RichlandsAlum

My second born son was just named to the varsity soccer team at Liberty-Bedford.  Pretty sure he is the only freshman that was taken.  They had good numbers at tryouts and it's a very deep pool in terms of talent.
All three of my boys are pretty gifted physically.  But #2 is the best athlete among them by far.  He also wrestles (won three event medals in his first year) and played pretty much every down on the JV football team this spring season.
Kid has also suffered mightily this past year due to the various shutdowns.  So this good news is certainly welcome and I just can't help but crow about it.

UVA is historically pretty tight lipped about personnel and Bronco is that to an extreme degree.  Would not surprise me if Wells had to “prove himself” or some other probationary measure before earning a listing.  

That's the one thing that I find most curious about this situation.  Given the very public manner in which Coach Wells had to separate from Richlands, I would have expected some kind of corresponding hiring announcement from Charlottesville.  Relying solely on Google, I have yet to see anything like that.
Also curious about the nature of the position itself that he is taking.  A quick visit to the official athletics site at UVa provides a listing of the football staff.  I see several "analyst" positions listed but no obvious vacancies related to position coaching.

That's the one thing that I find most curious about this situation.  Given the very public manner in which Coach Wells had to separate from Richlands, I would have expected some kind of corresponding hiring announcement from Charlottesville.  Relying solely on Google, I have yet to see anything like that.
Also curious about the nature of the position itself that he is taking.  A quick visit to the official athletics site at UVa provides a listing of the football staff.  I see several "analyst" positions listed but no obvious vacancies related to position coaching.

Count me as a continuing member of the "Happy to be playing" tribe.  I will also be fully behind SWD/Region 2D standard bearers as they advance.

I heard from a reliable source (my imagination) that they were all going to let Richland’s in until Union reminded everyone about the Blue Tornados trampling their band in 2017. All the principals started chanting “Remember the Band” and changed their vote to Union. It was the classy thing to do.

You’re 6 times less likely to get infected at a Chris Stapleton concert than a high school football game.  It’s science.

https://www.bdtonline.com/sports/beavers-honored-with-new-black-jordan-football-uniforms/article_c2f0759e-8868-11eb-9bc7-3b6808652dc8.html

At the college level, Virginia Tech beat Vanderbilt back in 1989 by a score of 18-0.  Mickey Thomas kicked 6 field goals in that one.

Sure it counts toward Tony's overall personal sense of well-being.  (As rightly it should.)

Touchdown Graham. Meadows maybe? Richlands announcer was sure to let everyone know they had no clue who scored.
Graham - 33
Richlands - 13
Late in the 4th

Can we refer to them as the "Augusta All Stars?"  Seems like it would be more accurate.

End of 1st Taz on top of Rheads 6-0 with gladiators in rz

Can we refer to them as the "Augusta All Stars?"  Seems like it would be more accurate.

Post from Pulaski Co Schools few days ago:
Pulaski County Public Schools
Pulaski County Public Schools' Response To Governor Northam's Amended Executive Order #72 
Pulaski County Public Schools received notice last week that Governor Ralph Northam has amended executive order #72 in a way that reduces the number of potential spectators at football games and prohibits public schools from counting cheerleaders and band members as participants/players. The amended order is forcing schools throughout the state to choose between excluding band and cheer from participation or reducing the number of parents who can attend these events.  We are opposed to the restrictions imposed by the amended order for the following reasons:
1.  The order is discriminatory in that it diminishes the role of predominantly female groups of student athletes and musicians, who are essential participants in the football game experience, by classifying them as spectators.  
2.  The order is not grounded in the science that we currently utilize in implementing Covid mitigation strategies.  We know from experience that we can safely put 1000 students a day into our high school with classrooms at 80% capacity by masking and social distancing. Counting band and cheer as participants in addition to 250 spectators would still leave our football stadium, an outdoor venue, at less than 5% capacity. 
3.  The order is arbitrary and capricious.  There is a noticeable lack of consistency in how executive order #72 establishes expectations for outdoor venues.  Public beaches and amusement parks are afforded much more leeway and allowed incredibly higher attendance rates than high school stadiums which have been relegated to the category of community rec programs.  It's a designation that is insulting to our extracurricular and co-curricular programs while tying the hands of local governments to meet the needs of their communities.
Pulaski County Public Schools will abide by the guidance set forth in the amended executive order #72 while exploring available options for challenging it such as seeking a legal remedy through the courts or requesting a Title IX investigation regarding the possible gender discrimination aspect.  It is our sincerest hope that Governor Northam will reconsider his decision and include band and cheer as participants when new guidance is issued at the end of the month.  Our teachers and coaches are doing incredible things to create positive experiences for kids and our students deserve the same effort from their state government.  
Pulaski County Public Schools appreciates the overwhelming amount of support that we've received from throughout the state over the past week regarding our original plan to classify band and cheer as participants.  It is our hope that these individuals and others will exercise their right to reach out to the Governor's office to advocate for equal consideration for all student athletes and musicians as his administration works to develop new guidance that will go into effect on March 1, 2021.

