81Snowbowl30

Exactly! I failed to mention that the one sports writer that the Wytheville paper has is responsible for all sports for all three Wythe County High schools. If it weren't for the help he gets from the stringers, it would be impossible to keep up this coverage. I can promise you he is not doing this for the money.

I live in Wytheville and they have one sports writer. I have been writing the varstiy baseball stories for about 6 years and have done the basketball games for two years. I was also asked to do the football game last night. The Wytheville Enterprise is down to two prints per week so the deadlines are usually workable. This paper prints just the local sports and has decent rec coverage. The reason I enjoy doing this is because it means so much to the kids. I made the paper a couple of times growing up and it was pretty cool to see my name and picture every once in a while. If it weren't for the local paper write ups, our kids wouldn't have anything for their scrap books. When i coached rec football and basketball, I also put together team highlight DVDs (my wife recorded all the games) and I gave the DVD out to all the kids on the team at the end of the year. I have also made a couple of highlight DVDs for George Wythe football. A coach asked me to do one a couple of years ago so that they could watch it on the way to a play off game against Gate City. Sometimes these memories are all the kids have of their time in sports. To me, it makes it 100 times worth it. That is why I have so much respect for what BigD4VT does. His pictures are great and they might be the only pictures some of these kids end up having of their sports career. If anyone gets an opportunity to be a stringer for any youth or high school sports, it can be very rewarding. I can't tell you how many times people in the community have approached me to thank me for doing the articles. I am not a professional by any means, but I do get as many kids' names in the articies as possible and try to make them feel good about what they accomplished in the game.

If you don't mind me asking, why the interest in Tennis and GW?

Many things went right for GW in the second half to make this happen. The catch that Atwell made diving in the endzone would have made ESPNs top 10 list. Boysaw's scramble for the go ahead TD was all heart and effort. If this team continues to get better and continues to lose the bonehead mistakes that have haunted GW over the last 4-5 years, they could make a solid run in the post season. I still think their offense is a little boring, but when they opened up the passing game in the second half, it was hard to stay in your seat. What a big heart the defensive squad has. Many look like they should be in middle school (maybe because some are freshman), but they are not afraid to come up and lay a hit on the ball carrier. Great win for GW and the new coaching staff. Thank goodness for coach Russell and his ability to call plays. I have seen him lead many a comeback at the JV level.

I am not one of those on here ragging coach Marrs, but I have been around the block enough times to know that a good coach is more than just what he does with the players on the field. I played for Coach Carlock, but wasn't born and raised in this area. When I attended Graham, football was a way of life. It was something that everyone took pride in, not just the players but the entire town. People wanted to play for coach Carlock...and I promise you it wasn't because he was a push over. Coach Carlock remains to this day one of the biggest influences in my life. It wasn't because of his ability to manage the X's and O's, but because he allowed me to be part of something that made me proud of who and what I was. It is true that the kids aren't the same as they were in the 80s when I was in school, but I still believe that a good coach creates this culture of taking pride in what you do and defending this pride to the end. Although Coach Marrs was on the staff when I played, I have been gone from the area for a while and can't speak about him currently. A good coach instills a fire in the heart of his kids that makes you feel like you are missing something big if you are not a part of it. Coach Carlock was not perfect, but he made me think hard about the kind of person I wanted to be when I became a man. He also set the bar very high for the expectations I have had of the coaches my three sons have had. Having said all this, the chances of a small school like Graham having a man and a coach like Coach Carlock back to back is kind of slim. If it is Coach Marrs' ability to contol the X's and O's, that is one thing, but if it is that kids do not want to play for him because he doesn't instill the sense of pride, teamwork, and honor that usually comes with being a G-Man, that is a totally different story. I don't know the answer, but I do know that men like Coach Carlock do not come along very often. I remember my first day of school when I sat with Coach Carlock to discuss the classes I was going to take. The first question he asked me was "do you play football boy?". From the second that I responded "yes Sir", I knew that I was a part of something special. Maybe the problem isn't that everyone hates Coach Marrs. Maybe the problem is that everyone misses Coach Carlock....I do.

I think GW will be fine. I am impressed with the heart this team has and to be so young. You have to give the DBs a little bit of a break considering a couple of them are freshmen. Very tough position to play so young.

That and a half dozen fumbles.

I had a pretty good angle as well and it looked like he was about 2 or 3 yards past the line of scrimmage. I think he made it look so smooth that the refs got caught watching the play instead of calling the game. It will be interesting to see what the tape shows.

Graham needs a play maker to step up and make plays like GWs Atwell did tonight. What a game changer.

I agree.

IMO GW had a very solid showing tonight against Graham in a benefit game winning 47-41, while playing many freshman and JV players throughout the second half. Atwell was a man among boys on the kick returns. Lester did well as usual, but another Lester is emerging. Freshman brother Hardy had a couple of solid catches from his tight end spot. Four years for Hardy will put him in a good place with his size. For no more big names than what GW has this year, I was impressed. We'll see what the season brings. Graham chose not to show much, including their defense on special teams.

It's just their opinion. They don't know half of what they think they know about area players, but they can look at stat sheets and pick from a limited personal experience watching the players in person. Learned a long time ago that it is nice to be on these lists, but it is just an opinion and not to be taken to heart. If you make the list..great, if you don't..whatever.

Not sure about Bland, but GW is very young. They start 3 freshman and a sophomore. Bland just makes way too many errors in the field. GW only brings 3 players back from last year's roster, only two of whom started.

I am sure that they played hard. Please tell Tesla, Laura, Heather and Amanda that it has been a pleasure watching them grow up on the court from the old days of the k-2 league at the Rec, to the AAU days, to the state tournament. Great job ladies!

Yep..same old, same old. BTW, what size is your state ring Mr. Cliche?