BigDaddyDave

If AC were to beat Betsy in Rd 2, they would still travel to Greeneville for the 3rd round. No matter what the seeding is. East in the odd years, West in the even years. That’s why Betsy traveled to Nolensville in 2020. We were the 1 seed and they were a 2 seed. But we had to travel since it was an even year. If AC beats Gibbs, they would be guaranteed at least 2 home games. But would have to travel for the quarterfinals. I believe, if they won that game, the quad 2 winner would travel East.

Isn’t it wild that the DB vs Science Hill game will feature a different QB than started the season for each team? DB wins big and let’s the new kid get some game time experience.

So, the Region 1 champion has home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The 2nd place team has to go to the Region 2 bracket. And the loser of the Gibbs/AC game gets to visit Region 1 bracket. Anyway you slice it, I see Gibbs or AC facing Betsy or Greeneville in RD 2. The Semifinal should be a good one. With the winner facing Upperman unless they slip up. Also, week 11 has Pearl facing Marshall Co for the Region crown with the looser going to the Hardin Co bracket. I said it before. NOW, it gets real interesting, really fast. Im calling it for AC. 28-21

Just let everyone know, if you buy a ticket and come, check out the home side for empty seats. And we need to be accommodating to these people. Let them know, these are reserved seats. If the people who have the seats show up you’re going to have to move. But, if they don’t show up, then you’re more than welcome to stay. But you better be ready to yell, scream, stomp your feet and you’d dang well better have a cowbell on you too!

I’ve heard there have been season ticket holders actually complaining about the “rednecks” with the cowbells! Can we revoke their privileges!!!

I felt guilty ringing my cowbells.

I think the original starter, who seems like a good kid, isn’t the one. I was at the Asheville game. I think he marched them down the field on his second possession. But on his first, or maybe it was his second series, he had a short field, I think, and threw the pick in the end zone. I hear he’s done that a few too many times. He’s too reckless with the ball. I say keep the other kid in and prepare him for next season and try to salvage what you can now.

Sour grapes for who? I’m a Cyclone. And I hate seeing DB down. If DB was Maryville like and we were Alcoa like, I’d love to see the battles we would have. Even if we came out on the short end, that type of competition will only strengthen each team for their playoff runs. You can’t get ready for late round playoff competition playing 2-6 teams. And let’s face it. When DB, Elizabethton, Science Hill and Tennessee High are good, it just makes it that more fun to watch and is better for our Region as a whole. Now, if you meant the Maupin kid, I don’t blame him after the way they treated him before the Betsy game. They put him in exile that whole week and didn’t include him in any of the game plans. Like he was going to give away secrets. He wanted you all to beat us. If he had been on the field, he would have been throwing daggers. Does he still have friends over here? Life long friends. And don’t think for a moment, our guys wouldn’t flatten him if he was in the game. Between those lines it’s all business. Now, I’m not going to say he should have been playing. I’m not going to say stepping away was the right decision either. But it was his decision, it was a very difficult decision, I respect it and I hate he wasted his senior season. I don’t blame anyone. I just hate it for the kid. I guess some schools just have different priorities.

I love it!!!

Does it ever really mean anything to the Indians? Or are they just floating along behind their band and Axis Security? Or whatever they call them. Hope their (DB) QB can stay healthy. The Maupin kid turned in his pads. Hate that for him.

AC reminds me of Betsy last season. Took a while to get things figured out. Life after Bryson Rollins vs life after Walker Martinez. Took some lumps early. Moved some pieces around. But found a good fit and are beginning to roll, just at the right time. Solid defense is always huge. They’ve had that (like we did) all season. Just needed to find the points and some extended drives to help them. They will still be dangerous come playoff time.

It clouds up and we have PTSD. (I’m in no way minimalizing persons with PTSD. It’s descriptive at best)

But the key is and always will be the money. They won’t go back from where they are. We all know that.

