nick32

Is this scrimmage still on at 4:00. Should be a great game to see. I will try to make it out to see the Skogan/Wadley duo against the Hare/Pickel duo. Not much difference in the four players there, the difference in the game will be which team has a better supporting three players. My guess is that Little Pugh will show up and begin making a name for himself. Interesting!!!!!

I have watched Bill Price coach for years. You all are not giving him a fair break here. Bear football has been on the decline for years. Several years ago, they were 0-10. Then the years of Coach Wild. Fans thought he was a godsend. He was going to turn the program around. He left a very mediocre team to Bill Price. Price has a good year, not great, but good. Supporters all expect miracles to happen at Bradley. Bradley fans have been patient for years and have sat patient as they have watched four different coaches come and go. Placing the blame on coaches of other sports or on the athletes not playing is easy. The feeder programs for Bradley Central may need to be analyzed. Quite obviously there is a problem there. Walker Valley, the recipient of players that earlier would have been at Bradley, also is having trouble with their program. I don't know what the problem is, as a matter of fact, I think it could be a number of things. The feeder program, the absence of good athletes, non-cooperation between coaches, too demanding, and too much summer requirements all are factors in the decline of Bradley football. Getting rid of Coach Price will not be the answer to the question. First off, hire quality coaching at the middle school level. Second, get the AD involved with the cooperation between coaches. Third, go to the athletes that are not playing and ask them to play. Allow them to participate in more than one sport. Who cares if there "true love" is football, as long as they are helping the program. Let the players have a summer of some kind. Obviously the regimented program is not working. I don't know. I have been a Bear supporter in the excess of 20 years and I would like nothing more than to see the program get back on the winning side----- whatever it takes.

Why would colleges come to watch a playday? Not disputing your word on this, just wondering why? Are there that many quality players on these teams? How many games will be played by each team? Where will the games be? Do these games go on just Saturday or is it Friday, Saturday and Sunday? By the way, this is a good college football day

Hare dropped that low since your July rankings and Pickel dropped out of the top 25????? And those are based on which performances that they have had since July???? Looking at your senior rankings, you have Skogan at 22??? Maybe you need to get out a little more. First off, I saw the state tournament as well as games throughout the year. Skogan was MVP but is only 22nd on your poll? I am assuming that he does not play for your aau team. Pickel and Hare both were two of the best guards I saw in Murfreesoboro! Please explain how two of the top ten guards in the state have dropped so low. And I am also assuming that when you do your final 85 that the ones in the uppper part of your list must attend YOUR showcase... What a joke! You have Juan Smith ranked quite high? One question!! Have you ever seen him play against Hare and Pickel? Maybe you should! He is an awesome player but was outclassed by the two of them in the region tournament game that I watched. But then obviously you don't get out much. And where Jonathan Cook on your list. Come watch some southeast Tennessee games sometime. It just doesn't make sense that these players have dropped so low without ever picking up a ball since your last rankings. When will your next rankings come out so we can see how low our Chattanooga area players can drop by then. [Edited by nick32 on 10-16-02 9:46A]

What is happening to the Bradley football program. I have watched Bill Price coach for years at different schools, and I have utmost respect for his coaching ability. He has won everywhere he has been with the exception of Bradley. At one time Bradley had great football programs. With one of the largest schools in the state, I would think that they could produce a better program. Bradley has been the source of "speculations" over the past season or so. I have my opinions, but I wonder if any of you have any insights. Please don't get on here and criticize coach Price, because I am a Price supporter. He knows his stuff.

I think these two duos are as good as any of the ones you listed: Cleveland High's Charles Little and Tim Cooper with the inside out punch. Bradley Central's Justin Hare and Kellen Pickel are as good as guard combo as any in the state. Can't stop both of them.

