Brownies Out For Playoffs

The Cleveland Browns sat and watched the agony Sunday night.

The Brownies had 10 victories during the 2007 season after only four in 2006.

Cleveland dispatched the San Francisco 49ers earlier in the day and headed for the big screens in hopes of the Indianapolis Colts defeating the Tennessee Titans.

A Colts win would have sent the Browns packing for the Left Coast and an engagement with the San Diego Chargers in the first round of the AFC Playoffs.

Nevertheless, somewhere in the third quarter of the Titans and Colts game something strange happened that turned Cleveland's postseason trip into a journey home for the season.

During the third period in the RCA Dome, Titans robust running back LenDale White fumbled away the pigskin and Tennessee quarterback Vince Young left the game with a pulled right quad with his team trailing the defending Super Bowl champions 10-7.

The Browns and their fans had to be cheering as the end appeared to be near for Tennessee.

Enter Kerry Collins an aging veteran who has spent most of the season walking the Titans sidelines.

The change of scenery for the Indianapolis defense wasn't good for Cleveland.

The fourth-leading active passer in the NFL, Collins completed 10-of-13 passes for 106 yards and got Rob Bironas close enough to kick field goals of 40 and 54 yards to end the Browns hopes.

Tennessee made the playoffs instead of the Browns due to the third tiebreaker. The Titans had a better record against common opponents.

Browns coach Romeo Crennel said his team had "learned a lot, grown a lot and look forward to continuing to build on what we've accomplished this season."

Cleveland (10-6) is the only NFL team with 10 wins that didn't make the playoffs.

The Browns can't blame anybody but themselves. Cleveland lost to instate rival Cincinnati last week.

Cleveland wide receiver Braylon Edwards said his team had a chance, "but we forfeited it by losing to a lesser team."

The Browns 10 wins are the most since its expansion rebirth. Cleveland won 11 games in 1994.

The Titans will play San Diego at 4:30 on Sunday.

Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher said he expected Vince Young to be ready to play in the game.

"I expect everybody to be ready," Fisher said.

Collins' performance should not come as a surprise. He led teams to the playoffs three times as a starter, including an appearance in the NFC Championship Game following the 1996 season with the Panthers and a Super Bowl appearance following the 2000 season with the Giants.

Collins Facts: When the season started, the only active quarterbacks with more passing yards than Collins were Brett Favre (57,500), Vinny Testaverde (45,281) and Peyton Manning (37,586).

In 2000 and 2001, the durable quarterback became first player in NFL history to throw every pass for one team in two consecutive seasons, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

Collins and his wife, Brooke, and daughter, Riley live on his 1,580-acre farm in Asheboro, N.C. The “Blue Q Ranch” was named that because every team Collins ever played quarterback (Q) for except the Oakland Raiders had blue as one of the team's primary colors. He has more than 300 head of registered Angus cattle on his farm.

Collins loves to fish and hunt deer, wild boar, and turkey.

The Associated Press and NFL.com contributed to this blog

Old Gray Beard Saves Titans

The best thing that happened to the Tennessee Titans Sunday night in Indianapolis might have been when quarterback Vince Young left the game with a pulled right quad injury.

As cruel as it may sound, when back-up Kerry Collins took over at quarterback the Titans got a boost and a 16-10 that put the club in the playoffs and the Cleveland Browns home for the winter.

Coach Jeff Fisher bragged on Collins to NBC's Andrea Kremer following the game, "This is why we have him, he's a veteran."

Young left the game with 6:26 left in the third quarter and the Titans trailing 10-7.

Collins stepped in and completed passes of 10, 14 and 8 yards to get kicker Rob Bironas close enough to boot a 40-yard field goal to tie the game at 10-10.

The 13-year veteran completed 10-of-13 passes for 106 yards and no interceptions He led the Titans to three second-half field goals, including a 54-yarder from Bironas to retake the lead.

Fisher said Young could have returned to the game, "but Kerry was managing the game well."

Collins said life as a back-up means you have to be ready at all times to come in and do your job.

"We knew we had an opportunity to come in and make the playoffs and that doesn't happen every year," Collins said.

The Titans will now travel to San Diego for a rematch with the San Diego Chargers at 4:30 Sunday.

Titans/Colts game notes
• Sunday's victory gave the Titans their fifth playoff berth in nine seasons.
• Sunday's victory gave the Titans a 5-3 road record in 2007.
• Sunday's victory gave the Titans a 4-2 division record for the second consecutive season.
• Sunday's victory improved Tennessee’s all-time record against the Colts to 12-15.
• Sunday's victory improved Jeff Fisher’s career record as head coach to 120-103.
• Sunday's victory improved Vince Young’s career record as a starting quarterback to 17-11.
• Chris Brown scored his 5th touchdown of the season and the 16th of his career on an 8-yard run, giving the Titans a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
• The Titans scored on the game’s opening drive for the fifth time this season (third touchdown).
• LenDale White went over 1,100 rushing yards for the season in the first quarter.
• Michael Griffin forced the first fumble of his career against Reggie Wayne in the first quarter.
• David Thornton recovered the first fumble of his career in the first quarter.
• Antwan Odom posted his 7th sack of the season and the 11.5th of his career when he took down Jim Sorgi in the third quarter.
• Antwan Odom posted his 8th sack of the season and the 12.5 of his career when he took down Jim Sorgi in the fourth quarter.
• Antwan Odom matched his career-high with two sacks (at Houston 10-9-05)
• Roydell Williams set a career-high with six receptions.
• Justin Gage matched his career-high in receptions and set a career-high in receiving yards (7 catches for 104 yards)
• With his 40-yard field goal in the third quarter, Rob Bironas moved past Al Del Greco into third place in team history with the most points (127) in a season.
• Rob Bironas connected on a 54-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. It was his 4th field goal of 54 yards or longer this season. He is now 4-of-5 from 54 or beyond this season.
• Keith Bulluck continued his team-best active streak of 96 consecutive starts.
• Keith Bulluck made his 100th career start.
• Peyton Manning was 14-of-16 passing for 95 yards, reaching the 4,000-yard passing yard mark for the eighth time in his career.

• Reggie Wayne recorded his first 1,500-yard receiving season.

AAFL Might Fill A Void

The Bowl games will come and go in the next 10 days, but there is a promise of football this spring.

Did you know that Tennessee will host Michigan at Neyland Stadium on April 12?

I can’t wait.

Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot to explain that game would be the season opener for Team Tennessee in the All American Football League (AAFL).

I’m one who believes that the AAFL has a place in the professional sports world.

The league will field franchises in Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Michigan and Texas with the six teams playing home and home for a 10-game schedule this spring.

Former Vols great Andy Kelly will coach team Tennessee. The former Rhea County Tennessee star retired after 14 years in the Arena Football League with about every passing record. Now he will be bringing his wide-open passing approach to the AAFL.

Former Tennessee head coach and athletics director Doug Dickey is a board member for the AAFL.

Team Tennessee will play home games in Neyland Stadium and Team Alabama will play at Legion Field in Birmingham.

Team Arkansas is scheduled to play at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Team Michigan at Ford Field in Detroit, Team Texas at Rice Stadium in Houston and Team Florida will play some games at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville and others in Tampa and Orlando.

The league draft is scheduled for Jan. 25 in an effort to assemble 46-man rosters per team.

Each player is supposed to be paid $50,000 annually and must have graduated from college.

Tee Martin could be coming out of retirement to quarterback the Tennessee Team. The Alabama native played for the Vols from 1996-1999. Few Tennessee fans will forget how he guided the Vols to the 1998 national championship.

Martin, 29, tried the NFL, Canadian League and the NFL's World League before giving it up. He now coaches the quarterback at North Cobb High north of Atlanta.

He put his playing days behind and is coaching quarterbacks at North Cobb High School in Kennesaw, Ga. Martin works some as a college football television analyst.Former Vols’ kicker James Wilhoit is expected to handle the chores for Team Tennessee. Other former Vols could join SEC players expected to play in the AAFL.

Former Florida star Chris Leak will likely quarterback Team Florida.

Former Arkansas Razorback quarterback Clint Stoerner is with Team Arkansas.

Maybe I just want to continue to believe in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. Nevertheless, pro football played in some of the nation’s hot beads by players from that region sounds interesting to me.

Now, what are the team nicknames going to be? In addition, what are the cheerleaders going to look like?

TENNESSEE AAFL Schedule

4/12/08 MICHIGAN

4/19/08 at Arkansas

4/26/08 at Texas

5/3/08 FLORIDA

5/10/08 at Alabama

5/17/08 ARKANSAS

5/24/08 at Michigan

5/31/08 ALABAMA

6/7/08 at Florida

6/14/08 TEXAS

6/21/08 First Round of Playoffs

7/3/08 Championship Game

Maryville: Team Of The Year

The Maryville Rebels are the Varsity Sports Media Tennessee Football magazine’s Team of the year.Maryville earned the honor after being voted the No. 1 team in the Varsity Sports Media Tennessee Football magazine’s final all-classification Top 25 Power Poll.

