swift13

Agree. The man literally sacrificed time, moments, memories you can't get back with his own family for every single athlete at that school. (and many others) To those that continue to be negative about him and continue to bring him up; He's been loyal, hardworking and just his entire coaching career. Ask anyone that actually has a leg to stand on in regard to Coach.

Egotistical? That's a new one. It's funny, I'm friends with two of the younger coaches that he "ran off" as you say. In fact, he helped them find jobs, encouraged them to do what was best for their growing families, provided advice, support and still does to this day.

Almost as if classifications were different... You could probably wipe 2021 away because had I lost my son during the beginning of the season like Coach did, I'm not sure I could have continued to coach.

Really not concerned with scores, numbers, all that. You can keep comparing Hammontree and O until your fingers can't type on that keyboard, it makes no difference. I'm more concerned with what I'm hearing from those connected to HHS. It's one thing when a couple of parents butt heads with staff or head coach and kids transfer or whatnot, it's one thing to have losing seasons, but I heard nothing about the previous staff like I've heard about this one. I guess having cussing and shoving matches between players and coaches on the sidelines (that you miss if you watch the live feed), players walking out on the team at halftime, players in the stands, players taking photos and videos, so on and so forth is just "what the doctor ordered" as you say. These kids are impressionable like I've said before and most will keep taking it, putting up with it so they have a chance at playing now and maybe in the future. It shouldn't be that way, no matter what coaches were doing 'back in your day'. These kids deserve good coaching, good life lessons, hard nose advice, but, any good - no, great - coach will tell you that they also need support, family, understanding and empathy. Look, I like to win and see these kids put up numbers just like the next guy, but at what freaking cost, man? These players and athletes in other sports can log on and see these boards just like us, I hope that those asking for change and for help see that there are at least a handful of us backing them up, standing up for them and wanting the best for them. I'm not saying you don't, Barney, but choose your words carefully. Quit comparing staffs, city to county schools. These kids know what they're up against, you don't have to beat a dead horse.

Like I said, and you just admitted, you do not know the reason those players quit. Just like how you do not know the reason a similar amount quit at Heritage when this coach came in and halfway through the season. Whether new ones came out or not, you cannot justify one coach over another based on those that quit. I'm not going to say Coach Hammontree was perfect or his staff was top notch, but I do know firsthand what some of those players went through over the course of his tenure there. I'd like to see the coaching tree of Hammontree and the overall things that he's made happen at each of his stops and not the 'train wreck' you like to call Heritage. In one breath, nobody can fix it, another breath Coach O can, and in another if Coach O doesn't it'll be because of those above him or those that have it out for him. As if that didn't happen to Hammontree. You can't use one excuse for one coach and not the other. Pick your reasoning, but for God's sake stop comparing staffs. The big issue is what's going on NOW and what's being ALLOWED to continue. Nobody is talking about the TSSAA rules that get teetered around either. Tobacco on campus, energy drinks being pushed. Dude up here in this thread talking about the new weight training coach that's had the athletes in his home gym, sounds interesting. But what do I know.

"hE's OnLy HaD tWo SeAsoNS" Previous staff had losing seasons, sure, but they also got to the playoffs for the first time in years back to back years I believe. You want to talk about old school discipline and hard work and determination in a POSITIVE way when it comes to a new coach, but NEGATIVELY in regard to the previous staff because of their W/L record. It's easy to look back at the previous staff tirelessly working towards plans to repair the stadium, new locker room, new weight room, turf. But, no, this guy did it single handedly. Walked in and BOOM, it happened. Not really, anybody with a brain would know that was years in preparation. Everybody questioned why they didn't have enough coaches on staff to run practices or a freshmen team, but never questioned those who allow those positions to be filled. Complained there weren't enough kids out for the team and said the staff didn't agree with kids playing multiple sports. Complete crock of crap. Especially when those same coaches were training those athletes for their second and third sports. Everybody always wants to complain when they don't see W's every week and blame those immediately connected, but not look at the bigger picture to see whose hands stayed tied for years. This staff comes in (not with big heavy hitting coaches) slap a social media presence around it, make a few 'you owe me' phone calls, win a few games and he's the 'savior the school needed' and yet, kids are still leaving, quitting, transferring, as are coaches. Odd.

Barney, it's sad that you truly think you know everything that occurs out at Heritage, with all due respect, sir, you do not. Players leave programs every single year from every school, losing or not. We can just leave that alone. No leg to stand on there. You can talk to any player that is still needing this coach to do things for him and if he's been "coached on what to say enough" he won't say one negative thing about the program. I'm not sure who is pushing a 'narrative' of losing as it seems the other athletes and other athletic programs seem to be doing a dang good job at Heritage. Winning seasons, record setting seasons and more. People who know you aren't going to divulge information you are probably going to talk about, they aren't going to admit their faults, the screw ups, and what's being hidden under the rug. If you only knew a sliver of what goes on in the classroom and locker room at that school, you'd know why the respect, the social media backers, the 'hype' is fading. But go on, Barney, talk your talk, everybody lets you do that. Use your past cliches and reminiscing of the good ol' days to try and talk around and never circle back on your replies.

I know there's cussing and frustration and fury to fuel fires in the guts of kids to get 'em going, fired up and ready to play, especially at the college level. However, this is still high school with impressionable 14 yr olds +. Unfortunately, from what's been said around the bend, it's more belittling and a very I, ME mentality. Hate that for everybody if it's true.

You do realize only one of the 3 or 4 he brought in that were not locals to TN stayed. One left before he even got started, another left halfway through. He has hired from Eagleton youth league, middle school, Sequoyah, some of those are either gone or fired and he's currently on twitter searching for a DB coach after promoting Whitehead to DC since the other left for Shad's program at Catholic. Whether he knows people or not, doesn't mean they are willing to take a pay cut and try to breathe life into a program that the school board still tries to run into the ground (new turf or not). You've got players quitting, too and from the word around the area it has nothing to do with playing time or not being able to be coached. More about boundaries being crossed, favoritism, no team atmosphere and lack of respect. Guess we'll see what happens this year.

FarmTeam could have meant the DC that just left was the cookie cutter weight program guy. If so, I retract my sarcasm.

I wish more school boards would realize that space for locker rooms and weight rooms do not just benefit the football team. Those weight rooms are absolutely pivotal for all athletes. The locker rooms for football are always going to need to be larger than you think for fluctuation year to year, equipment and them being the largest by numbers athletic teams on campus.

BUT they just secured heritage's DC, I mean, surely that'll set things off on the right foot, right? <sarcasm>

when you lose your DC to Shad... ouch.

DC? the one that also leads their weight room? how will HHS fill that blank space?