If Turner loses to JI Burton this year that puts us in . . .

third place in the district. Additionally, Central is looking more formidable after winning against Lee Co and is not an automatic win. I'm not really confident in this body of work to this point. Losing to a down Clintwood team was absolutely disasterous and unacceptable. Both Powell Valley and Appalachia spent the last several years building to this point, talentwise and anything less than an LPD championship and a 3 deep playoff run is not cutting the mustard. Several points to make on this subject:

1) Barker is a 1 in 8 year back. He's powerful and talented. We lose him after this season, thus making competitiveness all the more difficult to establish this last year.
2) We lose Orr on the offensive line who is the most dominant offensive lineman.
3) We'll have to break in a new quarterback as Huff (a four year starter) will also be gone.
4) This offense we run makes it much more difficult to establish a power running game. We need to get the power I back and give Barker and Davis lead blockers.
5) Not only did we lose but we blew away a twenty point lead . . . a twenty point lead! Totally unacceptable and should not happen. This means that we made no adjustments at halftime. Mullins absolutely and completely outcoached us to get his troops back into the game in the second half to score about 24 unanswered points. And did I mention that we had twice the talent of this clintwood team?

As hard as our remaining schedule is, I see possible losses against Sullivan North, Burton, Gate City. Next year with the loss of talent that we're about to experience, the best I see is a 3-7 to 4-6 kinda season. We, a school with 650 kids, just lost to a school with 290 kids who fielded the worst team they've had in probably 5 or 6 seasons.

We are fundamentally unsound in some really problematic areas, and it's starting to show. I'll be interested to see which team shows up against North. With all our talent, anything less than an 8-2 overall record and an undefeated LPD record is unacceptable.

you dont fire a coach after one year, thats asinine. im not saying im totally sold on the coaching staff, but one season a coach does not make

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Originally Posted by Biggin

you dont fire a coach after one year, thats asinine. im not saying im totally sold on the coaching staff, but one season a coach does not make

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I agree You have to give the man a chance to grow into the position......It has to be tough to follow a HOF head coach especially when your dad was a HOF coach himself.......I think so long as he can continue to get the community behind the team and sell the kids on his system he will have success

Show of hands- let this moron coach a game.

You actually think theres some wealth of talent on that team? The past 10 years have been the biggest dry spells of talent ever for those 2 towns. Fact of the matter is that that."down Clintwood team" is still far more talented and just better.

And they're two two play away from being 5-0.

I told people that he wasn't a good coach but nobody would listen. I've known him since he was born.

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Originally Posted by Gotch

And they're two two play away from being 5-0.

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And 3 plays away from being 1-4.

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Originally Posted by Gotch

And they're two two play away from being 5-0.

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Says more about how bad the area is overall than anything. Also, theyd have needed more than 3 plays to beat Clintwood alone. Clintwood could have scored again easily at the end of the game and ran the clock out.

loosing barker wont hurt us as bad as people may think. In all honesty Mikia Davis is a better running back. 23 has put up more yards, tds, and is more of a threat than 12. Barker is powerful and tough but he fumbles way too much. He had two fumbles against Lee (one of em on the goal line), one or two against Richlands, and two against Clintwood (one of which led to a Clintwood TD). He is strong but teams are stopping him. Mikia on the other hand is a true sophomore and is burning it up, plus next season Zac Barker should be our QB and he has a missle of an arm. As far as loosing Orr, thats no loss at all. 77 or 79 (cant remember which one exactly) took Evan off his feet three times that i seen in the Lee and Union game. Richlands pushed him around like a rag doll. And he didnt do anything against clintwood to block or make tackles. IMO our best lineman is Dakota Jesse or that number 66 who is a junior. Union will be a different type of offense next season (or should be) but IMO will be better.

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Originally Posted by Ironlung

Says more about how bad the area is overall than anything. Also, theyd have needed more than 3 plays to beat Clintwood alone. Clintwood could have scored again easily at the end of the game and ran the clock out.

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as bad as i hate agreeing with you, you are exactly right. the talent in this area has really fell off something awful. Union is loaded with size and strength but i could take any LPD team from the 90's (maybe even pound wildcats) and beat ANY LPD TEAM today.

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Originally Posted by Ironlung

You actually think theres some wealth of talent on that team? The past 10 years have been the biggest dry spells of talent ever for those 2 towns. Fact of the matter is that that."down Clintwood team" is still far more talented and just better.

