Not sure who Mercer gets, but I head Whitaker (who left LCC) will be top assistant at Montgomery Co. next year.

Not sure who Mercer gets, but I head Whitaker (who left LCC) will be top assistant at Montgomery Co. next year.

 

That is interesting. I think that he is a good assistant.

Personally, I think Jaggers got a gift from the gods. He took over a very talented Mercer team in '05 with 23 seniors and an absolute hog of an O-line that fit the bone to a T. From tackle to tackle Mercer was 300 plus. He did his best coaching at Mercer that first year.

 

Then for '06 he got the blessing of adding a small but extremely talented and fast group of kids from Harrodsburg giving him 27 seniors and 30 juniors and they marched on to a state title. There are a whole lot of coaches that would have won with that team.

 

The next year ('07) they underacheived badly. Returned 30 seniors. He lost the faith of his players and his parents. He was more arogant than ever now that he had a championship and basically spit in the eye of everyone from the administration to his players. A lot of them didn't want to play for him the seniors stayed, as did most of the juniors, but the sophmore and freshmen classes dwindled.

 

In '08 it continued. Everyone was to blame for losing except him. He would go on the radio during the coaches show and blame the parents. Then he would blame the kids. Then he would blame the assistants. I've never seen a head coach who never ever felt he was at fault when his team lost. So the already bad situation spiraled further down.

 

Then in '09 came Mason's turn. Personally I thought he did a solid job. The talent level was so far off from where it had been that he was behind the 8-ball bad. Unfortunately a core of the parents felt like they should be competing for a state championship and had no clue. There was not one player on the '09 team that could have started on the '06 or '07 team, they just didn't have the talent.

 

The'10 showed marked improvement, especially in terms of strength as the weightroom had been a priority for Mason. They started out very competitive and looked pretty good. Then a couple of key injuries (Tailback and QB) and things stagnated and a lot of momentum was lost. Again the parents had unrealistic expectations.

 

Then in '11 came Rains. I only made it to one game this year. I think Rains inherited a more talented team than Mason did, the schedule did not look as tough to me and he managed 1 more win, but he did get a playoff win.

 

Don't get me wrong. The Mercer parents deserve their fair share of the blame here too. The state championship made them think they should be competeing for a championship every year, and if they weren't, it was the coaches fault. Never, they didn't have the talent.

 

 

In '07, Mercer lost 5 of their 6 games by 14 points or less.

 

Pulaski County- 1 pt loss

 

Lincoln Co (reg season)- 5 point loss. Mercer had the ball on the 4 yard line as time expired. Lincoln went onto to the 5A semi game. It was the best Lincoln team since Jaggers' tenure at Lincoln in which he coached a 3A State Runner Up team there in '93 and three region finalists ('92, '94 and '95).

 

Watertown, TN- lost by 3 @ Watertown 10-7. Watertown that year went 8-3. One of their wins was against Tennessee powerhouse Trousdale County. Owner of 9 State Championships in TN. Three of which came in 2005, 2008 and 2009, so needless to say, I'm sure Trousdale County was a very solid squad in 2007 when they to lost to Watertown.

 

Hopkinsville- lost 17-14 @ Hopkinsville in which Mercer missed a 30 yard field goal as time expired. This game was at Hopkinsville, and back when Hopkinsville was the Hopkinsville we all think of when we hear that name.

 

South Laurel- 4 point loss.

 

In that same year, Mercer also beat a Greenville, TN team that was a 4A semi finalist in the Vol State that year.

 

To add to that, the '08 District Championship team that went 6-6 lost several close games.

 

Hopkinsville- by 3 again

 

Greeneville, TN- lost by a TD. Greeneville was once again a 4A semi finalist.

 

Rockcastle County- 4 point loss

 

Letcher County Central- 1 point loss in the 2nd round of the playoffs. LCC kicked a field goal as time expired.

 

So, between 2007 and 2008, one of which was a 5A District Championship year, Mercer had a combined record of 11-12. Nine of those losses came by a TD or less and 8 of those were by 5 points or less. Not that loss margins go on any kind of official records, but if you are splitting hairs about why Mercer was good in '05 and '06, then it's only fair to look at how close Mercer was in '07 and '08 to having years like the '05 team. I dont know that you could compare the '07 or '08 teams to the '06 team, but Mercer was literally a handful of plays from having 9-11 win seasons in both '07 and '08.

