rayt435

There were no losers in this game, just a non-winner. Both teams played well and should feel good about their performances. Turnovers by Cloudland really hurt. I was also impressed with how disciplined both teams were in terms of penalties. A couple pass interference, one un-sportsman (I think only 1), a couple of holdings, but most penalties were procedure, delay, false start, etc. Both teams are to be proud of the way they played. The officials did well, even explaining a call to the stats chap. Cloudland hold your heads high. Without a couple of turnovers the outcome would have been very different. Congratulation to OS for a tough win accomplished without some key starters. The other players stepped up and performed admirably.

No. TSSAA understands and agrees with the reasons.

It was fourth and 5 on about the 50 yard line (or somewhere close). Then CHS decided to lose control. One personal foul for 15 yards. Then another CHS player ran up and shoved an OS player in front of the officials for a flag. To top it off another CHS player made some remarks that did not sit well with the officials. Another flag for a total of three personal fouls. That moved the ball back 45 yards placing the ball somewhere between the goal and the 5 yard line. Fourth down and CHS decides to run the ball rather than punt. That type of play call really makes no sense CHS did not make progress and was pushed back being downed on the 1 yard line (forward progress) but was pushed back into the end zone. Many thought it should have been a safety but forward progress was given. CHS continued to lose their cool and control. At one point one of the officials came over to the OS sideline and told the OS coaches that three CHS players were very close to being ejected from the game. When the game was called the CHS coach threw his headset on the ground in anger or frustration. OS immediately left the field. CHS remained on the field with three police officers around the CHS players. The officials were escorted off the field by three other police officers as the CHS fan that I saw rejected had made a threat. I was disappointed and somewhat stunned at the level of poor sportsmanship exhibited by a few of the CHS players and their coach. Several of the CHS fans were also over the top with one I personally saw ejected. Folks it is just a game. No one gets any younger, richer, thinner or better looking regardless of the win or loss. I applauded a couple of plays made by CHS as those young men deserved to be recognized for their effort regardless of which side they play. I have more important things in life to get worked up over than a football game. OS will not play CHS next year in a return match. Too many problems and butthurt on the part of CHS to risk confrontation. Best to let sleeping dogs lay.

Actually the ball was down on the 1 yard line. The safety was not "taken away". CHS attempted a running play on a 4th and 50. Imagine that, it failed. CHS should have punted then it would not have been a problem. Hardly. There were police on the field at the end of the game. The one person I saw escorted out made threats against an official. That is automatic removal from the game. Players from OS were immediately removed from the field when the game was called. I doubt any of what you said. I was on the sidelines. There were no such actions planned. In fact the coaches made a trip down the sidelines telling the OS players to not leave the sidelines under any circumstances. OS coaches made an effort to keep their players under control. On the play that resulted in three, count them three, personal fouls one of the CHS players, long after the whistle, ran up to an OS player and shoved him in front of the officials. Then another CHS player mouthed off. Two flags after the play was over. Real class. CHS players were out of control and were angry that OS was running all over them. To sum it up, you are clueless. Coach Green and his other coaches many times told their players to keep it under control. There was no provoking. You were not on the OS sideline, you have no clue what was said and are only guessing because your silly little ego has been wounded. Coach Green is not a poor winner. Listen to his talks with the players after the games. Don't just blow smoke out your lower exterior orifice. I can only guess from that comment that you have no idea how the back judge signals time. That along with your other comments strongly support my assertion that you are merely a sore loser. CHS lost, lost because the players would not control their emotions, lost because they were out played, lost because their coach made, in my opinion, some bad decisions (run on 4th and 50 inside the 5). Suck it up dust bunny and realize the truth.

I don't know where you got all of this. I am a supporter of OZ, not of Sunbright. I was merely trying to inject a little humor. But I see that gets lost by persons who are so consumed by the outcome of a football game that in truth be told will not get anyone a promotion, a raise, better health, improve their stock portfolio or a new HD TV. I will try and refrain from any levity as it apparently is a lost effot.

Excellent. That would be awesome if that many FCS fans show up. It would make it a fun evening. Games where the visitor seats are not filled are not as fun as a full house.

