trumpet1988

Well no it wasn’t a beat down. But Union did pull away.

This is going to be a good one.

Fair point. I don’t think about that incident all the time. But it is understandable if people call them out Acknowledging the incident is not the same as bashing. They are kids but s lot of people, including myself, think they should know better. There have been incidents with Graham that have made Union people a bit ticked. From the sounds of what you are saying, it seems as if it has been addressed.

To acknowledge that it happened is not wrong. Kids of 14-18 ought to know better than some of what was seen. If Union players were behaving that way at any point then people would be calling them out. When I acted like a knucklehead as a kid, I got called out. If I see a young person doing things like that then they will be told off. No person is bashing Graham. Acknowledging what happened and thinking your thoughts is not bashing. I don’t think about it all the time but I do remember it.

I don’t know how they are on a regular basis but the ones who played for Graham in 2015 did not display a lot of discipline at Bullitt the last time they were there. It was repugnant to see some of those boys behaving in a way that embarrasses their community. I mean this with all due respect to the Graham faithful. I hope Palmer has addressed this since. As for the hearsay, I have my doubts about that myself. But if that’s true then Palmer has just made a serious mistake.

The final score of the last Union and Graham game was 49-20.

I like it. Go Bears!

I am worried about this game. Not because Union will come out flat. Heck they may still do so. I am worried because Graham is likely the best team our Bears have faced to that point. And it will not get any easier. I still think the Bears win. However I am going to adjust my pick just a little bit. Union 35, Graham 28. The difference? This game is at Bullitt Park.

I’ll be in from Roanoke during Thanksgiving Break. We are heading back to the Star City after the game. Say hello if you are nearby.

Union 21, Graham 14

Ya'll had a good season. You were more than what people gave you credit for.

I might also add that this is evidence of Union's other threats in addition to Mitchell.

James MItchell is easily the best player for Union right now as far as talent, discipline, and execution. But he has not accounted for ANY of Union's points tonight so far. He has definitely been a factor and set them up.

Union's first three touchdowns: Zirkle accounted for 2. Owens counted for 1 on an 85 yd kickoff return. All in the first quarter. This sounds like a caption for a Willy Wonka meme. So.... Tell me more about how all that talent is wrapped up only in James Mitchell.

Marion punt bad snap. Over his head. Union ball at the Marion 4. Union punches it in first play. PAT good. Union 7, Marion 0.

Uh oh.

Got it on waxm.com.

Barely but surely. Union won even though Richlands played well enough to win. Union won a hard fought game against a much improved Richlands. A team Marion beat almost as late in the game as Union did. A team Graham beat in overtime. I cannot recall the last time a team beat Richlands twice in one season. No small feat at all. Keep refusing to give Union credit and being proven wrong almost every time. With your rhetoric most would have to get rude because you keep going. You can bet that players who may be reading are likely feeding off of it.

And that was at a time when Richlands’ numbers averaged 100 or more. Richlands has always had quite a few audition and make it. I never had a problem with Richlands’ Band or their band director at the time, which is why I was shocked when he got in trouble because I never would have suspected something like that. Long story there. I always felt that if you deserved to be placed in the All District Band (symphonic or concert) then your audition would show it. Whether you auditioned first or last.

I can remember in the 2004 D2 State Championship, Manassas Park had a 2 hour drive to JMU. They did not bring many fans. They did bring their Band who had about 30 people. Powell Valley brought a lot more with a 5 hour drive. They brought 80-85 members of the band. We had to go to the game. It coincided with All District tryouts at John Battle. One charter bus brought half the Band straight to JMU. The other stopped at John Battle. We got to audition first and head to JMU immediately after all of us were finished. Got there just in time to warm up the Band and march to the stands. That is another example of the dedication of fan support here.

All hail the hammer.

People underestimate many of the Championship PV teams that didn’t have a Jones.

Oh brother. The tired “If PV had been D3 or GC in D2 then they wouldn’t have those titles.” It may be true but to constantly hear it makes one wonder if there’s some sour grapes. Phil is a jerk. He showed me he was one after smarting off to me at school one day about me and my family after seeing me defend him to bashers. But excellent coaches are not always the nicest and he was an excellent coach. If he wasn’t an excellent coach then PV would not have won 7 State Championships in addition to the one they got under Bolling in 82. Sure he had talent at PV. That is an ingredient to success. But talent alone without a coach to develop it and utilize it will only take a team so far. He found ways to win when there was a big talent drop off at PV. The loss of talent became apparent.

Graham is the obvious favorite over Grayson. But so was Galax. Wasn’t Ridgeview also? People are right. It may be time to show Grayson some respect. However: I think Graham and Union beat Grayson and Marion respectively to set up for a nice showdown at the Park during Thanksgiving Break.

I think people are putting Appomattox on a pedestal. I understand it but they are beatable. That said, I think Appo wins. It’ll be closer than many think.