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We're back and ready to do some pickin'. But first, as you know, we've been gone. The reason, Uncle Percy and his Bucket List. Surprised me too. Uncle Percy decided that it was time to do something different. Well, WE did. More of that later. We saw a lot of crazy things and people, but nothing as crazy as what's been going on with VHSL Playoffs, Tazewell High, Bu-chan-an County (Uncle Percy took a political correctness class in California), and other wild doings and rumors. Uncle Percy says that we go on a trip and the VHSL screws things up worst than before. As Uncle says, never trust anything that has VHSL being used. RYE COVE @ HURLEY We hear that last year was a big cannon boom for The Rebels and another down year for the War Eagles. We hear that the Rebs lost a lot of their fire power from last year. However, for this battle the Rebs will more than enough firepower for these War Eagles. Look for the feathers to being flying around like at a Saturday Night Kentucky Chicken Fight. The Eagles will not break their losing streak at The Cliff. Loser: RYE COVE Is it true or rumor that a former Grundy head defensive coach and another Slate Crik coach are coaching at Hurley? GATE CITY @ RICHLANDS Another is it true or rumor. We get back and hear that this could be Coach Mance's last year at the helm of the BIG BLUE WIN MACHINE. If so, THE BBWM will get er cranked up and be at full wind force this Friday. As usual, The BLUE DEVILS will bring their A-GAME to R-TOWN thinking about sneaking a win back to THE DEVIL'S DEN, since the BBWM lost some Big Hosses from last year's team. However, these IMPS are in for a BIG SURPRISE, the BBWM is reloaded and will be at full force. Before this is over, these Devils will be wishing that they had wings so they could get out of DODGE as quick as possible after this tussle. LOSER: GATE CITY TWIN VALLEY @ JENKINS, KY After crossing 6 MOUNTAINS and 5 Rivers The P Knob Cats get to play on an uphill slanted field in a semi-hole. This is no Rumor or Tall Tale folks, BUT THE TRUTH. You play 2 Quarters going DOWNHILL and 2 going UPHILL. Crazy but True. However, The Kentucky Cavaliers will find themselves going uphill all night and The P Knob Cats will be going downhill all night like a runway train. P Nob Coach, take the short cut, go to Elkhorn City, cut across to 23, turn left. Only 3 Mountains and 2 Rivers to cross. LOSERS: JENKINS and THE P KNOB BUS DRIVE. ODD, another 2 ousted Slate Crik Coaches at Twin Valley. What's going on there? CHILHOWIE @ MARION FINALLY, after all the VHSL craziness, rumors, etc. that happened while we were away, SOMETHING NORMAL. As usual, the Warriors and Candy Canes will be kicking off the Smyth County Braggin' Rights Contest. Both teams we being doing a bunch of trash talking, trying to knock off the other's shoulder chip off, jaw smackin' contest. Look for the CANES to get in the last jaw smack of the night as they give the Warriors an early Christmas present of striped candy canes. LOSER: CHILHOWIE JOHN BATTLE @ ABINGDON No comment. LOSER: NO COMMENT

It is just known as Graham-Beaver or Beaver-Graham. Everyone knows what that means and nothing more needs to be said. For those that don't know the high school in Bluefield, WV (the castle behind McDonald's) was officially Beaver High School. In the early days of WV high schools most of the schools were named for the voting district they were located in. Believe it or not Princeton High was officially East River High because Princeton is in the East River voting district. Princeton dropped that in the 1920's. Bluefield's High was in the Beaver Pond district and was called Beaver Pond but shortened to Beaver before 1910. The "new" school in Bluefield was built on Cumberland Road and it opened in 1957. At that time the name was officially changed to Bluefield High. So you still hear most of the locals refer to Bluefield High as Beaver and therefore Beaver-Graham or Graham-Beaver instead of Bluefield-Graham. So yes until 1957 Bluefield was the Beaver High Beavers. But it was never referred to as that. When just the official name was used it was Beaver High and sometimes Beaver High of Bluefield. When just the mascot was used it was The Beavers. But when both were used it was always the Bluefield Beavers even though that was not technically correct.

I would be absolutely shocked if the VHSL kept the scores up to date or up to the minute. You probably just might get a updated score or final score from a Friday night game, on Monday afternoon! Just my opinion..............

Bear fans....dedicated or crazy. Haven't figured out yet. haha

VHS had to deal with the youth issue last year. They have 17 players who either started or got significant playing time last year, returning. Most of which are Juniors. For once, Bristol actually has fairly high expectations for a sports program other than baseball. We've been looking forward to this season for a few years. So far, after dominating Sullivan East, and a pretty good showing at Union, the Cats seem poised to be possibly headed towards a more successful season than we've been used to. It's a struggle to get thru a season with a lot of youngsters but Tazewell's future seems to be pretty bright, if last year's middle school team is any indication of things to come.

Not saying that Big Stone is run totally bad--they sure have their pitfalls and high points--but they do drop the ball on tons of things. The seating at the football field is one thing. It could be more. The abysmal bathrooms is another thing. They really need to fix those up! I will say that the playground looks very nice: especially the splash pad.

A lot of the high schools around here have better seating than UVA Wise.