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Disagree big time. More talented? Maybe, but far more talented? No

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Originally Posted by Biggin

Disagree big time. More talented? Maybe, but far more talented? No

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Far more as far as athletes go yes. The past 3 years it was a several mile wide gap. It's shrunk incredibly now though. I think that Meade (finished top 10 in the region and top 20 in the state as a freshman in the 100), Daihley (a good athlete, would be better not at qb) Dotson, Robbie Mullins, and Austin Kelly (6'7" 330, the most physically imposing player I've ever seen around here) are better than anyone Union has. The only one comparable is Barker. The Davis kid hasn't impressed me but he's only a sophomore and that's not a knock on him. Next year Clintwood loses more of those athletes above and things start getting rough for the final few years of the school.

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Originally Posted by Ironlung

Says more about how bad the area is overall than anything. Also, theyd have needed more than 3 plays to beat Clintwood alone. Clintwood could have scored again easily at the end of the game and ran the clock out.

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I said before and still believe that if the late first half fumble by Union doesn't happen (one play) Union probably wins. They go in to the half up 20-0 and get the ball to start the second half with momentum still in their favor. It's all guess work, but really that was the turning point of the game.

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Originally Posted by Ironlung

Far more as far as athletes go yes. The past 3 years it was a several mile wide gap. It's shrunk incredibly now though. I think that Meade (finished top 10 in the region and top 20 in the state as a freshman in the 100), Daihley (a good athlete, would be better not at qb) Dotson, Robbie Mullins, and Austin Kelly (6'7" 330, the most physically imposing player I've ever seen around here) are better than anyone Union has. The only one comparable is Barker. The Davis kid hasn't impressed me but he's only a sophomore and that's not a knock on him. Next year Clintwood loses more of those athletes above and things start getting rough for the final few years of the school.

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I thought you meant this year. In the past few years yeah its not even close, but I dont think CW has a big talent gap on UHS this year. UHS has some athletes, like Davis, Baker, Chandler, Cole, etc..

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Originally Posted by Biggin

I thought you meant this year. In the past few years yeah its not even close, but I dont think CW has a big talent gap on UHS this year. UHS has some athletes, like Davis, Baker, Chandler, Cole, etc..

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It's closer this year than it's been since about 05. Next year Union probably goes back ahead. We're coming up on hard times.

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Originally Posted by Ironlung

It's closer this year than it's been since about 05. Next year Union probably goes back ahead. We're coming up on hard times.

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Union loses quite a bit next year, with Barker, Huff, and a few of the lineman graduating.

I dread the playoffs, if Union even makes it and draws a team like Grayson Co., ugh

here is an idea next time you see him since you know him so well tell him how you feel about him being a coach and dont talk behind a computer screen. he will do fine if he can get rid of the rest of robbins crap he left they are in bad need of some good position coaches

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Originally Posted by AHS95

here is an idea next time you see him since you know him so well tell him how you feel about him being a coach and dont talk behind a computer screen. he will do fine if he can get rid of the rest of robbins crap he left they are in bad need of some good position coaches

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the Robbins crap? l-o-l

yes, because the Robbins crap is responsible for having horrible time management issues and playcalling............

i may be wrong but is the defense coach the one that was there last year? i sont know so if im wrong im wrong just wondering i aint talking bad about any coach im just saying there needs to be some position coaches it appears to me that the scheme or coaching need a lot of work and i agree the play calling wasnt to good huff should not be put in a position to have to throw the ball its not his stong side. i aint here to bash people i am a fan just like you biggin im just putting my opinion out there just as you and everyone else on here does dont take it personal

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Originally Posted by AHS95

huff should not be put in a position to have to throw the ball its not his stong side.

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Against a quality team you HAVE to mix up the play calling so Huff WILL have to pass wheather it is his strong suit or not (IMHO He throws a nice ball but could have benifited from throwing a few shorter routes insted of Deep all the time giveing the pass rush a chance to get to him)

As far as position coaches go at Union, here is the problem IMO too many cheifs and not enough indians. Rodger Austin may be a wonderful man but he has as much business on the football field as I do being a rocket scientist. With the behind the scenes politics that must be going on there Union may end up like Lee high. A team that should have very well won 4 state championships but politics got in the way. Travis Turner is young and good. He will experience growing pains just like any other first time head coach. Look at Phill Robbins, He never won a state game until the right combo of position coaches fell together. Barry Jones is 80% of why Phill Robbins won 7 state championships at Powell Valley, not to mention Bob Coughlin, Jim Huff, and other men who helped (key word "helped"). Union has way too many coaches IMO. Cut it back to Turner, Dorton, Morris, and MCKinney, and beg Barry Jones like a bum looking for a dollar to come and mentor the Defensive coaches! Tell Rodger Austin thanks but no thanks, Let JW Salyers keep up with stats and worry about base ball. And as for all the Helpers, just go to the house and let Turner do his job. We have people on the practice field and game field that know as much about coaching football as I do (and i dont coach nuthin). Union has the ability to be a good team and seeing that these kids are working out again they can do what other teams havent in the past 10 years, but its gonna take weeding out what doesnt need to be there both coaching and players to get there.

you are 100% right i agree with you. austin is a good person but he is at most a special teams coach as he was when i played in the mid 90s.

