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I THINK what Grapeape was trying to convey was that fan attendance at the games is not why Akers lost his job. Akers lost his job because of his record, his attitude toward players/assistant coaches, and the direction the program was heading (falling). He literally started alienating players/assistant coaches on Day 1. For example........you do not talk openly in the field house about coaching at VA High being your dream job. GC does not have a history of running off head coaches. Counting Akers we have had 4 head coaches during the last gazillion years. Slight exaggeration. :) Several weeks ago someone, who said he was on the team under Akers, posted and talked about some issues with Akers. Unless you were close to the team, or are close to people who are close to the team, then you really had no idea what was going on inside the program. So many people, not from GC, have posted about the attitude toward Akers from the GC fans......without having any knowledge about what was going on in the program. I have attended GC games for 40 years. Played under Colobro. We have had years where the talent level was not exceptional, but we have always had coaches who could get the most out of the players. I know some will disagree with me, but our OVERALL talent level the last few years has not been great. Plus.......we have not had a coach who can get the most out of the players. You add those two together and you end up with 1-9 seasons. Factor in Akers' inability to build positive relationships with players/coaches and you end up with the current state of our program. I am truly surprised he lasted as long as he did. Sadly, I believe the School Board would have acted quicker if they thought they could find a quality coach, and if they had set their egos aside. Remember.........Akers was what......the School Board's third choice? Not sure how it works at other schools, but the AD at GC has no influence over who is hired. Have seen him thrown under the bus several times. Going forward: Most GC fans will tell you that there is not a coach in America that will restore our program in a year or two. The rest of our fan base needs to accept that. We need a HC and Assistant Coaches who will bring some enthusiasm back to the program. We need these coaches to be in the halls of the school encouraging kids to participate. I have no idea who has applied or who will be interviewed. Personally, I do not care if a "GC Person" is hired. I do think the position is a great opportunity for someone. You could be the HC of a program with a tradition that few in the state can match. A program that has a fan base starved for success, and who would eagerly support a HC who gets the program heading in a positive direction. Plus........you will have a School Board that wants/needs you to succeed after the Akers debacle. Even with our recent failures, believe we are the last, or second to last, AA Team from SW VA to win a state championship. (I'm sure someone will correct me if I am wrong....which happens a lot. :) )

I kinda feel this way about it. I liken it to being brothers...........well, maybe stepbrothers........in that I can say things about you and we can beat up on each other, but we stand together when it comes to the rest of the state. I know that some on both sides may feel different, I will always pull for the Tazewell teams when we are out of it, and if there are no Tazewell Co. teams left then I will be pulling for region D teams. Besides that, I played ball with D.Palmer in high school and I'm still good friends with him so I wish him the best ! I will be a Graham fan this week and the next and hope they bring the championship back to Tazewell Co !

Around the 23 minute mark Tony Young checks into the game to "play halfback". Gotta love plays like that. When you watch old games like this it seems like kids today are much faster and more athletic. I'm sure Palmer, Brown, and Marcus would all disagree with that. Lol. I'm just glad to see our defense play today the way it used to play back then. It's been a long time since we've seen our defense play the way it is today. Kudos to the staff and the kids on that.

If you watch that game, the biggest play by far that broke that game open for Graham was the run by Tony Palmer around the left end for a Touchdown. He should have had a loss of 3 yds and somehow, he broke tackles and bounced off the defender and exploded toward the endzone. That game was tight and that run by Tony was the huge play in that game that helped Graham get the win. The guy who missed the tackle was a ridiculous multi star athlete at Radford named Cary Caldwell who was a 2 time All State 1st teamer. He got a huge interception for Radford in that game on Mike Patton.

Sadly, some people call themselves die hard fans, but get butt hurt when their team is not winning, and stay at home. Kids deserve support whether they are winning or not. Fans complain about the kids that don't come out for football because of other sports, but then don't support the ones that have the heart to get out there and play and give it their all. They also like to criticize the ones that do play for not being good enough, or not being tough enough.

Good hard fought game here between Graham and Radford in 1989. The sound seems to come and go on the video. Mitchell stadium was packed with cheering fans believe it or not. Today's games have the PGA Tour Event feel to them at times. 😂Especially after listening to the way things used to be. Those Graham helmets looked great! One week at a time. Go Graham!

http://coalfieldsports.com/2018/11/26/wheeling-week-bluefields-legacy-is-known-by-many/

If Thomas Walker ever made a state semifinal, they’d get run as well. When you have 2 schools from two towns with the same name advancing deep into postseason play, there’s gonna be some traffic devoted to them, whether you approve or not.

