Bulldog 82

I think the articles for Bassett and Magna Vista were better. The Bulletin has a bias against the Dogs but thats just my opinion.

I wonder how many, if any, FC or Laurel Park players transfered to MHS? Good to hear about those 3 brothers from Halifax coming in. Maybe the Dogs will win the district this year. Like you say the schedule is pretty tough this season but maybe Taylor Edwards will have them ready.

Is Graham more of a running team or passing team this year? I guess they will be good at both. Right!

Last I checked Franklin Co. high school has around 2000 students, thats more than GW Danville. They need to build another high school and make two AA schools. Then they could join the Piedmont District

I heard they are supposed to be bigger and better this year but they also moved back up to Div 4 AA. They have a pretty tough schedule, opening up with Graham then playing Bassett and Magna Vista and AAA Div 6 Franklin Co..

If the VHSL implements the 4A classification system in the fall of '07' that will mean new districts will be formed. Under one plan it has Bassett, William Byrd, William Fleming, Hidden Valley, Lord Botetourt, Magna Vista, Northside, and Salem in a new AAA district. I guess some old rivalries will be lost and new ones started. Another plan I saw has GW Danville and Franklin Co. moving up to 4A and EC Glass and Halifax remaining in AAA. Also the Piedmont district would have some changes, consisting of Martinsville, Gretna, Tunstall, Dan River and Patrick Co.. I guess all the districts would be affected in someway. Do any of you guys have an idea how some of the districts might shape up under a 4A plan?

Bassett runs a 3-4 defense. I bet the Nosetackle has a tough job. Martinsville's coach Edwards has run about every offense in the book in the past few years. He's run the 'I' wishbone, spread and wing-T. I guess you have to see what kind of players you have to determine your offensive and defensive sets.

Looks like Martinsville will remain in AA with Magna Vista and Bassett moving up to AAA in a new district. Martinsville will still be able to play Magna Vista and Bassett right?

Well with BigD4VT giving us a daily count down it's not hard to tell that the 2005 high school football season is not far off. I noticed Martinsville will be playing what appears to be a rather tough schedule with Graham and Gretna added to the schedule this season. Gretna is the VA AA Div.3 state champions but they lose their star QB which might give Bulldogs a chance at beating the Hawks. I assume Martinsville moved back to Div.4 because they picked up alot of Laurel Park students who didn't want to make the 30 minute ride to Magna Vista. I've been reading in the Mart. Bulletin that the city is considering reverting back to a town. If that happens then Henry Co. will have to take over the city school system. I just wonder how that might effect enrollments at MHS and how the districts would be redrawn for Bassett MV and MHS? I kind of hope the city will remain a city but I guess unemployment at over 10% and a shrinking tax base will be the determining factor. I'm just curious what some of you Piedmont District fans think of the situation?

I think it's neat that MV will be playing Reidsville. I've watched the Rams and GW Danville go at it a couple of times and they were pretty evenly matched. I think GW won on the last play of the game last year. Reidsville has won several NC AA state championships recently and they take their football very seriously. They have a great website at www.reidsvillefootball.com . I feel MV will have their hands full with the Rams. It's good to hear Martinsville should be improved this year but winning the Piedmont and playing in Div. 4 will be tough to do.

Your right that Martinsville used to have over a thousand students. I graduated in 82 and we had around 270 in our class. Their enrollment has declined along with all the job losses. Martinsville and Henry Co. has lost probably 15,000 jobs in past 20 years. Martinsville's population has gone from 25,000 down to 16,000 last I checked. I'm not sure about Henry Co. population statistics.

The piedmont district used to have ten teams and now it's down to six. Magna Vista and Bassett now have about 1200 students each and the rest of the district; Martinsville, Tunstall, Dan River, Patrick Co. all have between 500 to 800 students. Magna Vista and Bassett need to move up to the Western Valley District which includes GW Danville,Franklin Co., Halifax, EC Glass and maybe a few more teams I can't remember. This would be a good fit for Magna Vista as they already play GW Dan. and Franklin Co. Plus the geographical locations of all these teams would be a good fit as well. What about the rest of the Piedmont District? Martinsville, Patrick Co., Tunstall,Dan River could move to the Dogwood District which includes Gretna,Chatham to name a few. The Dogwood District would be a good fit both for enrollments and locations of the smaller Piedmont District teams.

lol... Hogoheegee probably means..Honkie go home!

I graduated from Martinsville in 82 and I'm not a Bassett fan although I do pull for the Piedmont District in the playoffs. Maybe they are having a media day in order to help the merger go smoother. Bassett and Magna Vista should be at the top of the district this year. It will be interesting to see who wins their first 'merger' match up game this year.

I'm not familiar with George Wythe. I live in Pittsylvania Co. and I know a little about Piedmont District teams and GW Danville. When it comes to teams in other districts I don't know much except what I read on sites like this one.

I know Hogoheegee is probably an indian name but just what does it mean in English?

I agree that they should be put in Div. 4 and it's not fair if they remain in Div.3. I didn't say they would have a region IV championship in the bag, I said they would have a good shot. Right now all the sites I've looked at has them still in Div 3. Martinsville and Dan River will probably be the only Div. 3 teams in the Piedmont District this year and hopefully at least one of them will make the playoffs.

I've looked around at several other football sites and so far Bassett is listed in Div 3, even on this site. If the VHSL is going to move them to Div 4 they better hurry up! Tomorrow is the big day, Aug 2 ! The beginning of football season! I luv it all... high school, college, pro football. I still don't care much for arena football though. The ACC should be real interesting this year with Va.Tech and Miami in the mix. Good luck to all you guys entering football bootcamp tomorrow!

Martinsville and Henry County has lost at least 15,000 jobs in the last 15 years. Population as well a student enrollments has also declined considerably. Lost tax revenue and along with reduced state funds has forced schools in Henry County to consolidate in order to cut cost. There is even a plan in action to merge Henry County's School System, which Bassett and Magna Vista are a part of, with Martinsville School System. All this consolidating and mergering talk has been a very emotional issue and has made for some very lively school board meetings.

If Bassett remains in Div 3 AA then they will have a good shot a winning Region IV. They consolidated with Fieldale Collinville who had one of their best seasons ever last year. FC has a good new coach named Gilbert who turned their football program around. Bassett let their long time football coach go and hired Gilbert who will be bringing his Cavaliers to Bassett. I not a Bassett fan but if they remain in Div 3 with 1200 students then they will be a team to be reckoned with.

It's rumored that VHSL might implement a 4A system in 2007. If they do then that should help eliminate some of the weaker teams from making the playoffs. NC uses a 4A system and it seems to work pretty well for them.

Anyone care to try and answer "Why Districts?" besides me? This dead horse called "complainers" is getting old!

What I wrote wasn't meant to be an offence it was just an obeservation that post having to do with Graham will get alot more response! I know Graham has a great football tradition and is a fine school. Of the few post I have made on this board, this one has gotten the most reply. I wonder Why?

I'm sorry! I'll try to do better! I didn't realize Graham fans were so sensitive.

I don't have anything against Graham! I said if your post doesn't involve Graham then you want get much response. You just proved my point! The man has a question about Va. football districts and you don't respond to it,but I mention Graham and get a response. I not saying thats bad but thats just the nature of this board.