pseudophobia

I am amazed with your gracious comments about them! Very classy! I will say that they were amazing in the air! I would remind you that they were fresh, no games played before you. Your team had just finished another game 1 1/2 hrs before this one. It's easy to be the more physical team when your opponent is tired...and you are not. I would love to see that game played when both teams are rested and refs that were more.......balanced! I hate to ever say ref's this and ref's that....but when you pull someone down by placing your hand on their shoulder...from behind, twisting them to the ground- come on!! that has GOT to be called- yet they let it happen over and over. I was amazed at how poised you guys were in that situation! That is the sign of a well prepared, well coached team!! Can't wait to see you guys again!

UC......Nice to hear from you!! I had just posted about another of those kids that I got to coach for a while! It was kind of fun to get to post about kids I have seen since they were very young. I hope to get to watch some of them play at the college level......just like I got to watch you play yesterday in Lexington, Ky!! Yes, I was in the stands yelling at the ref.......... Still, it was great to see 2 kids I got to coach on a Middle School team, play against a division 1 college team!! Your team ranked last year 14th I think and the University of Kentucky finished in the top 25 in division 1 last year. It was a shame that Kentucky was fresh and the University of the Cumberlands palyed a full game a little over an hour earlier. Since the scored ended 3-2 (Kentucky scoring in the last minute of the game) I am sure that "UC" would beat them if they were not so tired. Not only did Kentucky get to play fresh..at home.. without having played another game shortly before that one, the ref surely had some "home-cooking" going on!!- you guys were clearly the better team!! I was impressed with Kentucky....they played a pretty good game of soccer..not at all like most division 1 teams, which I am sad to say is not that great. I wish more of the younger players would look at the quality of the team they might go to and get over the idea that being in a division 1 school is the way to go. I would love to see more division 1 teams play some of the better NAIA schools, but since the Azuza-Pacifica and Lindsey- Wilson teams tend to destroy the Division 1 Champs...they are a little scared and wonder what the heck happened when a small school destroys them. Kind of like your team did against Norther Kentucky last week. A division 2 final four team last year getting their butts kicked by little ole' University of the Cumberlands!! Funny. I can't wait to see you guys play this year. I wish some of the top area high school players in the Knoxville area would make the trip to see "UC" play a quality team like Lindsey-Wilson (7 time National Champs in the last 15 years) or some of the other good teams they play. I THINK THEY WOULD BE SCHOCKED!!! Still, having known you for 10 + years and know getting to see you play in college is a joy! This is your Senior year....isn't it?? Make it count!!

Big G .....I can't believe you have not watched this game. I hope you pay close attention to the 2nd goal scored by Bearden. It was called back due to off-sides. ?? I would like your opinion on HOW this could be possible? It would have made the score 2-0 in the early part of the 1st half. Also, check out the goal that tied the score at 4-4, a beautiful header from Robert Fisher ( a kid I had the pleasure of coaching for a few years.) It was one of my proudest moments and I got a great picture while standing right next to the side lines. The only part that stunk was that it happened against my own son, who was the center defender for Bearden! Still, one of the most exciting games I have had the pleasure to attend!!

