purpletiger69

When I first began hearing that Coach Darden's job was in jeopardy I prayed that the outcome would be whatever was best for him. I truly believe that is what happened. God has something better planned for him! I was once fired from a job and am eternally grateful.

Speaking of "classlessness", what about the UT players that stood along the rail in the upper deck blocking the view of people who had waited in their seats for three hours before gametime. I was really disappointed that they obviously thought that they were so special that they did not owe the fans this common courtesy.

Who does Bearden have at point guard?

Their coach. He will demoralize them by the end of the year.

The bottom line is $$$$$. Every kid has a price. The ones that think education and further development are more important than signing now put that price at very high level. It is up to the major league scouting bureau and the individual team scouts to determine this prior to wasting a draft pick on them.

They don't allow it. I paid $3.50 for a coke at the track stadium and took it outside with me to the tent area when I went to check on my son who had just finished a race. When I tried to come back in the stadium, I was forced to throw my drink in the trash can and was told that I would just have to buy another one. Ronnie Carter and the TSSAA organization has become a monster with a life of its own and is totally out of control. Those officials that the schools send to the meetings do not have the ability or the desire to control the organization. I was told by my local state representative (I mean as in state government) that the TSSAA is a "cult" and that it would be easier for the state legislature to sell the dome off the state capital building than to exert any influence over the TSSAA. I guess this makes Ronnie Carter one of the greatest cult leaders of our time. The TSSAA needs oversight from the state government, but our state board of education has relinquished the responsibility and potential liability and given the TSSAA free reign to run out of control saying that it is a "private organization". What this "private organization" needs is competition. If a few of the larger school districts got together and started their own organization the others would follow. But it won't happen. It''s unbelieveable to me that even after the TSSAA basically kicked the private schools out of the organization (by putting them in division II) they still pay dues and support the organization.

Is he going to run the 4x800?

The last time he pitched against Bearden in the district tournament, he was knocked out of the game in the first or second inning and got the big "L" for himself (6-5). It didn't take long for him to get put in his place.

Why are they the best two teams? Bearden has beaten Science Hill twice this year.

Bearden 5 Maryville 3

The sad thing for Bearden was that they are a good outside shooting team but their last two games blevins did not allow them to shoot threes. As a matter of fact, Parker was sent to the dressing room for most of the first half for taking a three point shot. The beauty of Bearden's offense the entire year was the ability of the Big men, except Simpson, to step out and shoot the three. this forced the defense to come out and freed up Simpson from three defenders cheating down on him. Also Bearden has two senior subs who shoot lights out from three. The point guard's only role has been to bring the ball up the floor and initiate the offense. Jenkins is the other guard and he only tried to take the ball inside. Blevins subbed in two freshmen who had had no real playing time to rest the point guard resulting in immediate turnovers. He had a junior and senior point guard on the bench who had valuable big game experience. Blevins attempts to motivate by intimidation and belittling his players. During last night's game, some of the Bearden players were afraid to do anything. I could go on and on but I think you get the picture. As someone said earlier in the season, " If Bearden doesn't make it to the state this year there can only be one reason"

The ground cannot cause a fumble if you still have the ball when you hit the ground. I was on the sideline and clearly saw the ball come out before he hit the ground. Also there were at least two press photographers who have CLEAR pictures of this. Check your local news. Good luck to Smyrna in the finals. Smyrna is a class act and I'm sure there are those on the football team who would have rather seen it played out with the correct call than have it end this way.

Maryville coach this week said that Douglas is not having surgery and is good to go after football.

You might want to refer back to the Bearden-Maryville tournament game last year when Maryville was down by 15 or more in the first half using that strategy.

How are the local teams doing?