731rumors

Hearing that a few former lions, not named McConnell, have applied for the job. One having been at several great programs in Middle TN. 

1 hour ago, cbg said:

Yes, I know the logistics of playing a team from another state as I have participated in this numerous times!  Several schools in Tennessee do this every season so it's not like you are trying to reinvent the wheel or it's something new.  I am not defending Ezell Harding but I am tired of the crying.  There is nothing that can be done now so do your best to schedule another game or play an 9 game schedule.  At my age I remember when high school teams played only eight (8) regular season games and I don't recall the world ever coming to an end.  

Tell that to the seniors of those teams who will only have nine guaranteed games... 

Where I come from, each game is valued because 95% of the kids on the team will never put on helmets or shoulder pads after their senior season.

In my opinion, the players from these schools are being punished for another institutions lack of organization and communication. It upsets me because it is not what is best for those, kids which is unacceptable.

19 minutes ago, cbg said:

Honestly what would it have helped if your school had known in late October or early November?  Would you have been able to schedule another team?  See if a school in Kentucky or Alabama has an open schedule date.

Actually would have made a huge difference...

If you knew anything, you would know that by December 99% of schedules are locked in.

Additionally, do you know the logistics involved in playing a team in another state?

3 hours ago, Beagle said:

LOL  Shawn is great people just got off the phone with him. he says your full of crud...his word

So to sum up your proclamations from this thread:

1. Ward is coming back to Camden if Blow leaves
2. Blow lets you read his game plans
3. You actually understand his game plans and acknowledge that they are among the best
4. You just got off the phone with the principal and he promises that he is not trying to get another job
5. You speak with non faculty assistant coaches about the state of the program behind the head coaches back

Did I get everything?

3 hours ago, howdoitknow said:

I can think of another word to replace that one that I’m sure crossed his mind.  CoachT is a forum for fans to constructively talk about inter scholastic athletics.  It should not be used for “Keyboard Heroes” to get online and bash and call out respectable coaches, administrators, or players.  It also shouldn’t be used to stir up erroneous information about one’s professional or personal life.  

Not bashing anyone. I think McDowell and Blow are great men. However, being a great man does not make you a great coach. I wish it were that easy, but unfortunately its not. I do not remember even mentioning/bashing any players.

Even Beagle acknowledged a lack of discipline within the program. Is he a "keyboard hero" as well?

Camden would be a better school, in my opinion, if McDowell stayed. 

Also, I am still waiting to hear how many games you have attended...

3 hours ago, TryNotToSuck said:

A good teacher depends on two things. First, people can sit there and say that a good teacher focuses on the development of a student from the time when he/she enters the classroom, to the time when he/she leaves the classroom. The other deciding factor that determines a good teacher is the test scores. Needless to say, students that has good test scores make up a good teacher. A students grown will determine how good a teacher is. Regardless, statistics is the answer. Want to find out whether if a teacher is good or not, look at the test scores. Nothing “character” determines a good teacher to a bad teacher.

Agree 100%

3 hours ago, Beagle said:

LOL  Shawn is great people just got off the phone with him. he says your full of crud...his word

Why would he tell you anything else?

Just wait... 

You will be hearing about a county in East Tn pretty soon.

Facts are facts. He will be gone. Your principal is trying to leave as well. 

11 hours ago, Beagle said:

Of course teaching positions are vital to getting other coaches in the building  but you can not fire a teacher for need of a slot for a coach..bad form and horrible practice.   Putting winning football over good teachers is a joke if thats what you are saying you need to get your priorities  straight .

Good coaches are good teachers. It goes hand in hand. Also, what are we basing being a good teacher on? Evaluation scores? EOC scores? What, in your opinion, makes them a great teacher?

1 hour ago, MichaelMyers76 said:

Their headmaster told me personally in October.

Agree to disagree

2 hours ago, bleacher said:

Give the new principals  at Antioch and Hillwood a chance. If they make football a priority, perhaps they will improve.

One can only hope. Not trying to be critical, but every young man should have access to a program that is run the right way. Football can improve a kid's life dramatically and it is sad to see some schools not embrace that fact.

3 hours ago, Beagle said:

Nothing I say here is a criticism of Coach Blow  and all back seat driving on my part >I think the world of him and his Family.  He has been working hard for a lot of years for our program and I am grateful.   He can match x's and o's with the best of em and if you dont believe that you never read a game plan he prepared or talked football with the man and he is far more qualified than any of us nit pickers

I agree that Blow is a first class human being. I know him personally and know several others who have played for him. However, it does not excuse mediocrity, a lack of discipline, and a bad on the field product in a region that they should be at least the 2 seed in.

8 minutes ago, howdoitknow said:

Camden is very well coached and their kids always battle you and play the game the right way.  They were that way under Coach Ward and it has continued under Coach Blow.  I don’t believe Coach Blow is going to step down as Camden’s football coach at the present time.  They return a great foundation and will be among the teams to beat in the region in 2019.  

You have personally seen them play the past two seasons?

3 hours ago, Beagle said:

The staff will be hard to do . Most dont think about it but those jobs come with teaching positions.  The new coach just has to lay down the law in the interview he will weed them out over time. 


One coach told me this year our biggest problem is there are way to many chiefs on the sideline. I respect him and have no doubt this wasnt a back stab but that he had actually said it to all of them at one point because that big ole feller got no filter or reason to hold back.He isnt a paid coach.

