BigRedBlooded

In the midst of a paragraph of speculation--utterly unsupported by any actual evidence--that one team was the more deserving than the other, you throw in a "but let's not bash the other and just say congrats to both teams." You should take your own advice. Intentional or not, you slap both teams in the face. You state the obvious, that there were of course points left on the table by both teams. There are always going to be. But you say it was Ryan's many "missed opportunities" that kept them from winning outright? Seriously? They put four wrestlers in the consolation finals. They won all four. They put six into the championship finals. Only two were favorites. Three were underdogs that had lost to their opponents this season, and the sixth was a toss-up, having gone to overtime against his opponent in the Duals. And five of the six won. On Saturday afternoon Ryan needed to step up and deliver a heroic, nearly best-case scenario and that's exactly what they did, and they deserve all the credit in the world. And you're talking about their "missed opportunities?" Man. You might want to reexamine your standards for success. And, as far as Baylor's "good luck" goes, the only luck involved in the tournament, i.e. results that were not based on the actions of the participants, were the injury defaults and the initial draws. Both teams lost one wrestler in the consolation semifinals, resulting in sixth place finishes for both. But Baylor's wrestler had a good chance of winning that first match and assuring a fourth place; Ryan's was close to nil, having to face a defending state champion who wound up pinning his way through the consolations. But even if both had lost, in the matches for fifth-place Ryan then would've had to face a wrestler who had beaten him just the day before, while Baylor's would've faced someone he'd easily pinned a few weeks earlier. As far as the draws go, Baylor had four wrestlers--a second-place finisher, two third-place finishers, and one fourth-place finisher who had to take first-round byes, depriving them of the chance for any bonus points. Ryan had one. Given the closeness of the result, well, let's just say that's pretty unlucky. So please none of this "Ryan missed too many opportunities to win" and "Baylor was the beneficiary of luck" stuff. DS2001 is exactly right--both teams were superb and the tie was a fitting way to end the season.

Mtnrasslin, he must be thinking about the other common tournament the two teams had this season, at Collins Hill. You know, when Baylor finished second and Father Ryan finished fifth. Wait... Never mind.

I think I speak for about every Baylor person I know when I say that your trotting this thing out so frequently has gotten obnoxious. It's about enough to make even me like Baylor a little less. And the duals count is five for Baylor and four for Father Ryan.

That's nice to know. And thanks for reminding me that he was a state champion--I forgot to mention that. Except that I think he had won it the year before and was the defending champion in '81 (and I edited the post to reflect that).

