When was the last time..

[EH31 2,517]

That a team in this area had as many D1 athletes on the same team as Bluefield will have returning this season?

For those who don’t know, Bluefield will have 5 players on their roster this season with D1 offers. 

Bluefield has returning:

Sean Martin - DE
UNC Commit 
#1 player in the state of WV class of 2020. 20+ offers including WVU, VT, Oregon, Penn State, Michigan State

JJ Davis - RB
#2 player in WV class of 2020
Offers from Tennessee, WVU, Maryland, Marshall, Cincinnati, ODU, Toledo, & PITT

Isaiah Johnson- DB/WR
#1 Player in the state of WV class of 2021
Offers including WVU, VT, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Oregon, South Carolina


Kaulin Parris - K/P
Has offers from VT, WVU, Morehead State 

Jahiem House - DB/WR
Offered by Toledo

[Tru Blue 72 423]

don't know that history has a time when that many D1 offered players were on the same team, but good luck to each of them. Staying healthy will be the key to their college offer I must imagine.  Hope they all do good and receive a full ride.

[Hokie1Pokie 350]

You would have to go back nearly 50 years to GC 1970. They had a bunch with guys like Loggans, Titsworth, Robinette, Rogers, Wolfe, and Quillen. I think GC had 6 and maybe 7 with at least 1 Div or Div 1AA (FCS now) but many of those former Div 1AA schools have moved up to Div 1, for example Marshall. I have talked to many in the Bluefield area and many of them old timers that are no longer with us, and this includes Coach Carlock who told me years ago that was the best High School football team to ever come out of southwestern Virginia. 

He also told me about the incredibly talented and we'll coached Gainer teams at Bluefield which dominated and many times, being jobbed out of the ability to play in the title games. Bluefield Researcher can speak to that. No question though, you would have to go back years to find the level of talent the 2019 Beavers will have. 

Tazewells 1986 had a few also. Big Viney, Holloway, Reed, Jesse Davis. Viney played at Hampton and was an All American. Davis played Div 2, but had an  offer from Hampton and Norfolk St. Those were all Div 1AA (FCS) offers except for Holloway. Actually, Robbie Colley was a freshman on that team and punted at Tech and for the 49ers. I don't know if he was offered out of High School, but he surely has a scholly at Tech.

What makes it incredible for Bluefield is the school size. That's insane talent for an AA team. It's not like we're talking about a school in Charlotte, NOVA, or the Tidewater with 2000 plus kids or at least 1000 boys to choose from. 

[Grapeape 259]

1996 Gate City team had 4 D1s & 1 D1AA (Beasley, Shoemaker, Houseright, Wolfe, & Smith), + a bunch of NAIA - DII guys. 

Edited July 2, 2019 by Grapeape
*enrollment was > 600 in 1996.

[Bluefield researcher 1,195]

1 hour ago, Hokie1Pokie said:

You would have to go back nearly 50 years to GC 1970. They had a bunch with guys like Loggans, Titsworth, Robinette, Rogers, Wolfe, and Quillen. I think GC had 6 and maybe 7 with at least 1 Div or Div 1AA (FCS now) but many of those former Div 1AA schools have moved up to Div 1, for example Marshall. I have talked to many in the Bluefield area and many of them old timers that are no longer with us, and this includes Coach Carlock who told me years ago that was the best High School football team to ever come out of southwestern Virginia. 

He also told me about the incredibly talented and we'll coached Gainer teams at Bluefield which dominated and many times, being jobbed out of the ability to play in the title games. Bluefield Researcher can speak to that. No question though, you would have to go back years to find the level of talent the 2019 Beavers will have. 

Tazewells 1986 had a few also. Big Viney, Holloway, Reed, Jesse Davis. Viney played at Hampton and was an All American. Davis played Div 2, but had an  offer from Hampton and Norfolk St. Those were all Div 1AA (FCS) offers except for Holloway. Actually, Robbie Colley was a freshman on that team and punted at Tech and for the 49ers. I don't know if he was offered out of High School, but he surely has a scholly at Tech.

