sixcat

I just don't see Galax having the talent and leadership from a player standpoint to overcome all of the on-field and off-field issues they are experiencing in order to beat a team as talented as George Wythe. Galax has fumbled 11 times and committed 37 penalties in 4 games counting the benefit game with Carroll. They have also had several suspensions and a few players quit the team. I could be completely wrong, it wouldn't be the first time and wont be the last but I just see too much that has to be cleaned up in a short period of time. Edit to add; This could be a very different story come November. Dixon will likely get these issues buttoned up like he did last season, just probably not in a week.

Continuing dialogue is key to bridging the gap between this part of Virginia and the rest of the state. That conversation goes infinitely deeper than high school football, however. I honestly do appreciate your efforts. Best of luck in your new quest.

I don't believe anyone is suggesting you have an "outrageous idea". While I agree, ranking from previous years shouldn't be factored into the following season, I still find it both fascinating and curious that VAPreps didn't reach out to this part of the state for so many years, yet, wanted to be taken seriously as a source for all things high school athletics. Kudos to you, sir for doing so but you will have to expect a little mistrust given the landscape of VHSL athletics and the role VAPreps played in moving that perpetually forward. I have advocated your being here from the beginning and even defended you openly in various forums. You have taken strong stances and even called Tidewater and Richmond area schools out for complaining about travel time given what our communities have to deal with. For that, I give you more kudos. But the fact remains, your opinion, regardless of how accurate I believe it to be concerning rankings and polls, regardless of how subjective they may be, simply doesn't carry very much weight on this side of the state.

Galax is going to have to improve significantly to contend with GW and Giles in my opinion. Far too many unforced mistakes, penalties and sloppy turnovers. Counting the benefit game with Carroll, Galax has 11 fumbles, 1 interception and committed 37 enforced penalties through 4 games. For the record, Galax has been assessed almost as many penalty yards as Grayson has rushing yardage. This team doesn't have a Steven Peoples, Joseph Dixon, Caleb Spurlin or Charles Harris to make up for the lack of discipline.

I actually agree but my previous point still remains, Roanoke based media outlets largely ignore this area, Carroll and Grayson included, because this area is far more closely tied to Winston Salem/Greensboro.

I understand the premise of your statement and agree to a large extent but given the historically nonsensical VAPreps rankings, especially concerning SWVA teams, you may receive some push-back for this.

Galax gets punished by Roanoke media, print and television, for not exactly being "local". The cable and satellite affiliates available actually come from Winston Salem/Greensboro and Roanoke/Lynchburg with the WS/Greensboro channels getting the majority of the viewership. This area at one time only got the WS/Greensboro affiliates until WSLS lobbied in Washington for an expanded coverage area when satellite television took off in the 80's. I can't really remember if WSLS sued satellite companies, Neilson or both but it became a political issue so the "Twin Counties" were assigned by Neilson to both affiliate locations. The Winston Salem Journal has a higher circulation locally than the Roanoke Times. A lot of local residents work in in the Winston Salem area as well. It's a long running joke around Galax, Carroll and Grayson that the only time Roanoke media comes to town is for something extremely negative or something that can be sensationalized.

Abingdon Grundy Marion Lebanon Richlands Bluefield Lee Union Glenvar Chilhowie Giles Honaker Hurley Northwood J.I. Burton Thomas Walker Patrick Henry Tennessee Louisville Miami Virginia Oregon Alabama Pitt Virginia Tech LSU Notre Dame Ohio St. Pittsburgh Washington New England Arizona Denver Green Bay GotW George Wythe 52

I nailed this one! Grayson nearly tripled their season rushing totals for both carries and yards and only attempted 13 passes.

The Galax radio guys must have done their research using Maxpreps. They continue to refer to Rural Retreats "coach Akers". I wonder if Gate City knows their coach is double dipping?

Priorities are in order!

http://www.hudl.com/video/3/1805810/5721db574df6124b7029faa2

No. It's my understanding, the plan is to red-shirt him. He moved to the defensive line a few weeks ago and he is still learning the position. Plus, he has some talented seniors ahead of him on the depth chart. His time will come. He needs to be patient.