Oh I don't doubt that FCS will bring some fans. I never said that FCS would have no fans and if you were able to derive that from my post I think your use of crazy should have been directed at yourself. Regardless, it is a known and statistically proven fact that the visiting team never brings as many fans to the game as the home team. That is why the visiting bleachers (or area) contain fewer seats. I am reasonably positive your school is the same way. Combine the 120+ mile trip with the game being on the Friday after Thanksgiving and there are a lot of people who are no going to make the journey. I know that I would certainly not make the journey to FCS for the reasons stated. FCS is facing a school that they have never played, never played any common teams (like that makes much difference). This game can go either way. A lot will depend on which team is playing better starting at 7:00P on Friday. Given teams that are equally matched the odds makers will always give advantage to the home team. That is one of the reasons that playing at home is so important. Familiar surroundings do indeed make a difference. That is why there is the term "home field advantage." I fully hope and expect FCS to lose. Will I be correct? Don't really know and won't know until about 9:45P EST on Friday, November 25. And regardless of who wins, I hope they go on to win the gold ball. Just think. If OS wins the gold ball Sunbright can say they beat the state champions.

Which team played which team and won or loss to which team is of no consequence at this point. OS beat Wartburg, Wartburg beat Sunbright, Sunbright beat OS. What does that tell you? Not a thing actually. You can make no comparisons between FC and OS because they have not played any common team. Neither school has seen the other school play except on tape and that was only one game. Teams get to this level because they have played well. They execute as a team and get the job done. A single player is not a game maker (or breaker). There are 10 other players on each down that also contribute to the effort. If everyone is not playing to their fullest it hurts the entire team. For all of FC's talking about romping or mercy ruling the real truth is that they really don't know, they only hope. Put hope in a jar and see how fast the jar fills up. This game can go either way. OS has the home field advantage which is going to also include the fan base. FC no longer has the referee advantage. Whichever team wins I hope they continue on and win the gold ball. But most importantly play this game with some class, from the players and the fans. As for me, I am pulling for OS. I don't care whether they win by 1 or 38. A win is a win. And if OS does not prevail I will still hold my head high because of the effort that OS has made this year and what the team has achieved.

Well, actually I did not know what you meant. All it takes is one point to win a game (just ask Friendship Christian and Alcoa). I thought maybe you were confused about the actual score of the game. Sorry for the correction, I thought I was doing a favor correcting incorrect information.

My car, along with three others, were broken into when I was at an OZ game a couple of years ago and I am from OZ. It has nothing to do with the visiting team but with some idiots that live in OZ. They are not sports fans, just common low life thieves.

In my book 13 to 10 is not tied. OZ was never behind in the game. Oneida came close when Oneida scored a touchdown to bring the score within 3. The OZ defense worked well, the Oneida defense worked. It was good game between two good teams.

FC's will only win if they get another REF who calls a touchdown when the ball just gets close to the goal line. FC was given a gift in that blown call against Boyd Buchanan. Such calls happen unfortunately as the ref's are human. At this point in the football season any team can win. I would give OZ the advantage in this game because it is a home game. Traveling does indeed affect the visiting team. OZ also has much confidence in what they can accomplish and that mental mindset will be a factor. I wish both teams well and which ever team wins good fortune in the finals. I just hope FC are as good of sports as Oneida, a class operation by any standard. In my worthless opinion I would give the nod to OZ by a touchdown.

No. Limited at the school, some across the road (dirt), and then some additional areas that are just basically make your own space. Not much different than most high schools.

Coalfield's visitor stands are indeed very limited. They are not the worst stands I have seen but they are close. I think Sweetwater and Cloudland are in much worse shape, or were several years ago. Greenback was strange where Greenback fans backed their pickup trucks up to the fence on the visitors side and had lawn chairs in the bed of the pickup. Redneck resourceful at it's best. OZ is not the only school with limited visitor facilities. It is the nature of small schools. And one of the advantages of home field.

What Coalfield needs to watch for is SP egging Coalfield on hoping that CF will react. SP already knows that CF is volitle and it only takes a little to tip them over the edge. As for CF putting a suspended player in another jersey. Ain't gonna happen. You can be assured that with the penalties that CF has any infraction, no matter how small, will doom the program in the playoffs for a couple of years. I would not be surprised to see a couple, or more, TSSAA officials at the game. That aside, no coach in his (or her) right mind would try such a stunt. My understanding is that players that are suspended are not even allowed on the field. The suspended players can be in the stands as any other paying individual. I can be corrected on this one if someone knows differently.

