Go west young man..., way out to Carroll County.

[DinwiddieProud]

Tonight we take a road trip. Way out to Hillsville in beautiful Carroll County. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this school is the westernmost in all of 4a?

The Cavs fortunes have not been very good for the last 1/2 decade or so. Is there some evidence that things may improve when they put the ball in play this fall?

Looking even further down the road, Carroll County will be moving from the River Ridge District to the Three Rivers District in 2017. On paper, it sure looks like they can be more competitive with the 1a and 2a teams that make up the 3 Rivers. But will that happen?

 

[mike salem]

Tonight we take a road trip. Way out to Hillsville in beautiful Carroll County. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this school is the westernmost in all of 4a?

The Cavs fortunes have not been very good for the last 1/2 decade or so. Is there some evidence that things may improve when they put the ball in play this fall?

Looking even further down the road, Carroll County will be moving from the River Ridge District to the Three Rivers District in 2017. On paper, it sure looks like they can be more competitive with the 1a and 2a teams that make up the 3 Rivers. But will that happen?

I believe they are the Westernmost 4A school. I expect more of the same for this year. Looking ahead to 2017, I think their fortunes will likely improve, but with Glenvar's improvement the last 2 years in 2A, Giles is always a 2A contender, and Radford is no pushover in 1A, they may only be a middle of the road team in the 3RD.

 

[southbottomU]

This will be their last chance to win a game in their current district. Don't think it will happen. They play Salem at Salem. Is last year's school record of 77 points in the first half in jeopardy? Only if they try to throw it a lot which will stop the clock. Of course they may just forfeit again this year.

 

[mike salem]

This will be their last chance to win a game in their current district. Don't think it will happen. They play Salem at Salem. Is last year's school record of 77 points in the first half in jeopardy? Only if they try to throw it a lot which will stop the clock. Of course they may just forfeit again this year.

With the forfeit last year Carroll Co only lost 2-0. That's probably as close as they'll get to a RRD win in their final year.

 

[SpartanOfYore]

Actually, according to Google Earth, Pulaski County and Carroll County Highs are almost on the same longitude. It literally depends on which part of the school at Pulaski on which one takes the measurement. It's a virtual tie, but I'm willing to throw it to Carroll County. Which is probably the last competition they will win against a River Ridge opponent.

CarrCo's football record against River Ridge opponents, since joining the district, is 0-21. In the 20 of those actually played on the field, the average margin was right at 33 points. That's losing by nearly five TD's a game, every district game for three years in a row. They are absolutely miserable, and there is no indication that I know of that this fall will be any different. Last year, Hidden Valley was just north of pitiful, and the Titans smoked the Cavs by 29. Patrick County, sporting a VHSL-Reference rating of 19, beat Carroll by 17. It would be difficult to overstate just how bad this program is. Almost nothing in this life can be taken for granted, but I'd say one can safely chisel "Carroll County football - 0-28 in RRD" in stone.

Thing is, the waters of the Three Rivers probably won't prove to be any smoother sailing for CarrCo in 2017. Barring some miracle quick turn-around in Hillsville, Giles, Glenvar, James River, and Radford will all dispatch the Cavs with relative ease. Auburn will be a probable loss, but maybe an outside shot at a W. With Eastern Montgomery heading to the Pioneer, Floyd is the only realistic shot at a win Carroll will have. So that's 2-4 at best, with at least two of those losses likely to be real ugly. All this against schools less than half their size. Let's remember that, prior to joining the RRD, Carroll managed to lose their last five district games against their Southwest District foes - all of whom (except Abingdon) are now 2A. The Cavs have not won any district game since beating an historically bad Tazewell team in October of 2011.

