BigO

First of all, I am not "from" Abingdon....I grew up in an entirely differerent state. So, you live in Abingdon and don't like it? Don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord spilt ya dude. Basically what it boils down to is that you couldn't get a job in Grungy so you moved to Abingdon where there are people that gave you a job and then you call them "you people"...real classy. Secondly, for some reason whenever a thread is started by an Abingdon person this entire forum follows in line like little sheep to bash, ridicule, attempt to cleverly say some snide remark, etc about Abingdon. My proof is the thread you started about Abingdon wine/cheese...notice the very low number of responses...thats because Abingdon people don't care what you say. On the flip side, I start a thread about Mance and recruiting and this flipping thread blows up. Here's why....Abingdon is the hub of the county and people hold grudges against Abingdonians. Yet, they move here to get a job...funny ain't it? Finally, the reason people find the bashing of Abingdon "funny" is because it's a way they can vent against the town. But, and here's the kicker, the people on this board from Abingdon couldn't give a rats ass what you think of this town....IT'S A SPORTS FORUM....not the freaking travel channel.

Thanks for reinforcing my point though. Haters gotta hate, huh? Wow.

Look at the post count for this thread and then look at the post count for the Abingdon Wine/Cheese post by Lance....point made....thanks.

Dude, you have no idea how much we would like a coach like Mance. No joke. With the talent we have here, along with the coaching of someone like Mance, it would be great. We haven't always had talent, but we have some this year and for the next couple of years. Lance, to be an admin you sure do a lot of slamming of Abingdon people...do you want Abingdon people to stay off of this forum? I wonder if your advertisers would like Abingdon people to stay off this site. I can handle some ribbing but every chance you get you slam us. It's like you are insanely jealous of people from Abingdon and so you find ways to ridicule us...even to the point of thinking of us when you read an article about wine. Me? When I read an article about wine I think of romancing my wife in southern France...not about people in a town that my high school boys play football against. Alas, you start anti Abingdon threads in hopes of achieving e-cred and some imaginary status on a forum and it makes you feel powerful and mighty when someone agrees with your post. It validates you. And you know what....THAT says it all.

Wow...you guys are serious cry babies when ever an Abingdon supporter posts something, huh? Geez... Anyway, the article is below and is just a "jab" back, in jest, for the article regarding the Abingdon Wine and Cheese post. Relax...it.is.a.joke. A 30-day transfer rule would betray loyalty in high school sports ERIC SONDHEIMER / ON HIGH SCHOOLS The CIF is considering a plan to slash the sit-out period for transfers from one varsity season to a mere 30 days. This would allow schools to stockpile elite athletes at the expense of those who stick around for four years. April 19, 2012|Eric Sondheimer There's a train wreck slowly unfolding in high school sports, and it's time to examine the damage that might take place. Next month, the 10 sections that make up the California Interscholastic Federation will vote on a proposal to revise transfer rules. Under the current rules, an athlete who transfers without moving has to sit out one varsity season unless receiving a hardship waiver. It's designed to prevent athletes from switching schools simply for sports reasons. Now a new proposal, part of a package of changes being sold to schools, would require a 30-day sit-out period as the lone penalty for transferring. The recruiters are doing cartwheels and want to throw a party. The schools that love transfers can't wait to add a 30-day sit-out period to their brochures as another reason to switch schools, along with promises of more exposure and a free Nike wardrobe. Football players would be eligible Oct. 1, basketball players Dec. 31 and baseball players April 1. Does anyone think a 30-day sit-out period is going to deter someone from transferring? In fact, it should start a stampede of transfers this summer if approved. Why would the commissioners around the state offer support to the proposal? Because thousands of dollars are being spent on CIF legal bills, the hours devoted to deciding whether to grant or reject a hardship waiver keep increasing and there's a feeling that lots of non-elite athletes are getting caught up in rules that are directed at trying to prevent schools from stockpiling athletes. All those arguments are true, but it's as if the commissioners are throwing up a white flag and deciding the recruiters have won. Oh, they're insisting they'll be diligent and proactive when they suddenly see trends happening, such as three or four athletes transferring to a school in one sport. But they have always had the authority to stop illegal recruiting, and how many times have they acted or even hired a private investigator? If a 30-day sit-out period is voted in, it will accelerate the trend of schools' forming all-star teams, and that is sucking the life out of those coaches who used to believe in building programs by getting players to show up as freshmen, teaching them fundamentals and seeing them blossom as seniors. The problem is they don't stick around for four years anymore. Sportswriters will have to come up with a new ranking system for teams. There will be a preseason poll based on who can play immediately and another poll based on who's eligible Oct. 1, Dec. 31 and April 1. Yes, it's silly, but so is a 30-day sit-out period. Coaches would face new ethics questions. If a player gets to start the first month of the season, will he or she be replaced as soon as the transfer student becomes eligible? The decision to support or reject transfer revisions should revolve around whether the mission of high school sports will be preserved or further tarnished. That mission has been about teaching lessons to teenagers far beyond winning championships. Leave it up to the club programs to recruit, build all-star teams and welcome transfer students with open arms. There has to be someone left to stand up for the kid who sticks around through the good and bad times, shows loyalty for four years, practices hard, then is sent to the bench in favor of the new kid. On Wednesday, Southern Section schools get to vote at their council meeting whether to endorse the proposal. It might work well in Northern California, where there's a lack of urban areas compared with Southern California, but as a statewide proposal, it's only going to create a new set of problems and further widen the disparity between the haves and have-nots. eric.sondheimer@latimes.com twitter.com/LATSondheimer