Coach George Quarles’ Rebels captured their record 11th state championship and in 2007 became the first team to have a senior class go 60-0 in high school in the Volunteer State.

Maryville has a 60-game winning streak, has won 99 of its last 100 games and 113 of 115 overall.

Quarles has won six of the Rebels’ 11 state championships and will enter next season with a 123-9 mark. He is also a candidate for the national coach of the year.

In national polls, Maryville is ranked No. 5 by Sports Illustrated, 6th by ESPN, 10th by USA Today and11th by RiseMag.com.

The Rebels finished No. 1 in the Varsity Sports Media’s Top-25 Power Poll ahead of No. 2 Montgomery Bell Academy. The Big Red was 13-0 on the season and defeated Brentwood Academy for the Division II AA state title. Coach Daniel McGugin earned a state championship in his first year at the helm.

No. 3 Alcoa lost only to Blount County neighbor Maryville 42-12 in the second week of the season and could be the Rebels’ toughest foe in 2008.

Alcoa utilized the new TSSAA mercy rule in 80 percent of its games this season.

Gary Rankin had a young team that continued to improve as the 2007 season rolled on.

2A Alcoa was the first team to win four consecutive state crowns in Tennessee. Of course, Maryville duplicated the task the following night by winning the 4A state title.Blount County is the home of eight state champions in the past four years and 20 state crowns overall.

Brentwood Academy is the No. 4 team in the final Top 25 Power Poll. Under first-year coach Ralph Potter, the Eagles lost twice to MBA.

No. 5 Smyrna lost three regular season games, including one to Brentwood Academy. Nevertheless, quarterback Sonny Gray and wide receiver Rod Wilks rallied the Bulldogs down the stretch to win their second consecutive 5A state title.

Don’t expect things to get any better for Smyrna foes in 2008. Freshman Jeremiah Bryson ran for 170 yards and four touchdowns as Smyrna defeated Independence, 46-20, for TSSAA Class 5A BlueCross Bowl championship.

Bryson was named the most valuable offensive player in the title tilt and scored on runs of 5, 1 and 42 yards in the first half, and added a 16-yard run in the fourth quarter.

No. 6 David Lipscomb stunned Knoxville Fulton 32-24 for the 3A BlueCross Bowl championship.
It was the first state championship for Lipscomb since moving up to 3A.

The third state championship overall for the Mustangs was special for veteran Lipscomb coach Glenn McAdams.

“We’re so thankful. We’re blessed and humbled by this all,” Coach McAdams said. “I’m so proud of our kids. We’ve been here a lot of times in the 2000s.”

No. 7 Bearden had a tremendous season despite the death of their head coach Billy Wilson last spring.

The Bulldogs’ two losses were to Farragut during the regular season and 17-14 to Smyrna in the 5A semifinals.

Bearden redeemed the losses to Farragut by defeating the Admirals 28-14 in the state quarterfinals. The win broke an eight-game losing streak to the Admirals, which dated back to 2002.

No. 8 Red Bank was perfect for 12 games this season before the Lions had their run at a 4A title stopped by Maryville for the second consecutive season. Red Bank has two losses in the past two seasons, both to the Rebels.

No. 9 Riverdale was in the Top 5 of the Power Poll for most of the season. In fact, Riverdale defeated 5A state champion Smyrna 36-32 during the season. The surprise for the Warriors came in the second round of the 5A playoffs when Wilson Central downed Riverdale 35-13. The Warriors had defeated Wilson Central 29-7 during the regular season.

No. 10 South Pittsburg is arguably one of the most explosive 1A teams to take the field in Tennessee. Coach Vic Grider’s Pirates destroyed undefeated McKenzie 52-20 in the 1A BlueCross Bowl championship.

The Pirates join Maryville as the only 15-0 teams in TSSAA in 2007. How good is this 1A power? South Pittsburg defeated 2A Tyner, Boyd-Buchanan and 3A Marion County this season.

Rounding out the final Top 25 Power Poll are No. 11 St. George’s (12-0), No. 12 Sullivan South (12-2), No. 13 Independence (11-4), No. 14 Millington (13-1), No. 15 Maplewood (12-3), No. 16 Henry County (12-2), No. 17 Fulton (12-3), No. 18 Goodpasture (13-2), No. 19 Farragut (10-2), No. 20 Wilson Central (10-3), No. 21 White Station (12-1), No. 22 Whitehaven (10-2), No. 23 Knox Catholic (11-1), No. 24 Hillsboro (10-2-1) and No. 25 Mitchell (10-4).
*The Varsity Sports Media Tennessee Football magazine staff and various media representatives from across the state voted on this final poll.

Final 2007 Power Poll
1. 4A Maryville (15-0) 4A State Champs
2. D-II MBA (13-0) D-II AA State Champs
3. 2A Alcoa (14-1) 2A State Champs
4. D-II Brentwwood Ac (11-2) Lost to MBA
5. 5A Smyrna (12-3) 5A State Champs
6. 3A David Lipscomb (14-1) 3A State Champs
7. 5A Bearden (12-2) Lost to Smyrna
8. 4A Red Bank (12-1) Lost to Maryville
9. 5A Riverdale (11-1) Lost to Wilson Central
10. 1A South Pittsburg (15-0) 1A State Champs
11. D-II A St. George’s (12-0) D-II A State Champs
12. 4A Sullivan South (12-2) Lost to Maryville
13. 5A Independence (11-4) Lost to Smyrna
14. 5A Millington (13-1) Lost to Independence
15. 4A Maplewood (12-3) Lost to Maryville
16. 4A Henry County (12-2) Lost to Maplewood
17. 3A Fulton (12-3) Lost to David Lipscomb
18. 2A Goodpasture (13-2) Lost to Alcoa
19. 5A Farragut (10-2) Lost to Bearden
20. 5A Wilson Central (10-3) Lost to Smyrna
21. 5A White Station (12-1) Lost to Millington
22. 5A Whitehaven (10-2) Lost to Millington
23. 3A Knox Catholic (11-1) Lost to Austin East
24. 4A Hillsboro (10-2-1) Lost to Maplewood
25. 3A Mitchell (10-4) Lost to Lipscomb

Others receiving consideration. In alphabetical order: Clarksville (10-2), DCA (12-2), Dyersburg (10-2), Dyer County (10-2), Ensworth (9-3), Father Ryan (9-3), ), Gatlinburg-Pittman (11-2), Greenville (10-3), Hampton (13-1), Haywood (10-3), Hickman County (11-2), Jo Byrns (11-2), Lewis County (11-1), McKenzie(13-1), Midway (11-2), Milan (11-2), Mt. Pleasant (11-3), SBEC (10-2), Station Camp (10-2), Pearl-Cohn (11-3), William Blount (9-3), York (12-1).

The Best Is Yet To Come

In the first year of Varsity Sports Media's Tennessee Football magazine, the staff has made an effort to give the players, coaches, fans and sponsors a product to be proud of.

When you pick up a Tennessee Football magazine or visit TennFB.com, I want you to know you can get everything that is football in Tennessee.

The first year was good. Nevertheless, the second year is going to be better.

We're not where I want to be. However, we have a game plan in place and a vision of what part Varsity Sports Media will play in the lives of those who love football at all levels.

The staff plans to reach out to every corner of the state to get more and more Tennesseans involved in the magazine and Web site in the upcoming year.

Some exciting announcements by the staff of Varsity Sports Media and Tennessee Football magazine are scheduled in the next few days.

The final Tennessee Football magazine Top 25 Power Poll for 2007 will be released on Dec. 26. That announcement will include the naming of the Team of the Year.

The first Tennessee Football magazine all-classification Phenoms All-state team will be announced on Jan. 2. The Tennessee Football magazine statewide prep honors for Coach of the Year (Jan. 3), Defensive Player of the Year (Jan. 4), Offensive Player of the Year (Jan. 5) and Player of the Year (Jan. 6) will follow.

On Jan. 9, the Tennessee Football magazine College Football Team of the Year will be announced. The Tennessee College All-state team will follow that honor on Jan. 10. The Tennessee Football magazine College Coach of the Year (Jan. 11), Defensive Player of the Year (Jan. 12), Offensive Player of the Year (Jan. 13) and Player of the Year (Jan. 14) will follow.

In addition, Tennessee Football magazine has joined with the staffs of Georgia Football and Florida Football magazines to present more honors.

An all-classification Varsity Sports Media South Top 25 high school Power Poll will be announced, along with an All-South team and awards for players and coaches of the year for the best prep players and teams.