I know that most of us are now focused on this coming weekend's big event, but I hate to have the 80th Baylor-McCallie match fade with so little mention of it. Especially now that McCallie has been identified by the local media as the presumptive winner this weekend at the Duals--silly me, I thought we were done with them for the year. But, since we're apparently not, I want to echo words that have been posted before--that I greatly admire any kid who is willing to stand alone in the spotlight and risk what wrestlers do in circumstances like that. Kudos to all of them, especially the youngest ones and first timers, and particularly to 8th graders whose varsity careers were less than a week old. I've heard nothing but nice things about Tim Westbrooks and he represented himself a lot better than the boxscore wound up reflecting. And Daniel McClure, going out to face a senior three-time state champion? Wow. He, too, was sold-short by the box score. T.J. wrestled well, and it was very generous of Trey Stavrum to finally allow someone else to be the hero of a Baylor-McCallie dual meet. It was getting ridiculous. He's hogged that title since the 8th grade and I'm glad to see him recognize that it just wasn't necessary this year. And Hooker is a machine. He's really something. That's probably the biggest stage he's trod so far, and he certainly made a statement. We have three 8th graders going to school within thirty miles or so of each other who all have the potential to have historic careers. You gotta love being a wrestling fan in this part of the state. What I'll take from that match as much as anything, though, is Alex Manley's absolute refusal to quit when he got caught in a crushing hold on his back early in the second period. When he went down I didn't think he could last 10 seconds, and he lasted ten times that, for more than a minute and a half, until the period ended. The standing ovation he got was well-deserved. I'm sure he's not interested in moral victories, but moral victories provide the foundation for more substantive ones, and the courage and tenacity he again showed he has will serve him well. I have a gap in my Baylor wrestling knowledge from the years that I lived away up north, but the only similarly dramatic refusal to submit that I can remember was the 1981 state finals match between Bobby Bullard and defending state champion Mike (I think) Temple of East Ridge. I think Bullard was up 5-2 early in the third when he gave up a five-point move that landed him dead-to-rights on his back. Somehow he managed to avoid the pin for more than a minute and a half and pulled his head out for a reversal at the buzzer that tied the score at 7-7. He then won in overtime. The kicker was that the team outcome rode on that match, and Baylor won the title as a result. I think all that's right; someone feel free to correct it if it's not. (It's worth mentioning too that Temple's father was sitting nearby and my father still remembers how gracious he was during and after that tough loss.) Speaking of old people, Friday I also found myself able to genuflect before the great Doug Dyer and Scott Kelley simultaneously, the undefeated senior state champions from the 1978 Baylor team that is perhaps the greatest in Tennessee history. In a tournament that included every school in the state, public and private, and that required passage through two qualifying tournaments, Baylor qualified nine wrestlers in the twelve weight classes, and finished with seven finalists and eight place winners (which then were just those finishing in the top four). Baylor finished with 150 points, second place scored 93.5. Thirty years ago exactly. Dyer, Kelley, Lyle, Watson, Stout, Stevenson, Barbee, Tindall, and Reynolds. Cheers, fellas. Finally, BCB and Harry, you will enjoy hearing that on Friday I was accused of being... Cupcake. And by someone who probably really should have known better. The funniest thing is that I don't think that he believed (or believes) my denial. Without a single lie I have diverted many who have asked whether I might be BRB, but though I was able to look this guy straight in the eye and say "No," I don't think he was convinced. There's a lesson in there somewhere. Onward and upward, BRB

Call them and tell them you speak Arabic and want to join up. You'll be on a transport within the hour and it won't cost you a dime.

Your shock and incredulity reveal a lack of familiarity with the Chattanooga media.

Gee guys, do have to wear your preferences SO on your sleeves?

Uh... who's Jarrell?

Hey, where's Wrestle90? Isn't this where he steps in? He missed his cue.

Herm, The homonyms are excellent, all of them. I thought they were quite well done. Less well done was my attempt at humor, which obviously didn't do enough to communicate the right tone. I knew that Harry would get it, and that he gets as good as he gives. I shouldn't have assumed the same of others I haven't joked with in the past. Mr. Maj's point is duly noted, however. I take this CoachT thing--and myself--waaaaay too seriously, as is evident in recent posts. Hopefully someday I can learn to appreciate the humor that's on display around here and loosen up--like Mr. Maj. It's going to be a while before I'll be able to find time to relax, though. Probably not until I get to the Baylor-McCallie match. Ba da bing. (Harry, that one was for you). (See, BCB? I told you I was worried about the whole stamina thing. I tried to knock out like four posts in one sitting last night and look what happens. Disaster. And this one now with all the links? Too much. I've got to dial it back down and if I can't hit 100 until next season so be it.) BRB

How about those Irish! Congratulations, folks. Looks like BCB3 and company might be getting some of that stagger... er, swagger back. Just the right time to get on a roll. My crystal ball is only now beginning to clear, but I swear I think I see Everybody's Favorite ND storming the ramparts of Clarksville High and laying waste to all in their path (though that might be BCB and Harry T. leading them into the Appleby's next door, I can't quite tell).

Seeing a group of CoachT posters making fun of somebody for poor spelling reminds me of a group of asylum inmates making fun of somebody for being insane.

