goSWVA

Okay guys, didn't want to get into this too much, I seem to rub people the wrong way with my opinion sometimes, but we all have to be honest, and this only comes from an old fart who has been around many years as a Blues fan.  Houston, we have a problem.  First of all, let's not kid ourselves, the Blues have little chance of post season play, and yes, there are more games to play.  It is easy for a successful program having a down year to fall into the poor pitiful me syndrom, and start blaming everyone else for the situation which I have seen in some form the last couple games.  IMO (yelp, I said that), it's time to have a lot of second and third stringers, (bench riders) get some action on the field.  Some good players who show great promise are just not performing up to par on the starting team, so why not change some things and start building for the next couple of years?  I mean come on, if the starters aren't performing, change something, or the results will be the same.  If the starter on your vehicle isn't doing it's job, you replace it, and right now our star players are not shinning to brightly.  Just because a player or coach has great potential doesn't make him a great player or college prospect, it's the performance that counts.  Right now either the system is broken, or the players on the field are not performing. I'll continue being a Blues fan no matter the record, but it's never easy supporting a team who has starters who don't seem to wnat to be playing.  Like Ryan said, if they don't have the heart to play, the results will be the same.  

Heres ya some stats. 
Before this season, Richlands has only been shutout in 5 games since 2000. The last time they were shut out twice in the same season was 1996. The last time they were shut out in back to back weeks? 1991… when I was 1 year old.  😳

I cannot say what was said or done during the scramble for the ball - and I’m sure there was plenty from both sides - but I was there and saw the player get hit. The Richlands player was facing the home bleachers celebrating that they had the ball when he got hit in his back and everything broke loose. 
Also for whoever is interested, the principal and dad of the Richlands player was professional. He was calm, which I give him props for since his son was involved, and he did not approach the GC player. Richlands AD and others were on the field at the same time. Players and crowd were going wild, but adults on the field actually acted like adults. 

I cannot say what was said or done during the scramble for the ball - and I’m sure there was plenty from both sides - but I was there and saw the player get hit. The Richlands player was facing the home bleachers celebrating that they had the ball when he got hit in his back and everything broke loose. 
Also for whoever is interested, the principal and dad of the Richlands player was professional. He was calm, which I give him props for since his son was involved, and he did not approach the GC player. Richlands AD and others were on the field at the same time. Players and crowd were going wild, but adults on the field actually acted like adults. 

I cannot say what was said or done during the scramble for the ball - and I’m sure there was plenty from both sides - but I was there and saw the player get hit. The Richlands player was facing the home bleachers celebrating that they had the ball when he got hit in his back and everything broke loose. 
Also for whoever is interested, the principal and dad of the Richlands player was professional. He was calm, which I give him props for since his son was involved, and he did not approach the GC player. Richlands AD and others were on the field at the same time. Players and crowd were going wild, but adults on the field actually acted like adults. 

I cannot say what was said or done during the scramble for the ball - and I’m sure there was plenty from both sides - but I was there and saw the player get hit. The Richlands player was facing the home bleachers celebrating that they had the ball when he got hit in his back and everything broke loose. 
Also for whoever is interested, the principal and dad of the Richlands player was professional. He was calm, which I give him props for since his son was involved, and he did not approach the GC player. Richlands AD and others were on the field at the same time. Players and crowd were going wild, but adults on the field actually acted like adults. 

Richlands showed a lot of heart today.  After getting blasted last week, and being down 28-0 this week, it takes some character to battle back to even take the lead in the 4th.  

I’ve never been more proud of a group of kids. 
 
Short season. Covid regulations. Cancellations. Reschedules. They’ve been through hell for the last 2 weeks. They’ve been wished ill and torn in half in the public eye, and to come back from down 28-0 to take the lead and fall one yard short of a miracle win, I couldn’t be more proud. 
 
Thank you to coaches Tarter and Altizer for all they’ve done for our community over the years. 

My heart really goes out to the kids on the Richlands squad. A fact of life is that adversity will come. I hope these young men grow from this. None of this as any of their fault/has been anything that they could control. I love the Bears,but I love ALL of our kids here in SWVA,and want only the best for them (because we all know that living here puts us behind the 8 ball in other folk's eyes). Having said that I humbly ask that folks don't revel in the misery of young kids. To do shows a blatant lack of character.

Actually, if you read my entire post and without a clear disposition against Richlands, you will plainly see (as in my quote from my post below) that my concern was that this could happen to any students and that I disagree with rules being changed at the end of the season.
“ANY team could easily be in the same position that the Richlands STUDENTS”
If Ridgeview is in the same predicament, then I hate it for them just as well. This particular thread that you are commenting on is about Richlands, but perhaps you should take the initiative to start one for ANY teams affected by the rules being changed at the end of the season. If you don’t want to read about Richlands, don’t open a thread with Richlands in the title.

My understanding is the regional reps said top 4 by power points, with the out of district games for the SWD and the Abingdon game for the M7 not counting. I assume they were thinking the outcome would be the #1 and #2 from each district would have the same points and thus the top 2 from each district would be represented(assuming the #1 went undefeated and the #2 only lost one game). They didn't take into account games not being played and the ensuing unequal ability to earn points (M7 played fewer games overall and thus was unable to earn as many as the SWD). Or maybe they originally thought "let's do it this way and re-evaluate before the season ends", idk. 

