Tazewell Vs Va High

[tornado99]

7 minutes ago, BandanaVTDavis4321 said:

I remember many many years ago when the Dogs came on the field, you were in a dam$ fistfight. From the early 60s to 1990, that bunch you would not out tough. You may beat em, but not our tough em. Emotion was sky high and they would beat their helmets, pop pads, and just come ready to play and they were like that for a good 30 years. I just don't see it at Tazewell. Just no emotion, but going through the motions. Coach Ragsdale would have us literally believing we could run through a brick wall and it wouldn't be 5 plays of emotion it would be 4 quarters. I know guys like Colobro, Turner, Robbins, Lindberg, Harry Fry, Cummins, were all the same. Where have these coaches gone? Even high IQ coaches (that win and are darn good) just seem to play it "too cool." I want to see some more dam$ hotheads putting his foot up kids arses!

Trying to marry thoughts and threads, but this thread really shows one of the biggest factors of good coaching. This is not an indictment on Tazewell or Harris because, I believe he is responsible for Tazewell’s improvement, they just can’t get over the top despite having decent athletes. 
I also see so many similarities between Richlands and Giles, furthermore Mance and Ragsdale. For the team talent, please see the other thread (coal camps) but I call them similar. To quote a book (Never Settle), during the 1993 title run, the team consisted mostly of glue guys with Milton being a true difference maker. Giles most successful teams usually had a standout. Ragsdale and the single wing always maximized the potential. Mance shared the same qualities with teams overachieving during the lean years and finishing runner-up or champion during the the others. At the time, the spread was new and Richlands held a schematic advantage, credit to his time spent learning and implementing it. 
There are always outliers, but I think the direction of the game has somewhat moved away from what tough, physical (old-school  Tazewell, Richlands, Giles), average athletically, to greater speed and skill (plus turf fields).

[SpillBoss]

Unfortunately now, stats and Hudl video blinds coaches/players intent on game play. There are four games left and kids still false start, jump offsides? I’d admit, Tazewell lost toughness, I was a part of those early days as well and it is nothing like that anymore. Needs to come back as a team sport and have accountability from the kids and coaches.

[Mountain Football]

13 hours ago, BandanaVTDavis4321 said:

I remember many many years ago when the Dogs came on the field, you were in a dam$ fistfight. From the early 60s to 1990, that bunch you would not out tough. You may beat em, but not our tough em. Emotion was sky high and they would beat their helmets, pop pads, and just come ready to play and they were like that for a good 30 years. I just don't see it at Tazewell. Just no emotion, but going through the motions. Coach Ragsdale would have us literally believing we could run through a brick wall and it wouldn't be 5 plays of emotion it would be 4 quarters. I know guys like Colobro, Turner, Robbins, Lindberg, Harry Fry, Cummins, Dave Rider were all the same. Where have these coaches gone? Even high IQ coaches (that win and are darn good) just seem to play it "too cool." I want to see some more dam$ hotheads putting his foot up kids arses!

I've been saying it for years. Tazewell has no emotion to them at all. Harris has changed the culture of Tazewell kids transferring to other local schools. I will give him credit on that. The mindset of that football program prior to Harris taking over was terrible. What he inherited was a mess. Now they need to find someone that will light a fire under those kids. It starts at practice. Absolutely zero energy at practice and that shows on Friday nights. I've been to church services with way more intensity than Tazewell plays with on Friday nights. 

With all that being said. You would be hard pressed to find a better group of parents and kids in a community. Will you have the occasional teenage ignorance? Yes. But, for the most part those kids are as respectful as they come. They just need to find a different gear on Friday night. 

[tornado99]

3 hours ago, Mountain Football said:

I've been saying it for years. Tazewell has no emotion to them at all. Harris has changed the culture of Tazewell kids transferring to other local schools. I will give him credit on that. The mindset of that football program prior to Harris taking over was terrible. What he inherited was a mess. Now they need to find someone that will light a fire under those kids. It starts at practice. Absolutely zero energy at practice and that shows on Friday nights. I've been to church services with way more intensity than Tazewell plays with on Friday nights. 

With all that being said. You would be hard pressed to find a better group of parents and kids in a community. Will you have the occasional teenage ignorance? Yes. But, for the most part those kids are as respectful as they come. They just need to find a different gear on Friday night. 

Maybe, the Holy Spirit was moving in those church services. We can all use more of that on and off the field.

The community really supports those kids and they do a lot of community service.

[Real Sasquatch]

9 hours ago, Mountain Football said:

I've been saying it for years. Tazewell has no emotion to them at all. Harris has changed the culture of Tazewell kids transferring to other local schools. I will give him credit on that. The mindset of that football program prior to Harris taking over was terrible. What he inherited was a mess. Now they need to find someone that will light a fire under those kids. It starts at practice. Absolutely zero energy at practice and that shows on Friday nights. I've been to church services with way more intensity than Tazewell plays with on Friday nights. 

With all that being said. You would be hard pressed to find a better group of parents and kids in a community. Will you have the occasional teenage ignorance? Yes. But, for the most part those kids are as respectful as they come. They just need to find a different gear on Friday night. 

Great kids!!  Very respectful, mannerly, etc...  

[adsi97]

Tazewell has some very good players on their team but, something is missing. It's like come game time they don't have their mind and heart in the game. I think both the players and coaches share the blame. I think coach Harris will resign after this year and that may be a good thing.

[SwvaOG]

I've noticed that they don't have a defensive mindset or culture.  Very offense oriented.  I always felt like Harris just needed a good DC in order to take the next step.

[SpillBoss]

3 hours ago, SwvaOG said:

I've noticed that they don't have a defensive mindset or culture.  Very offense oriented.  I always felt like Harris just needed a good DC in order to take the next step.

Tazewell will be lucky to win the remaining games they have, coaching staff can't get out of their own way.

[Pioneer]

16 hours ago, SpillBoss said:

Tazewell will be lucky to win the remaining games they have, coaching staff can't get out of their own way.

I say Tazewell will finish 2-2 at worst. They will beat both Marion and Giles. They can beat Lebanon if they show up and play with heart. Lebanon is beatable their 7-0 record is against mostly weaker teams. They will definitely lose to Graham. The Virginia High and Lebanon game may be a good barometer of how good Lebanon is, especially if Graham blows them out. 

[old_school]

It’s a depth problem. The offensive line is good but they turn right around and play defense. They are some big healthy boys that need a breather every once in while but who are they going to put in? Lack of conditioning? I don’t know but once they get tired…the day is over for them 

[Real Sasquatch]

2 hours ago, Pioneer said:

I say Tazewell will finish 2-2 at worst. They will beat both Marion and Giles. They can beat Lebanon if they show up and play with heart. Lebanon is beatable their 7-0 record is against mostly weaker teams. They will definitely lose to Graham. The Virginia High and Lebanon game may be a good barometer of how good Lebanon is, especially of Graham blows them out. 

Giles is improving and Marion has an upset in them this year.  I'm not counting my chickens 

[Bulldogs52]

Coaches need to coach and stay off message boards! I said what I said!

[Mountain Football]

9 hours ago, Bulldogs52 said:

Coaches need to coach and stay off message boards! I said what I said!

On the surface that sounds like a great idea but when you really think about it. Why wouldn't you want your coach on here? What better source of football knowledge can a coach come to than here? I don't think we've lost a game yet on here. I know for a fact most of us have been undefeated for consecutive seasons. So yeah I'd say Tazewell's staff needs to be on here. I think most coaching staffs are.