But hey! All of Carroll County's problems will be over. Because to hear their AD tell it - all of the rest of the RRD schools' fans are the problem! I've provided a link to an article I found in the online edition of the Carroll News back in January, following the VHSL Alignment Committee's approval of Carroll's appeal to move to the Three Rivers. I have to say, this is one of the most unintentionally humorous, and ironic articles I've read in a long while. I wasn't going to mention it on this board, but now seems like an appropriate time to do so. I urge everyone to read it. You might start to gain some insight into why Carroll County athletics are in the state they're in. I realize it's a little hometown paper, so while a tiny bit of objectivity from the author would have been nice, the fact that there is none isn't shocking. It's the state of denial that Carroll's AD and administration seems to be in that's telling.

I fully get that not all schools of the same size are created equal; equal numbers don't guarantee equal resources, facilities or opportunities. So perhaps, Carroll's leadership might have offered up some self-aware observation such as, "Yes, we face considerable challenges, including quality of coaching, poor facilities, and rampant drug abuse in the county. But we are determined to make changes to start meeting those challenges, in order to provide our student-athletes a richer, more rewarding experience in every way possible." But no. Instead we get Carroll's AD saying, "Problems?! No no no, we don't have any problems, no sir! None of the other River Ridge schools come support their teams, and our fans always support ours. That's why we're dyin' here!"

Anyone else who was at the Carroll County game at Salem Stadium in 2014 can help me out - did they bring even 100 fans on what was a beautiful night? I doubt it. And again, refresh my memory - didn't Salem more than fill the visitor's stands at Carroll's stadium in 2013? AD Matthews complaining about the gates at Carroll's football games is especially ironic, in light of the fact that last fall, Carroll did everything short of blast their team to Mars to get out of playing the game that would have been their best gate of the year. Had Carroll played at Salem on the dry Thursday of flood week, they would have still gotten the gate, as designated home team; at least 2,000 to 3,000 Salem fans would have come, because that's what we do when Salem is playing in town.

Nor was that the first time the Cavs had refused to come to Salem. In 2014, Salem's game at Carroll in boys basketball saw a brief, but ultimately uneventful skirmish between a couple of players on-court, in what was a big, and somewhat unexpected Spartan win. So, when bad weather hit on the day that Carroll was supposed to make the return trip to Salem, Carroll's AD and coach declined. As in, declined to make the game up...at all. So, when the adults calling the shots go to extreme lengths to not play games in the two main revenue sports against the school that probably has the best fan following across all sports in the district, what does that say about their motivation?

I have nothing at all against the students and athletes at Carroll County; they are kids playing games, as kids should. In the two events I've been to down there, everyone staffing the games was very friendly and helpful. In all my past trips to the Hillsville Flea Market, I've never had anything other than positive experiences with the natives. But I would say that the people in charge of Carroll County High School's athletic department are not necessarily doing right by their students. Earlier, I mentioned a richer, more rewarding experience for the kids. For football players at Carroll, approximatley 1,300 students strong, I can't see playing a schedule comprised of 1A and 2A schools, and NEVER having the slightest glimmer of hope of making the playoffs being very rewarding. And, those in charge are definitely deceiving themselves and others in the process. So, none of the RRD schools brought any fans to Hillsville? Here's a little news flash: most people aren't going to travel an hour or more to the worst stadium in the district to see their team play one of the worst teams at any level in the state. Even if a 35-point win is assured. Likewise for boys basketball, in which Carroll County, since winning the region in 2013, has become a perennial doormat. Carroll's weaseling out of games with Salem (while avoiding responsibility), and almost everything said by their AD in the linked-to article, have rather ticked me off, which explains this long dissertation over an otherwise completely irrelevant foe.

In the article, Carroll's AD waxes rhapsodic over now being able to schedule such titans as Grayson County and Fort Chiswell. He's really excited about Fort Chiswell. For those of you unfamiliar, Fort Chiswell is a school of about 490 students that went 0-10 last year. If they have a similar season this fall, I'm guessing they'll bring maybe 60 people to Hillsville in 2017. The fact that 4A Carroll County's AD and coach are thrilled to be playing a winless 1A school tells us everything we need to know about where Carroll County's athletics program is, where they're headed, and why. You're happy to be leaving? Well, my guess is all the other RRD schools will say good riddance.

http://thecarrollnews.com/sports/1044/carroll-wins-appeal-to-join-three-rivers-district

 

[DinwiddieProud]

Actually, according to Google Earth, Pulaski County and Carroll County Highs are almost on the same longitude. It literally depends on which partof the school at Pulaski on which one takes the measurement. It's a virtual tie, but I'm willing to throw it to Carroll County. Which is probably the last competition they will win against a River Ridge opponent.

