I guess we will see won't we? What I said about basketball is to watch the athletes playing.
Once Great Programs That Have Fallen From Grace....
- Thread starter Buddy Rich
- Start date
I guess we will see won't we? What I said about basketball is to watch the athletes playing.
Didn't know Benji Brown was principal at WM. Not sure how I missed that. Why is he no longer coaching? That's got to be a big reason WM is successful right now.
Believe it or not, it's possible to point out that AHS football is in a world of hurt and may not recover without also running down the kids and coaches who are making the best of a bad situation. Some of the problems are definitely self-inflicted, but AHS has also experienced some rotten luck over the last few years:
1. Akins, longtime Gaster assistant who succeeded Morris, leaves unexpectedly
2. School hires replacement from within the staff instead of recruiting from outside the county
3. That coach did not pan out due to a personnel issue - no way to predict that
4. Next coach (next two coaches?) bolts after one season
5. Demographics of the county and school population have changed in a very short period of time
6. Now the program is radioactive, and with school's future up in the air, will be hard to recruit talented coaches from outside the area
May not have all the above details right, but you get the idea. It's hard to pull out of a tailspin.
Like Buddy, I am in favor of consolidation. Do not see how SC can continue to support four public high schools. Put one new state-of-the-art high school in the southwest corner, near WS, and build it big enough to accommodate eventual growth from the Charlotte area. Put another new school in the northeast corner, near Richfield, and combine NS and AHS. It will take some getting used to, but seems for the best.
Believe it or not, it's possible to point out that AHS football is in a world of hurt and may not recover without also running down the kids and coaches who are making the best of a bad situation. Some of the problems are definitely self-inflicted, but AHS has also experienced some rotten luck over the last few years:
1. Akins, longtime Gaster assistant who succeeded Morris, leaves unexpectedly
2. School hires replacement from within the staff instead of recruiting from outside the county
3. That coach did not pan out due to a personnel issue - no way to predict that
4. Next coach (next two coaches?) bolts after one season
5. Demographics of the county and school population have changed in a very short period of time
6. Now the program is radioactive, and with school's future up in the air, will be hard to recruit talented coaches from outside the area
May not have all the above details right, but you get the idea. It's hard to pull out of a tailspin.
Like Buddy, I am in favor of consolidation. Do not see how SC can continue to support four public high schools. Put one new state-of-the-art high school in the southwest corner, near WS, and build it big enough to accommodate eventual growth from the Charlotte area. Put another new school in the northeast corner, near Richfield, and combine NS and AHS. It will take some getting used to, but seems for the best.
1) as of now the schools future is not up in the air.
2) school consolidation shows no gains only more costs so what are the benefits exactly? Why do you think CMS is going back to community schools and placing kids accordingly?
3) so you are talking about building 2 state of the art schools one on the southwest side and one on the northeast side. The northeast side is not expierencing any growth unlike albemarle is. Why do you think when they redistricted that they did not touch the and district even though it virtually sits on top of ACS? Because NS would not be able to sustain. Funny part we are still getting transfers coming in to the school.
Once again AHS at this point is under no threat to close. You take away tre albemarle city border from NS they cannot sustain. Look at the numbers. That's a fact.
Not an expert on the consolidation issue - just my opinion as an interested outsider. I am hearing that a lot of extracurricular activities are going away because there aren't enough kids interested to justify keeping them, and consolidation would help that problem. I don't think consolidation = higher costs everywhere it happens. It depends on a lot of factors.
Not sure I understand your point about NS/AHS. There does not need to be growth for consolidation to make sense. I am surprised to hear that any part of SC is growing outside of the Locust area.
Nation is D - lusional..... he's got some fantasy about the city school hey days and how they will once again be prominent. Not happening. No one wants to go to a school that has gang and drug issues galore. Yeah, I said it. Tired of everyone tippy toeing around it. That's why Albemarle has fallen so far so fast. It's a cess pool of anarchy. The kids are running wild and the leadership is questionable at best. You want to know why kids would rather go to North Stanly over Albemarle? The main reason is safety. And you certainly have got to be kidding me on whether they are being considered for closure. I believe in being loyal but c'mon man. You are making a clown out of yourself with some of the things you are spouting. I guess if the big red shoe fits.......
