Bearcat Bob

You heard it first from Nostradamus (Bearcat Bob)... Madison County will either win or come darn close to a state title in the next 3 years. Last night East Rockingham traveled to Madison County for a non-district game. My son plays for the ER middle school so we went over to watch. ER returned much of last years team and is expected to compete for the Shenandoah District title. Madison started 3 freshmen, one sophomore and one junior. The first guy off the bench was a freshman. It was a close game the whole way. Madison won by three. What was impressive is that three of those 9th graders did not play like freshmen...and the other one is the most athletic of the bunch. He missed a dunk in traffic but the effort was pretty impressive. At crunch time, they had 4 freshmen and a junior on the court. I am sure they will have growing pains but look out in a year or two.

Tiger was done in by an angry 110 pound Norwegian blonde with an iron!

Lowest score: 68 (-2) at Fawn Lake (Spotsylvania County) in a practice round a day before the VSGA qualifier at that course. However, that did not do me much good the next day when it really counted...shot a 79. Lowest round to par: 69 (-3) at Birdwood (UVA's home course). Had a chance to go real low but three 3 putt bogeys early in the round hurt. My new home course is Spotswood Country Club in Harrisonburg. Not a really difficult course but I cannot break 70 there to save my life. I have finally put away the Mizuno MP-33 blades and started using irons a little more forgiving for an old coger. I think I will be reverting soon!

LongTimeSWVAFan... You mad Bro? VHS was pretty decent last year.

UVAO...I am surprised by that. Not that it matters that I am surprised or that you care that I am surprised. You know as well as I do that the championship will be decided next Saturday. Only thing decided up until know is who the particpants will be....

I just love how some folks cannot give credit where credit is due. Clarke basically said "Veni, vidi, vici"...not only said it but did it. But some folks are still rubbing that ointment on their arse because "the team that beat my team lost (badly) and the OTHER team that beat my team just cannot lose because that would make me feel bad about myself". There is a whole Dr. Phil show going on there but that is a tale for another day. Man up. Clarke was underestimated. Union was "flat" because they got smacked around by a more physical and a more confident team. It happens. Life goes on. It is not a repudiation of anyone or anything. It is high school football. I think what may really be irking a lot of SWVA folks is that Clarke was what many purport SWVA football to be: smashmouth, physical, confident. Appomattox may win next week. But on this past Saturday, Clarke was "the beast". Give 'em a little credit. Disclaimer: Most Union fans have been very generous and classy. If you read the posts, it is people other than Bears spouting off.

Clarke is the most physical team I have seen in a while. I have not seen Appo but several of my friends have. They all feel that a physical team like Clarke will frustrate and eventually wear Appo down. Clarke's defense is very, very good. They also have three 1000+ yard rushers. In a way, they reminded me of the old Nebraska teams; they run, you know they will run, and you cannot stop them. Union turned the ball over because of the defense. Appomattox may win it next week but I will do the "avatar wager" with anyone will to take the bet!

I do not think it would have matter where that game was played as far as the outcome. Clarke was just better. I think they win it all next week.

I played Spring Creek (Zions Crossroads) this past summer just after one of the eGolf professional tournaments had concluded. They left the pins and tee boxes in the same place for a charity event. 7000+ yards, lightning quick greens, narrow landing areas, brutal rough. Gave me a heckuva an appreciation for what a professional golfer goes through on a weekly basis. Then trot on down Interstate 64 to Royal Virginia and play from the tips. That course is just not fair IMHO. But if any of you gomers are ever in the Harrisonburg area, play Lakeview. 36 holes, very challenging but fair.

I thought Pinecrest was a Donald Ross course. And I am not confusing it with Pinehurst.

VT beats UVA -- so VT > UVA....okay then, JMU beats VT -- JMU > VT and UVA...so then, JMU = Eastern Michigan. VT = Western Michigan UVA = Wayne State Final equation = football in Virginia is not close to football in Michigan right now.

