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Logan Honaker played as many if not more snaps at QB that Tipton last season. Carter Harlow started a lot of games at HB while Rogers was dealing with injury. Mathew Chapman was the starting FB before his season was ended with a severe cut on his leg at Lebanon. Josh Matney started every game at WR. Harlow, Matney and Honaker placed 1,2,3 in the 200 at the district track meet for a reason. The Trojans will have speed and talent at the skill positions. Here is where it gets interesting--- Last season they had 7-8 lineman that could play on Friday nights including 5 seniors. Only 2 starters return. The good news is that the Wing T is lineman friendly especially at the guards. I remember Coach Wright telling me that he's even moved WR's to guard before if they were tough enough. Finding 3 lineman is a big job but IMO replacing the leadership of last years class will be more difficult. If they have a few kids step up into those leadership roles, I really believe the last game of the season against Union will be for the district championship.

He's a hall of fame manager...but I dont think he was the best ever. JJ Dillion of the original Four Horseman is at the top of my list.... Under him are Bobby the brain Heenan, The Mouth of the South Jimmy Hart, Jimmy Cornette and then Paul Bearer. Also have to throw in Paul Ellering Who managed the Road Warriors for many years....and Miss Elizabeth.

Coleman Thomas will be a Vol. I know he has strong ties to WVU but Butch Jones is a good salesman and now he has the facilities to close the deal. Not to mention you're talking SEC here and UT NEEDS lineman. This is coming from someone who isnt a fan of either of the schools, btw

Just a guess.... you'll see alot of 1 back stuff. He will run alot of jet sweeps out of those sets also. He may go with the wing T and use the jet motions with it.

Earned and well deserved. Proud of him and the entire program

From my understanding it is 4 VHS returning starters. Noone is going into names until it becomes official.

or they have grandparents or aunts/uncles in the jsb district that would be the primary guardians. There are ways around things. Everything will be taken care of before the kids officially enroll. It's not hard for kids to transfer these days. The Couch Kid at Virginia High has went to 5 or 6 different schools. Castlewood, Lebanon, John Battle, JJ Kelly , VHS and maybe even 1 more. His parents never moved either. I'm not saying it's right or wrong...it's just the way things are these days. Kids can easily transfer and be eligible

Travis has been thinking about transferring so that doesnt surprise me although I was hoping he'd change his mind. 4 VHS kids will be at Battle most likely and the issues will be worked out before hand. They'll be eligible.

He wasnt going to....but UT offered Swafford who has been his best friend since 1st grade or so. He wanted to go to UT all along but Dooley didnt offer and Vandy didnt offer Swafford. Butch Jones contacted both of them his first full day on the job. Once he made it clear he wanted them both, it was a no brainer. Easy decision at that point as they wanted to stay together if possible.

Great day for Dobyns Bennett Football. Malik Foreman has decommitted from Vanderbilt and joined his teammate Devaun Swafford in committing to the University of Tennessee. Congrats to these 2 great kids. Looking forward to watching them play in the SEC.

Read this earlier this morning and figured some would find it interesting. Please read and take note..... A LITTLE GUN HISTORY I Thought you might appreciate this . .In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control. From 1929 to 1953, about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated. ------------------------------In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated. ------------------------------Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, a total of 13 million Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated. ------------------------------China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated. ------------------------------Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated. ------------------------------Uganda established gun control in 1970. From 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated. ------------------------------Cambodia established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one million "educated" people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated. ------------------ -----------Defenseless people rounded up and exterminated in the 20th Century because of gun control = 56 million. ------------------------------It has the now been 12 months since gun owners in Australia were forced, by new law, to surrender 640,381 personal firearms to be destroyed by their own government, a program costing Australia taxpayers more than $500 million dollars. The first year results are now in: List of 7 items: Australia-wide, homicides are up 3.2 percent Australia-wide, assaults are up 8.6 percent Australia-wide, armed robberies are up 44 percent (yes, 44 percent)! In the state of Victoria alone, homicides with firearms are now up 300 percent. Note, that while the law-abiding citizens turned them in, the criminals did not, and now only the criminals still have their guns! While figures over the previous 25 years showed a steady decrease in armed robbery with firearms, this has changed drastically upward in the past 12 months, since criminals now are guaranteed that their prey is unarmed. There has also been a dramatic increase in break-ins, home invasion robberies (with the people still at home) and assaults of the ELDERLY. Australian politicians are at a loss to explain how public safety has so drastically decreased, after such monumental effort, and expense was expended in successfully ridding Australian society of guns. The Australian experience and the other historical facts above prove it. Guns in the hands of honest citizens save lives and property and, yes, gun-control laws adversely affect only the law-abiding citizens. The next time someone talks in favor of gun control, please remind them of this history lesson. With guns, people are 'citizens'. Without them, they are 'subjects'.

