F@lcon

Hats off to GC, they played great.  They are fast when they get to the outside.  Houseright is bringing back the heart and physical play to the team that they have been lacking.
And, another classy showing from Darren Reed.  That mentality is why he can't get players to perform for him as a coach.

First, who coined the term “scrum”, lol.
Second, both sides ARE at fault.
 Wise plays like TJ did in high school.  He played very chippy and annoying to try to get opposition riled up to mess up their game. I don’t know how much he has coached players to take kids out so can’t say much about that.
 Wise fans were allowed to hang a sign saying “Merry Christmas to everyone except GC”.  That falls on the school administrators as much as TJ.  With the history of these teams, why allow something that starts a riff between crowds (much like the diapers on sticks at GC) before the game starts?  
If the schools truly want it to end, step in and make it clear that it needs to stop. Stop whining about each other on message boards.

Carter had 21 and Strong had 20.  It was a tough game throughout.  Abingdon led most of the way but lost Hungate before halftime to injury.  He had 20 pts at that point.  Northwood played very physical and hit big shots when needed.  Abingdon didn't shoot well from the perimeter and didn't hit their free throws allowing Northwood to get the lead late.  In my opinion, if Abingdon had shot 30%+ from the arc and 75% from free throw line in this game they win by double digits. 
If Northwood can control a couple kid's attitudes and stop their parents from trying to control the coach they can do big things this season.  But, knowing the people involved, I would not be surprised to see this team implode by mid season.
Abingdon will need their seniors to play better and 1-2 more kids to step up and contribute for them to compete in the top half of the M7.

Right now it seems to be a shootout for 2nd.  Until someone proves they can play with GC they stand alone.  Union will be tough after getting the kid back who was injured last year.  Abingdon had 2 big losses to graduation and will be young this year but they have a lot of athletes on the team that should improve and compete as the season goes along.  Battle will have a couple guards to contend with and they will have some high output games.  As Duke said, Lee could upset a team or 2 this season but I don't see them putting it together for an entire season.  Wise lost Mullins to graduation and now McCamis so I don't see them being a factor but who knows who may step up for them.  Ridgeview may be a sleeper team but only time will tell.  They have some athletic kids but not sure if they have conventional basketball talent. 

If GC wants a run only guy then reed is the answer.  The problem is that he builds no relationship with players.  He is a jerk (can’t use the proper wording) and within 2 years the whole team will hate going to practice.  Good luck.

I think one of the biggest issues with the downturn of football at GC is the sensation of McClung and the rise in popularity of basketball in the youth.  At the small school level you have a limited number of top athletes.  When your better athletes focus on one sport then the other sports suffer.  McClung, Ervin, etc decided to focus on basketball and it brought great support to that program.  All the younger kids then start trying to be the next McClung instead of the next Houseright.  If they try to do all sports they run the risk of major injury like McCamis at Wise.  Plus, to perform at a level like McClung you have to devote to that sport year round.  Nothing wrong with that, just an issue that most small schools face.  That is why choosing the next coach is so important.  Their biggest obstacle isn't going to be just getting what you have in the weight room.  Success begins at the youth level.  You have to create interest to get as many kids playing as possible so you can optimize your talent when they reach high school.

You can argue logistics about the enrollment forever and not change each other's minds.  I will say that the biggest advantage of Abingdon playing in the local 2A district is $$$ for all the schools programs.  Abingdon travels as well as any other team in southwest Virginia.  The football programs are the cash cow for each schools booster's and athletic funds.  In the past, the main rivalries for Abingdon were with Richlands, Battle and VA High.  Now, in only a couple seasons, we have seen new rivalries come out.  The Ridgeview home game had the biggest overall attendance of the season at Abingdon.  The Union game at Big Stone had a very sizable crowd on both sides even though it was nasty and being televised which would tempt many to stay home and watch.  When 3A schools come to Abingdon, they seldom bring any fans with them.  That is one of the great things about small town football, when you have a rivalry game that is where everyone wants to be.

I am not counting track.  I am talking football, baseball, basketball.  Sports that require offseason work.  Not sure I have seen anyone doing triple jump or shot put outside season. They will run and lift but that is the same for all sports.  If you give ample time to each sport, your best sport will suffer somewhat. 
 I watched every one of these kids in various sports over their careers.  Heath was a star in all football, basketball, and baseball but gave up basketball to focus on football.  Had he focused on baseball instead you may have been watching him in the previous World Series.  Thomas and Julius were mediocre at basketball but great athletes, Thomas is by far the best running back I have ever watched live.  Julius was quick as lightening and still holds state records in hurdles I think.  Justin could score in basketball but half a$$ed it on defense.  I only saw shoe in basketball but take away the 6’10” and he plays local college at best. Even according to mcclungs dad, had he not given up football to do the travel ball and offseason camps, there would be no Georgetown offers.  He would have possibly followed in Talfords footsteps and played small D1.  Calvin still is the best natural athlete I have ever watched.  Drafted by Phillies, D1 in basketball with multiple ncaa tournament runs, ncaa dunk champion, D1 track star, and a heck of a football player as well.  IMO, talford is the exception.  Mcclung would have still probably been able to dunk and encite crowds but the ball handling, jump shot, and overall game knowledge would have never made it to the level he was able to showcase.   
It would have been interesting for GC to have had Mac at power back, Ervin at TE or even QB, and Dean at receiver.  