Great topic. It's been a while since I have posted- been watching a lot of College games. I can't wait to see some local teams in the Knoxville area play and especially the Bearden Tournament- which always has a top quality turnout. As far as the Sophomores are concerned, there are 5 players that I will go out of my way to see play this year. There are as follows: Austin Pugh at Maryville- I have seen him play since he was 7 years old- he was special then and he is still special now. This kid has all the tools and is quietly a force on the field. He makes smart decisions and makes others around him look and play better. It is always a good thing when a player makes it easy for a teammate! I would like to throw in that his older brother is another player with a lot of those same qualities- quietly overlooked sometimes....and shouldn't be! Seth Williams at Bearden- This kid has a the skills, talent, etc, etc,...but he is also a strong player- just the kind of player Coach Turner has to love having. Of all the kids I have seen, I believe this kid has the drive to play at whatever level he wants to - College for sure....possibly at a Pro level. Its not that he is some superman- he simply rises to any level of competition that is needed....and that will take a young player very far! Jack McCoy at West- Another kid I have seen play since he was 7 years old. I used to "love-to-hate" this kid! That's a compliment, because he was a tough player to go against...I just got annoyed that his head didn't stay in the game....but that went away quickly! I have seen this kid mature and his drive to get better has done just that- made him better! I truely believe that he will be better than his older brother Cody....and I think that is a very, very high hurdle to clear! Junior Cifuentes at McMinn County- This kid is blazing fast! The key part of fast is fast with the ball at his feet. He has tons of raw talent, but his temper gets him in a lot of trouble. Sometimes that fire is a good thing, but Junior gets mad and his game drops- it won't take long for others to figure this out and use it against him! If he learns how to include his teammates, he and his team could be dangerous for anybody. Step it up Junior!!! Michael Williams at West- Another kid I have seen play since he was....probably 6 years old.....man, I'm gettin' old! Probably one of the best skilled players in the bunch, his direct kicks (or in-direct) can be deadly! Just ask Bearden- last year with under 1 minute he took a kick from about 40 yards out and placed it perfectly to Cody McCoy- who headed it into the goal. Great play all around, but it all starts with the kick! His only weakness....is himself! If someone could figure out how to get some raw emotion and really play all-out....he would be the best of all these players! Hey Michael, just pretend someone peed in your cornflakes!! Good luck to all....I can't wait to get to the Bearden-VS West game- 3 of these 5 players will be there!!

Is this a joke?? Farragut would beat Maryville tomorrow if they played. Why do you think Maryville does not WANT to play them?? How about....the end of a winning streak!! Also, I would love to see the Maryville JV team play Bearden's JV team. Again, Maryville would take another loss there. How will it be when Maryville takes two losses from local teams next year?? Time will tell.

O.k I guess the time has come to start eating my words!!! I saw the West Vs Bearden game last night- I now change my opinion about Young being average...he is WAY, WAY above average!! This is NOT the same player I watched in the jamboree! I guess he was holding back- a LOT! His long touchdown run showed that he has the patience and good sense to follow his blockers (which was absolutely fantastic blocking!) and he broke off when he knew he was gone. And he was gone!! This kid is more than fast, he is extremely quick and fast! Some of the moves he put on people last night were just sick!! I also saw a surprising strength to this kid that you would not think would come from someone so small. I am impressed! My only concern is that this kid does not get a rest! It may not hurt when you play a weak team, but tougher games are coming! Give him a rest once in a while!! I look forward to the Farragut game- this will be a true test. I still say Farragut wins this by 3 TD's! I think it will be a long night for Bearden...I REALLY hope I am wrong, but I still think the Admirals are the real deal!!

It was a great game for Young! I truely hope this will continue. I would love to have to eat my words of him being average, but very fast. Keep in mind, the season is early and how good is Carter....or any other team? Time will tell. Let's see what happens when he plays better comp. I would love to see those kinds of numbers against Farragut or even West! Nothing would please me more!!! If that happens, I will watch him over the next 2 season's with admiration!! I really hope you are right orangeblur!!

All the talk about Devrin Young!! Amazing what hype can do. I have heard so much about this kid and was really excited to get a chance and see him play. I saw the Jamboree at Bearden- got to see some great football and some poor football. I can't tell you how let down I was watching this kid play. I will say that he looks very fast. That's it...fast. Being a great player means that you make plays. What I saw as a DB was a receiver run right past him and if he didn't drop the ball he would have scored a TD. He had a very stupid personal foul that likely set up Catholic for their 1 TD. As a RB I saw nothing impressive other than 1 decent run. He is way too small, has no idea about angles, no vision. He appears to be a player that loves attention and wants to be seen. I see him having great stats against weak teams, but will totally fade against any solid team . Please stop setting this very average player up for a fall. Let his play do the talking. The impressive running back at that Jamboree was the Farragut RB, I think his name was Hudson- he was #3. Very hard North-South runner, follows blocks, cuts well. This kid has a future in college somewhere. I have always had a deep hatred for Farragut, so this is hard to even type- but facts are facts! They are truely the best team I have seen this year. Farragut should make a run at State. Bearden will be lucky to win 4 games. Losing 20 starters is tough! Sorry!

