Oak Ridge Wildcats go to McMinn Co

[ORidgeKat]

I was very proud of the effort at McMinn, the kids played their hearts out. We made some mistakes at very crucial points in the game, typical of a team this young. But they played hard and I'm proud of them. Congratulations Cherokees, it was your night and you deserved the win.

[basketballisbest]

Congrads to McMinn. What a great ball game. Can't take any thing away from that group of kids Oak ridge fan or not. Oak Ridge is gonna have to get scrappy to make the playoffs. Any time you loose a game your supposed to win it makes thing tough. I have waited to post because It would be easy to fly off the handle.

This year is very unfortunate for the seniors. I am a Oak Ridge fan all the way. I try to be realistic. This senior class just isn't what last years senior class was. Not in numbers or talent. There just isn't as many play makers. You gotta realize these juniors have not had to carry the load until this year. To me its just like watching any one that is really good at something their talent makes what they do look easy. For the past two years the former junior and senior class has had the talent to make this senior class as sophs and juniors basically spectators on Friday nights. This years Oak Ridge team is basically mentally a JV team playing Varsity. The mental mistakes ect. are very JV like. I don't think it is right to be arrogant and say OR is gonna win just because they are OR.

I absolutely think it humble to say the way things are at OR this year is just a temporary thing. A natural cycle in High School Sports. The kids that have been playing JV the past several years are playing Varsity this year for the first time as seniors they are learning the hard way just having an OR on your helmet doesn't mean you are gonna win against teams OR is traditionally supposed to beat. I think a very valuable lesson that will manifest itself in a return to prominence in the next two years is being ingrained in the Juniors and sophs minds. I know it is thought but rarely said a lot of people in OR didn't like Stevens getting the job. Those people are opportunist that are taking advantage of a year that isn't going very good for a lot of reasons to throw Stevens the QB and others under the bus. That's not fair to the players or the coaches. Is it Stevens fault they haven't progressed as he had hoped. I don't think so, what was he supposed to do throw in the towel after the DB game. If memory serves me correct didn't Sevier Co. win the state a few years ago. Every once in a while a group of kids come along and elevate a traditionally mediocre program and vice verse.

Friday was McMinns night to shine. I am a fan of all the kids that work hard and make a commitment to do what they do for nothing more than a love for the game in general. Can we second guess the decision to go for the win Friday sure. Nothing wrong with that. I don't know how many people heard what Stevens said to David Clary after the game. He said if he had that situation to do a hundred times he would do the same thing. I respect that. In my humble opinion I thought he should have went for the win at the end of regulation and in OT I would have ran it instead of trying a pass when the QB was 13 of 21 on the night. But really who is to say. There are many different ways to look at that situation. If it had worked Stevens is a hero right now. The people that didn't like going for two I suppose reasoned that the defense was in a better position to stop McMinn and win the game in the second overtime. The D has been carrying the offense all year. Nothing wrong with that either.

I don't know if OR will make the playoffs this year. I posted early in the season they could go 6-4 if they do I don't think it is because the players and coaches wanted it that way and they haven't laid down and just let it happen. Ya'lls opinions are as valid as mine. I could be wrong but you could be too. The time the juniors and sophs are getting to play to me is just like money inn the bank. If that experience is what it takes to make OR a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming years (and I think it is)

as unfortunate as it is for this class of seniors it will have been worth it. stink it up stop playing the blame game and do the right thing go to the games support the kids cheer when they do well try to pick them up when they fall short and have the confidence in the program that the sun will shine on the mighty wildcats again sooner rather than later.

Just one last thing The Owls better enjoy it while they can they will be embarrassed by OR in the upcoming seasons and Maryville FANS better hope they don't schedule DB or OR cause a good old fashion butt whoopin would probably make most of those arrogant fans jump off a bridge. Why don't they move up to 5A well I don't think that is too hard to figure out.

 

Great post! I wish more on CoachT could eat a little humble pie. I appreciate your candor.

 

I, too, would love to see Maryville in 5A. The only thing with that is if they place them in 2-5A, it would just make it all the tougher for 2-5A teams to make the playoffs. Can you imagine, Oak Ridge, Maryville, Ooltewah, Farragut, William Blount, McMinn County, and even Soddy until this year. These teams would just beat each other up. I don't believe Maryville would come into 5A and have wins come automatically; the competition is tough.

 

I would agree with other posters who might say some of the top teams in 4A this year are better than the 5A schools. With the exception of Dobyns Bennett, the 5A class just doesn't look as strong as it has in previous year. The good thing about that is that it is wide open.

