Mountain Football

My advice to the City of Galax...DON'T DO IT!!!
 
The turf fields wear out rather quickly considering the price tag.  Plus, there are a lot of "hidden" costs that they may not be able or willing to meet in the future like the routine maintenance/upkeep required to keep the field usable year in and year out.  Then in about 15 or so years, you'll be looking to replace the field entirely with a new rug.
 
For most communities, they can't afford it.
 
The turf at Mitchell Stadium is shot due to the amount of use (little leagues, middle school, jv and varsity high school, and Bluefield College practicing on it every day).  The City of Bluefield doesn't have the money to replace it.  It was originally funded by the Shott Foundation when it was first installed with the agreement that the City would take care of it.  Well, they haven't.  Skipped maintenance, excessive use, and an idiot with a snow plow have worn it out in what I consider to be a very short time for something so expensive.  Now, I'm hearing rumors of the City of Bluefield wanting to hike the "usage fee" charged to Bluefield High School, Graham High School, and Bluefield College by over 60% in the coming years.  I'm pretty certain neither Mercer nor Tazewell Counties are going to pay that sort of increase. 
 
Keep the grass.

Couple of years ago I had the opportunity of helping coach a Peewee team.  We played against a team that was running the Singlewing.  They ran it pretty good to be at the Peewee level.  Their first offensive possession was about a 70 yard touchdown run.  One coach was allowed on the field at the time, and it happened to be me this time.  My middle LB, who was a really good ball player, turned around and said "sorry coach I had no idea where the ball was at".  I replied "Don't feel bad neither did I".  Needless to say the rest of the game was pretty much the same way.  The Singlewing has the ability of making a defense look and feel like a dog chasing it's tail and Giles runs it to perfection.

Couple of years ago I had the opportunity of helping coach a Peewee team.  We played against a team that was running the Singlewing.  They ran it pretty good to be at the Peewee level.  Their first offensive possession was about a 70 yard touchdown run.  One coach was allowed on the field at the time, and it happened to be me this time.  My middle LB, who was a really good ball player, turned around and said "sorry coach I had no idea where the ball was at".  I replied "Don't feel bad neither did I".  Needless to say the rest of the game was pretty much the same way.  The Singlewing has the ability of making a defense look and feel like a dog chasing it's tail and Giles runs it to perfection.

Couple of years ago I had the opportunity of helping coach a Peewee team.  We played against a team that was running the Singlewing.  They ran it pretty good to be at the Peewee level.  Their first offensive possession was about a 70 yard touchdown run.  One coach was allowed on the field at the time, and it happened to be me this time.  My middle LB, who was a really good ball player, turned around and said "sorry coach I had no idea where the ball was at".  I replied "Don't feel bad neither did I".  Needless to say the rest of the game was pretty much the same way.  The Singlewing has the ability of making a defense look and feel like a dog chasing it's tail and Giles runs it to perfection.

Graham is coming off a bye week. That usually translates to coming out flat for most teams. We really need to be able to get over the hump against quality opponents. I hope Cousin has the ball in his hands at least 20 times. 9-15 carries a game isn't going to be enough for the next 3 games.

I know it's easy to come out flat after a bye week but I think it benefits Graham having theirs before Giles. Two weeks to prepare for the single wing is better than one

"Thad! Hey, it's Greg, how you doing? Got some questions for you..."

Completely understand your position.
 
During my time at VirginiaPreps, I did some things well and I have some regrets about not doing enough in other areas. Ultimately, I found some people willing to help and others more interested in throwing up obstacles. It's all part of the game, no problem. The more that I learned about SWVA, the more that my perspective changed. It was great fun.
 
I wouldn't expect my voice to carry much weight on that side of the state, that's fine.It won't stop me from trying to have conversations with people who seem to enjoy high school football as much as I do.
 
One of my favorite memories from my time there was my trip to the Richlands/Union game last season and, were I still with the site, I'd likely have made that trip (or a different one to SWVA) this season.
 
