UNIONFAN

Being a Union Fan (hints the name) you would think i would say either of the Jones brothers for the reason of their NFL careers, but Im going to say if i could bring back one past player to put on Union it would be a toss up between the new ball coach Travis Turner or Robbie Duncan (PV qb on the 89 and 90 state teams). Union's run game is solid and with the young qb they have Id have to go with a war hardened vet at that position for obvious reasons. Therefore give me either one of the aforementioned qbs for this year's Union Bears

Answer this question for me. Is it possible for teams to play in a level lower than the student body numbers call for due to acedemic reasons? If Im not mistaking, some local schools droped a level some years back due to a reason like this.

My orginial post has done exactly what i wanted it to. It has caused dissucssion and most of all opinions. This is the true meaning of forums like these and im glad its working. Granted we keyed in on one specific topic of the post but Im glad to see people chatting about one instead of ignoring em all. IMO i think we should take this thread and run with the other three topics on it as well. For example, I feel that the Green wave look better week two this season than week two of last, the question remains will they continue to look this good or will they faulter somewhere down the line? Also Union is playing some better ball as well, but can the bears keep it up? Most importantly, could Abingdon do better at water polo than football?

I feel what you are saying, Richlands is a D3 school and being so we cant say for sure if they would have won anything in D2 except by comparrison. in the past 5 years, the D2 title has been prominatly central va's and not swva's with the exception to gatecity. Durring this time Richlands played for a couple D3 state titles. My judgment and justification for saying that Richlands would have won 4 state titles in D2 is simply put, last season the blues could have won the D2 class. They had the talent level to beat anyone in D2 The blues game against Turner Ashbey is another season in which the Blues would have won D2 Gatecity's title year of a few seasons ago the Blues could have won and stepping back to Powell Valley's only state game loss the blues could have won that season as well. Granted it is like comparing apples to oranges but I will make this vow here and now, when the 6A system goes into effect and the Blues will be in the same classification with Gatecity, Union, Lebanon, Central, Dickenson co, ect... the Blues will be a state force that will win state more often than not

My numbers on Richlands student ody wasnt exact. It seems that Richlands has been tiddering on the border of D3 AA and D2 A for roughly 5 years is why I made the comment. Either way you look at it, Richlands is either a big D2 or a small D3 and if they were placed in D2 then I feel that the Blues would have won state in at the very least 3 years in the last 5

Tell me im wrong....... The Union bears are a better team than they were last season. The Bears have one more season under their belt for the coaching staff and players which IMO has caused the confedince level in both to rise. Im digging the I formation and Power I over the T and spread and well dangit the kids seem to be leaving it all on the feild win or loose. Tell me im wrong...... The Greenwave have made a statement that in Clintwood they reload not rebuild with these first two games. IMO the Wave look alot like late last season instead of a school who lost a bunch of starters. Tell me im wrong....... If Richlands played in D2 Single A (student body wise they should be) They would have had atleast 4 state championships in the last 7 years. Tell me im wrong....... Abingdon would be so much better off if they exchanged their football team for a water polo team. Atleast they would win their district in Water Polo

Back to the Union vs Lebanon discussion, I got the bears winning this game due to heart and a very solid running game. I have yet to see my bear play in person due to the fact that my better half has kept me busy doing other things on friday nights. Im not hen pecked, but i do know the hen house rules really well. This week she will be out of town with her sister (thank you jesus) and I will be in the great town of Lebanon watching my bears play. IMO the bears have got in line what was missing last year, coaching is better and players are better, so I look for a realistic 7-3 to 8-2 regular season with atleast two wins in the post season which will start with a win in Lebanon this friday.

I hate to hear about kids being hurt, but I dont think its as big of a deal as yall may think. Last season Johnson was injured and look how good that game was. Richlands reloads and usually has as good of a second string as their first string.

this will be a battle of what we all love, hard hitting slobber knocking football. Union has a "small" front line an average of roughly 215 pounds per lineman and quick backs that can run the ball good. Not to mention a scrappy little qb that can run as well. Richlands is a solid defensive team with heart and pride. When you mix running offence and proud deffense you get what we all love, GREAT COUNTRY HARD HTTING FOOTBALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From all of my football experience in swva , which dates back to 92, I would have to say the one place for me is easy. Richlands. I know their old field was not the best and there away bleachers wasnt top of the line for years, but the Blues have some of the most respectable, friendly, gracious fans I have ever seen in SWVA, SEKY, or NETN. What really sticks with me is how Richlands fans are the same at their home field as they are when they visit. The nicest people I have ever faced is the Blues fans. They have pride in there team but respect for there opponents and that always made it fun as a player and fan to go to Richlands

Poor coaching desicions is an understatment. As I mentioned, Union came out in the second half running the spread which lead to three turnovers. In the First half the T was working for an avg of 6 yards a pop. Even with those horrible coaching choices, the Greenwave came out on fire in the second half and drove the ball down Union's throat. Just goes to show that heart is an inmesserable attribute.

I know Hurley aint a power team but I have to say itll shock me if Eastside beats the tar out of em.

Its too early for sure, but in the spirit of fun Im going to make my picks. AA= Richlands (again depends how far west SWVA goes and to be honest Richlands should be A instead of AA which i give them props for playing up) A= Toss up between Clintwood (who everyone knows is a solid program with some of the best coaches in the state) and Union. I know I blew up the bears last year and by all rights they could have done alot better than they did, but this is year two and the Coaching staff is one more year older and have a better feel for the game. I know some JIB fans will get mad but i really dont care. JIB should not be mentioned in any disscussion about best team in swva for this reason, its easy to beat up on weak programs. If Burton will play atleast 1 solid bigger program in their OOD schedule and make a good game out of it Ill start to respect them, but as long as they go around beating up on Castlewood, Holston, Twin Springs, Thomas Walker, and so forth I can in no way have any respect for that program. Last season and the entire 80s and 90s and 2000s should show JIB that playing up helps a team not hurts a team. Clintwood was a 1-2 team that won state and IMO it was the Grayson Co and Hazzard games that showed the kids they were a better team than that and that they could handle anything eastern va threw at em. the 80s and 90s Powell Valley, Appalachia, and Gate City teams are living proof that playing up makes better programs. The early 2000s Gate City, and Clintwood programs are testaments to this fact as well.

Its Coeburn highschool, shouldnt be hard to find. About Eastside's football program, dont know much on them this season but Hurly should come away with a win. Eastside isnt a powerhouse team

Clintwood won that game. Granted, Union came out the second half with a solid lead and ran the spread (which i hate) and made some costly mistakes, but Clintwood simply outplayed out maned and out hit Union in the second half to win that game. You cant say Union lost that game cause quiet frankly, its impossible to loose a 20 to 6 lead if the other team dont beat you out of it.