What makes it incredible for Bluefield is the school size. That's insane talent for an AA team. It's not like we're talking about a school in Charlotte, NOVA, or the Tidewater with 2000 plus kids or at least 1000 boys to choose from. 

Bluefield was NEVER jobbed out of any title games. The system in place at the time was administered fairly. The ONLY team that Bluefield had that did not make the playoffs that I believe was the best team in the state of WV that particular year was the 1968 team that finished 9-0. That was Nick Colobro's senior season. The 1966 team was a great team but they went to Big Creek and Gresham and Co put a 19-0 hurting on them. Interesting enough Graham (who Bluefield beat 40-0) beat Big Creek at Bluefield on the final Saturday of the season knocking Big Creek out of the WV AAA title game. Until 1971 only the top two teams in each class in WV made the playoffs and obviously there was only one round.

[Hokie1Pokie 350]

4 hours ago, Bluefield researcher said:

Bluefield was NEVER jobbed out of any title games. The system in place at the time was administered fairly. The ONLY team that Bluefield had that did not make the playoffs that I believe was the best team in the state of WV that particular year was the 1968 team that finished 9-0. That was Nick Colobro's senior season. The 1966 team was a great team but they went to Big Creek and Gresham and Co put a 19-0 hurting on them. Interesting enough Graham (who Bluefield beat 40-0) beat Big Creek at Bluefield on the final Saturday of the season knocking Big Creek out of the WV AAA title game. Until 1971 only the top two teams in each class in WV made the playoffs and obviously there was only one round.

 

Rick, you do realize there are several as in.....scores of your fellow alums who disagree with you.  

1960- They won the state title in 1959 and at the end of the 1960 season, had a 23 game winning streak.  Went 10-0 in 1960 and was only scored on 3 times.  Had 7 shut outs.  They didn't get an invite. Nitro and Weir played for the title.  Weir hammered Nitro, but Weir actually had 1 loss in the regular season to a 6-3-1 Wheeling High team.  So yes, for the kids on the 1960 Bluefield team that has just won a title and had a dominating season with only 3 times scored on, it's a joke that they weren't picked.  Now, if there's a reason I don't know about such as a forfeit, probation, school issues or something like that, it's different and you would certainly know much more on it then me.  I'm only going by what I've been told from scores of former Beavers over the years.

1968-You mentioned this team which clearly comes to mind. Here's what makes it a "jobbing" in my opinion.  It's similar to what happened in 1960.  Let go back the year before 1968 which of course is 1967.  In 1967, state champions, 11-0.  In 1968, 5 of the 9 regular season games-shut outs.  No invite, forget about being the obvious first team or whatever, but simply not in the top 2!.  Also, from 1964 until the end of the 1968 season, Bluefield had a 49-2 record!  Yes, the 68 team in my opinion was jobbed. One other salt in the wound pouring.  Charleston played St. Albans for the state title.  St. Albans had a loss that year in regular season to...……..Charleston by about 20 points.    Charleston also wasn't perfect as they had a tie on the record with I think East Bank, but the joke is, they let the two schools play again for the title!  That's not jobbing.   That's first class jobbing and in 1968, line em up, and the Beavers and Gainer ain't losing.

1966-Bluefield's only blemish was to an incredible Big Creek team (of which Big Creek had many great teams over the years).  That Big Creek had only one loss to a very, very good Graham team at Mitchell Stadium the last game of the year 13-0.  Bluefield destroyed Graham that year, but Graham played EC Glass close and Tazewell close.   In 1966, Huntington and B. Upshur were invited and played for the dance. Bluefield at 9-1 was better than both of them.  Huntington and Bluefield did have a common opponent.  That was Woodrow Wilson which Bluefield beat badly 32-0 at Beckley, and Huntington beat Woodrow Wilson 37-15 at Huntington.  Bluefield had just won the title in 1965, but as one could see, the Beavers didn't get the benefit of the doubt with 1 loss unless they were perfect, and even then, such as in 1960 and 68, perfect wasn't enough, they weren't even selected in the top 2.  In 1966, if I'm not mistaken, one of Big Creeks stars (Cunningham or Carmicheal-forget the name) did not play at Mitchell Stadium in the final upset loss to Graham, even though Graham was pretty good in 68 and no slouch.  But, the thing I'm getting at is, even with Bluefield and Big Creek's losses, both should have been playing in the state title game (at their levels of play) and the teams from Charleston and up always seemed to get the benefit of the doubt.

