REDSOX

Frankly I think Alcoa has their best chance this year. I have kind of been low key about this game because I know Alcoa has a special team. That may not seem unusual because they are always good but I think maybe they may be even better this year if that is possible. As for Maryville it is obvious they have lost some big time talent at the all important skill positions. I am supporting Maryville and watching the game on the internet from Nashville but I sincerely would not be shocked if Alcoa won. This is the first time I have felt this way in a long time. We shall see. All streaks end and if it so happens you guys pull it out then I will tip my hat and wish you the best.

Red Rebels believe it or not that really happened. I was in principle Casteel's office waiting on him and I noticed a couple of girls with big hair and spandex and I said to myself "I have not seen kids dress like that since I was in school". Then started noticing fishnet gloves and mini skirts and I was like this is crazy. Then Mr Kerr my freshman english teacher from 19-- gives me the 411 on the Alcoa week theme. Where every day it is something differant. I could not believe I forgot that. Friday of course is the traditional red and black day and the big pep rally. We had ours outside at shields stadium. I do not know if they still have it there or in the gym but it was fun to see the kids into the spirit of things and brought back alot of good memories. /smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

Sol, you nailed it last week so I gots-to-know your prediction. We may just ride on your wave all year. You have had a week to think about it so now its time to ante up. Do not cop out. Time to put it on the line. If you have already posted it in the last two days then I missed it because I was in Maryville at Coach Campbell's funeral. By the way stopped by the school yesterday and spent some time with Principle Mike Casteel. He was very gracious to invite me down. Also got a chance to watch the team practice. It was 80's day at Maryville and I asked one of my old teachers how come the kids have not changed since I was there. The joke was on me. /roflol.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":roflol:" border="0" alt="roflol.gif" />

Here is the reason and it is a good one. They have 3 other teams in Bloubt County that are on the schedule and none play in Maryville's region so these games end up being their non-region games. These are rivalries and have deep history to them so they should be played. The good news is next year when reclassication starts one of these games will become a region game and that will leave an opening for Maryville to go outside the county. These county rivalries are good gate games and draw strong interest from the local community. It is not in Maryville's interest to schedule games based solely on what people in other parts in the state who do not have Maryville's interest in there heart think. Just fans that want to complain that Maryville is somehow dodging the competition. Just remember Maryville has ran through the best middle and west Tennessee has to offer in the TSSAA playoff system in 4a while maintaining a 61 game winning streak. The only thing left to prove is when they move to 5A. Then everybody will get their wish. Just be careful what you wish for.

You are right about last year and MBA and Brentwood Acadamy. I was thinking Carlton Flatt's last year when they were state champs in 06. My apologies. Like I said though that is usually the game they have to win. Now lets back up a minute. You started this by calling out Maryville not South Pittsburg. Maryville could play with any team in this state regardless of classification and yes I do believe that Alcoa in 2A could beat anybody on a given day because they have superior skill players and superior coaching. Hey I am a Maryville fan but Alcoa has a good chance this Friday to stop the 61 game winning streak. I hope it does not happen but my point is it is 11 on 11 and coach versus coach. Why is that so hard to comprehend or is it not hard to comprehend but hard to swallow for some people to accept that Blount County in east Tennessee produces two dynasties and certain folks in middle Tennessee can not swallow that bitter pill. I have been hearing this song and dance for years and it only makes folks on the other side of my argument look like they have sour grapes about Maryville's success. When Maryville moves to 5a and wins a gold ball what will you guys have left to gripe about.

So tell me one more time so that I am clear who does MBA have to beat to get a gold ball and how many playoff games do they have to play? How many 5a playoff games do they play? I mean since it is Tennessee's highest classification I am sure that MBA would have to play in it right? Let me say this. It is 11 on 11 every friday night and it does not matter how many people go to your school you can only put 11 on the field. The idea that by being a 5a school and you have an enrollment that has 400 more kids means you have better coaches,players, and tradition is ridiculous. By the way for those that do not know MBA is not 5A but they do get a chance to win the state every year because all the have to do is usually beat Brentwood Acadamy and lately they have not been able to do that. /dry.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="

Thanks oldrebel2. I will be driving up tomorrow to the celebration of life. When my grandfather died we also had a celebration of life service and that's just the way it ought to be. When a person has eternal life then we celebrate that life instead of mourning a death. I am sure there will be some tears and rightfully so but we can also be happy for the times the Lord allowed us access to coach. May God bless his family.

That sure was Coach Campbell but I used to love him telling those old stories in that Pennsylvania accent. Heaven just got a little better. Coach was very impactful on my teenage years and continued to be a friend to me as I became a man. Stars could you please post the funeral arrangements when you know them. I live in Nashville and would like to pay my respects properly.

Do not claim to know how things will play out but this Halls team could win out. The is not the end for them. They got outcoached late in the game and made more mistakes but for 3 quarters they ran neck and neck with the state champs. I am a Maryville fan but I read another poster said that Halls were quiters and I think that is a little unfair. No I was not on the sidelines but Halls is not the only team to get beat by Maryville. So ease up on the kids.

Sol great prediction about tonights game. You were almost on the money. Got any predictions for next week or are you gonna wait?

True. It certainly not fair to compare them with the Burnette, Douglas, Maples.... and on and on. Those teams were blessed with great talent at the skill positions but we should allow this team to develope its own personality. Stars will continue to rise at this school and I look forward to see what they can do. Are you going to watch the game?

