MIKE PIRTLE, Post Publisher
Posted: Sunday, August 16, 2009 7:23 am

High school football "Guru" Murphy Fair. TMP photo by Michelle Willard

This won’t be your daddy’s high school football season.

In a sport where change is slow and infrequent, huge changes are coming this year in TSSAA football, including lumping all of Rutherford County’s large football teams into one district.

To help make sense of all the changes and get a take on this year’s area teams, The Post asked for the input of the Tennessee High School Guru, Murfreesboro’s own Murphy Fair, publisher, editor and distributor of “Tennessee High School Football Preview.”

“Reclassification, heat index, a record number of head coaches changes, playoff format drastically changed, Cookeville – it almost gives you a headache with all the drastic changes we are experiencing at one time,” Fair exclaimed when asked to provide an overview of high school football for 2009.

“And, most coaches don’t like any of it,” he added with a wry chuckle.

The season that opens Thursday locally with defending state champion Oakland playing Ensworth will be a “real interesting year,” Fair said, explaining, “When late October rolls around, you are really going to hear a lot of opposition (to the changes).”

The big issue will be changes to the playoff qualification system that are still generally not understood and complicated enough that some teams won’t know if they are in or out until the day after the regular season finale.

“Before win X number of games and you are in,” Fair said, but “Now, no one has a clue.”
Coaches tell him, “It wasn’t broke why did we have to fix It.” but he notes a sharp decline in TSSAA playoff revenue, down $100,000 last year, and schools’ costs to travel were significant issues.

At The Post’s request, Fair gives a rundown on area teams and other developments for the upcoming football season for a Post Top 10 (11 because of the major changes):

1. Oakland – “I’m of same persuasion as lot of people, until someone proves more worthy I think they need to be at the top,” Fair says of the defending state champions who were somewhat of a surprise last year but won’t be this season.

Coach Thomas McDaniels’ defense is expected to be especially strong as it was last fall with Mr. Football lineman finalist Tim McAdoo back as a force in the middle. Several topnotch defenders return, including secondary ball hawk Zack Barnes, linemen Darius Coffey and Austin Murray and linebacker Joel Keeling.

“I think defense will carry them for a while,” Fair said of a unit with so many performers back from a team that never gave up more than 17 points in going 14-1 last season.

Offensively, the Pats lost star runner Precious Valentine but have experience in the backfield with quarterback Christian Adams along with backs Dre Frasier and T. Mayberry and along the line.

2. Smyrna – Coaches picked the Bulldogs at No. 5 in the state in a pre-season poll.
The Bulldogs won two playoff games before bowing to Oakland in the semi-finals in a 9-3 slugfest last year.

“Smyrna is going to be good,” Fair predicts. “(Coach) Matt Williams comes from a coaching family and knows his X and Os and his great with kids too.”

While Williams will need to rebuild greatly at offensive line, Jeremiah Bryson returns as a star at running back after struggling with injuries last year along with quality quarterback Steve Wilson.

3. Riverdale – Area football fans were stunned last fall when Riverdale failed to make the playoffs, finishing 5-5 and losing to Oakland and Siegel in intercity matchups.

Don’t expect that to happen again.

“The Warriors are back,” Fair says, adding, “A lot of people have wrongly pointed the finger at (coach) Ron Aydelott. To a great extent the talent pool was not as strong the last couple of years to what Riverdale fans are accustomed to.

“But, that’s changing.”

While Fair expects the Warriors to be vastly improved whether they can challenge Oakland for district supremacy is unknown.

C.J. Overton should be a team leader on defense from his linebacker position with senior quarterback Cody West leading the offense after starting every game last year.
The Warriors, who lost their opener to Oakland last year, will have four games to get ready for the Battle of the Boro this season.

4. Blackman – Two years ago Phillip Shadowens led Smyrna to a groundbreaking second top-tier state football championship.

Last year he led Middle Tennessee Christian School to its first ever playoff berth.
This season he will try to establish a winning tradition at Blackman after being named head coach at the end of another disappointing season last December.

