Bluefield_Rules

Have the owners decided if they will rebuild? Gonna miss that place, it's the only restaurant I would eat at when visiting my parents. It was our pregame Beaver/Graham ritual.

It won't really matter what they have returning unless player leadership emerges.

Unlike the football team, the basketball team has excellent player leadership.

I believe it would be premature to start talking undefeated season because of how difficult that is to do. However, anything less than another state title would make the season a huge disappointment.

Chill and note the winking icon.

Seriously? 79-42, tell me who you think won 😉

The 5A game, Bird v. Woods, is on Dish channel 412-28.

Basketball in Virginia ends at the NRV with the likes of Radford. They are exceptions from time-to-time, but most often the teams further west are no threat on the state level for whatever reason.

They play basketball in SWVA? 😄

Ultimately, the only three games that matter are FSU, Clemson, and dook. Wins in those games are the only ones that bring the conference creditability.

I am just thankful we don't get stuck watching Ohio State play FSU; thanks Michigan State!

Tell that to the SEC. Football is no longer a game of three yards and a cloud of dust, it's based on speed with high-powered offenses and fast, aggressive defenses. No one, outside of those whose team lacks speed, want to watch football circa 1940 and 1950s.

Actually I wouldn't objective to a home game being moved onto an artificial surface. Playing on an artificial surface gives the Beavers the advantage over 99% of teams they face in the playoffs. I can understand why Haysi would want to play in the muck because Altavista has some very good athletes that Haysi likely cannot defend against. With that said, however, when I go to Salem I want to see the best team playing. I don't want to see a team that benefitted poor field conditions. Ultimately Haysi, and any other less gifted athletic teams, cannot run from (no pun intended) the athletic foes they will likely face on the Field Turf fields in state championship games.

I guess I am new school, but I firmly believe all playoffs games should be played on Field Turf whenever possible. The technology is there now so football games do not to be played in a muddy, sloppy mess and there are plenty of stadiums with Field Turf now to accommodate the majority of games. If want to watch kids slopping around playing football go find a backyard game. The kids and coaches work too hard to get to this point to have the ability to shine on the biggest stage taken away by poor field conditions. They couldn't do anything about it in the past, but we can now and kids deserve the best opportunity to succeed. I'll sit back and wait for the firing squad...ha

Thanks.

Anywhere to listen to the Northside/MV game?

No doubt. Wayne should easily beat either team next weekend as long as they get off the bus and play the game.

This is a product of the schedule being much weaker in recent years aided by teams like James Monroe, Richlands, etc. having teams well below their standards. Those 60+ point games look great, but hurt a team in the long run when facing better competition when execution and the mental aspect is at a premium.

Keep the spirit, but I'm watching the game and it's UGLY. Beaver looks like they are playing their first game ever as an organized team..

The story is the same as it has been for the past several years with Beaver in big games, mental mistakes and poor execution. Who's ready for basketball season to get into full swing?

A new stadium has been in the rumblings for several years and now it is a reality. Maybe attendance will improve with a location closer to most fans? http://www.talkingchop.com/2013/11/11/5090608/braves-moving-to-cobb-county

Takeaways from the game: Wayne has the mental toughness and swagger you expect a back-to-back state champion riding a now 33-game winning streak to have. Speaking of mental toughness, Bluefield doesn't yet have the level that it takes to win a state title. Bluefield, as I've said several times, lacks on-the-field player leadership. In the second half, when Wayne was controlling the clock and eating up yards the Bluefield defenders weren't communicating and encouraging one another. They were standing individually waiting for the next snap of the ball; a lack of leadership is why Beaver hasn't returned to Wheeling since 2009. I was disappointed that Beaver almost totally abandoned the I-formation and running game in the second half. When they ran the i-formation in the 2nd quarter they had the most success against Wayne the entire night. In addition, it seemed the same 5-6 plays were ran the entire night and Wayne is too good not to eventually catch onto that. Wayne absolutely dominated the line of scrimmage, especially Bluefield’s OL. The OL did not give the playmakers any opportunity to get into the open field and make plays. Finally, Bluefield's defense needs to learn to tackle at the waist or below and wrap-up as opposed to arm-tackling and trying to strip the football on every occasion. That approach might work against lesser opponents and players, but against a better team with runners like Wayne's #3 it is a recipe for disaster.

Wayne is the two-time defending state champs, won 32-straight games, and beaten Bluefield the last two meetings by a combined score of 99-17. Why wouldn't people be picking Wayne and Wayne by a lot, especially those that haven't seen Beaver play this season? Bluefield will taking the field on Friday night with not only the #1 playoff seed on the line, but the pride and respect they have lost in recent match-ups with Wayne. Predictions are meaningless with the two teams little more than 48 hours from strapping it on and going head-to-head. It's time for this current group of Beavers to earn their respect and doing so starts Friday. You cannot live on the past when you weren't a part of the past successes; you have to play your way into the tradition and leave your legacy.

How much does this game matter? A helluva lot for both teams considering the winner secures the #1 seed and home field through the state semifinals. The loser will finish no higher than the #3 which means they would be on the road semifinal weekend. Wayne has won 32 consecutive games and their kids do not want to be the ones to lose that streak. Bluefield has been beaten handily two consecutive games by Wayne and have a lot to prove against the 2-time defending state champs. So again how much does this game mean? I would say as much as any game outside of a state championship game; although the outcome will impact and shape the state championship game in five weeks.

Wow, how far has JM fallen? Second team in before halftime, scores on one play, and then takes knee on PAT. Think all those JM folks wanting rid of Mr. Single Wing back in 2007 would like to rethink their complaining?