1961-Going way back, Bluefield's only loss was Graham (huge rival).the Beavers lost 32-25 and that was it, and Bluefield went 9-1. Weir and St. Albans played in the dance.  Weir had 1 loss on the regular season and St. Albans had a tie.  Kind of a pattern here, the Beavers left out.  Oh yea, at the end of the 1961 season when Bluefield was left out behind Weir and St. Albans, the Beavers in 1959 were 11-0 and state champs, undefeated at 10-0 in 1960 and of course by seasons end in 1961, they had a recent record of 30-1, and again, if Gainer and company are sent to the dance, they would have another title.

From 1958 through 1971, there were 14 state titles in WV's Triple A.  Bluefield won 4 of those 14 and during all 4 titles, they were perfect.  No losses or ties.  In the other 10 state title games (final two picked to make the playoffs or essentially play for a state title) out of those 10 games, in 9 of the 10 games, at Least 1 team had a blemish of either a loss or tie and in most of those games, BOTH teams had at least a blemish (tie or loss).  The exception to the above....in 1963, B. Upshur did not play a title game and they were perfect.  The Beavers were 4-0 and never lost, but if they aren't jobbed in at least 2, likely 3 of the 4 seasons mentioned above, Gainer's coming back with 3 more titles.  They absolutely were jobbed.

[RCITYHOO 110]

71-72 Radford Bobcats had like 11 or more go D1.

[Bluefield researcher 1,195]

13 hours ago, Hokie1Pokie said:

 

Rick, you do realize there are several as in.....scores of your fellow alums who disagree with you.  

1960- They won the state title in 1959 and at the end of the 1960 season, had a 23 game winning streak.  Went 10-0 in 1960 and was only scored on 3 times.  Had 7 shut outs.  They didn't get an invite. Nitro and Weir played for the title.  Weir hammered Nitro, but Weir actually had 1 loss in the regular season to a 6-3-1 Wheeling High team.  So yes, for the kids on the 1960 Bluefield team that has just won a title and had a dominating season with only 3 times scored on, it's a joke that they weren't picked.  Now, if there's a reason I don't know about such as a forfeit, probation, school issues or something like that, it's different and you would certainly know much more on it then me.  I'm only going by what I've been told from scores of former Beavers over the years.

1968-You mentioned this team which clearly comes to mind. Here's what makes it a "jobbing" in my opinion.  It's similar to what happened in 1960.  Let go back the year before 1968 which of course is 1967.  In 1967, state champions, 11-0.  In 1968, 5 of the 9 regular season games-shut outs.  No invite, forget about being the obvious first team or whatever, but simply not in the top 2!.  Also, from 1964 until the end of the 1968 season, Bluefield had a 49-2 record!  Yes, the 68 team in my opinion was jobbed. One other salt in the wound pouring.  Charleston played St. Albans for the state title.  St. Albans had a loss that year in regular season to...……..Charleston by about 20 points.    Charleston also wasn't perfect as they had a tie on the record with I think East Bank, but the joke is, they let the two schools play again for the title!  That's not jobbing.   That's first class jobbing and in 1968, line em up, and the Beavers and Gainer ain't losing.