Southwest District Preseason Coaches Poll: 1. Richlands 2. Graham 3. Marion 4. Virginia High 5. Tazewell 6. Lebanon I guess word didn't get out to Allen Gregory about the season ending injury to Justus... Justus comes to Richlands in 2017 by Allen Gregory BHC http://www.heraldcourier.com/sports/justus-comes-to-richlands-in/article_976e8a8c-8862-11e7-8e3b-4bd519c9d98d.html Southwest District Football Capsules, Rosters and Schedules http://www.heraldcourier.com/sports/southwest-district-football-capsules-rosters-and-schedules/article_fda0bff0-8880-11e7-8879-2bcdb3e3c517.html

Ryan, that sounds good. It should be something positive that the VHSL could do for the schools they represent. I would think they could pay someone $ 50 on Friday night to keep the scoreboard up to date, but knowing how The VHSL is about money, I seriously doubt that this service would become a reality. Like you said, it's a new thing For VHSL, so we can all just wait and see if it pans out. Better not hold your breath!

Go to VHSL.org and look under the Parents & Students tab at top, then under Eligibility. It lists all 13 individual eligibility regulations, including the transfer rule.

The way I see it no matter how the season goes, the seniors are winners on this team. They stuck it out and stayed committed to the team. I'll take that anyday over a transfer glory seeker or a quitter. The players that step out on the field Friday night are already winners no matter what the end score is!

Transfer rules? Who knew?

I don't know yet. Probably 5-10. I was trying to wait to come park after everyone here got out of school, so I went and grabbed some food. And just my luck I end up getting here and parking as the students are leaving. ?

Good source told me he is fine and will play, and that's good enough for me....

Funny

LOL, he's gotta think like that because he has a kid on the team!

For all that have been wondering, I just talked to a parent of one of the players and they assured me 100% that Reed will be starting and playing tomorrow. Very good news for the G-Men!

First arse whooping in VA coming tonight. Union 49 JIB 6

I couldn't help myself. No hard feelings!

Rowe, Compton, and Plymal were the big three coaches when Grundy was at its successful peak. And now they're coaching against each other. Anybody that knows anything about Jack Compton or Craig Plymal can tell you their competitive, prepared, and work the kids extra hard. Grundy/Hurley game will be interesting this season with them two coaching against each other!

If you miss that one, you deserve to not have a free point. ???

I think Hurley got the cream of the Slate Creek crew........welcome aboard.

They missed most of the first half with technical problems. Second half was shown several minutes delayed.

I wish we'd find something out. Can't fill out my pick'em until I do lol.

I love how it's been three years now and people, even around here, still can't get Ridgeview correct. What do you do? Just chuckle about it and go on. It's like the people who call Richlands, Rich-luns. Or called Haysi, Hay-see. Funniest one though was when I was in a gas station once in Abingdon and someone clearly from out of town asked me, "Hey, how do you pronounce this town name? A-big-dong?" I couldn't stop laughing for like 2 hours straight.

Wish I would be one of those cars. Missing the Union game is the 2nd worst part of calling games for another team this year lol.

It wasn't fun when a 6-5 Graham team was tied 28-28 with your 11-0 Union team heading into the 4th quarter. It became much more "fun" for you after Cousin fell injured and Union rattled off 21 straight.

I can assure that Bluefield's players talk way too much trash too and it isn't because the coaches approve. It is what kids see and copy. Coach Palmer does not approve either and tries to prevent it but you have social media to deal with these days and it is hard to keep young men from doing what they want.

People can say running the ball plays right into Richlands hands. But that's what GC always did in the past and still won. If the line gets a solid push and the backs block for each other GC can be successful. We (Akers) gotta quit out-smarting ourselves. Akers abandons what works. You gain 29 yards on 4 straight running plays, then you throw it for an interception on 3rd and 1. Who the hell does that? If GC kept the ball on the ground, we could have scored a couple times on Graham. We punted the ball 1 vs Graham. Everything else were turnovers by fumble or interceptions. Line the ball up and run it down Richlands throat. If they stop it, tip the hat. But with beast like Cregor and Calhoun in the backfield that are well over 200lbs, it's certainly our strongpoint and should grind the ball on the ground for 3-4 yards until its stopped. And the game film vs Grundy and scrimmages I've watched on Richlands, I don't see them being that much better than GC. I think a lot of people are looking through navy blue glasses. It's not the same team Richlands has fielded in the past. But it could turn into a blowout if GC gives Richlands the ball due to turnovers. I expect a close ballgame.

What I'm curious to is what should we be looking for out of both teams. I know Tazewell is young and small in numbers. Don't know much about V High. I ask for the same every year, let's see growth and stability as the season progresses. This coach and players coming up have the capability of being something really good. I know plenty will say it's just a matter of time until this coach leaves but I ask those that make the comments, how much do you really know about the internal situations? The parts that never really come to light. I have a window in to part of it but not all. Time for everyone to rise up and get behind the Dogs and let's see it get back to the glory years again! As far as prediction, I do believe that V High gets this one. I think there is the possibility to keep it close early but then the depth and youth factor will takeover. I'm not going to predict a score but I will say I think (hope) that it is within 21 pts.