Can somebody start Richlands vs Radford thread? I would but being a Graham fan it seems inappropriate, lol. 
We’re beating a dead horse here on this thread. But if you’re so inclined, beat on 😂

IF the rules were changed AFTER the official rules were established AND during the last of the regular season, THEN it is inappropriate. I understand that all of the schools had a representative involved, but ANY team could easily be in the same position that the Richlands STUDENTS were suddenly thrown into during the final week of regular season. Remember the students???? The ones this situation hurts the most??? Set an example, people, and stand up for the kids. If they go out in an early round, then so be it, but why take their round away?

IF the rules were changed AFTER the official rules were established AND during the last of the regular season, THEN it is inappropriate. I understand that all of the schools had a representative involved, but ANY team could easily be in the same position that the Richlands STUDENTS were suddenly thrown into during the final week of regular season. Remember the students???? The ones this situation hurts the most??? Set an example, people, and stand up for the kids. If they go out in an early round, then so be it, but why take their round away?

Call me what you want. Say what you will. I couldn’t care less. What I do care about are my players. My friends on that team. On that staff. It was voted before the season began that it was top 4 by points regardless of district. Then it’s voted 9 days before the season ends to change it to top 2 in each district and it’s up to the district to decide how the two teams are picked. If it never changes — Richlands is in the top 4. 
 
I will continue to fight for my boys until I draw my last breath, regardless of what anyone thinks. I will make damn sure every senior who shed tears today because they learned they don’t even have the chance to go win a game for a potential playoff spot knows that I care about them. My heart breaks with them — for them. They deserve better than that. 

I understand and agree with Covid precautions and game cancellations, and for the most part, our region has been fortunate regarding quarantines and cancellations up to now. (I know there are been a lot of horrible  illness and greater consequences, but let's keep the page to football.)
But what reason has been given for all of the rule changes? Shouldn’t the rules and criteria for playoffs be set BEFORE the season? How can this happen?
For the person who said why play Radford if it doesn’t count… 1-like someone said, for the experience, and 2-the first Graham game was not supposed to count, and now it does… maybe the rules will change again. Precedent has been set multiple times this week.  

Did Graham get Covid on purpose? Of course not. And I hope those kids recover quickly. 
 
Did this &@$! Richlands out of even having a chance? Absolutely. 
 
The SWD got what they wanted. Moved the goalposts all season. Hope they can sleep better tonight. 
If I was in charge of Richlands athletics, I’d be leaving the district at the first possible moment. 

Yes, game is in Radford on Saturday at 2 PM.
 

Richlands has improved across the board since their first meeting with Graham, and I don't usually count them out, however, I agree with you. Cox is one-dimensional, and Graham will take the win.

On the flip side — if Richlands punts from their own 11 the score is 19-18 Blues. 
 
Blues D played great. Only gave up 1 TD. Offense just has to figure out how to put the ball across the line. 

Pretty cool preview for tomorrow's game. Evidently VA High has expanded their sports coverage to more than just radio - they now have a full website that has articles, audio highlights, and a podcast to go with broadcasts. Wish JSB would expand their coverage!  - this is pretty sweet for a school to have.
https://www.bearcatsportsnetwork.com/post/vhs-richlands

Graham with a 3rd and 21.
First down pass to Bradshaw.
Richlands announcer even said "can't stop that passing" over the loud speaker lol.
Richlands has had some opportunities but hasn't capitalized on any of them today.

Kids playing was goal #1
Goal #2 let's get attendance up
It's not about complaining, it's about not depriving people of something they enjoy or preventing them from supporting our youth in their endeavors. Especially when that decision isn't based on logic, science, or really anything else

Post from Pulaski Co Schools few days ago:
Pulaski County Public Schools
Pulaski County Public Schools' Response To Governor Northam's Amended Executive Order #72 
Pulaski County Public Schools received notice last week that Governor Ralph Northam has amended executive order #72 in a way that reduces the number of potential spectators at football games and prohibits public schools from counting cheerleaders and band members as participants/players. The amended order is forcing schools throughout the state to choose between excluding band and cheer from participation or reducing the number of parents who can attend these events.  We are opposed to the restrictions imposed by the amended order for the following reasons:
1.  The order is discriminatory in that it diminishes the role of predominantly female groups of student athletes and musicians, who are essential participants in the football game experience, by classifying them as spectators.  
2.  The order is not grounded in the science that we currently utilize in implementing Covid mitigation strategies.  We know from experience that we can safely put 1000 students a day into our high school with classrooms at 80% capacity by masking and social distancing. Counting band and cheer as participants in addition to 250 spectators would still leave our football stadium, an outdoor venue, at less than 5% capacity. 
3.  The order is arbitrary and capricious.  There is a noticeable lack of consistency in how executive order #72 establishes expectations for outdoor venues.  Public beaches and amusement parks are afforded much more leeway and allowed incredibly higher attendance rates than high school stadiums which have been relegated to the category of community rec programs.  It's a designation that is insulting to our extracurricular and co-curricular programs while tying the hands of local governments to meet the needs of their communities.
Pulaski County Public Schools will abide by the guidance set forth in the amended executive order #72 while exploring available options for challenging it such as seeking a legal remedy through the courts or requesting a Title IX investigation regarding the possible gender discrimination aspect.  It is our sincerest hope that Governor Northam will reconsider his decision and include band and cheer as participants when new guidance is issued at the end of the month.  Our teachers and coaches are doing incredible things to create positive experiences for kids and our students deserve the same effort from their state government.  
Pulaski County Public Schools appreciates the overwhelming amount of support that we've received from throughout the state over the past week regarding our original plan to classify band and cheer as participants.  It is our hope that these individuals and others will exercise their right to reach out to the Governor's office to advocate for equal consideration for all student athletes and musicians as his administration works to develop new guidance that will go into effect on March 1, 2021.