GHS89

Did I see correctly that the only AA games Richlands is playing are the district games? They are, and have been for some time, a very good team. One of the best around. But, one wonders if a couple of more state titles could have been won in recent years if they had played foes from outside the immediate area. Congratulations Richlands on your upcoming undefeated season.

'04 Bluefield beats any Richlands team, and maybe the best of all Richlands teams. '04 Bluefield vs. '01 Graham; the best high school game ever within 100 miles of here. Since this is something of a fantasy thread.

I can't sit by and let a Louthan get dogged. Too good a people. Coaching is about knowing how to treat people, as well as knowing football. The Louthan's know people. Graham's loss is Tazewell's gain.

We cannot tackle. And in some cases, won't hit. I won't mention names, but on the play where Blacksburg broke the big run and stepped out at the one in front of Graham's locker room, we had a player closing fast with an angle to devastate at the 25. The player missed a wrist tackle. I say wrist because he sure didn't hit him, and didn't appear to grab him. A G-Man of old could have, and would have put the dude's ankles over his head. I also feel we need more full back carries on 2nd. down. It beats spinning backwards for 5 yards. Tony Barreras continues to be the beast. A fantastic blocker.

A picture worth 10,000 words.

Where's the Graham/Blacksburg chatter? What time is Saturday's game?

Huh? Are you playing the Branch Davidians?

Just keep stuffing that pizza in on Thursday nights and you'll be fine. I saw you there.

The context of my post was a sarcastic remark that I was making about how the end of this game will forever be debated. You misunderstood.

Nothing wrong with going back to what founded this country and made it great, and that was the ordinary people trying to carve a life out in it. Not make a career off it.

Man, am I ever looking forward to this for the rest of my life.

And what about a nod to Marrs at the center position. He caught some grief on here last year, but is much improved. You can see he's bigger, and really made Scott's running effective. Tony Barreras is a beast. What was the deal with his trips to the bench? Looked like some kind of bleeding issue.

The community of Tazewell is certainly due. Mance may have picked this one. Some good SWD football on the horizon.

That's just a plain sorry statement. If Cole crossed the line (and I don't know either way, I'm at the mercy of the official call), then I have no trouble giving hat's off to the Beavers. I find myself holding too much respect for the efforts of both teams to bury those efforts with comments about the final call. The record will show how it ended, but I don't see how anyone who was there can't give all the credit in the world to both squads. Both teams pretty much threw their strengths at the other, and neither team could really match the other's strength. So Bluefield's speed, athleticism, and passing game traded punches with Graham's brute strength and flashes of speed. And dog gone it, it made a pretty darn good fight. I've never seen a game in which you could go back and pick so many plays that could have swung the game. Graham's dropped interception, Bluefield's dropped TD, Graham falling so close on that last 4th down, Graham's punt coverage giving up on a ball they must have thought was going out of bounds, Bluefield's sack and fumble for a TD, Graham's crucial penalties that stalled drives, Graham not getting the snaps back to their very capable kicker, and it goes on and on. I myself wonder what would have happened if about 1/3 to 1/4 of Lane's carries had gone to Harris. Dude takes the ball wide open. SWD foes will hate this guy. Bluefield will be a good team, what happens with their line against physical teams will determine how good. They have got the skill position players that can hold their own with anybody. I think time will tell how good Graham may be. They are not all that yet, but could get real good. They have proven to be couragous so far if nothing else. I must ask this in closing. Does anybody know what the brown object was that the referee made Coach Bradshaw remove from the field? It was brown, picked up with a towel, and went straight to the trash can. ?????????

I think Shawn Hedricks just arrived at the tennis courts. If he didn't spend the night there.

Does anybody know without a doubt the status of T. Barreras and D. Marrs for tonight? Any wounded amoung the G-Men?

What's the big deal about an adam's apple being painted on the field?

Schools around here are not big enough to be powerhouses every year. They all are up and down at times. Ya just gotta make hay when the sun is shining, and ya gotta have some rain to make that hay grow.

I'll take this chance to point out something that I still find interesting. The '88 G-Men were 3-7, '89 and '90 both had 1 loss. It is a prime example of something folks often overlook in high school football. That is the improvement that takes place in individuals between their sophomore and junior years.

