Gatewood to East Hamilton

[Indian]

The Free Press says it will be made official Friday. How will this new school affect Ooltewah and specifically football? Will current Ooltewah students be allowed to continue their education there or will they enforce strict zoning due to the concern over some schools being overcrowded and some underused.

[soddydaisy48football]

Steve Garland is going with him from Soddy Daisy according to the paper.

 

what is the new teams colors?

[PounderPride]

I think the team colors are green and black.

 

Any current 9th or 10th grader at OHS who is zoned for East Hamilton can transfer. There will be no Sr. class for 09-10.

[OwlPride]

The Free Press says it will be made official Friday. How will this new school affect Ooltewah and specifically football? Will current Ooltewah students be allowed to continue their education there or will they enforce strict zoning due to the concern over some schools being overcrowded and some underused.

 

 

This was not a well kept secret. Ooltewah is also losing Coach Henderson who is the d-line and strength and conditioning coach. He is an up and comer and truly one of the good guys on the current staff. He doesn't care if you're the fourth team wr or Jacquez Smith, if you get out of line, he will bust your ---. He is one of the few that is a REAL mentor. He will be missed as much if not more than Gatewood.

 

The casual observer does not understand the impact this is going to have on the Owls future. Ooltewah is not growing like it was two or three years ago as the economy has taken its toll. In the short run, Ooltewah fortues will slip. I expect the majority of the rising sophomore class to enroll @ East Hamilton if they are in that zone. I don't expect many rising juniors to transfer, but Ooltewah only had 14 or 15 sophomores on the roster this past season.

 

Ooltewah will likely have the smallest roster it has had in recent memory. Rumors abound that Monroe is going to retire after next season. The Ooltewah administration is trying to be proactive and trying to encourage their current athletes to stay at Ooltewah, but it may be a little too late. Is it any wonder why the jv team only had one game this season? Did Gatewood know he was going this past summer? Keep in mind, he is the one that coached the jv squad the last few years.

 

I look for East Hamilton to become a AAAA power in short order and Ooltewah to become an also ran in the immediate future. A 70 year old coach is not what you need to build your program....especially a guy that is reknowned for having very few players on his roster to begin with. Congrats to East Hamilton....

[oldtiger83]

Any updates on this school and things are shaking out with the building and staff?