1966-Bluefield's only blemish was to an incredible Big Creek team (of which Big Creek had many great teams over the years).  That Big Creek had only one loss to a very, very good Graham team at Mitchell Stadium the last game of the year 13-0.  Bluefield destroyed Graham that year, but Graham played EC Glass close and Tazewell close.   In 1966, Huntington and B. Upshur were invited and played for the dance. Bluefield at 9-1 was better than both of them.  Huntington and Bluefield did have a common opponent.  That was Woodrow Wilson which Bluefield beat badly 32-0 at Beckley, and Huntington beat Woodrow Wilson 37-15 at Huntington.  Bluefield had just won the title in 1965, but as one could see, the Beavers didn't get the benefit of the doubt with 1 loss unless they were perfect, and even then, such as in 1960 and 68, perfect wasn't enough, they weren't even selected in the top 2.  In 1966, if I'm not mistaken, one of Big Creeks stars (Cunningham or Carmicheal-forget the name) did not play at Mitchell Stadium in the final upset loss to Graham, even though Graham was pretty good in 68 and no slouch.  But, the thing I'm getting at is, even with Bluefield and Big Creek's losses, both should have been playing in the state title game (at their levels of play) and the teams from Charleston and up always seemed to get the benefit of the doubt.

1961-Going way back, Bluefield's only loss was Graham (huge rival).the Beavers lost 32-25 and that was it, and Bluefield went 9-1. Weir and St. Albans played in the dance.  Weir had 1 loss on the regular season and St. Albans had a tie.  Kind of a pattern here, the Beavers left out.  Oh yea, at the end of the 1961 season when Bluefield was left out behind Weir and St. Albans, the Beavers in 1959 were 11-0 and state champs, undefeated at 10-0 in 1960 and of course by seasons end in 1961, they had a recent record of 30-1, and again, if Gainer and company are sent to the dance, they would have another title.

From 1958 through 1971, there were 14 state titles in WV's Triple A.  Bluefield won 4 of those 14 and during all 4 titles, they were perfect.  No losses or ties.  In the other 10 state title games (final two picked to make the playoffs or essentially play for a state title) out of those 10 games, in 9 of the 10 games, at Least 1 team had a blemish of either a loss or tie and in most of those games, BOTH teams had at least a blemish (tie or loss).  The exception to the above....in 1963, B. Upshur did not play a title game and they were perfect.  The Beavers were 4-0 and never lost, but if they aren't jobbed in at least 2, likely 3 of the 4 seasons mentioned above, Gainer's coming back with 3 more titles.  They absolutely were jobbed.

While most of what you type I agree with Bluefield was not jobbed. All the points that you use are subjective. The exact same point system for AAA schools that was in use then is the exact same system used today. There was no "invite". When you use that word in my mind you are implying that one team was selected by opinion over another team. That is simply not the case now and it wasn't the case then. Whatever two AAA schools amassed the highest point average in their regular season games were "invited" to play in the AAA title game. It had nothing to do with opinion. The 1960 Weir team outpointed Bluefield even with their one loss to Wheeling. Weir beat 4 AAA size schools that went 9-1. Bluefield's schedule in 1960 included four AA schools. Graham, Gary. Mullens and Tazewell. These AA schools played other AA schools. In WV there are no welfare points for playing down like in VA. At the end of the 1960 season Bluefield finished 10-0 but was fourth in the ratings. I have never seen the final ratings in print (And believe me I have looked) but going into the final week Weir had an average after 9 games (8-1) of 14.72, Nitro 14.22 (9-0); Bluefield 13.94 (9-0) , East Bank 13.93 (9-0) and Morgantown 13.00 (9-0-1). Bluefield beat a terrible Princeton team (1-9); Weir beat Parkersburg (8-2) and East Bank and Morgantown did not play because their schedules were completed, Nitro beat AA Poca but barley maintained their lead. Weir beat Ohio State power Steubenville (9-1) and Penn State power Johnstown (7-2-1).

