Unchained

Any word on Holston-Bath,or do they play later?

Typical smash-mouth hard fought LPD football game. I had no doubt this one wasn't going to be 36-0 like last time. Rick Mullins is a heckuva coach,and adjustments have been made.

Please take some time from your happy,festive day today to think about our brothers and sisters in the millitary who have given us so many reasons to be thankful for. It's a happy day for us warm,safe,surrounded by our loved ones,and those folks,my true heroes are still doing what they do in hostile lands/conditions to make sure we still have Thanksgivings. God Bless our millitary,and I continue to pray for their safety and safe returns.

I'd wager that the Abingdon-Battle games are going to be considerably more interesting in the next few years.

The Battle program is improving. I think everybody can see the progress being made. Abingdon is a mess however. Perhaps a coaching change may be just what the Dr ordered there. They certainly have the school sie to field the athletes to be winners.

Notice I said usually. When the region is as weak as water,you see it from time to time.

Not nearly as notorious as KY or TN where a 1-9 can get in,and 3-7 doesn't usually get you in on this end of the state.

You know why Abingdon gets such a hard time on here? Fans like you who make excuses when they get beat. You all KILLED us all on here after the loss to Burton. Let me try the Abingdon approach: "We got beat because we didn't have Osborne yesterday to cover Cobb. Oh yeah,and we got beat because the color of the grass on Lebanon's field had us confused. We also ran over a possum on the way over,and it got us all tummy sick". GEEZ!!! (rolls eyes) We got beat yesterday,and the Kelly fans have enough class to acknowledge that,and we congratulate a fine Lebanon team. BTW not all folk from Abingdon are like that. I've got friends and family there,but folks are tired of hearing the moaning,whining,and crying week after week after the Birds get waxed. YOU ALL need to get over it...dude. As for the Big Indian? He's not going anywhere,as he's got a good thing going on The Reservation.

We've got a bunch of hard-working kids who want to get better,and there's where it starts. Thanks for the good word.

How did Abingdon do in their playoff game today? Oh that's right,Virginia doesn't let 3-7 teams in. You could always petition the state of KY though lol.

Absolutely took us to the shed today. Alot of folks from alot of places make alot of excuses,but a spade is a spade. It is common knowledge that when Lebanon brings their A-game that pound for pound,man for man,athlete for athlete,the only squad in the region/this end of the state who can go toe to toe with them is Gate City. Today they made us do things that I've not seen all year (like miss so many darn tackles). Now,you'll not hear any crying from Kelly fans. We were picked to finish 4th in the LPD after graduating the ENTIRE backfield from last year,and finished 2nd. We also increased the win total from 7-8 this year, and beat the Burton Raiders for the first time in ages . These things may not mean much to programs with strong traditions like PV,and GC,but to a program who has been down for so long like Kelly's,these are the positive proof/signs that the corner is being turned at Wise. To the seniors at JJK,I say "Heads up men. The program that you leave today is a heckuva lot better than the program you came into,and it's because of you guys. Losing is no longer commonplace or acceptable at Kelly. You all laid a foundation that the kids coming up (and there are some good ones) can build on,and more importantly than football players,you all are quality folks who will go far in life. It has been more of a priveledge getting to know you all as folks than watching you all on the football field (although that's been fun as well). To the crew from Lebanon: Best of luck vs GC in what should be a dandy.

Kelly has the best corps of LBs/defense that Lebanon will see. I agree with you that keeping heat on Jessee will be the key. If we can rush him,we'll be fine. I don't want him to have time to sit back and wait to hit somebody downfield. On offense,I really like Kelly's Offensive line. Against a Burton defense that had registered 6 consecutive shutouts,the Indian Offensive Line controlled the game. I really think this game will be as good as it gets.

We've been lucky with the flu,but we've more than made up for it with shoulder injuries and such. The week off was a Godsend for us.

Hey Falconman,come on over to Lebanon Saturday,and see what a playoff team looks like. It'll be a doozy. We'll see if Kelly has any bite or not. Best of luck to everybody Saturday.

If they're in Harlem,they are trying to get their hubcaps and TV's back.

Awesome post. My dad was in Phluloi,Vietnam. When I was a small boy,we'd go to our family graveyard (have a long,lengthy list of family members who served),and my dad was not the crying type,but once a year,on Veteran's Day,I'd see tears. I asked him once why tears today (I was too young to understand),and he said "because my daddy cried today" >(my papaw was also regular Army). I am not ashamed to admit when I left Red Onion State Prison this morning after finishing my shift,and made my way to the cemetary where my Dad and the rest are buried,there were tears here too (as there are every Veteran's Day). One of my many Tattoos is a tribute to the Vietnam Vet,a way of saying "Thank You" to those "Forgotten Ones"

Given the choice,I'd rather go to Lebanon. I know that sounds crazy,but they came into our place last year and sent us home. The chance to return the favor is powerful motivation. We've been on the road in tough places the last few weeks,so our kids won't be phased by being the visitor again. I really feel that Tyler Graham for Lee will have a field day vs TW,and Lebanon wil host us. We are prepared for that.

It should be a slobber-knocker. It's been way too long since the TRIBE has won a playoff game. We are due. Kelly by 6

I know that this post wasn't sports-related,but I put it on the football section because I knew it would get more views there. Many folks on here don't browse the General Discussion section. I apologize to the mods for the confusion.

You are my heroes. Thank you is never enough,but it's all I have. To the currents and the ones who have done their bit already,thank you so much for the blood,the sweat,the tears.....Freedom isn't free,and often that price is dear,but you do it anyway to make sure we sleep safely and soundly in our beds at night (while you are often dodging bullets,grenades,and landmines/traps). To the brave men and women of the United States millitary: We are the great nation that we are because you made/make it so. __________________

Had JJK lost at Norton and finished 7-3,I wouldn't have said a word about not making the playoffs. I would have been saying "We should have beaten PV,Norton..etc and EARNED our way in". The playoffs shouldn't be a Tom,Dick,and Harry event where everybody gets to go. It should be a reward for deserving teams. If you let Hurley in,then a 5-5 squad from Appalachia would have a legit argument coming from a tougher conference,playing a tougher schedule (in addition to the gauntlet of JJK,PV,Clintwood,and Burton,the Dawgs also scheduled Gate City).

8-2 > 3-7 believe that playa You guys had your shot to beat Norton,and in your own house,but you got beat by 2 tds. We had the same shot..in THEIR house no less,and held them to 21 less points that your boys did,and did what your birds couldn't. That's the bottom line. Make excuses to why you lost to Norton. Winners make plays,not excuses. You lost to Norton because they had the favorable numbers on the scoreboard,and you guys didn't. What's going to be the excuse next year?

...and they wouldn't have beaten Burton. You have to have a fast,tough,physical,defense to beat Burton (like J.J.Kelly who shut them down Friday night).

If I'm a true Graham fan,and not one of those fairweather fans (God knows we've got plenty of them at JJK),then I talk about the character and heart of the kids from Graham. Most teams would have folded the tent after the horrendous start. I think the fact that the kids kept working hard and turned this thing around says alot for those kids. You should be proud G-men players and fans. Good job guys.

I can't resist. Can you hear me now little internet troll? BTW TW did exactly as I called for and won the CD title last night.