DiverCity

This is just sad. Halls fans, what are the problems? Powersweep, I agree Halls has some talented athletes. From your perspective as an opposing fan, what do you see as the problems? What do you mean when you say Halls just doesn't have it together? We've got to figure this out. You know the Wing T, so I'd be interested in your thoughts. We've got to get this fixed. I have my own opinions, of course, but I'd like to hear what others think.

I've heard that 4 was hurt. The Abba kid is starting right now. I think there was quite a battle between them until 4 was injured. Abba is a good QB. His older brother moved from QB to WR once Kier Houston came into his own. Anybody know if Khan will be allowed to play this week? If so, I like Halls' chances.

You are likely hearing about a player who is now a freshman at Powell. How promising he is/was is a matter of some debate, especially since he's not starting now as the freshmen QB at Powell. Also, his parents never really intended for him to play at Halls. He played his 8th grade year for an Inskip super midgets team and his older brother attended and played baseball at Central.

Banter, some of us Halls folks have even groused about the failure of the Halls administration to run the clock during the freshmen and JV games. My experience is that most of our opponents in the past have indeed run the clock/scoreboard when we play away. It wouldn't take much for a couple of guys to do that at Halls. Some of the parents have even asked if they could do so but they've been told they could not. While I'm on a complaining rant , let me point out what I think is a very positive thing that the Powell coaching administration requires -- ALL coaches must be at every game Powell plays, whether it's varsity, JV or freshmen.

Banter, is that the Long kid of whom you speak? I too hear that he's special, much like Kitts, who many people still to this day underappreciate with respect to his speed, strength and ability to spark the offense. And as ZCAR said, coupled with the Dayton threat, Halls' offense was really hard to defend in '07. Had Kitts been around and if we had the old OC last year, well, one can only imagine. I like the fact that SC is playing us at home. I don't think they'll be able to exploit us with the pass like they did last year. The key on defense then will be buttressing the DL. If I'm a Halls opponent that's where I'm going to focus. If SC has any kind of running game at all then the outcome could be less than satisfactory (from my perspective).

Hazelhurst is a throwback, and as such he's really fun to watch. He has good speed for such a big kid and he punishes tacklers when they do manage to hit him. Halls played a fantastic first half but shot themselves in the foot in the second half with all those turnovers. Props to Shattuck in recognizing that Halls' secondary is its strength and that he should continue to exploit the DL conservatively with the running game. A less seasoned and/or dumber coach would have tried to get too fancy and force things.

My oh my how some of you Clinton folks think like the Halls fans of yesteryear. It's a tough row to hoe when you've got those kinds of expectations. The first time things aren't going according to script watch out. I would acknowledge that Clinton should be favored in this game, but I've been looking at some interesting stats. Despite all the hype surrounding Stone last year, it appears he completed less than 50% of his passes. Now, I'll be the first to say that he lit us up last year on two long throws, but they resulted from breakdowns in coverage that we're not likely to experience in our first game this year. Indeed, I think you'll be surprised at the success our DB's have in covering most of your receivers, with the possible exception of the big TE, who could in fact get some mismatches. I predict a close game, but Halls pulls it out in the end by controlling the clock and relying on its running game. Final, 22-17, Halls.

I've heard that the injured player is the starting QB and that his injuries will keep him out for his senior season. Thankfully, though, I hear he will recover, which is obviously the only really important thing.

You mean, you don't trust the gubbmint? I mean, it's not like the powers that be lie or refuse to provide information every chance they get regarding things such as the prospects for economic recovery, the extent of the bailout of the banksters, the identity of the recipients of the trillions of dollars the FED is printing (hint, they're propping up foreign banks and the fraudsters who caused or were complicit in the mess in the first place), government manipulation of the stock and every other market on the face of the planet, and the seriousness of the danger of the flu that's an improbable hybrid of human, swine and avian strains, right? Indeed, I can't imagine why you suspect there might be a problem.

Halls has "it," which in this case means two concession stands, one operated by the boosters and the other by the band.

