However, since Dawkins was the leadin' scorer in Duke history, one should assume that he had some kind of range, unless he was a monster in the paint (Dookies, correct me on this one if I'm mistaken). If so, one can give a conservative estimate that 200 shots would have been three-pointers; I would place the number somewhere near 300-325. If J.J. Redick goes at his roughly 28 point-per-game clip, he will probably surpass that "magic-200" mark unless Duke gets knocked out early in the ACC tournament, NCAA tournament, or both.
I hate to hear that for him, and my prayers go out for him.
It's a shame that it has to happen at any time, but especially at this point in his life, in the middle of the season, in one of the most (if not the most) cutthroat basketball leagues in America.
The one player that will most likely go before him shouldn't go before him.
I'm just not sold on Adam Morrison yet. UVA has played both teams, so I've seen both players in action. Morrison controlled the tempo, but Redick flat-out controlled the game. I have seldom seen a player be that incredibly consistent: he hits shots with people in his face, he is now startin' to drive to the lane (which I think is where he still needs to improve some more), and he continually works to make his game better. Take that as you wish.
I'd like to hear the other 5 that are supposed to go before him, 'cause that would be interestin' to see...
I have seen so many close ACC games in U-Hall lately that I'm blue in the face, but on to the Hokies:
I do think the misfortunes of the players play a big part of the on-court performances of the players, however I also believe that Virginia Tech was not overlooked at all this year, as they were last year (8-8 ACC regular season record in 2005). It's very similar to us this year: UVA is 6-5 in the ACC, and I think 1/3 of it is that everyone (includin' myself) picked us to finish 11th or 12th. We're in a tie for 5th right now, and this season for us mirrors Virginia Tech's season last year: fairly good ACC record, subpar out-of-conference record, and probably an NIT berth.
So, I think it's off-the-court problems as well as the ACC teams not takin' Tech lightly anymore.
The way I look at it, if everyone complains 'bout the "bad draw" America got, it says somethin'. It says that the American team is not talented enough to compete against the Italies and the Brazils of the world, and that they wanted America to have a soft schedule to squeak into the sweet sixteen. They should be lookin' forward to playin' any team that crosses their path, and I believe the players themselves have that attitude.
My birthday's October 5th, I graduated when I was 17. It was no big deal to graduate a year early; in fact, quite the contrary. Goin' on to college gave me another year of my life in which I can do somethin' with. I may be able to take a year off work and travel the country in the future. I may be able to retire a year earlier. I may be able to try different career paths out of college with that extra year. I certainly had the grades to move on, look where I am now; I wasn't 'bout to waste it in high school another year. It just doesn't make sense to me if that's the logic for bein' held back. Whatever floats ya boat, though.
No, I'd like to stay on the issue for a little while longer...
It just doesn't seem fair in reality any school to do this (Grundy and Richlands have been mentioned). I think it has to do with the VHSL age limit in itself. That limit was set up for the kids who are held back for academic reasons or extreme familial reasons (death or debilitatin' illness). However, holdin' a kid back for the sake of sports is abusin' the system. It's flat-out exploitation of a technicality in order to allow some coaches the opportunity to build a better program.
This is high school football, ladies and gentlemen: the main goal should be for the betterment of the kids themselves: to build life skills, have fun, workin' together as a team, and playin' the best game in the world. Sure, you want to field the best team you possibly can, and work them as hard as possible to maximize their experiences. However, when you lose sight of that goal, holdin' kids back in order to build some kind of dynasty as an example, it loses the focus on the betterment of the kids, and frankly, it's downright weird and bizarre.
I know someone's gonna counter with the comeback that college football basically does the same thing by redshirtin' someone in order to develop them more as football players. That is true, but those people are in college most of the time to play football! (Look at their SAT scores and high school GPAs) They are held back for the purpose for which they are there. (If you take nothin' else from this, focus on that LONG and HARD). It's also not done under the guise of the VHSL age limit. Kids are in high school to get a mandatory education the United States government believes each child should have, and thus, holdin' a kid back to play football does not serve educational purposes, and abuses that nifty VHSL age limit.
A question of my own: how many kids from this area go on to play college football? 5% or less, and that's a very liberal estimate. In all reality, if you're a 5'10'', 230 pound offensive lineman, even if you can hit pretty hard, odds are slim to none that you're gonna play football in college, USC, Appalachian State, Tusculum, wherever, when the average offensive lineman in college is 6'2''-6'6'', and goes between 270-310 pounds.
Under that example, holdin' a kid back is practically useless. One can say that it matured you as a person and helped you out playin' the game of football. To the first point...DUH! If you stay an extra year, it's pretty hard NOT to mature as a person, and unless you live in a cave, you're gonna mature socially as well. To the second point, if you're in the 95% that will not play collegiate football, you've wasted a year of your life. You could've spent that year in college, at a technical center, inventin' a new casino game, whatever.
