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Sounds credible. Friday he will be finalising things to move on. Halls will miss him greatly.

This is crushing to a program that went downhill last year. Coach Julian was a great coach at Halls and a excellent person. I wish him the best of luck at Catholic. Somehow I hope this isn't true.

No I really don't not on the offensive side of the ball anyway. Note this isn't a shot at anyone it's just my humble opinion I been a fan for near twenty or so years and I think last year we went backwards in our confidence. You could sense it in the bleachers and after the games. We have the athletes and have a very good coaching staff. We need the belief. My grandpa use to tell me me if it aint broke don't fix it. I think our offense was broken last year and we still went 4-6. Shows how good our players could have been if we hadn't been so predictable. Each year we will lose special athletes to graduation and underclassmen need to be right behing them to take their position with passion. When we make the game fun again we will do great things. Untill that time we will have a big challenge ahead of us. We will know when the tide starts to turn again It will be all the talk at the crossroads and around town. But for now we can play the blame game on sickness,injuries, players out of position,playing players in front or other upper classmen. Sorry I don't get into to all that. You are dealt the cards you have and you have to work with those and it up to being prepared,exploring new avenues when old ones dry up, getting the hype factor going and putting the best on the field to get you there. Thus #1 this year is finding a QB thats a threat in the air even if he only passes 3-5 times a game you have to have a confidence player that can execute and keep teams off balance. I wonder if Lane Kiffin will come in and rubberstamp his offense after Fulmers? My guess is not a chance. Fulmer was a great coach and I was at his last game and gave him a loud ovation but for sometime he had lost the fan in the stands and the discipline on the field. Thus a poor product had to unfold and it did in a mighty way last year.

One day Halls will be a power again. That day will come when we no longer fear the incomplete pass.

Heard the Dragons were doing better this year. Wow what a huge win for the program.

Big win for Halls last night. West has always been tough to play. Keep it going. /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" />

Halls needs a QB that can pass at least 5-10 times a game with success. It isn't going to be any easier this year if we can't change up the offense and keep defenses off balance. I'm sure other schools have lost to graduation but Halls has to get that winning mentality back and find players that can move us in that direction.

Powell looks to be the cream of the crop this year. I didn't realise the big loss from Halls graduation last year. I think we still have the offense but allowing 50 runs in four games is troubling. Karns has some big sticks. West are doing well and Clinton will be better and are off to a good start. I think Halls is in a rebuilding year.

Maybe you forgot a kid named Dayton. He punished Maryville when the coaches leaned on the passing game. I'm not getting into a offensive coaching call out but it isn't the receivers believe me it was the QB selection. We have decent receivers we haven't had any one to throw the ball to them since Lucas left and he didn't get a fair shake on throwing that often. Gresham will be a good target next year if we want to look for him. By that I mean position our team with a formation that works to be successful. We don't seem to get that right to often and so the beat goes on till that time.

I agree but you need a feel good game during the season. At the moment that is Gibbs. But whos to say in a couple of years it could be Farragut. I have seen Farragut teams that were sad just like the Oak Ridge program this year. With the close proximity of the schools and the student competitive nature it would be a shame to lose Gibbs again. I like the natural rivalries with Central, Powell & Gibbs. Plus the driving distance isn't that bad and believe me gasoline will go up big time in the not to distant future. I'm glad the trip to Lenoir City is now a memory. Nothing against the Panthers it's just to far for a lackluster game.

I believe Halls will be in a transition mode again. Coach Williams second year at the helm of the offense I think he will make some more changes to fit the personel at his disposal. I hope we find a threat at QB this year. I'm glad we lose Maryville but the other games are going to be mouth watering especially AC back on the schedule not much love lost there between both schools. I think we will be ok and you have to keep Gibbs it's a big revenue game.