Happy Holidays
Stump Martin
Managing Editor
423-421-2595
stumponsports@aol.com

Brown Sacks Jets

The Tennessee Titans season comes down to one game.

Beat the Indianapolis Colts next on Sunday night Football next week and the Tennessee Titans go to the playoffs for the first time since 2003.

Lose and the season is over.

Now, you’re going to read everywhere about how Kyle Vanden Bosch had three of Tennessee's six sacks.

Nonetheless, the season could have been over today had it not been for a homegrown member of the Titans.

Tony Brown sacked New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington on 4th down late in the game to stop a Jets drive and allow Tennessee to run out the clock.

Brown is about as Tennessee as a Titan could be.

He was born in Chattanooga and grew up playing in the prestigious Brainerd Bills Youth Football organization.

Brown attended Chattanooga City High where he played linebacker and tight end. He was named All-state as a linebacker his senior season.

He was a power forward on the City state championship basketball team as a freshman and lettered four years in baseball, football and basketball.

Brown went on to star at Memphis, where he was a three-year starter. As a senior Brown earned second-team All-Conference USA and recording 66 tackles, four sacks, one forced fumble, eight quarterback pressures and five passes defensed.

His junior year with the Tigers he had a career-high 68 tackles, seven sacks, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble, 17 quarterback pressures and four passes defensed.

The 6-3, 285-pound defensive lineman was released by the Carolina Panthers in September 2006.

It was the third time he had been cut by an NFL team and he returned home to Chattanooga.

Brown’s prayers were answered while sitting in church. He tells of feeling his cell phone vibrating and later discovering that it was a text message from his agent that the Titans wanted him.

Tennessee is happy that the franchise was able to acquire the homegrown talent.

Brown had a career-high 10 tackles against Oakland on Oct. 28. He is the second-ranked defender with 18 quarterback pressures entering the New York game.

He is married to Lachandra Brown and the couple splits time between Nashville and Chattanooga. He graduated in December 2002 with degree in sociology.

• List of favorites: (movie) “The Five Heartbeats”; (TV show) “The Wire”; (actress) Halle Berry; (music artist) Prince; (vacation getaway) “at the house”; (sports team other than Titans) New York Yankees; (school subject) math; and (food) hot dogs.
Some information obtained from http://www.titansonline.com/

Santa Be Nice To Phil

I hope that everybody is having fun doing Christmas shopping.

Anybody know where I can find a Boy's Medium Tony Romo throwback jersey? Or how about a Nintendo Wii?

I can hear you laughing, don't rub it in. I was busy back when I should have been looking for those items.


The red Ipod Nano has been hard to find too. Therefore, I had to settle for buying my grandson a PSP.

I don't guess I'm a bad Santa.

Nevertheless, if I was really Santa (and I might be you don't really know) I would do something nice this Christmas for Tennessee head coach Phil Fulmer.

This big guy has had worse luck than Soap Opera stars in final last days of their contracts.

He had to boot LaMarcus Coker off the team this season.

Select media and fans across the state have at times called for his firing. Nonetheless, Fulmer has rallied his troops and carried his team to the SEC championship game.

If quarterback Erik Ainge didn't throw a couple of costly interceptions, the Vols might be the SEC Champions today.

However, Fulmer still can't get a break.

Offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe has taken the Duke University coaching job.

Isn't this the same Duke University that hasn't had a winning season since 1994 and only three in the past 20? In addition, the Blue Devils were 1-11 this season.

Other Tennessee assistants are sure to follow Cutcliffe to Duke.

Super assistant Trooper Taylor has bolted to Oklahoma State where he thinks he might get to call plays as an offensive coordinator.

Rumors of players leaving early for the NFL or transferring have bounced off the Smokey Mountains and were heard across the state.

But just when Ma in her kerchief and I in my cap had just settled in for a long winter's nap, up on the Hill I heard such a clatter and sprung from of my bed to see what was a matter.

And what to my wondering eyes should appear, but six Vols academically out of here.


Actually, the six Vols, including starters Lucas Taylor (WR), Rico McCoy (LB) and Demonte Bolden (DT) will miss the Outback Bowl, but will be back in school for the spring semester.

Now, don't you think that Coach Fulmer deserves something nice for Christmas?

Come on, he's a nice man. He's a native Tennessean, has a tremendous winning percentage and a national championship.

He and his wife donated a million dollars to the university this year.

Let's each one of us do something nice for the old coach and send him an email or Christmas card to boost his holiday spirits.

There has to be times that Fulmer feels like the "Lonely Maytag Repairman."

Wealthy college football coaches need love too.

Maybe Santa (again, you're not totally sure it's not me) will stop by Tallahassee on Christmas and leave a few presents for Florida State coach Bobby Bowden.

It seems that Bobby has 36 players not playing in the Music City Bowl Dec. 31 against Kentucky due to an academic cheating scandal, violations of team rules, injuries or other reasons.

Leave him some shoes too Santa. Florida State loves free shoes.

Coaches On The Move

If football coaches are going to make a move it many times happens in December. This December has been no different.

Eagleville has hired Steve Carson as the Eagles new football coach. Carson comes to Eaglesville from Smyrna where he was the Bulldogs offensive coordinator the past three seasons. He replaces Jason Scharsch, who resigned last month after the Eagles completed a 2-8 season.

Scharsch took the Eaglesville job five years ago. Carson, 39, is taking over as a head coach for the first time.

Bill Price is on the move again. The former Red Bank football star is almost coming back home.

Price left Coffee County in Manchester, Tenn. to accept the post as the first head football coach at Signal Mountain High School. Signal Mountain shadows Red Bank. The new Hamilton County school will have its first class in August 2008.

Price has served as a head coach at Lookout Valley, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, Bradley Central, Soddy-Daisy and Hueytown (Ala.).

He had been rumored as the next head coach at Soddy-Daisy.

Murfreesboro Oakland has also named a new football coach. Thomas McDaniel, 29, who led Moore County to a 7-4 mark this season, moves from 1A to 5A to take over at Oakland.

The Oakland Patriots haven't been to the state playoffs since 2003. This season the Patriots were 3-7.

McDaniel was an assistant coach on two of the Murfreesboro Riverdale state championship teams of the past.

Earlier this month Jerry Hayes retired from South Side High in Jackson. Hayes, 57, spent 23 years at South Side. He had a 147-104 record since 1985 and were 11-1 in 2006. In 2000, South Side was 12-2 and lost in the TSSAA state semifinals. In fact, South Side has made it to the state playoffs 10 of the past 11 seasons.

Todd Miller does not figure he will have to go out looking for a football coach. The Middle Tennessee Christian School principal believes the right person will come looking for him following the resignation of Eddie Bassham. The Tennessee Christian football program was started three years ago by Bassham. He resigned earlier this month after a 2-8 record this fall. He was 10-17 in his three seasons as Tennessee Christian.

Dan Bland, 63, was named earlier this month as the head coach at Humbolt. Bland replaces Carey Craig who exited Humbolt to take the head-coaching job at South Side High School. Bland was Craig's offensive coordinator the last two seasons. Bland is from Covington and played football at Mississippi State. He was also drafted by the San Francisco 49ers.

He has a 140-83 career mark. He served as head football coach at Tullahoma, Knoxville Farragut, Jackson Central Merry (1987-1990), Columbia, Milan (1994-95) and Pascagoula, Miss. (2001-2005).

Christ Presbyterian Academy football Coach Jay Mathews reportedly interviewed for the Hoover, Ala. head football job this week. The job at the national power program became open when veteran Rush Propst resigned. Propst was under fire for allegations of grade fixing in the Hoover program and playing an ineligible player.

Mathews has been at CPA for four seasons where he has posted a 30-16 record. CPA was 6-5 this season and lost in the 2A playoffs to Goodpasture in the first round.

Mathews was the offensive coordinator at Briarwood Christian in Alabama from 1991-2003.

James Counce and his son James Jr. have left Division II AA state champion MBA where the father and son combo were assistants. The elder Counce is returning to Dyersburg to take over his old program. His son will serve as his assistant.

Coaching jobs are currently open at Marion County, East Ridge and Sequatchie County.

Vols Breaking News

The Sporting News' Tom Dienhart is reporting that Clemson offensive coordinator Rob Spence is interviewing today at Tennessee. Spence is thought to be interviewing for the offensive coordinator post vacated by David Cutcliffe, who took the head-coaching job at Duke.

Also, the Associated Press reports today that Tennessee coaches are concerned about the academic eligibility of some players with the Vols appearance in the Outback Bowl coming up. According to the Associated Press report, a Tennessee university official said linebacker Rico McCoy and defensive tackle Demonte Bolden could be ruled out for the game. The fall semester grades were due to come out today.