Consolidation has been studied and proven to have 0 positive impacts. Typically academically it hurts and financially there are no benefits. The only benefits that it has shown was in main where they consolidated school districts but not individual schools and the entire savings was at the admin level. I believe this is what CMS has seen as well which is why they are trending back to the community school.
People in glass houses shouldnt throw stones. Lol come on now you know you have to warn me before you start spewing that much BS out of your mouth at least allow me to put on my boots first. Man that was getting deep. Come on BD your a professional you can do better than that.
Benji coached at Thomasville from 2000-2006. 87-14 with three state championships. He got into administration for the usual reasons....family time and money. More the former than the latter. Good man and WM is lucky to have him. Wish he were the superintendent here in Thomasville.
Benji is beloved in the community and we are very lucky to have him. He has brought stability to the school, students, community and the entire West side of the county. He is one hell of a good father, husband, administrator and friend. If anyone on here thinks otherwise I suggest they keep it to themselves. He has the utmost respect from one of the toughest group of fans in the state of NC. Trust me, we are all old and not very forgiving.
Nation...I am. And I think that you are the only one dancing to the music you are playing. Your own fans are not on here to support you or your insane ideas. As far as glass houses, again, c'mon man. Reaching for something that happened 6-7 years ago off campus??? We aren't perfect but I can promise you that when a problem occurs it is handled. We don't and we've never had the on campus issues that are and have been at AHS. If that is what it takes to win State then I'll let you enjoy your brief time you had in the spotlight and West Montgomery can continue to shine on and off the field. One team can claim the title each year. But the careers and character of the individuals from West Montgomery carry on for life and future generations. We are fine over here watching our businesses and industries flee to other counties. Our parents are keeping the kids at our school. There are a few that have decided to send theirs' to Uwharrie, O'neal etc... but for the most part we have maintained our athletic department. Can you say the same? I'm done discussing this with you because you haven't provided me with any substantial debatable rebuttal on anything I've said. Good luck with basketball season and I hope you find some sort of hobby to occupy your time aside from dreaming about the glory days.
Nation...I am. And I think that you are the only one dancing to the music you are playing. Your own fans are not on here to support you or your insane ideas. As far as glass houses, again, c'mon man. Reaching for something that happened 6-7 years ago off campus??? We aren't perfect but I can promise you that when a problem occurs it is handled. We don't and we've never had the on campus issues that are and have been at AHS. If that is what it takes to win State then I'll let you enjoy your brief time you had in the spotlight and West Montgomery can continue to shine on and off the field. One team can claim the title each year. But the careers and character of the individuals from West Montgomery carry on for life and future generations. We are fine over here watching our businesses and industries flee to other counties. Our parents are keeping the kids at our school. There are a few that have decided to send theirs' to Uwharrie, O'neal etc... but for the most part we have maintained our athletic department. Can you say the same? I'm done discussing this with you because you haven't provided me with any substantial debatable rebuttal on anything I've said. Good luck with basketball season and I hope you find some sort of hobby to occupy your time aside from dreaming about the glory days.
BD you almost got it that time. If I recall WM went through some hard times prior to Eddins and staff correct? Tell me something that hasn't happened at your school? Matter of fact the kid who committed the act at our school was originally from yours correct? I mean come on man. You can do better. Like I said people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
Talk football it's cool, in two years if I am wrong I will come on here and own it. I'm confident in our school in our kids and the direction we are heading.
Charlotte Meck was forced to return to a "community" school system (go to the school nearest your home as the goal) due to a long running legal battle with the federal government and a federal court lawsuit over busing.
Eddins is going to be at the top of the list for a couple of very desirable jobs this winter. I expect another one in a year or two, not Richmond, that will be interesting.
All the credit in the world to Coach Eddins. Absolutely great coach. He has done an incredible job with that program.
[QUOTE="bulldog nation2014, post: 385567, member: 5380"
3) so you are talking about building 2 state of the art schools one on the southwest side and one on the northeast side. The northeast side is not expierencing any growth unlike albemarle is. Why do you think when they redistricted that they did not touch the and district even though it virtually sits on top of ACS? Because NS would not be able to sustain. Funny part we are still getting transfers coming in to the school.
Once again AHS at this point is under no threat to close. You take away tre albemarle city border from NS they cannot sustain. Look at the numbers. That's a fact.[/QUOTE]
When North Stanly was built the city limit was just north of Golds Gym. Albemarle City Limits moved out with annexation. Some areas inside the city limits are closer to NSHS than AHS.