I have to agree also. We looked so much better last year with a threat of a passing game and it didn't hurt we had a talented receiver in Dayton to catch the ball. It had to open up more holes for Kitts to have a banner year running the ball. I think if you sat down with the coaching staff they do cater to whats available to them. Perhaps this year they didn't have the confidence in losing a down to a miscue or a drive busting incompletion. I think what our running game did without the threat of the pass was impressive. So the difference between 7-3 and 4-6 has to be the passing game doesn't it? I have to second Halls has a excellent Head coach and staff. They give so much to the program that can not be just judged on wins and losses. I have enjoyed some of the parents posts on here that have made that much very clear. So I suppose we have to lick our wounds for this year and learn to improve what needs improving.

If Clinton D brings their A game. I'll have to go with Stone and Hazelhurst to keep the scorekeepers busy on the offensive side. Clinton in a close one.

Powell just looks like a team that will have a deep playoff run. Last weeks dismantling of Clinton shows how important Houston is to this team. I will have to go with Powell at home.

Could that be a problem for this year if we don't pursue a passing league? Did it hurt us this year? Ironmantoo said some of the kids were running the wrong routes or confused. Wouldn't this firm up our offense against other defenses and promote confidence for the upcoming campaign. Runkle, Variety..............Shotgun every now and then. Spread the field at least give some of these defensive coordinators some sleepless nights having to contend not only with the Wing-T but the element of surprise too. Don't get me wrong I'm not for a total makeover. I think personel selection is as important as the plays called on given situations. I just hope the Coaching staff finds the right individuals to run the offense more effiencently. I will stay mooted this year going into next season but a Gibson, Mclaughlin pairing is a great start. Find a punishing fullback for the hard earned yards and the running game is locked. My main thought is QB and wideouts and how we can find some consistency. We seemed to spread the wealth around this year is that the right option. Most programs have a couple of go to guys that the QB has a good feeling with.

Runkle both those kids are truely amazing. If for talent alone they can and did either motivate or change games by their own athletic assets. Both programs as with Maryville knows you need a great team leader in the QB slot. It could be just a running QB but High School Football has changed and passing is required as well. Powell on offense runs better than ours because they can mix things up when the need arises. They may not have as many playmakers(runningbacks) but they can hone and distribute as necessary. Again a great testament to our defense kept us in all the games this year and many of those have 2 way duties. I agree somewhat that our grind it out 3 yards and a cloud of dust kept our D off the field for good periods of time(witness game 1 against Maryville) but eventually we run out of gas. Next year will Halls have a stud defense like this year? Perhaps if we work hard in the off season. But positioning our players in the correct places will be paramount to next season success. Also, execution in all phases of the game not just running is required. I won't pick on the coaches or the Wing-T. But I will say we need a little variety to keep other defenses off balance. So perhaps we tried by passing on first down because of our weaknesses. Third down passing will always be a toss up for us. Last year was different because we had a wideout that when he touched the ball scored every fourth or fifth opportunity he had. We didn't seem to have that type individual this year. Can we find another one next year? I think we have to try. If we do you keep more kids interested in our program and it ultimately helps our running game. Halls generally has the defense in line with Coach J. The microscope will be on the offense going into next year. I feel most Halls fans agree from what I hear and on these threads.

I appreciate your post but that is the type of mentally that keeps us being a under acheiver. The fact is we lost all those games not because we passed the ball five times a game it's because the personel wasn't positioned to execute and no confidence in the passing game. Now with a new look offense(Powell,Clinton anyone) could we have beaten the same opponents by 10 to 15 points a game and stroll in the fourth quarter. I tend to agree with devilsden what the heck do we need a QB or receivers if we use a G-gun approach like UT(oops very bad comparison this year) But times have changed if we want to play close and lose to lesser teams with one or two playmakers on their team then so be it. The big reason why we even stayed close in many of those game was our defense not our offense and sadly we lose a lot on defense. Even the last game interceptions set up two scores. Not picking on any kids but many posters here have noted the overlooked runningbacks McGill and Gibson. Look what Gibson did last Friday night. Could that be some of the reason why we lost some of the close games this year?

