Stonewall

Good on good I would give this matchup to Norris and North at home. He does more with less than anyone knows. However, they have been wrecked with injuries that no one talks about because they get very little coverage. I would say G-P has a clear advantage now.

If GC walked in the day after the season and fired 5 coaches, the AD would say "Are you sure?" Then he would say "Okay". Know this, it would end there. There is so much jealousy and pettiness at the central office level that there is no way under heaven they would create 5 teaching spots and let him name his assistants. He can rarely hire 1 over the course of 2 years. When he leaves, the fact that D-B is a politically correct band school, not a football school, will be apparent to all. If you want to keep bringing up Maryville, that's the difference.

Waco, Much like you I'm sure, I can't quote people on here without their permission. Also, I am only relating what I'm told. That said, the coaches I know at D-B tell me that perception couldn't be further from reality about D-B football. They say it's a "band" school before it's a football school. They swear that Clark gets little support in hiring coaches and that political correctness rules the day with central office types resenting Clark's perceived power. One went as far as saying that if Graham fired 3 coaches, he would be fortunate to get to replace one of them. quote name="WaCoJaCo" post="3268426" timestamp="1416030611"]That was some rambling nonsense I agree. But Although not rambling, your post has a bit of nonsense also. Clark is a good person in a Jimmy Carter kind of way. He's a good coach in a Phil Fulmer kind of way. He use to be good but just can't cut it anymore. He has flashes of his old self but just can't put it together anymore. Can't prepare a team for the big games and can't put a game plan together to beat good teams on a regular basis. He has made a big mistake by hiring friends and former players as assistants. Now that some of them are not doing their job he's not willing to make the changes to fix it. Friendships are more important than the players and fans. Blood is thicker than water sort of thing. And I guess that's alright if your in that group. Kinda' sucks for the players and fans though. But that's life in the big city. I couldn't say Clark would play a more popular player over a more talented player but there is some politics going on at DB. Always has been a little of that. I do think that Clark sometimes will start a senior over a more talented player. I think maybe that's one of those paying your dues kinda' things. I wouldn't do it that way because this is not a "upward" league. Also lets try looking at the win percentage without counting Volunteer, Central & Davey Crocket. Teams like that even I could win against with the talent at DB. Clarks playoff record tells the real story.

Complete rambling nonsense. You DID in fact bash the character of Coach Clark. To infer that a guy who has won over 250 games and lost about 50 would sit a more talented player for a more popular one is offensive. It's amazing to me that posers that never played beyond high school (if that) are so sure that they know better than a guy who has won 80 + % of his games. Someone needs to manage their own lack of a fulfilling life and appreciate our coach. We become real forgettable when GC steps away.

The fact that this thread still exists after all of the time that has passed since it began is a testimony to abject stupidity of the average fan.

This is a scenario that plays out far too often, and always at schools that don't succeed athletically. When they don't, they don't attract a bigger student base, and the catch-22 never goes away. "You can't win unless you have the players, but you can't get the players unless you win." It's very simple; schools AND their athletic administrations with vision understand that high schools in the South are driven by football. They commit the resources to hire quality staffs (not just a Head Coach), build winning programs, MAKE MONEY, gain notoriety, and fund the other athletic programs. They put political correctness in it's place and make the necessary choices to achieve what is time-proven. I've never understood how it's more Christian or more academically minded to lose football games and run an underachieving athletic department.

This literally may be the most stupid topic in the history of this website. It gives voice to the deeply uneducated, frustrated with lack of achievement in their own lives (many of whom never played football in high school, and certainly didn't play it in college). None of these people could draw up or protect a zone blitz or perimeter passing scheme. You can't fix stupid, but here's a thought for those of you so critical of Coach Clark. Keep your money! If you think you aren't getting the bang for your buck.......keep your money. You obviously think you have "bought" yourself a voice.....news flash.....YOU DIDN'T!

My hope is that everyone who is "so done with this coaching staff" means what they say and hits the road. When GC has had Division I talent, he has won. He's been to the quarter finals at least 4 times and he's been to the semi-finals 3 times. He fights more turf wars than anyone knows and never complains. He could fire 4 coaches tonight to make you happy, but the school system might replace 1 if he's lucky. Many that you would think support him completely don't support him at all. .