The city limit on the west side was down the hill on West Main Street from Stanly Community College.
It is a county system so the city limit is not the determining factor for attendance lines. Note former West Stanly district lying outside the city limit now part of AHS.
3) so you are talking about building 2 state of the art schools one on the southwest side and one on the northeast side. The northeast side is not expierencing any growth unlike albemarle is. Why do you think when they redistricted that they did not touch the and district even though it virtually sits on top of ACS? Because NS would not be able to sustain. Funny part we are still getting transfers coming in to the school.
Once again AHS at this point is under no threat to close. You take away tre albemarle city border from NS they cannot sustain. Look at the numbers. That's a fact.[/QUOTE]
When North Stanly was built the city limit was just north of Golds Gym. Albemarle City Limits moved out with annexation. Some areas inside the city limits are closer to NSHS than AHS.
The city limit on the west side was down the hill on West Main Street from Stanly Community College.
It is a county system so the city limit is not the determining factor for attendance lines. Note former West Stanly district lying outside the city limit now part of AHS.
Eddins will get looked at every single year. At the end of the day he has to do what is best for him and his family. He has been a record setting coach at West Montgomery and he will continue to be as long as it is what he feels is right for him and his family. What he brings to the table outside of the playing field and classroom is more impressive. Kids who don't play football look to him as a mentor. Not just the athletes. This guy gets it. The mark he makes on dozens if not more kids who never play any sport surpasses his accomplishments on the field. He has taken the support from the community, support from the first rate faculty and the players to continue a tradition of building on what has been there for decades. He has what it takes to put teams on a different level. Richmond and Scotland are very enticing programs. Until NC has a system in place of regulating players switching schools year to year, and I mean legitimately moving, the power teams will be there 2-4 years. Where is Indy, Greenville-Rose, etc....?? NC has one of the worst transfer policies in the entire country. City districts vs. county districts, family member allowances, etc......... Most places require a change of address for the entire family. If you move for "athletics" you have to sit out one year. So does NC. Too many hardship loopholes. You can thank the powers that be in Chapel Hill for that one. If the new consolidate high school in Montgomery County comes to pass then I think Eddins will be the man to lead them. You take what East is doing over there and you combine what West has done for the better part of 50 years and put him at the helm of a 2AA program and he could be on the verge of a Shelby challenging program. I'm pretty sure he's aware of the talent, support and financial means of the people here. There are plenty of 5-6 teams in 3 and 4 A/AA football. Not too many trophies and 12 win teams.
When North Stanly was built the city limit was just north of Golds Gym. Albemarle City Limits moved out with annexation. Some areas inside the city limits are closer to NSHS than AHS.
The city limit on the west side was down the hill on West Main Street from Stanly Community College.
It is a county system so the city limit is not the determining factor for attendance lines. Note former West Stanly district lying outside the city limit now part of AHS.[/QUOTE]
The lines on the west side of the city are where they should be now. Additionally on the east side of the city some may be but most are not. There are kids who live closer to all ACS who have to go to badin NSMS and NSHS. However that side was not touched. Like I said befor if you want to redistrict do it right in no way should NS not been the only school not touched by the redistricting. You know that as well as I do. Additionally in no way should NSHS been built that close to AHS it honestly should have been built further out. Of course that doesn't really matter now.
The coach at EM has done an incredible job as well. Would tough to remove either one of them as a HC if schools consolidate.
I remember when Elkin was winning state titles. They'll be lucky to win a game this year after going 1-10 last year. Coach Grissom was one hell of a coach, been tough on the new guy to come close to replacing him.
U are right. Here on Columbus County I can see players priorities are not on football. Plus numbers in these 1A schools are way down. 3 of the 4 1A teams in this conf. have loosing records and 3 not 1 win between 3 schools here. Man something has really changed in last 2 years. No jobs here to bring new kids in and a lot have moved out of county. If things don't change,we want have a football program in 1A ball in few years or so. Is consolidation the answer to it all? I don't know,we'll see.
Once again this whole thread is useless. It turned into another Albemarle debate.
