Marlin35

If I were Union I would just blitz the far out of GC. And let Mitchell/Qualls run the read option every play. It's literally that easy to beat us. 

Akers is struck on the wishbone. No clue why, it's a cluster you know what. The T actually made sense, the T put you in positions to out number the defense. In the T, if everyone just "got a piece" on their block (including backs) the back with the ball was already 4 yards deep into the 2nd level. The wishbone is a lot of spinning, pulling, and leaving defense players unblocked for a "zone like" read. I'm sorry, but you never leave a defensive lineman unblocked unless it's the read option out of the gun. The wishbone is the slowest developing formation I've ever seen. We are not even running it somewhat well either. We have players bumping into each other in the backfield, RBs are hitting Sallee as he is trying to hand the ball off to someone else. Backside defensive players are making tackles cause they are unblocked when a lineman pulls. I can sit in the stands and call Akers plays. So you know for a fact a defensive coord sees that too. But I could also sit in the stands and tell you what we were gonna do out of the T, but it's something we had perfected. The T is something players had ran for 8-9 years and we're comfortable with. I bet if you asked half those kids now they have never heard of the wishbone until Akers showed up. I am a firm believer you adapt your offense to you talent, we don't have the speed or power to run the bone. 
Another note, everyone points fingers at the talent level. I fully disagree with that. GC has always been known to take whoever and make them something. GC had always took overachievers, hard working, blue collar, hardnosed, stubborn kids, and took on true talented football teams and prevailed. As the saying goes, hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard. Give Colobro this team in the mid 2000's and I bet they would be a whole lot better than what they are now. Good coaches/programs make good players, not inherit them. I grew up with kids who in Little League and Middle school lacked something. Once Colobro got ahold of them something changed. Colobro invested in his players, he built them, he gave them the confidence that they could do anything. Now we rely on good players just sliding into positions instead of helping players become good. Until we get a coach that players respect, fear, and love all at the same time it's gonna be rough sledding. I feared Colobro, while respecting him, Colobro would make me mad, but I loved him. Hardest thing to do as a coach is earn respect of your players. Akers shot that right off the bat by trying to change the tradition at GC. He said no jerseys on game day and that kids had to wear dress shirts and ties. It's been a downhill slide for Akers since. He's had the players and players families against him since last August. He finally went slack on that "rule" and let them wear jerseys on gameday. He started this season with dress shirts and ties again. Players got livid, he went back on his word on that rule in week 2. A coach keeps changing rules on the fly will never be respected. The guy cannot make his mind up (unless it's about his offense). 
The man also called 4 offensive plays vs Abingdon that the players have never heard of before and some players just looked at the sideline with a shrug in confusion. How does that even happen? Akers takes a step backwards each week. He hasn't proved that he is the man for the job with 15 games under his belt. Without Gary Collier intervening last season and MAKING Akers go to the spread, we wouldn't have won the 5 games we won last season. No Gary Collier to talk Akers out of anything this season. He has all new assistants that are going to do what he says "OR ELSE!"(From what I've heard). Coaches like Selfe and Burke need to be let loose on this team. Akers needs to quit sticking his nose into Burke's defense and let Burke coach it. Akers is hollaring the complete opposite on Friday nights than what Burke is, confusing the hell out of our guys. Akers needs to worry about his offense that cant even gain a first down. I'm done with Akers, he hasn't won me over. He had my support, but his boneheaded calls week to week has lost my support. I don't think I can handle another post game speech to players that goes like, "we are getting there, like I said we want to win the last game. We played a tough team, it'll get easier for us later in the season." I'm sorry, that s@$& doesn't fly GC. We want to win them all!!!
 

"gotta have the players is what it's all about". 
LMAO
A freakin little league coach can get more out of these players than Akers/staff is right now.  Maybe because you practice in full pads on Thursday or you let a starter miss two practices each week and he still starts.  Cuss your players and allow kids to cuss you back until you get your feelings hurt so you kick one off.  This season is over for these poor kids who have busted their butts.  Sad situation. Thank you Roberts school board and "committee".   What a joke 

I was stunned when they hired him. He struggled at Rural Retreat and I know Gate City has more talent than Rural Retreat yearly but if he didn't win at Rural Retreat with the powderpuffs on that schedule he's definitely not gonna win at Gate City with the teams they play.

This bum's ONLY qualification was that his last name wasn't Houseright. Pitiful. 

GC upset Union? NEVER! We can't even get plays ran in and snapped in :25. Akers flirts with the playclock literally every play. We can't line up right, and etc, etc, etc! 
James Mitchell scores more points than GC accumulates in total yards.
Gonna take years for someone to rebuild this program after we are done letting Akers ruin it. 
Bears 55-0
It sucks...and yes I'm sour! 

People can say running the ball plays right into Richlands hands. But that's what GC always did in the past and still won. If the line gets a solid push and the backs block for each other GC can be successful. We (Akers) gotta quit out-smarting ourselves. Akers abandons what works. You gain 29 yards on 4 straight running plays, then you throw it for an interception on 3rd and 1. Who the hell does that? If GC kept the ball on the ground, we could have scored a couple times on Graham. We punted the ball 1 vs Graham. Everything else were turnovers by fumble or interceptions. Line the ball up and run it down Richlands throat. If they stop it, tip the hat. But with beast like Cregor and Calhoun in the backfield that are well over 200lbs, it's certainly our strongpoint and should grind the ball on the ground for 3-4 yards until its stopped.
 