Championship County Tennessee

60-game winning streak

Welcome to Blount County Tennessee, home for Varsity Sports Media, and home of eight high school football state championships in the past four seasons.

When Varsity Sports Media was founded the decision to put the home office in the heart of Tennessee football was obviously a good one.

The Tennessee Vols are not far across the river. Carson-Newman, one of the top Division II football colleges in the nation, is just on the other side of the Smokeys. And high school football is the king in Blount County.

It’s been a couple of weeks since the TSSAA state championships in Murfreesboro. Nonetheless, football goes on 365 days a year in Blount County,

The records of the Alcoa and Maryville football teams tell how much football is a huge part of everyday life.

The 4A Maryville Rebels have won a record 11 state championships and the 2A Alcoa Tornadoes have nine.

Alcoa was the first team to win four consecutive state crowns in Tennessee and Maryville duplicated the task the following night by winning the 4A state title.

In fact, Maryville will be the first school in the state to graduate a senior class that has never lost. The Rebel seniors now own a 60-0 mark for their high school toils.

That means that Blount County owns 20 state championships and eight in the past four years.

Wow!

The Rebels have a 60-game winning streak, have won 99 of their last 100 games and 113 of 115 overall.

Alcoa lost only one game in 2007 and the new mercy rule was invoked in 80 percent of the Tornadoes games.

Oh by the way, their only loss was 42-12 to neighbor Maryville in the second week of the season.

And head coach George Quarles has now won six state championships.

George Quarles will return at Maryville next season with a 123-9 mark. He is also a candidate for the national coach of the year.

Hoover Alabama should call George about the coaching opening there. Or MTV needs to contact Blount County about starting another TV series on high school football.

In Tennessee, Friday Night Lights start in Blount County.

How serious is football at Maryville?

Check out this website to see http://www.rebelsnation.com/

Pea Pickin' Picks Round II

Smyrna's Sonny Gray (left) is looking for an upset win on the road at Lincoln County.

The second round of playoffs will bring on some outstanding games and rematches.

One of the best match-ups could be in Maryville where quarterback Jake Ryan and receiver Ken Easterly take another shot at the No. 1 Rebels. Earlier this season Maryville defeated West 35-21.





Maryville won its first-round playoff game 42-18 over Rhea County. The Rebels have remained No. 1 in the Varsity Sports Media’s Tennessee Football magazine’s Top 25 Power Poll since the publication was released in August.





Maryville is drawing national attention with three consecutive Class 4A state championship and six in seven years.





Coach George Quarles’ team has now won 56 consecutive games and 109 of the past 111.

Whitehaven and Millington should be a battle in West Tennessee.

Millington is at home and undefeated. Nevertheless, Whithaven has some outstanding athletes.

Quarterback Garrick Jones can throw the ball and he has Tenarius Wright (TE), Marcus Hightower (Ath), Marcus Rucker (WR), Rico King (WR) and Chavez Scott (RB) that can all get the job done.

A very good White Station team has given the Tigers their only loss.

Last week The Great Stumpola was 91-28, which brings the season total on the Pea-Pickin’ Picks to 379-122.





Here’s a look at this week’s Pea-Pickin’ Picks

East


Anderson County at Knoxville Fulton
Austin-East at Knoxville Catholic
CAK at Alcoa
Cumberland Gap at Gatlinburg-Pittman
Dobyns Bennett at Farragut
Friendship Christian at South Pittsburg
Harriman at Midway
Knoxville Halls at Red Bank
Knoxville West at Maryville
Morristown West at Sullivan South
Oneida at Hampton
Volunteer at Greeneville
William Blount at Bearden





Middle


Antioch at Independence
Cascade at Mt. Pleasant
Ensworth at Brentwood Academy
Fairley at Henry County
Father Ryan at MBA
Franklin at Hunters Lane
Greenbrier at White House
Hickman County at Lewis County
Lookout Valley at Gordonsville
Maplewood at Clarksville
Marshall County at David Lipscomb
Mt. Juliet at Hillsboro
Pearl Cohn at Station Camp
Smith County at York Institute
Smyrna at Lincoln County
Tyner at DCA
Wayne County at Jo Byrns
Wilson Central at Riverdale



West
Bolivar Central at Fayette Ware
Davidson Academy at SBEC
Dyersburg at Mitchell
FACS at St. George's
Fayette Academy at McKenzie
Goodpasture at Camden
Haywood County at Dyer County
Hollow Rock-Bruceton at Trinity Christian
Houston at White Station
Huntingdon at Milan
Kingsbury at Melrose
Peabody at Carver
Whitehaven at Millington

Football Still The Same In Red Bank

Pictured on the left, quarterback Jake Ledbetter and fullback Tracy Sims.

Friday night’s in the fall haven’t changed much in the past 40 years in Red Bank.

Football games are still a big event and the community turns out in droves.

You can stop off by Cooley’s Fine Clothing and Jimmy Cooley knows all about the Lions and their families. He has likely fitted most of the players for the prom.

The Downey family has been backing the Lions at Downey’s Florist for more than 43 years and can probably tell you the favorite flowers of the cheerleaders.

Tommy Reese of Reese’s Plumbing is one of the biggest Red Bank fans and he loves to cook hot dogs.

Sally Worthington has decorated more Red Bank lettermen jackets than anyone could ever fathom at Athletic Specialties just off of Dayton Boulavard. Can you imagine how many white chenille R’s Sally has sewn on royal blue jackets?

In addition, Tim Ledbetter and his booster club work seven days a week to make sure the Red Bank players and coaches have the best of everything.

Nevertheless, it all starts at the top where head Coach Tim Daniels towers above the players, coaches and fans.

Daniels is the “Big Daddy” of the Red Bank family. He continues to make autumn in the shadows of Signal Mountain festive.

When the big guy speaks everybody listens.

His Lions are 11-0 this season and will host Knoxville Halls in the second round of the 4A state playoffs on Friday.

The former University of Tennessee offensive lineman will send one of the most successful senior football classes in Chattanooga prep football history on the field Friday night.

The Red Bank seniors are a part of a 41-8 four-year mark and have had perfect back-to-back 10-0 seasons.

Only Maryville with 108 wins in the Rebels last 110 games have defeated the Lions in the past two seasons.

Quarterback Jake Ledbetter has thrown for more than 5,000 yards in his three years as a starter.

Ledbetter refers to himself as a Red Bank football fan and Daniels describes the 5-10, 187-pounder as “the most blue-and-white guy on the team.”

He watched as his brother Jason Ledbetter was a part of the Red Bank 2000 team that won the Tennessee 5A state championship under Tom Weathers.

Tracy Sims has started for four years and joined Ledbetter as an All-state selection in 2006.

The 5-11, 238-pound running back/linebacker blows opponents up when he hits them.

Maryville head coach George Quarles said after the playoff game last season that Sims was "as good a linebacker as we’ll ever see.”

Seniors Tim Benford (6-2, 195) and Dominique McDuffie (6-2, 190) are big playmakers.

Kerry Maddox and Jared Mitchell have done more than was expected of them in the backfield.

The offensive line at Red Bank is massive and has a mean streak. Some of that toughness might come from facing the Lions defensive front each day in practice.

Twins Taylor and Tylor Chambers are the best brother duo since Josh and Daniel Bullocks at Hixson.

The pair remind me of former Dalton twin offensive linemen Jason and Jeremy Carroll, who signed with Clemson following the 1997 football season.

The Red Bank defensive front is so much fun to watch. With Miguel Sanchez leading the way, the defensive wall has an ultimate fighter mentality.

And don’t forget the contributions of Corey Emory and Jeff Reece on the line.

When I watch this team play, I think about the old football days at Red Bank. I remember players like Mike Ducker, Joe Cook, Bobby White, Randy Reagan, Allen Ridge, Gary Partrick, Jeff Price and Bill Price to name a few.

The new generation brought players in like kicker John Becksvoort, Jeff "Shamu" Stephens, Justin Barnes, Gerald Riggs Jr., Victor Ellis, Gerald Ware, Cory Simpson, Mike Kelley, Marty Lowe, Jim Thurman, Bart Rich, Jamichael McGoy, Cole Goins and Kell Harvey.

There are too many good ones to name them all.

Is there another program in the Chattanooga area today that can boast the longevity of outstanding teams and players?

The 2007 Red Bank football team is special. Nevertheless, the Lions have an opportunity to become extra special if they play as a team with one purpose and one heartbeat in mind.

Red Bank, Tyner and Lookout Valley are carrying the Chattanooga banner in the TSSAA playoffs and nearby South Pittsburg looks to be the bully of 1A. But the road to Murfreesboro is paved with challenges.

The next few weeks will be fun to watch.

I’m not ready for high school football to end.