The thing with Reed is that the original group he inherited had some great talent (many playing college ball with most of them currently playing for Emory and Henry).  That is why the previous coach was ran out of town.  Abingdon is heavily influenced by Emory alumni so they wanted Reed (an Emory alum) to come in and lead the team.  This came back to bite them in the end.  The strength of the group lied in the explosive passing game with Sturgill, Yates brothers, Wallace, and others who could put up big numbers.  They had a good size line and athletes in the backfield.  The perfect mix for the spread offense.  Reed followed this plan early. Sturgill as a junior led the team fairly deep in the 3A playoffs and had some big college interest.  in the offseason, Reed proceeds to convert the team into a primarily running team and only throwing in desperate situations.  Numbers go down, Sturgill's stock dropped and the Falcons did not have the season everyone hoped for.  During the change in game plan instilled by Reed, he instructed the JV and 8th grade coaches to scrap any passing game and focus on the run game so that he could change the entire program leading up to him.  That caused much disruption with the coaching staff causing many to leave.  It ticked off influential parents and ran off a lot of kids in the program because everything they had been accustomed to and succeeded at had been yanked out from under them.
This is not uncommon for a new coach to change things to their style but this was too drastic of a change and, in my opinion, this doesn't work at the 3A level.  The reason 1A and 2A schools from this area are successful in the post season is because of the power game and smash mouth football. Our kids are typically big and strong and work hard to succeed.  At the 3A level, once you get away from southwest VA you find teams with a better crop of athletes and the speed of the secondary shut you down.  That made the spread, high flying offense effective for Abingdon.  You can see similar comparisons in the 2A with Graham's speed in the secondary.  Reed may be a good coach at Gate City because their program was built on the power run game but I don't think he is equipped to coach different styles. 

I think one of the biggest issues with the downturn of football at GC is the sensation of McClung and the rise in popularity of basketball in the youth.  At the small school level you have a limited number of top athletes.  When your better athletes focus on one sport then the other sports suffer.  McClung, Ervin, etc decided to focus on basketball and it brought great support to that program.  All the younger kids then start trying to be the next McClung instead of the next Houseright.  If they try to do all sports they run the risk of major injury like McCamis at Wise.  Plus, to perform at a level like McClung you have to devote to that sport year round.  Nothing wrong with that, just an issue that most small schools face.  That is why choosing the next coach is so important.  Their biggest obstacle isn't going to be just getting what you have in the weight room.  Success begins at the youth level.  You have to create interest to get as many kids playing as possible so you can optimize your talent when they reach high school.

You can argue logistics about the enrollment forever and not change each other's minds.  I will say that the biggest advantage of Abingdon playing in the local 2A district is $$$ for all the schools programs.  Abingdon travels as well as any other team in southwest Virginia.  The football programs are the cash cow for each schools booster's and athletic funds.  In the past, the main rivalries for Abingdon were with Richlands, Battle and VA High.  Now, in only a couple seasons, we have seen new rivalries come out.  The Ridgeview home game had the biggest overall attendance of the season at Abingdon.  The Union game at Big Stone had a very sizable crowd on both sides even though it was nasty and being televised which would tempt many to stay home and watch.  When 3A schools come to Abingdon, they seldom bring any fans with them.  That is one of the great things about small town football, when you have a rivalry game that is where everyone wants to be.

The thing with Reed is that the original group he inherited had some great talent (many playing college ball with most of them currently playing for Emory and Henry).  That is why the previous coach was ran out of town.  Abingdon is heavily influenced by Emory alumni so they wanted Reed (an Emory alum) to come in and lead the team.  This came back to bite them in the end.  The strength of the group lied in the explosive passing game with Sturgill, Yates brothers, Wallace, and others who could put up big numbers.  They had a good size line and athletes in the backfield.  The perfect mix for the spread offense.  Reed followed this plan early. Sturgill as a junior led the team fairly deep in the 3A playoffs and had some big college interest.  in the offseason, Reed proceeds to convert the team into a primarily running team and only throwing in desperate situations.  Numbers go down, Sturgill's stock dropped and the Falcons did not have the season everyone hoped for.  During the change in game plan instilled by Reed, he instructed the JV and 8th grade coaches to scrap any passing game and focus on the run game so that he could change the entire program leading up to him.  That caused much disruption with the coaching staff causing many to leave.  It ticked off influential parents and ran off a lot of kids in the program because everything they had been accustomed to and succeeded at had been yanked out from under them.
This is not uncommon for a new coach to change things to their style but this was too drastic of a change and, in my opinion, this doesn't work at the 3A level.  The reason 1A and 2A schools from this area are successful in the post season is because of the power game and smash mouth football. Our kids are typically big and strong and work hard to succeed.  At the 3A level, once you get away from southwest VA you find teams with a better crop of athletes and the speed of the secondary shut you down.  That made the spread, high flying offense effective for Abingdon.  You can see similar comparisons in the 2A with Graham's speed in the secondary.  Reed may be a good coach at Gate City because their program was built on the power run game but I don't think he is equipped to coach different styles. 

