Oak Ridge Hires.........

[Jet Pride]

He back Joe Gaddis new football coach at Oak Ridge

 

http://www.oakridger.com/article/20130304/NEWS/130309989

[tnchad1980]

ROLL, WILDCATS, ROLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[WillieTheWildcat]

Thanks Jet Pride!

::: Willie dancing around the room like a little girl singing "Roll Wildcats Roll" :::

 

::: Willie turning blue and passing out cuz he is an old out of shape man:::

[bounder]

Willie go round in circles, Willie fly high like a bird up in the sky. Sorry couldn't resist.

[SweetScience]

OMG...One of the greatest days in Oak Ridge football history. THANK YOU ADMIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SweetScience]

And to all of those who talked smack on Mullins and doubted him....Well, kiss it.

[ORWildcat30]

I have to admit I am quite surprised. I hope everyone has patience when he doesn't instantly win a gold ball. It has seemed like everyone rooting for Gaddis did so with the assumption that he would immediately make Oak Ridge great, given his past success here. That was what worried me the most...his success was predicated on his abilities, yes, but also on the talent of student-athletes at the time, the orientation of the community, the relative strength of nearby programs, and the time period in which he coached.

• We now have a different time period, where students have more options to distract them from football.
  
• We also have a different Oak Ridge, with other sports and non-sport activities taking center stage.
  
• We also have a different Oak Ridge as far as population goes.
  
• We have now a different East Tennessee, with some powerful teams.
  

I want the Wildcats to win under any coach, but the cult of Joe Gaddis the coach is pretty powerful, based on the discussion that surrounded this coaching search. I hope he wins, but I'm not naive enough to think that he is a magician. If Joe Gaddis needs some time to install his program, I hope that the cult of Joe Gaddis doesn't turn on Joe Gaddis the man.

[SweetScience]

I have to admit I am quite surprised. I hope everyone has patience when he doesn't instantly win a gold ball. It has seemed like everyone rooting for Gaddis did so with the assumption that he would immediately make Oak Ridge great, given his past success here. That was what worried me the most...his success was predicated on his abilities, yes, but also on the talent of student-athletes at the time, the orientation of the community, the relative strength of nearby programs, and the time period in which he coached.

• We now have a different time period, where students have more options to distract them from football.
  
• We also have a different Oak Ridge, with other sports and non-sport activities taking center stage.
  
• We also have a different Oak Ridge as far as population goes.
  
• We have now a different East Tennessee, with some powerful teams.
  

I want the Wildcats to win under any coach, but the cult of Joe Gaddis the coach is pretty powerful, based on the discussion that surrounded this coaching search. I hope he wins, but I'm not naive enough to think that he is a magician. If Joe Gaddis needs some time to install his program, I hope that the cult of Joe Gaddis doesn't turn on Joe Gaddis the man.

 

Of course he will need time..To expect him to come in and win gold balls all the sudden is a bit extreme..Is he capable of it with the talent we have coming in in the next 3-4 years? Absolutely..This town is far from void of talent, there is still plenty of talent to go around. People act as if there aren't any kids going to the High School anymore. Every other one of our sports excel, so why not football? That's lame excuses, to me. This was a great post by you, though. I agree with most of it. This past year we had Rashad Gray, and Matt Moore, they may not have gotten big scholarships or anything, but they were 2 of the most athletic players OR has had in awhile. Moore is probably the fastest RB to ever wear the Cardinal and Gray. To me, Blade wasn't good at helping kids max out there potential..Rashad Gray would've been an all stater with Joe coaching Oak Ridge. I feel he was that talented, but wasn't pushed to be the best he could've been. That's just my opinion, but you can see his talent on the basketball court....To say we don't have the talent we used to is probably true, but there is still plenty enough to win titles..Look At Maryville, when do they have have eye popping athletes? not very often. We were just if not more athletically skilled then they were this year, in my opinion.

Edited March 4, 2013 by SweetScience

[plumb69]

I think this is a good hire. I remeber well his stints at the Ridge and also Henry County. A question though: Does his age and the fact he is well traveled (to some far flung places) cause any concern for the Cat faithful?

[TheRealNatureBoy]

Whether you like it, or you don't like it. Learn to love it. Because it's the best thing going today.

 

Woooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[HTV]

Obviously a home run hire bringing back Coach Gaddis.

 

Tip of the hat to Oak Ridge AD Mike Mullins for playing a major part in making it happen.

[82Wildcat68]

I think this is a good hire. I remeber well his stints at the Ridge and also Henry County. A question though: Does his age and the fact he is well traveled (to some far flung places) cause any concern for the Cat faithful?

 

No. Even though he has moved around alot the last few years, I think he still owns property here. He wants to retire from Oak Ridge, and says he has no plans to do so anytime soon. He just took Peabody to the district title for the first time in 20 years, and has improved the programs at every school he has been at. He is as energetic as ever. We have several young coaches on staff that he could mold into very promising Head Coaches when he does finally call it quits. I think if he has his way, he will die on the football field.

Edited March 5, 2013 by 82Wildcat68