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Ive heard the story on why they are the G-Men but it's been so long that I can't remember it all so I don't want to tell it wrong. Graham isn't a consolidated school, it's always been the high school for the town of Bluefield, VA. There was another school in Bluefield at one time, the African-American school, called "Tazewell County High School" (the Warhawks) but that was before segregation. If you didn't know though, the town of Bluefield used to be named Graham until 1924 when they had a ceremony that people called "the marriage of the Bluefields" where Graham, VA changed their name to Bluefield, VA as sort of a parternship between the two border towns.

I know this thread started as a halfway joke but there's been some good points brought up. Anybody wanna narrow it down to maybe 5 coaches and create a poll for people to vote? Maybe @Ryan4VT could talk some about it and read the winner on the podcast as SWVASports Coach of the Year

Different kids? James was there , but overall different kids yes. I hope it’s not it’s not as chippy as the last 2 times, once at Bullitt and once in Bluefield. Our kids (both teams) shouldn’t let the adults effect their game with the bs , just go 100 mph and enjoy, some of our kids will Never play again , so sit back and enjoy them, because this moment in time will never come again

I don't believe this for one second. You don't know Coach Palmer very well. Enough of this B.S. about our boys being disrespectful and the insinuation that Graham has discipline problems. Far from it. These kids are yes sir, no sir all the way. They are quiet when coach talks and are super good kids. Give it a rest. There is not a finer role model than coach Tony Palmer. This crosses the line.

I'm not sure what they think about grass but graham has only played 2 games all year on grass at Lebanon and Fort Chiswell. The other 10 were on turf. * but the $60,000 Tazewell County paid for Graham to play at Mitchell Stadium doesn't include practice time so Graham does practice everyday on grass next To the high school.

Agreed. I think there is potential here to match the excitement, atmosphere, and great game that the 2015 Richlands/Union game was. One of the best I've ever seen.

I have a little legal shine "if anyone needs to chill out" woooee, some are acting like they are suiting up SAT. Yes I agree some of the talk about what happened in the past needs to stay there....in the past. The kids will settle this come game day and "we adults "will have excuses of why our team lost. GRAHAM looks real good in the HUDL stuff i saw, fast fast fast, kinda reminds me of APPOMATTOX of last year, UNION will have their hands full

Contenders: Turner (Union), Mullins (Ridgeview), Lowe (Narrows), Johnson (Thomas Walker) Honorable Mentions: Carroll (Marion), Stone (John Battle), Crist (Virginia High), Palmer (Patrick Henry), Harris (Tazewell) I really think we need to consider Nick Johnson at Thomas Walker, he's the third head coach they've had in as many years and led them to the playoffs

Sounds like the coach came in and squared things up. That's good stuff. I was making conversation with the earlier comment. May have been told to our boys to fire them up more lol. Wasn't meant as a jab or cheap shot to the graham faithful or palmer. I don't know that guy and have no ill feeling towards him. Sounds like hes done an excellent job up there. Kids will be kids just as every town has it's "idiot" fan or two. Cant judge the whole by the actions of a few. Looking forward to a good game Saturday.

Well said and I agree.

I’m so tired of hearing how Union is automatically going to win and the trash talk about Graham coaches and players. Coach Palmer has been head coach for 3 years - who else has brought a program that far that quickly. Sick of the bashing of the Graham kids hell I bet Graham has more 4.0 kids on the football team than anyone in the area. Graham kids are a good hard working bunch. Let’s stop the trash talk and let these teams play it out. I highly doubt Coach Palmer was boasting at a meeting if anything he is one of the most humble coaches I know. He would never say graham is going to go to the next round he takes it week by week no matter who they play. Saturday can’t get her quick enough no doubt to shut this negative speculation up!! I’m excited to see an evenly matched football game. Strength of schedule points scored points scored on Union and Graham match up better than anyone. See ya at Bullit and will be there with more Cowbell!

10 in football. they have more state championships in all sports combined than any other school in WV, unless someone has passed them in the last couple of years

Tied at 28 on the last play of the 3rd quarter doesn’t exactly scream butt-kicking. Good luck in your playoff game this week against “Couch High School”.

No one asked you

I am from Richlands and it doesn't bother me a bit to pull for Union .No love for Graham .

Don't get me wrong here, Chilhowie is good, and I expect them to beat Burton. But they lost to Marion, Wythe and VA High.

I'd throw Stone, Crist, and Carroll's names out there too.

I believe Jessee being healthy for Central against Graham kind of skewed the rushing numbers but interesting to look at nonetheless. Union fans - when Graham is on defense keep an eye on #29 Vineyard, he plays MLB. If you like watching good linebacker play you won't be disappointed. He's one of the best I can remember watching over the last 10 years.

