pseudophobia

Wow!!! This says a lot!! Can you see why people think of Farragut teams as a little "upetty"? I would think that it would be expected that after a team has finally "gotten over the hump" you would expect a celebration. Now, I get the part about being classy and showing some class, but it seems like the Farragut fans and players would just sit back and say...O.K. have your moment- we will be back. Look, the season is early and if anyone thinks Farragut will not get a lot better by the end of the season, then they are wrong! Farragut has been a top tier team since soccer began and this is a small dip in the road! When you have a coach that has won as much and been on top for so long, the only place to go is.....well, a little below your average!! Don't panic ihavenofriends!!!! What I really want to watch for is the reaction later in the season when the two teams meet again!! What will happen if Farragut wins? What might their celebration be?? We will see a lot of the same thing I bet!! Time will tell!!

I wish I could have seen this game!! I am happy for Maryville....I had watched them over the years and as a parent for Bearden (and Oak Ridge) players, I always thought that the only problem they had was lack of agression. I am gald to see that they are bringing more intensity to the field. As far as the not knowing how to act.....I would remind everyone that these are still young men and they play with great passion. Let winners have celebration!! How many times have they watched others celebrate when they were beaten! Hey, what goes around comes around! I look forward to watching the Maryville Bearden game. I will be there!!

Saying the US is the only country where size matters is not completely true...especially at World Cup level. Here's something to look at- here is the average heights of the following World Cup Champions: Year Team Average height 1982 Italy 5' 10 1/2" 1986 Argentina 5' 9" 1990 West Germany 5' 10" 1994 Brazil 5'9 1/2" 1998 France 6' 0" This years U.S.A. World cup team (so far 23 players) Average Height 5' 11 1/2". Sorry for the missed years- but I couldn't find those size rosters. The point I am trying to make is that the U.S. does not try and find huge players because, as you can see, they don't. Still, it's only logical that a bigger, stronger player with the same speed as a smaller player WILL have an advantage. I think the more important thing is not the SIZE of the player....rather the intensity that player can bring! You can't find that statistic on paper.....I wish we could!!!

To Big G and Akula....good to see you guys are still....kicking! Hah, couldn't resist that one. I have to say that I was surprised to see both your teams ranked so high in the state....with so many losses!! Then I looked at the schedule that both of you played- Impressive! Both of you have played a brutal schedule and I would say that this is the recipe for returning to the State Championships over and over. It is a tried and true approach to anything- play the best possible competition and you get better. I am glad to see that the rankings reflect on the strength of the team, not just the wins and losses! I am going to watch the Farragut game first....but if it is a blow out, I look forward to driving a few miles down the road and see CAK play!! Wish they could have put of guys at 5:00 p.m. Oh well....Should be a lot of fun!! Good luck to both of you and hope to see you guys play in the Championship game! (that is possible I believe??)

Predictions for the Sub-State games welcomed. Please include a reason for your predictions! In good taste please!!

I have to agree with Oldsoccerfan. We moved here from Texas some years ago, but I still remember those teams very well. I think that we are just WAY behind in soccer right now. This is not meant to insult anyone or belittle any good soccer program. Nor is it saying that athletes in other states are superior to kids in Tennessee. If anything, I think kids here are probably superior to them!! What makes the difference is simple- numbers! Texas alone has more than 100 high schools with more students than Farragut has. I think the last time I went down this road, I had to look up the enrollment numbers in Texas. I think there more more than 50 schools with more than 3500 students in them. Couple that with the fact that Texas is flat (very easy to make a field....some chalk and 2 goal posts!) , weather is favorable all the time (in most of the state) and far superior youth programs- not to mention better training for coaches.......it just makes sense. The same is true of schools from California, Florida, and Georgia too! National rankings for High schools have been and always will be a joke. How would the state champions from Wyoming do against Brentwood, Farragut, CAK, CBHS?? Probably not too good. So if a team from Wyoming went 22-0, beat everybody by 4 goals or more....should THEY be ranked #1 in the Nation? How about 10th? Let's be honest about this National ranking stuff and just enjoy the things we can control....winning a State Championship!!!! Go Farragut!!! Bring that Championship back to Knoxville....where it belongs! /wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink.gif" />