Bluefield played "NO ONE" in 1960 the quality of Johnstown or Steubenville. The best team we played was Big Creek at 7-3 and we needed the lights to go out at halftime and a long delay just to come back and beat them 14-13. We struggled against a 1-9 Richlands team 20-0. We only played three winning teams all year. We simply were not in Weir's class that season. I think we could have beaten Nitro. As for third place East Bank I don't really know. I would like to think Gainer would have been able to come up with a plan to beat Weir had they played but I am skeptical. What it all boils down to is Bluefield played a VERY soft schedule in 1960 compared to Weir. A slightly softer schedule when it came to Nitro and East Bank, Gainer realized this and very soon thereafter Mullens and Tazewell were replaced by AAA Kanawha Valley teams DuPont and Charleston. Even then Bluefield's schedule was a liability in the ratings because we just could not drop AA rivals Graham and Gary.

1968 was a different story. I believe Bluefield was indeed the best in the state. So lets talk about why they did not get the points that they needed in 1968. First let's backtrack to 1967. Most people don't realize this but Bluefield finished (10-0) 2nd in the ratings to Stonewall Jackson of Charleston (9-1). That is right. The Kanawha Valley team recorded more rating points in their 9 wins than Bluefield received in their 10 wins. As a matter of fact Bluefield finished just 1/2 point ahead of Charleston (8-1) for 2nd place. The last week of the season Charleston and Stonewall played their traditional rivalry game at Laidley Field. Charleston was 8-0 (9 game schedule) and Stonewall was 8-1 losing early in the season to St. Albans. Stonewall pulled the upset. The ratings were so very close between the three schools that the WVSSAC commissioner had to call G. W. Danville in Danville, VA to confirm their enrollment. Why? Because Bluefield had defeated Jefferson High of Roanoke and Jefferson had later defeated G. W. Danville. WV had to find out if Bluefield would be awarded a bonus point or not. In WV you do not get welfare bonus points. You only get a bonus point if your defeated opponent defeats a team in their class or higher. Since Jefferson was a AAA school by WV standards Bluefield would only get the bonus point if G. W. Danville was also a AAA by WV standards. The call was made to the principal at GW and as we all know that school is plenty large enough to be AAA. Bluefield got the bonus point and went from one half point behind Charleston to one half point ahead. Now on to 1968. Lets talk about how the points went down that season. In 1967 Bluefield also played a winless Patrick Henry team from Roanoke. As we all know Gainer retired after the 1967 season and went to Patrick Henry, but not as coach, he was the AD. He did not coach until the following season in 1969. Bluefield and Patrick Henry did not play a 2nd game. I have never been able to find out why. Perhaps it was a one game contract. Perhaps Gainer did not want his school to have face Bluefield. Nevertheless they did not play. Bluefield filled this slot in 1968 with a game at Logan. Or so they thought. Logan had been in conflict with the WVSSAC the whole 1967 season. First getting permission to play a player in 1967 whose age was in question and then midseason being told they could no longer play him. Logan refused to stop playing him and sued the WVSSAC. They eventually lost and in true WVSSAC vindictive character (see Big Creek 1958) they suspended the Logan football program for the 1968 season. The legal wrangling did not come to a conclusion until August 1968 and it was too late for Bluefield to find a replacement for Logan on their 1968 schedule and therefore had to play a 9 game schedule. IMO this and the fact that some of the teams that they played in 1967 had significantly worse records in 1968 than they had in 1967 is what cost Bluefield and chance at the 1968 title. Had Bluefield played and beaten a decent Logan squad and beaten them they would have made the top two. The final ratings for 1968 showed: #1 Charleston (9-0-1) 14.65; #2 St. Albans (9-1) 14.55; #3 Bluefield (9-0) 14.27. What evidence available certainly does lead to the conclusion that Bluefield was the better team that season. When you look at mutual opponents Bluefield comes out way ahead. 

So my conclusion is Bluefield has never been jobbed. They simply did not amass the points the competitors did. Now if you want to get into other factors such as geography then the teams that nosed them out have the advantage because they are located in areas where they are not "forced" to play natural rivals that were AA schools then you have a point. But IMO that is Bluefield's problem and not theirs.

