jacksoncounty

This is my farewell address as Jackson County on coacht. It comes with sadness for leaving a place, fans, coaches and especially the players that I have come to love and appreciate ove the past several seasons. We had a good ride and I am certain this program can go even further in the coming years. Coach Sean Loftis, and the rest of staff; Brandon 'Bubba' Chaffin, Kevin King, and Bruce Heady are doing a fantastic job as the team reaches new heights. The highlights include back to back playoff appearances, 3 straight post season games and competing in big games. The culture has changed, the atmosphere at the games has changed, the fan base has increased and changed for the better, and the passion with which the players play is better than ever. I expect this will continue. This program needs administrative support in the terms of money in order to continue to compete. I know people in the know already realize this and that the economy is hard. But it is a proven fact now that people in Jackson County love their football team. I hope the community realizes what it has and works to keep the forward momentum. The thing is the coaches need to be paid like other coaches in the area. I know the Director of Schools knows this, this statement is more meant for the community and the school board. I have aways tried to be positive here. It is the way I coach and the way I believe you make inroads in the long run. Everyone has been good to me here and any young coach out there looking for a place to help and get some experience can't go wrong by helping this program move forward. I spent 2006 here and loved it so much I came back in 2008-11. As I said 3 post seasons in a row, and we ended this past season on a five game winning streak (longest since 1981) before losing to the eventual State Champions- FCS. To the players I hate leaving most because of you. Your effort, your work ethic, your inspired play and your attitude was special to me! I have so much respect for you and I hope we stay in touch forever! It is bittersweet, as I will be embarking on a new journey by joining my son at White County in 2012. I have always had a dream of rejoining up with him when he got an opportunity to be a head coach. There is never a good time to leave a place you love and people you love, but I am equally excited to see what lies in the future. So as for this handle on coacht, I will be retiring 'jacksoncounty' as of this message. Love you guys and wish you nothing but the best. Go Blue Devils!

We must improve in these SEVEN areas: (1.) SELF-RESPECT- There is difference in losing and surrendering. (2.) SELF-DISCIPLINE- Eliminate Unsportsman-like penalties and personal fouls. (3.)SELF-EFFICACY - THe belief in our ability to succeed in specific situations.(From psychologist Albert Bandura’s social cognitive theory) We must believe we can perform well and therefore will be more likely to view difficult tasks as something to be mastered rather than something to be avoided. (4.) URGENCY- We must realize high school goes by so fast and must take advantage of the opportunities. (5.) BALL POSSESSION- Protecting the football is vital to victory. Turnovers must be eliminated. (6.) BLOCKING AND TACKLING- The basics of the game. So far we have failed at both. (7.) TEAM- Pull together as a team and not point fingers. Coaches, players, fans everyone needs to pull together. These are tough times but the season is not over. To keep the ship afloat we must bail the water out. The time is here to grab a bucket!

I believe you have winners and losers, no doubt. In sports, in life, in the afterlife. I do not like or support games in which no score is kept. We need to learn to lose but we also need to learn to win. I guess that is what I was addressing. I am not crying, not ashamed, not wimping, I am simply stating my opinion that many today need to learn how to act. I wonder how many can define CLASS and tell what it means to them to have and show it. I think many of us older ones would be surprised and somewhat embarassed. We are the teachers of the younger ones. I hope I can lose with class and pride and that I can win with a humble heart. I respect the tradition of Trousdale County and this post really has nothing to do with the game last Friday night. It was played, it's over and we move on, I said that in the first sentence. I just would like to have sensible dialogue with others who remember their words are in an open forum and being read by 13 year old boys who are forming their own views about what is acceptable behavior and how they will be when they are the adults. I think it would be wise to read the following quote by a former U.S. President: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.â€- President Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States from 1901-1909, (1858-1919)