Looking at the stat sheet above I see one thing that stands out to me. Union's defense is tough. Among common opponents Union's d allowed less yards rushing with an avg of 143.75 ypg compared to Graham's 171.75 ypg. Passing yards against is in Union's favor with 62 ypg and Graham has 87 ypg. First downs allowed is in Union's favor too with 8.5 fdpg vs 14.25 fdpg for Graham. Offensively Union holds an edge in everything but passing yards per game and first downs (I contribute the first downs to Union playing on a short field in most situations in these games). First downs per game Union averaged 12 Graham 16.25. Rushing Yards averaged Union 265.25 Graham 248.75. Rushing attempts averaged per game Union 36 Graham 34.75. Rushing yards averaged per attempt Union 7.36 Graham 7.15. Average passing yards per game Union 41.5 Graham 104.5. Points averaged per game Union 41 Graham 36.75. It looks like to me it will be a well matched up game with Union holding a slight edge in all but 2 stats among common opponents. With home field advantage I say my Bears win by a touchdown late in the 4th quarter.

My brother lives in Cornelius and works in the vicinity of North Meck. I've seen them play several times. They feature a trio of D1 recruits with names that will be very familiar to most, if not all. Vaud Worthy (6'2" SR - PG) is the nephew of James Worthy. He is being recruited heavily by Charlotte, UNC Wilmington, Winthrop, College of Charleston and New Orleans. Tristan Maxwell (6'-3" SO - SG) is the son of Vernon Maxwell. His top three schools are Clemson, Florida and Wake Forest. Jae'Lyn Withers (6'-8" JR - SF) is the son of Curtis Withers. Withers is being targeted by Charlotte, Clemson, Miami, Wake Forest and UVA. Worthy averaged a double-double (points-assists) last season and looks to distribute rather than score, but he can score almost at will. In my opinion, he has a very high basketball IQ. Maxwell can shoot it from anywhere on the floor but will slam one off your forehead if the opportunity arises. Withers is probably the most gifted of the three. He is a 6'-8" wing with handle, a very good jump shot and plenty of power to work in the paint. He is very difficult to stop or even contain.

This should be an absolutly fantastic game to watch and play in !! Respect to both teams and fan bases for getting this far and I wish both sides all the best ! I hope things work out so I get to BSG to watch it, but we have a lot of family coming in from out of town for Thanksgiving so I'm not sure. Safe travels to all going to and from the game and hope it's a safe game for the players with no injuries ! I will be pulling hard for which ever team wins to bring the championship back to SWVA ! GOOD LUCK and have a great game !!!

I agree that Union has high expectations but if not for the new Defensive Coordinator Union wouldn't be where they are. Since the formation of Union defense has been our weakness and now it is our strength. That's why I say Rhodes instead of Turner

Oh it'll be a dandy. It wouldn't surprise me if either team pulled it out. If Graham does win I plan to head to Glenvar/Appomattox to cheer them on. I REALLY hope I'm staying at the park one more week though. ?

I, along with the rest of Unions fans, coaches, and players are focused on getting to the 2A semifinals. Which includes beating Graham. I'm sure Graham is the same way, But if this is a topic being discussed on a message board, why not jump in?

Again if you were speaking of 2015 that was then this is now- those kids you are referring to are gone. Let’s give everyone a fair shake hear.

Graham the last two years called teams out before the game and talked trash after big plays during the game - which I personally didn't mind to see, because as a player you can get under the opponents skin and get their focus off & plus it hypes you up to play that much more. & for fans it makes for a better atmosphere for the game when both crowds are getting into it because the opposing fans act like their boys are doing bible study in the locker room at halftime. That being said, the last two years the G-Men DID have discipline problems. Graham had some great players graduate the last two years but in my opinion they weren't the best leaders. I'm all for trying to intimidate the other team before the game and talking trash during the game but when you're (allegedly) taunting the fans/band/cheerleaders that's showing your focus isn't fully on the game and you're taking it too far. I never seen anything happen like that but I did have a problem with the 2 or 3 personal fouls it seemed that Graham would get every game because a few players would play like they were trying to get on SportsCenter's Top 10 plays and either come up with a taunting foul or late hit, etc. I've seen almost all of Graham's games this year and I can assure you the problems aren't there anymore. This season (before last week) I can only remember one personal foul and that's when Cam Allen made a big hit and dislodged the ball from a Marion receiver and stood over top of him a little too long. Last week I said there were a few dumb 15 yard penalties but when I watched the tape on it you could see why they were upset - a Grayson player unnecessarily earholed Mike Mason on a INT return at the 15 yard line when the the return only made it out of the end zone to the 1 yard line. It's still dumb to get the penalties but I could understand why you're upset and playing chippy after seeing your team mate motionless on the field and taken off on a gurney. Cooke, Workman, & Vineyard (among others) are the type of leaders you want on your team. They celebrate big plays but not at the expense of their team. Them being the leaders they have been is one of the main reasons that Graham is where they're at now. In my opinion last year's team was more talented top to bottom but this year'a team plays like a TEAM for 48 minutes. also - I doubt Tony said anything like that and if he did it would've been in a joking context. I'd bet my house that he doesn't have a hotel booked in Appomattox.. but it's smart to start that rumor. I understand why whoever did, did.

