Week 8 interview with the Coach, Coach CF Moser, Head Coach Midway High School Greenwave..
SORSN: First off, Coach congratulations on the back to back big victories over the largest constellation in Morgan County, Sunbright and the Blue Ghouls from Harriman. The wins keep Midway right in the middle of the regional playoff hunt. Talk about the wins and what you saw that you liked from this team this past Friday night particularly in the second half of both contests.
Coach Moser: I think we’re getting better each week. That’s good, you either get better or you get worse. We are proud of how this team has prepared each week and how they have played with pride and guts. If we continue to practice hard and play tough, I think we can make a run in the playoffs.
SORSN: Coach, you got to rest some injured players against Sunbright, including one of the QBs. Friday night Pressley was pressed back into action and really took some licks. How healthy is this team coming out of this week especially at QB?
Coach Moser: Like all teams in week 9 we have a few bumps and bruises but overall health is about the same.
SORSN: Right now this team stands at 6-2 overall and one loss in the region. The rest of the schedule is much like the SORSN.com owners back yard, full of landmines. Tell us how you get this team to maintain its sense of urgency for the next couple weeks?
Coach Moser: With Greenback coming to town, no problem getting focused. Week 10 is senior night. We need all Midway fans at both games to support our team.
SORSN: Coach have you heard that Oneida is the odds on favorite (in Oneida) to win the Super Bowl this year? Seriously, there has been much talk on many of the high school football message boards by many other teams, but very little said in the last few years by the group SOR. How much attention do the players and the coaches pay to such talk?
Coach Moser: Not much. Everyone has their own opinion.
SORSN: Coach the stretch run is coming up and this region looks as deep with good teams as it has been in years. Talk about the strength of the region and how it compares against others in East Tennessee.
Coach Moser: Our region is very tough. Each week if you aren’t ready to play you will loose. Our region matches up with region 1 in the 1st 3 rounds of the playoffs. The top teams in that region are Hampton, Cosby, Grace, and Cloudland. That is also a tough region. You better be ready to play or you’re beat.
SORSN: Coach a big, big game this week with the Cherokee from Greenback. Tell us what you know about the Cherokees going into this week.
Coach Moser: They are 8-0 and a state ranked team. They have an excellent passing attack but are just as capable running the ball. Their D is aggressive and don’t give up many points. We will have to play with tremendous effort and pride to win.
SORSN: Coach many of the players your age and older recall Greenback as the long time biggest district rivalry. Do the players realize the history and depth of the Greenback rivalry and the history involved when these two teams play?
Coach Moser: I hope they do.
SORSN: Coach the defensive backfield has shown vast improvement in the past few weeks. It appears that Coach Walker and his troops have been “working like heck” to get better and to not let the struggles of the early continue to linger. What have those guys been working on over there to make such improvements?
Coach Moser: Tempo, Communication, Effort, Want to, Toughness
SORSN: Coach the thunder and lightning attack of R2 and the Raven seem to be hitting their stride at just the right time, especially these last couple of weeks. How much has the return of some offensive linemen meant for the running backs? SORSN.com really likes the bubble screen and the direct Raven snap the last few weeks. Anything special in the works this week? Maybe a Cannon right formation or a hideout pass or two?
Coach Moser: Ray and Poe are good players. The linemen have really worked hard to improve, and they have. They are probably the most improved unit on the field. Getting Neo back was huge. Not only his ability but his leadership and work ethic show our other linemen how to prepare in practice. If they keep it up, we can have a really good team before this thing is over. Special Plays? Come Friday Night and see!
SORSN: Ok Coach we are going to finish up with a little SOR trivia today. Some of these you may have to explain to your current players but that’s ok too as one of SORSN.com’s mission statements is to be the unofficial history keeper of all things SOR. Can you tell us the first person or thing that pops into your head when you hear or think of the following:
Captain – Captain Calvin (not Kangaroo)
Buster the Mule – Ask Mr. Curtis and Ferdinand Lane
The Pit – The place where banners were hung. Slick court advantage!
Burma Road – I still have nightmares. Joe Levy could really bring the wood at the end of the line.
Satterfield – M I G H T Y C H E R O K E E S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dog Biscuit – James Lowe … dunt…dunt…dunt…du…dunt
The Claw – Fear the Claw
Vonore football field – Home field advantage. 8th graders get to play tonight.
The funky chicken – My favorite cheer! I can still see Mary Alice Griffin – woop! woop!
So forth and whatnot – Norma Jean not my love.
Bobby Biscuit – No comment. But what about: Granny Grisby, Beagle, Stan Letner HEE HAW, Tater Bug, Sniper needs a diaper, Theda Thuds, JP vs Polk, HATEFULL ….
Coach thanks for the time and go get’em this weekend.