I have personally avoided reading this post since the game is over and its on to the next one. However tonight, unable to get into my fantasy draft for some reason, I ended up here and the posts on CoachT seem to only disintergate with each additional year. I am not here to address the score of the game or what the difference is in winning 35-7 and 55-7. We all have our opinions about those things. I grew up when 35 points were enough and no one seemed to want to embrass the other team (1970's). But lots of coaches, players and fans feel differently today. I understand that and hopefully as they grow older and realize the time both teams put into preparation they will see things differently but that is a sidebar to what i have to say here. My real reason for writing here is the disgusting posts by people who hide behind a nickname here and type nasty, vile comments. It is one thing to support your team, and certainly both teams in this game have supporters. TrousdaleCounty has great tradition in football, but lacks in other areas of the educational process while Jackson County excels at girl's basketball and yet also has their own difficulties in the educational process. It makes them neither superior nor inferior to each other or the other schools in this area of the state. We all face challenges and we all have crosses to bear. I guess it just makes me a little sad to see schools located so close together with students and fans who are so similiar in their everyday life's act as if this is the war in Iraq. It isn't, or at least it shouldn't be. There is a difference in a great rivilary with mutual respect for each other regardless of the outcome of the games and one in which we try not only to defeat the opponent, but to humiliate and degrade them. We do this by our words as well as our actions. This is what I read into the posts here. It is not unique to CoachT but also on topix and other sites where people feel the protection to say shameful things. I hope this nation can turn this type of behavior around at some point. I remember being up 46-0 at the half once and running a QB sneak every play of the second half by a senior tight end (#82) that rarely ever got to play, playing QB. In fact he took his first snaps ever in the locker room at the half. We won 46-13. Bottom line is we could have won 100-0 but why? 46-13 was as good as 100-0 and anyone there knew it could have have been much worse. After the game we extended hands in friendship and told them to come down and hang out with us sometime because what we said after the game was important to who we were and who we became! It was the right thing to do then and and it is the right thing to do now.

Week #10 and Jackson County (6-3,4-3) travels to Watertown (3-6, 3-4). Jackson County has clinched a playoff spot and their best season since at least 1982 but are playing for seeding. Watertown still has a chance at a playoff berth with a win. The game is at Watertown and should be a great high school football game.

If you don't second guess decisions you aren't living. I once worked for a coach that said he never second guessed anything and he didn't appreciate it even in behind closed doors at coaching meetings. I don't take second guessing or playing the what if's game personal myself. There are ways to structure it respectfully however. I mean personally I think it's fun to go back afterwards with a critical eye on decisions I make in all phases of my life. I think it can be helpful later on. I mean there are times, like this morning, when I second guess what I had for breakfast.

RBS had 86 yards on like 35 carries, less than 2.5 a carry so running up and down the field seems like a stretch. By the way FCS plays Red Boiling Springs this week.

Finding it amusing that a school can go almost 30 years without a winning season and most people are fine with it. But win a few games and some people want to downgrade the coaches. Typical behavior I suppose. Go Blue Devils! Now on to more important things- Red Boiling Springs came to play and brought their 'A' game. They were well coached and played well enough to win. Jackson County however did win. It was closer than most Blue Devil fans wanted but the bottom line is a win is a win and moves the team ever closer to that elusive winning season and a playoff appearance. The injuries are tough to overcome but overcome them they must. The more immediate concern however should be to thank those that were injured for their efforts and their play and the memories they created. Good luck #28 Patrick Davis! Hopefully #1 Hobie will return for next season better than ever! Time to see some others step it up!

MONTEREY- The Jackson County Blue Devils got a huge win on the road against a good football team by beating Monterey 36-21. It was a great night for football and an entertaining game. The game seesawed back and forth with Monterey going up 7-0 then with the Jackson County score it was 7-6 Wildcats, then 14-7 Jackson County before settling at 14-14 at the end of the half. In the second half Monterey went up 21-14 and had the ball when the momentum turned in favor of the Blue Devils. Two long scoring passes from Jeret Goad to Jordan Godwin and a solid defensive effort sealed the deal. The Blue Devils had 401 yards in total offense. Some Jackson County stats for the night: Jordan Godwin- 5 catches 212 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also had 8 tackles and 2 for loss. Ethan Kirby- 4 catches for 78 yards and an interception and 8 tackles to his credit on defense. Jeret Goad- Completed 12 of 21 passes for 303 and 3 touchdowns with only 1 interception. Blake Bowman - 4 carries for 56 yards and touchdown. Jacob Henson- Freshman linebacker making his first start had 9 tackles to lead the team.