Guess he's licking his chops and trying to get some Cali rules up in here.... http://articles.latimes.com/2012/apr/19/sports/la-sp-0420-sondheimer- transfers-20120420

Fellow VFL, this is exactly what I said, especially regarding coaching. You just took the chance to pile on...sheep. BTW, be careful with your spelling and punctuation...the idiots on here are pretty critical, as if they are all english majors. Having said all that, there will very soon be some changes in the quality of ball here in Abingdon. I know, I know...talk is cheap. But what I can tell you with great certainty is that the kids coming up have a different mindset then in the recent past.

Richlands at it again....

Lance, GMAN and the mother lover DeucesWild......is this more elementary for you?

Really? I type all that and you come up with "ever heard of paragraphs"? My sincerest apology. I will try and do better next time. I hope you can read this better. Have a nice day.

Alright, here's the answer to your question. I will remain anonymous out of necessity. Some of you know who I am, and that's fine...because I know you agree with me. Abingdon football....wow, here goes. First, I will state the obvious...politics. If you have pull of any sort (which translates to "money") your kid will play. Plain and simple. The boosters of AHS will (and have) played the "I will not financially support the team" card if their kid doesn't get to play. I know this first hand. Probably happens other places as well. Next, lets move on to coaches/staff. The coaches at Abingdon are totally against kids playing multiple sports, as well as the AD because he coaches basketball. This completely befuddles me because if a kid plays multiple sports wouldn't one think that would help the kid in a number of ways? Stay in shape, increase awareness, sharpen the saw..so to speak? Regardless of what they may say publicly they all hate it. Period. It also befuddles me because whatever sport that they are coaching hasn't done above mediocre, record wise, in a few years. In that same coaching/staff vein, lets look at the coach(es). I mean no disrespect to the HC...good man, just lost his wife....but its very had to play a spread O when your fastest kid runs a 4.9 40. I made that time up....don't know how fast their fastest kid was 2 seasons ago...but whatever his time was, he was light speed ahead of the next fastest kid. They just didn't have the players to run the spread...year after year after year after year.....until this past year when they suddenly switched to a pro set and expected the kids to grasp it immediately. They did better in that set, no doubt...but it will take some time. Assistants were reluctant to make the switch because they were going to have to actually work with the kids....no more, "hey, go out there and run some plays" coaching. It required hands on. Crazy, I know. Lastly, the parents and the community as whole are more worried about how they are perceived by others. No business in downtown Abingdon will put up a banner on their front glass that says "Go Falcons"....that is peasant stuff...the stuff they sell in their store is way to gourmet, posh, whatever word you want to use....and if they put up something like that, well their neighbors would think less of them...as well as their patrons. These are the real reasons why AHS has struggled to do well on the field. There are other reasons, but these, to me, are the basis. Until AHS gets a community behind their team, a staff that cares about the kids more than themselves, and administration with enough nads to make soem changes, they will continue to dwell in mediocrity. Edited for those with ADD and those of you who obviously have mother issues....wow.

Just thought I would catch you guys up on this kid....SIAP. Kid was a beast a couple of years ago at Greenville, Tn...played QB but he was all over the place and won state championship. Just an INCREDIBLE athlete. He went to Georgia Military out of high school due to grades...with UT being his D1 choice post military school. Well, he got booted from military school for rules infractions....nothing major, i.e. tardies, missed curfews, etc. This is a real shame because this kid has MASSIVE potential. He was Randall Cobb good. I know this happens ALOT, but this kid so much promise and he was planning on going to my school (UT)....we could have really really really used him, (insert UT joke here). But seriously, its such a shame for kids with so much potential to not allow themselves to see it come to fruition.

Autry has called UT his leader for some time now but he is taking some OV's in the coming weeks. He and Jacobs are playing in the JUCO Nat'l Championship this weekend. Autry has us and Miss in his final 2. With Mullen likely headed to PSU I like our chances of getting him. Sentimore would be huge but I don't think we get him for some reason...would love it if we do. O'Brien and Santos have become good friends and talk often. Those are my 2 favorite pick ups so far. I just really hope we get an SEC caliber RB in this class...I know we picked up that speed kid from Georgia this week but I want a 6'0 200# speedster...like Trent Richardson type kid. Hard to come by but that's what we need. Patterson would add another very legitimate threat at WR and I think we definitely get him. Can you imagine having Hunter, Rogers AND Patterson? WOULD.BE.HUGE.

