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Honestly, it takes a very special interpersonal skillset to do the job. Are we underpaid in comparison with the rest of the state and surrounding states? Yes, however I average $25-30 an hour when I'm on field. That is not bad money no matter what you're doing, especially if it is something you enjoy. Travel? Pfft, unless it is to Ewing or Galax, it's a walk in the park. The abuse, mehh. I do not pay one iota of attention to any spectators comment. I do it because of the relationships I've made, the opportunity to always be improving at the craft and my people skills, and giving back to sports that I owe so much to for making me the person I am today off the field. I truly enjoy being around the game, the student athletes we serve, and the coaches. I get that it is not for everyone, but there sure seem to be some rules aficionados during the season on this board so I thought I'd place my help wanted plug here 😂

Just finished reading the article Coalfield Sports posted on Facebook that Brady Hess wrote a few years back. If that doesn't get your blood pumping for some good Friday Night football nothing will. Gosh it feels good to have it back! Good luck to all the area teams.

That boy is good at stuff.

If you're a golfer and would like to make a trip to Appomattox for a tee time on Sunday, August 1st they are having the "SMITH STRONG" golf tournament. Friday and Saturday are already full but there are tee times available for Sunday. If you aren't aware Appomattox Coach, Doug Smith was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma last year and missed being on the field during the 2020 season. He has been through multiple radiation treatments, a stem cell transplant while spending a month at Duke. Bills for all of that and upcoming treatments are high as you can imagine. They are doing to golf tournament to help raise money to offset costs. All days offer 8:00 and 1:00 tee times that are shotgun starts. The first two days are full but Sunday has a few spots left. If you would like to enter a team of four you can contact the Appomattox Raiders Football page on Face Book or reach out to me and I will get you a number to contact. I think a team of four is around $250 and I believe there will be some pizza provided around lunch time. Sounds like Graham and Union (I know Union was young) will be tough this upcoming year. I hope the Raiders get the chance to play one of them on December 4th (but hope it isn't in Big Stone Gap..LOL)

And only another month until they fix said master schedule!

On the scale of 1-10, what will be the actual Mayhem?

At least we do have some incredibly intelligent posters on this board...

A Mississippi State guy coaching at Auburn? Cats and dogs sleeping together!

What Galax has accomplished over the past decade sure means something to this area!

My local PTSA is advertising the Commonwealth's sales tax holiday as a great time to purchase school supplies. Want to guess one of the primary funding sources is for k-12 education in Virginia? Yep. That's right. Sales tax. Am I the only one who questions the logic here (even just the smallest of smidgens)?

What made Tazewell so good last season was their line play you can have all the skill you want if you suck up front you will not beat good teams. The fact that they havnt had a jv team in 3 season has killed there development up front IMO. Those big boys are gonna have to grow up quick

Carter will get the start at QB for Tazewell, Mullins may play slot some but will primarily be defense. For QB, this is where experience needs to take over, especially with the schedule this year. The test will come with a young Carter. The line lost a lot of experience, but could still possibly hold their own. I think Tazewell will be competitive but will struggle against the well coached teams.

Very very true

One week until football practice officially starts! Am I the only one gleefully anticipating that pigskin getting tossed around? Anyone going to be doing drive bys next week just to get a glimpse of the boys on field? I admit I probably will 😂! Ain’t no shame in my game!

Don't get me on my soapbox here haha. Some involved thought that they could use this a huge revenue tool for the program but from my understanding they only make pennies on the dollar from each subscription that is linked to a particular school. All this after pushing local radio to the brink with their outrageous broadcast fees while barely providing more that a plugin in some places (some schools are better than others). These same schools are at the same time asking for free air-time to promote anything and everything not athletic related....

Just don't piss off G-Man and you will be good!

I saw this somewhere else and considered bringing a foursome. Unfortunately, I can't anytime that weekend for reasons I'm not prepared to go into in this space yet. I certainly empathize with what Coach Smith is currently going through!!! I don't know him personally but by all accounts, he's a better person than he is a coach. Given his abilities as a coach, that speaks volumes. Wishing him and this event, the very best going forward.

It’s brand new. It’s like a little festival on the field. Fans pay $10 and get a BBQ dinner. There will be live music — games, food, vendors, new merch, etc. And the team will be there, too. It’s more of a community event than a sporting event.

