(11-1) Oakland @ (11-1) Blackman Part 2

[Antwan]

There's no way the Oakland player Prather should have been tossed for that. It was a little push by both after the play. The Blackman player hit him in the back first. The refs did not have control of the game. Both teams are very good. Athletes all over the field. Jennings is a stud.

Edited November 22, 2014 by Antwan

[MidTennFootball]

People are losing sight of the fact that this was a rivalry game of course emotions are going to run high. Most of Oakland's penalties were in the first quarter. If you guys want to take the n

Moral high ground and holier than thou go ahead, but as an alumni, I couldn't have been prouder of my alma mater. Plain and simple, Oakland just crushed Blackman's will with their dominant play in the trenches

[Antwan]

Oakland should appeal. If they uphold that and hold Prather out next week...it's a travesty.

[MidTennFootball]

Oakland should appeal. If they uphold that and hold Prather out next week...it's a travesty.

I agree. I've been told they will appeal

[Gerry Bertier]

I agree. I've been told they will appeal

Only way you win an appeal with the TSSAA is if your last name is Bowers.

[Antwan]

When did the referee start announcing numbers in high school?

[Antwan]

Only way you win an appeal with the TSSAA is if your last name is Bowers.

We had a player reinstated once for something like this. There is a precedent.

[mat73557]

Congrats to Oakland and their fans!  They were certainly the better team last night and deserved to win.

 

With that said, I am so disappointed by the terrible display of sportsmanship and poor attitude by both teams.  I was embarrassed to sit on the Blackman side last night and most of our long time fans and supporters felt the same way, and told me so.  I wish that game had not been on TV for everyone to see.

 

Both teams had kids who just couldnt shut their mouths.  Why is it that our kids have to physically restrain some of our players over and over again?  Many of the Blackman seniors have been placed on pedestals and walked around with their heads swollen for some time now.  I think Blackman created their own monsters by allowing that to happen.  Several of those seniors have set a poor example for their younger teammates to follow.  I am afraid its happening again with some very talented freshman players who are being placed on the pedestal by allowing them to dress and play varsity downs when that has not been done in the past.  Bowling Green called us thugs last season and several of our players acted like it last night.

 

It seemed the same was true for several of the Oakland players last night as well.  Pedestals are bad.  Keep kids off of them.

 

As for the game, the Oakland coaches will take credit for executing their game plan, but simply put, Blackman beat themselves last night.  The team that I saw play last night wasnt even close to the team that I have watched all season.  Jennings throws out a terrible decision which leads to a costly INT, I dont know how many passes hit our receivers right in the hands or chest and were dropped...all at very key points in the game.  The stupid running of the mouth penalties that cost us TWO drives.  Those were especially egregious and stupid.  I dont understand why some kids are SO undisciplined and selfish.  I will lay down some Adrien Peterson style discipline on my sons if they act this way, but several parents think this kind of attitude is admirable and acceptable.  The terrible play calling and execution at the goal line when we failed to punch it in was also confusing and disappointing.  When Oakland lined up the two point conversion, Blackman fell for the spread and Oakland runs it right up the gut for the easy 2. That really got them excited.   I could go on and on.

 

Blackman had a very successful season, but relied too heavily on a shallow depth of players.  I think when we played Hoover there were probably 35-40 kids who played meaningful downs.  It seemed to me that they had 11 on offense and 11 on defense and reserves for both.  I know its not the same at Maryville, but it has to be close.  It seems to me that Blackman may be in the low to mid 20s.  Why with 100 kids, do many of our kids have to go both ways?  Last night, 24 was limping, 7 was limping, and 2 was getting hammered, but they all have to play defense because no one else is better?  Really?  I understand you have to put your best players on the field, but until we work on developing football players instead of relying only on the most talented ones, we, and this county are never going to beat Maryville or Alcoa, or Hoover, etc.

 

Congrats again to Oakland, I am rooting for them to win and I certainly hope that they represent our county better than both teams did last night.

[PJM]

People are losing sight of the fact that this was a rivalry game of course emotions are going to run high. Most of Oakland's penalties were in the first quarter. If you guys want to take the n

Moral high ground and holier than thou go ahead, but as an alumni, I couldn't have been prouder of my alma mater. Plain and simple, Oakland just crushed Blackman's will with their dominant play in the trenches

I don't think anyone is taking a moral high ground. The game was ugly throughout because of the penalties. And this is coming from someone who will cheering for Oakland loudly on Friday.  