[Hokie1Pokie 350]

7 minutes ago, Bluefield researcher said:

While most of what you type I agree with Bluefield was not jobbed. All the points that you use are subjective. The exact same point system for AAA schools that was in use then is the exact same system used today. There was no "invite". When you use that word in my mind you are implying that one team was selected by opinion over another team. That is simply not the case now and it wasn't the case then. Whatever two AAA schools amassed the highest point average in their regular season games were "invited" to play in the AAA title game. It had nothing to do with opinion. The 1960 Weir team outpointed Bluefield even with their one loss to Wheeling. Weir beat 4 AAA size schools that went 9-1. Bluefield's schedule in 1960 included four AA schools. Graham, Gary. Mullens and Tazewell. These AA schools played other AA schools. In WV there are no welfare points for playing down like in VA. At the end of the 1960 season Bluefield finished 10-0 but was fourth in the ratings. I have never seen the final ratings in print (And believe me I have looked) but going into the final week Weir had an average after 9 games (8-1) of 14.72, Nitro 14.22 (9-0); Bluefield 13.94 (9-0) , East Bank 13.93 (9-0) and Morgantown 13.00 (9-0-1). Bluefield beat a terrible Princeton team (1-9); Weir beat Parkersburg (8-2) and East Bank and Morgantown did not play because their schedules were completed, Nitro beat AA Poca but barley maintained their lead. Weir beat Ohio State power Steubenville (9-1) and Penn State power Johnstown (7-2-1).

Bluefield played "NO ONE" in 1960 the quality of Johnstown or Steubenville. The best team we played was Big Creek at 7-3 and we needed the lights to go out at halftime and a long delay just to come back and beat them 14-13. We struggled against a 1-9 Richlands team 20-0. We only played three winning teams all year. We simply were not in Weir's class that season. I think we could have beaten Nitro. As for third place East Bank I don't really know. I would like to think Gainer would have been able to come up with a plan to beat Weir had they played but I am skeptical. What it all boils down to is Bluefield played a VERY soft schedule in 1960 compared to Weir. A slightly softer schedule when it came to Nitro and East Bank, Gainer realized this and very soon thereafter Mullens and Tazewell were replaced by AAA Kanawha Valley teams DuPont and Charleston. Even then Bluefield's schedule was a liability in the ratings because we just could not drop AA rivals Graham and Gary.

1968 was a different story. I believe Bluefield was indeed the best in the state. So lets talk about why they did not get the points that they needed in 1968. First let's backtrack to 1967. Most people don't realize this but Bluefield finished (10-0) 2nd in the ratings to Stonewall Jackson of Charleston (9-1). That is right. The Kanawha Valley team recorded more rating points in their 9 wins than Bluefield received in their 10 wins. As a matter of fact Bluefield finished just 1/2 point ahead of Charleston (8-1) for 2nd place. The last week of the season Charleston and Stonewall played their traditional rivalry game at Laidley Field. Charleston was 8-0 (9 game schedule) and Stonewall was 8-1 losing early in the season to St. Albans. Stonewall pulled the upset. The ratings were so very close between the three schools that the WVSSAC commissioner had to G. W. Danville in Danville, VA to confirm their enrollment. Why? Because Bluefield had defeated Jefferson High of Roanoke and Jefferson had later defeated G. W. Danville. WV had to find out if Bluefield would be awarded a bonus point or not. In WV you do not get welfare bonus points. You only get a bonus point if your defeated opponent defeats a team in their class or higher. Since Jefferson was a AAA school by WV standards Bluefield would only get the bonus point if G. W. Danville was also a AAA by WV standards. The call was made to the principal at GW and as we all know that school is plenty large enough to be AAA. Bluefield got the bonus point and went from one half point behind Charleston to one half point ahead. Now on to 1968. Lets talk about how the points went down that season. In 1967 Bluefield also played a winless Patrick Henry team from Roanoke. As we all know Gainer retired after the 1967 season and went to Patrick Henry, but not as coach, he was the AD. He did not coach until the following season in 1969. Bluefield and Patrick Henry did not play a 2nd game. I have never been able to find out why. Perhaps it was a one game contract. Perhaps Gainer did not want his school to have face Bluefield. Nevertheless they did not play. Bluefield filled this slot in 1968 with a game at Logan. Or so they thought. Logan had been in conflict with the WVSSAC the whole 1967 season. First getting permission to play a player in 1967 whose age was in question and then midseason being told they could no longer play him. Logan refused to stop playing him and sued the WVSSAC. They eventually lost and in true WVSSAC vindictive character (see Big Creek 1958) they suspended the Logan football program for the 1968 season. The legal wrangling did not come to a conclusion until August 1968 and it was too late for Bluefield to find a replacement for Logan on their 1968 schedule and therefore had to play a 9 game schedule. IMO this and the fact that some of the teams that they played in 1967 had significantly worse records in 1968 than they had in 1967 is what cost Bluefield and chance at the 1968 title. Had Bluefield played and beaten a decent Logan squad and beaten them they would have made the top two. The final ratings for 1968 showed: #1 Charleston (9-0-1) 14.65; #2 St. Albans (9-1) 14.55; #3 Bluefield (9-0) 14.27. What evidence available certainly does lead to the conclusion that Bluefield was the better team that season. When you look at mutual opponents Bluefield comes out way ahead. 

