Merlyn

4 minutes ago, MakingSense2u said:

I would like to end my night with my opinion.  Coaches are struggling a little bit right now.  Frustration is real and with inexperience backing it, I can only imagine what the coaching staff is going through.  That goes for the players as well.  Struggling to execute.  Struggling to be unselfish, Struggling to figure out who to trust more, coaches, fans or the guy lined up next to them.  Struggling to figure out how to be winners.  IMO I have not seen one less of a coach on that sideline this year. Same staff.  So to the so called "H20 FAN BASE"  I say this, where was all this bickering over the last few years.  Oh wait, it was win the Purple Tigers lost.  Thats when I saw it...and a little something you have forgotten, you havent had many times to complain during that time.  Have a great weekend to all.  And remeber I know Im not always right...I am just tying to make sense of it all.    

You sir, or maddam, make a lot of sense with this post. 

34 minutes ago, biggest said:

Wasn't pack a good athlete in Jr high? Wish they use him more than just kicking.  Maybe that's to protect his career and that's ok also 

Pack is a heck of an athlete. If memory serves me correctly he got injured his freshman year, shoulder maybe (?), and went to strictly kicking from there. Being the weapon he is and the possible future he could have I can’t say I blame them for protecting him if that’s the case. 

5 hours ago, Katdaddy said:

I saw alot of qb sweeps .lol

I saw a very young H20 team go toe to toe for the 3rd week in a row with a team that has exceptional athletes. Granted they ran out of steam and the score got away from them late. They won’t face another team this year with a package of athletes like that. Same as last 2 weeks against SC, not athlete wise but quality opponent. I may be wrong but I believe around week 6-7 everyone look back and see just how big these 3 weeks were for this team. Maybe I’m hungover from the purple Powerade Biggest was on earlier in the week who knows. 

50 minutes ago, TCRadio said:

They don’t respect small school football which is the way it always has been which is pathetic imo, just cause the Ravenwood and Summit game has all those guys going D1 don’t mean anything kids for TC and H2O are playing for pride, memories, their community, and because they love the game with a passion, and I will add, small schools got respect from some of the actual high school football guys, Murphy has been to several TC and H2O games, and our good friend Mike Molder would go to small school games to promote these kids and these kids deserve it just as much as those that are fortunate enough to go D1, sorry for the rant

May be the best post of the week 

10 hours ago, kingofthenorth said:

So he is disliked because of who his father is...crazy to me a dude has been to the semi's every year as HC and is hated so much. 

Not to mention the fact he’s trying to live up to his Fathers standards and follow in his success. In the end though he’s hated. There’s several programs around that would love to have him and his record. 

1 hour ago, DealLawyer said:

Nailed it. If the TC of macon, smith or gordy showed up last Friday, jackets would be playing Bledsoe. 

If H20 don’t milk the clock on the next to last drive and don’t take a knee with over 2 minutes left when Trousdale has all 3 timeouts left it would have been a 42-21 ballgame. Saying that to say if my grandma had balls she’d be my grandpa. That’s why the game is played. H2O showed up and Trousdale didn’t. Plain and simple the best team one period. 

22 minutes ago, MakingSense2u said:

Spot on!  I really investigated TC, Gville and H20 this season.  Knowing we wanted to land in one of these school zones here in a couple years.  H20 DC has been solid with schemes all year and week to week has gotten his players on same page to make the plays.  HC/OC took some bashing early on, now clearly has a grip on his O and game planning.  What has stood out to me is the OL play.  The OL play has gained alot of ground (no pun intended) since the Gville game.  Not sure what H20 did to get this going, maybe they had injuries earlier on or just stepped up, eithr way thats a hard postion to coach.  Hats off to H20 coaches.

From my understanding it took until about week 6 to get the full line out there together due to minor injuries, covid, concussions etc… 

4 minutes ago, PurpleReign said:

They were in some different formations tonight, I mentioned one of them. But we are still commonly coming out in 3 wides and and RB. And as you said, not throwing it or being ineffective when we do. There are many things that can be done. One being WRs picking up linebackers on screen plays and end runs, which we don’t do. It’s not like they are missing the blocks, they aren’t even looking for them from what I’ve been seeing. Which means either it’s not being coached, or the players aren’t doing what they’ve been coached to do. But it is not uncommon to see a WR not blocking anyone as the runner gets creamed by a LB. But if we can get that down, it will help a lot.