And the game film vs Grundy and scrimmages I've watched on Richlands, I don't see them being that much better than GC. I think a lot of people are looking through navy blue glasses. It's not the same team Richlands has fielded in the past. But it could turn into a blowout if GC gives Richlands the ball due to turnovers. I expect a close ballgame. 

I have watched the kid on several occasions and never have seen a cocky or arrogant bone in his body.   He is the type of player who can take over a game but if his team is playing well he backs off and lets them have it.  I think most of this fake news comes from jealousy.  You have to watch those Arby's organizers they usually have a favorite player or a son their trying to promote, then when someone like McClung shows up and exposes other players are not what the fake news says they are jealousy sets in.  I've never seen one example by anyone who tries to claim Mac is cocky or arrogant give proof.  The claims are more like your claims, "he said , she said."  He has confidence which is confused with cockiness but what player can score 64 points in a game without confidence?  Just because your an organizer of a tournament and you don't like the way someone chews their gum don't make them cocky or arrogant.  All great players are accused of being cocky.  

He is getting all the attention he needs at gate city, and the travel ball gives all the looks any scout needs to see against top talent. He is a special player in my opinion that can play big D1 ball. I thinkthe bigger offers will come his senior season even if he stays at gc

Maybe you should let him announce that.

Flawed or not, it is what it is. To win state you must beat the best teams regardless. I've seen a few clips of RE Lee, and from the highlights of their game last night with Madison they gave up a lot of baskets at the rim. If they do that with Mac and Zac, I like our chances. The key will be making outside shots fall. Dean has 5 days to find his shot, he or Collier will be the difference. One of them needs double digits for GC to advance to the state semis, period. Mac and Zac can't do it all, we'll be going home Friday if we expect those 2 to do everything.

DR played their best game of the year against GC (according to their coach). Do not see how they can repeat that performance today.
 
Lots of GC and Richlands fans here. Other side of the gym is close to empty.

It blows my mind how some of you don't know who McClung is. How do you not know who he is?
 
GC better learn to play defense and rebound before next Friday or we will be ending the season with a huge disappointment. I said before the season "state or bust" and I still stand by that. But rebounding and defense may be the collapse.

I have to respectfully disagree on this. although the player both times had crossed half court when they caught the ball they were still airborne from leaping from the back court. by rule the player has to establish himself in the front court by having his feet touch the floor before he touches the ball. for some reason kids seem to instinctively leap and try to catch the ball while still in the air when it's close to being passed into the back court, when they should be trying to get their feet on the floor first

You guys have a good team as well, I think we all would be lying if we said we weren't nervous in the first quarter of that game. Also, as if it hasn't been mentioned yet, your all's fan base/student section is incredible.

That and every call in SWVA period. Not a single referee is worth a damn in this state. Very inconsistent, trying to take the game in their own hands at times it seems. That play that was shortly before the "block" that was called on Drew where Mac dribbled the ball behind his back that was called a travel was hilariously awful. It's as if these ref's haven't seen anything of that caliber before so it must be a foul, right?

wes is fine. had 4 stitces but hes good to go

This. I'm confused as to why anyone even replies to him at this point. It's clear what his mission is. 

I think Graham will give GC all they want. GC is still only showing spurts of what they can do.....Not consistent. I don't know if this is due to the competition they have been facing and they are just walking through the games or if they really are struggling and can't get it together. We will soon find out though. Graham could very easily put a whooping on the Devils if they don't show up to play for a full 4 qtrs.

Choosing "me" over your teammates or peers, is not cool.  Adversity teaches many lessons, can't learn them if you bail on people.  Football isn't the only way to get a football scholarship.  You are going to college, are you on a football scholarship?  Society is going to hell in a hand basket because of the lessons kids are learning now.  I am a parent, and I will tell you that I would rather suffer on my son winless seasons than watch him sacrifice his integrity.  For my son, I will not allow it  There are bigger things in life than "wins."  I wouldn't get pissed at 14-18 year old kids either, more so at adults that endorse this type of thinking.
 
Exactly what age do you think "kids" should be held accountable?  This issue is not so much about football.

I don't know of a single football player Harry Fry had that transferred just to play football, all his talent was home grown! His teams relied on defense and running the football and those kids learned that in little league. Most Tennessee kids couldn't take the strictness and conformity that was the GC program until a few years ago,

I was just clarifying for our friend Milo :-)

Lots of teams would have panicked when their best player went out, and would have been doomed, but union seemed to get more determined. Great competitors. Good luck next week. I'm hoping for a conference 40 sweep!

I see nothing that deserved a tech. It's usually the jaw running that gets hit with em. He turned around and looked at a guy and you want to hit him with a tech? That's weak sauce. McClung at GC would get one every game if so. Heck, McClung lets everyone know when he throws a dirty one down and nothing is ever said to him. Gotta let the kids celebrate and play with fire. Sports are emotional. A kid shouldn't be penalized cause he looked at someone. If you did, kids should get techs for framing their follow through on a 3 pointer or clapping their hands when playing defense. Which is nonsense. A bunch of people get butt hurt over the whole "showing up a player" stuff. Learn to prevent it and it won't happen. Just my 2 cents worth.