Poverty wages, constant abuse, extreme travel, what's not to love?!?!?

Until Graham can prove they can beat Union at Mitchell...........

Remember when everybody said that Marion was dodging Richlands by joining the Hogo? That was such a simpler time.

So winning Region means nothing? good to know

Tazewell County tests for nicotine. I like how people from areas that do no testing at all beat their drums about kids and punishment for those that actually do test. Let's be honest how many kids back in the day smoked cigarettes, dipped, chewed, or smoked weed? Several. Just because its been 40 years since some of us were in school doesn't mean we were all in Sunday school acting like little angels. It doesn't matter if its Graham, Richlands, or a Christian school kids are going to be kids.

I grew up on Brush Creek, about halfway between Fries and Fort Chiswell along Route 94. Although I lived in Grayson County, most of the neighboring kids would be divided equally between Fort Chiswell and Carroll County High Schools when Fries shuttered in 1988. Having grown up with many people from the Fort Chiswell area, I can safely say, it’s a very insular community. You’re either one of them, or you’re not! That can be very hard to overcome as an outsider trying to coach the local kids. Some have found a way to become part of the community like Stephen James. But most never do. That’s my perspective having grown up on the fringes of that community.

Here's what I got... FRI., Aug. 6th : Belfry @ Raceland Knott Co. @ Phelps Aug. 7th : Pikeville, Shelby Valley & East Carter 6:00 ??? WED., August 11th: Wilkes Central @ Elkin West Stokes @ Alleghany Starmount @ West Wilkes Mt. Airy @ N. Stanly jam. THURSDAY, 8/12 Grundy @ Chilhowie 4:30 Giles @ Hidden Valley 5:00 Parry McCluer @ Luray Abingdon @ Graham 6:00 Nelson Co. @ Mountain View (SJ-Q) Lord Botetourt @ (Kpt) Dobyns-Bennett (TN) Tunstall @ (Eden) Morehead (NC) jam. 6 or 7 Elizabethton (TN) - Union tba FRIDAY, 8/13 -Hurley @ Holston- ... NOPE William Fleming @ EC Glass ?5:00 or 7:00? Franklin Co., Appomattox Co. @ Liberty (Bedford) jam. 5:00 Fredericksburg Christian, Webster Co. (WV) @ Bath Co. jam. 5:00 Central, Belfry (KY) @ Richlands jam. 5:30 Tazewell, Patrick Henry @ Ridgeview jam. 6:00 James River, Staunton River, PH-Roanoke @ Magna Vista jam. 6:00 William Byrd @ Glenvar 5:00 Parry McCluer @ Luray Radford @ Grayson Co. 5:30 Fort Chiswell @ Blacksburg 6:00 Carroll Co. @ Christiansburg ??? @ Pulaski Co. Brookville @ Salem Bassett @ William Campbell Martinsville @ Gretna GW-Danville @ Heritage-Lynch Buffalo Gap @ Alleghany Buckingham Co. @ Altavista Marion @ Honaker 7:00 Eastside @ Va. High Cave Spring @ Floyd Co. Northside @ Jefferson Forest Phelps @ Martin Co. West Stokes @ Surry Central Saura Jam. at South Stokes SATURDAY, 8/14 Mountain Mayhem Jam. @ Twin Valley E/MS, Oakwood 10:00 Twin Valley - Northwood 11:00 Castlewood - Northwood 12:00 Castlewood - Holston 1:00 Twin Valley - Rural Retreat 2:00 Hurley - Holston 3:00 Hurley - Rural Retreat JI Burton, Galax, Narrows, Mt. Airy (NC) @ George Wythe jam. 10:00 Roanoke Catholic, Montcalm (WV) @ Bland Co. jam. 10:00 Dan River @ Liberty Christian 10:00 Turner Ashby @ Riverheads 11:00 Eastern Montgomery, ??? @ Randolph-Henry jam. 11:00 Craig Co. @ Patrick Co. 1:00 Massaponax @ Martinsburg (WV) tba Black & Blue Bowl @ Shelby Valley Harlan Co. - Shelby Valley (KY) Pikeville - Pike Central Mingo Central @ River View (WV) 6:00 ????? - Lebanon, Rye, Twin, Thom, Lee, Gate City, John Battle, Tenn. High, PH-GS, Pulaski Co., Auburn, Covington, Nelson Co., Chatham, Rustburg, Amherst Co., Halifax Co. SUNDAY, 8/15 Tech's Football Fan Day @ Beamer-Lawson practice facility =================================== THURSDAY, 8/19 Altavista, Page Co. @ Parry McCluer jam. 5:30 Heritage @ Radford 6:00 Alleghany @ Stuarts Draft Strasburg @ Buffalo Gap Narrows @ Grayson Co. 5:30 BENEFIT GAMES Grundy @ Richlands 7:00 Cave Spring @ Galax Thomas Walker - Patrick Henry @ Emory & Henry FRIDAY, 8/20 J.I. Burton jam. ? 4:00 5:00 Hurley - Northwood 6:00 Hurley - John Battle Abingdon, Blacksburg @ Glenvar jam. ??? 5:00 Pulaski Co., Jefferson Forest @ Lord Botetourt jam. 6:00 Fluvanna Co., Wilson Memorial @ Nelson Co. jam. 6:00 Holston @ Honaker tba John Champe @ Martinsburg (WV) tba Liberty @ Northside 5 or 7 Madison Co. @ Rappahannock Co. 6:00 BENEFIT GAMES 8/20 Martinsville @ Carroll Co. 6 EC Glass @ Franklin Co. Brookville @ Albemarle ?scrim? Buckingham Co. @ Halifax Co. 6:30 Bland Co. @ Twin Valley 7 Graham @ Ridgeview Chilhowie @ Tazewell Lebanon @ Central Eastside @ Union Va. High @ Gate City Rural Retreat @ Castlewood Lee @ George Wythe Fort Chiswell @ Marion Giles @ Christiansburg Patrick Co. @ Eastern Mont. Auburn @ James River Floyd Co. @ Bassett Magna Vista @ Salem Tunstall @ Hidden Valley Rockbridge Co. @ William Byrd William Fleming @ GW-Danville Liberty Chr. Academy @ Appomattox Co. Spotswood @ Staunton River SATURDAY, 8/21 William Campbell @ Randolph-Henry 10:00 ????? - Rye, Twin, Holston, Craig Co., Bath Co., Covington, Patrick Henry-Roanoke, Roanoke Catholic, Chatham, Gretna, Dan River, Rustburg, Amherst Co., Riverheads