I honestly haven't given it much thought until now.  Human nature being what it is, our concerns tend to be self-serving to a large degree.  At least in the sense of where we are in our daily lives and how "COVID times" have affected those daily lives.  My larger concern at the moment is pretty far from high school sports.  My daughters haven't been in band, class or extracurricular, since March 23, 2020.  To say the least, I am disappointed in the Galax School System.  They are seemingly bending over backward to make sure games are played, practices are held, and conditioning is undertaken for athletics.  They have yet to make any such concession for other 50% of the student body that don't play sports.  My daughters have put in a lot of hard work, practice and expense in an activity they thoroughly enjoy.  My oldest daughter plays 7 instruments (guitar, mandolin, piano, ukulele, banjo, fiddle, sax).  Her frustration is overwhelming.  My younger daughter is frustrated but she is far more laid-back.  She doesn't show it as much as the older one.  
There is no excuse for these kids to not be able to get together in small groups to play music.  Galax could and should do better!

Of course I'm sure he threw out the caveat that localities can impose stricter guidelines if they choose to do so.  And I'm sure that a majority of my local school board -- who are either inherently smarter than everyone else on the planet or have access to better data than anyone else -- will stick with tighter restrictions.  Just like they did with winter sports.

I should've known.  Looks a lot like his dad -- who was a classmate of mine at RHS and an all around fine human being himself.  

Tim Hayes Retweeted   Georgia Tech Baseball   @GTBaseball   OFFICIAL: Georgia Tech baseball adds Nick Ascue (Cedar Bluff, VA native) as director of operations   http://buzz.gt/BSB-021021 #TogetherWeSwarm
great state
 

On the plus side, LHS has two games scheduled outside of Bedford County.  I suppose I may have a decent chance of seeing my son play in one of those.
Sorry.  I know that this is technically way outside the coverage area for this board.  Makes me feel better to vent.

Here in the People's Republic of Bedford, the only home team attendees will be the actual football team and cheerleaders.  However, the visiting team can bring as many spectators as VHSL/state protocols will allow (including their band, if they choose).
Because....you know....science?

Great to "see" you again and glad that things are looking up!

Hello everybody. 
 
It’s been quite a while since I’ve been on the boards. Nearly 5 months now. While I won’t go into exact details — I felt it necessary to get away and take a break from most forms of social media. I left the board and also left Facebook for over 2 months. I used that time to look inward, instead of always looking outward and trying to find the negative around me. 
 
Through it all, I feel like I’ve started to turn a corner in my mental health. My family has went through the gauntlet this fall and winter. Multiple deaths — many due to Covid — have taken away people I loved dearly. Rifts with family and friends. Personal health and financial hardships. We’ve been through it all and come out (so far) stronger. 
 
Over the last several years, I’ve become unnecessarily combative to those around me — and that includes many of you here. For that, I am sorry. I’ve seen the pattern of who I was as a human, and continue to strive to correct that flaw on a daily basis. I don’t always win the battle — but I am determined to win this war. I hope that you can forgive me for things I may have said or done in the past that were out of line and unnecessary. If not — I understand that as well and truly respect where you’re coming from. I did years of damage to relationships and friendships that aren’t easily repaired. 
 
In any case, I am excited to get back and talk local sports with all of you. We are so lucky to be alive and healthy and able to talk about our amazing athletes from Radford to Ewing (hey Brady). 
 
Also, a huge thank you to GMan for checking in on me in what was a low point. I really do appreciate it. 

Here in the People's Republic of Bedford, the only home team attendees will be the actual football team and cheerleaders.  However, the visiting team can bring as many spectators as VHSL/state protocols will allow (including their band, if they choose).
Because....you know....science?

Here in the People's Republic of Bedford, the only home team attendees will be the actual football team and cheerleaders.  However, the visiting team can bring as many spectators as VHSL/state protocols will allow (including their band, if they choose).
Because....you know....science?