Buzzsaw, you are most certainly correct. In my travels across Virginia, I've seen two different Virginias. The south has more blue-collared workers and honest, true people; the north has more white-collar workers with a higher crime rate (excludin' Richmond, of course). Southwest Virginians are as guilty as anyone else in believin' the state stops at Roanoke, but it's truly experienced in a greater degree farther east. I cannot show anyone where I live unless I use Charleston or Roanoke as a landmark. The sentiment of the vast majorty of people I've met states the same thing; I've been bluntly told that I didn't matter because I was from the southwest part of Virginia. What one must do then, in football as well as life, is to work harder and to have more drive, and evenutally, that one will come out on top.
Thanks for my little inspirtational moment, but it's the truth; Virginia's divided at Roanoke.
Here's a little Super Bowl information I've found:
The worst conditions for a Super Bowl was for Super Bowl IX (already mentioned), on the icy, cold tundra of...Baton Rouge, Louisiana? That's the ONLY one in which it's ever been played in rain. There's been one north of the Mason/Dixon line (Super Bowl XVI, Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit, Michigan). Anywhere else, it could be like the Ice Bowl in the 1967 NFL (not Super Bowl, leagues didn't merge until 1970) Championship between Dallas and Green Bay. I want the elements to play a role in decidin' the victor of a game; I don't want a field in bad shape to decide a game (thin line, but it CAN be done).
I believe a good point was made in the fact that all three Super-Six games should not be played in the same site; there is a difference to me in havin' a good, muddy slugfest between two teams and havin' a field in which it is dangerous to walk across.
If this sounds like a crackpot idea, please disregard it; if not, proceed along. Three of the best fields in West Virginia are Wheeling Island Stadium, Laidley Field, and Mitchell Stadium. There are A, AA, and AAA classes in West Virginia. I think it may be for the benefit of West Virginia (in revenue, also, by makin' more money in 3 towns and 3 stadiums than in just 1), to hold the championship games rotating between each of those stadiums next year (i.e. A-Bluefield, 2004; A-Charleston, 2005; A-Wheeling, 2006; A-Bluefield, 2007, and so on). I'd like to throw this idea out for discussion, to see how it is viewed.
First, Oklahoma has no right to be in the Sugar Bowl this year; not only did they lose to Kansas State in the Big 12 Championship, the lost by 4 touchdowns. LSU beat #5 Georgia in convincing manner (by far a better team than Kansas State), and USC kept truckin' along, as they have all season. I think the ESPN/USA Today and the AP Press polls have it right on.
Second, a playoff should definitely be instituted. I find it a testament to the derision of television that bowl games are preferred in the system. I don't bow down to the almighty dollar, but ABC and the BCS pollsters seem to. There are four weeks of bowl games, give or take a few days. Why not institute a round of 16 playoff, (to give teams from weaker conferences a chance to prove themselves) in which the BCS could still be used, but just to determine seatings? To satisfy the cavernous greed of the network television affiliates, more games produce more money, and higher ratin's! The only thing I see problems with is exam/Christmas. This is my system, criticize it as you wish.
I totally agree with you there, Mike. Gate City has been the bridesmaid 4 times in the last 4 seasons, and that gets old RATHER quickly. Colobro no doubt has his squad ready, and I think Gate City will take Radford tomorrow in Scott County, with a physical and spirit-driven game.
The title "hearts of champions" fits the 2003 Graham G-Men perfectly, I believe. They played a team that the Massey ratings gave a 90% chance of winnin'; but they showed that ratings don't take into account heart and determination. Just like in the Beaver-Graham game, Graham dug itself a large first-quarter whole. Just like in Graham-Beaver, this team did not die, doin' whatever was neccessary to score points against a Gretna defense that gives up just a touchdown per game.
Ahmad Bradshaw will definitely be missed at halfback, but I believe he has a solid reinforcement in Robert Henry; Kevin Matthews will return, along with others.
Gretna is somethin' special, though; that team has been totally dominant this season (with that Massey poll ratin' them the most dominant team in Virginia). My hat goes off to them; may this be the season for them, and may next year be the season of the G-Men.
First off, I must say there's nothin' to be ashamed about comin' out of that kind of a game, the way that Graham played. It takes heart to fight back from 20 points down to make the football game close again, as what happened. Graham held Gretna to the lowest point total of the season (albeit 34), and scored more points that any team had (22). Gretna was a dominant team, and continued to show it through today. That was a great season, Graham G-Men, and I wish Gretna all the best of luck in the VHSL state championships next weekend in Lynchburg.
The radio frequency is 106.3 for Bluefield northward into West Virginia, and south into Bland County. The radio frequency is 107.7 for Tazewell movin' southwest to Russell County, and into Buchanan County. Kicks Country is broadcastin' the game.
If it's at all possible, could someone that has access to a computer and football reports post updates of the game, just occasionally. I have no access to Kicks Country, and I'm out of town. If anyone can possibly helf me out, I'd definitely be thankful for that. May God bless!