Ouch! But I liked the jab!

Very well written analysis. You said what you wanted to say and remained totally respectful. I wish more posters would use tact like this instead of just slinging mud. Certainly others may disagree with your opinion, but the evidence you offered was pretty darn compelling.

Sadly, the bottom line, just like the mess at Northside, it's the kids that are being short changed. Let's just hope that the district change in 2017 precipitates a little self-examination into where the leaders want CC athletics to be in the future.

 

[SpartanOfYore]

Actually, according to Google Earth, Pulaski County and Carroll County Highs are almost on the same longitude. It literally depends on which partof the school at Pulaski on which one takes the measurement. It's a virtual tie, but I'm willing to throw it to Carroll County. Which is probably the last competition they will win against a River Ridge opponent.

Ouch! But I liked the jab!

Very well written analysis. You said what you wanted to say and remained totally respectful. I wish more posters would use tact like this instead of just slinging mud. Certainly others may disagree with your opinion, but the evidence you offered was pretty darn compelling.

Sadly, the bottom line, just like the mess at Northside, it's the kids that are being short changed. Let's just hope that the district change in 2017 precipitates a little self-examination into where the leaders want CC athletics to be in the future.

Thanks. I was a little concerned that I might have been a little too harsh on the football players themselves. But, the record speaks for itself.

Concentrating on the actual playing of football, maybe I can offer an observation that might take a little of the sharp edge off my previous post. I didn't see Carroll County's team last year. But I have to say that in both 2013 and 2014, the eyeball test told me that the Cavs were not the worst team in the district. I thought there were worse teams in each of those seasons. In 2013, I was a little bit impressed with their fight and determination. The first possession of the game, Carroll had Salem stopped twice on downs only to have penalties sustain the drive. Salem had the ball for almost nine minutes, then fumbled at Carroll's 1-yard line. So they hung in there for a while. The Cavs had an above-average qb, a scrappy receiver, and nothing else, but they hung in pretty well. The next year, 2014, they really had no talent at all, but I thought acquitted themselves decently in CarrCo's first-ever visit to Salem Stadium. Oh, the final score was nothing to write home about, but at least the Cavs could try to run their offense. They weren't fumbling all over the place, Bad News Bears-style; they executed pretty well. They just had absolutely no material with which to execute. They also seemed pretty disciplined both years.

Numbers isn't the problem at Carroll County. They're larger than all other schools in the RRD except for PH and Pulaski Co. Someone can correct me if necessary, but I believe that's right. We're not talking about a Highland County-type situation. Carroll County is a rural school facing numerous obstacles. However, VHSL history is full of examples to show that those conditions don't have to be a recipe for the kind of disaster that Cavaliers football has become. I'm just glad I'm not the one who has to come up with all the answers!

 

[SpartanOfYore]

In fairness, I should point out that Carroll's softball program - defending state champs - is currently one of the best in the state. Their girls bball program is also pretty consistent; I believe they've made the state tournament a couple of times in recent years. So, it's not doom and gloom across the board in Hillsville.

 

[mike salem]

Thanks. I was a little concerned that I might have been a little too harsh on the football players themselves. But, the record speaks for itself.