So my conclusion is Bluefield has never been jobbed. They simply did not amass the points the competitors did. Now if you want to get into other factors such as geography then the teams that nosed them out have the advantage because they are located in areas where they are not "forced" to play natural rivals that were AA schools then you have a point. But IMO that is Bluefield's problem and not theirs.

Wow. Thats some incredible and detailed history I had no idea about. I didn't know there was a point system and thought the schools were literally voted/invited. Based on the system used, it does make it clear the Beavers weren't jobbed. I still wonder "what if," in some of those Gainer years if WV took the top 4.  As always Bluefield Researcher, thanks for the knowledge drop.

[Graham-VT Fan 46]

On 7/2/2019 at 1:47 PM, Hokie1Pokie said:

You would have to go back nearly 50 years to GC 1970. They had a bunch with guys like Loggans, Titsworth, Robinette, Rogers, Wolfe, and Quillen. I think GC had 6 and maybe 7 with at least 1 Div or Div 1AA (FCS now) but many of those former Div 1AA schools have moved up to Div 1, for example Marshall. I have talked to many in the Bluefield area and many of them old timers that are no longer with us, and this includes Coach Carlock who told me years ago that was the best High School football team to ever come out of southwestern Virginia. 

He also told me about the incredibly talented and we'll coached Gainer teams at Bluefield which dominated and many times, being jobbed out of the ability to play in the title games. Bluefield Researcher can speak to that. No question though, you would have to go back years to find the level of talent the 2019 Beavers will have. 

Tazewells 1986 had a few also. Big Viney, Holloway, Reed, Jesse Davis. Viney played at Hampton and was an All American. Davis played Div 2, but had an  offer from Hampton and Norfolk St. Those were all Div 1AA (FCS) offers except for Holloway. Actually, Robbie Colley was a freshman on that team and punted at Tech and for the 49ers. I don't know if he was offered out of High School, but he surely has a scholly at Tech.

What makes it incredible for Bluefield is the school size. That's insane talent for an AA team. It's not like we're talking about a school in Charlotte, NOVA, or the Tidewater with 2000 plus kids or at least 1000 boys to choose from. 

I agree with Coach Carlock in that the 1970 Gate City team (or even their 1974 team) may have been the best ever in SWVA. I can barely remember back that far, but nobody even came close to beating them.

[rvtne216 278]

The 2010 Richlands team had four D1 athletes. Bradley and Reece Strong played baseball at Western Carolina. Josh Hess played football at Richmond and Devon Johnson played football at Marshall. 

[GHS89 77]

When was the last time a local team with that much D1 talent started the season 0-1?

[Deleted Account 5,203]

1 hour ago, GHS89 said:

When was the last time a local team with that much D1 talent started the season 0-1?

If this game is within 2 scores, I’d be surprised.  Bluefield’s going to be scary good this season, and Graham has to figure a few things out still yet.