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This is a myth that has been bought into by most high school coaches. A team is more successful with athletes who play multiple sports as opposed to a roster of players who specialize in only one sport. A majority of colleges prefer that their recruits play multiple sports and any high school coach encouraging their players to focus only one is doing a disservice to their players and the school.

Galax is a prime example that this is indeed a very accurate statement! Galax has state championships in football, basketball (2), baseball, soccer (5), and several individual state champions in wrestling since Mark Dixon took over the football and weight/conditioning program in 2010. Those 9 state championship teams were littered with the same kids. The dozen or so individual wrestling state champions also played football, baseball and/or soccer.

thanks for that

A few weeks ago, I was in a local grocery store picking up a few items...middle of the day...not many customers . I'm pushing a cart and get to a middle aisle … as I turn up the aisle an employee is stocking a shelf and the aisle is down to one lane … there are three young men coming in the opposite direction toward me with the back guy pushing a cart. The guy stocking is doing his 'thing'...so, I pull my cart back out and motion the young men to come on around the stocker as I'm just starting up the aisle...however, the young men motioned for me to move forward up the aisle and I did. THEN I noticed who these young men were...whoa...really, can it be...yes it was...some of the young BRAVES!!! I 'played' it cool...and nodded and thanked them as I walked by... they were in street clothes but I KNEW who they were. WE watch the BRAVES and there was no doubt who I just passed in the aisle. (They had on tee shirts and shorts.) The two in front are starters for the team (hint, A and A), I didn't really get a good look at the one pushing the cart but have an opinion on who it was... just goes to show you never know who you might run into in the aisle of a grocery store. :)

The season will be here before we know it and it's time to start up the annual SWVA Sports Top 10 Poll! Bearcat Dad has passed the reigns to me for this fall and I'll be accepting responses for the preseason poll through a Google Form until Aug 28th To fill out the poll, go here: https://forms.gle/4aje4MHRDpnojyEA7

5-5 7-3 at best 3-7 at worst

That’s a great example of coaching by allowing his players the full experience of high school sports. Some high profile coaches , especially in the 2 most profitable sports, still believe that in pressuring kids into focusing just on their sport. Sometimes it’s more about ego than preparation. Coach Dixon is doing it right. He knows his players don’t need 9 months of preparation before game 1. He also knows the benifits of multi sport athletes. Give me a wrestler at nose guard , at linebacker or the interior offensive line. You won’t need to spend hours on tackling drills or footwork with those guys. Give me a SS or a Catcher who wants that QB spot. His mechanics will be ingrained into his brain. Or a Safety that plays centerfield. His ball skills and track down speed will improve faster than anyone hanging around the weight room. A smart coach would know these things, at least one without a ginormous ego.

I believe a huge problem with Battles system is that they have a former MLB player coaching their baseball team which is a great thing and he is a great guy. But now all the young kids and their parents are getting the idea that oh there is a former MLB player coaching my son or that my son is playing with his kids that they are automatically going to the BIGs. I may come across as putting him down but I don't feel it's right to be having travel ball tryouts for next summers baseball team while football is getting ramped up and making the boys decided on which they won't to play; it's you are going to sit the bench in baseball if you play football at a youth age. Also Sullivan North seemed like they had as many if not fewer than Battle had last night.

This is why you're going to struggle mightily in the 2020s, regardless of coach.

Share your comments afterwards, please. I’m not able to go see Graham thus I started this thread so those who do make scrimmages can let others know first impressions. I may catch Richlands on Friday though as I’ll be done that way.

Planning on checking out Graham and Glenvar in Christiansburg on Thursday. I want to see how the line holds up against a big and experienced Glenvar line.

Union will be breaking in at least 1 new QB. Possibly 2 or 3.

I think he will be a solid QB How many other M7 Teams are breaking in a new QB this season and how is there early progress?

I never understand that about coaches sometimes. If I got a younger kid who's as good or better than a Upperclassman I'm rolling with the Young Buck. It would of really helped RV if Phillips would have got his experience last year. I'm excited to see the passing game against Tazwell it will be a good test because they will have some good Athletes playing the DB position.

Nick will be fine by the end of the season you will be wondering why he wasn't the qb last year

Every thing I am hearing backs that up I think Phillips will be fine (probably better than fine) there is no doubt that is will be the fastest QB that we have had in the backfield since the school opened. I know he has a strong arm as well I just want to see his dissension making and whether our WRs can catch a pass in a game before getting to excited LOL. That being said a QB that can run puts ALOT of pressure on a Defense. Personaly i look for the Tazewell scrimmage to be all about testing out the WRs and the passing game as well as sliding in as many backup running backs to see which one sticks as our #2

Will these be made public? As always, if you’re so obstinate as to not place teams like Bluefield and Radford on your poll for various idiotic reasons, I feel as if the rest of this site should be aware of the fools skewing the poll, and judge that accordingly.

Graham/Bluefield game had a ton of talent. Isiah Johnson - 247 ranking 4 star - 73 overall for class of 2021 Brody Meadows - 247 ranking 4 star - 90 overall for class of 2022 Sean Martin - 247 ranking 3 star - 538 overall for class of 2020 JJ Davis - 247 ranking 3 star - 664 overall rank for class of 2020 Kaulin Paris - WVU committ Devin Lester - Old Dominion Committ