Tornado89

Once again a great post MHS. Most folks around the state do not realize how close some of these kids are growing up in Blount County. To make a point. I played Pee Wee and Midget Football with Maryville kids, some who are still close friends of mine. I also played Babe Ruth baseball in Maryville. Now, in saying that, I was also the Captain of Alcoa's Football team and dated a Maryville Cheerleader........for 7 years!!!!!! Go figure. I can honestly say there was absolutely NO hate in the early 80's between the schools. Just admiration. Funny, I saw a former Maryville Football and Baseball player earlier this Summer in Johnson City. We "hugged" when we saw each other. My wife looked at me strangely as if "who was that?" You get the point.........we are all a part of a proud tradition and Football is still KING in Blount County!

MHS were u a coach at MHS in the 80's?

MHS--Thanks for putting that into words. I was a part of AHS Teams in 81, 82 & 83. Open enrollement is way overated in Blount County. Ole Hammontree is a "piece of work" but he really did lay the ground work for you guys. Thanks for the memories. By the way, those Alcoa teams had something a lot of the AHS teams usually don't have against Maryville......LINEMAN!

Maybe, but the article in the Times said 95 and that is what Coach Rankin told someone last week as well. He was amazed with the numbers for that size school.

95 players, including Freshman.

Maryville would do just fine in 5a. Honestly, I don't know what's holding them back. The school will be the largest in the county someday, if the administration doesn't hold it back. I live in Johnson City and I guarantee you they could beat Science Hill on any day and they are just as good as Kingsport DB. The scrimages are usually even. DB seems to be a little deeper, but it seems George has worked on that the last couple of years. That is the big difference from 5a to 4a in my opinion, the depth that is. Funny you would mention the 86 AE team. Carlton Flatt told me a few years back that the 86 AE team, the 89 Alcoa team and the 87 Jefferson County teams were the best he had seen in Tennessee while including his 81 & 88 teams in that fivesome, etc.

ENVY! Rigger, a lot of it goes back to 1959 and 1967 when Alcoa won State Championships in Basketball, before classifications! The thread you posted above saying Alcoa would beat Farragut once every 30 years is a joke. I watch Farragut every year. They take it on the chin to Heritage and William Blount. Heck those schools will not play the Torandoes anymore! One more thing, tell me how many 5a and 4a schools have 95 players out for football! Coach Rankin told my Dad last week that he has NEVER seen anything like the numbers for the size of the school. My Dad said he just shook his head. Anyway, Alcoa beat McCallie on the road last year. They beat Fulton to death....38-6 or whatever the score was. They also beat Hopkinsville, KY easily and that team only lost to Louisville Male by 4 points later in the season. I wish Farragut would schedule Alcoa. Heck some of Knoxville's best young players are looking to transfer now that Coach Rankin is there. I'm done.....

What do you mean "how everything was down in Alcoa?"

You are correct. He just turned 16 and will be barely 17 when he graduates.....hopefully!!! Maturity is an issue here. Have you guys heard anything about his grades?

Has anyone heard about Ray's eligibility for the upcoming season? What about his arm, has it healed? He hasn't been seen around the high school this summer so far.

Agree DSL. It was hard to get a read on anything. Alcoa had quite a few starters out, including Sykes. Coach Rankin rotated players constantly. He said he didn't care what the score was, he wanted to see what the "other" players had in them. Lanxter, Hodge, Hicks, Shiverdecker are still with the track team headed to the state. Catholic is a nice team and very well coached. You couldn't take much away from today's practice.

Daryl Tate was the Tailback. I was in Alcoa today and the folks I talked to said he has bulked up and looked really good. Alcoa was missing 14 players according to the folks I talked to and they are close to the program. They have a lot of talent at runningback.

Yes, and they did it without some key contributors like Lanxter, Shiverdecker, Hicks, Stultz, Hodge, etc. Coach Rankin told some folks recently that the runningback depth is just crazy for a school as small as Alcoa.

GoVols14 the only one with eye problems is yourself. No offense, CAK is an excellent school with an excellent mission, but they are not on the same planet as Alcoa Football. Honestly, I think the game will end in a larger Alcoa margin this year. JMHO.

RebelRon I couldn't agree more. When I lived in Nashville people would always ask when they knew I played at Alcoa: "What was the big game really like." It will never be dropped that I can see and I don't live in Blount County.

Some of Alcoa's key players need to improve their grades or this bantering will be for nothing.

Does anyone in Blount County know the extent of Sykes' injury? I heard from someone that his arm isn't healing as well as the doctors would like. Is his season in danger?

Thanks Red Rebels, that was a classy post! I agree the 89' team was a great team, but I wasn't a part of that team. They finished 19th in USA Today's final top 25 poll at the end of that season. One of the 3 best East Tennessee teams I have seen including 86' Austin East and 87' Jefferson County, also USA Today top 25 teams. Anyway, we appreciate your support of Alcoa athletics.

Good point Tom142. The same could be said about Maryville being scared of Alcoa in Basketball. I mean they have had better talent before, but Alcoa just rolls the ball out and they usually fall apart. They have gotten better in the last few years though.

Humphrey? Who else? Spratlin? What is that class act doing now?

Professor Rebel why are you concerning yourself with insignificant 2A "stuff." What does "class" have to do with it anyway? To me that is just a code word used by Maryville people who always look down their noses at Alcoa. You are always looking to jump on the morals, ethics and family values at Alcoa. You sure are an expert.

No offense, but you must not follow Alcoa football. They will be just as good next year. They have "tons" of speed and some heavy duty hitters on defense. Plus, Coach Rankin will want to make an early statement against an up and coming PRIVATE school. It will be 40 plus!

58-13 Alcoa.

Chris Shiverdecker at Alcoa. UT is recruiting him. Probably better than Lindsey as far as potential goes.

Good, I hope you feel very confident. Fear is not a bad thing when channeled correctly.