He should be a good one. But he needs time in the pocket as all qbs do. Bulldogs need to change up a few things on offense regardless of who the QB is. (Maybe use both). Get the ball out of the qbs hands quickly, roll him out, etc... Running plays may need to come out of a spread formation or something, who knows. Bulldogs have a couple of athletic receivers and a dynamic running back, all with good speed. . Getting those guys the ball in space will be key. They do have a couple of solid linemen returning, but lost a lot up front. It will be fun to watch this team develop this year, can't wait.

I’ve seen tape from the 7-on-7s. Creasy has made some throws that no other QB in SWVA can make. That’s not biased. I’ve seen the kid roll to his left (he’s a righty), uncork a bomb that goes 45 yards in the air, and hit a streaking receiver in the numbers. Freshmen aren’t supposed to do that. Most seniors can’t do that. I’m excited, let’s put it that way.

They will have to get the ball out quickly. They have a lot of youngsters on the team. They had in the low 30s last year. Lost quite a few seniors. But gained more freshmen then they lost seniors. Thats what I mean by young. And yes, a lot of 14 and 15 year old freshmen. They will have a few very athletic and talented upperclassmen. But, I think with the inexperience on the line they will need to re-structure the offense a little bit.

1 hold back? Not so sure about that. I keep hearing this is a rebuild year for Tazewell. Very young. I know this is just the 2nd day of 2 a days and obviously starters haven't been decided yet. At least 3 maybe more on the offensive line will be seniors, Mullins(QB) senior, Jones is a senior. Huffy is a Jr right? He played great last year. Its possible Creasey gets the start at QB. He has shown a lot of potential to this point. So they aren't starting a team of 9th graders. They have a ton of potential and should not be taken lightly. Tazewell needs leadership on the field. Ive said this for years. For the love of God utilize Jared Mullins please! I wish he would come to Graham😂

Young as age or young as in grade? I know last year they had several college freshman on their team, meaning hold backs. Can’t call them young because they are in 9 or 10th. Graham last year played with a lot of true 10th and 11th graders but they didn’t fuss about being young! Just saying.