Yeah, I know...I graduated from there many years ago. I truly think RHS could compete with them though...at least some of your recent teams could. Lord knows, you could beat them in the playoffs because DB folds like a fan in the playoffs.

Mo Couch nor Malik Jackson ever played TE that I know of. However, we truly have no real DT's on our roster. We have a couple already committed though..the most notable is Danny O'Brien out of Michigan. Kid's a beast.

Would love to see RHS play Dobyns Bennett. I know the geography (amongst other reasons) will prevent it. But that would be a great game.

He has a quicker path to the field at UT...if that appeals to him and I sure hope it does. Whoever gets him will be getting a real baller.

That is pretty funny...almost every poster in this thread does have "big" in his user name. Says alot about us,huh? Anyway, AHS playoff experience will be short lived...but at least they will get some extra practice in.

I'm sorry, what?

Tazewell @ Abingdon The Bull Pups have been learning how to hike their leg all season against some of the toughest teams in SWVA. Sometimes they have been close to gettin’ thar and sometimes they’ve just been knocked flat down on their puppy tails. The Blue Buzzards have played their usual Bristol based schedule and have eked out a couple of wins. The Buzzards, well, we were told by cousins Faylene and Gaylene not to say anything bad because they still have high hopes of sparkin’ with SouthBound and Falconman. This may be the week that all those hard knocks and Butt Thumpin’s the Bull Pups have taken pays off. Look for the Bull Pups to finally hike their leg this Friday. LLL – Blue Buzzards LMBO at this predicition....wow. Just wow. I came on here to read the scores thread and saw this thread. Thought I would see who this clown picked to win...and he (or she) didn't disappoint me because I was looking for a laugh. What a joke.

While I seriously appreciate and understand your post and what you mean by it, please know that I absolutely DO NOT have a son playing football. Secondly, I am sure that coach Bowles is a great man and I meant no disrespect to him in that regard. Lastly, I am very glad your son is enjoying his career at AHS...and my post meant no disrepect to him or his teammates....I know they have played their butts off. My post was merely to say that this team has enough talent (on the field and in the stands) to have much greater success than they have had. If you are content with what this staff has done for you son and his team then great. I just wouldn't be when I know that there is SO MUCH more potential for these kids. Sorry if I offended you.

I know we're not alone with our problems. Don't mean to sound like a "wine" and cheeser...crap, I'm not even from here originally. I guess the best we can do is get on here and bitch, huh?

I am feeling sorry for our boys tonight. Granted, Richlands is a power house team....but what really gets me is our staff. These boys do exactly what is asked of them, no questions asked, and yet our staff doesn't reciprocate. Here's what I mean by that. If our boys are asked to give their all, shouldn't the staff do the same? If our boys are asked to make a commitment to get better, shouldn't the staff? Now, I wasn't at the game in Richlands tonight but, based on previous games that I have attended, the play calling has been atrocious. Bowles has never listened to his assistants up in the booth and restricts the players from running audibles or checking down. WHAT??? Not listening to assistants? That's not whats best for the team, hence not doing your best. If you don't trust the kids that are playing (Arnold is young so I understand the restriction there a little bit more) then why should they trust you? If you don't trust your assistants then why will the boys trust you? And, hey, if I know that Bowles isn't listening to his assistants then you can bet your Aunt Fanny's tractor that the boys know it too. This staff has always just wanted the boys to win but won't do whats necessary to help facilitate that. I equate it to my golf game...or lack thereof. When I drive the ball I just want to hit it as far as I can so I wind up and swing for the fences. I am so interested in the outcome of my shot I lift my head too early and usually hit a bad shot. I don't put the work in to prevent this from happening. Our staff? They just want to see the results of their shot. I'm not paid to play golf...yet, they are paid to coach the boys. I have said it before and will say it again....we need a coach that has self motivation to do well. Everyone talks about how great a coach Mance is...and he is...but what makes him great is his desire to put the work in, earn the players respect and get EVERYTHING out of his players. He is motivated to win...not just play. Sorry for the long post, and congrats to Richlands on a game well played....hopefully, for both of our sake, we will be a little more competitive next year....and the years to come. Good luck Richlands...hope you represent southwest Virginia well!

Yep, I'm a homer with this one...but I will go with Matt Nash from Abingdon. You guys know more about the players in this area as a whole..but Matt has always impressed me with his speed and determination....kid never quits and has a motor.

Ryan, he wasn't a running back as much as WR...and played the QB in our dirty bird set. He is no longer here. Moved away. I know you're just yanking Falcoman and Southbounds chains...but this kid didn't transfer in just to play ball here...he was moving AWAY from something moreso than moving TO something. Kid had talent though and if what I heard about him and his family life is true then I truly hate it for him. He was a playmaker...no matter what school he was at.