As a coach now, I've found my perspective on things continues to change and I'm sure that I will find people willing to have conversations about new ideas both here and in other places.
 
Appreciate your time, sixcat.

I don't believe anyone is suggesting you have an "outrageous idea".  While I agree, ranking from previous years shouldn't be factored into the following season, I still find it both fascinating and curious that VAPreps didn't reach out to this part of the state for so many years, yet, wanted to be taken seriously as a source for all things high school athletics.  Kudos to you, sir for doing so but you will have to expect a little mistrust given the landscape of VHSL athletics and the role VAPreps played in moving that perpetually forward.
 
I have advocated your being here from the beginning and even defended you openly in various forums.  You have taken strong stances and even called Tidewater and Richmond area schools out for complaining about travel time given what our communities have to deal with.  For that, I give you more kudos.  
 
But the fact remains, your opinion, regardless of how accurate I believe it to be concerning rankings and polls, regardless of how subjective they may be, simply doesn't carry very much weight on this side of the state.

This is the difference in a team knowing how to win and a team hoping it would. Congrats, Richlands. Hope we can play double or nothing in the playoffs.

I feel like Cousin was under used this week and I also thought that Mitchell was under used last week by Union.  When you have athletes of that caliber, you need to get them the ball in any way possible.  But I have said before,  I'm a really good arm chair QB/coach.
I am so proud of how the Blues played hard all game and was really glad to see us use Lowe on offense some tonight.  The coaches made some great adjustments at half and the radio said that Devon Johnson gave a half time speech that fired up the guys.......good for him !
Just would like to see us start the game off a little better.  Seems like JLA is struggling to start the game,  but then gets it going.  Liked how they let him run some tonight.
Good luck Gman with the rest of your season !

Very good discussion. My perspective has changed a little over the years. I agree that there often are advantages early in life, but they often come out in the end. My thoughts:
1. I don't consider a child with an August to December birthday as a holdback, unless starting 2 years after earliest available enrollment. As a parent, you either start them at 4/turning 5 (making them the youngest), or 5/turning (oldest). I had an October birthday and my parents chose the latter. I don't know how much it helped or hurt at the time, but I did well in school. I have a younger son with an August birthday, so I will be making the choice much later.
2. There is definitely more holding back for athletic purposes now than in my day. There are also athletic advantages from doing so in the high school level. (Under today's eligibility rules, I could have "held back" and have played at 18/turning 19. I only mention this because I always worked out the same, but put on 20 lbs of muscle and got faster over the summer after graduation. It would have made a difference on the field.
3. For the reason above, I disagree with that practice for purely athletic purposes. For division 1 athletes it's not likely to make a difference, for everyone else it could. Thomas Jones is a great example. I don't know for certain, but I believe Heath Miller heldback. (If not, I apologize). I'm sure some of the others have. I would say, some non-D1 talents had better opportunities for paid education at a small school level.
4. Based on my experience with boys vs girls, boys are definitely behind girls in maturity. That often is reflected in school settings. It is often not issues with intelligence, but functioning in a school environment (i.e. sitting still and focusing for periods of time).
5. My last point has made me consider my entire stances and it comes down to purpose. I have a son with a March birthday that is very good with some factual information (colors, letters, numbers, etc.) BUT upon research, evaluations, etc. he has been said to have some "delays" (example speech). Without help, there is the potential of him being behind. I hope to not have to make that decision to hold back in elementary given professional feedback from teachers, but have to consider the child first. I just know that if athletics are in his future, that extra year is advantageous, even though I disagree doing for athletics.

