Powell Valley's coach Robbins announces he's hanging up his whistle

**SBG** · August 8th, 2010, 01:33 PM

BIG STONE GAP ? Phil Robbins still remembers the first play he called against Jonesville back in 1983 during his first game as the head football coach at Powell Valley.

?I ran a bootleg pass, started to the right, came back and bootlegged it to the left,? Robbins said. ?I had Dennis Blagg at quarterback and he hit Wayne Gilly going across there for a 17-yard gain.

?And I was like, ?Are you kidding me? We can throw the ball in the Lonesome Pine District?? ?

On Saturday, the VHSL Hall of Famer confirmed that he?ll be calling his final play for the Vikings at the end of the upcoming season. In a letter to county and school officials, Robbins made it known that he plans to relinquish his position at the end of his 28th year at the helm in Big Stone Gap.

http://www.timesnews.net/article.php?id=9025376

**Saluki86** · August 8th, 2010, 04:06 PM

Congrats to Phil. They need a fresh face in PV.:flagwaver:

**appydawg95** · August 13th, 2010, 11:52 PM

has anyone heard who was stepping in for him!

**Jason** · August 14th, 2010, 12:46 AM

Originally Posted by appydawg95

has anyone heard who was stepping in for him!

They have plenty of time to decide since he is still coaching this season and not retiring untill the season is over.

**appydawg95** · August 14th, 2010, 11:29 AM

well i heard at thr appy scrimmage last night that it was gonna be travis turner unless they decide to go with brad robbins

**valour** · August 15th, 2010, 12:52 AM

Originally Posted by appydawg95

well i heard at thr appy scrimmage last night that it was gonna be travis turner unless they decide to go with brad robbins

Travis will more than likely be the new Head Coach.

**Biggin** · August 17th, 2010, 12:39 PM

ima bout to catch MAJOR heat for this, but I dont post here often so here it goes.

Phil Robbins is the best coach in SWVA in the last 30 years. I cant speak on Riggs from Appy or Ralph C. from CW, but I have little doubts that aside from those two, Phil is the best coach in LPD history.

7 state titles, 10+ LPD titles, 300 wins, and 2 NFL players, 1 a Pro-Bowler.
I also believe the 1998 Powell Valley team was the best team in LPD history, hands down.
ONE play longer than 10 yards all season. ONE!
That season also had the hardest hit I have ever seen in LPD history, with Juice laying out Jeff Martin on a pass play while JJ was playing FS.

Here's to Phil, PV football would be nowhere without Bolling to get it started, and Phil to carry the program to new, unimaginable heights.

WAR Phil Robbins!

**Jason** · August 17th, 2010, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by Biggin

ima bout to catch MAJOR heat for this, but I dont post here often so here it goes.

Phil Robbins is the best coach in SWVA in the last 30 years. I cant speak on Riggs from Appy or Ralph C. from CW, but I have little doubts that aside from those two, Phil is the best coach in LPD history.

7 state titles, 10+ LPD titles, 300 wins, and 2 NFL players, 1 a Pro-Bowler.
I also believe the 1998 Powell Valley team was the best team in LPD history, hands down.
ONE play longer than 10 yards all season. ONE!
That season also had the hardest hit I have ever seen in LPD history, with Juice laying out Jeff Martin on a pass play while JJ was playing FS.

Here's to Phil, PV football would be nowhere without Bolling to get it started, and Phil to carry the program to new, unimaginable heights.

WAR Phil Robbins!

Tom Turner rivals him to be the best. That man did a lot with such a small program and school. LPD has seen some greats! As for Phil I am one of the very very very few if not the only GC fan that likes the man. I like him because he has never been afraid to have his teams throw the ball and I really love his Newspaper interviews. He always speaks his mind and has some great quotes. I wish I had a list of all of those quotes. I dont care who it is, everyone is going to miss seeing this man on the fields next fall.

**Biggin** · August 17th, 2010, 01:12 PM

Originally Posted by Jason

Tom Turner rivals him to be the best. That man did a lot with such a small program and school. LPD has seen some greats! As for Phil I am one of the very very very few if not the only GC fan that likes the man. I like him because he has never been afraid to have his teams throw the ball and I really love his Newspaper interviews. He always speaks his mind and has some great quotes. I wish I had a list of all of those quotes. I dont care who it is, everyone is going to miss seeing this man on the fields next fall.

I will not get all high and mighty and act like Turner was not a great, top notch coach, one of the best ever. I just feel that Phil is a better overall coach. Turner was a master motivator, while Phil is a X'sandO's type of guy.

And its not like Turner was playing with a bunch of little girls or scrubs, hell he had plenty of elite athletes and great, All-State players. Travis Turner, Travis Clark, Huff, etc...

**centennialdawg** · August 17th, 2010, 01:38 PM

Phil had the talent, whereas, Tom had to coach more to get more out of his players. Yeah, he go 2 NFL players, but Appy had one in the late 70's, until the last 12 years, the Appy/P.V. rivalry was in a virtual dead heat. While Phil's talent stayed at a higher level, Tom's fell by the wayside. Now, there can't be any comparison between Robbins to Riggs and Cummins as the coaching styles were much different then than they are now. Harry Frye is also one that Robbins can't be compared to either. Riggs had one state championship to his credit because the state playoffs didn't begin until like 1970.

I would just about venture to say that Phil is among the greatest ever in the LPD, but not the best. Maybe the best of his time, but not ever.