Concentrating on the actual playing of football, maybe I can offer an observation that might take a little of the sharp edge off my previous post. I didn't see Carroll County's team last year. But I have to say that in both 2013 and 2014, the eyeball test told me that the Cavs were not the worst team in the district. I thought there were worse teams in each of those seasons. In 2013, I was a little bit impressed with their fight and determination. The first possession of the game, Carroll had Salem stopped twice on downs only to have penalties sustain the drive. Salem had the ball for almost nine minutes, then fumbled at Carroll's 1-yard line. So they hung in there for a while. The Cavs had an above-average qb, a scrappy receiver, and nothing else, but they hung in pretty well. The next year, 2014, they really had no talent at all, but I thought acquitted themselves decently in CarrCo's first-ever visit to Salem Stadium. Oh, the final score was nothing to write home about, but at least the Cavs could try to run their offense. They weren't fumbling all over the place, Bad News Bears-style; they executed pretty well. They just had absolutely no material with which to execute. They also seemed pretty disciplined both years.

Numbers isn't the problem at Carroll County. They're larger than all other schools in the RRD except for PH and Pulaski Co. Someone can correct me if necessary, but I believe that's right. We're not talking about a Highland County-type situation. Carroll County is a rural school facing numerous obstacles. However, VHSL history is full of examples to show that those conditions don't have to be a recipe for the kind of disaster that Cavaliers football has become. I'm just glad I'm not the one who has to come up with all the answers!

Their QB in 2013 was pretty good as you pointed out. I think they scored 21 points near the end with the QB and his favorite WR hooking up on 3 long passes for TD's.

 

[DanvilleSportsHead]

Their QB in 2013 was pretty good as you pointed out. I think they scored 21 points near the end with the QB and his favorite WR hooking up on 3 long passes for TD's.

Think you're talking about Gunnar Beamer. He was a great athlete. He was the starting PG on their basketball team as he got a full ride to Tusculum College in Tennessee.

 

[DanvilleSportsHead]

Wrong guy Mike, I meant Connor Lundy. He played basketball also, my apologies.

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1462033/highlights

 

[mike salem]

Wrong guy Mike, I meant Connor Lundy. He played basketball also, my apologies.

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1462033/highlights

Yeah that's him.

 

[ClarkeFan83]

Actually, according to Google Earth, Pulaski County and Carroll County Highs are almost on the same longitude. It literally depends on which part of the school at Pulaski on which one takes the measurement. It's a virtual tie, but I'm willing to throw it to Carroll County. Which is probably the last competition they will win against a River Ridge opponent.

CarrCo's football record against River Ridge opponents, since joining the district, is 0-21. In the 20 of those actually played on the field, the average margin was right at 33 points. That's losing by nearly five TD's a game, every district game for three years in a row. They are absolutely miserable, and there is no indication that I know of that this fall will be any different. Last year, Hidden Valley was just north of pitiful, and the Titans smoked the Cavs by 29. Patrick County, sporting a VHSL-Reference rating of 19, beat Carroll by 17. It would be difficult to overstate just how bad this program is. Almost nothing in this life can be taken for granted, but I'd say one can safely chisel "Carroll County football - 0-28 in RRD" in stone.

Thing is, the waters of the Three Rivers probably won't prove to be any smoother sailing for CarrCo in 2017. Barring some miracle quick turn-around in Hillsville, Giles, Glenvar, James River, and Radford will all dispatch the Cavs with relative ease. Auburn will be a probable loss, but maybe an outside shot at a W. With Eastern Montgomery heading to the Pioneer, Floyd is the only realistic shot at a win Carroll will have. So that's 2-4 at best, with at least two of those losses likely to be real ugly. All this against schools less than half their size. Let's remember that, prior to joining the RRD, Carroll managed to lose their last five district games against their Southwest District foes - all of whom (except Abingdon) are now 2A. The Cavs have not won any district game since beating an historically bad Tazewell team in October of 2011.

But hey! All of Carroll County's problems will be over. Because to hear their AD tell it - all of the rest of the RRD schools' fans are the problem! I've provided a link to an article I found in the online edition of the Carroll News back in January, following the VHSL Alignment Committee's approval of Carroll's appeal to move to the Three Rivers. I have to say, this is one of the most unintentionally humorous, and ironic articles I've read in a long while. I wasn't going to mention it on this board, but now seems like an appropriate time to do so. I urge everyone to read it. You might start to gain some insight into why Carroll County athletics are in the state they're in. I realize it's a little hometown paper, so while a tiny bit of objectivity from the author would have been nice, the fact that there is none isn't shocking. It's the state of denial that Carroll's AD and administration seems to be in that's telling.