A championship is gained when all that lies before a team at the start of a season is defeated. A championship is the completion of a journey. Would last year's Beavers have beaten LSU? Nope. Would LSU have beaten Ahmad's Giants? Nope. If we follow some of the lines of reasoning being laid out here, the only real champions would be the Super Bowl Champion. Point is, the Beavers, and all other champions from Pee Wee to the NFL, become champions by running the predetermined course and being the last standing of those that joined the course with them. The Beavers don't have the option of taking their championship trophy on the road and taking on all those in the country that may want it. They are the champions of all AA teams that agreed to compete for that trophy. Congratulations. However, it is certainly fine to joust on here about how teams could have faired against opponents they didn't face. It's just annoying when things go beyond analysis and get downright disrespectful. Ideally, we could discuss how any Bluefield team could have faired against any other team in history, irrespective of the title of champion. But, don't belittle a championship. To disrespect a champion is to disrespect the process by which they are determined. And that is what is great about competition. The chance to toss all willing hats in the ring, and see who comes out on top.

The Graham/Gretna game in 2003 was an instant classic. A sporting event that will hang in my mind forever. AB's last high school game, and the best high school quarterback I'd ever seen. Gretna was an incredibly talented and polished team. It took a great coach to have them executing like they were. We were all worried when AB couldn't get rolling on the ground, but when we started throwing him the ball, we had them a little concerned. As I was leaving the field I turned one last time to see Hall talking to a reporter and AB walking to the locker room. And as Marrs walked out of the gate to the locker room, I'm pretty sure I saw some tears in his eyes. Everybody there knew they saw something special. I was sad that we lost, but was in awe of the event. Man, I'm glad I was at that game.

Now that it's a done deal and we don't have to discuss politics anymore, will Graham or Tazewell get any impact athletes from the former PHS? Football or any sport? Will Louthan land a spot on the GHS staff? I hope so.

[ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] When Whitewood and Garden combined, did they close both and move to a new facility? I'm really not familiar with the circumstances around the closing of those schools. If two schools are closed and combined to new facility, I would completely agree with a new name. However, Graham is not on the table for closure now, so why change a name? I feel that in my lifetime I will see a Tazewell East and Tazewell West, if not a Tazewell County High School. Until then, why not make this as painless as possible. Regardless of where the Pocy kids end up attending, their new school will be better with their arrival. As far as changing my opinion on the closure of PHS because of changing the name of GHS, I still think that closing PHS is in the best interest of Tazewell County even if they changed the name of GHS to "The High School Located West Of The High School That Is Home To The Mighty Beavers". It is my opinion that closing PHS will not destroy the identity of Pocahontas. Pocahontas' identity is grounded in it's rich history. A history more interesting and historically significant than that of any other town in Tazewell County. This is what my extremely high property taxes should help Pocahontas preserve. [/ QUOTE ]. The "history" that they have to identify with is falling down, all the buildings in town are caving in. [/ QUOTE ] And it is this history I think we could all rally around helping to preserve. Our discussion has been civil, even though our opinions vary. I hope the same can be said for the upcoming meeting in Tazewell.

When Whitewood and Garden combined, did they close both and move to a new facility? I'm really not familiar with the circumstances around the closing of those schools. If two schools are closed and combined to new facility, I would completely agree with a new name. However, Graham is not on the table for closure now, so why change a name? I feel that in my lifetime I will see a Tazewell East and Tazewell West, if not a Tazewell County High School. Until then, why not make this as painless as possible. Regardless of where the Pocy kids end up attending, their new school will be better with their arrival. As far as changing my opinion on the closure of PHS because of changing the name of GHS, I still think that closing PHS is in the best interest of Tazewell County even if they changed the name of GHS to "The High School Located West Of The High School That Is Home To The Mighty Beavers". It is my opinion that closing PHS will not destroy the identity of Pocahontas. Pocahontas' identity is grounded in it's rich history. A history more interesting and historically significant than that of any other town in Tazewell County. This is what my extremely high property taxes should help Pocahontas preserve.

Driving from Bluefield or Tazewell to Pocahontas is not like it was in 1958. Cars are better, roads are better. Let's revisit the comment that was stated in the BDT, that Pocy residents should sue to have the name of GHS changed if the closure of PHS goes through. IF this statement was reported correctly by the BDT, then the credibility of the one that made it has nose dived in my opinion. In my opinion this is nothing less than a tantrum. Akin to saying "Well somebody else needs to suffer also". Does it sound like the best interest of the Tazewell County educational system is being sought? I could be wrong, but I have never heard the folks in Bluefield, Va. asking for the PHS students to be moved to GHS. I'm sure they would be more than welcome, but they aren't begging for them. I don't think that fighting the closure of PHS is going to be aided by firing shots like this across the bow of Bluefield VA. There were probably a lot of folks in Bluefield VA. that didn't have a strong opinion about the closure of PHS,..... until now. If they are going to win the fight to keep PHS open, they should be finding allies outside of Pocahontas, not making enemies.