Austin is a better coach then Turner. The only reason Travis got that job was Ted Thompson and Phillip Bates. What they should have done was bring in new people that had no ties to Appy and PV to coach.

What does Phillip Bates have to do with BSG/Appy?

I agree that it seems UHS has an awful lot of coaches over there now. I dont know enough about any particular coach to call them out on doing a poor job (except McKinney, who is terrible and sucks and cant even spell football and smells like mashed potatoes :P ). Travis runs the whole show and he will catch the flames for his staff.

UHS has to throw the ball, theres no way around it. You simply cannot win running the ball every snap. I agree with Counts, you don't have the launch the ball 40 yards on every passing down. Short routes can give a quarterback confidence, stem the pass rush, and keep the chains moving. Look at the NFL now; its a short pass dominated league because its incredibly tough to stop. Its much easier to defend vertical routes and deep routes with the right coverage, especially at the high school level.

This thread is entertaining to read.

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Originally Posted by R13

What does Phillip Bates have to do with BSG/Appy?

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School Board and he is the Uncle of Travis.

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Originally Posted by UnIoNfAn

IMO our best lineman is Dakota Jesse or that number 66 who is a junior.

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#66 is my son, Matthew Morelock. He took a couple of years off after P-nut and this is his first year back. He has had a great work ethic since summer weightlifting and as a father, I could never be prouder.

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Originally Posted by MikMo

#66 is my son, Matthew Morelock. He took a couple of years off after P-nut and this is his first year back. He has had a great work ethic since summer weightlifting and as a father, I could never be prouder.

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You should have stayed in Breathitt.

Travis will be a top of the line head coach. He isnt affraid to gamble on 4th (which i love), and he can get the kids fired up to play. My only fault is like i mentioned earlier, too many chiefs and not enough indians. Just like someone else said a minute ago, Travis is head coach and he'll take the heat for his coaching staff. As far as Austin being a better coach than travis, lets give it 5 years and revisit that statement. One problem we have down here in Unionville (big stone and appy's new name BTW) is we jump the gun. 14 state rings out of 18 trys i think it is has really spoiled us and im affraid that we may be to quick to crucify a young coach. Travis is younger than most coaches in the state and he was thrown into the biggest mess that has happened in wise county since the bread and chicken house closed in big stone gap. He (travis) has really got these kids to pull together and work out and be excited about football again! thats something that is worth more than a state championship on opening season. The problem that i have been seeing is that us older viking and bulldogs really want a winning team and well damnitt it takes time. Lets back up a pinch and let travis coach for 5 years. If after 5 years he is making the same mistakes and doing the same wrong things, then lets put him to the curb and look for a new coach. Until that 5 year period is up we cant say what kind of coach Travis Turner will be. IMO he'll do great

He won't be there in 5 years and he wasn't thrown in this mess isn't that right "Uncle Phillip"?

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Originally Posted by TheBeast

You should have stayed in Breathitt.

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I would have rather been back here than in Kentucky any day. That hell hole just wasn't for me. I take it you were meaning that my son could be playing for Breathitt...would rather him be playing here any day. Also, they live with their mother, so he would be playing here anyway. Still wish it would have been for the Dawgs, though.

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Originally Posted by MikMo

I would have rather been back here than in Kentucky any day. That hell hole just wasn't for me. I take it you were meaning that my son could be playing for Breathitt...would rather him be playing here any day. Also, they live with their mother, so he would be playing here anyway. Still wish it would have been for the Dawgs, though.

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I know what you mean about that place. Yes I was referring to him playing at Breathitt, that town may be a pit but they have a very solid football program with a good coach that is able to get the job done. I was able to see them play one game last year and I thought I was watching St. Paul, same exact offense and same size kids just more of them (wished we had had them on the schedule to get the win and points). They were 6-4 and still went 3 deep in the playoffs last year and so far this year they are just running roughshod on everyone. The only close game they have had was against Hazard and they won it 35-34.

