HERE WE GO!!!!

and i should have been more clear on Ervingtons coaching. I think it is poor staff other than Richie Deel. He showed some authority, other than that it looked like a circus.

I think as far as talent goes save for Norton and PV, there's a little on each team, but I also believe that talent (while nice) is somewhat overrated. Hard work, discipline, and fundamentals go a long way (seen Appy win the whole shabang without alot of talent more than once). I guess we'll have to wait until Friday night to see how everybody does. I'm just glad that it's all about to kick off.

Agreed. Nicely said!

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I was disheartened a bit in the EHS-JIB segment (standing behind the Reb team talking to one of my co-workers) when Kiser asked the coach what to run on that particular defensive play and the coach said "I don't know-run something". Kiser didn't transfer to Haysi (like so many have), because he is what he is for better or worse, an EHS Reb. I have alot of respect for that.

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I have respect for that too. But if he would have transferred to Clintwood or Haysi like many before him have I for one would not have blamed him. Reason 1: would save his body alot of punishment. Reason 2: rebs just don't have enough kids to compete on a year in year out basis with most teams in the area. Reason 3: inadequate coaching staff at Ervinton. A head coach doesn't need to be a former H.S. superstar but it is sometimes good if he atleast played. The head coach is not the only member of the Rebel coaching staff that didn't put on the pads in H.S. All schools have their questionable coaching staff members...Haysi and Clintwood included but it seems to be more of an issue at Ervinton.

As far as the kids who have transferred to Haysi that lived in the Clinchco area the reason you can't blame them is because of the proximity...Clinchco is twice as far from Nora than it is Haysi but for some reason(probably to keep Ervinton open) most of Clinchco is included in the Ervinton school district. Same can be said for the kids on Rose Ridge in reference to Clintwood. They are in the Ervinton school district but live much closer to CHS. I guess what I'm saying is it would be better for Ervinton to be closed all together...the kids in Clinchco would then be going to Haysi where they should be going anyway and the kids on Rose Ridge would be going to Clintwood like they should be also. The kids on Sandy Ridge could go to Coeburn if they want and the kids at Trammel or Hazel Mtn could go to St. Paul if they want.

Reason 4: Were he at Haysi or Clintwood, his chances of a college look would improve greatly.Those reasons are all common sense/ common knowledge, but sometimes the heart doesn't listen to those reasons. He is gonna be a fine college football player, and he gets zero attention. The Highland Cavaliers may be getting a good one.

I don't think either Clintwood or Haysi would have kicked him out of the school LOL

But lets not kid ourself Kiser is not Div 1 talent and if he is good enough to play at CVC or E&H (Which I think he probably is) they will find him (Heck thay found Tester at Hurly)

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I don't think either Clintwood or Haysi would have kicked him out of the school LOL

But lets not kid ourself Kiser is not Div 1 talent and if he is good enough to play at CVC or E&H (Which I think he probably is) they will find him (Heck thay found Tester at Hurly)

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Very true, he is no where close to D-1. Good h.s. player and may be a good small college player...we'll see.

Actually from what I heard Tester wasn't recruited heavily by local colleges. He had it in is head that he was going to Miami and went down there and tried to walk on. Well it didn't work out very well so he made his way back to Wise.

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Reason 3: inadequate coaching staff at Ervinton. A head coach doesn't need to be a former H.S. superstar but it is sometimes good if he atleast played. The head coach is not the only member of the Rebel coaching staff that didn't put on the pads in H.S. All schools have their questionable coaching staff members...Haysi and Clintwood included but it seems to be more of an issue at Ervinton.

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I don't know where you get your information but to put it plainly, You are a complete idiot! Coach Crabtree played football for Kelly. If you don't bleieve it ask Jim Dotson, one of the coaches that is helping him. Jim was Crabtrees football coach at Kelly. If you have a problem with Crabtree or his coaching staff, have the guts to go talk to him in person. People like you say whatever you want without any regard for the truth. Shut up or back it up!

Ok good point. I was thinking he played but totally skimmed over that. Maybe the more accurate comment would have been if he had coached. Going from non-coaching (and I believe I'm right, at least on a high school level) and jumping into a head coaching position is a big leap. That being said, I think Crabtree has done a tremendous job at Ervinton. He surely makes some mistakes, but what fairly new coach doesn't? Let's look at some facts. Ervinton has won a few games. They are definitely more confident and on the upswing and don't seem to give up even if they take an ugly loss. They have more kids out than they had. They seem to be bigger/stronger. Now to me, those are all good things. Let's not discount that we all are discussing the Kiser kid. There was an article on him in the football supplement and if someone like Silvers can be found at Ervinton playing basketball, then someone like Kiser can be found playing football. We can sit here and act like they're a hard place to be found, but most of the schools in the area aren't that much easier to find or better when you consider where most recruited players come from. We'll have us a couple around the area, and then you'll go to say the Tidewater area and have as many from one school as the entire area here. Some of our better players have also hindered us greatly going away to school and back within a year because they go somewhere after being superstars here and end up sitting. Most can't wait. We're talking Southwest Virginia gods who played from the day they were able too but when they go off, aren't really that great, especially the first year. You don't think it was difficult for say a Justin Hamilton who had played from the time he was able to walk to go to Va Tech and be redshirted and barely get on the field the first few year. How many people said he would quit. How many said he should and go somewhere that he could play regularly, but he stuck it out, when I'm sure he just wanted to play ball. You know he had to think I should just go back to CVC and play or something along those lines. Ours cant deal with waiting because they have been starting since their Freshmen year, while some of the really good players in the bigger areas had to wait their times to see the field, so when they go to college and have to do it, they're easier to roll with it.

I give Ervintons coaches credit for taking a bad sitution and truthfully have made it decent. We're talking about Ervinton being competitive, having a shot at the Cumberlands, and discussing one of their players and his ability or potential ability to play ball at the next level. Say what you will about the coach, but I actually think he deserves some credit.

I have known Coach Crabtree for a long time. I know what kind of person he is. Say what you will but he cares for the kids that he is coaching. Ask the boys that play for him. Ask Adam Kiser what he thinks of Crabtree. I admire Adam for the ability that he has and for the guts that he has and for the way he has handled himself in all situations. He is a great kid and great athlete and he will go far. He has chosen to stay at Ervinton. Whether you are an Ervinton football fan or not, we all should wish the best for him and all of the kids on the football team.