4 starters have checked into transferring to John Battle. If the eligability issues get worked out, I think it'll happen. I will not mention names until I get a confirmation though

Safety glass also. Most classrooms are lined with windows so that would have to be fixed. But think about the money there. They would have to do that at every elementary, middle and high school. Then add the guards in. With 2 guards at every school, a small district with just 2 elementary, 2 middle and 1 high school would be out 180,000 per year just in guard salaries. Add that to the renovations at each school and the school system would be far past bankrupt. I agree that this is the safer, sensable way to go....I just dont see how it can be done As for guns, I'll use this scenerio- We all know there are "bad apples" in every school. What happens when a teacher has to break up a fight and one of the kids gets the gun away from the teacher...... Then what? Any wrong turn would always result in the teacher being thrown under the bus.

So it seems that alot of places are getting on board with having teachers carrying guns in schools. As a teacher, I can think of of 1000 ways this could go bad....... but it may be the most budget friendly awnser to security problems. I'm really conflicted over it. What's everyones thoughts on the issue?

It's a shame that he wasnt caught before committing suicide. Death was such an easy way out for this low life. He didnt deserve anything easy. still sick to my stomach over this.... I couldnt get it out of my head when I was putting my daughter on the school bus this morning. We cant keep being passive when it comes to these school shootings. It's time to be active and start protecting these kids.

UVAObserver hit the nail on the head. We need to be active. No more of the "that'd never happen here" mentality because I'm sure that's exactly what those people in Connecticut have said before. As someone who works in a school, we need a better plan. A school resource officer sitting in his office with his feet propped up all day isnt the solution. I think all schools should have metal detectors at every entrance and atleast 2 armed officers on campus during school hours. It may stretch some county/city budgets but it's better than the alternative.

Agree 100%. Carter Harlow has always been a solid defensive player, but he really came on strong at HB late in the season. They're going to be very good if they can replace 3 lineman.

If this is the case....they may regret this move in a few years. The grass isnt always greener on the other side. Coach Moore is a class act and will be very, very hard to replace. For everything he has done for that program, he should have left on his own terms.

IMO...Union will be very good next year. They have the best back in the district in Jake McCray and return most of the line. I would think that they'll be favored to win the district. Battle and VHS will have more than enough talent to make them earn it thought. GC will improve also although I think they're 2 years away from being a title contender.

Yes....he held back (redshirted) in 8th grade.

There will be a drop off in speed..... But they're going to have some kids. Logan Honaker at QB is just a sophmore. Christian Estes is also a sophmore who has alot of speed. They also have a powerful redshirt freshman fullback. They have young lineman coming up to. If you think they're going back to the way it used to be, you're fooling yourself. Not with the way they work for Coach Wright. While they may not be 12-2 every year, I wouldnt expect to see them below 5-5 anytime soon. Next year, they have a legit shot to make another run if a few lineman can be replaced. The year after that, probably a 6-4 or 7-3 football team. 2 things you can count on and the guys from Marion will back me up. Wright will always have them prepared/playing disciplined and they'll always work hard in the offseason.

At the end of the day....yesterday takes nothing away from all that was accomplished this year. Injuries added up and made yesterday's game a longshot. With the Essex passing game, missing 3/4's of your starting secondary was just to much to overcome, but those kids never stopped fighting. For anyone wondering what the future of Battle Football is....This is a direct quote from a younger Trojan offensive lineman on facebook this morning. "Well with the end of this season begins another. We have been through so much this year, the sweat,the blood,the bruises and the tears. We have been blessed with an amazing football family and community as a whole. Our seniors this year stepped up, took charge when we faced adversity and kept this team together when most could not. Our Coaching staff is by far the best in southwest Virginia, both as people and Coaches. I am honored to call each of you my brothers. For the rest of us, the 2013 season starts Monday in that weight room. Have faith in God, Be enthusiastic, and work harder than anyone else that is the motto and identity that is Battle Football." Battle football isn't going away....

After seeing this and talking to ALOT of people....JSB may cover the 1500 stadium capacity. lol Great send off for the Trojans early this morning.

I wouldnt hire any of Saban's defensive coaches as a D-Coordinator. Maybe as position coaches because most of they are excellent recruiters but Saban runs that defense. Noone else. I'm sticking to this.... If they're not going the Petrino route, then Charlie Strong and Guz Malzahn would be my top 2 candidates. Like I said before though, with the Arkansas and Auburn jobs open, Malzahn would a longshot though.

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