Cummings
Lexington
Thomasville
Newton-Conover
Carrboro
Parkland
Bandys
Hickory
Brevard
Smokey Mountain
RJ Reynolds
Elkin
Starmount
East Rutherford
Chase
Totally economically dead communities with white folks moving on. Economically challenged. Not everyone on this list but most. It's gonna get more challenging for far west small programs. You take 4 athletes not playing in a 1A school and that's going to change the dynamics of a football program immensely. It would not affect a 4a school at all.
Cummings
Lexington
Thomasville
Newton-Conover
Carrboro
Parkland
Bandys
Hickory
Brevard
Smokey Mountain
RJ Reynolds
Elkin
Starmount
East Rutherford
Chase
Totally economically dead communities with white folks moving on. Economically challenged. Not everyone on this list but most. It's gonna get more challenging for far west small programs. You take 4 athletes not playing in a 1A school and that's going to change the dynamics of a football program immensely. It would not affect a 4a school at all.
Which is it do you want, the city limit to be used as the district or an arbitrary line. AHS district goes past the city limit and another where a school should not go into the city limit. Either way you will move students from a school they have always attended and on one hand you are against that for AHS but all for it when it goes for AHS.
North opened over fifty years ago. It should have been built right at New London but they moved 1.25 miles to its current location. Some think it should have been built in Richfield which would have been a geographical and logistical failure, both then and now.
It appears Stanly County will have four high schools for the foreseeable future but if enrollment numbers decline in the non West Stanly district it will be back on the front burner.
Back to the topic...
Ok... sorry... but your list will be dissected below.
The Cleveland County schools have been affected due to talent leaving for the "other schools". /ADMs remaining.
Davidson County schools are a victim of the system in place. Add Parkland and Reynolds if you are talking about basketball. If not, well, do the math. Plus you also have the Prep School factor with the start ups and parents not wanting their kids to attend schools with a larger police force than they have in their communities with zip codes.
Cummings is also a victim of 2-3 years of good, 2-3 years bad. It's a problem there. Too much politics.
The mountain teams I am sure they have issues. I will hesitate to comment on that. I don't want to step on toes. I know that there are different rules for them. Starmount is not as involved and I'm not sure as to why they are as down as they are now.
When has Carrboro ever been a factor in anything other than politics? I thought you were referring to high school football.
Elkin was a powerhouse in all three sports years ago. Not sure if it's because of the economy and how the way things have went the last few years. First class program for decades.
I see you have no opinion of teams east of Carrboro. It's a heck of a lot worse. The biggest thing in my opinion is the city schools vs county schools. It made a huge difference in 1A and 2A. Lexington and Thomasville made a run with the best of the best out of Davidson. Couldn't blame them. It was allowed. Do a little more digging and see how teams around east of Greensboro are doing that had the city schools that allowed county residents to attend are faring now.
As far as your comment concerning "Totally economically dead communities with white folks moving on." Where did they go? The schools you have named are a very diversified group. some are in the inner city of Winston Salem and some are in the mountains. When you say "white folks," what are you trying to say? I would be amiss for not asking you if a comment was made on the flip side of that coin would you be offended? So, I'm thinking it's best left alone.
The Cleveland County schools have been affected due to talent leaving for the "other schools". /ADMs remaining.
Davidson County schools are a victim of the system in place. Add Parkland and Reynolds if you are talking about basketball. If not, well, do the math. Plus you also have the Prep School factor with the start ups and parents not wanting their kids to attend schools with a larger police force than they have in their communities with zip codes.
Cummings is also a victim of 2-3 years of good, 2-3 years bad. It's a problem there. Too much politics.
The mountain teams I am sure they have issues. I will hesitate to comment on that. I don't want to step on toes. I know that there are different rules for them. Starmount is not as involved and I'm not sure as to why they are as down as they are now.
When has Carrboro ever been a factor in anything other than politics? I thought you were referring to high school football.
Elkin was a powerhouse in all three sports years ago. Not sure if it's because of the economy and how the way things have went the last few years. First class program for decades.
I see you have no opinion of teams east of Carrboro. It's a heck of a lot worse. The biggest thing in my opinion is the city schools vs county schools. It made a huge difference in 1A and 2A. Lexington and Thomasville made a run with the best of the best out of Davidson. Couldn't blame them. It was allowed. Do a little more digging and see how teams around east of Greensboro are doing that had the city schools that allowed county residents to attend are faring now.
