I bet you won't see him. He will stay hidden behind his keyboard.
Way too early 2026 Preview
- Thread starter TarVikes1
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Since you mentioned the secondary as the strength of the defense next year (I agree) it got me thinking of 21 (starting CB) and whether he will ever be used on offense. He’s fast and shifty and would be good at WR or as a back up at WB behind 8..
Overall I think Murphy will be fine. Might not do as well early on as last year’s experienced bunch so hopefully the non SMC schedule won’t be as tough as this past season. But by conference and playoff time I think they will put it together and make another deep run. Very important that we get as many home playoff games as possible next season.
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I love how we've created a culture where a title is the standard every year. Again, our fans have been very blessed. Many teams are content, and call good years deep runs, a good year for us is a title. Looking forward to seeing the Vikings tomorrow in the Shrine Bowl.
I could see #21 getting some offensive reps next year at wing or receiver but I will be shocked if he isnt starting at one of those two spots in '27. The backfield will be loaded next year and in '27, even with #5 and #23 graduating after '26. #8 should take over at RB in '27 and then #2, possibly #9, possibly #21, #40 and #43 in the mix at FB and WB.
Speaking of #40 didnt really know anything about the kid but he pleasantly surprised me with some of his running in garbage time this year, he's a bowling ball (mean that in a good way) and brings a different running style to the other backs. I could see him being an option at fullback as a senior (in short yardage situations at the very least) in '27 if he continues to develop.
You gotta be very careful with that mindset though. There will come a day when Tarboro won’t win it all every season. There will be years where they might have a great season but lose a tough one in the title game (like Murphy did this past season). If a state title is the ONLY thing that is acceptable or that makes you happy, then you are guaranteed to come away disappointed more than you will come away happy. Of course a state title is the ultimate goal, but there are other things you win along the way that make a season great. At Murphy, they talk about putting three numbers per season on the scoreboard…1) SMC Title 2) Western Regional Title and 3) State title. Murphy was blessed enough to put up two out of three this year, and they played an exciting non conference schedule and were able to go 2-2 against some elite competition. So while Murphy wasn’t able to finish it off with a state title, they did accomplish most of their other goals, and they played a stacked Tarboro team way closer than most expected. It’s hard to be mad after a season like that.
no doubt, I understand what you're saying, I guess my point is, even when we aren't as talented, the standard or the goal doesn't change. We have had plenty of teams come short of the goal, but the goal doesn't change. Some, their goal is to make a deep run, or win a conference, ours year after year is to win a title.
It's been some very good Tarboro teams that didn't win it all. Some made it to the championship game and lost. And some didn't even make it to the title game. Longtime Tarboro fans have experienced lengthy championship droughts before it's nothing new. That being said, the expectation at Tarboro every year, is to win the state title. A lot of teams around Tarboro would consider making it to the 4th round and coming up short a good season. In Tarboro that's a very disappointing season.
I know this has been hashed out before and I have made it clear that I have nothing but respect and admiration for Tarboro, BUT... when the toughest game you play all year is against the team from the west, then it is easy to have an all or nothing mindset. I don't mean non conference games against higher classifications. Those are obviously tough, but the playoff route in the east is not exactly difficult. Again, this isn't a slight to Tarboro at all. I seriously believe that most years, the second best team in the east would be about the 7th-10th best team in the west. There are always exception years.
I feel like most people that don't wear purple will agree. 90% of those that wear purple will think what I just said is insane.
No worries, and no offense taken. With that said, if I am not mistaken, every title victory we've had since 17 has been by at least three scores. I think that shows it wouldn't have mattered who we played those years in the playoffs, we would've won, and probably made it look easy, based on the championship.
I can tell you we aren't the only program that has this expectation. I bet, Reidsville, Shelby, Wallace, and a few others feel the same way.
Okay but I would argue that the toughest game any team from the west plays in their conference/playoff games is against Tarboro in the title game. Sure there are exceptions in some years. Just look at Murphy this year. They were scoring 40-60 points a game in the playoffs and got shutout against Tarboro and didn’t make it into the red zone until the game was out of reach.
Your logic really doesn’t make sense because shouldn’t the best team you play in the playoffs be in the state championship?
Might as well get use to it. Unless there is a major shift in population to push Tarboro’s adm up, they will be in the state championship long after we are gone. No team in the east can match the athletes and coaching in the east and it’s a rare occasion for the west team to have the athlete advantage.
I don't think it would either, but what is your record in the eastern finals vs your record against the west champ. It is still really really good, but most years the ONLY threat Tarboro has is in the west.
I think the biggest difference is that in the west you can't have a bad day. Tarboro can afford to have a bad day in the 3rd round against Podunk Central Tech and Math Eastern Community Center for the Gifted Farmers of America. If you have a bad night against East Wilkes, Corvian, Murphy or Starmount in the third round, then basketball practice starts on Monday.
Definitely not disputing Tarboro's dominance, just that it is very reasonable for them to expect at least a trip to the championship.
What I'm saying is that in the east, Tarboro is such an exception and an outlier that it is just automatic. There are zero legitimate challengers outside of games against teams in higher classifications.
Also, in the future, the only way I see the eastern pecking order changing is the retirement of a legend followed by bad decisions at the admin level OR one of the charter or privates rising up.
Just a thought, but maybe they are an outlier because of the Title or bust mindset. And being an outlier is end result of the dedication and hard work they put in throughout the offseason when other teams in the east are taking it easy.
Mindset don't make you run a 4.4. Not that it isn't important but you still need the Jimmy's and the Joe's. On the 70 something yard touchdown early in the second half against Murphy, that defensive back could have all the mindset he wanted and he wasn't catching the Tarboro kid.