I bet you all cannot name me ten people who were held back in high school that currently play collegiate football, and when you all bash me for writin' this long message when I should've been sleepin', I challenge you to name me ten.
I just think it's wrong to hold kids back for that purpose, and I feel vehemently 'bout it. I can't wait to hear the angry responses!
That's true, but again, the gas is colorless and odorless, so they would've had no way of knowin' anyhow.
And for that ignorant group, let them be. It's wisest not to stoop to their level and have the whole town open up a can on 'em. It's their right as American citizens. That havin' been said, they'll get theirs, somehow. Life's funny like that.
They won district my last year of HS and the year after, guess that streak stopped. Bein' out of the area 8 months a year somewhat limits my sports viewin'.
Hasn't Graham dominated that for the past couple of years? I know Bourne was a big part of that. Heck, I can still remember when they went through their first season and didn't score a goal...
Havin' went to Graham for my four years, I NEVER saw a player held back in 8th grade (or any other) in order to play high school football as old as he could. I don't think any were held back for academic reasons, either. Let it go, man...
This should've been done last year, but it's better now than never, in my opinion.
I have a question, and pardon me if it's so simple, but three years have passed since he left high school, if I'm not mistaken. That technically means that he's eligible for the NFL draft, if said case is true. I know some team with a quarterback problem (Dolphins, Lions, Browns) would take a chance on the guy if he has as much talent as everyone in this half of Virginia says he does. I've probably missed somethin', but why on Earth would he go to a I-AA school when he could go to the NFL?
Now West Virginia is 2-12 in their last 14 bowl games. :P
Seriously though, beatin' the SEC champs is no small feat, and the way West Virginia came out of the game with 21 in the first quarter was highly impressive. The trickery in the end was nice, and it showed that WVU played to win, not to lose. I give you all the praise in the world for that win, and may many more come to the program.
Snowshoe is the best by FAR. Winterplace does not compare. The "Homestead" in Alleghany County's not bad, good hospitality, and where people from my neck of the woods go to have a good time.
I know they're not a good road team, but they're playin' the Oakland "We've-Given-Up-and-Haven't-Played-Worth-Crap-Since-Week-8" Raiders. They win by two touchdowns.
I'd love to see the Skins win that NFC East. I wouldn't mind the standin's stayin' as they are right now. Tampa Bay looked today like they didn't wanna win that game with Atlanta. They've proven they can beat Seattle...
I don't believe so. Tampa Bay clinched the 5-seed today with a win. The Redskins can still win the NFC East next week, if they beat the Eagles and the Giants lose to the Raiders (will most likely NOT happen). Dallas makes it in with a win and a Washington loss. Minnesota, while technically alive, doesn't have the tiebreakers over the Redskins and Cowboys, and would therefore not make it.
1. Let Graham have the talent to give it a run next year, and let them play with the same fire and motivation they had this year. Let Will Cole mature into an all-state caliber quarterback, let the line mature, and let the defense become rock solid.
2. Let them also beat Beaver again. They don't get but 1 of every 3 games on average, so that would be fantastic.
3. Don't let the refs make ignorant calls that can decide the outcome of this game. Don't even let there be a question in any minds that the refs made the right calls.
4. Give us a Southwest District that has teams of 10-0, 9-1, 8-2, 7-3, and 6-4 records.
5. Exceptin' that, please, for GOODNESS SAKES, let one of the teams in the Highlands get a winnin' record for the first time in 3 years.
If the VHSL really wanted to toot it's own horn, it's located in Charlottesville in the first place. Charlottesville is really a very central location in Virginia, takin' only 'bout 4 hours to get there from Richlands, 'bout 3 and 1/2 from Bluefield, and just under 5 from Bristol. Lane Stadium would be great for single-A, 'cause southwest Virginia has most of the teams anyway, and it's somewhat-central to teams that have to travel, it's somethin' like 5 hours from Manassas Park to Blacksburg (I've made that trip before, and it wasn't that bad).
The only problem I would see with this is a similarly big site to hold the AAA games. Those are the games that draw the most attention, especially since some have national ranks on the line. Anyone have an idea where to hold that one? You could in theory stagger the games for AA and AAA in Charlottesville to Friday/Saturday, but that's not likely if this ever happens.
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Congratulations to J.J. Redick!!!!!
in College and Pro Sports
Posted
Good point.
However, since Dawkins was the leadin' scorer in Duke history, one should assume that he had some kind of range, unless he was a monster in the paint (Dookies, correct me on this one if I'm mistaken). If so, one can give a conservative estimate that 200 shots would have been three-pointers; I would place the number somewhere near 300-325. If J.J. Redick goes at his roughly 28 point-per-game clip, he will probably surpass that "magic-200" mark unless Duke gets knocked out early in the ACC tournament, NCAA tournament, or both.