I would say right now it is. Seeing how one team is in the finals and the other the semi finals. Although there is a lot of Chilhowie and Galax talk to as there should be.

It helps that NETN teams are pathetic at winning football state titles Since 1970, they only have: 1971-72 TN High 2010-11, 17 Greeneville

Burton dropped Union and picked up Ridgeview 1st game of season

Everyone was tired of watching Akers try to coach.

If I'm not mistaken, that game was moved up a day because of the weather. That probably hurt the attendance a little. I also believe the volleyball team was playing that same night in the district tournament maybe.

Could play two games at Christiansburg on Saturday.

You're not a Mac fan, you're a UVAObserver fan.

Come on uo will be welcome by all hope it will be a great game for graham

I think I may make the drive up and try to get one or two of the Ridgeview posse to come with me. Wouldn't mind to meet some of the Graham posters Saturday. :)

Right now it seems to be a shootout for 2nd. Until someone proves they can play with GC they stand alone. Union will be tough after getting the kid back who was injured last year. Abingdon had 2 big losses to graduation and will be young this year but they have a lot of athletes on the team that should improve and compete as the season goes along. Battle will have a couple guards to contend with and they will have some high output games. As Duke said, Lee could upset a team or 2 this season but I don't see them putting it together for an entire season. Wise lost Mullins to graduation and now McCamis so I don't see them being a factor but who knows who may step up for them. Ridgeview may be a sleeper team but only time will tell. They have some athletic kids but not sure if they have conventional basketball talent.

I wouldn’t look into the yardage totals too much. Radford picked up a mishandled field goal try and returned it for a TD taking away one full offensive possession for the Bobcats and Appomattox fumbled a kickoff that recovered deep in Appo’s territory in which radford only had to go 25ish yards to score. That’s two separate times that radfords offense didn’t get a chance to drive the length of the field. They were moving the ball well enough that they could’ve easily matched or eclipsed Appomattox in total yards if they had those normal possessions.

Heard a rumor that Richlands was picking up Ridgeview instead of Abingdon, any truth to this?

I agree. I was at the Richlands and Union games. I was also there Union's open week. Not even close to being full.

Obviously GC is the overwhelming favorite... I know Abingdon graduated their 2 best players/scorers. I haven't really heard much about them this Fall though... Wise Central is the "Great Unknown" after losing such a skilled player & leader... Union should definitely be good enough to contend for 2nd; especially with the Slagle kid back. I really enjoyed the few times I got to see him play... Battle should be better this year. They return their best scorers/ballhandlers. But they did graduate a key post player & a contributing "athlete". I think they will definitely be good enough for 2nd as well.......... GC & Union both have a great non-conference schedule as usual... Abingdon & Wise Central seem to have pretty much the same schedules... Battle has replaced the 2 games vs Holston with games against Sullivan South & Sullivan East. This should help them in Conference play... Lee did show some flashes last season. I wouldn't be surprised if they upset a couple of these teams. I don't think they lost much from last year... And I honestly haven't heard anything about Ridgeview up to this point. I do remember them shooting a bunch of 3's last year. So maybe they have improved on that & can make it even tighter....... 2-7 should definitely be competitive & fun to watch this season.

Correct. I never played high school football. But that in no way means I don't know or understand the game. And I would hope that Graham and Radford go into the game thinking they have a shot. But we are fans. And some of us like to look at things more realistically than others. The reality is that East Rock has been putting the state on notice since late September. Obviously Graham has, too. But my opinion, as it has been for months now, is that every team in the state was playing for 2nd, that included Appo. Sorry if you don't like my opinion, but that's what it is. An opinion.

That can't possibly be true. According to the VHSL, Legion holds 5,000. That would require it to be 100% full to capacity to be a "minimum of 5k fans." At the Richlands game, the GC side was maybe 70% full, and the visitor GC side was sparse. I know you're trying to minimize the impact of what is going on at GC, but sometimes facts are facts.

I am also a friend with D. Palmer. He's a top quality coach, knows defense, a real student of the game, and a good person. I'm with you when only one Tazewell County team remains, I cheer them on to victory. Hoping Graham gets by Radford and can represent Tazewell County in championship game. I would be thrilled for both Palmers, other coaches, and players to bring home that ring.

Ridgeview is alsi trying to pick up Chilhowie on there schedule.

No problems if you win.