I’m not a fan of the 2 playoff teams. I was involved in a 3-way tie back in 1988 (3A) between us (Betsy), Science Hill and TN High. We lost out because our 1 non conference game was with 3A Greeneville who had a worse record than Science Hill’s non conference game (2A Unicoi), but Greeneville beat Unicoi. So we played the tougher schedule. Kinda like UT playing Notre Dame and Florida playing Alabama A&T or Florida Atlantic. We finished the season 9-1 and ranked in the top 10 and didn’t make the playoffs. While other, much lower ranked schools with less teams in conference made it with .500 records. I’d be ok going back to 5 division 1 classes but you keep those scholarship schools in a separate division. Based on need they say! Need a QB, need a RB, need some linemen. Need to get a life. LOL

My biggest surprise and disappointment, is probably how down football seems to be, all across the state. It just doesn’t feel the same as it has over the last 5 or so years. Or maybe the balance of power is shifting from the usual suspects back to the field? I don’t know, but I guess it’s just going to have to play itself out.

Shhhhh! We don’t speak of such things!

Things get really interesting in 2 weeks. Lots of big games with Regional Championships and home field advantage/seedings on the line. Region 1 gets home field so that game between Betsy and Greeneville is huge. Especially since Betsy will only have 3 home games this season. Being home in the playoffs would be a big boost. And the looser of the Pearl Cohn and Marshall Co game will have to deal with Hardin Co in the 2nd round, just to earn a rematch for the third round, to have an opportunity to move on to the semifinals. those are the two games I’m paying attention to.

First glance I see this; Upperman has played 1 6A, 4 4A and 2 2A teams. Averaging 25 points for and 8 points against. Combined record White House has played 1 5A, 5 4A and 1 3A teams. Averaging 19.57 points for and 16.42 points against. Conclusion? The team with the most points will win! You’re Welcome!!

The ONLY (football) gospel is on the field.

As of now, I hold the distinction of being on the last Betsy squad (1988-89) to beat Science Hill, DB and Greeneville in the same season. Until a few weeks ago, we held the last win over DB until the guys evened that up. I’m hoping they can pull out 7 more wins. This group has really come together over the past 4 years. They’ve had good coaching, good leadership and great examples to follow (Rollins, Hughes, Morton just to name a few). Along with a bunch of roll players who made the team roll. I have careful confidence in this team’s ceiling. I won’t count our chickens before they hatch though. I’ve seen Tullahoma (2020 vs Nolensville ) and Greeneville (2021 vs Betsy) get upset when it looked like each would challenge for the title. So I know better.

I used to go to church with Hump. Sang in the choir with him. You know Allen Edwards too probably. I used to work with him. And my brother, Randy Lacy 61) played guard and nose for Betsy.

They’ve only been around (in football) for 10yrs now. So everything is still fairly new. 44 and 5 are some bookend D-ends. Good size, speed and athletic. When they run the ball, they tend to run away from the motion. Good at sealing the ends and bouncing it outside. Think they will be a good addition to the Region. Betsy was a little caught up in playing their first home game AND homecoming. But once they settled in, it was over. But I’ll tell you. This bunch ain’t scared. When you’re playing Alcoa in Region every year, what’s there to fear?!

That QB was the real deal. Hampton was a one dimensional team. Once they figured out they were not able to really throw on them, they just loaded the box, stopped the run and dared them to try. It was still a great accomplishment for Hampton to be there. They played hard and tough. I think all Carter County teams are like that. They don’t mind to line up and play smash mouth football. Tough as nails. And 2nd place in football, followed up by a Championship in basketball tells me there are athletes and good coaches up there.

Don’t forget, a lot of Betsy fans stayed to support Hampton too. That previous weekend was special for Carter County. We were, probably, the first county not named Blount or Knox to have multiple (3) teams HOSTING semifinal games. If Cloudland could have pulled it off, we’d had 3 teams from little ole Carter County in the Championship games. Not sure if that has ever been done in the modern era.

Looks like the R word for tonight. Heavy dose of the ground game. May try to throw early while they can. We MUST hold on to the wet ball and cut down on those penalties. We dig our own graves if we can’t.