Didn't see any of Bradley's summer games. I am assuming you saw them at team camps. Hare and Pickel both are college material and both are all-state calibur. I would have to say that they are legitimate pre-season picks. I saw several games last year that Bradley played. To say which of the two is the best would be hard to do. Hare is the younger brother of Josh Hare and probably has more potential than his brother. He is stronger than Pickel and picks up alot of rebounds on both ends of the court. Pickel is a threat on the outside and much quicker than Hare. Put the two together and you have an awesome set of guards. From what I am hearing Cory Pugh, the young brother of UTC signee and all-state Alponso Pugh may be the surprise at Bradley. The kid is a junior with limited varsity minutes but with some experience may be known throughout the state like Pickel and Hare. I expect great things from the Bears next season.

You said that these were NOT your final fall rankings???? I am confused. What are these players going to do between now and your final ranking to change their rankings? Shouldn't you wait until after season to change your rankings? As far as I know, these boys aren't doing anything to make them better or worse than you have them ranked. There are no aau games going on at the moment.

What teams are coming? How many teams will be there? Will you be playing on your new field?

I don't know the situation, and really don't care too. I do think that sometimes the athletes are classless on the fields and maybe somebody needs to point it out. There is NO place in athletics for the taunting, cussing, fighting, ect. Maybe the kids involved were not showing class. Maybe some parents need to take note of what was going on. Again I am simply specualting and don't knwo the situation.

Because the top AAA players are all from east Tennessee doesn't necessarily mean that they are not deserving. I agree that this is somewhat of a popularity contest but in A and AAA the players all all very deserving. I think on anybody's top ten list (except for Gomab's) anyone that has seen the players named would have them. I would place money that the AAA players should be in the top ten and so are the A ones. Gomab's list has all these in the top 25 though I don't agree with all the placements of them. I am sure that middle and west Tennessee has some players just as good as Humphry, Hare, Pickel, Smith, Bradley, Dozier, Britt, but I don't think they can be any better than these. And I think that Chambers and Skogan more than proved their worth last year. So what I am saying is that you can vote for your favorite players on here, but so far the favorites are also some of the best ball players in the state. I would bet my money on them.

Most of the mentioned players DID lead their teams to the state tournament last year, didn't they? That in itself is impressive!

Saw Nick Bradley, Pickel, and Hare at state tournament last seaseon. Watched Dozier play about a dozen times last season. Never had the opportunity to see Humphrey last year. Also saw Sir Lee, Skogan, and Wadley on several occasion and was extremely impressed with their play. I can say without any hesitation that the aforementioned players are deserving of a spot on the team. One thing that makes these players so good is the fact that each of them play with several other quality players. Greatness is acheived by surrounding yourself with greatness. I don't know about Humphrey. I assume he does most everything singlehandedly, which is probably why his team does not go to the state. But he must be something to achieve what he does with little support. I know this poll is for fun only and there are many players that are just as good as the ones on here, but I would have to say that for the most part, these are quality choices.

This is a joke isn't it.

There are several threads on here that name players that you all think are the best mid-state and in east TN. Obviously you don't think Chattanooga is east TN so I am going to give you the names of the best players in southeast Tennessee.. Seniors: Jakob Skogan, Sir Lee Mason, Ryan Wadley Juniors: Jonathan Cook, Justin Hare, Kellen Pickel, Juan Smith, Tim Cooper Sophomores: Little and Suiter Any comments or additions from you Chattanooga, Cleveland, or Athens folks?

I would have to agree that the guard play for Bradley is the strong point, however, Bradley does not have one best player. Pickel is a veteran and came through in the state tournament and I certainly would not count Pugh out. He is the sleeper of the bunch. Hare is certainly a key player but he is not the key. Shut him down and you have Pickel, shut Pickel down and you have Hare. Shut the two of them down and expect Pugh or one of the young ones to step up. Temple is basically the same way. They have two strong guards in Skogan and Wadley. Skogan was MVP in state, but Wadley is capable of being just as inflential as Skogan. You must shut both of them down to be successful. I might just go watch that scrimmage. Any idea of where and when. That will be quite intersting.