[oldfan41]

People are losing sight of the fact that this was a rivalry game of course emotions are going to run high. Most of Oakland's penalties were in the first quarter. If you guys want to take the n

Moral high ground and holier than thou go ahead, but as an alumni, I couldn't have been prouder of my alma mater. Plain and simple, Oakland just crushed Blackman's will with their dominant play in the trenches

Are u kidding? Here in Rutherford Co. The long time fans have seen 100's of rivalry games from Riverdale, Oakland and Blackman on an on a n on. Never seeing such a display of nonsportsmanship! Last night was out of hand! I understand being fired up and emotions running high but normally after a few possessions everyone settles in. That was not the case last night. My cousin has been a ref. for several years and we were talking recently and he was saying that it was getting harder to control the games b/c a lot of the kids now have a mindset that it's just part of the game ( trash talking and pushing and shoving). In my opinion that's where a good coach would step in and put the stop to the selfish penalties. There is no place for Egos in team sports it will cost u every time! MTF for u to condone this type of game play shows your mindset and I hope u never get to coach any good kids in the future. 

[MidTennFootball]

Are u kidding? Here in Rutherford Co. The long time fans have seen 100's of rivalry games from Riverdale, Oakland and Blackman on an on a n on. Never seeing such a display of nonsportsmanship! Last night was out of hand! I understand being fired up and emotions running high but normally after a few possessions everyone settles in. That was not the case last night. My cousin has been a ref. for several years and we were talking recently and he was saying that it was getting harder to control the games b/c a lot of the kids now have a mindset that it's just part of the game ( trash talking and pushing and shoving). In my opinion that's where a good coach would step in and put the stop to the selfish penalties. There is no place for Egos in team sports it will cost u every time! MTF for u to condone this type of game play shows your mindset and I hope u never get to coach any good kids in the future. 

 

Oakland had no problem settling in after a couple of possessions so thats on Blackman. I never said I condoned the behavior, but these are 14-18 year old kids, they are going to lose their heads from time to time, especially in a game where both teams have been talking trash all season long. Last night it got out of hand because the refs made no effort to let the teams know that type of behavior wouldnt be tolerated so thats on them. 

 

In 1998, Oakland and Lincoln County was a big rivalry and it was just as ugly as it was last night. This was a rivalry game bewteen 2 teams that dont have alot of warm feelings for each other. 

 

Truth is, you want to point the finger at somebody, point it a us the fans. Were the ones that tell the Coaches and Administrators to win at any price so when the coaches try to walk the hard line with a player, coaches get criticized for doing so

Edited November 22, 2014 by MidTennFootball

[MidTennFootball]

Congrats to Oakland and their fans!  They were certainly the better team last night and deserved to win.

 

With that said, I am so disappointed by the terrible display of sportsmanship and poor attitude by both teams.  I was embarrassed to sit on the Blackman side last night and most of our long time fans and supporters felt the same way, and told me so.  I wish that game had not been on TV for everyone to see.

 

Both teams had kids who just couldnt shut their mouths.  Why is it that our kids have to physically restrain some of our players over and over again?  Many of the Blackman seniors have been placed on pedestals and walked around with their heads swollen for some time now.  I think Blackman created their own monsters by allowing that to happen.  Several of those seniors have set a poor example for their younger teammates to follow.  I am afraid its happening again with some very talented freshman players who are being placed on the pedestal by allowing them to dress and play varsity downs when that has not been done in the past.  Bowling Green called us thugs last season and several of our players acted like it last night.

 

It seemed the same was true for several of the Oakland players last night as well.  Pedestals are bad.  Keep kids off of them.

 

As for the game, the Oakland coaches will take credit for executing their game plan, but simply put, Blackman beat themselves last night.  The team that I saw play last night wasnt even close to the team that I have watched all season.  Jennings throws out a terrible decision which leads to a costly INT, I dont know how many passes hit our receivers right in the hands or chest and were dropped...all at very key points in the game.  The stupid running of the mouth penalties that cost us TWO drives.  Those were especially egregious and stupid.  I dont understand why some kids are SO undisciplined and selfish.  I will lay down some Adrien Peterson style discipline on my sons if they act this way, but several parents think this kind of attitude is admirable and acceptable.  The terrible play calling and execution at the goal line when we failed to punch it in was also confusing and disappointing.  When Oakland lined up the two point conversion, Blackman fell for the spread and Oakland runs it right up the gut for the easy 2. That really got them excited.   I could go on and on.

 

Blackman had a very successful season, but relied too heavily on a shallow depth of players.  I think when we played Hoover there were probably 35-40 kids who played meaningful downs.  It seemed to me that they had 11 on offense and 11 on defense and reserves for both.  I know its not the same at Maryville, but it has to be close.  It seems to me that Blackman may be in the low to mid 20s.  Why with 100 kids, do many of our kids have to go both ways?  Last night, 24 was limping, 7 was limping, and 2 was getting hammered, but they all have to play defense because no one else is better?  Really?  I understand you have to put your best players on the field, but until we work on developing football players instead of relying only on the most talented ones, we, and this county are never going to beat Maryville or Alcoa, or Hoover, etc.

 

Congrats again to Oakland, I am rooting for them to win and I certainly hope that they represent our county better than both teams did last night.

 

Im afraid it is only going to get worse. Some storm clouds on the horizon for Blackman High School...................