GOGMENGO

SW VA Fan, thanks. Nice memories from the "Old Southwest District"!! I fondly remember that play and the 1981 G-Men with Eddie Neel, Eddie Hall, Mark Cundiff, Kimbo Spencer, Lee Grimes and the rest of the team. Also, miss the "Old Southwest District" which included Graham, Tazewell, Richlands, Grundy, Marion, Patrick Henry, John Battle and Abingdon.

Yes, Chris Akers was part of the George Washington coaching staff which produced the AAC Offensive Player of the Year at Virginia Tech and former NY Giants' running back, David Wilson. CoachedB4, I have nothing against Tony Palmer. I remember him as a excellent player on the Graham 1989 State Championship Football Team and I am not even going to comment on his so called Barons' experience. However, in my opinion he simply just does not have the coaching experience or qualifications to be the Head Coach of a tradition rich football program such as Graham. I do have concerns with those on this forum trying to promote an unproven assistant coach from within a struggling program into the Head Coach position. Remember Graham lost 70-0 in their last playoff game and I believe Graham needs a complete change of direction starting with a Head Coach who should not be from the current staff. If they were winning, I would feel differently. Chris Akers is not even my first choice. If I were choosing my first choice would be Nick Colobro a former Bluefield Beaver, former Tazewell Head Coach, former Gate City Head Coach who is retired but still assisting at Abingdon High School. There are others who come to mind that are very qualified too such as Greg Mance from Richlands (Sorry GMen, Richland is now a much better job and he is not coming), I.S. Ingo from George Wythe who won a State Championship two years ago, Dave Litz who won the last State Championship in Tazewell, Bobby Wyatt, Harris Hart, Beckley Head Coach and former Bluefield Beaver John Lilly, former long term assistant and Graham Head Wrestling Coach, Tim Woodward, younger Freddie Simons who assists his father at Bluefield and even Glenn Carlock Jr. who ran the offensive for his father. The last time Graham chose a "trainer" as Head Coach with no real coaching experience and you see what happened. I just hope history does not repeat itself.

CoachB4 from your comments above you know Palmer well and the kids like him. So, he is a good guy and gets along with a few current players who will not be there in the long term. If you really were a coach before then you should know when you are an assistant coach it is easy to be one of the guys and keep the kids happy. It is a big part of being an assistant coach. However, when you become a Head Coach and you can't make everyone happy for the good of the team, maybe more players will not be your buddy. You said the don't know much about Chris Akers who is not a "kid" with over 10 years of winning experience in much larger programs. Chris was a long time assistant coach at AAA George Washington High School in Danville where he served also as the Head JV Coach and in his final years was their offensive coordinator and won their District. He left Danville with his former Head Coach going to Roanoke and William Fleming High School to become an offensive coordinator helping them to revitalize their program. He wanted to be a Head Coach and was selected for the job at Rural Retreat High School. In his first year he took Rural Retreat back into the playoffs despite only have two returning starters and mostly underclassmen. Beating Mountain Empire teams Bland, Narrows and Grayson County (who beat Graham). Had two running backs with over 1,000 yards rushing who never ran the ball before this year. Does Mr. Palmer have these coaching credentials? This would be like saying if the Chief of Police job came open in Bluefield, VA that Akers would be an equal candidate to long term Police Office Palmer just because he has friends in the community and watched a few CSI television shows. If Graham gets Akers as their Head Coach they will be the lucky ones.

I totally agree with the comments of EH31. I don't believe Graham's current assistant coaches are bad, they just need new leadership. Remember assistant coaches come and go but the Head Coach sets the tone for the program. Graham needs to hire someone who will bring a new and fresh approach to the team. Also, this person needs to be a teacher/coach who will not only lead his players in practice and games but be part of their day to day lives at school. Football is not a minor sport and takes a year round committment. Experience in other successful programs and Head Coach experience is a must for Graham's successor.

Chris Akers needs to be on everyone's list as a strong candidate for the job. Akers is currently the Head Coach at Rural Retreat High School with experience at larger schools. He is a Graham Alumnus who played for Glen Carlock, Sr. and would be committed to transforming the the program back to being a contender. Graham still has the players, they just need a leader at Head Coach. I have read the comments about hiring from the current staff. However, who promotes an assistant coach from within a strugglying program? Also, isn't this what the former coach William wanted when he was quoted in the local newspaper? "I would like to see somone from my staff get the position." Maybe William still wants to be involved from behind the scences. No matter who is selected it needs to be someone who is not from the current regime. Total change is needed and it has to start with the Head Coach.

Hope the "West" wins!!!