Really nice post!! I think you are exactly right- they are in the toughest district and they are competing with the best. Only losing 3 seniors makes next year bright indeed! I had posted on the top sophmores earlier in the year- I had Austin Pugh as on of the 5 that really, really impress me.....and I totally forgot one of them- Josh Manor- another great sophmore that has a great soccer future in front of him. Just remember, about 10 years ago, Bearden and Farragut were about the only teams that had a huge pool of players from competative club teams- but that has changed. They (Maryville) are getting as much talent as the rest of the schools....so it is getting more balanced all the time! The bad thing is that Bearden has a very young team also and next year looks bright for them too. Keep it up- it only makes the whole district better and better. I would like to add that I think Maryville plays a really good game of soccer. Not kick ball, they move the ball well and I always enjoy watching them!! Good luck Maryville. Now Maryville has to prepare for the 3 losses thye will take in football this year...................times (and conferences) are changing!!!!! ( To be specific- Farragut, Bearden and Catholic beat them this year) /roflol.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":roflol:" border="0" alt="roflol.gif" /> /blush.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":blush:" border="0" alt="blush.gif" />

because dummy.......I don't think they will beat Bearden!! Actually, it's because I know very little about them. I know that isn't fair but I can't help it- didn't get a chance to see them play. I know they are usually strong all the time, but I don't see them getting to play the tough season the others do. Just think, Bearden, Farragut, Alcoa, Oak Ridge, Catholic, West and CAK get to play each other all the time. 4 of these teams are still left in the state championship, with the possibility of a re-match for a State Championship. Oak Ridge, West and Catholic are not here because they had the misfortune of having to play the other teams. See my point? I just go with the teams from the east because over the last 10 years they have been totally dominate. It's just a simple fact. They could all lose tonight and blow this out of the water- we'll know in a few hours!! /wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink.gif" />

I will have to say Bearden to beat Brentwood in a very, very close game. I just think that Bearden has played the tougher competition (3 losses to Farragut alone). I see all the scores of 3-0 by Farragut...I think it will be much worse. It seems simple to me...Farrgaut has the stronger team, played a tougher schedule and these kids are used to playing at a much faster pace. No matter the talent Cleveland has, speed of play is hard to adjust to...add a ton of constant pressure....as Farragut will and it spells disaster!! I'll say 5-1 Farragut. Sorry Cleveland fans.....it has been a great season either way. I have to admit that I will pull for Cleveland because they are the under-dog in my opinion...rankings mean nothing to me at this point! Prove me wrong Cleveland!!!! With that being said....I think the only team that has a chance to beat Farragut is Bearden. Why?? Because it is very, very hard to beat ANYBODY 4 times in the same season. Is Farragut the best team left?? I sure think so and they are more than capable of beating anyone, any time.....but Bearden would have nothing to lose!!! /dry.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="

No...Tinman is still Tinman. UCSoccer is another kid. Tinman is red-headed kid and is playing in the USL right now. He was on that Crush team when they just started. I know this...because I was the coach of that Crush team. Tinman is playing for the Baton Rogue Capitals....they will be playing the Nashville Metros (I think that is the Nashville team name) tonight at 8:00 P.M. (Easter time) I will be at that game! By the way, Tinman will still be able to play his last season at The University of the Cumberlands this coming season. They should be a good team to watch!

Finally.....someone who has it exactly right!!! On the pitch- you nailed it. Some of those teams have 28 year old players that come from other countries, where their club teams are awesome. So it is almost an unfair advantage- but along with that, these teams fully understand possession and movement. This is why I enjoy watching them. /biggrin.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" />

I won't tell you WHO UCsoccer is.......but he isn't Boone. He played 1 year older than the Stars 88 team. By the way, that was a great team with a ton of talent- Boone was one of my favorite kids to watch play- I watched him since he was 8 years old. Also, that Stars team had a great coach- which is always nice! /wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink.gif" />

Great post!! I completely agree! Any team that plays the schedule they have and comes out undefeated deserves a big congrats! It is rare and special, and all the players, coach and the fans should be nothing but proud of themselves! A National ranking is sweet, but a State Championship lasts forever!! Now, they have put a giant target on themselves...that's what hard work does and they are going to have to step up and beat everybody else! This is what it's all about folks!! Everyone should be proud of them!! Good luck Cleveland!!!!!! /biggrin.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" />

Well, since I missed the OR VS Farragut game so badly "Oak Ridge is due to beat them" I should just quit...but what can happen now? It appears to me that Farragut has peaked and are playing very good soccer! I guess the question isn't Can anyone beat them- rather, can they loose? I think they are deep enough to beat Bearden again in the region. So I predict Farragut 2-1. However, if this happens it could very well set up another Bearden vs. Farragut final. No disrespect to any other teams left- but the East Tennessee area has been strong for the last 10 years. They have "been there, done that" many, many times. Advantage is to both of them. The only problem with that is- it gets harder and harder to beat the same team over and over! If they met in the finals, Farragut might get the idea that they own Bearden and Bearden has nothing to loose (except the 4th game between them). I love this time of year!! Good luck to both teams and no matter what happens...represent the ET area well!!! /smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