The thing with Reed is that the original group he inherited had some great talent (many playing college ball with most of them currently playing for Emory and Henry).  That is why the previous coach was ran out of town.  Abingdon is heavily influenced by Emory alumni so they wanted Reed (an Emory alum) to come in and lead the team.  This came back to bite them in the end.  The strength of the group lied in the explosive passing game with Sturgill, Yates brothers, Wallace, and others who could put up big numbers.  They had a good size line and athletes in the backfield.  The perfect mix for the spread offense.  Reed followed this plan early. Sturgill as a junior led the team fairly deep in the 3A playoffs and had some big college interest.  in the offseason, Reed proceeds to convert the team into a primarily running team and only throwing in desperate situations.  Numbers go down, Sturgill's stock dropped and the Falcons did not have the season everyone hoped for.  During the change in game plan instilled by Reed, he instructed the JV and 8th grade coaches to scrap any passing game and focus on the run game so that he could change the entire program leading up to him.  That caused much disruption with the coaching staff causing many to leave.  It ticked off influential parents and ran off a lot of kids in the program because everything they had been accustomed to and succeeded at had been yanked out from under them.
This is not uncommon for a new coach to change things to their style but this was too drastic of a change and, in my opinion, this doesn't work at the 3A level.  The reason 1A and 2A schools from this area are successful in the post season is because of the power game and smash mouth football. Our kids are typically big and strong and work hard to succeed.  At the 3A level, once you get away from southwest VA you find teams with a better crop of athletes and the speed of the secondary shut you down.  That made the spread, high flying offense effective for Abingdon.  You can see similar comparisons in the 2A with Graham's speed in the secondary.  Reed may be a good coach at Gate City because their program was built on the power run game but I don't think he is equipped to coach different styles. 

You can argue logistics about the enrollment forever and not change each other's minds.  I will say that the biggest advantage of Abingdon playing in the local 2A district is $$$ for all the schools programs.  Abingdon travels as well as any other team in southwest Virginia.  The football programs are the cash cow for each schools booster's and athletic funds.  In the past, the main rivalries for Abingdon were with Richlands, Battle and VA High.  Now, in only a couple seasons, we have seen new rivalries come out.  The Ridgeview home game had the biggest overall attendance of the season at Abingdon.  The Union game at Big Stone had a very sizable crowd on both sides even though it was nasty and being televised which would tempt many to stay home and watch.  When 3A schools come to Abingdon, they seldom bring any fans with them.  That is one of the great things about small town football, when you have a rivalry game that is where everyone wants to be.

You are hearing the PC excuses for how they are spinning it.  The reason behind this is because Abingdon already has an automatic berth to regionals in 3A and none of the 2A teams want to play them in the first round with chance of either being eliminated or using up pitching.

I think this is pathetic.  The VHSL redistricts every 2 years because they are too dumb to get it right and now they can allow school principals to decide to not allow 1 team to participate because nobody wants to play them.  What if everyone had decided to oust Gate City from the basketball in the winter?  I don't care what excuses you throw out there, you can't justify taking away 2-3 games and a district championship from a group of seniors just because you don't want to have to play them.

There was no schedule conflict.  Schedule was set with Abingdon hosting.  Last night at Wise would have finished everyone up.  Wise beat Union so the Abingdon/Wise game that was rained out made no difference in seeding.

What?  Fred Phillips has problems with somebody?  It can't be, he is an upstanding citizen.  Everyone loves him.
I don't think it matters to the kids if they play in front of 3,000 people or 5,000 people.  The thing that makes a game like this special to a team is playing in front of a huge home crowd.  GC travels well but if you limit their fan support it affects their play.  Give Graham the crowd support and it ups their game.  Anyone who has watched high school sports will tell you that momentum is huge and the crowd can help carry momentum.

But the most important question to Fred is how many points and headlines would his son have given up to allow Fuller to stay.

But the most important question to Fred is how many points and headlines would his son have given up to allow Fuller to stay.

But the most important question to Fred is how many points and headlines would his son have given up to allow Fuller to stay.

Fuller was a good coach and was winning.  Fred's family has always been way too influential in the area of Richlands.  Even without hearing it from the inside it's pretty easy to read between the lines what went down.  Fred didn't want anyone else coaching his son's group because the kid may not have been the focal point. It's good to have pull with school board members and supervisors.

I have heard from quite a few people involved that Fred was a big factor in former coaches release so he could be head man.  Fred was a great player and seems to do well as coach but knowing him as long as I have, I could never see him as humble or respectable.  That is just for show in my opinion and the true Fred comes out when you are in a close game with them.  As for congratulating McCamis, I think Fred truly appreciates big athletic accomplishments so I will say that part was probably genuine.