RichlandsAlum

Well my years as a "Raiders Football Dad" have come to an end. Kind of a big pill to swallow for sure!
My oldest son graduated in 2018 and finished his years as a Raider with a 54-3 record and accumulated three championship rings along the way.
My youngest son will graduate this year. He finished his years as a Raider with a 47-5 record (senior year only had 6 games) and accumulated three championship rings along the way.

As a Raider Dad over the past 6 years I've watched my boys be part of a program that has gone 77-5!! What a blessing!! Even more so than the record is the fact that they got to play under Coach Smith and his staff (Coach Stephan Castello serving as interim HC this year). They pushed these kids to be their best and spent countless hours preparing to help their teams be ready to compete. Coach Smith has gone well beyond football with the boys and for many of them (mine included) is a pillar for them to have faith in for the future.
During this time I've enjoy two trips to Big Stone Gap and had the privilege of witnessing an awesome OT game against Richlands in 2015. 

Carroll County has averaged about a 30 kid decline each year for the past four or five years.  They could potentially be Class 2 by 2023-2024 if this proposal happens.
I'm all for reducing the classifications.  I think six is too many.  But it has to be done in a reasonable way.  Having Graham, Radford and John Marshall in the same classification as Bland, Rye Cove and Castlewood is ridiculous.

One of my closest friends is the head baseball coach at Charlottesville High School.  He was hired after the 2018 season, when Charlottesville went 0-20.  The 2019 3A state champion was Fluvanna County.
 
Charlottesville played Fluvanna County last night, and beat them 8-5.  7 of Charlottesville’s starters are underclassmen.  I know it’s not SWVA related, but I wanted to brag on a friend and show just how quickly fortunes can turn when good coaching meets community buy-in. 
 
http://www.scrimmageplaycva.com/articles/stories/charlottesville-baseball-stuns-fluvanna-in-home-opener/?fbclid=IwAR3YVeBDmwytMEzp4hfIs19Qy5vDcCSOKKJqAu3DLNtwiN5mIBWmSer03Ew

Tim Hayes @Hayes_BHCSports   A good day for golf teams from Far #SWVA. George Wythe (Class 1) and Abingdon (Class 3) win state titles, Castlewood (Class 1) and Graham (Class 2) post state runner-up finishes   great state

The question is, can Richlands afford housing for all of his families?

The RIchlands position was filled in March 2020.  Mark Dixon left Galax for Pulaski in early June 2020.  So, if Shane did apply for the Richlands position, it would have been prior to knowing Dixon would be leaving Galax.
I could be completely wrong, but I can't imagine Shane leaving Galax for any position other than Carroll County.  He grew up in Hillsville and attended Carroll County High School.  This area has been his home for the majority of his life.  If I'm not mistaken, I believe his wife is from this area as well.  SWVA being what it is, our communities tend to be somewhat insular.  We don't take to outsiders quickly or easily so returning to Tazewell County wouldn't be a comfortable proposition for him, I would imagine.  Having grown up in this area, Shane is one of us.  He has the complete support of this community.  I just don't see him giving that up to return to an area that clearly didn't want him a few years ago.  
But that's just my opinion!

You and me both, my friend.  My family had begun to develop plans to become fanatical followers of the Scottish League.  (And now that I have written that last sentence and look back on it.... we just ain't right.)

Don't be ridiculous.  It's actually going to be the reconstructed DNA of Ernie Hicks.

The Premier League may have only been its name since 92, but these teams have been playing in the same “top flight” or “top division” since 1888. There has always been the relegation and promotion system in place. And I love true promotion and relegation. Man City was in the 3rd tier of English soccer in 1999 and now (thanks to billionaire Abu Dhabi money) are at the top. 
 
If you form this super league — the Leicester City miracle never happens again. 
 
Not a fan. Hoping it’s blocked by just about every entity that can hurt these clubs (and my club is included in this). 