But ultimately we are in a down cycle right now. We’ve had some really outstanding athletes come through over the past 5 to 7 years. So as you said, who knows what might work, maybe nothing. Maybe a lot has already been tried, and this just as good as it’s going to get for now. Either way, I’ll still cheer the boys on, then as many do, vent my frustrations here as needed, if needed. 

This I can agree with 100% 

6 minutes ago, biggest said:

I agree they tried some new stuff! I think  8 & 6 are bright spots for the future.  I believe we all got spoiled by the talent we've had in the past.  I don't know the answer but  the Robertson kid plays lights out! We need several more like him. 

I agree! They’ve been very talented the last couple years. It’s a small town, down years are going to happen. Like you said the future looks bright from some the young guys I’ve seen out there. It may be a long year, I think they’ll figure it out eventually, but at least the underclassmen are getting valuable playing time under their belts that hopefully will allow them to reload next year and several years after. 

10 minutes ago, PurpleReign said:

Still running spread with players that are not suited for it. I did notice we went into a pro set type formation a few times, but still not an offense that this group of players can do well in. Unless you use that formation for some misdirection, which we don’t. 

Still running spread? I’m  an armchair quarterback like most on here, but Watertown was in formations tonight that they haven’t been all year. Last 2 weeks they was in more of a wing t formation but that didn’t seem to work either. Not saying I have any answers or know exactly what they’re trying to do but I did at least notice they tried to change some stuff or at least it appeared that way. As some said sitting around me they haven’t thrown the ball very much this year but when they have the receivers haven’t caught it so not sure that’s the answer either. 

7 minutes ago, Hogeyebigblue said:

I watch those teams when Maynard was there about 12 years in those 12 years about 4 teams was really good 3 of they was good and 5 of those teams was very average or not good he still average 9 wins a years 

I partially agree with you. The year Maynard left talent was down from what even he normally had. Scheduling had a lot to do with that also. I remember the year he left when the schedule came out and had Cookeville and Alcoa on it I told my family up there get ready Maynard is leaving. 

Talent level was down the year after Maynard left, why you think he left? Then they had a decent run under Dickerson  it wasn’t the kind of success Maynard had. One of them don’t want to be the man that follows the man deals more or less. Then Murray came and brought the circus with him. Numbers declined because kids refused to play for him and success went with it. Dyer will be fine if the SC faithful will leave him alone and let him coach. I’ve seen them in a scrimmage and jamboree this year and numbers seem to be up a little and they had and played with enthusiasm. I hope they do return to success because it makes for local rivalries to be that much more interesting and fun! 

5 hours ago, H2Oman said:

Two weeks ago I would’ve said for sure, but after this weekend I would say maybe??

 

It should be a really good ball game.  

I’m exact opposite of this. Few weeks ago I wasn’t sure H20 would have a winning season. After Friday night I feel a lot better at those chances. 

2 hours ago, H2Oman said:

IMO They will need to get quite a bit bigger / better for us to make a deep run. I believe the TC and Marion game proved that sometimes you just can’t out scheme teams.. You have to have the dozier’s up front to compete at the highest levels!

 

The kids played with heart, but we definitely need to beef up our line! 
 

However, I do remember someone telling me a few years ago that this upcoming class was the one Webster was so excited about. If I’m not mistaken they didn’t lose a game their entire time in Junior High. 
 

I don’t pay attention to Junior High football so I could be wrong!

Not sure about bigger, it’s hard to make them grow lol. I don’t think they’ll be any smaller though. I know when H20 started subbing this year there was a couple kids that went in fairly early on the oline. Dline subs a lot already. I know on offense they return Sexton and Clemmons. Clemmons will be a jr and a 3 year starter. Sexton came in mid season and definitely made an impression. I think there may be a jr and a soph next year that has shown a lot of promise. Kind of like this year it will take finding the right combination to see what the best line up is. 

43 minutes ago, crow said:

Apparently H2O loses several linemen. That’s the question mark on them next year. I agree with the tyner comment. Depending on the hire could be the penthouse or the outhouse. 

Biggest loss on the line is left tackle. They lose 2 more starters but they are replaceable. Not saying they didn’t do a good job or downing them at all. Just mean they was middle of the road as far as lineman goes and was 1st year starters at that. Defensively they lose a few but have several young guys that look good. All in all the line on both sides should be the same and have the possibility of being a little better. 

6 hours ago, H2Oman said:

You’ve got better eyes than me then! Thanks

Gville is at home. Trousdale is away again though, guess that’s how region games shook out. Week 9 bye week then Livingston and Trousdale to finish out the season should give us a good warm up for the playoffs. No more coasting after about week 5 

3 minutes ago, Reynard said:

I heard the same and that he was wanting to schedule "winnable" games,  With the right coach,  SC has consistently  been able to compete with anyone in the area on a regular basis. There's up and down years, but no more or less than most schools.   