That is truly heartbreakin' for all the Beaver players and fans that worked since July to get to this point. Valiantly done, Beavers; I commend you on a well-played season. One play does not determine all that you accomplished in the 2003 season.
Congratulations also, to the Poca fans, on a season well-played and well-fought out; your perserverence paid graciously in the end.
I send all my well-wishes and condolences to you, Lance. Family is what is truly important in life. My thoughts and prayers are with you. May God bless.
I lived in Bluefield, and went to Graham High in my heyday, and it was difficult to find coverage on anythin' goin' on in the world of sports, news, or life/entertainment. Very good points are made about overhaulin' the Bluefield Daily Telegraph. WVVA is MUCH worse, in my opinion; not only do they not live up to the second half of their name, they have very little coverage for Bluefield, WV also, compared to what I believe.
Before one can begin to reform what the paper and news should/shouldn't cover, we need to change what is included in the media itself.
First, there is one paper of worth (albeit very little worth to me) in Tazewell County-The Clinch Valley news.
The publication mentions very little about Tazewell County/Virginia teams altogether, and therefore has a serious ill in its very design. I was suggesting a new newspaper altogether, but because of financial means/people, that's near impossible. Maybe (probably not) the powers in control will do something to aid that little situation.
Second, Grundy does have a dynasty in wrestling, 21 state championships since 1970, if I'm not mistaken; that's an incredible feat. I'd like to see nothin' better than Bluefield win it's 8th, Graham win it's 4th, Gate City win, and J.I. Burton make a run for it. Good luck to all involved, and good night!
Sources is definitely right in what's been said; football is one major source of pride in a storied athletic program at Bluefield, and they deserve every right to "Believe" in an 8th state championship in football. Graham has only 4 state championships in any one area, and it's in...creative writin' ('71, '75, '95, and '99 if I'm not mistaken, and I very well may be).
The Bluefield Daily Telegraph, however, should do a better job of coverin' playoff games in football country than it is doin' now; I believe their coverage overall should improve, for both states.
Here's another thought I had: this season looks a little like the '62 season in some regards. A one-possession Beaver-Graham game, two strong regular seasons, two teams in state championships IF Graham defeats Gretna, and hopefully, just maybe, two state champions.
That very thing occurred to me after I posted. Hall and Moon (QB and RB) are great players, who can carry the load for Gretna, but the snow may very well hamper their abilities. The elements can work both ways.
I wanted to watch Graham-Gretna, anyway; I think the snow makes it twice as great. It's a bit of tough luck, because I'm out of town until the 13th. However, that gives me as much concern for Graham, because the elements have not given Graham much help over the last two years (2001-Harrisonburg; 2002-Grundy). I'm not sayin' that Graham could've/should've won those games, but I am sayin' that it may be a bad omen.
First, I wish I could read a story of ANY type in the Bluefield Daily Telegraph without seeing up to 8 errors in one article; I know computers have spell-check in this day and age. The importance of many sports articles is also messed up on a continual basis; give me football playoffs, not girls-basketball highlights.
Second, the Bluefield Daily Telegraph has a right to report on the Beavers in greater detail than the G-Men, because the paper is itself centered in West Virginia; I'm a Virginian, so there's no bias in that. Needless to say, I'd rather read the Bristol Herald-Courier than the Bluefield Daily Telegraph anyday. I do wish, however, that we had a better news service in Virginia; the Clinch Valley paper doesn't do a very good job.
Third, watch the woofin'; Bluefield has a game just this weekend, and it'd be nice not to jinx them.
I agree with the previous post. A sloppy, turnover-filled game on Saturday will lose it for either team, and Rustburg made a great case for that. I look for Saturday's game to be a little more high-scoring that what people may anticipate, because of the forces of Hall and Bradshaw that have potential to carve defenses like last week's turkey. I also look for this game to be an "instant classic", because Graham has not faced a team on a streak like Gretna since 2001 against Harrisonburg (and they weren't undefeated). A game like this comes around rarely, and I wish I could be there to see it. Good luck, G-Men
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It's humorous, because it looks like my Cavaliers are destined to be in that bowl every year.
everyone , please read...thanks
in SWVA Football
Posted
Buzzsaw, you are most certainly correct. In my travels across Virginia, I've seen two different Virginias. The south has more blue-collared workers and honest, true people; the north has more white-collar workers with a higher crime rate (excludin' Richmond, of course). Southwest Virginians are as guilty as anyone else in believin' the state stops at Roanoke, but it's truly experienced in a greater degree farther east. I cannot show anyone where I live unless I use Charleston or Roanoke as a landmark. The sentiment of the vast majorty of people I've met states the same thing; I've been bluntly told that I didn't matter because I was from the southwest part of Virginia. What one must do then, in football as well as life, is to work harder and to have more drive, and evenutally, that one will come out on top.
Thanks for my little inspirtational moment, but it's the truth; Virginia's divided at Roanoke.