RichlandsAlum

[ QUOTE ] I've seen all these cheering sections, and I have to say, Richlands is hands down the best. Rife's Raiders are probably some of the roudiest fans I've seen. [/ QUOTE ] Glad to hear that the tradition of rowdiness continues at Richlands. Back in the day, we simply referred to ourselves as the Krazy Korner. I was there the night someone actually ripped one of the bleachers off and waved it in the air during the regional playoff against VHS back in '88. Or maybe I wasn't. Good times. Good times....

But I've heard several folks offer that Radford's 1972 team is the best they've ever seen.

Something like... "Top 5 Best 3rd-Stringers Ever in Tazewell County Middle School Basketball." 'Cause I'm thinking that would be of interest to darn near everybody.

[ QUOTE ] What about Jeff Hurst(RHS 89)? He could flat light it up from beyond the arc. I think he used to an equipment manager for those RHS Blues in the 80s? [/ QUOTE ] Oh yes. A huge and unforgiveable omission from this thread. As a player, Wurst was absolutely essential to the success of the Blues in the late '80s. That said, he was #2 on the depth chart as equipment manager at best. Just couldn't get the floor swept between JV and Varsity games quite as well as that other kid.

[ QUOTE ] Congratulations on a Great and exciting season. Keep your heads up guys !!!! [/ QUOTE ] Can't say much more than ditto to the posts in this thread. As an RHS grad and Richlands expatriate, I couldn't be prouder.

[ QUOTE ] Richlands was actually awarded a TD in that game on a muffed punt by VHS -- one of the worst calls I've ever seen in my life, BTW. Do you really think that was a "bad" call. I really thought Lucky Daggs touched the ball as it went over his head. Just my opinion. Also, when Chad King caught that ball on the sideline in the endzone, I was about 5 feet behind him, running the deeper route. I wished I could have made the call, he was defintely in bounds. [/ QUOTE ] No question that Daggs muffed it. Richlands definitely gained possession on the play. The part that the officiating crew botched was the rule that says you can't advance a muffed punt. My recollection was that the ball came down in front of the goal line (the exact spot escapes me after 17 years) and that our guy(s) batted it into the end zone where we recovered it. The officials gave us a touchdown as a result, which was an incorrect call. The correct call should have been to award possession to Richlands at the spot where the ball was originally down. Probably academic, since we would've had first and goal within the 5 yard line. But still a bad call.

Glad to hear that y'all had a positive experience in Richlands this past weekend and hope you'll feel welcome enough to come back and visit any time.

[ QUOTE ] Good post. Thanks for the slight corrections ... I was 10 when that regional game was played so I question my memory for sure. I didn't opine I would remember anything at all. [/ QUOTE ] It's all good, Alpha. As far as my opinion statement, the thoughts I posted were my own. Just looking for some third person validation if I could find it.

is the former sports editor for the Bristol Herald-Courier. One would think that he would know better. I'm a bit curious as to whether he would've written that article the same way if he were still employed in Bristol. "Hypocrite" isn't a word to be bandied about lightly IMO, but it sure is bouncing around my head a lot as I consider Mr. Anderson's writing.

[ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Whichever year it was that Mike Compton and company played in the state semi's at Richlands, i believe was one of the best years b4 92'. So they def. were perennial losers or w/e. [/ QUOTE ] I remember being in attendance when Mike and the Blues played VHS that year... I also remember the picture that made the RHS Football poster the following year with our receiver's toe (was it Hagy?) touching inside the endzone (a catch ruled out of bounds). That would have given us the championship. [/ QUOTE ] Actually, the 1987 team is the one that folks are referencing (Compton graduated in '88, thus his senior football season actually took place in the fall of '87). That was a great team. In addition to Compton, Adam Lallande received a great deal of attention from Division I programs as a linebacker. Essentially, that team proved to be a good combination of Bruce Evans' players and a more wide-open offensive scheme. The game in question was a regional semi-final (or first round in the playoffs, if you prefer), not a championship contest. Although VHS did go on to defeat Marion for the Region IV title, so one might logically opine that Richlands would have done the same. The receiver in question was Chad King (fellow '89er Rob Hagy didn't play football until our senior year). Richlands was actually awarded a TD in that game on a muffed punt by VHS -- one of the worst calls I've ever seen in my life, BTW. Some folks think that the subsequent incomplete call against Chad in overtime was a "makeup" for that officiating error earlier in that game. My own opinion is that Richlands was pretty much a doormat from 1973 until Bruce Evans arrived in 1982. Since 1982 I'd describe us as consistently competitive if not overly impressive. Heldreth's 1979 team which beat GC and finished 6-4 was an anomaly in the stretch between '73 and '82, much as Billy Haun's losing teams were from 1988 through 1990. FWIW, the Blues never won a regional playoff game from the inception of the current system in 1970 until Vaught's win over Blacksburg in 1991. Conclude what you may. Didn't mean to split hairs, but my history degree compels me to offer corrections sometimes as a I see fit.

[ QUOTE ] Sorry, Richlands does NOT have a "network". [/ QUOTE ] Uhh.... That was just a joke. Apparently not a very good one, however.

