Independence Clicks By Antioch

ALCOA --- Click … click … click … the inbox at StumpOnSports.com began to sound-off shortly after noon on Wednesday March 27.

The morning began with a few votes for Antioch as the Bears extended their lead in the 2008 Tennessee Football magazine’s Cover Contest.

Nonetheless, when Gerard Smith cast his vote for Independence High in Thompson’s Station at 12:01 p.m. on Wednesday the clicking began to increase.

One after the other the votes clicked in throughout the day until more than 150 votes were cast for the Independence Eagles that day.

That was only the start.

After overtaking the Bears of Antioch for the honor of having their own Tennessee Football magazine cover specially designed for the school, Independence continued on voting.

As of noon Sunday March 30, Independence had 329 votes compared to Antioch’s 51.

Brentwood Academy, Knox Fulton, Tyner, Bolton, Ooltewah, Union City, Ravenwood and Howard all have received votes.

However, something tells me that this race isn’t over.

Independence is displaying the school spirit that helped ignite the Eagles to a 5-A TSSAA state finals appearance in 2007.

The students of Independence were very impressive cheering for the Eagles in a loss to Smyrna that day at Middle Tennessee State.

There probably is a tad of animosity between Independence and Antioch. The Eagles eliminated the Bears in the TSSAA playoffs 44-12 last November 16.

Your team can still be the winner of the Tennessee Football magazine cover contest.

With the deadline set for midnight on April 15 the sprint by Independence may not be enough.

Have your coaches, players, faculty, band, boosters, and sponsors go to the TennFB.com site and place a vote to win a custom designed cover from Varsity Sports Media.

The winning school will receive 500 copies of the 2008 Tennessee Football magazine with your custom cover at no charge.

Sell the magazines with the custom cover for $10 each and your school has a $5,000 fundraiser and a lot of spirit for the school.

Just click on the link at the bottom of this story and vote for you favorite team.

Now, here’s a tip that might lead to your school becoming the ultimate winner.

Spread the word to everyone you know in your community who will go to the website and vote.

In addition, photocopy this sheet many times and pass it out to as many people as you know.

Get your booster club, church, civic organizations and everybody you can reach out to vote for your team.

Contact the local radio and television stations, as well as newspapers in your area, and ask them to direct people to the site to make your goal come true.

Utilize your school website to spread the word.

It’s obvious that Independence is following these tips.

Vote Here

Cumberland Is Coming To Chattanooga

The first thought when I heard Chattanooga had added Cumberland College to its football schedule for 2008 was, “Isn’t that the school that lost 222-0 to Georgia Tech back in 1916?"

Sure enough, same Cumberland College, that has improved the Bulldogs football program 1,000 percent since that day in 1916.

Last year the Mocs lost to D-II power Carson-Newman.

Personally, I would have loved to see a rematch with the Eagles at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga.

Nevertheless, on Sept. 6 the Cumberland Bulldogs from the NAIA roll into Chattanooga for game with the Mocs.

The small Lebanon, Tenn. school is getting $30,000 for the game.

Chattanooga’s schedule will now be Oklahoma (Aug 30), Cumberland (Sept. 6) and Florida State (Sept. 13).

Have you heard the story on Cumberland’s 222-0 loss to John Heisman’s Georgia Tech squad in Atlanta?

The Bulldogs had done away with the football program prior to the season. However, Cumberland had an agreement with Georgia Tech that would force them to pay $3,000 if the team didn’t play.

The story goes that Heisman was upset that Cumberland had beaten his baseball team 22-0 earlier that year. In fact, Cumberland had been accused of playing professionals against Georgia Tech in baseball.

A student manager for the baseball team named George Allen assembled a scrub football team of 14 players, including fraternity brothers, to go play Tech.

I like the odds for this Cumberland team against Chattanooga better than the 1916 squad that lost 222-0 and trailed 63-0 at the end of the first quarter.

However, the game does come between Oklahoma and Florida State.

Ouch!

Cumberland plays in the Mid-South Conference with University of the Cumberlands, Georgetown, Campbellsville, Union, Pikeville, University of Virginia College at Wise, West Virginia University, Bellhaven, Bethel, Lambuth and Shorter.