“Coach Shadowens certainly brings a winning tradition,” Fair said. “ I would expect to see a much better team.”

Quarterback Tyrek Collier and running backs DeShawn Smith and Jacquez Smith have looked good for the Blaze in pre-season preparations that included a 21-0 scrimmage win over Gallatin, expected to be strong this year.

5. Siegel – The Stars made the school’s first playoff appearance ever last year and Coach David Watson returns 12 starters, leading Fair to expect Siegel to be strong again this year.

“Marc Gooch is a great talent. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him playing in the SEC next year,” Fair said of the stellar receiver who scored 13 touchdowns while amassing more than 1,000 yards last fall.

Gooch is a first cousin to another top college prospect, Oakland’s McAdoo, Fair revealed.
Making Gooch even more dangerous is he will again team with quarterback Tanner Witt who was all-region and 1,000-yard rusher Gerald House.

6. La Vergne – Fair expects the Wolverines to improve this fall, but that shouldn’t be hard for a team that won only once in 2008.

But, La Vergne could have been the most inexperienced team in the state after losing more than 30 seniors the year before.

Will Hester will coach a team with “great talent but still young” this year, Fair said, as the Wolverines had a “lot of sophomores in the lineup last year and are competing in what many think is the toughest district in the state.”

Landon Grooms, the Wolverines' junior quarterback is a dual threat and has two veteran receivers in Terry Hodges, a state track champion, and Kevin Moore, meaning La Vergne will be a threat every week.

7. MTCS – The Cougars made the playoffs for the first time in the school’s history, earning the berth with a furious five-minute finish to beat Forrest, 21-14, and end the regular season 7-3.

Those experiences tend to make teams better.

“First time in playoffs in school history last year means the kids know what that’s all about now,” Fair noted.

MTMC will have a new coach who also has winning experience as David Peden who replaced Shadowens was a two-time state champ at Brentwood and was on the coaching staff for another title team.

Senior Nathan Coats, a running back/linebacker, and four returning offensive line starters will be keys for the Cougars.

8. Eagleville – The Eagles return only seven starters from last year’s 4-6 team that narrowly missed the playoffs

Fair expects the Eagles to see improvement this year despite the graduation loses as “having (coach) Steve Carson with Carlton Flatt and Tom Fiveash on your staff has got to mean a whole lot.

“Coaches in that region think they have a shot this year,” Fair said.

While the Eagles have plenty of holes to fill, Fair said they have a lot of skill position kids.

9. Classifications – The TSSAA Board of Control, acting at a time when gas was running around $4 a gallon, made wholesale changes in the classification and playoff systems by a 5-4 vote.

“It is supposed to be about less travel, stronger rivalries, playing teams you already play in basketball and spring sports,” Fair explained.

One result is that all six Rutherford County teams in the top classification, 6A, will be in the same district for the first time which may result in fewer area teams making the playoffs.

“I think the jury is still out,” Fair said, adding, “The vast majority of coaches I‘ve talked to don’t like it, maybe just because it’s a major change.”

One major drawback he noted is that it could be midday on the Saturday after the season’s last game before playoff berths are known because “ballgames in Chattanooga and Memphis will also affect who does or doesn’t get in the playoffs.”

10. Predictions – Oakland is one of five picked by the Guru.
The book’s coaches’ poll put Oakland firmly at No. 1 with Smyrna at No. 5. Riverdale and Blackman also received votes.

Eagleville was picked No. 10 in Class 1A.

10. New title home – Cookeville outbid Murfreesboro and will be host for the TSSAA football championship games this December.

The last five championship games have pitted a Rutherford County team against a Williamson County team.

11. A Guru observation – “Coaching and officiating participation is falling in most parts of state,” Fair said when asked to list “something that strikes you.”

“It’s not unique to Tennessee, it’s that way everywhere,” he noted.
Tennessee is a little more strict in regards to who can be assistant coach, assistant coach, he explained, noting California’s coaches usually are not school employees and Georgia pays much higher coaching supplements.

If the trend continues, major changes may come in a few years, Fair said.