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You just don't get it.

New light on this subject; or at least a new perspective: Yes, it's a horrible tragedy that two Ridgeland children were hurt. We can all agree on that. But apparently, the perpetrators were charged, arrested, and will be punished - we can hope - to the fullest extent of the law. The latest news is that seven additional Ooltewah Students have been charged - some with inciting a riot, and some with failure to leave a premises after being told to do so. I paraphrased the second charge because I don't remember the specific wording that was listed in the newspaper. Both my paraphrase and the actual charge sound made up. I wonder if not doing what you're told has actually passed the Georgia State Legislature at some time in the past. At any rate, and here is the new perspective - I am disappointed, not with the administration and staff at Ooltewah, I am disappointed with the North Georgia leadership that allowed this to happen. Children are charged with inciting a riot. Well I'm not convinced that there was a riot, but if there was, why didn't law enforcement at the game, or the Ridgeland Administrative staff, teachers, coaches, boosters, dads, uncles, etc. nip it in the bud. These were children...16, 17, maybe 18 years old. Charging them a month down the road with thin, if not made up, charges is silly. If these seven were inciting a riot, they should have been arrested the night of the incident, which means that this forum stream would not exist.

Great players don't make great teams. Coaching, chemistry, player leadership, team play, etc. make great teams. And the number of D1 scholarships is no indicator of a quality team either. How many D1 kids did De La Salle produce during their streak of 150 wins? A fraction of those produced by their opponents!

You're not the only one. But, ironically, I think the fact that so many folks take this too seriously IS the fun of the ranking process.

I hear you John, good luck to you!

They're done. Go to tennwrestling.com and then the discussion board.

No, but a very good wrestler. Seems like he had an older brother that had wrestling success also - a few years back.

70%? Did these guys come from a sweaty practice? Or is the test unrealistic?...Or did the tester spill coffee on his test strips earlier in the day?

Based on what I have heard, I think you are right on Cat! It could be Waddell at 152 and either Watson or Altis at 160 though. McCallie's line up is always good, but useless to speculate weights since it changes every week depending on the situation.

Where do you live? There are new facilities popping up around TN. D1 in Knoxville; Velocity Sports in Chattanooga. Memphis and Nashville are so large, I assume that they have similar companies, possibly these same franchises. Anyway, these companies work with young athletes...middle school to college. Their goal is to help kids improve speed, strength, and agility. Look in to it. It works.

I agree with you Fan. I think that it's isolated, but it happens. And it's a good life lesson. Where ever these kids work when they finish school, they are going to see politics (unwarranted promotions, bonuses, etc.). Life is not fair. If you expect it to be, get used to disappointment.

Bounder, sounds like a fun time. Do your boosters also run your (home) concessions? I'm just wondering if there is any conflict i.e. if some other group runs your concessions. Some schools have other sports' parents (or band parents) running the football concessions to allow the football parents to be fans instead of workers.

This was a fun thread to read. Beef, I really enjoyed your posts. Might want to consider dropping the habit of ending a sentence with a preposition though. Your English teacher may be reading. Eddie, you are a lot of fun. I'd like to pick your brain over a cup of coffee sometime. There is a lot of talk in this thread about playing talent. I don't think that a good coach always puts the most talented players on the field; nor do I think that he should. I think he should put the best TEAM on the field. For example: a coach has two competent middle linebackers. Player A is the most talented. He hits a litter harder, runs a little faster, is a little bigger, and a little stronger. Player B is almost as good as player A, but player B's greatest asset is his leadership on the field. When player B is on the field, he runs the defense. All of his teammates respect him and follow him. It is obvious to anyone watching that the defensive unit is better when player B is on the field. Who should start? Anyway, politics happens. I think it is rare for a successful, professional coach to play his buddy's boy over a player that has more to contribute to his team. But, I do belive that it happens, at times. One last thing. Parents - if you refuse to work around the school as a 'booster' because you don't want anyone to think that you are trying to 'buy' playing time for your son. Be ashamed. There is so much work (at least in public school programs) that must be done by volunteers. Get out and help. Your kid is using the facilities, and the facilities need people to maintain them. Be responsible and contribute.

How good is he? What are his goals with respect to football? If he is either not a very good player, or is not motivated to be a part of a top team in our state, or he has no ambition or capacity to play football beyond high school; then playing JV ball as a Junior is fine. It may even be a more appropriate setting with respect to safety and competition. But if he is a great player, or he has high aspirations for team or self, then going to the new school and only having a JV program is a mistake.

Good point Werazzlin, but I would still love to see it. A 140 pounder benching 340 pounds? He could be in a circus if wrestling doesn't work out.

Tell us who to watch.

no, he's a senior this year. Pretty dominant linebacker for the Irish currently. A very good wrestler.

Please list weight class (or your best guess) with wrestlers' names so we can follow these kids this season. I have heard of a name or two, but have no clue as to weights!

That's funny. TNBoy - I played a little college ball myself. You cannot make me mad with your opinion, but I do strongly disagree with it. I'm telling you, Gulmire is big enough, strong enough, and fast enough to play D1...if he wants to do so. The problem is, I don't think that the typical D1 program will give him a chance. I wish that they would. I think that scouts are a lot like The Chief...paying more attention to height, weight, and 40 time than ability. Chief, I'll pick on Gerald Riggs, Jr. again. There he was - 6', 220 or so; but so scared that he might get hit that he was never effective for TN. Yet they had most of their offensive eggs in his basket. My grandmother would hit the line with more fury. But, on paper, he was the man. I agree with you Sparta Boy, I hope this kid makes it D1 too!

Wow. This OR Freshman team is the best that the North has to offer. Maybe the South 5A teams can finally see light at the end of the current North dominated tunnel. I'm not convinced that McMinn's Freshman team is the best team in the South, but congratulations men! Best or not, you certainly did represent McMinn, Bradley, and Hamilton Counties very well!

As opposed to having the traditional 'field above the stands' set? What?

I think most people in this sport would agree that great programs, like Bradley's, are what they are to some extent because they have quality kids challenging each other at practice. This question is meaningless, but I ask out of curiosity...who wins the most (points) in practice between the two studs, Creagan or Spain?

Tyner

I respect your comments, and maybe Dunn is faster than Gulmire. But you're missing my point. Toughness alone...never quitting...never giving up...will allow a player without sprinter's speed to make it at the DI level. Let me ask you this, if they were the same age, who would you rather have at TN...Gerald Riggs or Spencer Gulmire? I would rather have Gulmire. At least he's tough.

Interesting...5'9" and 180...exact listing in the Atlanta Falcon's Roster for Warrick Dunn (sp?). I wonder how Dunn would do against the big SEC linebackers? I suppose he would do quite well against the SEC judging by the success he is currently having in the NFL. The average fan is about as statistics focused as the average scout. But, statistics (on paper) do not provide the most important characteristics of a prospect. Look at a prospect's mental toughness, heart, courage...that will define a player at any level. Spencer can play in a top 20 DI program; if one will have enough smarts to give him a chance (and it is what he wants to pursue)!! I get sick of hearing people say that because a player is 6'4" and 240 pounds and runs a 4.5...OBVOIOUSLY he's good. If he is not tough he would serve his football team better if he carried a tuba at half time. A big football player is always better than a small football player - if all of the intangibles are equal. But if the big one is a candy, I would rather have a scrapper (like Spencer) any time.