Big L...I don't know who you think ucsoccer is....but his name isn't Craig. I do know who UCSOCCER is though and I can tell you that most of what he said is correct. He did not play at a successful high-school- which was a shame. Had he played at a Bearden, Farragut, OR, CAK, Catholic, etc -he would have made them that much better. He was right, he did not have the best speed, was not very strong and is small. What he did have (and still does) was amazing touch, great vision and soccer intelligence (even if he can't spell!) along with a very good attitude. So for him to make it at a school that finished ranked 13th in the nation last year is quite the accomplishment! I think the remarks above are meant to belittle the "NAIA level". I don't know what this is supposed to mean but perhaps you should look at the results of what happens when these NAIA schools ( high ranked ones) plays a division 1 (D1) school-also high-ranked ones! Better yet, go and watch when UC plays another quality team- like Lindsey Wilson and then decide for yourself. What you will see is two teams that play very, very good soccer. They will possess the ball, show patience, rarely make a bad or forceful pass. They play at a speed rarely seen anywhere else and the physical contact is almost hard to believe! You would get a chance to see UCSOCCER play a game- then you can have something to post about..... By the way Big L- what are your soccer credentials? Are you paying at a D1 level? D2, NAIA.....enlighten me with your vast knowledge! /rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":rolleyes:" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" />

on the pitch....how was my precicting that Oak Ridge would win arrogant or taking a shot at Farragut?? My whole point was in response to someone who said that the other person must be a OR player or parent because they also predicted OR to win. It seems that any time someone predicts a team to beat Farragut, all the Farragut people get on here and say things like "how arrogant of you to take your shots at the might admirals", or they say- "You are stirring up a hornets nest"! I have no children at Bearden- haven't for 2 years...so I have no dog in the fight. My children are now playing college soccer, one is playing professional soccer (USL) , the other is playing football (the kind with the oblong, brown ball!) My children played at Bearden and Oak Ridge- all of them played in at least 1 state championship game while at these schools- so I tend to want them to win whenever they play! If Farragut advances- I promise I will be a Farragut fan and pull for them whoever they play! Same thing goes for West! I like to pull for this area- whoever makes it! /tongue.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":P" border="0" alt="tongue.gif" />

I will take West winning in a shoot-out! I think this goes the distance and West squeaks out the game with a shoot-out! The tiny width of the 55 yard field and the slope on the sidelines favors the constant throw-ins that a crappy field such as that creates! I believe that this is a big advantage for West! West beating anybody should not be considered an upset. When is this team going to get some respect? They are now a real threat to anyone..and will be for the future. I will say that while Bearden is more than capable of winning this game, they are a young team and regardless of the outcome of this seasaon- next year they have to be an early favorite- they are deep everywhere! I was very impressed with all the young kids that played in the game with Sevier County. Good luck to both teams!! P.S. I am still pulling for Bearden- just think this one goes to West. Also, I might add that I believe that West can win the region also!

How arrogant of you to say that he must be an OR player or parent! I thought speedrush predicted this one the way he sees it. I happen to agree with him. If anyone has stirred up the hornets nest, it would be you! Is it so surprising that someone predicts the mighty Admirals may be beaten. It has happened- just ask CAK! Sometimes, the better team does not win the game- sometimes they do- but Oak Ridge is a good team and they should be ticked with losing to West. I say Oak Ridge 2-1. Either way, East Tennessee will be strong going on to State! Good luck to both teams!!!

Hey Dins8, I was addressing cnpitbull- he asked for my opinion about Memphis. I gave him the best reply I could- I admit that having not seen them play I could only guess based on their record and the teams I have seen play. As far as the question about blasting Cody or Mark- that was NOT the intent. I have always felt that Cody was a great player. My own sons played against him- one of them a defender for Bearden, who came home and stated that Cody was for real and one of the better players he faced while in high school! Thats quit a compliment- they rarely say such a thing about anyone that isn't a teammate! So I am certainly not trying to say something negative about him- as far as Sherrod goes, I haven't had the pleasure to watch him play- but will soon! I would blast most any of the D1 schools because they generally play very poor soccer! While it is sometimes effective, simply because they have more physical talent, seeing them kick a ball 60 yards back and forth ........well, watching them is painful! Just watch the D1 championship game between Maryland and North Carolina- it is sickening....a giant game of kick ball! I dare say that there were 5 teams in the NAIA that would beat them or at least teach them how to make a string of 6 passes together! Something that rarely happened in that game. I just wish players quit putting so much into going to a D1 school, just because it is a D1 school. That alone does not make them better and so many people go to one of them, only to be disappointed. I think having McCoy and Sherrod is a step in the right direction for Memphis!!