TSSAA Playoff Picks

OK, I admit it now. The time spent working on the Varsity Sports Media’s Kentucky Basketball magazine was worth it for the Great Stumpola.

The round mound of profound, who looks like me when I look in the mirror, had the best week of prognosticating in 54 years.

Are you ready for this?Try a 31-4 record in Tennessee high school football last Friday. The only four losses were Tennessee Temple’s upset over David Brainerd, McMinn Central defeating Howard, Goodpasture downing CPA (should have known better) and Pearl Cohn knocking Station Camp from the unbeaten ranks.

Now add a 5-1 record on college selections with the upset pick of Alabama over LSU going astray.

And finally, a 4-0 record on pro picks with the Atlanta over San Francisco upset looming large.

That’s a total of 40-5 for the week.

That gives the Great Stumpola and his crystal ball an 11-4 mark in the you’re-not-going-to-believe-it upset specials,

Now here’s the grand total of picks for this football season, minus weeks working on basketball.

The overall record for this season is now 287-94.

But the going gets tough this week with the playoffs starting in prep football.

Playoffs, did I hear Jim Mora say playoffs?On behalf of Tennessee Ernie Ford here’s a look at the winners and losers for the weekend of Nov. 8-11 in the form of the Pea-Pickin’ Picks.

Why not make a prediction on every playoff game in the state?

East
Anderson County over Knoxville Carter
Austin-East over Seymour
William Blount over Campbell County
Knoxville Halls over Cleveland
Hampton over Coalfield
Knoxville Catholic over Gibbs
Greenbrier over McMinn Central
Cumberland Gap at Happy Valley
Harriman over Cloudland
Farragut over Jefferson County
Morristown West over Johnson County
Midway over Knoxville Grace
Brainerd over Knoxville West
CAK over Loudon
Sullivan South over Morristown East
Oak Ridge over Dobyns Bennett
Bearden over Ooltewah
Pearl Cohn over Howard
Red Bank over Powell
Maryville over Rhea County
Rockwood over Gatlinburg-Pittman
Knoxville Fulton over Rutledge
Greeneville over Sullivan East
Alcoa over Sweetwater
South Pittsburg over Trousdale County
Oneida over Unaka
Tennessee High over Volunteer
Lookout Valley over Watertown
Tyner over Westmoreland

Middle

Hillsboro over Beech
DCA over Bledsoe County
Giles County over Bolivar Central
Smith County over Boyd Buchanan
Hunters Lane over Brentwood
Friendship Christian over Chattanooga Grace
Cascade over Collinwood
Smyrna over Cookeville
Goodpasture over CPA
Antioch over Dickson County
Brentwood Academy over ECS
Independence over Gallatin

Maplewood over Kenwood

MBA over Knoxville Webb
Lebanon over Lincoln County
York Institute over Marion County
Mt. Pleasant over McEwen
David Lipscomb over McNairy Central
Station Camp over Meigs County
Jo Byrns over Moore County
Franklin over Nashville Overton
White House over Polk County
Henry County over Raleigh Egypt
Lewis County over Richland
Clarksville over Shelbyville
Gordonsville over Silverdale
Hickman County over Stewart County
Mt. Juliet over Tullahoma

Riverdale over Warren County
Wilson Central over Coffee County

West

Carver over Booker T. Washington
Fayette Ware over Cheatham County
Millington over Collierville
White Station over Cordova
CBHS over Ensworth
Harding Academy over FACS
Camden over Fairview
Father Ryan over MUS
Dyer County over Frayser
Fayette Academy over Gleason
McKenzie over Halls
Fairley over Hardin County
Sheffield over Haywood County

Arlington over Houston
Milan over Jackson Christian
Melrose over Jackson South Side
Munford over Kingsbury
Hollow Rock-Bruceton over Manassas
Jackson South Side over Marshall County
Westview over Peabody
Whitehaven over Ridgeway
Mitchell over Ripley
Dyersburg over Trezevant
Trinity Christian over Union City
Huntingdon over Westwood
Wayne County over White House Heritage

College

Georgia over Auburn
Tennessee over Arkansas
Vanderbilt over Kentucky
Alabama over Mississippi State


Pro

Tennessee over Jacksonville
Atlanta over Carolina
New York over Dallas
Indianapolis over San Diego
Email StumpOnSports@aol.com

Weathers resigns at Soddy-Daisy

SODDY-DAISY -- One of Chattanooga’s finest football mentors ever to hang a whistle around his neck said goodbye to coaching today after 36 years.

Tom Weathers, 67, resigned as the head coach of the Soddy-Daisy Trojans where he was 16-26 in four years.

Weathers was one of the best at molding boys into men and teaching lessons that would benefit them later in life.

East Ridge coach Tim James called Weathers a Chattanooga coaching icon.

“He’s a fine man, very competitive and I consider him a friend,” James said. “Some coaches choose not to continue and get into administration, but Coach Weathers’ love of the game and love of kids kept him in it.”

Weathers coached at Red Bank from 1974-2001 where he guided the Lions to the first undefeated state championship season in the school's history in 2000.

The 5A title was the first by a Hamilton County team in the state's largest football classification since Baylor won it in 1973.

In 1978 his Red Bank team lost in the state championship finals.

Tim Ledbetter’s son Jason was a member of the 2000 Red Bank 5A state championship team.

“He’s a good man and was very disciplined,” Ledbetter said. “He was good for the program and did a lot for the Red Bank community.”

Weathers took over at Red Bank for Frank Cofer in 1973 and found a home at the foot of Signal Mountain before departing for Dade County, Ga. after the 2001 season.

He guided the Wolverines to back-to-back 2-8 seasons in Trenton in a rebuilding effort.

However, he returned to Hamilton County as the head coach at Soddy-Daisy in 2004.

That 2004 team was 9-3. Many of us will never forget when he guided that squad against Ooltewah and his former player, Ted Gatewood, with both teams undefeated.

The Owls prevailed 21-17 in one of the most memorable prep match-ups in Chattanooga history.

Steve Garland has enjoyed working on Weathers’ coaching staff at Soddy-Daisy.

“It was an honor to work with someone of his stature,” Garland said. “We all gained a lot of experience. He has forgotten more about football than we will ever know.”

Weathers won 248 games and lost 131 as a head coach.

The Columbus, Miss. native came to the area to attend the University of Chattanooga, where he was a standout football player in the late 1950s.

I watched him play football when he was a member of the Chattanooga Cherokees semi professional team.

He coached the game quietly and didn’t often seek publicity.

Weathers will long be remembered as one of the best coaches, not only in the Chattanooga area, but in the state of Tennessee.

The football field at Red Bank is named after him and I honor him annually with the Tom Weathers Offensive Player of the year Award with Stump On Sports.

If I was an artist and asked to paint a picture of a football coach the finished product would look like Tom Weathers.

Title Path Runs Through K-town

(Pictured is the Maryville banner prior to the 4A championship game in 2006.)

Playoff teams in the TSSAA 2A, 3A and 4A classifications will likely have to beat a Knoxville area team to win a 2007 state championship.

Knoxville has long been a focal point of football in the state as the home of the University of Tennessee Volunteers.

Now the Knoxville area is a “Bermuda Triangle” where opposing teams go to disappear in the playoffs.

Class 4A Maryville (10-0), 2A Alcoa (9-1), and 3A powers Fulton (8-2) and Knoxville Catholic (10-0) form an area of great danger for programs throughout the state.Maryville is drawing national attention with three consecutive Class 4A state championship and six in seven years.

The Rebels completed their sixth consecutive undefeated regular season and pushed the regular season win streak to 66 games with a win last Friday.

Coach George Quarles’ team has now won 55 consecutive games and 108 of the past 110.

Alcoa and Fulton joined Maryville in capturing football state championships in 2006.

Rhea County (6-4) goes to Maryville this week. It will be a tough task for the Eagles. Rhea County has not defeated a team with a winning record this season.

A win by Brainerd (7-3) over Knoxville West (6-4) out on Moore Road in Chattanooga Friday night will likely send the Panthers back to Maryville again this season.

Coach Marvin Jones’ Panthers put a scare in the Rebels last postseason before falling 30-26 in the only close game Maryville encountered in its 4A title march.

If Red Bank (10-0) wins on Friday night at home against Powell (5-5) Coach Tim Daniels’ Lions would need a victory over the winner of Cleveland (7-3) and Knoxville Halls (7-3) to get the opportunity for a rematch with Maryville in the quarterfinals on Nov 23.

The Rebels dispatched the Lions 38-14 in the playoffs last season at Red Bank. It is the Lions only loss in their last 22 games.

Alcoa (9-1) won its third consecutive Class 2A crown in 2006 and fourth in the last seven years.