Tellico has enough problem.

On any given night most of these teams could win over the other team. It is the nature of HS football. The ups and downs are large. Factors affect the players and the games that no one understand. Sunbright should have beaten Wartburg, Sunbright should have made it past the first round. But it did not happen for reasons no one knows. A moth could have farted in Brazil affecting the wind currents and caused that pass to be dropped. Regardless of who wins Friday, if that team should go on to a gold ball then Sunbright can always say they beat the state champion. And they did not have anyone ejected from the game as another Morgan county team so aptly demonstrated. As an OZ supporter Friday's game in my unsubstantiated opinion could go either way. At this point in the competition it is a toss up on the winner. I hope for a good game, close, but not too close, in OZ's favor. I will acknowledge a good play by the opponent because the kid (or kids) deserve that much. I just won't cheer. I will not boo any play or player under any circumstances. I may complain about a referee call but will never yell at a referee. In the overall scheme of things a win, or a loss, will not improve my job chances, improve my stock portfolio, decrease my commute times or reduce my utility bills. The game is nothing more than competitive entertainment. For that all the players, on both sides, should be supported for a job well done to make it to the third round of the playoffs.

So we should do what? Relocate the schools and bus the kids 100 miles each way so that your sense of fairness gets satisfied? It is what is. TSSAA set the boundaries and the rules for the playoffs. Everyone has to work within the system.

It will spell doom for whichever team wins this slugfest in the next round. Losing key players was a playoff ending move.

People also complain about the BCS for college, they complained before the BCS. Basically anyone who does not benefit from the system is going to complain. The TSSAA system is far from perfect, however, it was established by the members of the TSSAA. All the leadership of TSSAA is doing is enforcing what was voted on by the members. If you don't like it complain to your school representatives so they know your feelings. Also provide an alternative that will please everyone (hint, you can't).

Rick Russo has probably never seen either of the teams play and just pulled a figure out of his lower orifice. Rick does OK on the big name teams such as Maryville, Alcoa, Oak Ridge etc. but knows very little, if anything, about the smaller teams. Especially those in the outlying counties. This game can really go either way. But I still think OZ by 10.

If OS plays like they played against Kingston OS will win by two touchdowns or more. If OS plays like they played against Greenback then Oakdale will win by at least one touchdown. If both teams play badly the score may be 0-3 or 3-0. Team play is sometimes so erratic week to week that it is hard to know which team will show up at a game. Hope both teams play well, play cleanly, and have a good showing on both sides of the field so that neither team has anything to hang their heads about. That said I will pick OS by 10.

You give McGriff and the school too much credit. McGriff will do nothing, the school will do nothing. There is little the school can do as the season is over. It was the actions of one family, who was also involved in an incident at Sunbright where the police got involved, and the police got involved in Wartburg, who has taught their child that anger and fighting is the way to solve issues, that has caused this problem for the school and the sports program. There needs to be actions against the family such as denial of entry to all sports events at Roane county schools or events attended by Roane county schools for the next three years. But will McGriff or the school do that? I doubt it. I have seen accusations of running up the score. What is a team to do when they have the ball? Intentional fumble,? Throw a pass at a defender? No. They simply move the ball. If a player finds a hole they run through the hole, they still play hard, they do what the game involves. They move the ball. Running up the score is when you have 4th and 2 on the 3 yard line and run for a touchdown rather than a field goal. Wartburg did none of that. So now Oliver Springs will have a reputation that is not at all indicative of the rest of the school all because of one family. That is indeed a shame. I support Oliver Springs but I also support the kids that play for all schools. I will never boo the players at any school as it is not fair to the kids. I will not cheer for a good play on the other team but I will acknowledge the efforts of the student making the play. I wish OS could have won again. They did not. So be it. It will not change my life or affect my stock portfolio. I wish Wartburg well and hope they get into the title game and actually win. Anytime a local school can bring home a trophy it is a good day.

You will have to play with yourselves.

Well, one thing everyone here can agree on, you wont't be there and that will make it a fine evening regardless of who wins. Oh by the way, your third grade English teacher called and expressed severe remorse.