UTKCLASSOF2002

I think you are right in that Maryville was better last year. But in no way would I look over the strides that the Alcoa program has made. As for Alcoa slipping next year: could happen but lets wait and see what happens this year. In the past 2-3 seasons the players have really developed well. Guys have become better during the course of the season and the result is that you can look to next year with confidence because of the development. With Rankin as coach I only expect that development to get better. The program is on the up. I was told by an insider that this is the first year that the school does not have any more equipment to hand out to its players which tells me that there are many guys who want to play Alcoa football and get a ring. I don't see 2A having much success against Alcoa for some time to come. Just my opinion.

I agree. Cobb will be a great QB. I look forward to seeing him develop this year and next!! I think he will be better than Fiegler.

The Alcoa QB is going to be better than last year's QB. He is very quick and has a strong arm. All he needs is a little experience under his belt and he will be fine. By the time November gets here Randall Cobb will be a threat running the ball and perhaps an even greater threat throwing the ball. As for the overall team, Alcoa is better than last year. They have more than enough players that are top notch talent. Rae Sykes, Brian Sommers, Kyrus Lanxter, and Shiverdecker are all being recruited by the likes of Tennessee, South Carolina, LSU, Florida State, Minnesota..... Not to mention the fact that the defense is way better than last year. They are more physical and fast (just ask Maryville). If Alcoa can step up and hold Maryville scoreless in the 2nd half then I think they could contain any offense in AA.

You also underestimate Alcoa's historical success. Yes they have won 3 consecutive A titles but that was when there were only 3 classifications. But Alcoa has now won 4 AA titles. Hard to argue with their success. This year they are better than last year, so it would seem probable that they will be adding a 5 AA title this year.

I'm not sure I completely agree that Alcoa is conservative. The coaches called back to back trick plays against Maryville. They did run the ball more but how much of that was do to Cobb starting his first game? I think it is a little too early to classify Rankin's play calling. As he said in the paper, he wanted to keep the game close going into the 4th quarter. He implemented that strategy almost to perfection because he felt that was the best way to stay close to the Rebs. You could see the strategy unfold, especially after Cobb hit Lanxter deep. Alcoa had a chance to win. I would imagine that things will open up more. I look for this week's game to be a statement game for Alcoa.

You are correct Thompson really impressed me on Friday night. Not only punting the ball but his defense as well.

I have also heard that he will not be playing this year so that he does not lose any eligibility. If he does get his grades up, I believe he will still go to UT.

Well Shiverdecker, Cobb, and Lanxter are all pretty good. In fact they are better than they were last year. No doubt, it's hard to replace Lindsey, Warren, and Fiegler. But the Alcoa team this year has developed players that are top notch. The one player that no one seems to talk about is Bart Hicks. What a linebacker!! CAK had better find a way to limit his ability of getting to the QB. This is a better overall Alcoa team than the previous 2 years because the coaching and discipline have taken them to another level. The only way CAK can win is if Alcoa is sleeping through this game and with Rankin at the helm, I don't believe that will be the case. Alcoa 42 CAK 14

I'm not sure who all CAK returns this year (the QB last year was good) but I think Alcoa should win this game pretty easily.

Then you don't know Alcoa

This was a great game!!! Both teams had a chance to win the game. Maryville had a chance to win at a greater margin and Alcoa had opportunities to win outright. Both teams made mistakes and wasted chances. Maryville did have a few turnovers but how much of that was Alcoa's defense??? Say what you will, I believe from what I saw that Alcoa's defense caused a couple of the turnovers. Rankin has done a great job with this team and they will continue to get better. I wish they played this game as the last game of the regular season. I think both teams would be better at that point. If Alcoa could have made a couple of more plays, I think they win the game. Rae Sykes had an interception in his hands early in the game and it was dropped. Maryville kicks a field goal (winning margin is 3 points). Another key moment in the game is a 4th and 6 late in the 1st half, Alcoa driving deep into Maryville territory. For whatever reason they could not get a 1st down. Maryville then drives for a touchdown. Obviously the catch by the Maryville TE and the end of the game was huge. Maybe I'm optimistic, but I believe if Alcoa gets the ball again they score and win. All the momentum was on their side. Hats off to the defense!!! Bart Hicks looked great, Sommers had a great interception. Cobb is going to blossom into a great QB. I love the discipline of this team. The gap between Maryville and Alcoa has closed quite a bit between this year and last year. I didn't think Alcoa would play this well, but they did. So much for Maryville soundly defeating Alcoa. This was anything but one sided. This game could have gone either way. Alcoa played physical with Maryville and if they can play tough with the "best team in Tennessee," if Alcoa can play Maryville so well that the game could go either way, then there must be respect out there for the Alcoa Tornadoes. I can honestly say that with 5:00 to go in the game I thought Alcoa was going to win. All the momentum was with Alcoa and Maryville was reeling. But you have to give Maryville credit, even though they didn't score in the 2nd half they still made the plays when they needed to. Great game. I'm proud of Alcoa and I'm thrilled that we don't have to listen to how Alcoa (little 2A school) is not able to compete with Maryville (4A school) this year. Alcoa played smash-mouth football with the "big boys" and didn't back down. Just needed a couple more plays. Good luck to Maryville and here's a wish for a 15-0 season. As for Alcoa, I think Quarles said it best, "Alcoa will walk through 2A. This might be the best team that we will face this year."