Gary Rankin’s Tornadoes have lost three games in the past two seasons. Neighboring Maryville has beaten Alcoa twice during regular season match-ups and 3A state champion Fulton defeated the Tornadoes in 2006.

Fulton (8-2) has won three 3A titles in four years.

Nevertheless, the best team in Knoxville in 3A this season is Knoxville Catholic (10-0).

The Knoxville area also has a strong group on 5A teams this season.

Bearden (9-1), Farragut (9-1), William Blount (8-2) and Oak Ridge (8-2) all have highly regarded playoff teams this season.

More Pea-Pickin'Picks

Nov. 3-5
Have you missed me?

I have missed presenting the weekly Pea-Pickin’ Picks for the past three weeks.

But, I was called to duty to help put together Varsity Sports Media’s Kentucky Basketball magazine.

The basketball fans in Kentucky are going to love it.

But it’s time to get back to what I love to do.

It’s time to write about football across the Volunteer State.

This is the final week of the regular season for the preps and there are still some postseason spots to be determined.

The TSSAA playoffs are a fun time.

Every team that makes it to postseason starts all over and has the dream of bringing a gold ball back to the school and community.

The Great Stumpola doesn’t have a Gold Ball, but has found his Crystal Ball and is ready to get back to work.

Stumpola’s overall record for this season is now 247-89.

On behalf of Tennessee Ernie Ford here’s a look at the winners and losers for the weekend of Nov. 3-5.

Pea-Pickin’ Picks NOV. 3-5

Alcoa over Loudon
Austin-East over Kingston
Knoxville Webb over Baylor
Bearden over Jefferson County
Tyner over Boyd Buchanan
Brainerd over Central
South Pittsburg over Chattanooga Grace
David Brainerd over Temple
Farragut over Oak Ridge
Red Bank over Hixson
Howard over McMinn Central
Knoxville Catholic over Scott County
Knoxville Halls over South Doyle
Maryville over Lenoir City
MBA over McCallie
Ooltewah over Soddy-Daisy
Polk County over Notre Dame
CAK over Rockwood
Dobyns Bennett over Science Hill
Silverdale over Whitwell
Ensworth over BGA
Cascade over White House Heritage
CPA over Goodpasture
David Lipscomb over Montgomery Central
Brentwood Academy over Father Ryan
Lewis County over East Hickman
Riverdale over LaVergne
Hillsboro over Shelbyville
Smyrna over Wilson Central
Station Camp over Pearl Cohn
Millington over Cordova
Dyersburg over Covington
ECS over Briarcrest
MUS over St. Benedict
St. George's over Bishop Byrne

COLLEGE
Alabama over LSU
Georgia over Troy
Florida over Vanderbilt
Tennessee over La-Lafayette
MTSU over La-Monroe
East Carolina over Memphis

PRO
Tennessee over Carolina
Dallas over Philadelphia
Atlanta over San Francisco
New England over Indianapolis

Few Vols' QBs make it in the NFL

Peyton Manning is by far the most productive former Tennessee Vols quarterback to ever play in the National Football League.

Tennessee field generals in the NFL have not been very plentiful, although Erik Ainge could be the next Big Orange alum to make the grade.

Heath Shuler was a top pick of the Washington Redskins, but injuries kept him from succeeding.

Shuler makes the list of the all-time biggest draft busts in NFL history.

Andy Kelley spent more time setting Arena Football League records.

Actually, the two Tennessee quarterbacks to log the most playing time are a couple of career back-ups who started occasionally.

Bobby Scott played in the NFL from 1971-1983 with the New Orleans Saints before going on to play in the USFL.

Pat Ryan played from 1978-1991 with the New York Jets and the Philadelphia Eagles.

Scott had the pleasure of backing up Peyton’s father Archie Manning in New Orleans for 11 years.

Bobby was my childhood hero when I was growing up in Rossville, Georgia.

Life in the once thriving mill town centered around football on Friday nights and Bobby Scott was the star quarterback of the Rossville Bulldogs.
I was one of the more than 7,000 who would pack Hutcheson Memorial Field to see Scott throw touchdown passes to Robert “Slimy” Simpson.

Scott brought a lot of visitors to Rossville to recruit him, including Alabama’s Paul Bear Bryant.

Bobby’s brother Houston loves to tell the story of how much Bear Bryant loved to come to Rossville to eat Momma Scott’s biscuits and gravy.

I once asked Scott about his NFL career and his rookie season with the Saints in 1971.

He remembered New Orleans playing against the Buffalo Bills.

"This was during O.J. Simpson's heyday and he was going great guns,” Scott said. “We were breaking camp and our coach, J.D Roberts, told Archie (Manning) and me to stay close to him all night because we were not going to play.

“So we walked the sidelines with him all night. "O.J. ripped one off the right side for a big gain and then caught a swing pass for another long gain before running a draw play for a touchdown.

"J.D. always smoked a cigar and he pulled it out of his mouth and turned to Archie and me and said, "I don't know who this number 32 is, but he is one heck of a running back.'

"We knew then we were in for a long year."

Red Vs. Blue at Heywood Stadium

By B.B. Branton
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- Bragging rights for the next 12 months is at stake tonight.

Not only for the current teenage players, but for their dads and granddads, as well astheir aunts and uncles, sisters and brothers. It’s for the alums who never played and those weekend warriors from generations gone by. It’s McCallie Week or Baylor Week, depending on which side of the river one’s loyalties lie.

The Red and Gray and Blue and White seventh and eighth graders donned helmets and pads on Wednesday, followed by boisterous pep rallies (McCallie on Thursday and Baylor today).

But tonight it’s the varsity.The 74th football meeting – or 72nd meeting (more on that shortly) – between McCallie and Baylor kicks off at 7:30 p.m. with a capacity crowd of 5,500 (plus a few more) wedged into Baylor’s storied Heywood Stadium.

McCallie records show the series at 37-33-3 in favor of the Red Raiders, while Baylor has it 37-31-3, also on the Red side of the ledger. The two games in question – both won by the Blue and White – are the first two in the long, historic rivalry; 1905 (41-0) and 1906 (5-0). Red Raider headmaster, Dr. Roy Baylor, did not recognize varsity athletics until the fall of 1908 (no game was played in 1907), while the McCallie headmasters encouraged varsity sports from the time the school at the foot of Missionary Ridge opened its doors in the fall of 1905.

Whatever the record, one of Chattanooga’s greatest prep gridiron rivalries has produced many memorable contests.

Below are 16 of those games – eight won by each school – in chronological order.

Eight Baylor Wins

Nov. 25, 1911 … 2:30 p.m. at Chamberlain Field – Baylor 30, McCallie 0 …Baylor’s first win of the rivalry after McCallie was 4-0-1 through 1910 … Baylor’s Mighty Gene Patton scores three touchdowns, including the Red Raiders’ first score in the series; a 25-yard scoring run in the first quarter … McCallie was 0-5 and went scoreless on the season.

Nov. 22, 1924 … 2 p.m. at Chamberlain Field – Baylor 3, McCallie 0 …Roy Witt’s 24-yard drop kick field goal in the second quarter is the difference, but Baylor’s fourth quarter goal line defense is legendary … McCallie has a first and goal at the Red Raider 1-yard-line after a Baylor fumble … but four rushing plays net zero yards for the Blue and White … On the next series, McCallie returns a punt to the Baylor 6-yard line, but a failed field goal attempt (possibly Florida State wide right) gives Baylor the win and a three-game win streak in the series ... Baylor defense holds McCallie to no first downs on the afternoon .

Nov. 23, 1929 ... Chamberlain Field …Baylor 7, McCallie 0 … T.I.A.A. (i.e. state crown) and city titles are on the line as Baylor spoils McCallie’s bid for an undefeated, unscored on season with a 7-0 upset win in the snow … A third quarter Robert Lefty Bryan (All-State) to Jim Haley 25-yard scoring pass results in the game’s only touchdown … McCallie has a one-year senior player named Fred Crawford who later plays for Duke and the Chicago Bears ... is elected to the national college football hall of fame in 1973 … McCallie (7-1-1) outscores its opponents, 170-7 ... Baylor is 7-2-2 and caps the season with a trip to Washington, D.C. and a photo-op with President Herbert Hoover on the White House lawn … The Baylor fullback in 1929 is Chattanooga resident Hugh Beaumont (Ward Cleaver) of “Leave It To Beaver’’ TV sitcom fame.

Nov. 23, 1940 … 2 p.m. at Chamberlain Field … Baylor 21, McCallie 6 …The last game in the series, until 1971 … Baylor (10-0-0) is led by Raider greats Eddie Prokop and Bill Healy … Prokop, with 161 rushing yards on the day, caps his prep career with a 93-yard scoring run from scrimmage as time expires ... McCallie’s Lewis Bibb gives chase the entire length of the field, but never catches Prokop (All-State), who sets a single season city record of 119 points ... 1940 is Humpy Heywood’s first season as Baylor head coach as he leads the Red Raiders to the city title and co-Mid South crown with Darlington.

