Village Idiot

I like that idea! There are two trains of thought, in my mind. Facing 2nd, 3rd teams, yeah, let the game proceed. We played a bunch of those, and I've covered several. Same thought as when the other team is up 20, 28, 30, whatever and you're facing hand-off left, hand-off right, learn to stop it or get your brains beat in. I'm good with that. But we've all seen games that were out of hand where the first team was still throwing or the second team came out in the spread throwing deep. Those jackasses, uh, I mean coaches, know who they are and we do, too. Maybe I'm ranting against the few bad apples and not the rest of the great ones in the bushel. Not every blow-out game is an attempt to embarass a team or set a few records. I really like the idea you present. Maybe that's why you're a General and I'm an Idiot! VI

Buddy of mine leaked this out today. Don't think they've announced officially, so some might change.... August 24-7:30 pm Hendersonville @ Station Camp August 31-7:00 pm Overton @ Hillsboro September 7-7:00 pm Antioch @ Hunters Lane September 14-7:30 pm Brentwood Academy @ Smyrna September 21-7:30 pm Brentwood @ Ravenwood October 5-7:30 pm Ensworth @ MBA October 12-7:30 pm Independence @ Dickson County October 19-7:30 pm Columbia @ Franklin October 26-7:30 pm Riverdale @ Smyrna November 2-7:30 pm White House @ Greenbrier Looks like the same crew according to my pal. Sperduto is good, but that other guy stinks.

Okay, this has pushed an old hot button with me. I've been on the wrong end of several of those umpteen-to-naught scores and had to accept that we were outmanned and usually outplayed. Taking 15 dressed players to AAA schools (yeah, only 3 classes back then) was suicide against the 65-70-100 player teams we faced. We played 8 homecoming games my senior year and didn't win a one, not even our own. Our last game, we dressed 13, while the opponents dressed 118, including the 8th graders. And there was no mercy rule. The good part to that...those of us who stayed the entire year learned to get up after being knocked down, to believe every play could start something new, to never give up. The bad part...we got our brains beat in, and players injured, because the games just went on and on and on and on. In four years of play, I averaged 44.5 minutes a game. The 48-8 games became a self-perpetuating nightmare, year after year, before I arrived and after I left. Had the clock been running the fourth quarter even, it might have helped. I got a great education and an academic free-ride, but learned more about life in that 53 1/3 X 100 yard box than I ever did in a 20' X 20' classroom. Leave the decision to the coaches? Please. I love coaches, and away from that box most are really great people. But their jobs, their reputations, and their egos depend on that scoreboard. About 80% would do the right thing, but the other 20% are either constantly an a** or unfortunately become one on the sideline when the heat of the moment becomes a factor. There are coaches out there that will run up a score and keep it coming just because. You know who they are...they know they are, and they, not the TSSAA, are responsible. I only hope one day they get what they deserve. Yeah, yeah, I know. Bitter old man.

Gee, I thought Collinwood was in Alabama and Wayne County was West TN/North MS.... I'm anxious to see the new edition of OTB. Just hate it'll be out the day before Week 0 in Middle Tennessee. Is Doug Dyer still burning up the keys over there?

Excellent point. BTW, one of the Brentwood players hit a slam yesterday against Centennial. I'd like to say the wind helped, but she just flat hit the ball well. Sorry I didn't catch the name. Congrats to B'wood. They are going to be tough. VI

You are wise and either well connected or have a great memory. If you index the family name in the Williamson County legal system, you'll find this is not their first rodeo with WCS, as you note. I'm not a soccer fan, but any sport where players come into contact will have "contact" injuries. This is junk. VI

At the risk of triggering complete loss of control by many due to laughing, I'd say it's the center. Play can't start without a snap, if it gets screwed up the play is over, and there is no other position on the field that takes the brunt of getting teed up on a regular basis. Go ahead, laugh. Next time you play, see what happens if the center ain't there! VI

You know, I just thought about that and came back to post a sincere apology to Batts. Batts, please accept my IGNORANCE! Fan6, thanks for beating me back. I gotta pay more attention to my own screen name! But, now you know why it was so easy to choose. Ahhhh...you're right. We all get so dang touchy about this crap. Sad part is I'm still a big believer that you play everybody together. We played BA twice (many years ago) and were terribly undermanned both times. Held our own once and got blown out once. Meant only that we needed to work harder to get our program into a position to compete at a higher level. Batts, again, please accept my apologies. It's awful early in the morning and I over reacted. Guess both sides really are a little touchy......... VI

"Idiot"? Wonderful use of vocabulary. Would love to know where you "report" the news. You have reported your "opinion," to which you are welcome. I accept your opinion without attempting to question your mental status, despite both of your first two paragraphs being wrong. As for the third paragraph, recheck the post....I think we agree there. Dang, some of these DII folks are sure touchy.... VI

Actually, Doug has left and joined the staff of On the Ball Magazine. I was impressed with its first edition in the Mid-State and expect it will only get better. Yes, the coaches should have been involved in the selection of the team. Part of the problem is that sometimes coaches don't respond or hype their own kids too much. I don't see that as a problem in Williamson County. B100, I don't think we agree on much, but the absence of Tyree Ford is a complete travesty. Ryan White is right there, too. As for CPA, let's split some hairs. Get ready for this.....the church is in Davidson County, and I believe the school is, too. However, the football field is in Williamson County by about 20 feet if I remember what I was told correctly. Remember, Location, Location, Location. VI