As I mentioned in the Chatbox, I think the idea is perfect IF promotion/relegation is included in the format.  Otherwise, I believe it will very slightly tarnish the high leagues of the various European countries.  The Premier League was formed in 1992, so let’s not pretend that we’re screwing with MLB or some other entity that has been around since horses were a primary form of transportation.

Don't be ridiculous.  It's actually going to be the reconstructed DNA of Ernie Hicks.

Nope, but Dennis Caught hasn't coached in a while. If you can bring back Karate Kid in the form of Cobra Kai, then why not Dennis Vaught? After all, Johnny Lawrence changed for the better.

Don't be ridiculous.  It's actually going to be the reconstructed DNA of Ernie Hicks.

That's a really logical viewpoint.  And I think it probably aligns well with what the 12 clubs are actually thinking in strategic terms.
Don't get me wrong -- I still personally don't like it.  But I very much  appreciate Liam's time and consideration in posting.

I'm the type of soccer fan that real soccer fans loathe.  Frankly, I don’t blame you.   
I'm typically a hardcore traditionalist when it comes to sports and hate when changes are made to broaden the appeal and generate additional revenue. I'm admittedly a casual fan at best of European soccer and lack an appreciation for the history and uniqueness of the club system. My opinion is clearly slanted by having an American perspective at how professional leagues should look. It's not to say that the franchise model with a single dominate league doesn't have issues.  No doubt this is clearly a move based purely on the greed of the 12 clubs involved.  They know the world's most popular sport has grown as much as possible in its current format, and that there are billions of potential new fans (primarily in Asia and North America) who aren't currently watching for whatever reason.
I know it sounds silly, but my biggest gripe about professional soccer is the sheer number of quality teams and leagues.  I only have so many hours a week that I can read, watch, and consume all sports. I don't have the time or energy to sort through which teams in which leagues and ultimately which games I'll watch. Narrow it down 20 to 40 teams of world’s best in a single league, I'm tuning in. 

Don't be ridiculous.  It's actually going to be the reconstructed DNA of Ernie Hicks.

The fact that FIFA is the body that will probably have to step up and do something from a moral standpoint is by far my biggest issue with all of this.

All joking aside, I don't know nearly as much about the football version of this idea as I do the golf version.  I could get way lost in the weeds on the issues with the PGA Tour but nobody cares.  Stories like how Dustin Johnson got popped for cocaine and the PGA Tour issued a statement that DJ was injured loading a jet ski onto a trailer.  Or how Rory McIlroy was injured falling through a plate-glass table while getting some action from his side-chick when he was engaged to tennis star Caroline Wozniaki.  Or the Jimmie Walker / Dustin Johnson situation.  Or how Tom Watson married another PGA Tour players wife.  Or how Gary Player cheated, repeatedly. Or.......you get the idea.
The golf version (Premier Golf League) (PGL) has been floating around for the past two years.  The concept would look very similar to Formula 1.  The top players in the world would have "teams" they put together to compete against other teams.  Players can be demoted and promoted to and from a team at the owners will.  Ideally, PGL would have owners be Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, etc.  It's all centered around ensuring the best players compete against each another more regularly.  Each competition would be more of a "made for TV" concept intended to drive ratings.  The problems I see with it are, it seems to be centered around TV and gambling and is being funded (at least initially) by the crown-prince of Saudi Arabia.    
The football version seems to be similar in such that the reason for change is centered around money, power and gambling.  But lets face facts, UEFA and FIFA have been the most corrupt organizations in profession sports worldwide for decades.  I love the promotional system football introduced to the world, but as long as the largest sport in the world is being run by greed, no old or new governing body is going to be exempt from corruption.  There's simply too much money involved.  
"Money, it will ruin sports" ~O.B. Keeler~

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.

That’s awesome. Happy for you and your family. 
 
My second born daughter seems to have suffered much more than my oldest through the last year.  She made the middle school swim team a few weeks ago and her spirits lifted immensely. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.