lucy

hey dummy-battle has had three winning seasons in 30 years. 3-7 sucks but the most wins in 10 years. anyone who knows football knows that coach strong was great for the program-loved football and the kids even more. the ship was sunk all the way to the bottom-strong was raising the ship. thats why the community has still asked him to conduct his youth camp and golf outing.

Head coach was offered job back but declined offer do to the lack of support from principal and the baseball coach (athletic director) Someone needs to see how much money the ad puts into baseball. Look at the football field, fence, stands, you name it. The only upgrade made to the facilities are the ones Coach Strong and some players have made with donated money and their own time. This is a fact because I have donated money and equipment for their cause. I will say one last time Jeff Hawkins and Larry Cannon made a big mistake in letting coach Strong go. This makes you two look bad in the community's eyes. I am sure there are a select few that are happy but again you two hurt the program to hire a friend. I am guessing it is only a matter of time before people find out how crooked you two really are. How long before you lost baggage makes it from TN? Good luck Battle I still want to see you succeed. Good luck to the next coach, but being a friend and a plant into the program you don't need it-do you? This was a long thought out plan that started before the season.

They are very good, very hard to stop and very well coached. I did not think Gate City would lose that bad but Gretna is outstanding.

Joe Cadle from Battle-Carson-Newman College Josh Statzer from Battle-UVa Wise Cody Calloway From Battle-Carson-Newman College

Congratulations to all these young men, but how does Joe Cadle from John Battle High School get 1st Team All-State at WR and not make All-Southwest VA Team? Top 10 statistically in the whole state of VA.

Great kid, good athlete, works hard. I hope he does well. Good for the county.

Keep coach Strong he can win at Battle and everyone knows it. Won three and would have have six if the team wasn't bit by injury bug this year. Keep coach Strong call Dr. Lee at 276-739-3000 keep this man, he is a good coach.

He won't do much unless they get an honorable principal and a new Athletic director. The AD is a SNAKE IN THE GRASS and the Principal is the Snake Charmer. Good Luck I hope for the good of the players and all JSB athletes someone does something. A group of parents called for a meeting with the superintendent to try and keep Coach Strong as coach and were told to have an initial meeting with Jeff Hawkins (principal) to find out if Coach Strong resigned on his own or was forced out. The principal never showed up, that says a lot about the man. The assistant principal and ad showed and would answer no questions about Coach Strong. The parents want answers and are getting the run around. There is a petition to stop this injustice from happening but no one is willing to help in places that are suppost to be here for the best interest of the players, parents, and school. That is why John Battle is not successful. I let one daughter get ruined at Battle as far as sports go and I refuse to let my other two children go down with what is a sinking ship with no captain. I would like to know why every coach and administrator that went to school at Battle is above the law-can someone explain that? It does not matter what parents, players, or others do to save Coach Strong because it has always been the same and everyone associated Battle or in the county knows it. I WOULDN'T EXPECT STRONG TO RETURN NOW BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN TREATED LIKE A BUM ON THE STREETS AND I WOULDN'T BLAME HIM. PLEASE SOMEONE DO SOMETHING!

The ad is a joke! He is unprofessional, rude, and treats the students like dirt. My daughter and many others would tell you that. I would tell to ask baseball players about it. The most important thing are the students and that is getting lost at JSB. I think the whole place needs to be gutted from administration on down. I wonder if we could hire from outside instead of hiring a bunch of people that went to school together. I believe that just because you went to school at a certain place doesn't mean you are the best fit or best person for the position. JSB will never change for the better unless someone higher up takes a very close look at what is going on there. PS I hope Saunders gets the job, he is a good coach but the truth is the truth.

Stay tuned! Mecklenburg County its a fact! I know the AD. He is a good coach but don't lie about the facts or maybe you just don't know.

Never said he could not coach. He did get hired in NC as a head coach and they fired him because he lied on his application-This is fact!

Great! The guy that got fired from JJ Kelly and fired in North Carolina for lying on his application-----------Good Call! again I feel sorry for the kids Strong had a good thing going, finally some credibility and he gets run off. Again nice contact for his replacement. His rep is yelling to much at the kids so he should last about one year on the other hand he may last a long while and fit right in at Battle.

where is he coaching now? And good luck.

Battle can beat teams like Twin Springs and Pound. My 11 year old daughter could beat those two schools. Battle has had some good athletes but not enough to compete. Coach Strong was at least working with kids to make them better on his own time. I ask you to look at everything Coach Strong has done in a three year period at Battle, it might blow your mind.

Billy would never go to John Battle, who would want too? No one will ever win at Battle that would include Lou Holtz, Joe Pa, Les Miles you name them. Coach Strong is the best coach that Battle has had in a while. He has started a feeder program, youth camps, team camps, passing leagues, and tried to turn Battle into a first class program but on many occassions is one of the few people that has stood up for the Football program. The football program was on the up and up and Battle runs another good coach off. If he did resign good for him because he appreciates passion for the sport and Battle will never have it because there are people in charge who don't want Battle football to succeed. Why would any sane coach go to Battle where the athletic director doesn't believe you can win at. I have heard these comments from his mouth during two home games at battle. Coach Strong is hard-nosed and very intense but parents in the stands think they know more. Go to Battle if you want but don't expect any help from administration or the AD I have personally called and emailed both with no response on two separate occassions. The AD will never return your phone call or email. Sorry to ramble on but Battle deserves everything they get. The sad thing is the kids have to pay for the stupidity of certain people.