I have found out a long time ago that an age doesn't mean anything in being mature.I was stomping around Beirut in 1983 and there were much younger Marines than me there also.We have picked up,cleaned ,cooked and insisted that most of our kids let us pay for things ,that way they don't have to work .If they need to mature, maybe we need to do that at home, another year on the tax payers dime will not make them grow up,only we can.There are a lot of veterans out there that will agree, wars are fought by 17, and 18 yr olds and ROSS ANDREW MCGINNIS WAS BARELY 19 when he won the MEDAL OF HONOR. So maturity doesn't come with age,just responsibility.if a kid gets hurt or sick or his grades need improving,by all means let him repeat that grade ,but not because the shelf is stocked full of all state QBs this year,and we need him next year.Again I point to Thomas JONES, 17 YRS OLD when he went to UVA and 19 when he received his degree.

My wife teaches middle school aged kids and the few times that either she or any parents have suggested that a kid be held back is because of maturity issues. She has never had a parent ask for it because of sports that she can remember.
Now of course, I am not saying it hasn't happen with another teacher or school, of course it has, she just has not seen it. We have heard about several kids that probably did it for sports, but she hasn't had any expierence with it....yet, and she has taught for 31 years.
I talked with her about it quite a bit last night. She said her personal view/policy about it is, if a kid is quite a bit behind the rest as far as socially and maturity then she will talk to the parents about possibly holding one back.
It can be a big step for some kids with that kind of issue to go from middle school to the high school.
It can be a big step for a lot of kids even without those issues. The goal is to make sure each kid is equipped to move on and have the skills and ability to do their best when they do move up.

I think we will see an exciting football game Thursday evening for sure.  I just hope the GHS band can perform the National Anthem this time without butchering it.  There is absolutely no doubt in my mind being a trumpet player and performing the National Anthem in front of 10 or 12 thousand would be tough and my hat is off to all those kids out there doing it.  No matter what sport you play hearing our National Anthem and what it stands for can get your head straight and ready to go.  A good friend of mine in high school played the Anthem solo as a trumpet player.  I always admired him for getting out there and nailing it week in and week out.  So GHS band we're pulling for you too!!!

I think we will see an exciting football game Thursday evening for sure.  I just hope the GHS band can perform the National Anthem this time without butchering it.  There is absolutely no doubt in my mind being a trumpet player and performing the National Anthem in front of 10 or 12 thousand would be tough and my hat is off to all those kids out there doing it.  No matter what sport you play hearing our National Anthem and what it stands for can get your head straight and ready to go.  A good friend of mine in high school played the Anthem solo as a trumpet player.  I always admired him for getting out there and nailing it week in and week out.  So GHS band we're pulling for you too!!!

It's been happening for a long time.  The basketball staff tried to convince my mother to allow my brother to be held back in 7th and again in 8th grade.  My mother refused to allow it and he graduated at 17 and played college basketball.
 
Steven Peoples also graduated high school at 17.  It has been my experience, the younger kids who grow up having to compete against the older kids are the ones who develop more.  That may not be true across the board for other areas but every kid I know who graduated at 19 didn't become the college star their coaches, administrators and parents thought they would become. 

I'm glad I wasn't in Richlands Friday night. Sounds like there was a whole lot of shooting going on down there!!

I'm glad I wasn't in Richlands Friday night. Sounds like there was a whole lot of shooting going on down there!!

Now at Ferrum started his college career yesterday with 167 yds rushing and 2 TD's plus a 2 point conversion and also 102 return yards in a 39-38 win over Emory & Henry....they had lost the last 9 games to E&H before yesterday.
 
Great kid and a great player and the entire Spartan community is very proud of this kid.
 
One of the best Giles has ever had and hope he continues to do great things at Ferrum!

I can't imagine that level of pain. Prayers for the Lebanon community, and this kid's family.

We sold our stash of old useless cleats.......

Richlands is a fundraising machine. They have a ton of support.
My question is why does Tazewell county not have handicap seating on the away side of their stadiums? Neither Tazewell or Richlands has handicap seating on away side. Well poor seating period on away side.

Richlands is a fundraising machine. They have a ton of support.
My question is why does Tazewell county not have handicap seating on the away side of their stadiums? Neither Tazewell or Richlands has handicap seating on away side. Well poor seating period on away side.

Giles.