cityofRaven

On the field or the sideline, Gary Collier rises above the rest.
At Pennington, he was the best 1A QB in the State. At Emory & Henry, he was the best D3 QB in America. And now, he may be the best 1A coach in Virginia.
When he took over in 2022, The small school was beyond rock bottom: a 13-game losing streak before ending 2021 with four forfeits due to a shortage of players. What followed has been nothing short of miraculous.
In 2022, Rye Cove went 7–3 and earned a playoff berth.
In 2023, the Eagles posted the best season in school history, finishing 11–2 as Region D runner-up.
In 2024, they went 13–1, winning the program’s first regional championship.
In 2025, despite an injury-riddled roster, Rye Cove finished the regular season 7–3 , avenged two losses in the playoffs, repeated as regional champions, and earned a trip to the state championship game.
And while the Eagles ultimately fell short of a state title, the result does nothing to diminish what Gary Collier has built—a sustained winner, a transformed culture, and one of the most remarkable turnarounds in Virginia HS football history.

I'm just glad that Tazewell didn't win the Hoopalachia Tournament; they would have had a parade down Main Street.

If you think Central's group is hard to deal with but Tazewell's isn't...

I haven't seen them play, just making a subtle, unnecessary, petty jab at our foes to the north.

If you think Central's group is hard to deal with but Tazewell's isn't...

If Rye Cove still wore these beauties, they’d be a two-TD favorite.

Given all your posts, I have to ask. Are you conducting an elaborate, government experiment on "fat, old men" trying to live out their dreams on a football forum? 😂

This ^^^ is my thinking and what I observed as what has happened with many youth programs unintentionally (or at least in Richlands case). I know some seek better competition through the travel route. You brought up more good points that I hadn’t considered. 
For example, when Richlands began hosting teams from Russell, Buchanan, and Tazewell, I think it shifted the focus to competing for championships, especially when some teams would consolidate their best into one team. We now have the SWVA League. That said, Union still has more available football players with only places with higher population able to rival the roster in size in high school. 
I asked that hypothetical question and this answer reinforced my thinking and knocked it out of the park with details that supports my thinking even more. Thanks.

The aluminium business has been good.

The aluminium business has been good.

The aluminium business has been good.

The aluminium business has been good.

We're overlooking the obvious.
The Dragon Bowl trophy is Cursed!
Marion claimed it first and got dragged into a hellish oblivion. Soon the Clinch will dry up, children will go feral, and cows will stop producing milk.

Tazewell is the hardest place to win in SWVA.

This is going to be controversial, and I may be dead wrong, and will take some licks, but how do you clean house with half of the fanbase, if the source is actually true and he actually resigned?
Tazewell hasn't been right since Dave Litz left decades ago. Ive heard the stories about parents/fans on "wanting control" to a whole other level. I remember many years ago when Colobro had thought of coming back, but it lasted a couple of days due to once again, overwhelming fan/administrative control that is Far Beyond your normal fanbase. Something tells me much of Tazewells problems are related to nicely put, a difficult fanbase or bunch of people in town that are just far more fickle or more difficult than most others. Its been going on for not a few years, but decades at Tazewell, and whenever a portion of their fans are questioned or the topic brought up, the default isn't self reflection. Its Doubling Down. 
The former coach at Tazewell didnt have great discipline for his team. The new coach tried to install it, and he obviously was blocked or not supported at some level (if source is correct from initial poster.)I don't know what level.
Hire the former coach again and  be content with the 6-4, occasional 7-3 ceiling, and the usual 5-5. Or, hire someone that actually knows xs and os, installs discipline, have enough of the fanbase and administrators do a big self reflection and Get Out Of The Way, then you turn things around. The turning around part hasn't happened in well over 30 to 35 years, and something tells me the "Get Out of the Way" part won't happen either with this new go around.
Tazewell since 1990 should be Better than they what they have been. Has a rich history dating back to the 50s. They simply should have been Better over the past third of a century. And yes, I think a huge portion of that responsibility rests on a decent size portion of the fanbase (not the entire fanbase, but large enough of a chunk of it) to make a difference.

I think the Bears win close, but it depends on who comes from West Salem. If West Salem brings Glenvar, I like Union in a toss up game. But, if West Salem brings Grenade, the Bears are going to get messed up bad.

I really hope Saturday doesn't turn into a circus, but I have my doubts. Mixing Clintwood, Haysi, Appalachia, and BSG in one stadium with national vultures prowling around has all the ingredients necessary. 

Quietly because they're in the middle of nowhere.

Quietly because they're in the middle of nowhere.

The announcer for Armstrong, screaming during his own team's cadence and telling the crowd to make some noise.....smh 

Glenvar
 
-Strengths: Spreads field vertically & horizontally, elite QB, fast tempo
 
-Weaknesses: Players are made of bone/soft tissue and vulnerable to concussive forces and shrapnel… also turnovers
 
 
Grenade
 
-Strengths: Blows $h!t Up 
 
-Weaknesses: None

I say Union because some of those players from Richlands have probably not stayed in shape the last 10 years 

Brother put the phone down for a bit 

I just think it’s more of the dumbing down of society. It ain’t supposed to be easy. I’m not for air compressors hooked up to ship horns when play is live but if it can make noise by shaking it by hand or blowing air through it by mouth let it fly. The most unique thing I have seen is the gong in Chilhowies stands each game. 
 
The more raucous a fanbase can be for their team the better. My first start as a freshman QB was at Northwood back many moons ago.  I’ll never forget their band was quite large and their brass section was nonstop when we had the ball. I wish everyone had it like that.  I really think they made the change of when bands were allowed to play because of schools not supporting the arts and many do not have bands anymore so it’s considered “fairness”. Life ain’t fair though. 

Just fyi, once everything is made public and the police put out whatever info they have we will have a post where it can be discussed. At this time we have decided it was inappropriate to have all of the gossip and unconfirmed innuendo that was going around to be furthered here. There’s enough of that on facebook. 
 
so out of respect for the Union community and friends and family of all involved I hope you can respect that decision  and refrain from contributing to misleading or unconfirmed information. 
 
right now emotions are running high and there are a lot of hurt people. Real people. Not just a name behind a screen. I know we all say stuff off the cuff and many times get carried away in conversation, but I ask you to please stop and consider what you say here and have some compassion for those who are already hurting from this situation. 
 
please don’t start trying to argue “why did you do this or not do that”…there is no reason to engage in that conversation. 
 
thank you all for your help and consideration.