Oh yeah...and part of it is due to that dreaded "R" word, as you call it. See your prior post: QUOTE(tnsparty @ Nov 20 2006 - 10:16 PM) I'd also call it recruiting. Ya know........that is a totally dead, disgusting subject. Been going on for years on this board. All you whinebags have never been able to prove a thing against BA. Leave them be and talk about something else. I'm impressed that you can consider it, "dead...disgusting" when it's been a part of your scheduling problems with other schools in the county. Seems BA has been spinning the wheels for years getting games against schools in the area. Why? Old timers still resent the "R-word" thing that has been going on. My disappointment in you is that, for a "wacko" , I was trying to give you guys a break. Some of ya'll are much too defensive. Circle the wagons again. As for the scheduling problem, BA shoulda coulda woulda built great rivalries against Franklin, Brentwood, Riverdale, and others in the immediate area over the years. At least one a year as a "gate" game, maybe two, but no more. What is now a DII schedule is too tough, just from the potential travel aspect. Give a great deal of credit to both BA and Ravenwood for pulling off the current series, and hopefully it will continue. Ravenwood beat BA in every aspect of the game this year, except on the scoreboard, and that's the only place that counts. I do think, though, that BA owes Ravenwood a thanks for part of that 10th trophy. It was a great wake-up game early for the Eagles. The only time we got close to those match ups were prior to the split when BA was playing up to the top levels (3A I think and 5A for sure). Maybe one day we'll get back to putting everybody in the same pot and playing the game and quit watering down state championships to where almost anybody can get one. No wait, the TSSAA is still around...maybe that won't happen. Understand, B100, this is more of a philosophical discussion rather than a hard-core concrete scheduling discussion. You can hope and wish for some of the match ups you're after, but they won't happen as long as the "R-word" is bantered around. Have a great Thanksgiving! VI

[ Keep this up and the thread will get kicked to the "public/private" thread on the front page. One thing must be admitted: Brentwood Academy recruits. They have to, as a private school. They recruit students, some of whom turn out to be great athletes. That's just a bonus, according to the party line. Do they recruit just athletes? Over the years it sure looks that way, including some they have recruited, used, and discarded, from some appearances. If you're a BA fan and think they don't recruit athletes at all then you're in a terrible state of denial. On the other hand, if you're not a BA fan and still get hearburn because they recruit students and recruit athletes, be careful of the glass house you might live in. Public schools have been recruiting kids for more than 30 years and some of them are pretty dang good at it. Past transgressions aren't discussed becuase by the time the folks get mad enough to say anything, they'd have to admit to being co-conspirators. Besides, with a BA education, well, don't bite the hand that feeds. Same goes for the recruiting on the public side, too. As for the court case, I wonder if the T$$AA could have done better. I don't think it's ever a clear right/wrong decision. Then again, after the T$$AA debacle at Milan earlier this year, they may have gotten what they deserved. Just rambling. VI Oh yeah, BTW, the BA-Ravenwood game was one the best I've seen in the last four years or so. Hopefully they will continue the rivalry. Still think Rector is the best up and comer in the business in the state. VI

Be paid? They already have a guarantee in place from the host city. What they want is free, free, free. Newspapers, radio, TV, we want you to give up space and time all year, but in the end, don't come calling. Schoolsports is a great example. Been working your butt off all year to get positive pub for the kids (and it's a great thing ), but now that we got to the dance, don't forget you're just the driver. stay on the bus. VI

Party--excellent points. I should have added that first impressions can be misleading. VI

formercoach---define, "booster club support". If you mean extra $$$, I have my doubts. As for talent, I wouldn't call it loaded, but the cupboard is by no means bare. CHS 2007--as for Smith...every coach has a few players/parents/supporters who wil not like them. Some cases it's deserved, some it's not. My few dealings, and they are few, make me think such attitudes may be deserved in the case of Smith. Sorry, coach, if I've offended you. First impressions are key and I wasn't real impressed. Then again...he probably feels the same about me . VI

Party and CHS-- I think we are all on the same page, actually. I think leaving Gregory as the AD (at least for a year or two) is not a bad idea; I also agree that, financially, adding the AD duties to the new coach would be nice, but the work would be difficult. I read a great book once that said something about serving two masters.......... It's going to be a tough year, overall, for CHS athletics. I remain amazed at the school spirit, though. You gotta love the never-give-up attitude of the kids and players. VI

