pressman

I thought so too at first glance but looking a little further, I found the following: Region 4: 32-24, 5 @ or above .500 Region 3: 26-26, 6 @ or above .500 Region 2: 27-26, 5 @ or above .500 Region 1: 32-22, 7 @ or above .500 Now, there are some pros and cons to this number crunching: Cons-Bye weeks throw some of this off a little, and I think the non-region games in region 2 & 3 are slightly more difficult (from top to bottom) than in the other two regions. Pros-It's pretty concrete to see a few things like although region 3 may have the worst win-loss (or tied w/2 depending on how you view bye weeks) records, they have the second best overall strength of region based solely on teams that are competitive (wins at or better than .500) & that although people hammer away at Maryville for scheduling, there is some merit to the fact that they have 7/8 teams at or above .500 and played Fulton & Alcoa out of region...wow! Regardless, that all gets played out in a few weeks anyway; the biggest score from doing this comparison might be that this is definitely a very competitive class overall (the parity is there, at least). For example, Roger Goodell would love these numbers!

No problem. Your bracket makes the most sense...so it will obviously not be the one that is released. But I digress. Good work.

First tie breaker (50% teams), MJ had jumped them before game tonight...in same district and so it goes to non-district, MJ had 6 overall (Centennial & Blackman), & SC 5 (Pearl).

Got a chance to see the action last night...first of all, Shelbyville may have as good of a QB and skill set as any 5A team...period. I have seen a lot of Golden Eagle teams, and this one is the most talented one I've ever seen. They are polished with their screen game, and have people that can house it. Having said that, I think Mount Juliet's D was a few fits away from having a good scrimmage. They did pick off 4 passes, and their secondary is very solid. It's hard to gauge who is what at this point, but it seems the MJ offense is moving the football through the air this year, and last night had several chances but timing wasn't there. Shelbyville's defense is also very aggressive. Now, when the young guys got in, MJ clearly controlled that part of the scrimmage. The Bears looked like this scrimmage was more about putting different young guys in situations with the Shelbyville's first group, and Shelbyville's first group (esp that QB), was most impressive. I guarantee both coaches loved the work and amount of reps that they got in, and I think both of these teams ended spring way ahead of a year ago. I know everyone always wants a score, but the format made it hard to say (Shelbyville had a few scores where MJ had what looked like half starters and half backups in). MJ scored in the same situations. I know this, if Shelbyville's QB stays healthy, I would immediately place them as a contender for the 5A title...yes, they are that good. As for MJ, if they can get those big young guys 3 more months of experience, they'll compete at a very high level.

I usually view without comment, but this is so far off base that I'll bite here to help inform you of MJ's situation in regards to college football players (current, at least), because like BKisler, I am close enough to the program to make informed comments. 1) Regarding Contrez, he is working hard at Garden City (the same Garden City that just sent Nick Marshall to Auburn). Did you know, WCP, that a coach actually drove him the 16 hours to campus? 2) Regarding players overall, and I hate doing this because I am not privy enough to know all of them & their current situation, but Murphy Fair had 16 players listed last year as current college players, the most in 9AAA. You have Brady E finishing up at Army, Ryan Jenkins as a preferred walk-on trying to earn the job at Clemson (academic full ride), Josh Belhu and Brett Dillard (who started as a freshman) at Tech, Matt Stewart at UT Martin, Vaughn Cornelia at Savannah State (legal matters pending), Joe McMahon at UTC, Reed Gurchiek, Tyler Emmetts, Austin Chaplin, Cody Carr, Michael and George Nwokoji, Hunter Locke, Brady Eady, Caleb Hopkins, Chris Bazile, and possibly others at Cumberland, Michael Khoury at Tusculum, Courtland Douglas at KY Christian, Robert Hill at Campbellsville, and a few others that may sign with an NAIA school soon I was told. Not to mention that both Slade Adams, Taylor Cisneros, and Antwaun Majors were all OVC performers who recently graduated. I am sure I left some out, but I think 8 at the FBS/FCS level in the last few years, and over 20 overall, compared to plenty of other places is fairly decent. I hope you are a little more enlightened and in the future, would suggest asking a person connected to the program instead of a disgruntled teenager that is under the impression that you can sit on your thumbs & get a full ride to an SEC program, and if that doesn't happen, then it is coaches' fault. MJ coaches work their tails off for the kids that work their tails off for them. I wouldn't lose any more sleep over that one.

Lebanon vs Mount Juliet will be the TNL game for that week.

Funny, BKisler, he didn't answer two of your three questions/statements. So, we should gather he has a son playing for WC and he predicted a WC win last year (oh, and the 11-4 freshman mark the last 2 years is average). Sounds like he has a real pulse on things.

Let's see if we can't exercise that selective memory a little further since you brought up the Friendship vs. Westmoreland games where Coach Perry is concerned. The following year Westmoreland beat Friendship 52-0, and never looked back. Temper or not, Coach Perry dominated Friendship during those years, and did something else Friendship can't do, had a winning record vs. Trousdale. MJ has no business auditioning their talent to Friendship. They sniff around enough as it is. You are right about one thing, it is hard to compare Friendship and MJ...MJ doesn't play any Red Boiling Springs and the little sisters of the poor year after year.

True.

Wish this were true. However, the only thing that was passed was to add an extra strength and conditioning class. This, by no means, levels the playing field with Sumner county, as they have their entire varsity teams in the same class period. Also, this is for one semester, Sumner County has both semesters for major revenue sports. A step in the right direction, but only a small one. However, I agree with your logic wholeheartedly.

What may have been left out by Springfield's head coach (see above) is that McGavock moved the ball up and down the field (fumbling twice in the red zone as well as throwing an interception-one t.o. was on the four yard line). McGavock also opened the game with a pick that Springfield turned into a score, and then fumbled on the very next play they had the ball (resulting in another score). And, if McGavock scored their last one on Springfield's 2s, Springfield scored their last two on McGavock's back-ups. I am becoming what I despise, a scrimmage negotiator...how about this, from someone that has no ties to either team, they both have talent, and should do well.

I'll say...free throws: Riverdale 18, MJ 1...is that a record for a double overtime game...1 free throw. Riverdale did not have a player over one foul (if that score board was on point at the end) and the team total at the end was 11-5 (Riverdale had only 5 called fouls after half...including 2 ots)...I should say you feel pretty well about the officiating...Riverdale-great, MJ-great, the fact that they played on Thursday rather than Saturday-not great.

I felt like foosball44 as well, but if there were small boys drawing and teams represented, I still wouldn't put it past them to have it fixed (you thought I was going to take the bait). To the second point, I know for a fact, based on the football debacle, that the TSSAA doesn't play out scenarios like the one you just suggested and here's why. The only guaranteed match-up between the two teams you mentioned is JUST LIKE THIS...the other way is by chance, and you don't double your revenue like the organization did in football on chance. Was this a blind draw? Probably (never say never), but can I understand how people are skeptical coming off the fall match-ups and the resulting revenue, ABSOLUTELY. Anything less is naive at best. And while we're on the subject, I was talking with a basketball officinado from GA and he laughed when I explained our setup. He said, after all that work, you guys leave it up to chance that quite possibly the top two teams in the state could match-up in the first round while one of two inferior teams make it to the final four? Before anyone goes on with the "you have to beat the best" or all 8 are good or they wouldn't be there. A-You should have to beat the best, or next best, but your body of work should put you in position to do that in the finals and B- you are naive if you believe that all 8 teams are equal based on plenty of head-to-head match-ups. Seeding does work, just like that other little tourney in March...now have at me.

nm