Tennessee doesn't NEED more than 4 classifications and everyone knows it. However, that's a useless road because Ronnie Carter's legacy of cash for the TSSAA is a train that has left the station. That being said, when we had 5 classifications and the math was very simple, finish in the top 4 or you're out, few people complained. By the way, I have a friend of 45 years that is a Head Coach in North Carolina and they hate their playoff system. They kept asking their state association why Tennessee's could be so simple (in the afore mentioned 5 class system), yet theirs was so complicated. He said they can't believe we could mess it up this bad.

Well, every 20 years or so you have to go through this whether you like it or not. I would imagine the game ball is already in the trophy case in the topper palace as we speak. That's the highest compliment the Tribe can have. The 4th and 1 play was only one of many pivotal plays in this long streak. Finally, one went against the Indians. There won't be a new streak if GC leaves. What the underclass men do with this loss will determine how important it was.

I believe Science Hill strikes concern in any D-B fan because of their athleticism. This has often been the case. The fact that D-B has won so many close games is intriguing. Does that mean they're lucky to not be 3 and 6, or does that mean that Graham Clark has done one of his finest jobs ever? I will say this: if the athletes decide it, this could be the year for SH. However....if it comes down to any coach having to out-coach GC in a game with relatively even talent.....D-B wins. Only when he steps down will some in Kingsport know what he has meant to that program.

I think the reality of Maryville smoking either one of the teams, plus neither of them being what they were last year has put a bit of a damper on the hype. It really comes down to the local stuff. Does SH finally break the streak, or does D-B at least hold on to that dominance for another year?

Cap, If you're NOT a tea party member, you have pretty much disqualified yourself from intelligent discourse. Hey, make an extra point! Don't let a high school team drive the length of the field in 1:40 and you get what you came for. TN High could have controlled both of those and they didn't!

BigPoppaPump, You are articulate and you couldn't be more correct. 100 years from now there will still be people who believe that all that's missing from bringing gold footballs back to East Tennessee is coaching. Unless you happen to have a classified bracket like Greeneville has had that basically allows you to play an opponent in the State Title game that you would normally play in the 2nd round, we're not winning one anytime soon. Your comments about genetics were brilliant. Arguments against it are passionate and likely made because the people making them really believe them. However, facts and history are against them all.

A sad day for all D-B faithful as Darrell "Catfish" Watson has passed away. My prayers go out to his family, as well as condolences to the Tribe faithful who were fortunate enough to know Darrell. His high pressure blitzing defenses definitely influenced football in East Tennessee. He was a fabulous coach, an honored member of the Tribe, and he will be forever missed.

I cite them because they are teams that win the title. Anything less in Kingsport will have some people saying that GC can't win the big one. The game is about players, real players, playmakers. When we had Teddy Gaines, Jeremy Graves, Fred Powell, Gerald Sensabaugh, Jesse McMillan, Daniel Kilgore, Duran Ferguson, Coty Sensabaugh, etc, no one complained because we went deep into the playoffs. What all of those guys have in common is that they were ballers. D-I, NFL in some cases, ballers. It seems a rather common sense point to me. When we had a group of "players", we went a long way. When we have one, or none, just hard working East Tennessee kids, we win 11 or so games, lose 1 close, and it's GC's fault. I don't see it that way. Players make plays or they don't.

Reb, Sounds like he was right on the money. He said that you and Smyrna totalled 10 D-I players during the last 2 years. Sounds like you can cite 4. Perhaps Smyrna had the other 6. If I was vague in my description I apologize.

Waco, I'll give you the last word, but let me posit this. There's always far more to any situation than meets the eye. Many of those guys in the football program talk to me because I listen and rarely speak. They will tell you GC has to wage war to get any coach hired, much less one that he would really like to have. Political infighting and turf wars have cost him quality assistants that wanted to come to D-B over the years. He doesn't gripe, he doesn't go public, he just reloads and leads his team and staff. A few athletes stand out, but this is still east Tennessee. He often has what could be described as "county plus" players manning more than a few positions. You will like this team. They won't lose early in the playoffs (barring injury), but when this speed graduates, there isn't a stable of minority players waiting in the wings. One of my friends pointed out that Smyrna and Maryville have had 10 D-I signees over the past 2 years. I think we've had one. That means we have to do everything right to beat a UT commit from Bearden. He got us in overtime. You have to have kids make the same open field tackle that they've made all year on that last minute kickoff vs McMinn County, or the punts last year that we suddenly couldn't cover. We couldn't beat Maryville at Maryville with a weak team. It goes on and on. As I said, when he leaves and certain people think we're better off, most of that staff will quit. Teaching positions won't be open to hire 8 new guys and the system's hidden lack of real passion for D-B football success won't be hidden anymore.