 

I know a lot of those Owl fans get on the nerves of some of the other schools. They can be truly over-zealous, from what I can see. However, I did a little follow up with some of the folks I know in the Chattanooga area, and this Ooltewah team is going to be something good for years to come--at least the next three. The current team is dominated by Juniors and Sophomores, and their freshman team is apparentaly just brutalizing the competition.

 

As for Maryville getting a whoopin'... I don't know about that. Great tradition; great athletes; great coaches; no one is going to just run over them, even in a lean year. I agree this is a down year for Oak Ridge and fully expect them to return to full strength next year; you can't keep a good program down long. I also agree that everyone should get off the coach's back; everyone will have a weaker class from time to time. The Cat fans don't have to worry about the future.

[OakRidgeCat]

Oh yeah, this game is over and time to move on.

[Rt-21CBTrap]

Great win by Mcminn,the only thing about that is that you don't know if they'll win this week. Their so unpredictable. a big win usely leads to a big let down.

[ImaOWL]

Just one last thing The Owls better enjoy it while they can they will be embarrassed by OR in the upcoming seasons and Maryville FANS better hope they don't schedule DB or OR cause a good old fashion butt whoopin would probably make most of those arrogant fans jump off a bridge. Why don't they move up to 5A well I don't think that is too hard to figure out.

 

Varsity

8-19 Cookeville Away 7:30 W 24-21

8-25 Rhea Co. Home 7:30 W 28-6

9-1 McMinn Co. R Home 7:30 W 24-14

9-8 Chattanooga Central Away 7:30 W 61-22

9-15 William Blount R Home 7:30 W 28-24

9-29 Bradley Central R Away 7:30 W 51-7

JV

8-21 Walker Valley Away 5:00 W 46-12

8-28 Rhea County Home 5:00 Rainout

9-4 McMinn County Home 5:00 W 26-14

10-2 Bradley Central Away 6:00 W 48-8

9-25 Hixson Away 6:00 W 21-6

Freshman

8-19 Jamboree (Cleveland) Rhea Co. TBA W 8-0

8-21 Walker Valley Away 7:00 W 40-0

8-28 Rhea County Home 7:00 W 34-12

9-4 McMinn County R Home 7:00 W 48-0

9-11 Central's JV Away 6:30 W 51-6

9-18 Cleveland Home 6:00 W 46-13

9-25 Gordon Lee's JV Away 5:30 W 36-12

 

I'm not scared....

[pepvol]

Look out!!! Here comes the coachT maryville troll = Pepvol

Pepvol: See post #72

 

 

So i'm the troll , heh ?

 

I bet if some Maryville fans always had to bad mouth Oak Ridge in the Maryville threads , you'd have a few Oak Ridge trolls showing up . Funny thing is ... only Maryville seems to get brought up daily in other threads . You guys have enough to worry about without worrying about Maryville too .

[ImaOWL]

Pepvol, do you not agree that Maryville should be moved up to 5a? They already have enough kids and they have proved to everybody in the state that they own 4a. Moving up to region 2-5a would be much harder for the rebels. I'm not saying that you guys wouldn't win the region or even the state but it would be more difficult.

[chsdragon]

Great call Coach HA! HA! HA!

[pepvol]

Pepvol, do you not agree that Maryville should be moved up to 5a? They already have enough kids and they have proved to everybody in the state that they own 4a. Moving up to region 2-5a would be much harder for the rebels. I'm not saying that you guys wouldn't win the region or even the state but it would be more difficult.

 

So an exception should be made for Maryville ? Maryville will be there soon , meanwhile all you " Big Boys " can keep beating Maryville in your imaginary games . Be patient , you'll get what you wish for very soon . So funny that you guys look at any way possible to belittle or blemish Maryville's accomplishments .

 

Much harder ....ya , that was such a harder game against WB ... gee ... Thank God we can fudge the numbers and avoid them big boys , and go back to playing those itty bitty teams like Central !

 

BTW , Alcoa would win region 2-5A this year .

[ORidgeKat]

Great call Coach HA! HA! HA!

 

Hey CHSDragon, great season, great program HA! HA! HA! Bright future! HA HA

[catback]

So i'm the troll , heh ?

 

I bet if some Maryville fans always had to bad mouth Oak Ridge in the Maryville threads , you'd have a few Oak Ridge trolls showing up . Funny thing is ... only Maryville seems to get brought up daily in other threads . You guys have enough to worry about without worrying about Maryville too .

You must cut and paste this reply I think I've read it about 50 other times!!

 

I've seen all kind of shots taken at Oak Ridge, that's just the nature of this forum, even some by you, but, I chose not to respond to most!

I find it a waste of time and effort.

[chsdragon]

Hey CHSDragon, great season, great program HA! HA! HA! Bright future! HA HA

HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! touchie touchie!!!!!!