 

As far as 2005 and you saying they had a monster line, I'd agree, but I remember for years before the merger happened that all you would hear people say is what could be if you combined Mercer's size and Harrodsburg's speed........that was my best friend's favorite sentence in 2005 after watching the last Mercer/Harrodsburg game. Which Mercer won handily if I am not mistaken. Something else I never understood about the 2006 year was all you heard and still hear is about "the talent that came from Harrodsburg" and granted there was that, but if the talent was so good why is it that Harrodsburg went 3-8 in 2005? Did they not have Jackson, Ford, Edwards, Patton, Buster, etc? I know that's only a handful of very solid players, but you show me another 1A program with even that many play makers (especially Jackson and Ford) and I'll show you a team that does a lot better than 3-8, probably more like 8-3 or better.

 

There are a lot of people that get the keys to a Porsche and wreck it.

In '07, Mercer lost 5 of their 6 games by 14 points or less.

 

Pulaski County- 1 pt loss

 

Lincoln Co (reg season)- 5 point loss. Mercer had the ball on the 4 yard line as time expired. Lincoln went onto to the 5A semi game. It was the best Lincoln team since Jaggers' tenure at Lincoln in which he coached a 3A State Runner Up team there in '93 and three region finalists ('92, '94 and '95).

 

Watertown, TN- lost by 3 @ Watertown 10-7. Watertown that year went 8-3. One of their wins was against Tennessee powerhouse Trousdale County. Owner of 9 State Championships in TN. Three of which came in 2005, 2008 and 2009, so needless to say, I'm sure Trousdale County was a very solid squad in 2007 when they to lost to Watertown.

 

Hopkinsville- lost 17-14 @ Hopkinsville in which Mercer missed a 30 yard field goal as time expired. This game was at Hopkinsville, and back when Hopkinsville was the Hopkinsville we all think of when we hear that name.

 

South Laurel- 4 point loss.

 

In that same year, Mercer also beat a Greenville, TN team that was a 4A semi finalist in the Vol State that year.

 

To add to that, the '08 District Championship team that went 6-6 lost several close games.

 

Hopkinsville- by 3 again

 

Greeneville, TN- lost by a TD. Greeneville was once again a 4A semi finalist.

 

Rockcastle County- 4 point loss

 

Letcher County Central- 1 point loss in the 2nd round of the playoffs. LCC kicked a field goal as time expired.

 

So, between 2007 and 2008, one of which was a 5A District Championship year, Mercer had a combined record of 11-12. Nine of those losses came by a TD or less and 8 of those were by 5 points or less. Not that loss margins go on any kind of official records, but if you are splitting hairs about why Mercer was good in '05 and '06, then it's only fair to look at how close Mercer was in '07 and '08 to having years like the '05 team. I dont know that you could compare the '07 or '08 teams to the '06 team, but Mercer was literally a handful of plays from having 9-11 win seasons in both '07 and '08.

 

As far as 2005 and you saying they had a monster line, I'd agree, but I remember for years before the merger happened that all you would hear people say is what could be if you combined Mercer's size and Harrodsburg's speed........that was my best friend's favorite sentence in 2005 after watching the last Mercer/Harrodsburg game. Which Mercer won handily if I am not mistaken. Something else I never understood about the 2006 year was all you heard and still hear is about "the talent that came from Harrodsburg" and granted there was that, but if the talent was so good why is it that Harrodsburg went 3-8 in 2005? Did they not have Jackson, Ford, Edwards, Patton, Buster, etc? I know that's only a handful of very solid players, but you show me another 1A program with even that many play makers (especially Jackson and Ford) and I'll show you a team that does a lot better than 3-8, probably more like 8-3 or better.

 

There are a lot of people that get the keys to a Porsche and wreck it.

This was the first time in 9 years that I didn't have a son playing football at Mercer. There's nothing you can tell me that I din't know. I was there for Duane, Marty, and Bill. I know what happened.

This was the first time in 9 years that I didn't have a son playing football at Mercer. There's nothing you can tell me that I din't know. I was there for Duane, Marty, and Bill. I know what happened.

