Bearcat Bob

Gate City posters = Grayson Allen?

You forgot the train she got ran over by..

Great City...playing against Gate City in the late 70s and early 80s was “a unique experience”  to say the least. Our players and fans were exposed to all manner of intimidation attempts, slurs (racial and otherwise), and verbal attacks from the fans. Didn’t matter the sport either. We took it as a challenge. Our coaches warned us to not get caught up in the environment there. I always looked forward to playing at GC because of the extra incentive of trying to shut up the 35 year old letterman jacket wearing loudmouths in the stands.  But I never recall any cheap shots by the players; physical play, yes.  Cheap shots, no.  
What does that have to do with this current debate?  Not much.   Just some firsthand historical experiences.  
 

A pickup, getting drunk, going to jail and a song about mama would make it complete.

I’m 100% positive this guy is still squeezing into the letterman jacket and heckling teenagers all the while holding popcorn between the knees, a coke under one armpit and both hands full of hotdogs with a cowbell around the neck😄

Extra points for incorporating Gate City, fighting, McClung, Kool-Aid, cowbells, and Jesus into a single post.

I’m 100% positive this guy is still squeezing into the letterman jacket and heckling teenagers all the while holding popcorn between the knees, a coke under one armpit and both hands full of hotdogs with a cowbell around the neck😄

I’m 100% positive this guy is still squeezing into the letterman jacket and heckling teenagers all the while holding popcorn between the knees, a coke under one armpit and both hands full of hotdogs with a cowbell around the neck😄

I’m 100% positive this guy is still squeezing into the letterman jacket and heckling teenagers all the while holding popcorn between the knees, a coke under one armpit and both hands full of hotdogs with a cowbell around the neck😄

I’m 100% positive this guy is still squeezing into the letterman jacket and heckling teenagers all the while holding popcorn between the knees, a coke under one armpit and both hands full of hotdogs with a cowbell around the neck😄

Great City...playing against Gate City in the late 70s and early 80s was “a unique experience”  to say the least. Our players and fans were exposed to all manner of intimidation attempts, slurs (racial and otherwise), and verbal attacks from the fans. Didn’t matter the sport either. We took it as a challenge. Our coaches warned us to not get caught up in the environment there. I always looked forward to playing at GC because of the extra incentive of trying to shut up the 35 year old letterman jacket wearing loudmouths in the stands.  But I never recall any cheap shots by the players; physical play, yes.  Cheap shots, no.  
What does that have to do with this current debate?  Not much.   Just some firsthand historical experiences.  
 

Great City...playing against Gate City in the late 70s and early 80s was “a unique experience”  to say the least. Our players and fans were exposed to all manner of intimidation attempts, slurs (racial and otherwise), and verbal attacks from the fans. Didn’t matter the sport either. We took it as a challenge. Our coaches warned us to not get caught up in the environment there. I always looked forward to playing at GC because of the extra incentive of trying to shut up the 35 year old letterman jacket wearing loudmouths in the stands.  But I never recall any cheap shots by the players; physical play, yes.  Cheap shots, no.  
What does that have to do with this current debate?  Not much.   Just some firsthand historical experiences.  
 

And I thought I was bad...😬

This has turned out to be another classic SWVA thread. You can always count on a certain few to keep the entertainment going. 

Opinions may differ but I like the old system when the regular season winner and tournament winner advanced. I'm not downing any teams in particular but some have no business being in regionals. 

I’ve been fortunate enough to see both Radford and East Rock this year. Radford is really good and have probably the POY and COY. But they are not as good as the 2009 team IMHO. 
East Rock is very talented and deep. Their best player is actually playing at Blue Ridge this year. If Rodgers was still in the fold, ER would be incredible. 
East Rock’s weakness is they are not a real physical team. They were bullied a bit in their two losses this season. But they showed a lot of grit by avenging the Spotswood loss by playing a more physical game. But that is not their strong suit. 
Radford isn’t what I would call a  real physical squad either. But they are physically tough enough.  
If ER runs into a physical team like the Darren White led Dan River teams from 10 years ago, their season probably ends early. I just haven’t seen one of those teams in 2A this year. 
Never know about Region A. Someone always comes out of there as a surprise. 

Radford is the favorite imho. But East Rock just beat Spotswood who I believe is a top three 3A school. 
I hope ER and Radford meet up. It would be a great experience for ER to face such a storied program with a tremendous coach. 

They made the final four. I wouldn’t call that a debacle. 

How many times do you ever play to lose when you play a game against someone whether it's a game that counts or not?  And would you try to play your best if a scout is there watching?   I'm not putting much stock into it.....but lets not act like they didnt come to play.  Otherwise they wouldn't have scheduled the tourny to begin with. They had their players and GC had theirs and GC handled them.  Why load your players up and travel then go half heartedly?  You dont.  You go to face stiff competition to have an idea of where you stand and what you have for the upcoming season.   
The point I'm making is that they arent leaps and bounds ahead of the teams that they will face deep in the post season.  MHS, East Rock, Greensville possibly, and even Graham if they start to gel....could all give them all they can stand.  We agree on the fact we both think Radford wins it all. ...but I dont think they cakewalk their way in like your implying.   East Rock has a player that's doing far more impressive things than most any other kid in the state.... as a Freshman.  
And lastly.....East Rock football has nada to do with their basketball squad. Do yourself a favor and watch them on Hudl if you havent seen them already.  They are long, athletic, and seem to be fairly deep as well.  Not a 1 or 2 man show. 
 

Radford is the favorite imho. But East Rock just beat Spotswood who I believe is a top three 3A school. 
I hope ER and Radford meet up. It would be a great experience for ER to face such a storied program with a tremendous coach. 

Sweet jeebus!  Im really not sure if Ol' Bo is being serious with these claims or not......its troubling haha    I'd like to think he's just having fun but I got that screwy feeling in my gut..... hes all in.  

Well I guess it has been decided...
The Mount Rushmore of basketball is Jordan, James, McClung with the fourth spot reserved for the next GC “phenom”. 

I came across the all time Virginia All-State teams in a computer file among Marshall Johnson's research. They are posted as I found them on the Virginia Page of http://fourseasonsfootball.com/va.html
 

"The Jerry West logo must go and give Jordon, Lebron and maybe Mac the logo, the real players."
  Bowalker...Did you just compare McClung to Jerry West, Michael Jordan and LeBron James?!?  I know it is cold outside but WTF?!?