battleftbl 42 Report Share Posted April 10, 2014 I've said on here in the past that I'm in Kingsport now. From everything I'm hearing, Abingdon is about to make one heck of a hire! All things down here point to Graham Clark retiring in Tennessee and taking over the Abingdon football program. Nothing is official but it's what I'm hearing. There will be no more excuses about coaching. If Clark isn't successful up there, no one will be. He is really good friends with Paul Johnson at Georgia Tech...I wouldn't be surprised if he brings the flexbone with him although going to the spread isn't out of the question either. School Board meeting is the 22nd I believe up in Washington County. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMan 3,569 Report Share Posted April 10, 2014 The head coach from Dobyns-Bennett??? Will be a major hire for the Birds if so... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconfan1 125 Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 You know that he is just going to retire and leave DB without a head coach this late in the game huh. Really? I put this on another thread. DB has over 720 wins in their history, which puts them in the top 25 in the country. I guess you have read about the DB job being open huh. They are just going to turn over a program like that without a great candidate. Wow. I doubt all four high schools in Washington Country have half that many wins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redtiger 1,739 Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 Clark has had a lot of success at DB, but correct me if im wrong, they seem to get beat/blown out come round 2-3 of the playoffs. Maybe DB is looking for someone to get them over the hump and Clark is looking for a less stressful position? 7-3 with a playoff win every now and then at Abingdon would be a huge success and an incredible turn around. Idk ANYTHING about the situation but I do know there's a lot more to taking a HC position than just wins. And idk for sure but if he retires in TN and gets a new job in VA he would draw his retirement AND his current pay. $$$ Has he been teaching long enough to retire? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widespread_Panic 197 Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 And idk for sure but if he retires in TN and gets a new job in VA he would draw his retirement AND his current pay. $$$ Has he been teaching long enough to retire? He already has coached in Virginia (Clark was at Chilhowie so that won't be a factor). Do you all really think he's going to leave a football program that has a 3 million dollar football facility for lowly Abingdon? I have a feeling that when the new head coach is announced there will be a lot of disappointment if Abingdon fans are expecting someone that has the resume of a Graham Clark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redtiger 1,739 Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 Never know. Wins and facilities aren't everything, maybe he just wants to coach. Where's Clark originally from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great City 210 Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 It is also my understanding that he could retire in TN, work in VA, and still get his retirement. I am NOT saying that he is leaving DB for Abingdon. I have heard, for a couple of years, that he was thinking about retiring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
battleftbl 42 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 Graham can retire in Tennessee and work in Virginia. He'll draw two pay checks. This obviously isn't a football decision but it's what's best for him an his family. Abingdon High School is just going to benefit from it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lance 228 Report Share Posted April 22, 2014 My guess is that the politics will absolutely drive this poor man insane. I wish him the best of luck. He'd be much better off going down the road to Battle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OLINE77 50 Report Share Posted April 22, 2014 It is not going to be Graham Clark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue_Crue 49 Report Share Posted April 22, 2014 Former Blue Devil Darren Reed.................. OLINE77 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widespread_Panic 197 Report Share Posted April 22, 2014 Former Blue Devil Darren Reed.................. That's a big drop off from Graham Clark. 4 wins in 2 years sounds like a perfect fit for Abingdon football. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMan 3,569 Report Share Posted April 23, 2014 WOW! What a kick in the 'nads that choice is for the Birds...especially since they had such higher expectations... Deleted Account 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barondawg77 115 Report Share Posted April 23, 2014 No decision on abingdon head coach until may 5th according to tricities.com. Did confirm Reed has applied for the job though. http://m.tricities.com/sports/article_f94947f4-ca99-11e3-a8c8-0017a43b2370.html?mode=jqm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
50kw 140 Report Share Posted April 23, 2014 What a mess. This is also the same group that has to find a new coach at John Battle. Practice will start in about three months. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widespread_Panic 197 Report Share Posted April 23, 2014 I've said on here in the past that I'm in Kingsport now. From everything I'm hearing, Abingdon is about to make one heck of a hire! All things down here point to Graham Clark retiring in Tennessee and taking over the Abingdon football program. Nothing is official but it's what I'm hearing. There will be no more excuses about coaching. If Clark isn't successful up there, no one will be. He is really good friends with Paul Johnson at Georgia Tech...I wouldn't be surprised if he brings the flexbone with him although going to the spread isn't out of the question either. School Board meeting is the 22nd I believe up in Washington County. All things still pointing to Graham Clark? Might want to recheck your sources. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue_Crue 49 Report Share Posted April 23, 2014 Washington County not real high on athletics. If you don't count speech and drama how many team state championships does Abingdon have?? 1. John Battle 4 maybe 2 baseball 2 volleyball, Holston won golf this year what else? PH has Women CC and Track. So that is all of 8 state championships for the entire county.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconfan1 125 Report Share Posted April 23, 2014 I am pretty sure AHS has a golf title...ugh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasDenton 79 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 I think Battle won in girls tennis too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redtiger 1,739 Report Share Posted April 25, 2014 I would look at Region titles to determine athletic success, takes alot to win state titles, even good programs never win one. But the point still stands, Wash. Co. doesn't seem to really support their athletic teams, neither do the communities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasDenton 79 Report Share Posted April 25, 2014 I wonder if they'll be able to pick a coach for Battle at the May 5th meeting as well, or would that be too soon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HurricaneWarning 212 Report Share Posted April 26, 2014 I would hope they would name one soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FALCON 21 Report Share Posted May 6, 2014 It is Reed. I think our pitiful AD could have fought a little harder for a proven coach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4andcloudofdust 11 Report Share Posted May 6, 2014 Cant get a proven coach when only 5 apply. The 4 assistants and Reed. I wouldn't want to be a coach and enter the political BS in Abingdon. Look what they are doing to the baseball coach now. I do believe that the football team is taking steps backwards, not forward. I hope the political machine in Abingdon are happy with what they got. Bowles may not have been a perfect coach, but I will bet he was better than what they are getting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconfan1 125 Report Share Posted May 7, 2014 I guess battleftbl wasn't right on this one. Guess you need to predict who is coming to Battle Hill now. 50kw 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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