 

I never said you didn't know what happened. Just gave you my views and observations of the same time period under Jagger's watchful eye.

I never said you didn't know what happened. Just gave you my views and observations of the same time period under Jagger's watchful eye.

 

You obviously like Marty. He and I are not what you would call friends, but I don't dislike him personally. I view him much the way I view Terrell Owens.

 

He's knows football, no doubt. But the longer he stays, the worse the environment gets.

 

And as I have said before, it wasn't all his fault, the parents share the blame. Cancer was growing on both sides.

You obviously like Marty. He and I are not what you would call friends, but I don't dislike him personally. I view him much the way I view Terrell Owens.

 

He's knows football, no doubt. But the longer he stays, the worse the environment gets.

 

And as I have said before, it wasn't all his fault, the parents share the blame. Cancer was growing on both sides.

 

Yes, I do. I like Marty a lot and I always enjoy conversating with him when I get the opportunity. I do believe a lot of parents and players that are graduating this year wish they still had him for the last three years.

 

I'll always believe things would have been better these last three years with Jaggers had everyone been able to move past the tension that had been created. Mercer shouldn't be on their third coach in four years. I can only continue to hope that it gets better for all parties involved and especially the kids.

Who are the leading canidates at Mercer?

Who are the leading canidates at Mercer?

 

I was talking with someone about it yesterday and they mentioned that they thought the new superintendent will be named on Thursday. I think they'll start looking for coaches after that time. The only thing I have heard is that the team(players) want one of their assistants to get it. I think his name is McElroy maybe. I'll find out.

I was talking with someone about it yesterday and they mentioned that they thought the new superintendent will be named on Thursday. I think they'll start looking for coaches after that time. The only thing I have heard is that the team(players) want one of their assistants to get it. I think his name is McElroy maybe. I'll find out.

 

At this late point, that maybe the best choice for the 2012 season.

At this late point, that maybe the best choice for the 2012 season.

 

That's absolutely right.

Coach McChorter(spelling?) is his name. His wife coaches at Lincoln County is what I was told.

Yes, I do. I like Marty a lot and I always enjoy conversating with him when I get the opportunity. I do believe a lot of parents and players that are graduating this year wish they still had him for the last three years.

 

I'll always believe things would have been better these last three years with Jaggers had everyone been able to move past the tension that had been created. Mercer shouldn't be on their third coach in four years. I can only continue to hope that it gets better for all parties involved and especially the kids.

 

I think the bridge was burn't so badly it couldn't be repaired. While they weren't happy with Mason, I can say that I heard very very few parents ever say they wished Marty was still there. It wasn't tension, it was toxic. I'm sure we both know the key players. Heck, I remember one of them trying to pick a fight with Marty at a JV game.

 

I agree completely with the bold part.

I think the bridge was burn't so badly it couldn't be repaired. While they weren't happy with Mason, I can say that I heard very very few parents ever say they wished Marty was still there. It wasn't tension, it was toxic. I'm sure we both know the key players. Heck, I remember one of them trying to pick a fight with Marty at a JV game.

 

I agree completely with the bold part.

 

 

:lol:

 

Yeah, I think I remember the JV game or may have heard about it. I remember being at a freshman game(this year's senior class) against Boyle County and I recall some parents yelling at him from the stands also. He came to the game after practice and was talking to the coaches and then the refs and some parents started yelling at him to get off the field and whatnot. I don't know if he heard them but I do remember that game.

There are a lot of things that need to be fixed to get the Mercer program going. Sadly the issues that hamper the program are not quick fixes. This program needs an intense strength program, please don't say they used to have a strength coach. They need a coach that will invest the time in the weight room year around and demand accountability. When kids don't conform you have to cut them loose. Then they need an administration that is 100% behind the coach. This may have changed some with the new principal, I think a lot of Ms. Hutchins.

 

This is a long process that can be done but it has to be done through hard work and it is done between the end of season and the start of the season in the weight room. There is a small segment of fans that are oblivious to the shape of this program. They think they are living in 2006, I have said on numerous occasions I believed Mason was doing it in the off season to turn the program there was just a small segment (and vocal segment) that had no clue the depth of the program. Have all of these coaches made mistakes? Absolutely but it is time for the parents to back off and let the coaches coach. The right man will turn it but I can assure it is a monumental task.