"The only thing that keeps you from being a complete Idiot is" .... you don't know who I am; you don't know my background; you have no way of knowing if I'm just another chump tossing out opinions, or if I've coached 300 games. I assume that since you've annointed yourself over me that you've played football. I assume you've played in college. I assume you know what it means to to hit 300 pound linemen in the heat and humidity of an August morning. I assume you've gone on to be a coach. I assume you have many games under your belt that cover many years of coaching. That is correct isn't it? Otherwise, in your juvenile attempts to name call a different opinion than yours, you have exposed yourself to look like a complete idiot. Good luck coaching your team this year. I know you must start soon!

I think replacing, firing, getting rid of - Graham Clark is perhaps the stupidest concept that I can imagine. That opinion comes from people who don't coach and don't know what they are talking about. D-B had never been to the final 4 to my knowledge until GC, and he took them there 3 times in 5 years. Yeah, he's had some disappointing losses, but he's also had some amazing wins. That Oak Ridge team he beat in 1996 with 3 SEC commits on it including Bohanan and McAddley (Alabama and the NFL) was as good of a team that has ever played at J Fred. We won't agree, but the proof will come when GC steps down. He hears all of this crud on here from people dissatisfied with their own life's achievements, so they live vicariously through a High School football team. Believe me, he knows this team is loaded and losing tons of players at year's end. He may very well walk after this year. Mark my words, when he does, D-B goes right down the drain. GC is a lifelong, Kingsport born fan of the Tribe who bleeds Maroon and Gray. Whoever is hired after him will fail and people will realize that old Coach Clark with his record of about 240-44 wasn't so bad after all!

Alt, I think I know what you're saying, but the real problem lies in the fact that our state's population really doesn't call for more than 4 classes. We have as many classifications as Texas, Georgia, Florida, and Ohio. Yet, we are less than half the state population of all of them. If we really wanted to enhance competitiveness, we would go to 4 classes in all sports. The rivalries would be established or renewed, the travel would be less, and it would be far more appropriate. 6 is full of holes, and 5 puts road games 2 1/2 hours away. The fact that money rules over kids is the 800 gorilla in the room that will likely never be fixed.

When the state's governing body admits the current system is a problem, admits the old system worked, then votes in an opposite direction based on the almighty dollar, I give up. I didn't have any faith in them before this, but I almost believed the rhetoric. I almost believed that we might do what's best and follow the advice of the majority of TN football coaches.......NAAAAHHHH! Follow the money; disgusting.

I almost hate to go here, but Greeneville fans like this one just beg for it. It's really simple, so don't make it harder than it is. D-B hammered you last year at your place! It was 21-0 before you heard the gun go off. They will hammer you again this year......they are better than you......don't make it difficult. I understand the juvenile comeback of "well, we win state championships", and I understand that almost none of you will admit that you play absolutely no one to get there. Then you go to the playoffs and play virtually no one. The biggest sigh of relief in our state came from Greeneville when you learned this week that you get to keep playing South Greene, West Greene, Chucky Doak, Grainger, and Claiborne. Heck, maybe you can be forturnate enough to have Alcoa lose 5 games again! WE PLAY HEAD TO HEAD.....don't make it harder than it has to be......we have better players and you're going to get worked!

I believe that D-B has made 3 trips to the final 4 and 3 trips to the final 8 under GC if I'm not mistaken. I guess if they do anything but win the state title, people like you will say they choked again. If they do win it, you will say that a blind hog finds an acorn every now and then. Proud of the Maroon and Gray tonight.....Roll Tribe!!

Dobyns-Bennett pride was on full display tonight. This is football country and the Tribe made us all proud with a statement win again. I understand why the folks in JC have to cling to hopes that basketball matters (although we've been to the state tournament far more than them recently). I understand why they have to believe that hoops success 20 years ago still makes them relevant. I understand why they want to believe that people care equally about baseball (though more people watched that game tonight than will see all of baseball's home games the entire season). No folks, what REALLY matters in the great state of Tennessee was on full display tonight and we answered the bell! I'm proud of our kids, our coaches, and our community. A clear distinction was on display tonight.