Among others, watch Dowdy at QB, Gresham at wideout and DB, McFalls on OL and DL, Gibson at RB, and Fitzpatrick at LB and maybe some at FB.

Interestingly, Halls has flip-flopped this year. We're a little smaller but perhaps quicker on the line and much faster on the outside and secondary. Still, I'm not sure if we can stop the one-two punch of Stone in the air and Hazelhurst up the middle. I've read where Hazelhurst has gained mass but lost a step. Against smaller defenses that's probably a net positive rather than a negative.

Perhaps it's my age, but I've got to agree with you. I have a little personal knowledge about how good the AC team was in 96. Halls was VERY good then (and never should have lost to Pearl Cohn). When there were fewer classifications it was a tougher row to hoe.

I must confess that the conspiritorial side of me had considered that. It does fit neatly together and serves both Coach Gillum and Coach Lambert. Us Halls folks now have an even greater interest in the AC program than we had when Coach Kerr was there, so I'm trying to keep up.

Anybody heard that Tony Lambert got the HC job at SC? I heard it was in the Scott County paper but I can't find it online or any confirmation elsewhere.

I've heard that Powell might get a high quality WR/DB transfer from AE. What's the scoop?

Yes, a long post, but also a very good post.

Stars, not that many of us on here are old enough to have seen the "warp yer head off hold!" Brings a tear to mine eye. Sneaky, I fourth that. Silly, silly, silly. KJ obviously wants to win and has always played who he thought could best accomplish that.

I'm guessing AC plays at home tonight at 5:00. Anyone know for sure?

Stone can play. He can't move as well as Powell's QB last year, but he moves well enough. It's his arm that is so impressive. His accuracy is much better than was Houston's.

I can understand your point of view, devilsden, but I just don't think KJ's level of commitment should be an issue because to me he has well demonstrated that given the years he put in, many of which were at Halls, and the time he's spent with the kids, the community and the program. Now, if I'm told I can make tens of thousands of dollars more per year and spend more time with my young family, I'll have to think long and hard about that my friend, even though you are quite correct that money is not everything. Maybe family is?? I don't know the absolutely right answer, but in this context it's not a black and white issue. KJ is a fine person and I wish him well in whatever he chooses. But I'm still glad he's staying at Halls.

Halls underachieved last year without a doubt. We had over 20 seniors, many of which could really play, and should have fared much better. Like I said, I'd change some things. But in my limited mind at least the question of leaving a program for a better career opportunity is a separate issue. Let me tell you, I've heard a bevy of complaints about Julian, his staff, the offense, the defense, the players, positioning, and on and on, but I don't think I've ever heard anyone question Julian's commitment to the program, the kids, the school or the community. There simply is no evidence for that. That perhaps is why I'm quick to defend him on this kind of issue.

I'm a Halls guy and I'm glad he's not going. Julian cares about the kids as much as anyone ever has at Halls. The players know that. If I know Duff, he'll be glad that Julian is staying and will support him 100%, as he should. There were naysayers in the community before this ever came up and rest assured they will add this to their litany of complaints, but you've got to look at the program in total. I haven't and won't agree with everything all the time (for example, I agree with others who've said that the offense must change=more passing), but I'm not going to pile on the guy for making a career decision that would be better for him and his family.

Pretty clearly not going now. What Pemberton did was awful weaselly IMO. He had to have been speaking to the Georgia school for a while. These things don't happen overnight, yet at the same time he's interviewing and offering the job to Coach J (and others, according to the Sentinel), who obviously had to agonize over the decision for some period of time. Then, when Julian makes his decision, the rug is completely pulled out from under him. Again, mighty small of Pemberton assuming that he didn't fully inform Julian about the Georgia possibility. Nevertheless, I disagee that it makes Julian look bad. I would never fault a man for doing what's best for his family.

Word is now that Coach J won't be heading to Catholic as a result of Pemberton having left. The HC hires the assistants and with the HC gone the deal's off.