Best part about that place though is the McDonald's still has steak egg and cheese bagels.

The biggest problem I have is that at least two of those assistant coaches NEVER played a day of football in their lives and those of you from BSG and APPY know the one I am talking about.

Now, the best thing I have seen out of the offensive line is that they have gone back to a 3-point stance to include the passing downs. The 2-point stance they used the last couple of years was horrible. And the defensive front is no longer taking a "dive at the legs of the offensive linemen as they did the last couple of years. If your offensive line is talented enough to use the 2-point stance, then use it, but most all offensive linemen in this area are not disciplined enough for it or just are not talented enough either.

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Originally Posted by lpd_observer

third place in the district. Additionally, Central is looking more formidable after winning against Lee Co and is not an automatic win. I'm not really confident in this body of work to this point. Losing to a down Clintwood team was absolutely disasterous and unacceptable. Both Powell Valley and Appalachia spent the last several years building to this point, talentwise and anything less than an LPD championship and a 3 deep playoff run is not cutting the mustard. Several points to make on this subject:

1) Barker is a 1 in 8 year back. He's powerful and talented. We lose him after this season, thus making competitiveness all the more difficult to establish this last year.
2) We lose Orr on the offensive line who is the most dominant offensive lineman.
3) We'll have to break in a new quarterback as Huff (a four year starter) will also be gone.
4) This offense we run makes it much more difficult to establish a power running game. We need to get the power I back and give Barker and Davis lead blockers.
5) Not only did we lose but we blew away a twenty point lead . . . a twenty point lead! Totally unacceptable and should not happen. This means that we made no adjustments at halftime. Mullins absolutely and completely outcoached us to get his troops back into the game in the second half to score about 24 unanswered points. And did I mention that we had twice the talent of this clintwood team?

As hard as our remaining schedule is, I see possible losses against Sullivan North, Burton, Gate City. Next year with the loss of talent that we're about to experience, the best I see is a 3-7 to 4-6 kinda season. We, a school with 650 kids, just lost to a school with 290 kids who fielded the worst team they've had in probably 5 or 6 seasons.

We are fundamentally unsound in some really problematic areas, and it's starting to show. I'll be interested to see which team shows up against North. With all our talent, anything less than an 8-2 overall record and an undefeated LPD record is unacceptable.

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LOL, If Turner loses? i didnt know he played bro. So what are your coaching credentials? That is a bold and ignorant statement you just made.

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Originally Posted by dawgman

I told people that he wasn't a good coach but nobody would listen. I've known him since he was born.

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Sounds like you are either jelly or just being biased in your outlook .

I didnt get to make it to the game last night but from what i have heard Union did NOT make any second half adjustments and once again lost the game. Im not sure what has happened but Union has went from a strong second half team to a very weak second half team. Why in the world Turner isnt begging Bob Coughlin and Barry Jones to come coach for him i dont know. Turner is a good coach and he will do good at Union but he is going to have to get rid of most of his supporting cast. Morris was at Powell Valley for the past few seasons and he hasnt impressed me one bit with his defense coaching. I feel like Barry Jones is the most overlooked coach in Virginia football and if I were in a position to hire and fire I'd fire 2/3s of the Union staff and beg Barry to come be the Co Head coach and run my defense and mentor Dorton to be the next D coach. I'd also beg Bob Coughlin to come and help or at the least run my JV program. In my personal opinion, those two men (Bob and Barry) are the soul reasons for the sucsess for Powell Valley being what they were. Most people dont know this but Bob Coughlin quit coaching JV when Barry quit coaching and well Powell Valley went down hill fast after that. IMO Truner and Dorton, Barry and Bob would make a coaching staff that could dominate in football once again, what do yall think

I think there is a lot of over reaction to Union in this thread. Clintwood is no slouch and North (is that who they played?) is a good team. This thread is about if they lose to JIB? Burton is one of the top teams in the area. There isn't any shame if they win or lose against the teams they have lost to or JIB.

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Originally Posted by starbuck

I think there is a lot of over reaction to Union in this thread. Clintwood is no slouch and North (is that who they played?) is a good team. This thread is about if they lose to JIB? Burton is one of the top teams in the area. There isn't any shame if they win or lose against the teams they have lost to or JIB.

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i agree with you on that. Just like I said earlier, we are spoiled down here in big stone and appalachia. Just as Ironlung has said (i hate agreeing with him hahaha) football is down in the entire end of southwest va. We dont have the atheletes we used to have. Turner is a good coach and he'll make a solid program. we as fans have to realize it dont happen over night.