Enough is enough and it's time for a change

[disgruntledcougar]

Well I was at the game last night as I always go and I am over it. We have probably the best defensive lineman in the league with Evans. We have a qb that can throw a pretty good ball but yet we always see the same thing. Last night when we were down like 27-0 , our coach decides that he is going to run the same thing that he has ran the last 30 plays. Now it may be just me, but if the play didn't work the first 30 plays then more than likely its not gonna work this time. I mean how can Wells be that stubborn to think that is gonna work. Because of Wells, we are looking terrible out there. We have the talent to win games. I'm not saying every game, but at least competitive. I feel sorry for the kids. People that are reading this, we have got to get this guy out of here. He is killing our program and also we are losing kids for the simple fact they don't want to play in that system period. Only way to get rid of this guy is we have got to take a stand on this instead of sitting back and watching it. Who is with me on this?

[bystander]

I would like to see more innovative play calling, but on the other side of the ball there are some issues to address as well. there are a few players in the defensive backfield that must be related to the right people......it's the only explanation i can come up with. I'm not being critical of the players so much as the coaches choice of who to play. The defensive backs are just too small, and the linebackers second teamers outplayed the first teamers. kick off return has the wrong deep players....again too small, too many fumbles, and running side to side instead of forward. the punt team looked pretty descent.......unfortunately they may be called on often this year if the offense can't make a few first-downs.

[bystander]

as for that defensive lineman, I agree........and seeing him run down their best player from behind with no helmet was awesome......I hope it turns up on youtube

[disgruntledcougar]

so bystander are you sayin keep Wells or get rid of him?

[Cougs]

I have to say I'm not disgruntled but disgusted. Come on! You hear, oh, it's easy to coach from the stands...don't give me that! When something isn't working, change it. I asked that lineman if he would go somewhere else this year. There isn't a school in east tn that doesn't want him. He's been told he's "wanted" by teams all over the region. But he's loyal to his team. I just hope he doesn't look back when he gets older and wish he had worried about himself. The game was just a replay of what we've seen before. There is some players that are to small for middle school. This is HIGH SCHOOL!

[bystander]

Well said cougs54.....something that really bugs me is the fact that cchs has 1300 students and 50 players while Loudon has around 800 and has the same size team (numbers). also I recently toured the ACHS facilities, and it blew me away how much more advanced they are.......no wonder they have everybody wanting to go there to play.

[bystander]

As for Coach Wells, I think he is a good man with good intentions, but I do question his descisions concerning play calling (it's easy from the stands) and allowing certain players to continue to not only play, but START..........I wonder how many high school teams around here have players STARTING at 130 pounds and barely 5"6". these kids are gonna get hurt, and they can't hang with the 5'10"-6'2"receivers.......Loudon basically pushed us around while there are bigger stronger and older players standing on the sidelines . I don't feel like it's my place to call for a man's job, but I would like to see some serious changes and give kids a reason to want to be a Cougar.

[nobody]

I've said we've needed a change for the last 5 years. I'm glad to see that other people have their eyes open now. It's not just Wells that needs to go.

[disgruntledcougar]

the question is what is it gonna take to get a change. Anyone know?

[bystander]

One issue I've noticed is how other teams have their little league (hoppers, cutters, pee-wees) running either the same offensive and defensive scheme or a scaled down version, so that when they reach high school they are already familiar with the system.As far as the changes go, we have to get the community to support the program and open their wallets to provide these kids with a facility they can be proud of. Where does the money go around here.....car tags are $60 here and $28 in Anderson County.....and we pay someone to go around and enforce this, which is a whole subject in itself. The gravel road that leads to the fieldhouse has potholes that will swallow a small car.......WHY? Back to the question....yes it's time for change.

[bulldogcoach]

I hate to see this...as a cougar alum who is always wanting to see a Cougar win when I turn on the news on Friday night. I also hate to see a coach get bashed, Im sure they are doing the best they can. Hopefully they can get it turned around, but I must admit when I saw the offensive #s in Saturdays paper I was shocked.

[springsvalley]

Let me get this straight. A school that had NEVER had a winning record or been to the state playoffs in 30 years hires a coach who produces a winning record his first year, and THREE state playoff appearances over his tenure...and people gripe about losing the first game of a new season?! This would be understandable if CCHS had a track record of success but it doesn't. We could get into the why's and wherefore's but it would take longer than a post on this message board to explain why CCHS is at such a competitive disadvantage with the schools in its district. It's beyond belief how this community and school system ties the hands of people like Coach Wells who nevertheless spends every waking moment trying to build a respectable program. Maybe a little encouragement from the naysayers would be more productive.

[bystander]

Just out of curiosity, how are Coach Wells" hands tied. Keep in mind, I have said he is a good man with good intentions and I support this team to the point of turning a blind eye to problems I know to be true. I'd love to see them win out......not likely.......but I would love to see it. Encouragement only goes so far from the stands. It's tough not to get discouraged a little when the first play from scrimmage goes 50 yards for a TD with no Cougar d-backs within 15 yards.....the kid had time to stop, turn around, catch the ball and stroll into the endzone untouched. The offense was barely able to eek out a couple of first downs. I'm not throwin in the towel or calling for a new coach, I just want to see some changes for better or worse.........I dare say that Loudon would be no match for Clinton, Powell, Oak Ridge, or Anderson County, and they out hit, out hustled, and over powered us at nearly every position. My only hope is that the team pulls together and truly plays like a team.

[springsvalley]

I'm not an expert in football so I can't speak to schemes, strategy, tactics, etc. However, I do know that the athletic department at CCHS is run like a small-time middle school program. Coach Wells operates with both hands tied behind his back when compared to his competitors from Oak Ridge, Clinton, AC, etc. You talk of being discouraged after the first play. How do you think Coach Wells feels every day? Or the other coaches? There is literally no support and/or commitment to winning other than from a few dedicated parents and a handful of players. Campbell County doesn't really want a winning program. They just want to complain about why they can't get something for nothing.

[springsvalley]

I'm sympathetic to Coach Wells because he puts his work on display for all to see. For better or worse. Would that the school system operated with the same transparency.