old_school_blue

I'm hearing rumors that, in an unprecedented act of revenge, Richlands has pulled off the unthinkable and hired Stephen Maganbauer as the ultimate "eff you" to Salem. 

Not sure anyone has stopped Clements or Clark so shutting them down is likely not happening no matter who they are playing. It’s been said numerous times but I will ask it a different way, which defense would you bet your life on? Both offenses are prolific and can score from anywhere, but who do you trust most against that for 60-70 plays? There isn’t as much margin as some let on IMO but I do think Graham has the experience of playing in these higher pressure games and there isn’t a better coaching staff if you have a big game to win. G-men pull away in the second half 42-21. 

I see we’re back to picking on poor Will again!?!?!

I'll offer the following thoughts for the period from 1970 until Vaught arrived 20 years later:
-  Competition was extremely fierce.  Most years within the SWD there were at least 5-7 teams who were fully capable of capturing at least the second sport in the playoffs.
-  Opportunities for advancement were limited.  Until 1986 only two teams from each district made the playoffs.
-  The well developed midget league program had no obvious connection to the varsity football program.
-  Expectations for success were consistently high but not always consistently based on logic.
-  The Blues actually lost a lot of close games during that period.  And in some seasons that produced a "snowball" effect and/or momentum that was impossible to break.
-  There was a lot of other stuff going on in the community that distracted people from playing and/or watching football.  (Not all of that was bad.  Richlands experienced a kind of "boom" period from the late '60s until about 1980 that fed the relatively large enrollment.)
Vaught was actually the first coach with the apparent aptitude to move the program to reach its fullest potential.  I know that when he arrived he viewed Richlands as a "sleeping giant."

Princeton 75 yd screen pass for a TD up 20-6 with around 4 minutes or so left in 2nd qtr

Glenvar running the ball,  simply blocking down and kicking out but then they quit doing it. Head scratcher. Coverage for defense atrocious at times.  Lucky isn't worse.
Thinking o.c. is Stevie wonder, d.c. ray Charles,  talking to Roy orbison and Ronnie Millsaps in the booth. 

To my knowledge, he played high school football at Patrick Henry (Glade Spring), he was on staff at Virginia Tech coaching Tight Ends with Frank Beamer under Bill Dooley in 1986.  He coached Patrick Henry (Roanoke) and Lexington (1988 Div. 2 State Champs.)  He was an assistant at Tazewell the year before he took the job at Richlands.  It is important to note that neither Lexington nor Richlands had ever won a state title before his arrival.

His name is Vaught.

Let me take you way back to years gone bye.  When I played little league we had four teams, Richlands Golden Eagles, Richlands Green Waves, Cedar Bluff Blue Devils, and the Jewell Ridge Red Raiders. I played for the Red Raiders and Jim Richardson along with Ben McFall were the coaches.  Both coaches were hard working coal miners and most if not all the fathers were coal miners.  Jim Richardson had sons that played, but there was never a difference made, he treated his sons like everyone else if not even harder.  We dressed on one end of the Jewell Ridge Coal Camp, near a water tank, in the same building as a bowling alley and resturant.  We jogged from that end of camp through the camp to a hard dirt practice field on the other end of camp near a cemetery.  After practice, we would have to jog back to the dressing room, and the coaches followed in vehicles to make sure we jogged all the way.  On game day, we would all ride in the back of pickup trucks to the Old Ernie Hicks stadium for the game.  I thank God all the players had these coaches to teach us the game and to help us understand that it was just a game.  They taught fundamentally sound football, with tacking and blocking practice every day, and they demanded respect by showing all the players respect.  If the coaches we are seeing today were as tough as these two guys, I think we would see a big difference in the players that reach High School.
I know that everyone says we live in different times, and I get that somewhat, but just because we live in this time should not be a reason to throw discipline out the window and coddle young people from fear of hurting someone's feelings.  There is such a thing as tough love and that's what we received when I was young.  If you got out of line with the rules, you were strickly corrected, but in a healthy and respectful way.  My generation had our backsides warmed up many times and if we got out of line on the football field or with the coaches, we had to face our parents when we got home. Believe me, I would much rather had taken a good talking to from my coach as a good old fashion butt whipping from my parents.

It is the journey that is important, not the destination.  To me the goal is not become a better athlete, it is to become a responsible citizen.  Hard work and the ability to overcome adversity are paramount in football and in life.  In my opinion, there is too much emphasis on the good of the program and not enough on the development of the kid.  Not specifically at Richlands, generally in society.  Also, you have to keep "daddy ball" at a minimum at every level.

After seeing personal foul pentaly flags flying in just about ever game, and the coaches patting the responsible player on the back like he had just scored, yeah I'd say you can hang that statement on Richlands.  Come on man, pull the player, set them down on the bench after pointing out that his attitude is unaceptable, let him think about it for a long period and if you put him back in the game, do so only after reafirming him that if it happens again, he'll ride the bench the next game and he'll get the point.  Over and over rewarding a player for bad habits, means the bad habits will continue and they certainly proved that this year.  No discipliine equals no direction, not only on the field of play, but also in everyday life.

It is the journey that is important, not the destination.  To me the goal is not become a better athlete, it is to become a responsible citizen.  Hard work and the ability to overcome adversity are paramount in football and in life.  In my opinion, there is too much emphasis on the good of the program and not enough on the development of the kid.  Not specifically at Richlands, generally in society.  Also, you have to keep "daddy ball" at a minimum at every level.

Nope. This is not the answer. 

I was lying awake the other night about to apply for this job then I realized, half the people on this board bitch about my broadcasting, I can only imagine the criticism I'd get if I were to get the coaching job.
I think I'll stay in the booth 😘

2 guys with brains may be an issue.

The man is probably reading these comments while pleasuring himself as we speak.

Why is there even a thread for this game?? 

Richlands needs to bring back Dennis Vaught! 

I despise when I hear someone blaming the refs, even if our own fan bases. I will admit three occurrences when I felt the officiating affected the outcome of the game, although one is debatable. As a Richlands fan, I’m sure most can guess. Again, it could have been a product of my age/lack of maturity.

... and Bobby did sing the "Blues"

Didn't he jump off the Tallahatchee Bridge...never mind, that was Billy Joe.

Didn't he jump off the Tallahatchee Bridge...never mind, that was Billy Joe.

Well, his first name is Robert, but he goes by Bobby.  He likes to hitchhike with Janis Joplin in the Southern Louisiana area. 

My third pick.  Richlands - Devon Johnson.  Stud running back, Stud Linebacker. Received national attention at Running Back for the Marshall Thundering Herd.

Last pick.  Richlands.  Mike Compton.  All-American Center at WVU, Super Bowl Champion with the Patriots.  Opened holes for Barry Sanders with the Detroit Lions.