JDHoss

I'm from Appy, and I think they should play a game at Riggs every year.
But the playoff atmosphere at the park is top notch. 

As some of you know, I live in south Florida and take in a ton of games (28 this season) due to games on Thursdays and Fridays because of shared stadiums and referee shortages. This year, I saw 32 different teams, and while all but 5 of those teams would solidly thump or mercy rule Graham and Union, there are NONE of those teams who play with the passion those kids played with today, and there is NO place down there that is in the same universe in terms of game atmosphere as what I saw today. I wish I had a video of it to show those people. 

As some of you know, I live in south Florida and take in a ton of games (28 this season) due to games on Thursdays and Fridays because of shared stadiums and referee shortages. This year, I saw 32 different teams, and while all but 5 of those teams would solidly thump or mercy rule Graham and Union, there are NONE of those teams who play with the passion those kids played with today, and there is NO place down there that is in the same universe in terms of game atmosphere as what I saw today. I wish I had a video of it to show those people. 

As some of you know, I live in south Florida and take in a ton of games (28 this season) due to games on Thursdays and Fridays because of shared stadiums and referee shortages. This year, I saw 32 different teams, and while all but 5 of those teams would solidly thump or mercy rule Graham and Union, there are NONE of those teams who play with the passion those kids played with today, and there is NO place down there that is in the same universe in terms of game atmosphere as what I saw today. I wish I had a video of it to show those people. 

Graham vs Union yesterday was hands down one of the best football games I’ve been to. The momentum swings and roller coaster of emotions all game long was unbelievable. 

After time to chill and gather my thoughts, here’s what I think (I know all y’all just waiting to hear my final take as you guys respect me sooo much):
 
First off hats off to Graham, Tony Palmer and the Graham staff for an excellent job of preparing thru the week. They knew how to attack Union, where Union would attack back and had his team mentally prepared for four full quarters of war. 
Union was also very well prepared and knew they had the advantage in a few areas and consistently exploited them as well and were prepared for a full four quarter battle. 
 
But Graham found out early Clemens was ready to rock. Before the play from the 1, I don’t believe any other offensive player for Graham had a touch. The QBs job consisted of saying hut and getting out of the way. Graham realized Union was seeing Clemens (from now on 5 to save me time lol) for the first time full strength this season and was not ready to consistently get him on the ground, so they said here Travis, here’s what we gonna do, stop it. Union could not do it and that’s the ballgame. 
 
Graham almost let the moment get to them and fumble away a golden opportunity. The first and goal ending up outside of FG range was wild and could have put lesser teams in a blender. 
 
Union had their chance to really step on Grahams neck and couldn’t do it. 4th and 3 from the three and get turned away while up three. A score there and possibly a conversion and now Graham maybe thinks they can’t just run 5 and have to go somewhere else who would undoubtedly be less effective. But with the stop, Graham regained control and never looked back.
 
Union played a fantastic game for most of the game. A couple untimely penalties and a few mistakes like burning time outs but other than that, the offense was almost mechanical in its efficiency. The defense, well not as much lol. But I can’t fault the Union D as much as 5 and the Graham OL deserve credit. They didn’t allow Union to swarm 5 before he got going and that was the difference. If Union was getting off blocks and meeting 5 before he builds up any speed at the LOS, Union wins and likely by two scores like the first game. But the Graham OL deserves a whales share of credit, 5s individual effort was insane but the big boys up front gave him just enough room to take off. 
 
 
On the flip side, Grahams DL and LBs better hit the film room this week. If Reyshawn can make you squirm, Clark can melt you. The Graham DL at times got pushed around just like the Union group and it allowed the Bears to just eat clock and march. But they made a couple huge stops the Bears couldn’t get and that proved to be the difference. 
 
now, the officials. It evened out, by the end. A lot of the Graham calls were procedural and not opinion calls like the false starts. The holding hurt both teams, the targeting hurt both teams, so I don’t believe either team really got an advantage in the end. A big targeting in the first half that was iffy went the other way in the second. A holding call stalls Graham and then the same happens to Union. Some are sure Bunch committed PI in the end zone, I was on that end. Take the names off the jersey and it’s still not a flag I think. Both plays Bunch had great position and didn’t hit the WR in any real way before the ball. 
 
The better team won by executing when it matters, like Roberts standing in and delivering two STRIKES late in the fourth to seal it. Union couldn’t get off the field and Graham escaped with a hard fought win. 
 
I hate to see Reyshawn Anderson lose. That kid is so tough, so talented and such a gamer. Without him Union loses by 21+. He is a leader and has improved a ton as a passer to go along with elite athleticism and grit that you can’t teach. 

Wow......what a game. What an environment. 2 great programs, 2 great traditions, 2 great fan bases. Hate to see someone had to lose. Fortunately it was our day. But the Union Bears are a great team and you had a great season.  Looking forward to more next year. Nothing but respect.

