ARTICLES AND INTERVIEWS
CURRENT ARTICLE
"RICHLANDS UNSUNG HEROES"
Greg Mance has been here before. Some of his best friends have not. Until today. “We've got some assistant coaches on our staff that have never been a state championship game and I'm excited for them,” Mance said. “This is my third one and I can remember what it felt like the first time to go as a player. To this day I can remember everything.”
"IT STARTS UP FRONT"
Derek McKnight thought he lived in a region which craved prep football. Then his family moved to Tazewell County. "I’ll never forget watching my first varsity football game in Richlands," McKnight said. "I attended a large high school in Gaffney, S.C., but had never experienced anything like what I saw here."
"BLUES FUN AND GUN OFFENSE"
There is nothing routine about a football Friday night in Richlands. Storefronts are adorned with Blue Tornado signs, the stands at Ernie Hicks Stadium begin to fill over an hour before kickoff and two radio stations broadcast the action.
"RICHLANDS STOP OPPONENTS FROM SCORING"
Richlands coach Greg Mance captured the essence of southwest Virginia defense perfectly. "You’d better be physical or you’re not going to win football games," he said.
ARCHIVES
"LESTER TOP LIFTER IN RICHLANDS HIGH BENCH-A-THON"
Thirty-two football hopefuls took part in the Richlands High School Bench-A-Thon held on Monday, July 26. Only one athlete joined the Elite 300lub this year. The Club consists of weight lifeters who bench 300-pounds or more.
"WEST DEFEATS EAST IN VHSCA ALL-STAR GAME
Timmy Brown came to the bustling Hampton Roads area for some fun
and fellowship. He found that and much more late Friday night.
"MICHAEL MABE CONTINUES CAREER DESPITE DEMISE OF ETSU FOOTBALL PROGRAM"
It’s pretty obvious that Michael Mabe loves football! The personable
former Richlands High School standout’s eyes light up when he talks about
the sport.
"HARD WORK PAYS OFF FOR MCGLOTHLIN"
It takes more than talent to play football. It takes the right attitude, a strong work ethic and a big heart. Matt McGlothlin has an abundance of all three and has used them to become an important part of the defensive line for the Tennessee Volunteers.
"FORMER RICHLANDS STANDOUT HAS NO REGRETS"
Michael Mabe faced a tough decision last May. The East
Tennessee State University junior was pleased with his choice on Saturday
afternoon.
"RICHLANDS BACK ON TRACK"
NEW ATTITUDE AND NEW OFFENSE LIFTED THE BLUE TORNADO PAST GRUNDY AND ABINGDON: Richlands: In 90 minutes, the Richlands football players and coaches decided
they had to turn the season around.
"MATT MCGLOTHLIN'S WALK-ON JOURNEY FROM "LAST STRING TO FIRST STRING"
After spending a year at Fork Union Military Academy, Matt McGlothlin had nearly two dozen football scholarships waiting for him. He turned them all down.
"I heard it from everybody," McGlothlin said. "Everyone was telling me to go somewhere you can play." He did. It's the University of Tennessee.
"ACT OF KINDNESS SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT THE FOOTBALL SPIRIT"
In an age when arrogance and "Sharpie" pens steal the national spotlight, it is often the smallest, most unnoticed acts of kindness that remind us that football is merely a game. The story, which is destined to become legendary in Southern Ohio circles, starts in Waverly.
"ADAM DAVIS NOT AFRAID OF CHANGE"
As a sophomore at Richlands High School, Davis was a starting wide receiver asked to move to tailback to help the team. He complied with the request and led the Blue Tornado in rushing his final three years of secondary school.
"NEW SOUTHWEST DISTRICT PROPOSED??"
The Southwest was once one of the largest and most competitive Group AA districts in Virginia. If some administrators get their wish, the SWD could soon be reborn via a merger with the Highlands District.
"RICHLANDS PLAYERS GO TO NEXT LEVEL"
E.W. Griffith, Dustin Hamoy, Jamie Shelton, Josh Keen and Brandon Cole were all key members of Richlands' 9-2 football season in 2001. All five served as captains and all five used that experience to earn a chance on the next level.
"GOOD TIMING"
For eight seasons, the residents of Richlands would gather around their television sets on Thanksgiving Day to watch former Richlands High School standout Mike Compton suit up as a member of the Detriot Lions.
"COLLEGE FOOTBALL: E&H's Davis likes new role"
Adam Davis came to Emory & Henry College with marquee billing. Davis has lived up to his hype. His role has just changed.
"INTERVIEW WITH TERRY MONK (1993)"
Many times during the course of the season past players are recalled and we wonder, "What ever happened to him"--"I wonder what they are doing". So who do you get to do the first interview for the board's newest feature--WHERE ARE THEY NOW!!
Terry Monk has kept in touch with the board's editor over the years and is an active participant in answering the TRIVIA questions. He left his mark in the football history book in 1992 when he quarterbacked the BLUES to their only State Championship. Terry was kind enough to be our first featured player. Thanks, Terry.
This a reprint of an article that appeared on the Virginia Tech Walk-on page. A forward is provided by page editor HokieLifer.
"HAVE YOU EVER MET A GENTLE GIANT?"
HokieLifer Note: The July article is guest-written by TSL message board poster, Wasris, who, in addtion to serving as my SW Virginia correspondent, is the webmaster for the unofficial Richlands High School Blue Tornado Website. I asked Wasris to do a feature article on walk-on recruit Jared Horn. My intent was to show the character and sacrifices that ALL walk-ons make to be a part of the team. Wasris did that and much more: he additionally gave a glimpse into Jared as a person. Hope you enjoy this as much as I did.--HL
Have you ever met a gentle giant? Richlands, VA is sending one to Virginia Tech. Jared "Bull" Horn is 6' 4 1/2", 333 lbs with a 56 long sports jacket and 17 inch extra wide shoes. When you shake his hand its like shaking a pillow--your hand just keeps sinking.
"WHY OFFERING A SCHOLARSHIP TO A WALK-ON IS A GOOD IDEA"
Much has been said about the "opportunity" a school affords walk-on players. Let's qualify and
quantify that opportunity. The player gets to work like a dog each day all summer and into
the fall, eat 6 meals a day and consume 7,000 calories a day to increase weight and strength.
This is done, not for the promise of an NFL career or even for a scholarship, but for the right
to play football for the SCHOOL. The competition is fierce. The player competes with other
talented athletes for a spot on the team. A scholarship player fights for a spot on the depth
chart. Walk-ons fight to play another day as a Hokie, or a Buc or Fork Union Cadet.