Tennessee played significantly better competition in App St. than VT played in Liberty. I'm not sure that means anything come Saturday but one thing I believe has been evident in Butch Jones tenure in Knoxville, he is limited at best, incompetent at worst at making in-game adjustments. I believe Foster's defense keeps the game close early and Fuente makes some late adjustments to win a close game. Now, with all that said, Tennessee will win by multiple touchdowns because I made a prediction!

Food City / Grayson National Bank parking lot is another option. Nothing really fills up completely. You wont have any issues finding parking.

Ciro's. Otherwise, eat in Galax on the way into Independence.

I started kindergarten at 4 as well. I wouldn't change it if I could but we all have our own unique journeys through life. The September 30 date in effect today would have prevented me from beginning school when I did, as would it have redtiger and RichlandsAlum. My issue isn't with parents who are pushing boundaries within a reasonable frame of time, i.e. 12 month gaps being a maximum. My issue is with those parents who are, in essence, abusing these children by having them be 2 full grade levels behind where they should be based on supposed athletic gain. I don't even know if I fully understand how the two girls I mentioned earlier would be eligible for VHSL competition as seniors. In my opinion, this is something that has gotten out of control locally.

Your children are 19 months apart and separated by two grade levels which I find appropriate. My daughter is in 6th grade with two girls, one 23 months older, the other 20 months older than my daughter. Neither child should be that far behind other children their age. Imagine the issues these children are going to have when they can't get into drivers education until they are 17. And for what, girls basketball or volleyball? The current Virginia DOE policy cut-off is September 30. Kids turning 5 on or before that date should be enrolled in kindergarten by DOE regulations. I understand not all kids are equal but waiting until your child is nearly 7 to begin kindergarten is ridiculous.

I could certainly get on board with that rather than for supposed athletic gain.

It's been a huge deal in Galax in recent years. I mentioned this a year ago in another thread, my daughter is the youngest 6th grader in the Galax school system and her birthday is in spring. How is that even possible? You can't tell me, in a class of 125 kids, not another 6th grader has a birthday between Spring and the September cut-off. In getting to know other classmates and parents of my daughter, we have come to realize most were held back and/or began kindergarten a year late. We have yet to hear one parent give any reason other than for athletic advantage.

I agree completely but also feel strongly that younger kids competing against older kids on a regular basis have a much higher ceiling.

Abingdon Lebanon George Wythe John Battle Central Sullivan South Lee Paintsville Union Tazewell Tennessee Honaker Hurley Twin Valley Castlewood Hancock Co Chilhowie Bland Galax Ft. Chiswell Narrows Bluefield Pitt Michigan West Virginia Mississippi St. TCU Virginia Tech Oregon Carolina Green Bay Baltimore Tennessee Seattle New York Arizona GotW *Thursday game* Richlands 75

It's been happening for a long time. The basketball staff tried to convince my mother to allow my brother to be held back in 7th and again in 8th grade. My mother refused to allow it and he graduated at 17 and played college basketball. Steven Peoples also graduated high school at 17. It has been my experience, the younger kids who grow up having to compete against the older kids are the ones who develop more. That may not be true across the board for other areas but every kid I know who graduated at 19 didn't become the college star their coaches, administrators and parents thought they would become.

From what I was told by some parents I grew up playing with, the coaching staff decided not to play "starters" during the preseason scrimmages because they only had 36 total players come out for football jv-varsity combined. Take it for what it's worth but they may not be quite as bad as they showed in the preseason. Still wont be very good though. They struggled to beat a Carroll team that may not win a game all season.

Grayson is pass first and have all but abandoned the running game in recent years. They had 336 yards passing and only 17 yards rushing against Carroll last week. Seth Phillips had 232 yards receiving and 3 TD receptions. He will play at the next level. I do believe Tazewell will win but they better be ready to defend down field.