HSfootballan

I am not a former or current teacher or coach @ Bearden. I am a parent of a former player -- three year letterman; starter; considered by press a star player. I do know considerable amount of Bearden athletic history for many years. I do not know the identity of "nothingelsematters". I do not know about any bias that the person may have. After reading that person's post, I can tell that person is writing knowing many true facts. I especially hope your son has a wonderful experience playing football at Bearden. In season football Friday nights are special. All coaches of the past that I've ever known have tried their best to teach the players well in football and of life in general. I have hope of Bearden being 10 - 0 for the coming season. Yet what ever the record becomes, my greatest hope is that all involved have extremely good experience.

Kentucky promised Randall a shot at quarterback. UT would not make that promise -- so off to Kentucky.

If my memory serves me correctly --- Cleveland has the most millionaires per capita in the state of Tennessee!

They went 1 - 9 last fall. Could hardly score until they played Wm. Blount.

Odds favor an inside job! May not be --------- but the odds favor that.

The teachers/coaches that would like to make more money in many school systems (including Knox) must go into administration, as a rule, if they are staying within that system. Some of us tend to forget that there are some folks who have aspirations of higher income. Not all folks are willing to stay at the same pay or take a cut in pay (as Knox coaches had to do just a few years ago). Writing "Happy in my job" on a deposit ticket at the bank will not get credit for a deposit of money. Money is needed to make the house payment; pay the utilities; clothe the family; send the children to college; have a "date night" with the wife when that can be squeezed into the schedule; and such niceties. The politics within each school is a dynamic involved with some coaches. Personality of the principal or athletic directer may clash with the coach. This can easily effect a person's happiness. Then there is the proverbial politics involved with some parents. This is the constant quagmire with which many coaches must handle. Booster clubs can be a great help and yet some can be a negative. Of course this reflects life. Life is a constant ebb and flow of good and troublesome things for all of us in all walks of life.

Adalum 96 has some valid points here. The re-zoning just a few short years ago did help West & Hardin Valley. West took some very good talent from Bearden's zone and Hardin Valley took from Farragut's, Bearden's and even Karn's zones. I know several of the areas HS coaches fairly well, including Scott from the time he was a "tike". There is not a good one that will tell you that you can win a horse race (or football games) with plow horses only (or less talented players). You have to have thoroughbreds (very talented players) to win the big prize. West has had more talented players than the other Knox County high schools EXCEPT Fulton for the last few years. Talent will make almost any coach look good -- I can personally testify to that from many years ago.

When Devrin Young was a Freshman he did not play on the varsity. Bearden got to the state semi-finals game that year and lost to Smyrna in a very exciting game. Some considered that game to really be the finals as Smyrna captured the state title. Bearden won more games as well as more palytoff games during that staff's reign than any previous staff, as I understand it.

Many young men who have played football @ Bearden have also played ( encouraged to as well) baseball; run track; and played soccer. My understanding there is a major sport that strongly advises against playing football. One of the assistant football coaches is also the boys track coach. Some of the previous football staff often attended baseball games. They did believe in allowing these young men to play whatever they wished.

​Re-zoning is the first major problem. West High's zone extends now to the Bearden High building and beyond on the south side down around Northshore Dr. Across Kingston Pike from Bearden is zoned for Hardin Valley. There is really no "Bearden Community" zoning to speak of anymore. This also hampers having a strong "feeder program". Way too much outside forces trying to "help" the sports programs. School administration plays too much politics with this "help" --- needs to be supportive of the staff. Had major change in the more knowledgeable football staff since last season. Organization is not near what it had been.

There is no equivalent. Stars is one-of-a-kind.

It is all about mathematics --- number$. One of the following has to be used to avoid "Byes". (a) 1 game equals 2 participants only! ( 2 games equals 4 participants. © 4 games equals 8 participants. (d) 8 games equals 16 participants. (e) 16 games equals 32 participants. Now if you are TSSAA, which do you prefer? Selection "d" over "e" would decrease your potential income by 50% ----- 8 games vs. 16 games. Also, are all HS basketball teams in the "playoffs" each year?

I don't suppose you noticed Pevo Struttin in front of the home team's bench & jaw Bonin' toward the home team's side after a run of his. There was some jaw bonin' by a couple of other Maryville players as well. Or the spot Prevo was given after a sizeable loss in his own backfield. Or the attempted body slam by a Maryville player (he was a little weak -- he couldn't complete it) in the out of bounds area. It was a good game between 2 good teams. Maryville made the needed plays to win. Can't you Maryville fans except that and show your class and move on?

I'll bet Packer is laughing all the way to the bank!

I suppose every team that plays Maryville -- as well as the games to come --- could use this as their reasoning as well! Could Oak Ridge have been a little overrated? They have not had much success against 6A teams out of their district for some time. Could it be that Maryville is simply that much better than the teams on their schedule? They sure look like it.

Of course they try to keep it classified. But all you have to do is see which college has a "by week" to figure out who is playing with that name and nuber that week.

How often do you think events such as these Halls' coaching changes are brought about by unreal; over-the-top; unattainable (or any similar adjective) expectations from over zealous parents? I've never seen someone take a plow horse to the Kentucky Derby expecting to win. You need a Thoroughbred. Vast majority of high school teams are not state championship caliber -- only a very select few each year. Not necessarily the same teams each year either. For most schools it is "Once in a Blue Moon". Especially with schools and school districts that do not have an "open door policy" on transfers. Coaching supplements figure out to be less than one dollar per hour in Knox County. All coaches I've known begin their career with great excitement and joy. About all I've known are decent, hard working folks that do more for young people than ever shows up on a Friday night. Idealism ---- You betcha. The shame is that the few of the fans & parents that won't go for that as well. Competing is great. "Just win, baby - just win" is not.

Out of curiosity, has Oak Ridge won a regular season out of their district 6A game since the alignment has gone back to districts?

2007 Knox Bearden. The old de facto championship game was the semi-final against Smyrna. Very exciting game to the end.

Tsk, tsk. Name calling is so unbecoming. You whipper snappers are so easy. Is not a win, and probably by a large margin, enough to make you happy? Imagine, the game for Friday night in Maryville is still on!

Have all the residents of Mur-Vul gotten garbage service as yet? Can you buy furniture in beautiful, downtown Maree-Veal? Maybe a calamity such as a power outage will occur and prevent the usual Friday night thrashing. Otherwise, they will still play the game.

Let's see, I believe they did not play each other 1995 thru 2008. Is that correct?

The odds are that it will be a wider spread than that this year. And yet they are still planning on playing the game. Go figure, huh!!!

You are correct!