I will predict that Hendersonville beats a scrappy Oak Ridge team- they have good defensive players who can give Del Castillo a fit- sorry Oak Ridge (prove me wrong please) I've seen them both and think this is a bad match-up for Oak Ridge. Houston could be the best team in the State- so I will go with them. Brentwood seems to be the better team- I have not seen them play so I am only going by what people have poster and records. West has become my favorite team after Maryville knocked off Bearden. So I gotta go with West. Next round I have Houston beating Hendersonville. In possibly the best game (if they both can get there) I have West beating Brentwood. West has played the toughest schedule of all the teams left..and I think that will pay off. They have figured out that they really can beat anybody, and their constant hustle and energy will be the undoing of Brentwood. West has been in their share of srappy games..and didn't panic! They are used to the agressive play at this level. That is why I predict West to win it all!!! They have a mission and I would hope that all the Knoxville area fans will pull for them as I will if they get to the Championship game. I have had boys play in the last 3 Championship games of State AAA. I know how exciting it is for the families- this is an awesome time of year. I will make the finals regardless who is playing!! Go WEST!!!!!!!!

The whole"Whinny" comment is about as factual as any one could be!! On any play that has contact, they have arms raised...as if to say "didn't you see that?" The comments are almost non-stop! I have heard them myself....and so has every fan that has watched a game. The most telling sign that they are "Whinny" is because at a recent college game- Carson-Newman vs University of the Cumberlands, the 3 refs that were doing that game approached me- I have known them for a long time and have watched many college games they have had. They mentioned to me.....not me to them...that they had recently had a West game. Their comments were the same as any ref- the constant whinning gets annoying! They are only human. They all agreed that this constant complaining has to stop before the State level- where even more contact is allowed and the pressure is harder, faster and more frequent!! I only mentioned this to try and help them! Yes, help them. I think they are a "GREAT" team and really have a chance to do something special. I would hate to see that go down the crapper because they quit playing a tough game because the calls don't go their way. They can do with this knowledge as they feel....it's up to them! Oh yeah......your comment above- is whinning!!!

I love this time of year. All the talk begins. But who wins it all? I think a lot of it has to do with who has played the tougher schedule, and who is best suited to face "great" competition for 5 games in a row. To give an idea of who has played the tough schedule consider the following: I will put the top 11 teams- per Eurosport- the percentages is win loss record of all the opponents for each team- the first percentage is produced by taking the ties and splitting them. Example a team has 20 ties they count as 10 wins 10 losses. The second set of percentages eliminates the ties. Here is how it breaks down: win percentag with ties without ties 1 Brentwood 52.7 53.2 2 Farragut 61.2 62.4 3 G-Town Hou 58.3 59.7 4 West 63.4 65.2 5 Kinsport DB 50.8 50.9 6 Bearden 66.8 68.8 7 Cleveland 52.8 52.8 8 Cookville 56.0 55.1 9 Riverdale 51.9 51.5 10 Independence 52.5 52.3 11 Collierville 50.4 50.3 I made this for one reason- look at the schedules of Farragut, Bearden and West. The top 3 toughest schedules- based on their oppenents records. Farragut and Bearden play a schedule like this all of the time!! Wonder why 6 of the last 7 state championships have been won by these 2 schools?? This is the reason. West has learned something- they have played the toughest schedule they can get....and I believe it will pay off for them. As for Brentwood, Kingsport DB and Cleveland and the rest.....beware! It looks great being undefeated...having only played 1 ranked team all year...(Brentwood)- but what happens when the playoffs get here? We are about to find out!!! Comments please!!! /tongue.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":P" border="0" alt="tongue.gif" />

Does anyone have scores, information and coments about these games? Please let us know what happened.

