DiverCity

Uh, because he was until Pemberton threw a monkey wrench in the deal. Ask Coach J yourself. Now, of course, with Pemberton leaving, Coach J is the HC at Halls I would think until further notice. The only thing I had wrong was my speculation that Coach J might get the HC job at Catholic. The rest, as we say in here in Vienna, you can bank on.

You'd have to think so. Julian ran the same kind of offense and he and Pemberton are friends.

Dang, with Kevin Julian leaving the HC position at Halls, does this portend that he might be the head coach at Catholic? He and Pemberton are good friends. I can't believe Julian would get recruited to Catholic without knowing that Pemberton would be leaving....

I agree ZCAR. From what I've heard in the last hour it was really a no-brainer -- money, time, facilities, etc. We can't forget either that Coach J has young children and, therefore, the time component would have to be a big allure.

I heard it last night from a person with the boosters. The deal is supposed to be finalized with Catholic today. Apparently the money was just too good to pass up.

I heard some unbelievable news that might or might not be true: Coach J is headed to Catholic as its defensive coordinator. Is the rumor true?

Well, doggoneit, it's been a tougher year than we thought it would be. Hopes were dashed against the cruel rocks of circumstance. The various and many times unexpected outcomes in sports are often said to be metaphors for life's realities, and no less so with Halls' underachievement this year. Things just don't always work out the way we plan -- the best laid plans of mice and men and all that, they say. One hopes that the seniors especially learn from this that things don't always work out the way they should on paper. The coaches know this, of course, but that doesn't make the absence of what might have been any less easy to bear, either for them or the players. I congratulate Coach J on running a fine program and teaching the boys, one of whom is my own, so much about football, including the right way to win and lose, and hence so much about life. That's what it's all about anyway, isn't it? It's been a (mostly) fine four years of football for our family. I hate to see them end, but one of life's realities is about passages and tonight the seniors pass from what was an integral part of their relatively short lives to bigger, more complicated and one hopes better things. Better things? That's always a question, isn't it? You better believe that football can help young men better achieve that result. So again, to Coach J, Coach Kirby and most of the rest of the coaches, thank you for your hard work and examples to the young men who we place under your tutelage. Now, let's go out on a winning note....

Now Coon, you have a very bad memory. I've been reading the boards on all the 3-4A teams for years now and there was always more drama on your boards in years past than in a room full of cheerleading moms. Of course, it's correct that there's a lot of criticism when you're not winning. Halls hasn't won the games they should have this year and many of the posters on here are, I think, trying to get a message to the coaches. The problems (at least the ones not involving injury) are easily fixable. The RBs are indeed taught to do the LDLDL -- I've talked to them. In a wing T, that's crazy. They've got to hit the hole as quickly as possible after staying tightly behind the linemen. Otherwise, the wing T loses its advantage. Playcalling has also been a problem. With that said, the defense has been easily good enough to win if the offense could generate a little more production. The only exception was West, but I attribute that to the failure of Coach J to adjust by using 5 down lineman OR at least blitzing a bunch. The LBs blitzed once that game. The splits were just too wide for us to go out too and expect to stop West's offense without making at least one of those adjustments. I hope the Dragons are underestimating Halls because things will, I firmly believe, come together this week. We're much healthier now than at any time all season, including the Maryville game. We also should match up well with Clinton and our line should control both sides of the ball. Stone, of course, is worrisome because he's a dual threat. I obviously didn't see the OR game but the backup RB is apparently pretty good. Anyhow, let's do like ZCAR said and not write off the season at this point. I think the boys will show well vs Clinton and hopefully the coaches are reading this board and will at least think about the things that are said. I know a couple of the posters who make comments and can tell you that they are EXTREMELY knowledgeable about the game and the coaches should consider their wisdom. If the offense begins to click, Waggoner gets the ball more especially late in the game, and the staff finds a way to get the ball in Gresham's hands a few times, then watch out.

Ironman, while we've averaged fewer points this year, if you eliminate the kickoff return for a TD it's even lower. I really think Coach J is a good coach and some of his assistants are as well. The trouble IMO is that he hasn't aggressively gone after excellent assistants and let poorer ones go elsewhere, instead choosing some of them based on personal likes or dislikes without adequately considering playing experience, coaching experience and maturity. I know of one very experienced coach who wanted to assist (for free) and he was turned down, having been told that there wasn't a spot. A very, very young assistant was chosen instead. Believe me, if you knew who I was talking about getting turned down and knew of his background and experience, you'd be flabbergasted. With all of this said, the players have got to stay up. They have a lot of talent. I'd like to see them rise up, become leaders and forge ahead and make this year one to remember. I know they have the ability. And I'll stand behind them all the way.

What's everyone's opinion on why we couldn't stop the dive? It was obvious that when the OL's splits were wide West was going to run it up the middle. I counted one blitz. Why no adjustments?

That bootleg is the triple dreaded "gobble wobble." You know, the one where the QB goes to the short side and has no option as no receiver has released and the DB can just commit immediately.

Congratulations Halls! Great job boys! Nice to get the Battle of Black Oak Ridge Trophy back after all these years. Thought I saw Coach Ward on the sidelines.

I agree that's a pretty silly comment. If, and it's a big if, Halls can get a passing game and defend against the pass, I think we might get to see you again, but if that happens I think we'll be playing you at MHS. And congratulations to the Red Rebels.

Looks like you were prophetic there Ironman. Once Gibby FINALLY got to touch the ball and once K Wagg FINALLY got some touches SC couldn't stop our offense, except of course when we went to the air.

If you say so.

How will your 29th be, Spanky?

Agreed. A high ankle sprain, especially if it's on the outside of the ankle, won't allow him hardly even to walk, if that's what it is. He might not get back next week if it's that type of sprain (where the ankle turns outward rather than inward). If it's the other type (inward turn), then next week would be a good bet.

Yep, think so, jonesy. Everything he said is true and you are challenged (in more ways than one) to dispute anything he said. Well, I'm waiting.... Tick tock.... Que theme to Jeopardy.... Buzzer sounds.... Didn't think so.... You slink away in abject failure.

Maybe moon pies. Nah, it's a pretty common werd up to my homedizzle in North Knox County. It just means that those Rebs are impossible to subdue for the likes of the hapless Red Devils. A tornado maybe, but not a Red Devil.

Like Ironman said, the big game is now less than two weeks away. Of course, while Halls can and should expect to be soundly defeated by at least 13 points (see FBE's post above), Halls might make a decent tune up for the big game against Alcoa and perhaps not be a complete waste of time for the utterly indomitable Rebel machine.

Yeah, "again," just like last year....

They did look good, didn't they. Last night was a flashback to good 'ol Halls smash-mouth football of old.

I did not mean to imply or express that CAK will not do well in 2A in their region or the playoffs (I just hope CAK doesn't have to play Alcoa early in the postseason). They are obviously a very good team and will, IMO (for whatever that's worth), do very well in that context. What I meant to express is that we thought before the game that this year's CAK team would be down from last year's very good team. I agree with you too that it is smart for Halls to get tested by a spread passing attack. And we will indeed see that in Clinton and Powell. So yes, it was important in that regard.

Grace's coach is absolutely top-notch. He'll get everything out of his players that they have to give. Although I know he's a loyal guy, better pay him well....

Let me rephrase one thing: "called off the dogs" might not the appropriate metaphor in this case. It would be more accurate to say that the coaches were getting a look at a lot of players who would not have otherwise seen action quite so early.