As far as your comment concerning "Totally economically dead communities with white folks moving on." Where did they go? The schools you have named are a very diversified group. some are in the inner city of Winston Salem and some are in the mountains. When you say "white folks," what are you trying to say? I would be amiss for not asking you if a comment was made on the flip side of that coin would you be offended? So, I'm thinking it's best left alone.
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Richmond is not as enticing as one, if not two thst will be open this winter. The. Scotland very possiy in a few years.
Indy's district was redrawn with Rocky River opening. Went from an urban school to more of a suburban school. The country club and girls sports have improved dramatically as have test scores. Also, a couple of crazy admin decisiobs have not been helpful. They have been and still have a lot of talent and two years ago were loaded.
Cleveland County does not have a school on the list. Why bring them up? Pound for pound may be the best football in the state.
Carrboro opened in 2007. Speak to any coach that has worked there or just interviewed. Admin does not appear to be very concerned with sports. Head coach did a great job there and took a job on the UNC staff after losing in state title game.
You often cite city and county schools but in many cases they are part of the same system. You especially note this with Albemarle but the city system consolidated into the county system nearly twenty years ago. Less than 10% of the counties have more than one system.
Would not be offended at all. They move on to county outskirts. You think minorities and economically challenged families get up and move too? To where? With what money? All those on the list once prospered in wins but that has changed in a half dozen years or more. Mill houses, subsidized housing (includes run down houses), industry shutdowns with no change to services jobs. Metro cities adapt and prosper while small communities remain stagnant. Where did they go? You are obviously blind to conditions across this state. Tell me the last time Elkin was relevant. Cummings once a big power most likely will not even field a team soon. Nothing you listed is even close. The days of graduating high school and going to the mill to work and make enough to feed a family are gone. Almost all of those on the list have at risk and poverty level issues. As I said and you failed to read- not all, but you picked what you wished.
As far as the far west there is no industry left. Families and graduating kids are moving to the Piedmomt metro areas for employment.
Charter school are opening everywhere you look. Why? Just another way to segregate. Much like Graystone Academy in Richfield. White flight on a small scale, call it mini Detroit. Come on down to the 30 mile Charlotte area and see how many charters and privates have popped up. Public schools as a whole are being destroyed in urban areas with the relentless onslaught of charters.
"white folks moving on"? I didn't understand that angle either. All white, All Black, or tri-racial...it makes no difference. No one can name a school that is competing at a state level in football that doesn't have a strong and supportive principal backing his coaches. Once that is in place, the image of the program is attractive to the students in the hallways. We can name schools from down East that were mostly minority programs that NO ONE wanted to play in the state finals. We can name some in the West that were mostly white that NO ONE wanted to play in the finals. Race is not the issue. Leadership is. A lack of consistent leadership and programs slip and slide. Albemarle at one time was a football school and the board of education and principal wanted that. It is no longer the only "dog" since merging systems with the county. That fact...and having 5 head coaches in such a short period are the reason for the fall. IF the current coach stays, AHS will return to the top tier of the YVC. I am less certain it will ever return to a state-level powerhouse like it once was.
And this is exactly why I don't post...
I make too much money and have too much status to roll in the mud with a bunch of "Sticks".
A KING just sits back and watch the peasants entertain...
I make too much money and have too much status to roll in the mud with a bunch of "Sticks".
A KING just sits back and watch the peasants entertain...
To include Thomasville in this discussion, you have to understand the dynamics.
Since 1983, the city school district lines and the city limits boundary have not been contiguous. Thomasville's population has doubled since that time, but most of the growth has been outside of the school district, yet still inside the city limits. There are more students inside Thomasville's city limits who are outside the city school district than inside it.
There is not open enrollment per se, but some transfers are allowed. To enroll in the city district (or vice versa), a county student's parents must get a release from their home district and be accepted by the other. There is also a tuition requirement. This must be done every year. The numbers are about even for those who leave the city and those who come into it. Obviously, not everyone is honest and there are folks who "live with their grandmother". That goes both ways, but the city probably loses more than it gains.
I live in the city limits and the county district. My two kids attended the city schools. Both were all-conference multiple times and in different sports. But, when I enrolled them in kindergarten, I had no idea they would even play sports. As parents, our priority was getting them an excellent, diverse education in a public school. My daughter was valedictorian, so I guess it worked.
Thomasville's success and its recent lack of it, has little to do with boundary lines. It has everything to do with coaching, the current approach to discipline, and the support of the administration. The problems the last three years parallel a change in administration that has now ended. Hopefully, that will change for the better very soon. Then, we'll see how much talent we really have.