Did we all see the same game? How about some rambling notes: *Franklin's defense has been over-pursuing all year long, playing the risk/reward game. In Hendersonville's Wing-T, they got themselves in trouble many times by over-pursuing plays that took time to develop and when they did, the defenders were out of position. Great defense, but a Wing-T offense is the worst thing for it to face because the T takes patience to stop. Plus, how many times this year has Franklin seen the T? *The ability of Hendersonville to control the ball kept that gambling defense on the field, giving multiple opportunities for one mistake. That's all it takes in a play-off game. *Franklin fell from the same problem they've been able to hide all year: No real QB. Sellers has wheels, but no arm and looked a little rattled a couple of times. Credit lack of experience in the situation a bit, but most credit goes to the Hendersonville defense. Both sides were brining the wood and Sellers got more than his share. And somebody's head was not in the game, i.e., the one play where Sellers took the snap, went right for a belly fake and everybody else was going left. That was not planned. As for Nichols, kids got an arm, but didn't look very mobile, and he, too, looked rattled several times. If you could combine these two, the Rebs might still be playing. FHS is one solid, bright QB away from really making noise in the play-offs. Too bad for Todd Campbell. *You have to respect the excellent prep and heart of the Hendersonville team. They have to be one of the best 5-5 teams entering the playoffs and have a chance to get a little revenge this week. I saw them on CSS against Gallatin, too, and they had a real chance to win that game. Catch here is can they remain consistent for three or four more weeks. *Finally, this game was decided by a kick-off and a penalty. H'ville had kicked out of bounds all night (to avoid Campbell), giving Franklin the chance to start at the 35. On the last one, the Rebs refused the penalty, forcing a rekick. Franklin returns to the 33 (-2), then eats a block-in-the-back penalty and starts at their own 15 (-20 yards). Graham hooks up for a 46-yard pass, giving Franklin the ball at the Hendersonville 39. Add back the 20 yards lost on the KO and Franklin is at the H'ville 19, not the 39, kicks a 36 yard FG and the game goes into OT. Shoulda, woulda, coulda........ VI

The new football coach should NOT be the AD also! Creates too much conflict. Ask the Cougar Athletic Club how many teams they are trying to help support and you will find the football team is less than 4% of the total. Too much of a potential conflict. VI

Not unless someone has enough $$$$ to make the T$$AA happy. The championship games will probably be done, but regular games are done. VI

Late story from the Tennessean quotes Schrader as saying he wants to have a new coach in place by December. Oh Boy! Gives coaches still coaching 1 week after the title games to get in on the action. Why don't they just admit they have their minds made up. See earlier post...Schrader will screw this up. I wish I had more confidence in him.

Here's a few for you, if you judge not just by state titles.... Tommy Owen (MBA)-great teacher and pure class Gerald "Momma" Johnson-basketball or football, he was one of the most intense coaches I've been around. Hard to see the good guy behind the veneer, but it's there. Boots Donnelly-'nuff said. Wes Elrod was no slouch at McGavock Shoot me, I can't remember the name of the coach at Jeff Co in the '80's or so when they were so strong Carlton Flatt is hard to argue against, given the record and his ability to surround himself with outstanding assistants. John Tucker is a given for consideration, as is Louis Thompson at Lincoln County. Still active, like Thompson and Flatt, would be Gary Rankin. Looking to the future, watch for the names of Ron Adyellot and Brian Rector and Tim Johnson to join this list. Even as we get deeper in names, we've not even scratched the surface without leaving folks out. Good thread. VI

Unless something happened the last couple of years, that sounds like Johnson. Then again, from what I'm reading here, maybe your last couple of phrases should have been, "....and, for that matter, the PARENTS under control." Don't get ugly...just an observation. VI

All these names, many recycled over again. Johnson/Nowell (I think it's a partnership for a couple of more years) would be a good start. Daniels would be interesting, but I'm afraid he has too much baggage to make another move to a 5-A school. Blade is a bit questionable. Some Hillsboro connections of mine call him arrogant beyond his California background. Seemed okay to me, though, as a coach. And what about Rector...maybe the best "up and coming" coach in the state who obviously knows how to start a program from scratch. Bottom line....the administration will screw this up. After four years, I have absolutely no confidence that Schrader understands nor appreciates athletics and the role they play in education. I'm not sure he understands much of anything. Just a personal impression. VI

Thanks for the help. Like I said, a lot of that was "urban legend". Except for Bryant. I was forced to face him when he was a senior and I was a freshman center. They played an even front and he got three sacks the first three plays. After the punt, my line coach asked me, "Son, you ever gonna pick up that middle linebacker?" I told him the truth---"What middle linebacker? I ain't seen nobody to hit yet!" Yeah, he was that fast. VI

Guys, I didn't know an old fat man could laugh and cry at the same time! What a thread. There are several old neighborhood "legends" that need to be confirmed or debunked. Here are some to think about: TPS/TIS: Ed Echols was, I believe, the only 5-time all state lineman in history. This would have been somewhere in the '40's, I think. Anybody remember? Litton: What about Billy Kee? West: AK Smith, who later became a rather successful basketball coach/concessions manager? Maplewood: If the NIL survived into, say, 1981 or so, what about the Goodloe and Young tandem Mama Johnson had in his backfield in the late '70s/early 80's? Pearl: Keeping in the same time frame, Amos Drummond? MT Juliet: Maybe not in the NIL, but a lot of Nashville teams faced them. Had a linebacker by the name of Tim Majors who was almost as good as EJ Junior (but not quite). Finally, anybody remember the name Budro Harrington? Thanks--- VI