Let me just say that, next to Harry T., there's not a soul around here I missed more this season than Trouble Maker. TM had more great one liners last year than everyone else put together. BCB3 makes me laugh in his verbosity; TM makes me laugh in his brevity. Welcome back. It's nice to see the professionals gathering 'round as crunch time approaches.

Notre Dame's slipped all the way to third now? That's just not right, BCB3. Makes me feel kinda guilty.

Is that points or forfeits?

Exxxxcellent. Much better, BCB. Check's in the mail.

I'm assuming you mean to say that you listened to a couple of intelligent conversations between Walkenvol and Jakesdad, no?

Jakesdad or other fine Owls, do you expect the varsity to begin at 6:00pm, or do you expect there to be JV matches first that might delay the start?

Good luck to everybody's favorite ND tonight. Take a rule book with you, BCB. By the way, Bearcat, any plan to put together a mid-season awards report this year? Best wrestlers, best newcomer, best match, biggest surprise, etc.? Harry says he's behind on things this year and it might help catch him up.

December 31, 1600: The East India Company is incorporated by English royal charter. December 31, 1775: American troops under General Richard Montgomery and Colonel Benedict Arnold are defeated by the British in the Battle of Quebec. December 31, 1857: Ottawa named capital of Canada by Queen Victoria. December 31, 1879: Thomas Edison demonstrates incandescent lighting to the public for the first time. December 31, 1946: President Harry Truman officially proclaims the end of hostilities in World War II. December 31, 1991: The Soviet Union is officially dissolved. December 31, 2007: Harry Thornton returns to CoachT. A day for the history books! Welcome back, Harry. It wasn't the same without you.

Not supporting, Buck, not by a long shot. Bite your tongue. Just tipping the cap where appropriate (and trying to prevent BCB from whipping them into a froth).

Surely not, Buck. I mean, that would be a fairly dumb and ignorant mistake to make.

You're dangling your hook in the wrong fishing hole, BCB, and I look forward to your now-silent backing. The Purple Army looked pretty awesome, and, in case anybody was wondering, Mix and Herrman are BACK. Ryan's ready to roll. You, in your current anti-Red fervor, have Buck and others convinced of a great wave of sentiment for Baylor being this great favorite this year, when in fact it exists mostly in your lovable, hallucinogenic-addled mind. Granted, this weekend was exciting. When the score in the Park Hill match was 22-3, I was already composing my next post in which I made fun of you by comparing that to Ryan's good showing against them. The four consecutive pins forced a rewrite on that, but, nonetheless, I'm sure Ryan is licking their chops in anticipation of luring the young Raiders into their den next month. I enjoyed bumping into you, too, at everyone's favorite Notre Dame the other day, especially the impromptu meeting with your friend. I didn't get his name, he may have been just some guy, but he was clearly a man of great quality. It was odd, but he reminded me of somebody, and I was humming "Born to Run" afterwards, I'm not sure why. If you see him again, thank him again for the refreshment. And, regarding Allsaints: I support any effort on your part to honor him. Though, instead of anointing him a "Hero," how about a saint, as his name suggests? I don't know... how about Jude?

Baylor was down to Park Hill 22-3 after seven matches and 25-7 after nine before a rather remarkable run from 140-171. Sophomore super sub Mac Ferguson tied the match with a pin at 152 lbs., then Wesley Idlette pinned to go up six, then freshman super sub David Helton is winning at 171 deep in the third before being put on his back with 18 seconds left, giving up the decision but holding on for the team win. Against Collins Hill, I don't think either team was up by more than four points until the 13th match ended. Baylor went up 22-21 after eleven matches when Idlette majored. The final match was a decision by CH when it was called for injury default with something like 14 seconds left. I think I'm right about those details, but going mostly by memory. I suspect the Baylor folks are really, REALLY pleased with the day. Not bad for a bunch of kids. P.S. RMC, I poked around and asked a few people if they could point you out to me, just to say hi. It never worked out, but another time perhaps. I knew and liked Alex a lot, and wanted you to pass my best along to him.