I fully get that not all schools of the same size are created equal; equal numbers don't guarantee equal resources, facilities or opportunities. So perhaps, Carroll's leadership might have offered up some self-aware observation such as, "Yes, we face considerable challenges, including quality of coaching, poor facilities, and rampant drug abuse in the county. But we are determined to make changes to start meeting those challenges, in order to provide our student-athletes a richer, more rewarding experience in every way possible." But no. Instead we get Carroll's AD saying, "None of the other River Ridge schools come support their teams, and our fans always support ours. That's why we're dyin' here!"

Anyone else who was at the Carroll County game at Salem Stadium in 2014 can help me out - did they bring even 100 fans on what was a beautiful night? I doubt it. And again, refresh my memory - didn't Salem more than fill the visitor's stands at Carroll's stadium in 2013? AD Matthews complaining about the gates at Carroll's football games is especially ironic, in light of the fact that last fall, Carroll did everything short of blast their team to Mars to get out of playing the game that would have been their best gate of the year. Had Carroll played at Salem on the dry Thursday of flood week, they would have still gotten the gate, as designated home team; at least 2,000 to 3,000 Salem fans would have come, because that's what we do when Salem is playing in town.

Nor was that the first time the Cavs had refused to come to Salem. In 2014, Salem's game at Carroll in boys basketball saw a brief, but ultimately uneventful skirmish between a couple of players on-court, in what was a big, and somewhat unexpected Spartan win. So, when bad weather hit on the day that Carroll was supposed to make the return trip to Salem, Carroll's AD and coach declined. As in, declined to make the game up...at all. So, when the adults calling the shots go to extreme lengths to not play games in the two main revenue sports against the school that probably has the best fan following across all sports in the district, what does that say about their motivation?

I have nothing at all against the students and athletes at Carroll County; they are kids playing games, as kids should. In the two events I've been to down there, everyone staffing the games was very friendly and helpful. In all my past trips to the Hillsville Flea Market, I've never had anything other than positive experiences with the natives. But I would say that the people in charge of Carroll County High School's athletic department are not necessarily doing right by their students. Earlier, I mentioned a richer, more rewarding experience for the kids. For football players at Carroll, approximatley 1,300 students strong, I can't see playing a schedule comprised of 1A and 2A schools, and NEVER having the slightest glimmer of hope of making the playoffs being very rewarding. And, those in charge are definitely deceiving themselves and others in the process. So, none of the RRD schools brought any fans to Hillsville? Here's a little news flash: most people aren't going to travel an hour or more to the worst stadium in the district to see their team play one of the worst teams at any level in the state. Even if a 35-point win is assured. Likewise for boys basketball, in which Carroll County, since winning the region in 2013, has become a perennial doormat. Carroll's weaseling out of games with Salem (while avoiding responsibility), and almost everything said by their AD in the linked-to article, have rather ticked me off, which explains this long dissertation over an otherwise completely irrelevant foe.

In the article, Carroll's AD waxes rhapsodic over now being able to schedule such titans as Grayson County and Fort Chiswell. He's really excited about Fort Chiswell. For those of you unfamiliar, Fort Chiswell is a school of about 490 students that went 0-10 last year. If they have a similar season this fall, I'm guessing they'll bring maybe 60 people to Hillsville in 2017. The fact that 4A Carroll County's AD and coach are thrilled to be playing a winless 1A school tells us everything we need to know about where Carroll County's athletics program is, where they're headed, and why. You're happy to be leaving? Well, my guess is all the other RRD schools will say good riddance.

http://thecarrollnews.com/sports/1044/carroll-wins-appeal-to-join-three-rivers-district

So, tell us how you really feel!!