That’s what I heard also. Yeah Carthage can be competitive with anyone most years. Like I said in an earlier post local teams playing and establishing rivalries is what makes Friday night football so great. 

17 minutes ago, Reynard said:

With the new region,,,,, East Nash-Maplewood-Stratford and JC,,,the gates were going to probably be smaller than usual. Adding TC and keeping DC/MC/LA  is good for everybody.    

I agree 100%. It should be that way. Local teams should play local teams if possible. I was just saying Murray didn’t arrange that schedule. It was done after he was let go. I was told the Principal or the AD one called H20 and others trying to schedule games but they was already full. Murray had already told them no. 

1 hour ago, TCRadio said:

Smith County will play Trousdale county next year

Yes they will as they should. That game was scheduled after Murray was let go. 

11 minutes ago, DirtyBird18 said:

Now this I can get onboard with, someone acknowledging there is a much bigger issue. I hope you’re right on the succeed part and we’re not back here in 2-3 years discussing the same thing. Like I said, I will gladly eat my crow. 

There’s been others that acknowledges it but as I stated there’s not much that can be done so might as well make the best of it. I don’t have a dog in the hunt just an outside looking in perspective. I’m sure there’s a lot I don’t know. I only know what is obvious from the outside and what friends/family say. I feel comfortable enough with some of those though to believe they have a comfortable grip of what’s going on there. 

1 hour ago, DirtyBird18 said:

Didn’t say I didn’t have skin in the game. Said I don’t have a kid at SC and I don’t coach. I want my Owls to win just as bad as the next guy, but dang get it right. Don’t ignore the fact that the issues are bigger than a coach. Get it fixed and let’s get back to SC football. 

I agree there is a problem but it isn’t going anywhere for a few more years. The board there keeps extending the contract. Thing is SC is almost a laughing stock in other counties when it comes to administration at or towards the top. That issue obviously isn’t going anywhere soon so might as well take it for what it is and try to make the best of it. A new coach can succeed there if they have the right mindset and can connect with the kids. I’d life to see Carthage he succeed and get back to what they used to be. I’d love it for the fact that hopefully they would schedule local teams, H20 in particular, and create local rivalries and good games every year that people and fans could be excited about. There’s nothing better than a Friday night with 2 small towns that despise each other for about 3 hours then can come together after and support the other. The more local teams that play each other the more that can happen and the better it is for the this whole area. 

7 minutes ago, DirtyBird18 said:

So we are now down to keep it close? Coach to not lose “as badly” so you can keep your job or coach to win and if you lose by a couple more than people thought you should, you’re gone. Got it. Don’t take chances. Run the clock. Keep your losses close. 

#ALossisaLoss
#Playtowin

Sounds like a disgruntled parent whose “little Johnny” was getting to play or a coach that Murray brought in who is about to see his way out with Murray to me. 
 

You can’t honestly say you thought the product on the field this year was any where close to good? Even last year, there was talent there but still same results. Yeah 2nd place and a home playoff game. Woo Hoo! You beat the bottom scrubbers to get that and barely beat them. The only good team in your district smacked you. How many games was it before Carthage actually scored an offensive touchdown? That all comes back to coaching. 

16 minutes ago, Reynard said:

You are right Croz. It wasn't effort on Murry's part, nor wins and losses. When kids are leaving the program or threatening to leave, something is amiss.

Look at Murray’s history and the schools left. I know a guy that played for him in metro and he said when the hire was made to sit back and watch because he would leave the program worse than he found it and people would leave because of him. Regardless he is gone and a new coach is being hired. This thread is about who will be hired, not why Murray got fired. 

34 minutes ago, oldsc7 said:

Well that is what we are speculating but from the three names I have heard having been on the same team as two of them. I hope it is Dyer or Frey. They grew up here played here and know the expectations even though those expectations are far fetched with this fan base they know them. They will have SC winning games outside the district and looking respectable again. 

I agree. I think either of the 2 would be a good fit IF they, the fans/school, will give them time to grow and learn. There will be some growing pains either way but with the state the program is in at the moment it’s not like they will be dropping off too far until they can get things turned around and be respected again. 

2 hours ago, Sidelinehustler said:

I bet y’all have a coach Monday morning. 

I would have thought that also but I seen a Facebook post yesterday that was kind of eye brow raising. Could have been an innocent post but it would definitely make you stop and think.