Score and any details??

This whole field size has been something that I have complained for a long time. A lot of the comments have been right on track. Especially about football ruling the high-school's in Tennessee. The sad thing is that football in our state is Extremely weak!! Soccer is far better, compared to the other states, than football is. The answer is not simple, but the logical thing to do is like all of the other states have done. Build complexes, 6 fields or so, and only allow GAMES to be played on them. It is far easier to maintain 6 fields in one spot- the equipement involved and the requirements of the grass- water, fertilizer, etc. , than to keep 6 seperate fields up. In other states, they play 3 or 4 games at one time. It invites many more people and raises more money. It would surely be cheaper for the school systems and money raised should be kept for soccer....not every other sport! Also these complexes earn money when local clubs rent them for a tournament- it's good for youth soccer and it helps earn more money to keep up the fields. Something to consider- the problem is getting all schools involved to agree on a course of action! It has to start somewhere!!

I agree with all of this. McCoy (Jack) I think will be much better than his brother (Cody), especially if he learns to keep his whining to a minimum. I think the problem is with the whole West team- they all complain about everything that happens to them. This really annoys the ref's- 3 of them have mentioned how it is a problem. Better quit before the playoffs!! Austin Pugh at Maryville, really impresses me! He wastes no time, doesn't try anything fancy and makes quick decisions. He involves the other players and makes their life easier. THAT is the sign of a player headed for greatness and probably getting to play at a college level. Of the 3, I would say that Seth Williams is clearly the best of them! He has a very complete game already- and has been put in the back on a Bearden team that doesn't have solid defenders to show him the way- like in recent years! This is the whole problem for the Bearden team this year. He is learning quickly! The keeper at Bearden, freshman Jamie White certainly deserves to be mentioned! ( A side note- all these players (except McCoy) are on the same competative team- yet they can't win at State....hummmm! Coaching????) Jamie White has done far better than expected given the situation! Don't forget that Bearden has played the toughest schedule of any team in the state- with exception to JP in div II. /tongue.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":P" border="0" alt="tongue.gif" />

Well, I just came back from the game the final score: Bearden 7 Kingsport DB 1 This is not a mistake...seven to one- Bearden. I guess this was a way to say- Welcome to Knoxville DB!!!!! This was there first tough game- other than the Palmetto Cup. They got jumped early by Bearden and just couldn't seem to re-group. DB looks like a good team to me and they have a lot of talented players. This stuff happens and it looks like Bearden is playing with more urgency than in recent weeks. I think that after the reaming that the DB coach gave to his team at half-time, they will be ready for the rest of the season. It was 4-0 at half- time. DB's /biggrin.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" /> goal came with about 11 minutes left to make it 6-1. Bearden scored with 5 seconds left to make it 7-1. Lots of subs in a t that point. I have never seen Bearden sub more players than in this game. Playoffs are coming SOON!!! It is time for everyone to get ready! /biggrin.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" />

On the Pitch....man, could it be we agree on something!! Or even more than 1 thing? First off, let me say that I agree with you about West, they have a very good team and could beat anyone...but their mouths are annoying. They can't come up from a single play without crying to a ref, or complain to each other. It is very sad! They could be great. As far as the "reffing" goes, yes I have ties to Bearden, and no, I do not have a child playing for them now, but still pull for them against whoever they play. We could go around about the issues of calls, refs, etc. all day.......However- When 1 team gets 17 fouls called against them in the first 27 minutes of a game and the other doesn't have 1 called against them......then I think it is safe to say that the calls can have an impact on the game. I don't believe that it is an excuse for losing a game at any time. I have always said that you should be good enough to beat your opponent, whatever the circumstance! SO.... you make the call after the game! Pseudo's

I'll say Catholic 2 CAK 0. I think it will be close and Catholic gets a goal when CAK presses to tie the game! When the score is 1-0, the team losing SHOULD push and attempt a tie. Tough game either way.