Oct. 6, 1973 ... 8 p.m. at Chamberlain Field … Baylor 33, McCallie 15 … Baylor is 4-0 on the season prior to this game … 8,500 fans watch Baylor’s Andy Rutledge and Clay Gibson combine for five touchdowns on the way to a state and national championship (13-0) … Rutledge rushes for 138 yards on 18 carries and scoring runs of 45, 11 and 4 yards … Gibson has 116 yards and scores from the 11 and 6 yard lines … Rutledge, an All-State and city player of the year, races 45 yards to the Blue end zone on his first carry of the game.Oct. 5, 1974 ... at Chamberlain Field ... Baylor 33, McCallie 14 … Both teams enter the game 3-0 … State rankings show Baylor No.4 and McCallie No.5 … Baylor has lost 16 starters from the undefeated national championship squad of 1973 … McCallie leads 14-7 at halftime, but on this day, 9,000 fans watch as Red Raider Jeff Aiken (state back of the week) has a stellar performance of 167 rushing yards (131 in the second half) and two touchdowns … Scott Ferguson and Robert Hays also contribute to the Baylor 360 rushing yards … Baylor’s winning streak is 17 …Ward Nelson and Mark Hooper score for McCallie.

Oct. 25, 1997 … Baylor 9, McCallie 7 … Baylor’s Sam Warren is the hero as he converts on field goals of 46, 35 and 31 yards … Tornado’s points came on a Will Thomas 3-yard run for a 7-0 lead … Warren first split the uprights at 6:54 of the second quarter as his 46-yarder clips the cross bar and goes over to trail 7-3 … His 35-yard kick as time expires in the first half pulls the Raiders to within one, 7-6 … His winning FG comes at 2:23 of the third quarter from 31 yards away.Nov. 7, 1997 … Baylor 21, McCallie 7 … Second meeting of the season … McCallie again takes a 7-0 (halftime), before Baylor scores 21 unanswered points in a TSSAA first round playoff game … Brad Rooks, Joey Ferguson and Wes Angel score Raider touchdowns … Baylor wins with a strong ground game producing 263 rushing yards as opposed to no passing yards … Last Baylor win before McCallie’s current nine-game win streak.

Eight McCallie Wins

Nov. 19, 1921 … 2:15 p.m. … Chamberlain Field … McCallie 12, Baylor 6 …This is the first year in which McCallie teams are referred to as the Blue Tornado … McCallie enters the game undefeated (6-0-0) and unscored upon … The Blue Tornado has seven All-City and five All-South players, including future Chattanooga Mocs coach and college football Hall of Famer Scrappy Moore … This is McCallie’s first perfect season in football (7-0-0).

Nov. 21, 1936 … 2 p.m. … Chamberlain Field … McCallie 19, Baylor 7 ... Both teams enter the game undefeated … City Prep and Mid-South titles are on the line … On Tuesday (Nov. 18) of game week, Baylor students hang in effigy in a few trees on their campus a likeness of McCallie star running back "Breezing" Bob Andridge … But on Saturday, 4,447 fans watch the real Aldridge score twice on runs of 83 and 2 yards … Baylor’s Lupton Avery scores for the Red Raiders … All 11 McCallie starters (plus 14 reserves) are seniors …

The Blue Tornado did not win another game in the series until Nov. 22, 1974, also at Chamberlain Field (Note: series stops after 1940 game until 1971) ... At a post-season dinner at the Read House, the McCallie letter winners receive solid gold footballs for the undefeated season (9-0-0).

Nov. 22, 1974 ... 8 p.m. at Chamberlain Field ... McCallie 29, Baylor 7 … Most points by a McCallie team in the series since the 41-0 win in 1905 … Baylor enters the game with the state’s longest win streak and a 33-14 triumph against McCallie six weeks earlier (Oct. 5), also at Chamberlain Field …McCallie sophomore Dan Robinson rushes for 116 yards on 17 carries … McCallie’s Ed Smith (defensive end) and Tom Mullady (tight end) will continue their careers on Sunday afternoons (NFL) … Defensive ends Smith and Waymon Tipton are keys to the Blue defense this night.

Oct. 30, 1982 … at McCallie … McCallie 3, Baylor 0 ... McCallie coach Pete Potter suspends several starters earlier in the week for breaking team rules … One other starter, Tory Johnston, is sick and also does not play … All-City Bodie Spangler is the hero with a 34-yard field goal with 1:33 remaining in the game … McCallie’s Peter Hunt (All-State) is the defensive star with two interceptions, a fumble recovery and six tackles … McCallie is undefeated (10-0-0) in regular season for the first time since 1956 (9-0-1) ... loses to Cleveland in the first round of the TSSAA playoffs.

Oct. 8, 1983 ... at Baylor … McCallie 33, Baylor 0 … McCallie enters the game undefeated (5-0-0) and is on its way to a second straight 10-0-0 regular season mark … 8,500 watch as McCallie quarterback Matt Brock scores on a 2-yard run and passes 34 yards to Brent Turner for another score … Tornado John Green has 106 rushing yards and a 1-yard TD run … McCallie defense gives up only one first down and does not allow Baylor to cross midfield … Biggest margin of victory in the series. Oct. 28, 1995 … at Baylor … McCallie 14, Baylor 10 … For McCallie faithful, the win is linked to “The Drive’’ … Jason Green’s 1-yard run puts Baylor up 10-7 with 4:18 remaining in the fourth quarter … McCallie quarterback Thomas Gallant then orchestrates “The Drive’’ – 80 yards on 11 plays … Gallant is 12-of-16 for 151 passing yards on this sunny afternoon, but his last completion – a 5-yard TD toss to Brian Strain at 0:07 – is the most important … Victory snaps Baylor’s four-game win streak against the Blue … Gallant also intercepts Green’s Hail Mary attempt as time runs out.

Oct. 24, 1998 … 2 p.m. at McCallie … McCallie 35, Baylor 3 … In pre-game pomp and circumstance, Spence McCallie III, wearing a crown and royal blue robe and sitting on a throne, is carried onto the field by some McCallie students in honor of his final game as school headmaster … Tornado running back Garrett Harvey rushes for 122 yards on 13 carries and three touchdowns … Teammate Will Thomas is 6-for-6 and 175 yards through the air and two scores … First win in the current nine-game win streak; longest by either school.Oct. 6, 2001 ... at Baylor … McCallie 44, Baylor 14 …McCallie is 6-0 and the state’s No. 1 team entering the game … Keppy Baucom has 23 tackles for the Tornado, while Wayne Fullam (108 yards, 13 carries) and Campbell Thomas each have a pair of touchdown runs … Willie Idlette scores twice for Baylor on runs of 51 and 13 ... … McCallie ends the season 12-0 and state champs.

Pea-Pickin' Picks Oct 5

Reward: No questions asked. Your name will remain a secret. If anybody has any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the criminal who stole The Great Stumpola’s Crystal Ball please contact Varsity Sports Media.

What a shame. I plead insanity. There was a full moon. The games were fixed. I received bad information on some of the teams. I worked too much on basketball this week. My wife yelled at me all week that I was a bad husband. Well, I might have deserved that. My credit card declined my latest payment to CoachFran.com and I didn’t get the tips I needed from Texas A&M coach Dennis Franchione. I listened to Boomer. I believed what Terry Bradshaw said. Why, why, why would I take advice from Michael Ervin? He’s a nice guy and has worked at the same gas station for years. Nevertheless, what does he know about football? I guess I started believing I really was good at picking games. It was a bad week. Both of my bosses bragged on me.

I should have seen this coming.

What else can I say? How did I pick Brainerd over Austin East, Cookeville over Cleveland, McCallie over Ensworth, Pope John Paul over BGA, Cordova over Arlington and Polk County over Sweetwater to go 25-10 in the preps?

I’m sorry that is not up to my standards.

Not to mention, I took Clemson over Georgia Tech, Alabama over Florida, Florida over Auburn (I’m glad I missed that pick), and the worst of all, Chattanooga over the Citadel.

I’m totally embarrassed. Four wins and four losses in the college games will not get you anywhere but the unemployment line.

Actually, five wins and two losses in the professional games wasn’t too bad when you consider Atlanta over Houston and Oakland over Miami weren’t bad choices.

But I vow to do better this week or my name isn’t The Great Stumpola.

Even David Pachal beat me last week.

However, I don’t have my Crystal Ball and I have more dodges than Chrysler.

It’s going to be tough, but as my coach used to say, “When the going gets tough you need to do something to make a statement.”So, here goes. It’s “Redemption Weekend” and I have decided to make this week’s picks in the nude in an effort to chase the evil sprits away that have taken my Crystal Ball.