Until somebody can beat Trousdale County there is not a lot of talking to do. They remain the best 2A program in the state and you can bet Jackson County respects that. Trousdale County has its program where Jackson County hopes to get to in time. That said the atmosphere Friday night in Gainesboro should be like few have ever seen. This is a huge game for the Blue Devil program as a measuring stick but is not a game this team places all of its emphasis on. A building program cannot get to carried away with itself in its infancy although I think they will be focused this week.. I think it should be a fun game to watch. Trousdale County will be a heavy favorite and rightfully so, but Jackson County will come to play.

Community was a much improved team over last season the Blue Devils just had too many playmakers for the Vikings. Jeret Goad completed 7 of 13 for 192 yards and 4 touchdowns. Hobie Leonard had two touchdowns, one on a reception, and a second on a 90-yard punt return. Ethan Kirby continued his great start to the season with 3 cathes for 80 yards and 2 touchdowns while gathering an interception on defense. Jordan Godwin caught 3 for 73 and a score while Blake Bowman sat the game with a injury. Running back Patrick Davis left the game with an injury after only one carry. Defensively the Blue Devils were led by Chance Ragland with 10 total stops, 6 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and a forced fumble. As I stated Community is a program heading in the right direction and should get some wins this season. It was great to see the two teams mingle at the end of the game on the fifty yard line for a prayer. Jackson Count did this last week vs. Houston County as well. "Nice job" to both schools.

No one has a feel for this one? Community's opener and the team is much improved. This could be a good game Friday.

Nice win for RBS. memeber of the toughest region in 2A football in Tennessee. Congrats!

What are the thoughts on this one?

Jackson County won 47-12. The Blue Devils scored on their first offensive play and pushed the score to 40-6 by halftime. The second half was played mostly with reserves. Jeret Goad, returning after last season ended prematurely in the fourth game with an ankle injury, picked up where he left off a year ago. Goad threw 5 TD passes in the first half and finished 11 of 16 for 171 yards and 5 scores to 5 different receivers although he did not attempt a second half pass. Houston County did appear to be much improved over a season ago but Jackson County just had to many weapons for the visiting Irish. Next Week Jackson County travels to Bedford County to face Community High School. It will be the opener for a much improved Community. Against Houston County , the Blue devils had 186 yards passing and 174 rushing for 360 yards in total offensive. Houston County had 149. Patrick Davis led the Jackson County rushing game with 101 yards in 8 attemptsand added a rushing touchdown..

Any thoughts on how this one will play out?

GAINESBORO- The Jackson County Blue Devils defeated Livingston Academy 7-6 Friday night in the 1st Annual Jackson County-Overton County Football Jamboree Jackson County's Patrick Davis ran 10 times for 107 yards and a touchdown in the two quarters of action to lead the team. Uriah Bowman's conversion kick made the difference when LA missed the kick following its touchdown. Jackson County had 7 first downs to 3 for Livingston Academy and ran 36 plays to 23 for the Wildcats as they showed an ability to maintain posession of the ball. The Blue Devils missed a field goal on the game's first drive, before scoring on its second,but then lost another chance to extend the lead after recovering a fumble on the LA 30 moments later. Livingston Academy finally crossed mid field early in the second quarter, and did it in a big way when Creed Hayes hauled in a Brock McCoin pass for an 82-yard touchdown. The kick failed leaving the score 7-6. LA had a chance to take the lead in the final 3 minutes when Dillion Roberts broke a 64-yard run to the JC 7 where a hustling Blake Bowman ran him down from his backside cornerback spot. The Blue Devils defense held on 4th and goal from the one with Cody Stafford stoppping Roberts for a two yard loss. Davis broke loose on a 47-yard run moments later to seal the win. Jackson County's QB Jeret Goad had an off night completing 6 of 18 for 56 yards. Last season Goad completed 46 of 68 last season for 587 yards and 10 touchdowns before season ending surgery in week four. Jackson County opens the season at home next Friday vs. Houston County. Livingston Academy has two weeks to get ready for Stone Memorial.