Cumberland has some quality players. Greg "Greenmile" Smith, who played at Auburn after winning many accolades at Tyner, is scheduled to play this season.

Dewayne Alexander’s Bulldogs were 4-6 for the 2007 campaign.

Walker/Stewart Make A Difference

My friends Riley Walker and Efrin Stewart have spent a lot of time over the years coaching little guys football players in the Chattanooga area.

The two have been outstanding leaders of the Tyner Bills and now Brainerd Bills organization.

This week I was moving some files around to get more room to start on stories for the 2008 Tennessee Football magazine. During my shuffling I ran across a document listing players who came through that organization and went on to play college and pro football.

I have been told that this is not a complete list. However, this is impressive.

I just wanted to take time on a rainy day to recognize Walker and Stewart for the efforts they have made that have changed lives.

Brainerd/Tyner Bills College

Hixson
Daniel Bullocks (Nebraska and NFL Lions)*
Josh Bullocks (Nebraska and NFL Saints)*
Germon Spence (Carson Newman)

City High
Tony Brown (Memphis and NFL Tennessee Titans)
Labron Elder (Middle Tennessee State)
Stevland Sills (Tennessee Tech)

Brainerd
C.J. Black (basketball Tennessee)
Kenneth Henderson (Tuskegee and NFL Free Agent 06)*
Darrell Hinton (Tennessee State and NFL Europe)
Lurone Jennings Jr. (Lane College)
Labron Johnson Jr. (Tusculum) *
Rickey Maples (Carson Newman)
Cory Sanders ( Alabama State)
Damon Smith (Lane College and Arena League)
Riley Walker Jr (Tennessee State and now an assistant coach there) *

CSAS
Carlos Clark (basketball Holy Cross)
George Hudgins (basketball Drexell)

Red Bank
Jimmy Whisman (Chattanooga)

Southeast Whitfield, Ga
Marcus Jones (Duke)

South Pittsburgh
Antonio Robinson (Tennessee Tech)

Tyner
Daniel Dingler (Tennessee Tech)
Resinald Ellison (Albany State)
Quinton Hale ( MTSU and NFL Free agent 06)*
Rory Hinton ( George Mason)
Kevin Hughes ( Carson-Newman)
Josef Rutley (Chattanooga)
Winderak Stewart (GMC)
Shaun Strickland (Tusculum)

* On the same 10-under team

Other Players
Nick Tanner (Tuskegee)
Kevion Jones ( San Mateo Jr. College)

Tyner High Players
Anthony Jones (Vanderbilt)
Kelvin Hughley (Georgia Tech)
Jason Ball (Chattanooga)
Derrick Stinson (Tusculum)
Desmond Hendricks ( Rhodes College)
Greg Smith (Auburn/Cumberland)
DeMonte Bolden (Tennessee)

Maryville Goes Swoosh With Nike

The old saying that the rich get richer is true for the Maryville Rebels football program.

The 2007 Tennessee Football magazine Team of the Year will change its look for the upcoming football season.

The same old uniforms that the Rebels just kept on winning and winning in will be updated with new gridiron threads compliments of Nike.

For the first time since 1996, the Rebels will be stepping out in new duds.

Nike sought out Maryville in the continued effort to sign the top athletic programs in the nation.

The Rebels were offered a three-year deal to have the football team wear the famous swoosh, which has been approved by the Maryville City Schools Board.

Coach George Quarles record-breaking team enters the 2008 season on a 60-game win streak and four consecutive 4A state championships. The Rebels will be the first team in Tennessee and one of only 40 prep football squads nationwide who will be wearing Nike this year.

He said other major athletic manufactures had offered deals to get Maryville to change from the DeLong uniforms that they wore in 2007.

However, he said his team voted to go with Nike.

Quarles said the Rebels could play some of the other elite Nike teams across the nation as early as 2009.

The award-winning coach said Maryville has already had offers to go to Florida to play Miami-Northwestern, which was ranked No. 1 nationwide following the 2007 campaign.

However, that's not a game that the Rebels are expected to consider playing.

Quarles said the school will have to pay for the uniforms, but practice wear, shoes and other items would be available to the players.

Cover Contest

Your high school football team has the opportunity to be on the cover of the 2008 edition of the Tennessee Football magazine.

