A question for the Appalachia faithful....

**lpd_observer** · November 8th, 2007, 01:02 AM

How do ya'll view coach Austin's ability to lead the program after the last two years? Is 9-3 and 6-3 enough to satisfy your demand for championship football? In light of division change and the increased competitiveness in Division I, is there a reason for a small school like appalachia to quit attempting to win more championships and strive merely for competitiveness? When JI Burton declines, will appalachia have the feeder program to keep putting a good varsity product on the field in the next five to ten years?

**dogfacegremlin** · November 8th, 2007, 11:32 AM

Why would you ever quit attempting to win championships? They won't have a choice. Consolidation.

**imported_lpdball** · November 8th, 2007, 12:58 PM

Appy kids will never consolidate into a school with PV. The majority of kids at Appy will go to J.I. Burton. Everyone in Appalachia always expects championships, but they also expect their kids to show class and build character. Can we say we are seeing that out of the Appalachia kids today? Some YES! Some NO!

**imported_Coach** · November 8th, 2007, 01:04 PM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: lpdball</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Appy kids will never consolidate into a school with PV. The majority of kids at Appy will go to J.I. Burton. </div></div>

the rumor is that JI Burton will join the county school system at the point of consolidation. i'm not sure if they would close JIB or just be the smallest school in wise county. why would an appy kid not want to go to school with pv kids? makes no sense. it's not like the bloods and crips is it?

**sup-rbeast** · November 8th, 2007, 01:25 PM

Alot of the kids from Appy have friends at PV and vice versa...the only folks who say kids from Appy will go to Norton are the parents who can't seem to remember that half of their kin and many of their friends are in BSG...lol..It's funny when ya think about it.

**imported_bentley** · November 8th, 2007, 05:48 PM

beast is right-it's not the kids but the parents who can't let go! Consolidation is not new to Wise County. There once was a few schools East Stone Gap and Big Stone Gap and they went away and what was the result-Powell Valley-8 time state champs in football. Imagine what a program if you took the hard nosed kids from Appy with all those athletes from PV. Haha it would be a tough team that could run.

**imported_six4three** · November 8th, 2007, 01:31 PM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: lpdball</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Appy kids will never consolidate into a school with PV.</div></div>

that's bs. til you get it out of your mind that football is not life, you'll always get what you've always gotten, and never move forward.

sports are not life!

**sup-rbeast** · November 8th, 2007, 01:33 PM

The Appy-PV rivalry extends far deeper than football..BUT, the kids are the same both places. 2 miles up or down the straight doesn't make any difference. As far as football goes tho, PV and Appy have both lost games this year that they would have easily won IF they were consolidated. The Appy-PV consolidation will usher in another powerhouse football program which I think will be stronger than any ever seen around here. So, either way, FB isn't leaving the western end of Wise county.

**imported_elp6n** · November 8th, 2007, 01:50 PM

I think it's the adults that have more of a problem with it than the kids. Go to any mixed-school event (athletics, music, academics, etc.), and you'll see students from various school mingling together happily. They make friends, lasting friendships.

A school rivalry is only about the enitity of "the school", not so much about the individuals.

**Jason** · November 8th, 2007, 05:11 PM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: lpd_observer</div><div class="ubbcode-body">How do ya'll view coach Austin's ability to lead the program after the last two years? Is 9-3 and 6-3 enough to satisfy your demand for championship football? In light of division change and the increased competitiveness in Division I, is there a reason for a small school like appalachia to quit attempting to win more championships and strive merely for competitiveness? When JI Burton declines, will appalachia have the feeder program to keep putting a good varsity product on the field in the next five to ten years? </div></div>

He's only been coach there for two years now. Best thing to do is have patience in his coaching. Things will get better.