AM990 carrying the game tonight. So if you can't be at the game and sending the kids around tricker treating then at least you can get the play by play. Go Devils finish strong. /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" />

I have to agree you have to work with your talent pool. But you have to experiment occasionally and provide other opportunities if things aren't working like they should. We can run up and down the field and if we don't put points on the scoreboard little comfort will result in the outcome. We have to open the offense more even if we work on 3-5 plays all spring long and preseason next year it has to be done. Or we will be having these same conversations next year about this time. Change isn't always bad. It may move you out of your comfort zone but hey these other schools aren't standing still. Wing-T there is another sore spot for most fans including me in the past. I have warmed up to it because what I have seen the past few years is how flexible it can be at times. So I'm not trashing the Wing-T even though most people think it's antiquated I would like to see a little modification and surprise the opposition like Coach Ward seemed to do. I'm not suggesting a spread offense but at least if we are two scores down and limited time left of the clock we can implement a no-huddle(non sideline) quick up tempo offense when the need arises.

The program is nowhere near in the sewer. But we do need some rethinking and tinkering on the offense. Pass blocking, True passing QB and no more stereotypical pass only on third downs. The running game was ok but didn't produce like last year so some updates needed here. Most defensive gameplans from other Schools have us figured out very early on. Thus a tough road for our runningbacks when defense sell out to the run the extra bodies in there is tough to overcome. But just making the playoffs isn't the answer either. Who wants to be fourth in a region we should always want to try to strive to be #1. Ten years it took for us to host a playoff game and that happend last year. We were suppose to build on that but who knew that a unbelievable injury bug, sickness, new offensive coordinator steering away from the tried and true, no playmaker to rise from the surface to carry this team,etc.etc.etc. I not about to ask for people to feel sorry for us because we need to all grow up and figure out whats not working and get it right or we will be average and nothing more for some time. It's all to simple execution,execution,execution. We may have the best run blocking around but our pass blocking was always lacking and poor T.Turner had very little chance of success and the statistical data shows it. We have had a good team and can be proud of that but not a playoff team this year and it showed as we couldn't get ourselves on the right side of the scoreboard. Same thing with the Vols. Tough year for the crossroad fan thats wear red Friday night then orange on Saturday. New faces next year can promote a new beginning and clear the musty air from the agonising losses from this year. But we can't rely on what worked for us years ago we need to start afresh and entertain a shotgun more often and other heretical type formations that are un Halls like. We don't have to do it all the the time but just the threat can put other programs off balance. I'm hoping we show more progressive intent.

Agreed. Also a great article on the Seniors this morning in the Shopper.

Ironman just a great summation. I know you are very proud as we are of your son whomever that may be and what the Halls football program has meant to him and your family. I hope if anyone is considering this School that they get all the facts. It's just a great community spirited school. I hope nobody discounts a losing record as being a subpar program thats just not the case. We will have our peaks and valleys but in the long run it's what you make of the experience. Halls Football is a great experience to be a part of. Good luck to all the seniors in whatever their future endeavours maybe.

Well here we are the final dance for both these proud schools for this year. I know I'm a week early but lets keep this postive and talk about what to look forward to in this game and what it may mean for both programs for next year. Will we see any Frosh play? If we do who would you like to see get a taste of the ol varsity friday night lights. I hope we see alot of faces in the mix this game. A lot of seasoned seniors will be the leaving the Halls camp many having a good three years of football under their belt. A sad time but also a new beginning awaits them let really show our appreciation as they leave the field next friday night.

Agreed on playing Maryville early it's kind of like having to go toe to toe with Florida early for UT. Very little can come of it. But even though it frustrated us on week zero. I can't tell you how many Maryville people have been telling me that they have improved greatly over the course of the year. So we may not have fared to well in that game anyway. But I catch your meaning it didn't set us on the right road early. Can't agree with the little feller comment just yet I see a little life in the offense the past two weeks. Hopefully things will be better next year.

Maybe our war cry should be "Keep the glimmer alive" I think we will still be alive after this weekend.