I agree with everything you said. I think that several teams will have very solid teams in the next 2-3 years though. There'll be an upswing coming up soon. I don't know if it'll rival some of what we've experienced in the past though.
Here are some things i have noticed from watching games this year and last.I don't try to anger anyone with this.
1.) I hope i am wrong, but it sure looks like mediocrity has hit SWVA football. Richlands and J.I.B. could be the exception. It may just be a phase, but i just haven't been really impressed with many teams.
2.) Maybe it was a phase and we were really blessed to see so much "talent" in NETN and SWVA for about 15 years. Just look at all the *kids/men playing in the NFL from this area. TJ was swarmed by all the kids at the game...it was kinda funny. He left in the late 3rd or early 4th.
3.)NETN has 5-6 teams that would beat anyone except Richlands, and possibly **J.I.B. and i've not seen that happen in 30 yrs at least.
*Miller, TJ, Sensabaugh, Witten, JJ,Franklin, etc, not to mention all of the D1 players during that span.
** I haven't seen Burton this year yet.
I agree with everything you said. I think that several teams will have very solid teams in the next 2-3 years though. There'll be an upswing coming up soon. I don't know if it'll rival some of what we've experienced in the past though.
"There he goes, one of Gods own prototypes. Some kind of high powered mutant never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die"
I heard about Thomas Jones being at the GC/PV game as well .. I was at the game, but I was in the stands most of the time and not near where he was so I didn't really see him.
It would have been awesome to actually get a chance to meet him, but I just didn't want to bug the guy since I pretty much knew he would already be swarmed.
Officially retired
OK I'll ask. Upon what do you base this observation that the district is down? Is it the fact that it's not beig led by the usual powers(ie GC or PV)? Is it that other then Richlands and Burton everyone seems capable of beating other teams. I don't think that the Region is necessarily down. I think it is more an issue of parity in the region. As a whole I think that teams are stronger, ie the Ervingtons and the Castlewoods are getting better.
Equal time will be given for rebuttal
I didn't say the district, i said SWVA football as a whole. I would have to say, that yeah it has a lot to do with it,because they have been the dominant teams, but not just that. Appy is looking good so far this year after being down for a couple. It looks like Clintwood will make the playoffs if they win out, and i am sure even the folks from there will tell you the teams from 4-6 years back that didn't make the playoffs were a lot better. PV and GC were both quite a bit better. JJ Kelly was good at that time also, Appy was really good thru the 90's and early 00's. Honaker was very good several years in a row, Haysi, Tazwell, Graham, even Grundy have seen much better days.
I tried to be polite about what i saw coming earlier this year, GC is very young and inexperienced, etc. I got laughed off the board, called Knute Rockne when i tried to get the kids a little fired up. I didn't post this to start a fight, It is something i truly believe from watching.
I also try to "rate" teams by previous teams i have had the experience to see play. I haven't seen a team this year that didn't have a "glaring" weakness or two, and that wasn't always the case.
i agree the region is not as good.
Agreed, outside of Norton and Richlangs, It's almost as big a difference in night and day in the teams. take one of Clintwoods 4-6 teams of years back they finish 2nd in the LPD this year to Norton.
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I respect what you're saying, and it is interesting. But I still believe it's more an issue of parity. In years past, you could determine with a pretty good consistency predict the winner of most games. Ive seen a number of teams play(for the first time in 20 years I didn't have to watch just one team) and I was amazed at some of these former cellar dwellers. I believe that if they were in the right districts theese teams could turn heads. Just some food for thought....
Equal time will be given for rebuttal
I think its BS. Those points are the highest points and examples, to say its fallen off so drastically is an over statement. Things always look better when your looking back, I think many of the teams have evened out and those few once in a lifetime style of players just arent there. You have had more teams in the past two years beat other teams than you have in the last 15 years, the dominance of the few are gone. No Jones, No Clarks, No Houserights, its the same quality teams without the superstar.
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