Kingbean

You are correct on that one. I remember both the sign and being run over at least once by the game.

In 1989, we played Giles, Radford (for the Region IV championship), Rustburg (State Semis) and Southampton in the Finals. All game were at Mitchell that year which was nice. Our line that year wasn't quite as big as that. Hell, the tackle the lined up beside me was our middle LB and he wasn't 200lbs. I think we probably went 220-220-190-280-190. Of all the teams, Southampton was huge. They ran a Power I with a 6'5, 280lbs fullback (yes, he was named Ford and I was run over by a Ford at least once that day on an end-around), a 6'3, 225 power back and a 5'10, 185lb TB. Their QB was Percy Ellsworth (played safety at UVA and later for the NY Giants) and he was 6'2, 185lbs. They had a guy named Riddick Parker on their line (OT and DT) that played at UNC and later in the NFL (Seahawks I believe). Riddick was all of 6'5, 290lbs. I remember the first play of the game, they ran Ford off tackle right behind Parker. Our linebackers came up and stuck him pretty solidly. They were shocked and we stuffed them good the 1st half. In the 2nd half, they lined up Ford as the TB in order to give him more momentum going forward (we were hitting him as soon as he got the ball when he was at FB) and they ran him on an end-around to my side of the field. I made the tackle on my back but we still stuffed their running game by hitting them in the backfield. They tried to throw the ball in the 2nd half when we were up 16-0 but those of us in the defensive backfield ate them up. I think our safety had 1 INT and I ended up picking off 2.

Yep...he sure was.

So we took 60% of the gate at a game at Princeton (with lower ticket prices) instead of 100% of the gate at Mitchell Stadium so that the head coach could go watch his son play a college football game? With the additional expenses to travel to Princeton and lost revenue for the band and the athletic department (due to the loss of 40% of a gate), this decision seems to be very poor and it is a high price for one person's desire. I can't believe folks higher did not object more vocally when this decision was made.

It's not just concession money but the additional expense for fans to drive, eat, tickets, as well as additional expenses for the football team, band, etc. to have to travel to an away game. Were those folks compensated? Financial reasons aside, I think the decision to move a home game due to voluntary family event is not acceptable. As a coach and former military member, it is part of the game that your players/men come first and that as a leader, you lead by example ...which sometimes translates to your family comes second. Wins and losses aside, I would like to see more information related to this event become public.

Help me understand your statement. Are you staying that for Graham home games, they typically split the gate with the away teams too? I know this is done for obvious reasons for the Graham-Beaver game but did not know that this was done for other schools.

At this meeting last night, was Coach Marrs there or was it just Principal O'Neal? Did anyone try to deny the Princeton game date move? Was there an official explanation given for that? Did O'Neal address the booster threat claim?

Who are the assistant coaches at GHS and what are their responsibilities?

Ok...I don't look at these boards a lot but tell me, what is the joke about the "coach of the year"?

It is sad to hear how bad the program has become. Maybe the move to Single-A is abou 5 years overdue.

How did they change their offense? I thought that they were running the wishbone option?

I am fortunate that the Graham-Beaver weekend falls on one where my little one is not playing soccer in the midwest. Her team travels between IN, OH, KY and MI so we are on the road every other weekend it seems. Will be in Cincy the weekend prior and in Dayton the weekend after the game.

So how good are the guys this year? Are they still in the SWD this season or did they move already to Single A? I am hoping to make it to my first Graham-Beaver game in 18 years (since my brother last played) so I hope its not too bad.

It will be tough for anyone to want to play next year under this regime. If anything, the GHS soccer program will get a nice boost with Doug back in charge next season.

Man, things are pretty bad in Double Gates