Sleeh hit it perfectly. Per what many consider the best coach in NC as told to me twenty plus years ago, "to be the best you need a principal that supports the football program."
OC Davis great job sir. I tip my hat to you and your children.
OC Davis great job sir. I tip my hat to you and your children.
Thank you btango.
I was fortunate to play for Coach Cushwa and for Coach Brown at a time when coaches were allowed to manage their programs. Playing time was determined by not only skill, but the amount of effort given. The community understood that playing sports was a privilege, not a right. Good conduct and academic effort were conditions of participating, not merely suggestions. The principal, superintendent, school board and the community supported athletics if it was done with integrity.
Integration came to Thomasville when I was in the seventh grade. We had a racially diverse school and team with very few issues. The one time a black player and a white player got into it, Coach Cushwa made them kiss on the mouth. Needless to say, we got the message that on the football field we were all the same. Coach hoped that would transfer to every aspect of our lives.
I truly believe that in most places, where there is decline in athletics, it's because our societal issues have invaded the one place that should bring us together. In some cases, lack of parenting, lack of support for public schools, disregard for discipline, a sense of entitlement, pay for play, helicopter parents....all have a role. Certainly, economic circumstances can affect sports as well.
We can throw up our hands and give up, or look in the mirror. If our communities see sports as a means to an end, we can shift the paradigm. Academic training without character education, is pretty empty. Sports can be one of our greatest teaching tools.
Okay, enough of the soapbox. But I believe every word of it because two coaches, along with my parents, cared enough about me to teach it to me.
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Great topic. Living only a few miles from the Georgia state line I get to compare the 2 states very often. I read about numbers being down for football in NC. Then I attend and watch Georgia games and 2A and 3A schools are having 70,80, 90, 100 plus players on their football roster. It's staggering the numbers these Ga schools get for football. Murphy just played a so/so 4A Georgia team which would be equal in size to about a smallish 3A school in NC. They had 77 players, 77 !!! Murphy roster of 45 was dwarfed. And this is a Georgia school who has never even sniffed a state title. In fact a 3A Georgia school 22 miles from Murphy has 62 on the team. And they've never won a single playoff game in their entire history. And they wont play Murphy LOL !! Whatever Georgia schools are doing the NC schools need to find out and emulate it. Up until 7-8 years ago I didn't see a major difference in quality of football between Ga and NC. But now its not even a comparison. ESPN top 300 recruits list really puts it into perspective. NC has 7 top 300 recruits this year. Grayson high school in metro Atlanta has 6. Yes 6 on one team !!!. I counted over 40 Georgia players in the top 300 vs 7 in NC. There are probably at least 15 teams in metro Atlanta alone that would smash any team in NC. That's not even counting south Georgia. Football is just not what it once was in NC and it's a shame.
Also maxpreps rankings really show a decline NC football. 2 weeks ago not a single NC team was in the top 150 in the country. I agree with Tigertown Rick that football in NC is in a bad way but other states nearby are having HUGE turnouts for football. Even the medicore teams...Whats the difference and why is that happening ? Football is thriving in nearby states and NC needs to find out why and do something to save the sport in NC.
One very successful coach told me if the field don't burn city lights,he ain't interested. County players to hard to get summer workouts. He has and still winning games in East 2A school.
All great points, footballstar, and a reflection that it's a multi-issue problem nowadays, and likely won't get any better in the future...I've also seen through the years that underclassmen nowadays are generally more reluctant to sit, and wait for their turn, but instead choose to not play, and a lot of those kids then don't play when they become upperclassmen.....I've seen this at Rosman, and could be a reason why Rosman much like Albemarle is mostly a team comprised of underclassmen which generally leads to more injuries for those undersized underclassmen who also lack the experience to do things the right way?
As a Tiger fan, all I can say is I hope things get a lot better than they currently are, and got to give a lot of credit to those kids who are hanging-in there in spite of the long tough season...
Roar Tigers Roar!
Great minds think alike Rick. I have seen Albemarle at their best. Now I am seeing them at their worse. I respect these freshmen for playing against varsity competition. Very one sided . I'm afraid the glory days are gone forever but thank god I was there to see them....Different breed of kids we are dealing with today..They have a long way to go....