That’s right; you don’t have to read the last sentence again.

It’s true, but only one team can be the winner.

Just like playing for the Tennessee state championship, one team will win out across the state to be on the front cover.

Varsity Sports Media will custom design a cover especially for the winning school. Then the company will give your school 500 copies at no cost to sell, give away or to do whatever you want.

Just click on the link at the bottom of this story and vote for you favorite team.

Please note, your school may not be listed until it’s inserted in the voting area at the bottom of the ballot.

Now, here’s a tip that might lead to your school becoming the ultimate winner.

Spread the word to everyone you know in your community who will go to the website and vote.
In addition, photocopy this sheet many times and pass it out to as many people as you know.

Get your booster club, church, civic organizations and everybody you can reach out to vote for your team.

Contact the local radio and television stations, as well as newspapers in your area, and ask them to direct people to the site to make your goal come true.

Utilize your school website to get the word out.

The race is on and the deadline is tax day, April 15.

Check the VSM Message Boards for daily voting updates starting Monday, March 15.
Vote Here

Pacman Wants To Be A Cowboy

Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones just doesn’t get it.

Instead of keeping his mouth shut and trying to lay low he was back home in Atlanta on a radio show being Pacman.

Jones an Atlanta radio station that he's in top shape and ready to play football again.

He even has a team of preference.

Pacman wants to be a Dallas Cowboy.

He was suspended in April 2007 for off-the-field incidents by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

The commissioner said last month that he does not plan to reinstate Jones soon and will review the matter again in July.

Why would any team want Jones?

The Associated Press reported that he entered a best-interest guilty plea on charges of felony obstruction in a Georgia case. He was sentenced to three years probation. That was the last criminal charge that had been pending against Jones.

He has admitted he made bad decisions.

However, he hasn’t acted like he was sorry for any of the decisions and continues to be brash.

He was quated as saying, “It is hard watching the whole season go by when you know that you are better than 90 percent of the people that's out there.”

World Champion Now A Raider

Former Tennessee Vols free safety Gibril Wilson didn’t wait around to get his Super Bowl championship ring before leaving the New York Giants for the Oakland Raiders.

Is that a smart move?

Maybe it’s all about the money.

Wilson signed a six-year, $39 million contract with Oakland, including $16 million guaranteed.

Not that the former Tennessee star didn’t deserve it.

He has made 284 solo tackles since entering the NFL in 2004. That’s the most solo tackles of any safety since he’s been in the NFL.

It had to be hard to leave the glamour and the limelight of New York for the Raiders.

Favre Was Worth Paying To See Play

Before Super Bowl XXXII in San Diego I wrote this about Brett Favre.

As surely as John Wayne was an American hero, the Green Bay Packers' Brett Favre is the best quarterback ever to play the game.

The good ol' boy from Kiln, Miss., is a man's man. The kind of guy the deer-hunting, coon-skinning, possum-trapping, four-wheel-driving, pool-shooting guys down at the local bar will toast to a can of cheap beer. And the type the bespectacled yuppies who run two miles a day and do spin classes at the YMCA will adopt as a hero.

He's a quarterback for all ages and all types. Former Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Bobby Layne was a tush-hog. Favre is tougher.

In the NFC playoffs, Favre challenged Tampa Bay defensive tackle Warren Sapp time and time again -- face to face, jawing back and forth. Again two weeks ago in the NFC title tilt, Favre went toe-to-toe with legendary bad boy Kevin Greene of the San Francisco 49ers after being sacked.

Favre jumped to his feet and head-butted Greene, telling him all the time, "Come on, come on."
Former Pittsburgh Steelers great Terry Bradshaw had that same fire in his gut that made him play with the same type intensity. The great Johnny Unitas was mentally and physically tough like Favre. Y.A. Tittle, who in an award-winning photograph was etched in history on his knees, helmet off, blood pouring down his face, was a warrior like Favre.

But Favre has a little bit of all those old greats in his makeup.

That was back on Jan. 20, 1998.

In the past 10 seasons, Favre has done nothing to change my opinion of him.

Some have had more polish. Others have more super bowl rings.

However, Brett Favre is the quarterback that I would pay the most money to watch play.