complete joke. Let's not pat ourselves on the back too hard.

FRA kept the game fairly close last season but they just weren't able to put any pressure on the Cougar defense. Following wins against JPII, Father Ryan, Brentwood and Franklin, the Cougars could have an emotional letdown which would certainly give FRA a chance. I don't think FRA has been tested much this season so this will give them an opportunity to see where they stand among the state's elite.

Anyone know who scored for Centennial?

I care a great deal about Centennial and I would never make that bold a statement about them, no matter the forum. That's the type of statement someone outside the program needs to make if anyone is going to take it seriously. My whole point is that there is nothing in the soccer forum for the past month that shares your current opinion. All the talk has been about Franklin and Brentwood. If we're going to have a quality forum, let's voice our opinion early on instead of "Post Facto".

I guess haven't spoken to anyone "in the know" recently.

They better be concerned with more than just Anna. You can stop one player, as Brentwood did tonight, but the Cougars have much more than just her. Against good competition Anna has a hard time scoring, just like any other player. In those games the rest of the team must contribute a great deal for them to win. Centennial has a pretty good overall team and they are playing good team soccer right now. In a year without any real good AAA teams they are playing as well as anyone.

In what was expected to be a fairly evenly matched game, one team put pressure on the others defense all night, while the other struggled to get any good looks. One team came in with a lot of hype while the other has been flying under the radar for most of the season. With everyone as healthy as they've been all season and in the proper positions on the field, the underdog Cougars came away with a 2-0 victory and let it be known that they are not to be overlooked. Congrats to Centennial and good luck to both teams in the district. It looks like once again that one of the best teams in the state will not advance to regional play. We'll have to wait and see who that team will be.

I assume by "college future" you don't mean the academic side. With 2 kids in college(one plays a sport and one doesn't) I can tell you that they both have a great future ahead of them if they keep their priorities straight. Hopefully more adults will learn to do the same.

Cougars have looked strong the past 2 games against JPII and Father Ryan. However due to graduation and injuries I believe both teams are way down from the past few years. Centennial's real tests come against Brentwood and Franklin in about a week. I'm looking forward to 2 very competitive games.

I got to see the "big 4" in AAA from last year play more than once. There certainly was a question about who had the better team! The Houston team was the most physical team I saw but lacked overall team speed which is one of the reasons they didn't make state.

I wouldn't count Franklin and Brentwood as locks to even make the state. If you don't think Centennial or Independence can't beat them in the district or Hendersonville can't beat them in the substate you may be in for a big supprise. I would say their are more than 5 or 6 possiblities. It will all depend on which teams are healthy.

Probably Houston or Centennial. Houston was upset and didn't make the state and by all accounts Centennial had everything go against them at state in their loss.

There is nothing more meaningless than "NATIONAL RANKINGS" in high school soccer, especially this early in the season. The fact that 2 of the midstates best AAA teams were shut out by McDonogh isn't exactly something to be proud of. I would have to agree that there are no "really good" AAA teams. I certainly wouldn't call it "bad soccer" but the current midstate teams, at all levels, aren't as talented as teams in the past. I'd still like to see a AAA ranking, even if there are big changes week to week. Remember, these rankings are suppose to be informed entertainment, not gospel!

The Centennial/Ravenwood game was rained out. The Cougars will host JPII on Tuesday and Father Ryan on Thursday.