No. It's a reasonable topic to discuss. It's why Union fans feel Graham is undisciplined. Just like I'm sure RV fans feel that way about Union, so on and so forth. But if it's been taken care of, that should be the response.

Will only be embarrassing if they lose Saturday, if they win he looks like Bear Bryant lol

To acknowledge that it happened is not wrong. Kids of 14-18 ought to know better than some of what was seen. If Union players were behaving that way at any point then people would be calling them out. When I acted like a knucklehead as a kid, I got called out. If I see a young person doing things like that then they will be told off. No person is bashing Graham. Acknowledging what happened and thinking your thoughts is not bashing. I don’t think about it all the time but I do remember it.

As an adult in the situation, you are no better to perpetuate the situation on a message board. They are kids, you are an adult

Can Saturday get here any sooner?

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They are, and there is something to be said about about being able to take care of business, but if you look at their schedule, I don't think Chilhowie beat anyone that folks didn't predict they would beat in the preseason. Chilhowie's a pretty dang good 1A team, but I think most people knew that they would be, and the best item on Robinson's resume this year is that his team beat the teams that they should have. Again, there's something to be said about doing that for the entirety of a season, but I don't know if that's a coach of the year resume outside of the Hogo.

That is 3 pretty good teams they lost to and two of them are 2A.

Agree. I think Jeff Robinson would need to upset the Narrows/Galax winner to warrant serious consideration.

This game will be lights out. Wish I was off so I could head to BSG to catch this one. Good luck to both teams and hope everyone comes away healthy.

Rhodes (if I am spelling that right) D Coordinator for Union. If it weren't for the Bears D they wouldn't be where they are today. Union's D has led the charge through a transition from a spread o to a wildcat/wing t o. They wouldn't be undefeated if it weren't for that tough a$$ d.

I will agree with this statement

ANY of the coaches in the above would be deserving, you can look at RIDGEVIEW and say MULLINS deserves it, or we could wait and see how the playoffs pan out.IF Union or Graham makes it to the title game at SALEM that coach should get the nod, as well as ADAMS at BURTON if they make it

Mullins at Ridgeview should get some recognition, but Turner will probably get it. We will see what kind of coach Turner is when he doesn't have a D1 athlete to bail him out. Mance almost outcoached him in the first round of the playoffs, he is still the best coach in Southwest Virginia hands down.

Rick mullins wouldn’t be a bad choice either.

In my humble opinion, Tom Turner was the best coach ever in the Lonesome Pine. I'm sure he taught Travis well.

I’m bias obviously. But I’d have to say Turner. Regardless how the game with Graham goes. Having to retool the offense around his sons season ending injury and still keeping the team focused on the goal. I played for his dad, Tom. He had the ability to make you play bigger than you were. Believe that you were better than you really were. And we would run through a brick wall for him because we thought we could. My point is, Travis has this respect from his boys. They drink the kool aid and want more. He’s blended fierce rivals in Appy and PV through consolidation and Union is a solid program. This is my reason for Travis Turner as COY.

If he were still alive, he would be in the mix lol. I’m guessing u meant Travis.

In my opinion I think a coach of the year award should be awarded to a coach with a great record who led their team to "overachieve." We all expect Bluefield, Union, Galax, & Graham to win 8, 9, or 10 games. What most didn't expect this year was Marion start out 8-0, Ridgeview host a playoff game at 9-1, or Narrows to have home field advantage throughout the state title game. Carroll from Marion, Mullins from Ridgeview and Lowe from Narrows would be my top 3. But I'd give my vote to Kelly Lowe at Narrows. They lost a player that went to play at VT and still went 9-1 and locked up home field throughout.

Throw Narrows coach in there. For a school that's not known for a great football program, they've had a good season and good shot at beating Galax. So hats off to Narrows coaching staff & players!

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