Now you tell me! We got it straightened out but, NEVER again. I thought we were being a good steward by supporting that program. In the end, it cost us almost twice as much as we had planned.

Never, ever sign a contract without legal counsel standing by...especially when dealing with SWaM vendors.

As fate would have it, I was up in Winchester yesterday for a business matter. By the way, I could have used UVAO's expertise in this matter. Anyway, I came back down through Berryville. That Senseny Road shortcut is a good one...but you have to keep your eyes open to see it. Then the right onto Westwood is in a turn and sneaks up on you. BUT, you can basically see the stadium light towers most of the way. Also, there is an old fire tower that is a good landmark to let you know you are on the right path. You run smack into the old high school but the new school is within eyesight. Senseny/Westwood basically cuts off the corner of 340 where the parade is scheduled. So, if you come up via 522 from Front Royal or down 522 from Winchester, take 340 towards Berryville, left on Senseny Road about a mile before Berryville, a right on Westwood (I believe it was the first road after leaving Senseny). Keep getting it until you see the school. Look to the horizon for the old firetower and stadium light poles (may not see them until you turn on Westwood--cannot recall), then you will pass the baseball field and old high school. I plan on parking at the old high school and walking over, but I think they are scheduling shuttle buses (it is a short walk though). If you get lost, join the parade.

I almost went with "Pumpkin Brigade", another name the BHC used to call VHS. But since Union copied the orange of VHS, I thought it might be confusing. I guess imitation is truly the highest form of flattery.

I think maybe UVAO hit the nail on the head, Richt met the athletic administration in person and could not get away fast enough.

The Sabre reporting that Richt agreed to Miami offer while either on grounds or shortly after leaving...embarrassing if true.

One last tidbit of information... One of the biggest and best gun shows is being held this weekend at the Prince William Fairgrounds over in Manassas. It is about an hour away from Berryville but if you have never been to this show, it is something to see. I always leave there with a bit of new "hardware".

A former BHC reporter once wrote that the "Bearcats left Tennessee High with their tails bobbed off by Derrick Hord" following a basketball throttling. Hence "Bearcat Bob".

I still think that if you are spending Friday night, Front Royal is a better option than Winchester (cost wise). I am trying to get out of a commitment Saturday so I can make it up to Berryville...just so I can see the spectacle of Berryville being overrun.

Here's the latest rumor from the Valley... Word has it that someone from Union complained to the VHSL that Clarke's stadium only seated 2200. The VHSL requires at least 2500 for a semi final game so...Clarke has acquired bleachers from surrounding schools to stretch from light pole to light pole on the visitors side, increasing seating capacity to 3000+. There is a lot of standing room around the end zones but they reportedly do not allow spectators to stand on the track.

...I was joking about wearing the letterman's jacket...would not want "Goose" waste time looking for some guy in a VHS jacket...

I am going to try really hard to make it up Saturday for the game. I'll be the tall guy wearing a VHS letterman's jacket...that way I'll fit right in with all that orange on both sides!

Goose my man...you obviously do not know me very well...I do not get upset. I just enjoy poking fun at those whose egos have inflated to the point of being dangerous to their health. I was at first a bit stymied by the baseball reference. I assume you are making a reference to the VHS program? I love my Bearcats but I have not been on the field in 30+ years so I do not live and die by their success or lack there of....but it would be nice to have a decent football program for a while... Seriously, I always root for the SWVA team. However, I now live in the East Rockingham district and my youngest is an 8th grader in that system.

No...I mean a bunch of grown men acting like Al Bundy...like grown men whose best days were on the High School football team...like grown men who think good football programs are relegated only to their immediate area...like grown men who probably still live in their momma's basement...like grown men who finally discovered how to cut and paste a pic...like grown men who have no original thought and have to cut and paste a response...like grown men who wore their high school letterman jacket to their wedding...like grown men who spend hours trying to download a picture of a high school field...I could keep going but the Steelers just scored and are kicking off...