I don't see where I was "Blaming" anyone. Maybe you should read the remark again. At no time have I ever implied that reffing a soccer game is easy. At the same time, don't think that ref's don't have bad games...it happens to everyone, in everything that you do. I do give them breaks, and I compliment them when they have great games...as I did in the remark. This was not meant to attack anyone....if it came out that way.........oops! Thanks Big G for the info...I can't wait to see the game. Good luck, I think you'll need it. Tell Brandon....thumbs up!! He'll get it!!! Pseudo's

/rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":rolleyes:" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" /> This game will be tough to predict- not just the usual "rivalry"...I think that the outcome will be directly based on who the ref will be for the game. I have seen this game played many times through the years- they are always great games with a lot of intensity, however, in most of the games- especially when played at Farragut, the ref "usually" is Chuck Wood. Now, I have watched this guy for a long time and I personally think he is a great ref...but like all ref's, they have good games and bad games. (I have seen 3 games he has ran this year...and he was absolutely awesome!) It just seems like that when he has the Farragut vs Bearden game- it doesn't fall under the "good" catagory. I just believe that there should be some other refs that get to control this game. If a ref lets them play a little more aggressive, than I think that Bearden wins this thing 3-1. If it is a ref that calls a foul every 30 seconds and never lets any play develop, kills advantages, etc- then Farragut wins 1-0. So....much like last year, I wonder......who will ref this game??? We'll see tomorrow night. My money is on some bald guy!!! /rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":rolleyes:" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" />

Well, those are interesting rankings!!! I think it is a case of wishful thinking to believe that Brentwood is the best team in the state. Based on what? 8-0 record against a very, very weak schedule. Over the years, you would think that they would figure out that playing a stronger schedule during the season would be worth something when the play-offs come around....but no- they like the easy way out. Then they get beat-up by a team from East Tennessee in State. I can't see them beating Hendersonville. To rank them above Farragut, who is undefeated and the returning State Champions is crazy! Don't get me wrong, I watched Farragut play against Oak Ridge and I was less than impressed- but Oak Ridge didn't show me anything either. It was a boring game with little energy....so I'm a little concerned that they (Farragut) may be over-rated. Still, they are on top of the hill, and until they lose a game, they should stay there. I say 2 of the 3 teams in East Tennessee will go to State- West, Bearden or Farragut...one of these teams will fall- if history repeats itself, it will be West. Either way, we could still have another all East Tennessee Final- like last year! For the record- since 2001 in the last 7 years, out of the 14 teams that played in the Championship game, 10....that's right 10, teams have been from East Tennessee. Wanna know how they do it? Go to Beardens schedule on Eurosportscoreboard.com and look at the teams they play this season- they play the #1 ranked team in all 3 div's #1 AAA Farragut (by Euro's rankings), they beat Christian Bro's (they are ranked #1 in div II) and they lost to Catholic (#1 in div A-AA). They also play 6 ranked teams in AAA ranked- 1,4,5,6,8, and 9. 2 teams in A-AA. Overall, Bearden will play 9 teams ranked in the top 10 of the 3 divisions........and Hendersonville?? Drum roll!!! They play.................2?? Only 2 ranked teams- huh! They play Hendersonville ranked #8 and Independence ranked #9- this almost at the end of the season. Point is this...wanna be good- year in and year out- play a tougher schedule! Losing 5 or 6 games during the season but winning the State Championship still makes you State Champions!!! Finishing 20-0 and then getting beat down in the playoffs is a huge let-down. Wake up Brentwood! Now fix the rankings!!!!! #1 Farragut, #2 Bearden, #3 Brentwood....until they get beat by the first ranked team they play- Hendersonville. Pseudo's