Buckalew has a nice outside shot, but I don't know how consistent she is with her shot in the BIG games. I don't know about Holly. People seem to think that Holly is the next Brittney Jackson. She is a very good player, but trys too hard to do things herself and likes personal glory.If she can get past that she might be a top player. She is a streak shooter if we are talking about shooters. Lindsey Jackson at Bradley can shoot with anybody I know. It is not a pretty shot, but when she is on, her shot can't be stopped. She has big shoes to fill behind Brittney. Someone mentioned Crowe. I don't remember her alot form last season but I do remember one game that she came in and nailed a couple of three pointers from the corner. The freshman, Pickel, supposed to be a top-notch shooter, but it remains to be seen if she will be able to come through as a shooter in the big games. She also has big foosteps to follow behind her older brother. I know a lot of girls and boys that are great shooters in practice or even in the games that don't count. But what happens in the big games? Isn't that what happened with Rogers and Buckalew? The only one of those mentioned that has proven herself as a big-game shooter is Jackson, as she shot her team into a district championship last year. Give me a shooter at those times, but give me a PLAYER at any time, one like Rogers who wants the ball at the critical times as well as any other time. She would've filled a void at BCHS. I [Edited by nick32 on 8-28-02 11:43A] [Edited by nick32 on 8-28-02 11:44A]

Looks to me as if somebody--specifically thinkcarefully has a jealousy problem. Would it be possible or probable that this person has a son or daughter or is a player that has to play behind TNwareagles players. I don't understand the jest of the post that thinkcarefully started. Are you complianing about the no zoning policy, about the girl transferring, about the recruiting wars between the two schools or is it a personal vendetta agains Ms.tnwareagle? You must know this tnwareagle because nowhere that I have looked does it say Mr. or Miss. How do you know that it is a Miss that you are comdemning? Does anyone on this board really care where the girl in question goes to school. I must agree with the post that says that neither team will live or die on this girls play. Some of you seem to make too much out of something. 23smom hit the nail on the head. This post has had way to many relpies. Let the originator spend some time thinking a little more carefully about his posts, or maybe he (or she) should thinkcarefully about having a better attitude. TNwareagle, you should heed the advice of 23's mom---you need not justify any move that you make nor should you justify your intentions. I am glad you are happy at the new high school as I am just as sure that you would have been content at Bradley. Work where you desire most and raise your young 'uns the way you want to, but do not waste your time on ignorance such as the originator of this post. Good luck to both schools as they begin there seasons, and special luck to the Bearettes. (Not that I think they are better---I have kept up with the Bradley tradition for many years and respect what they do.)

Humphrey is the best AAA player in the state and Skogan is the best A player. Some other good ones are Wadley, Sir Lee Mason, Tim Cooper, Ben Britt, Justin Hare, Jonathan Cook, and Kellen Pickel. All of these are guards. I haven't seen any outstanding posts in this area though I am sure that there will be some come November.

You won't find any better duo than Wadley/Skogan from TN Temple. They are very possibly a two time state champ duo. This is a 40-50 point per game duo. Another very good duo are Hare/Pickel from Bradly Central. Look for close to 40 per game from this duo.

In the Chattanooga area: Sir Lee Mason--Howard Jacob Skogan--Tennessee Temple Juan Smith--McMinn County Tim Cooper--Cleveland HIgh Jonathan Cook--Chattanooga Christian Justin Hare---Bradley County Kellen Pickel--Bradley County Ben Britt--Red Bank

It will be at least three years before Walker Valley can be elgible to enter the district with Cleveland and Bradley. And in order for that to happen, Walker Valley's enrollment must increase by around 300 students within that three years. IF and WHEN that does happen, I see it being a great district. But, buddy, don't kid yourself about the recruiting. It can't get much worse than it is now, at all three schools. None are any worse than the others. The softball teams at the three are pretty equal right now though Bradley and Cleveland seem to have a monopoly on the other sports right now. Look for things to slowly change though.