As some of you know, I live in south Florida and take in a ton of games (28 this season) due to games on Thursdays and Fridays because of shared stadiums and referee shortages. This year, I saw 32 different teams, and while all but 5 of those teams would solidly thump or mercy rule Graham and Union, there are NONE of those teams who play with the passion those kids played with today, and there is NO place down there that is in the same universe in terms of game atmosphere as what I saw today. I wish I had a video of it to show those people. 

Graham and Union have played 12 times. Graham has won 6, Union has won 6. 
Grahams record at Bullitt Park is 4-2. Unions record at Mitchell is 4-2. 
 
You can’t draw up a better rivalry. 

Good god quit bitching about the refs people....they are going to miss calls, they are human...but they aren't trying to cheat anyone

*Germans

Gofan sells tickets on line. Go to the TSSAA web site under Playoff Headquarters and scroll down to the game you want to buy tickets for. I hope you get to both of the games should be fun. 

Would have made a very deep run in 04 had they been classified correctly in D1 instead of losing to state runner up PV in D2 playoffs. 

Lots of coaching experience in Rye Cove's corner.

I give them a 1 in 8 chance.

Several good places. Curklins, Good Times, Moon Dog, the best Chinese place around Red Flower, Big Cherry Brewing and Black Bear BBQ in Appy. No shortage of good food

Concessions are good. That’s probably what I’ll eat tomorrow. 
 
Big Cherry Brewing Co. is right downtown near the post office. If you can slide in there they have a really cool atmosphere and the food is good. 

Probably should be district lineman of the year but probably wouldn’t get that kind of recognition across the district since he is a freshman.  I have a lot of confidence he’s going to get better and better the way he works too. 

It is google chrome. try this fix for fourseasons.
1. Go to the site using chrome.
2. Click on the lock or circles (depending on the version you have) in the address bar to the LEFT of the web address
3. Click on site settings
4. Click on privacy and security
5. Scroll down to the choice named insecure content.
6. Change the setting to "allow" OR
6  Copy and paste the website address when prompted
You have to tell Chrome that even though Chrome thinks the site is insecure to allow it to show on your device.

Appalachia and jonesville won state in the 80s at 5-5

The problem with only four teams advancing is you can have some really good teams miss the playoffs. I know George Wythe and Galax both have missed playoffs with 9-1 records before and Galax only had 28 points scored on them that whole year. 
   As far as a record cutoff, where is the line? Galax win state in 2015 with a 6-4 regular season record. 

I've seen this discussion play out every year on message boards from various states after some ridiculous 1st round blowouts. That extra round provides the VH$L (and other associations) with a nice chunk of change for their operating budget, and they are not going to give that up under any circumstances. 

Disclaimer:  I'm not a coach, but if life allows me more time in the future, I'd love to coach little league. Working on the fundamentals, knowing that it will pay off when they reach varsity.
I think the #1 reason that coaches do what they do and put up with what they do, is the love of the sport and wanting to stay connected in some way. The #2 reason would have to be love of their community.
Some do it for ego I'm sure. Those are the ones that apply for and take any job they can to get started. Try to prove themselves enough for the next "bigger" job until they're where they want to be. Then, they try to win as much as possible to get noticed so they can keep climbing the ladder. I think Thad Wells fits nicely into this category. I'm not saying anything is necessarily wrong with that, but it's probably more ambition than love of the community.
In most people, there's an innate desire for a challenge. What, specifically, that challenge is varies from person to person. Maybe it's state titles, maybe it's building a program or mentoring young men to prepare them to be responsible adults. Whatever that challenge is keeps them going.
Take Keith Warner at TS for example. What are the odds that he wins a state championship with such a low enrollment? He's done wonders there, and without a doubt knows the odds are stacked against him each and every year. I know he loves his community and those kids. He took on the task of head coach because he hated to see the program in the state it was in. Where does he go from here? He could go 6-4 or 7-3 every year, never win a playoff game, district/regional title and people would still say that he's doing a great job with the numbers he has. Will that be his career or will he go to a bigger school? Time will tell.
One thing is for certain. No coach in this area does it for the money.

Over my lifetime, my observation is that coaching careers are generally shorter. Some areas are more successful in regards to wins and losses than others for a variety of reasons. Those expectations likely increase the amount of stress leading to those shorter careers. I know the values are not mutually exclusive, (striving to win helps instill many virtues), but I’m curious how much the experience and reasons vary from community to community. For example, how different is the prevailing reason for coaches in powerhouses versus the average community with little hopes for state titles? Why do you do it?
If any posters are current or former coaches, thank you for your service to your communities regardless of the answers.
 
(This may be a good question for ATW, as the hosts all coached at smaller schools.)

Too many teams in playoffs...period