Easttnref, This is a very good question? I would say that MOST coaches would not allow this. Big G has his own reasons and, obviously, so does Brandon Tarr. I respect them both. In my own experiences with players that were on a team that I coached or with my own children (all 6 of them) their decision made on whether to play or not was final. Period. One of my son's who decided to sit out a season asked to play a few weeks after a season began. I did not allow it. Not that I was trying to punish him...it was simply not fair to the others who had put up with everything they had to do to prepare for the season. I still don't know if it was the right decision....but either way to was very, very tough to do. The important thing is that I made a decision and stuck with it. This, I believe, is a completely different circumstance......none of us will ever know everything about the situation- but at least I can believe that Big G, Brandon and the entire CAK team......do!! I say welcome back, be thankful and go on with it. Besides, CAK got EXTREMELY lucky beating Catholic 2 years ago in the Championship game......I don't think that will happen again!!! Hah ha....there's a poke at CAK (Sorry Big G)! I think this is Catholic's year. Pseudophobia P.S. Hey Big G.......why in the heck is the CAK vs Catholic game AND the Bearden vs Farragut game on the same day AGAIN???????? Aren't you 4 coaches smart enough to figure this thing out??? I want to see both games!!! Figure it out man!! Please!!

This game was very boring!! It looked like both teams were drugged or something. I don't believe I saw a time when more than 3 or 4 passes were every completed by either team. Farragut appeared to be fairly strong and organized in the defense, but from there it looked like malee....by both teams. Oak Ridge looked in even worse shape. Their sweeper is clearly the best player on the field and Diego up top is good, but either he figures out that there is a thing called "passing" or they get someone to pass it to him. Without this, they will be in sad shape for the season. The Oak Ridge keeper, both of them, appear very strong....they will need to be. As far a Farragut is concerned, it is too early for me to tell as it took little effort for them to be successful. I will watch them play a game that requires more energy- then decide. Pseudo's

Hello Tin-man..... How's it going? To answer your question. Bearden is very strong up top and decent in the middle. They have a whole new defense- even the freshman defender (Patty) that started last year has been moved to the defensive mid position. He will be very good at that position, but his temper tends to get him into trouble- usually by mouthing a ref (even though he has a reason too!). The keeper position is too early for me to make a decision- it will take time and replacing Brian Walker isn't easy to do. The offensive power they have is flat out scary. Your freshman- the one that you told me would be great, has lived up to your prediction...Tom Webster is really, really good! When he wants to unstoppable- he is! Just ask Christian Brothers! Schoenfeld is my favorite on the whole team, he is always consistant, with constant energy. He can beat two people most of the time! Then, even if they have any trouble you can count on Ryan Campbell to help.....he may very well be the most under-rated player on the field. If he had more experience, I think he might be as good as anyone else up top. Alex Wilkerson is the other weapon they have up top. By far the most impressive freshman is Seth Williams- that kid has All-State, All-whatever, written all over him- maybe not this year but certainly by next year. That kid has all the tools to be one of the best defenders to ever play at Bearden! I'm not convinced that he will be left at defense. I believe he could play where ever Turner may need. Bearden only needs to be better at defense, and with the style they play that shouldn't take too long! Overall, they are a powerhouse!! Will they be able to beat Farragut, West, Catholic, etc....time will tell. Besides, Farragut is a new team and I have not seen them play yet, but will real soon. They have Oak Ridge real soon, and after the BEATING they took last year from Oak Ridge, I am sure they want a little payback!!! By the way, I had made it well known last year that Oak Ridge would beat them soundly....everyone laughed at me....they quit that when they were down 3-0! I think Oak Ridge can beat them again.....it's just a mental thing! I'll let you know what happens after the game. Pseudophobia

Brentwood # 1???????? Based on what....beat 2 teams neither one of which has a winning record. Over Farragut who is still undefeated and Bearden who, so far has won every game and beaten a very good Christian Brothers team!!! Not to mention they just scored 6 goals against a very good Hendersonville team. Where's the logic??? Please explain....am I missing something here. I would still have Farragut # 1and Bearden a very close #2. Please explain.