The staff is not hard to do, but it would require some commitment from the current admin. Those teaching positions are vital to get coaches in the building. Which is another problem that I have seen with the program.

Look outside of West TN for a moment and consider that most every turn around in the state begins with a massive staff change. One great example is Lebanon. 

I have also heard of one coach who will not be returning for sure do to his behavior. 

Lastly, any coach who would say something like that to anyone outside of the program shows you how bad things have gotten. That coach should also be removed from the program. Great coaching staffs keep problems in house and deal with them internally. Coincidentally, he is a non faculty coach that is not in the building. (Further proves my point)

30 minutes ago, MichaelMyers76 said:

Actually they informed all the  schools in their region as well as the rest of the D2 schools of their intent well before scheduling happened after the season was over.

 

They are just going through the  process of  being allowed to participate in the  other sports post season. They could always just drop football completely. Their is no requirement to have a team. Their are still quite a few that do not.

 

 

 

I personally know two different coaches in the region that were not notified until December. Bush league.

2 minutes ago, Beagle said:

Sounds like you know more than me but from what i heard he ( Ward) let it be known that if the job was open he would be interested not the other way around. I am doubtful myself  probably just wishful thinking.


 Wolfe defiantly deserves a interview. Great guy,good teacher,the kids want to play for him and he has a great mind for the game.  Does more with less than any coach in the State from what i see. He would bring back all the athletes walking the halls and there are quite a few not to mention he is familiar with the staff we have.

  Also out offensive Coordinator I can not tell you his name because I dont know it and even though I dont like the single A  that little feller is intense and focused as anyone I have ever met from what i have been told is a crazy to details and disciplinarian as they get..We have lacked discipline on the field for  few years and has cost us some close game  in my opinion 

 

Totally agree with the statement on lack of discipline. From what I heard, that lack of discipline stems from Blow's lack of control over coaches/players. I think that Blow is a great guy, but ultimately the head coach must set the standard. 

In my opinion, the administration should consider someone with ties to the program, but no ties to the current staff. If a staff has been allowed to do as they wish, it can be very difficult to rein them in. At the very least, the new guy should be allowed to re interview the current staff. In my opinion, it would be tough for a guy like Wolfe to be objective with the current staff, as he worked alongside most of them.

Think back to when Ward got the job originally. Brought in Blow, Vassar, Knott, Sturdivant, Wyatt. He had to do that to be successful. A new coach must be allowed to bring in his guys to have a chance.

In my opinion, there are too many "all state" teams in general.

I have lost count of how many of these there are. Ultimately, the problem with most of these teams is that some journalist is involved that knows little to nothing about the actual game itself.

These teams almost always end up being slanted to the a certain region that they originated from. 

3 hours ago, fredjones said:

In the board of control minutes, there is an item about Ezell going to eight man football.  Sad demise to a once proud program.

In my opinion, this is a pretty unprofessional move to wait so late to announce moving to 8 man. 

This leaves every other team in that region with an open slot on there schedule at a time when most teams have already finalized for the next two years.

Good luck finding games this late...

20 hours ago, MichaelMyers76 said:

The only scuttle on Antioch is HB asst coach that is already in the building at AHS.

 

In my opinion, this shows how little the administration supports football. 

Coaches from other schools should be "encouraged" to move on. 

To get Antioch back on it's feet in terms of being competitive you have to have teaching spots for potential coaches.

That is one of the reasons why metro football continues to be a circus.

I would love to see Ward return to Camden, but I seriously doubt Ward would leave Crockett based on a couple of reasons:

1. He has one of the largest coaching supplements in the state and few districts can match his salary

2. He has very little responsibility during the school day at Crockett as opposed to Camden, where he would likely have to monitor ISS or be the graduation coach. Those jobs do not carry a lot of responsibility, but they are considerably more than is required of him now.

3. To my knowledge, he has turned down Milan (his Alma Mater) and Westview (previously the DC there). As well as many others that myself or others have no knowledge of. Why would he turn down these jobs, and then return to Camden?

Wolfe is a plausible scenario that I had not considered. He has done well at West Carroll considering the situation that he is. Would also go along with the rumors that I have heard about him having to do run the program almost entirely by himself because of a lack of coaches. Hopefully, he would at least get an interview.

2 minutes ago, ocac said:

If I were Camden, I would back up a mid size truck full of $ and dump it in McConnell's yard.  Camden cannot afford the Brink's Truck, but a mid size truck they could pull off.  They have a 1st class man/principal calling the shots in Shawn McDowell.  I think it can be a great job.  Great Community support.

Well said and I totally agree. 

Would love to see a list of coaches that apply, if this does happen.

I personally know of 2-3 alumni that would be very interested in the job. 

I would love to see Camden Football become relevant again.

McConnell?

Any other alumni out there?

1 minute ago, ocac said:

I have heard he may get into Adm.  Super guy!

Totally agree. 

Know of several who have played for him and love him.

Wish him the best if he decides to move into admin.

Rumor mill says that he will step down in the newt few weeks. 

I would say that the recent decline into mediocrity in an already mediocre region would be reason enough.

Is Camden a desirable job?

Who would go after it?

Rumor mill says that Blow is out at Camden. Thoughts/comments?