Mark Sherrod signed with Memphis? It would be hard to come up with an opinion....I haven't seen him play, but after doing some research- it appears Memphis needs some offensive fire power. Cody McCoy from Knoxville plays there and played in 15 games out of 19- so they must be in need of players. The two of them might make a good pair! They won 6 games out of 19....so the team is not that impressive. I have seen 2 of the teams they played last year and they didn't beat either one of them. My opinion is that they were probably a weak team. It changes every year! I just have not been that impressed with div 1 schools- terrible soccer most of the time. Someone posted on here about the NAIA schools- it's true that they have different rules for players- I went to pick up a freshman for Coach Neto at Univ of the Cumberlands- he flew in from Germany- landed in Knoxville. I was expecting a young kid- this guy was 24 years old, 6' 4" tall- he was a man. He was an amazing defender! It is not uncommon to see guys 26, 28 etc....so it is a different situation. To be a good player and compete against these guys takes guts!!! Still, some of these schools are amazing- worth a young talented player looking at!!!

I can agree with your above statement- however, I replied to soccerdevil about this and his only statement about the kid was that he whined about calls- not all of the things you stated above: direspect, complaining, criticizing, etc, etc..... I do not know who the kid was- still I agree with most of what you said above!

know this is kind of rambling, but if any of you have seen Mark Sherrod play he doesn't strike me as a whiner and to have that kind of skill and to get hacked the way he does ... that makes him a truly outstanding player in my limited soccer knowledge. This kid we denied didn't have Mark's physical attributes, but he had the touch, the vision, and the desire, but he undermined his play with his behavior. Soccerdevil.......again, great reply. I can see your point!! I have yet to see Sherrod play. I am trying to get to a game where he will have to use all those skills. I have yet to hear something bad about this kid and any player who can maintain poise while being hacked at has my admiration!! I wish that he and other top level players would take time and really look at the soccer program they are about to attend at the college level. I still can't believe all the hype about "D1" schools. Have you ever seen a good "D1" game? I watched the D1 championship game and it was embarrassing and painful to watch- a giant game of kick ball!! In the off season the smaller schools (div 2, NAIA, etc) get to play these D1 schools and usually do very well. The division 1 champions will usually get destroyed by the top NAIA schools. They rarely play in the Spring....and for good reason! (Indiana got destroyed by Lindsey-Wilson one year, Azuza Pacifica beat them 4-1, etc. etc.) Usually they get embarrassed! Hope he has made a good decision. I don't know where he is going to college. If anyone knows, please post it for me! I know of an All American player from Bearden.....possibly one of the best ever in this area, he chose a "D1" school and just got messed over. This kid could play at any level, but didn't get a fair chance. It was a disgrace if you ask me. I would be willing to bet that he wishes he had taken more time to make a better decision. Something for players to think about!!

University of the Cumberlands won 5-4.

Soccerdevil.....I find this reply very interesting! I couldn't resist sending something back. I can agree with the remarks about the refs- as always, good ones and poor ones. I have found that as a soccer fans position changes, so does the opinion about refs. As a coach, I rarely complained to a ref- the exception was when they did not protect a player, on my team or the opponents. I would not allow any player to ever complain about a ref, and like your suggestion, if a player did this- I pulled them. Before every game the last words out of my mouth was always to respect the ref. RESPECT....doesn't mean you think they are great, but they are in the position to alter balance. Usually the calm acceptance of a bad decision changed how those calls went. Now, having been out of coaching for years, I have the most fun ever.....I yell and holler at the ref's relentlessly!! Now, this may seem mean to the ref, and maybe it is, but I do not yell to get the ref rattled or try and change his calls, etc.- I do it to get the fans of the other team all worked up. It changes the entire energy of the game......most of the refs (especially the "good" ones) chuckle, smile or outright laugh at some of the things I yell at them. I know a lot of them and they don't take it personal.....I think of it as entertainment. If an opponent doesn't like it....... they haven't given in to the emotion of the game. Thats why other countries have such fun! (and your occasional riot!..oops!) I do not agree with the part about the district player of the year award......I can appreciate the fact that most coaches don't like whiners, but where does that end? What if you don't like the parents, his hair cut, race, religion, too loud, too shy, bad breath, his feet stink too much!! The fact that the kid was a whiner shouldn't have anything to do with the fact that he may have been the best player in the district. You "as coaches" denied him that because of a character flaw- not talent. Just a thought!! Still loved this post- thanks!! /biggrin.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" />

I don't know about these teams this year- but I do have some idea about the type of hatred these 2 teams have for each other. About 5 years ago Science Hill was in a sub-state game against Oak Ridge. It was played in Johnson City at their soccer complex. There were a lot of people and the Science Hill fans were in force.......but there were so many of the Dobyns Bennett fans there just to hassell Science Hill!! It was amazing, the Dobbins Bennett fans were hackling the Science Hill players so bad that the refs almost stopped the game- they thought it was Oak Ridge fans- we had to tell them- and so did the Science Hill players, that it was Dobyns Bennett!! I was, and still am amazed at the fact that rivals would show up at a game like that! Now that makes for a great, heated game!! I wish I could make this game!! Would someone please post results with specifics!! I would love to hear about it!!