[ QUOTE ] 105.5/540 & 100.7 Don't ask me why we have two broadcasts on three stations but we do. [/ QUOTE ] If nothing else, Richlands is one of very few HS programs that can claim to have a broadcast network.

[ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Why is that? The phrase "wasn't able to" certainly piques my curiosity. [/ QUOTE ] Because the field was a mess. [/ QUOTE ] Probably going to be a mess on Saturday, too. I'm hoping that the Blues will be able to grind out some kind of production on offense. But if the game plan is simply to let Ringstaff carry them to victory (a la the regional final), my prediction is that Salem will be able to shut that down in a hurry.

[ QUOTE ] Keep in mind that Richlands wasn't able to use their whole offense against Bassett. [/ QUOTE ] Why is that? The phrase "wasn't able to" certainly piques my curiosity.

[ QUOTE ] I just dont see Richlands beating Salem. Salem is just a better football team. But things can happen, anything is possoble. Personally i want Richlands to win but i dont see it happen. [/ QUOTE ] Pains me to say so, but I agree. Richlands' offense will have to play much, much better than it did against Bassett for the Blues to have a chance in this one. In particular, they're going to have to open things up in terms of play calling. If Salem is allowed to key on Cain Ringstaff, and the Blues can't throw the ball, it might be a really long afternoon. My opinion is based on Salem's performance against Liberty-Bedford, which I witnessed. I'd be very pleased to be wrong.

[ QUOTE ] Excellent choices that I missed...especially Dills and Hardman! We must have gone to school around the same time period... [/ QUOTE ] I graduated from Richlands in '89. I was the equipment manager for the hoops team from 1981 to 1987, and my dad (who worked with Eddie Fortune, BTW) was the game announcer for about a dozen years within the same time period. So I'm pretty well-versed in that particular era. I wonder what Henry is up to these days....

For Richlands: PG- Petey Ball (Class of '89) Scored over 1,000 points. Member of RHS teams that won SWD regular season and tournament titles back to back in 1988 and 1989. Wing - Randall Dills (Class of '83) Also a member of the over 1,000 club. Runner-up for SWD Player of the Year and second in scoring on 1982-83 team that won SWD tournament title and set the pace for the remainder of the '80s. Wing - Fred Phillips (Class of '84) I think Fred scored over 1,000 during his time at RHS as well. If not, he came pretty close. Had single game high in SW Virginia during 1982-83 season (35 points, which is more impressive given the balance that RHS had that year). Led 1983-84 team to 16 game winning streak. Post - Rick Hardman (Class of '86) Scored over 1,000 points. Dominated the paint and the boards for 1984-85 team that went 21-3 and was arguably the most talented RHS squad ever. Post - Randall Lowe (Class of '85) With Hardman, "Randai" was second half of one-two punch that led Blues to a 21-3 record and the SWD tournament title in 1985. Leading scorer of an exceptionally balanced team. Honorable mention: Nick McGhee - PG (Class of '83) Ricky Michaels - PG (Class of '85) Scotty Michaels - W (Class of '85) Scott Keene - Wing (Class of '90) Randy Robinson - Wing (Class of '84) Barry Yost - Post (Class of '82) Mark Ginn - Post (Class of '84)

Quite a few good ones from the '80s... Henry Fortune - Graham (already mentioned by the G Man) Robert Steele - Tazewell Randall Dills - Richlands Petey Ball - Richlands Keith Latimer - Graham Honorable mention.... Rick Hardman - Richlands (incredible touch for a big guy) Clarence Handley - Marion (assuming we're being inclusive) Trudell Hiller - Abingdon The three RHS guys on my list all scored over 1,000 in their career.

[ QUOTE ] Since when is supporting your coach a crime?!?!? I wasnt aware a severe bashing was given to anyone who said something good about a coach other than Carlock or Wyatt...well i for one think Coach Smith is a damn good coach...so go ahead and let the bashings commence... [/ QUOTE ] I concur with RamJam and rombone. Just having a little fun. Although whomever is posting the love letters to Terry over on virginia preps needs some attention in a bad way, IMO.

Back in 1986 when the VHSL started this whole six division mess, I believe that a Class A team in Northern Virginia qualified for the playoffs with an 0-10 record. The school was either George Mason High School or the team that played GMHS in the playoffs that year. Haven't found a link yet, but I'm positive that I'm remembering this correctly.

I hear that he's next in line to replace Pope John Paul II. Don't know if he's actually Catholic or not. Is that important?

I'll be there either way, and I'll be very jazzed about it.

Although I think there will still be a good crowd. You're basically talking about a net difference of six hours' starting time for an event that will consume about two. Aside from those folks who have to work, I predict that folks will adjust their schedules accordingly.

Thanksgiving holiday at both. For that matter, a lot of offices (including mine) are closed that day, anyway. I'm pretty stoked about the game, particularly since this week will probably be the last time I get to visit Richlands for any length of time.

Don't know how folks who are reporting this are "in the know," but I wouldn't be surprised if it were true. Could make for a great day of football all around. Blues at 1:30 and 'Dawgs at 7:30.