Bo Nix looking pretty good in pre season workouts and they have a full 85 on scholarship. Tough schedule though!

I like it when my neighbors all gripe about the costs of materials and wonder why they have to pay all kinds of fees and charges for school related programs. I want to say, "It's because you're clearly signalling to the 'conservatives' that you elected to public office that you'd prefer to pay more out of your own pocket than you ordinarily would in taxes -- and you're also willing to put up with substandard school resources as a direct result." But I don't. Because I'm nice like that.

This has been something my wife and I have had a good chuckle about for a few years now. We're amazed at the number of ways our society continues to marginalize education. All one needs to do is look to social media to see the consequences. "The only thing that is more expensive than education is ignorance." ~ Benjamin Franklin ~

That could also be partly caused by people leaving this area. Not many towns in SWVA have grown since the 80s. Less people in town means less butts in seats on Friday nights. I know that’s not all of it — but I feel like it makes a big difference.

I don't think it will make much of a difference. It is a nice option to have for those who cannot make it to a game. Most schools do well to pay for the refs and pay for the other sports with gate money from football. The Booster Club and fund raisers is where most schools get enough money for new uniforms etc. I was taking up money for a soccer game several years back and somebody complained about spendong $5 and asked where "all the money was going" (like I knew). I was just volunteering. I told the old grouch that the money we took in wouldnt even pay for the refs for that game.

NFHS is a total scam for the schools. My understanding is the schools that signed up with NFHS when the pandemic started won't even start getting paid for like 3 years because they were getting the camera systems and such for free. Facebook live is the way to go.

That's a stretch...

My money is on Russia.

Richlands beat: Wyoming East, and Pikeview twice. Lost to Tazewell on the last play and then lost to Princeton and Martinsburg in the bracket.

Tazewell won 5 of 7, came in 3rd which isn’t bad. Lost to Pikeview and Bluefield.

If I remember correctly most of the Union guys on here had said they didn't lose much to graduation either. So if that's the case that game at Mitchell Stadium should be a good one. Unless Union lost some key players I still have to give them the advantage. If I'm coach Palmer I would put a big screen TV in every room of the field house and play that last play of the playoffs on a continuous loop. I have talked to many former and current Graham players and that play has really left a sore taste in their mouth.

Having seen Mount View in 2019, I’d have to concur with this. There’s no one there in the same class as Cousin or even Fritz.

Sounds a bit exaggerated by your friend. Nobody on Mount Views roster the last couple of seasons is more talented then some of the running backs Graham has had.

I believe his brother is playing for Bluefield College. Hear he is a great student with a 4.0 + G.P.A. That is far more impressive then any football talent he may have.

I think it is so people can figure bonus points when calculating ratings.

Yeah can't blame anyone for not being a ref...who would wanna listen to that mess every game every year?

Agree. Either way I see these 2 teams possibly meeting twice this season. Graham may lose 3 or 4 games with the schedule they have, but that will only help come playoff time.

Fort Chiswell just hired their principal. Coach coming soon.

Who s pretending otherwise? The bullshit comes in when kids start "playing" other sports to avoid a punishment. It's ridiculous to test HS kids and not test for PEDs, but I don't think they should be tested at all. A waste of money that would be spent better elsewhere. But, if you know the rules, have been made aware of them, can't figure out a way to beat the test and get caught, picking up a new sport just to avoid punishment is lame. That makes it all a farce. Just stop testing.

I honestly think the nicotine is complete BS. Especially when the age for tobacco use to be 18 and a high school senior could be of age and still get popped for a drug test even though its legal. But if they rules are such that you letting your team down for partaking in tobacco then you got the rest of your life to do that or just dont do it in season. It going to happen I dont think anyone thinks it doesnt but if I was the head of a program and would mention that every day just to make sure the kids know what they are risking. I also dont think weed or anything harder than that has any place in high school sports I know that a hot take for some people but thats just how I feel about that situation