Well I guess your in the same place I am and that means until they get on the field it does no good to speculate. I am like most people. I am anxious for the season and just want to know what is going on. I read an article in which GQ talked about this team having a learning curve. Maybe he just does not want to show his hand but it sounded as if he was playing down this teams ability. I was just curious. Thanks for responding

Sol, I hope you are right. List your reasons why you think this. I am still trying to get a grip on how good Maryville is going to be and that is solely based on what I have been reading in papers and posts from those who follow the team closely year in year out. It seems to me this team through graduation and a few injuries may be rebuilding. You know I am a fan of the team but my realism is starting to settle into the fact that this team may not be the typical powerhouse we are used to but I hope I am wrong. I have not felt this way in a really long time. I am not spoiled or believe there will never be a time they do not lose but I guess I just would like a clearer picture of this years team and it hard to see from Nashville.

For what its worth fans of both teams that may be out of the viewing area such as myself can download a video stream from the internet at http://www.truthradio.tv/. The cost is $20.00 or you can also listen for free at the same site. I called WBCR Truth Radio and they told me half of the proceeds go to Maryville High school because this is a Blount County station. They also have the Alcoa/Spring Hill contest as well. I am going to try it out. Once you start the process it warns you that the game has a fifteen minute delay so if you have friends at the game and you decide to do this then tell them not to call you every 5 minutes with updates. Anyway it is a great way for me to see the games because I live in the Nashville area. Hope this was helpful.

Amen! Every time I see these forums I think to myself they can not be going down this road again and then I realize that I was kid once and my immaturity come out like this. To bad youth is wasted on the young. Lets move on.

What a tragedy. May the good Lord enter into this community and start the healing process. I really can not imagine this kind of pain for the victim's family. The only thing to do is pray. I do not know much but I know prayer works. Thanks for the heads up Solomon.

That is cool. When I go to the state championship in Murfreesboro I see a load of the Maryville fans sitting with the Alcoa fans rooting for Alcoa because they play on Friday night and they come down early to root them on. It is always a little weird at first but soon your Blount County pride comes out and your like Go Alcoa! (God forgive me) /laugh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":lol:" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" />

Boy is that ever true. I will never forget my freshman year and we had a pep rally and had all these shirts made up that said Sweet 16. (in reference to fact that Maryville was going to win again for the 16th year in row) Guess what? Maryville lost. See what I am talking about? All a team needs is motivation from being disrespected. It does happen all the time but bragging rights for a year ought to be motivation enough. Anyway is it not cool that we can talk about high school football in Blount County again. I would wish you good luck and I would mean it just not when Maryville plays Alcoa. /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" />

By no means is Maryville the underdog unless they lose to Halls. Remember my post was in response to MHS and it was general statement. You got the wrong guy. I said "I Hope" someone says somthing stupid. Sorry I made you bored but we are just chatting and in no way would I insinuate that a team that has been trounced by Maryville the last few years would be the favorite. I respect Alcoa but not that much.

It is alwys good to have those quotes to post in the locker room. Michael Phelps heard all week that he would not get eight gold medals and the French would "smash the Americans" in the relay and he said they posted that stuff and it really motivated him to prove everybody wrong. I hope somebody from another team or writer says something stupid. It is a great motivational tool. Think about it every year you will read a story about how a quote was posted in a locker room and it caused an underdog to upset a heavily favored team. Anybody remember January 1st 1986. Tenn 35 Miami 7

You always have a chance to compete because competing is based on effort. Chance of winning is differant all together. This Halls team has improved and you have a Julian coaching them so there is winning in the lineage and a restored pride so yes you do have a chance to win. C'mon its high school football. William Blount lost to Maryville last year by the slimest of margins. I listened to that game in Nashville and had 3 heart attacks. The streak was almost stopped. If Maryville is going to have a chance to keep it going they need to make a statement this Friday.

I guess what was concerning for me was some these posts are from Rebel Nation and they have been to these scrimmages and have witnessed first hand the intensity of play. Some of these posts are from very loyal Rebel fans and have been known to be protective of the program and when I read doubt about the teams intensity it causes me to raise an eyebrow. I will remain positive they can turn it around because we all know this coaching staff will not accept this kind of effort. These guys can not rely on the skill position talent of the past which they have been blessed with year in and year out. Great effort and team play within the coaching staff's system will bring success and then maybe stars will begin to rise. I see no All-americans and Mr Footballs on this squad but maybe it is because I do not know enough yet about this team and please forgive me if I sound negative because like I said I will keep the faith and see what happens. /smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

I can understand why you would think that. I am one that believes until you are beat then a team is #1 but I been reading some of these posts and I think there is cause for concern from a Maryville point of view but like I said earlier next Friday will give a better gauge of where all the teams are.

Update: It is now official. The Red Sox are no where near the same team they were in 2007. We stunk it up this weekend and when the ace goes down in flames the day after a loss then it tells me if we make the playoffs then we will not match up well with teams like the Angels. It is about momentum going into October and they still could find themselves in September but right now I do not see it happening but this why they play the games. Just need to let it play itself out and see what happens.

It is not my place to come on here and be negative about teenage kids playing the game of football. I am a former graduate and I no longer live in Maryville but follow the program closely and come home on occasion to catch a game so I am no expert on the inner workings of Rebel football anymore. I think we should wait till Friday to make judgements about this year's edition of Rebel football. Their play Friday by all admissions from the coaches to everyone who is involved with the program would admit was not up to par. I personally think Maryville will be challenged more this year than in years past and some of the people on here can not wait for them to lose a game. Whatever happens it has been a great run and I will keep the faith.