I totally agree Seay should have been on the All-State team hands down. However I do not see the need to bash Jackson County players that made the team. We participated and followed the rules and all the coaches in Tennessee had a chance to vote. We did not politic for votes but we did present the information on our players to the coaches because we feel it is part of our job to promote our players and to also see that they have every opportunity to advance their playing careers if they see fit. It is a step in the right direction just as going to a bowl game was a positive step for this program. We have a long way to go but laying the building blocks takes time. Congratulations to Kaleb Allen and Mason Hensley, we are proud of you! Also congratulations to all the players that made all of the teams in every classification. Many deserving players are not on the teams and I wish them well also. Personally, I'd like to see Tennessee Tech offer Seay if he eligible. I know I wish he could have played for us. Trousdale County is a class program and plays at a level we are striving to attain.

Everybody wants to talk of Cookeville being down but they went 7-3. They lost by 14-13 to Lebanon and 28-26 to McMinn County, who is in the top 10 of 6-A. They are the only team to beat Giles County (25-24). So they have one bad loss, Riverdale 42-7. The District they play in might not be one of the stronger ones but games against McMinn County, Cleveland, and Riverdale among others have helped prepare this team for the playoffs. Last year's team traveled to Memphis to play MUS, the defending Division II champs. It will be an interesting game to watch. Oakland has to be the favored but Cookeville is capable of the upset and certainly deserves more respect than some want to give them.

Saturday should be fun. Dresden is the favorite but Jackson County will be playing in a familiar setting while the Lions have to travel. Whatever the outcome both teams have made great strides this season. Dresden goes from 0-10 to 6-4 and fans are unhappy with the coach? That doesn't sound right. The Blue Devils have played #1 Trousdale County, the defending state champs, and #3 Friendship Christian, both in 2-A and Gordonsville #10 in 1-A. Dresden has played Class 2-A #4 McKenzie, and Class 1-A #6 Huntingdon. Also I did some research and 25 teams in the TSSAA playoffs have a losing record, and a total of 52 have a 5-5 or worse record. 15 games have a combined win total of 10 or less and another 8 have a combined win total of 11. That's 23 playoff games with the same or less total wins as these two teams in the Cumberland River Bowl. I'm not saying that means either deserves to be in the playoffs, they both had their chances, but I'm just saying this could be a quality bowl matchup.

No one hear is begruding Monterey making the playoffs. I think they should have been included but so too should have Clay County. I understand your explaination and it does make sense in that regard. It just seems it would have been nice if the local teams had known that before they played last Friday. It is heartbreaking when a group of young men think they have earned something and have been told they have then have it taken away.

Dresden (6-4) vs. Jackson County (5-5) This bowl game will take place in Gainesboro, Tennessee on the banks of the Cumberland River on Saturday, November 7, with kickoff set for 2:00 p.m. The game will feature the first two teams that did not make the playoffs in Class 2-A. Dresden (6-4) the only 6-win team in the state that is not in the playoffs will travel to Gainesboro for an exciting game. Dresden was #25 in the 24-team playoff field. Jackson County finished #26. Everyone is invited to attend the game, where a few surprises await including ribeye sandwiches from the Jackson County Cattlemen's Association available at the concession stand. A quality high school football game played in the afternoon offers Upper Cumberland football junkies a chance to attend one more game this weekend. The initial weather forecast is for sunny skies and 65 degrees. It is Jackson County's first bowl game since 1982 and the Blue Devils have only 2 playoff appearances in the ensuing 27 years. Dresden hasn't been to a post season game since the 2004 playoffs and are coming off a 0-10 season a year ago.

It is true the TSSAA has always allowed an 11th game but you cannot call it a bowl game UNLESS both teams have at least 5 wins.

They write the rules as they go I guess........... Again I say Middle Tennessee Christian finishing higher in their region is an unbelievable way to rank them and is stated NO PLACE as the criteria! Talk about apples and oranges! Try Trousdale County, Friendship and Watertown on for size. It will be hard for a 1-A to finihs much higher in this mega-region. Some allowances should be made for Regions over Districts, as there are a lot more teams in the Regions. Nothing about this system is equal. Maybe the schools saved a few bucks on gas, is it worth it?