It's hard to tell what we will have next year right now. A lot of new players will have to step up. Cox certainly has the build. He's listed as 6'4 210 as a freshman. He'll compete for the job and will probably be the frontrunner when all is said and done. But he will be a sophomore, so you know you're going to have a few mistakes that comes with a youthful QB in a tough schedule. Also have the replace Brown at RB, three WR (Horn, Cole, Hess) and one OL (Moore). At least the line will be mostly returning starters. On defense you lose Toney, Adkins and Wade that were solely defensive guys. You also lose Horn, Cole and Hess who all played roles on the defensive side as well. So a lot of unknowns right now. The JV team went 5-3. They beat Virginia, GC, Graham, Tazewell and Marion and lost to Abingdon, Graham and Bluefield. We'll know more as the winter progresses and into 7 on 7's.

Any truth to this being lunacy?

If Allen can do what he has been doing I like the g-mens chances to win it all to...the Lester kid is good too...but the 4 games I've watched them play this year it's been all cam Allen...the 2 running backs hasn't been a factor in any of those games.

If you researched all that out you have way to much time on your hands!

With what I've heard and what I've seen in the past, the Gmen have a very good chance of winning it all. The Radford team is a good team but I don't think they will not be able to handle Grahams attack offense, and their big offensive plays. I think Graham has a chance to be the team to beat in the final, no matter who they play from the east. I'm going out on a limb, but its a strong one, and say Graham wins it all. Go Gmen, make SWVA proud.

Hats off to Graham and as promised in my post, we all are now pulling for the Gmen. I think Graham has a good chance to bring the hardware back to SWVA and I hope they stay injury free the rest of the way. Cam Alley is my grandson's first cousin. My grandson's live in Alaska and listen to all the games via internet and they love to rub papaw when the Blues loose, but I'm glad Cam is having a good season, and hope the Gmen go all the way. One Blues Fan that doesn't care to say the Gmen are the most talented team in SWVA this year and I believe they will win State. Go Gmen!!!

When you were watching the game was MAC actually guarding Clemons? I saw a guy post something on a Georgetown message board with his points broken down by who was guarding him. He scored 25 while Akinjo was on him. He scored 13 when Jagan was guarding him and 7 points in transition. None of his 45 points came while MAC was guarding him according to that poster. I didn't watch the game so I don't know. Looking at your posts, you insinuate that MAC was the primary defender and poking at the 6 points not being a good trade off to giving up 45 points.

The main defender on Clemons was Akinjo. I'm sure at times MAC guarded him but not most of the game. A lot of his points seemed late in the game when he was jacking up 3's and making them. If MAC was from Graham then the doubters would give him the time that's needed but since he's from GC they're already trying to say he can't hack it.

Just like last season at GC, he could not do enough to satisfy some. He is starting on a D1 team, that should shut some up, but it hasn't.

Bingo!

Agreed ... "Credit Graham and move on."

83-10 in 2 games. 7 of those coming late on a running clock. I think the poster has an excellent point about Grahams defense Good luck to Graham moving forward. Great effort by Richlands making the most with what they had. Good luck with basketball to Richlands. Credit Graham and move on.

I agree, that series was a killer for Richlands. We can throw "whatifs" around all night long but the only thing that matters is the score when the board hits 00:00. Richlands gave a valiant effort. Graham is just better.

all district is the only accolade that several of these young men will receive. nothing wrong with that, wanna say in who gets what, coach. great job to all and good luck to swd this week.

This week is the Semi-final round of the TSSAA Playoffs. 1A has Greenback (12-0) @ Whitwell (13-0) and Cornersville (13-0) @ Lake County (12-1)....All chalk in this bracket 2A has Meigs County (13-0) @ Trousdale County (10-3) and Waverly (10-3) @ Peabody (12-1) 3A has Alcoa (13-0) @ Upperman (13-0) and Stratford (5-8) @ Covington (13-0).................Yes Stratford is still playing they came into the playoffs 2-8 and have beaten Camden, Pearl Cohn and Fairview. Just goes to show you don't ever know in sports! 4A has Greenevillie (13-0) @ Maplewood (12-1) and Springfield (11-2) @ Haywood County (9-4).....The Mighty Greene Devils roll on now winners of 28 straight games 5A has Knox Central (11-2) @ Knox Catholic (9-3) and Page (12-1) @ Henry County (12-1).....Knox Central travels to West Knoxville for a trip to Cookeville.. 6A has Maryville (12-1) @ Oakland (12-1) and Ravenwood (11-2) @ Whitehaven (10-3). Maryville defeated Oakland 24-21 at Maryville in week three of the season. Whitehaven upset Germantown last week in Germantown.