USA TODAY'S #1 TEAM BLOWN OUT!

[OC_ALUM_94]

You are absolutely right, Poplar Bluff did not come out of no where but they

 

have been out of the national polls for a few weeks now. As of Tuesday, Poplar

 

Bluff's All-American Tyler Hansbrough was the USA TODAY'S Player of the Week.

 

Vashon had dropped 8 spots with the loss to finish at #9 in the nation. Poplar Bluff

 

still didn't receive any other national recognition for the upset victory.

[jtbase10]

How did they have a 60 game win streak if Popular Bluff won the state tournament last year also. Did they change classes or was this not a game in the state tournament.

[sherlockholmes]

Things around the "SHOW ME" state seem to be alot brighter today.  It still

 

seems like a dream to see a local team from this area to defeat a team the caliber

 

as Vashon.  As i posted last night that it was definately an instant "classic",

 

everyone in the state started the talk about this matchup matchup last year after

 

both teams won their respective state championships (Vashon-4A & Poplar Bluff-5A

 

everyone thought that Vashon couldn't be stopped.  They played a style of ball

 

that many teams may try to play but most don't have much success at it.  This

 

game reminded me alot of another major upset that happened several years ago

 

in Nashville at Vanderbilt's Memorial Gymnasium.  Rebel Fans you all should know

 

where i'm heading with this.  David vs. Goliath, the very talented and state ranked

 

Knoxville Austin-East and a little school from Troy whom most people couldn't

 

even pronounce.  That's right, the 1986 state championship game in which the

 

Rebels played a style of ball that gave the Roadrunners fits all night and took

 

them out of their game plan and ultimately gave the Rebels their first state title. 

 

I definately don't won't to step on any toes with my remarks or thoughts but i'm

 

just trying to describe the feeling that the fans from Poplar Bluff is feeling.  I

 

agree with a post from earlier in the topic in saying that Tennessee has some of

 

the best hidden talent anywhere.  When most people talk about college talent from

 

the state they talk about the major cities Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, and

 

Chattanooga.  But in my opinion and its just an opinion, those cities do have good

 

talent but the the best hidden talent is in all points in between.  Take a look at the

 

teams from small towns who are going to state this season.  Being born and

 

raised in West Tennessee i respect the great teams that i grew up watching and

 

playing against as i got to the high school level in baseball.  I'll say this once and

 

i'll tell anyone this West Tennessee fans should be very proud of the schools,

 

coaches and athletes that they have.  Be proud, Be very proud !

 

GO REBELS!

825617352[/snapback]

Hey OC94 do you know a coach named Melvin Smith that coaches in or around the St Louis area, if so would like some info on him. thanks

[Opperman]

How did they have a 60 game win streak if Popular Bluff won the state tournament last year also.  Did they change classes or was this not a game in the state tournament.

825621022[/snapback]

I think Poplar Bluff moved up a class this year.

 

You are absolutely right, Poplar Bluff did not come out of no where but they have been out of the national polls for a few weeks now. As of Tuesday, Poplar Bluff's All-American Tyler Hansbrough was the USA TODAY'S Player of the Week.  Vashon had dropped 8 spots with the loss to finish at #9 in the nation. Poplar Bluff still didn't receive any other national recognition for the upset victory.

 

They may have been out the last few weeks since Fairley took them down, but again, this is a team with a UNC signee that was in the top 25 most of the season.

[OC_ALUM_94]

To answer some questions from previous posts. This is the first year for

 

Vashon to be in 5AAAAA, they indeed won the 4AAAA state title last year and this

 

was the first and only meeting between Vashon and Poplar Bluff. To answer the

 

question about a coach named Melvin Smith, to be honest with you i've never

 

heard of him. I know that on some other topics on this website that his name has

 

been rumored of taking over at OCCHS. I'm not saying that there isn't a man by

 

that name but i hadn't ever heard of him. I haven't lived in the "Show Me" state

 

long enough to get to know that many coaches, basically just local coaches.