Hey, don’t knock it until you try it. And just hope nobody opens the door to my office until I make all of the Pea-Pickin’ Picks in memory of Tennessee Ernie Ford.

I feel like the 16 tons he used to sing about are all on my shoulders.
I need a winning week as bad as Phillip Fulmer and his Tennessee Vols do in Knoxville on Saturday.

Record for year: 205-73

PREPS
Knoxville Catholic over Anderson County
Boyd Buchanan over Bledsoe County
Ooltewah over Bradley Central
Cleveland over Chattanooga Central
Lookout Valley over Grace
Silverdale over David Brainerd
Elizabethton over Sullivan
East William Blount over Farragut
Father Ryan over Knoxville Webb
Knoxville West over Lenoir City
Maryville over Knoxville Central
McCallie over Baylor
McMinn County over Oak Ridge
Morristown East over Morristown West
Howard over Polk County
Red Bank over Brainerd
Bearden over Science Hill
Sullivan South over Sullivan Central
South Pittsburg over Whitwell
Antioch over Gallatin
Austin-East over Livingston Academy
Franklin County over Coffee County
MBA over Ensworth
Ezell-Harding over CPA
Franklin over Brentwood
Goodpasture over East Robertson
Jo Byrns over Eagleville
Maplewood over Lawrence County
Mt. Pleasant over Collinwood
MUS over Cookeville
Pearl Cohn over DeKalb County
Brentwood Academy over Pope John Paul
Ravenwood over Columbia
Tullahoma over Shelbyville
CBHS over Briarcrest
Collierville over Houston
Kingsbury over Fairley
Whitehaven over Hamilton
Henry County over Jackson Central-Merry
Jackson Northside over Hardin County
Jackson South Side over Fayette Ware
Melrose over Memphis Northside
White Station over Kirby
Wooddale over Germantown

COLLEGE
Tennessee over Georgia
LSU over Florida
Arkansas over Chattanooga
Auburn over Vanderbilt
Carson-Newman over Mars Hill
Ole Miss over Louisiana Tech
Oklahoma over Texas
Alabama over Houston
Middle Tennessee State over Virginia
Tennessee Tech over Austin Peay

PRO
Tennessee over Atlanta
Dallas over Buffalo
Green Bay over Chicago
Denver over San Diego

Pea-Pickin’ Picks Sept. 28

Hillsboro's star Jacques Seward (5)

What a week of prognosticating.
After picking 46 winners and only eight losers in Tennessee preps, 16 winners and two losers in college games and going 8-3 in professional picks last week I started to take a few days off.
But when you’re hot you’re hot and it is the time to move forward and work harder.
I heard an old coach say that once. Or, did he say it twice?
This is going to be a tough week for the Pea-Pickin’ Picks, named appropriately after Tennessee Ernie Ford.
Tennessee Ernie Ford was born in Bristol Tennessee. He went on to become one of the most popular entertainers in Tennessee history.
He reached stardom in the mid 1950’s with a rendition of the song “Sixteen tons.”
I still remember him singing, “You load sixteen tons, what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt. Saint Peter, don't you call me, 'cause I can't go; I owe my soul to the company store...”
Now guys and gals, if you’re using my picks to wager let me warn you that you too will be like the lyrics of Tennessee Ernie Ford’s song, “another day older and deeper in debt.”
There are some hard to pick games across the Volunteer State this week. And who do you pick in the Alabama and Florida State game?
Plus, you never know who is going to show up in throw back uniforms as ugly as those the Philadelphia Eagles wore last week.
Ouch, those threads were hideous.
OK, enough of the procrastinating on the prognosticating.
Last week, The Great Stumpola, and his crystal ball were able to come up with 71 winners and 13 losers. That brings the season total of the “Round Mound of Profound” to 171-57.

HIGH SCHOOL
Knoxville Catholic over Baylor
Bearden over Knoxville Halls
Brainerd over Austin-East
Grace over Bledsoe County
Oak Ridge over Clinton
Cookeville over Cleveland
Dobyns Bennett over Elizabethton
Knoxville Fulton over Morristown East
Ooltewah over Maplewood
Maryville over William Blount
McMinn County over Rhea County
Polk County over Sweetwater
Red Bank over Boyd Buchanan
East Ridge over Sequoyah
Soddy-Daisy over Hixson
South Pittsburg over Tyner
Father Ryan over CPA
Jo Byrns over Forrest
David Lipscomb over Goodpasture
Hillsboro over Hillwood
Howard over Grundy County
MBA over Ravenwood
McCallie over Ensworth
Pearl Cohn over Stratford
Pope John Paul over BGA
Riverdale over Dickson County
Smyrna over Gallatin
CBHS over Carver
Cordova over Arlington
Ezell-Harding over Bishop Byrne
Melrose over Hamilton
Jackson South Side over Jackson Northside
MUS over Memphis Northside
ECS over St. Benedict
White Station over Fairley



COLLEGE
South Carolina over Mississippi St.
Georgia over Mississippi
Clemson over Georgia Tech
Alabama over Florida St.
Chattanooga over The Citadel
Florida over Auburn
Michigan over Northwestern
Southern Cal over Washington

PRO

Atlanta over Houston
Oakland over Miami
Dallas over St. Louis
Pittsburgh over Arizona
New England over Cincinnati
Green Bay over Minnesota
Philadelphia over New York

Vols picked to get back on track

Ahhhh finally, The Great Stumpola is in tune and ready to sing out the truth in the weekly Pea-Pickin'-Picks in memory of Tennessee Ernie Ford. You remember Tennessee Ernie Ford, "bless your little pea-pickin' heart"? He was as popular in Tennessee as Minnie Pearl and Johnny Majors. Oh well, that has been a day or two and some of you don;t know about the Grand Ole Opry. But how about a week of 31 wins and only seven losses? That's what we're talking about. Stumpola is on, just throw me the darn picks. The response has been so good that it is time to step out and pick college and professional games each week. It's more work, but it's what the readers, Craig, Leon and my mother want. Then let's just do it.The winning percentage jumped out of site this past week with the 31-7 record for a total of 100-44 for the season.

HIGH SCHOOL

Austin-East over Scott County

Bearden over Karns

Alcoa over Booker T. Washington

Brainerd over Rhea County

CAK over Wartburg Central

Chattanooga Grace over Temple

Dobyns Bennett over Jefferson County

Farragut over McMinn County

Gatlinburg-Pittman over Happy Valley

Polk County over Grundy County

Chattanooga Central over Hixson

Sullivan South over Johnson County

Knoxville West over Knoxville Halls

Knoxville Catholic over Livingston Academy

Lookout Valley over Whitwell

Tyner over Marion County

Meigs County over East Ridge

Notre Dame over Sequoyah

Oak Ridge over Heritage

William Blount over Ooltewah

Maryville over Powell

Red Bank over Walker Valley

Silverdale over Copper Basin

Bradley Central over Soddy-Daisy

South Pittsburg over David Brainerd

Howard over Tellico Plains

Cleveland over White County

Brentwood Academy over Baylor

Ravenwood over Brentwood

David Lipscomb over Cheatham County

Cookeville over Cumberland County

Franklin County over Lincoln County

Goodpasture over Ezell-Harding

Hillsboro over Maplewood

Jo Byrns over Middle TN Chr.

Lebanon over LaVergne

White House over Macon County

MBA over Pope John Paul

McCallie over Father Ryan

Trousdale County over Monterey

Mt. Pleasant over Perry County

Pearl Cohn over Sycamore

Riverdale over Siegel

Bolton at Craigmont

ECS over Carver

CBHS over MUS

Whitehaven over Collierville

Hollow Rock-Bruceton at South Fulton

Houston at Wooddale

Jackson Central-Merry over Liberty Magnet

Jackson Christian over Gibson County

Melrose over Kingsbury

Raleigh Egypt over Fairley

White Station over Germantown

COLLEGE
Louisville over Syracuse
Navy Over Duke
Boston College over Army
Georgia over Alabama
Tennessee over Arkansas St.
Florida over Ole Miss
Ohio St. over Northwestern
Penn St. over Michigan
Oklahoma St. over Texas Tech
Central Florida over Memphis
Georgia Tech over Virginia
California over Arizona
West Virginia over East Carolina
South Florida over North Carolina
Clemson over North Carolina St
Auburn over New Mexico St.
Texas over Rice
USC over Washington St.
TCU over SMU

PRO
Colts over Texans
Packers over Chargers
Eagles over Lions
Patriots over Bills
Steelers over 49ers
Ravens over Cardinals
Broncos over Jaguars
Browns over Raiders
Panthers over Falcons
Redskins over Giants
Cowboys over Bears