Shannon Mitchell: Alcoa, Georgia, Chargers Billy Williams: Alcoa, Tennessee, Cardinals/Rams Jermaine Copeland: Harriman, Tennessee, Cowboys

Catback, I appreciate the support. I don't have to prove myself to him nor do I wish to. I will not lower myself to the demeaning of people's character. We are one day closer to the game tommorrow and I believe that, as much as I hope I'm wrong, Maryville will win. I think Alcoa will play much better than they did last year. I see them as having more success running than passing. The key to Alcoa offensively is going to be Randall Cobb. The talent is there for him to play very well. The better he plays the more of a chance that Alcoa has to pull out a shocker. I think that Maryville will have alot of success throwing. Too much experience in the receivers and quarterbacks for them not to have success. I don't think it will be a 14-10 low scoring game. My prediction is 38-28 Maryville. Let's all hope for a safe well played game and for 2 more state championships. I know defeat is likely, but I must say, "Go Alcoa!" I DO NOT CLAIM THESE PREDICTIONS TO BE 100% CORRECT. IN THE EVENT I AM INCORRECT I WILL GLADLY TIP MY HAT TO THOSE WHO ARE MORE ACCURATE THAN MYSELF.

Good points! Alcoa often gets that look against Maryville. That's why it's important for them to start fast. I don't think Alcoa can match Maryville's physical play either for 4 quarters. However, they have been getting more physical over the past 2-3 years. Will just have to see how far Rankin has brought them.

Your post deserves no comment. You will not get a demeaning word from me.

Rankin has not been the coach at Alcoa long enough for you to make such a judgment, therefore you are not in a position to determine how smart a coach he is. I think his record speaks for itself and he has done it longer than Quarles and at a higher classification. Period. You can refrain from your Alcoa cheapshots. Everyone knows Quarles is a great coach. The proof is in the record. He may indeed prove to be a better coach than Rankin, but at least wait until they have played the game before you make a judgment call on the man's intelligence. The point I was making is that this rivalry every now and then goes in cycles which is why I brought up the point that there have been times in which Maryville was as easy for Alcoa to beat than anyone else. You can get real by not being so biased.

I meant to say that just because you have more players DOES NOT mean that you win. Just wanted to clarify.

Totally uncalled for remark. You can't classify ALL Alcoa fans in such a way when you don't know every Alcoa fan. I'm a clergy member!! I'm sure Maryville has some exaggerators as well. I think its obvious that Maryville has a larger enrollment. Over the years it has been easy to see that Maryville can simply put more players on the field. I will say, however, that just because you have more players means that you win. In my opinion the ### of players or the lack thereof, is not a legit excuse.

oh yeah I forgot, Rankin must be lacking in coaching intelligence even though he has won multiple state championships at a 5A powerhouse. Man I wish Alcoa could find a smart coach. Get real and quite pretending like you know what this year's Alcoa players are like. I can remember, just so you know, when playing Maryville was easy for Alcoa. Be careful, you might regret those words.

You are correct, it does give the other players a chance to step up. The flip side of the issue is that it could also become a distraction. What are the chances of this happening? I would say probably not likely because I think Maryville still has enough players to win. However the possibility is there because these are players who are still learning.

I hope they do win, it would thrill me to no end!!!! It's not that I think they don't have a chance with or without the suspended Rebels. Normally they have a good enough team to compete against Maryville but history shows that this is usually Alcoa's worse game of the year. I have to pick Maryville until I see Alcoa do it.

No doubt I will be yelling hard and loud for Alcoa come Friday night. My family has a history in Alcoa athletics and I'm an Alcoa alumini. However, I don't want to get into this thinking that all of a sudden because of the suspension Alcoa is going to win. If the men in the white uniforms on Friday night prove me wrong then I will gladly admit it but we must not get ahead of ourselves.

Good post!!! I'm not sure of the circumstances, honestly I don't even want to know. But the issue is there and I'm sure there will be those who desire to spread rumors. I just still see Maryville winning. Maryville has good receivers and there is a weakness that Alcoa has on the corners. I'm not going to specify who because I don't want to single out a kid who tries his best. Last year Maryville took advantage of it and so did other Alcoa opponents who had the ability to throw the football (i.e. McCallie). One key in the game will be how well Alcoa has adjusted/improved in this area. If they have not, then Maples may have a bigger game than he normally does.

You didn't hear it come from me. Not sure how you implemented me in that. I believe my question was simply how this would effect the game. There is an old saying however, that what goes around comes around. Meaning that last year Alcoa had to deal with a suspension and this year Maryville has to deal with suspensions. I still would think Maryville should win.

Do you really think that is the case?? Obviously not having Baker is a loss but what about the other 3?