12/30 HollyWood Cemetery presents Clash Party 9 feat. Young Richmond Outkasts, Lil' Omar and Big Ty (Lil Omar pictured just below), Hard 2 Kill Ent, Get It How You Live Boyz, G's Up Ent, D.H.B, Ballistiks, Swaag, Te Money, G Mook, So Illa, Young V, O.M.O (pictured left), Young Oohz will be hosting with celebrity guests like IPower 92.1's DJ A Plus, Swirv Deneiro, and Richmond's darling Honey B (poster just above) @ Alley Katz 9pm. (moved to tonight from the 26th) - Forgiving the microphone...
12/30 Sundials (pictured just above from riskytricks.blogspot.com), Ape Up!, Empire Empire, Annabel, Boys and Sex @ Rock Garden 7pm. (info and directions at rvashows.proboards.com) - 2011 better get my motherfucking ass laid or else I’ll toss an innocent baby out with the bath water...
12/30 Lights East, Peoples Blues of Richmond, Grinding Stone (poster right) @ The Camel 8pm. - I forgot...
12/30 Keller Williams (performing 3 unique sets) @ The National 8pm. - Get some marlin...
12/31 DECEMBERWEEN feat. The PLF DJs Mr. Jennings & Reinhold (Mr. Jennings pictured right from Rvamag.com), Akasha, Beatdown, Kebunny, Sequida, MG, Linaluv, VJ Jordan La Liaison, along with Burlesque, Circus stuff, Games and more! (poster just above) @ Gallery 5 9pm. - I went to a canoe and urinated...
12/31 Strange Matter NYE Party feat. Murphy's Kids, Crucial Elements (pictured left), Pelicanesis and DJ Sluggz @ Strange Matter 9pm. - Somebody wants VCU to lose...
12/31 Virginia Metal Alliance pres. Dead Honky, Templteka, Transgression, Madco Shite Grinders, Mike Gales and the Warriorz (poster just above) @ Alley Katz 8pm. - My hair is metal in time for champagne and pearls...
12/31 2010 A Rave Odyssey - New Years Eve 2011 (heated warehouse event) feat. numerous national and local DJs tossing drum and Bass, breaks, dubstep, dub, house, glitch, electro, hardcore (poster just above) 10pm. (info and directions here: www.worldofsource.com and Event Link) - Kick out the nepotism...
12/31 3rd Annual NYE Richmond Roots Extravaganza! Feat. The Hot Seats (pictured left), Jackass Flats, A Good Natured Riot (poster just above) @ The Camel 8:30pm. - Watch me fly over Walmsley Boulevard...
1/1 War Graves, La Mere Vipere (pictured just above), 45 A.D. @ Strange Matter 10pm. - Kill God and slam a Stratocaster...
1/2 This Time It's War (pictured atop), Vestiges, Postcards, Walk The Plank (poster just below) @ Strange Matter 6:30pm. all ages. - Families who masturbate together work well with machinery...
Best All Around Musician in Richmond: Nate Rappole (Gull and Snack Truck)
Best Jazz Musician/Band: Glows in the Dark
Best Blues Band: The Dirty Truth
Best Piano/Keys: Marlysse Simmons of Bio Ritmo and Miramar
Best Guitar: Cliff Boyd of Sports Bar
Best Drummer: Nate Rappole (Gull)
Best Bass: Eddie Prendergast of Amazing Ghost and Bio Ritmo
Best Utility/Multi-Instruments: Bill Porter of Bermuda Triangles and Women of Rock
Best Vocals: Brandi Price of The Diamond Center
Best Vocals/Frontman: J. Dean Owen of Bay of Pigs (RVA), Iggy Plop and Thelma Shook
Best Singer/Songwriter: Herschel Stratego
Best Hip Hop Group/Collective: Just Plain Sounds
Best MC/Rapper: (tie) Barcodez of Photosynthesizers and Nickelus F
Best Producer/MC/Hype Man/Entertainer: Noah O
Best Party DJ: All the DJ’s from the Audio Ammo Crew
Best Original/Techno/House/Breaks/ Glitch/Dubstep/Etc. DJ: PLF DJs (Conway Mr. Jennings/John Reinhold)
Best Experimental DJ: Ohbliv
Best Drum and Bass DJ: Joanna O
Best Noise/Pedals/Other Odd Musical Objects: Gary Stevens of Head Molt and Mutwawa
Best Acoustic/Unplugged Band: The Whiskey Rebellion
Best Up and Coming Musician or Band: (tie) the bands Nick Coward & The Last Battle and Black Girls
Best Music Related Business in Richmond: Black Iris Music
Best Musician/Band Not Everyone in Richmond Knows About, but Should: RUIN (The Southside Supastar)
The Hardest Working Person in Richmond’s Music Scene: Jason Hodges of CNP Records and the bands - Mutwawa, Bermuda Triangles, and Suppression
Best Local Record Label: CNP Records
Best Record/Music Store: Deep Groove Records
Best Musical Equipment Store: Kapeller Violins
Best Theatre (plays, musicals, other): Firehouse Theater
Best Jukebox: Big John's Grill
Best Show Flyer/Poster Artist: Joe Legzz
Best Venue: (local acts) Strange Matter & (national acts) The National
Best Club: Fallout
Best Weekly Event: RVALUTION
Best Monthly Event: 'Clash Party' presented by HollyWood Cemetery Records/Collective
Best Place To Play As A Street Musician: Carytown
Best Venue Sound: (tie) Cary St. Cafe and Wonderland
Best Recording Studio: RVA Studios
Best Record Producer/Studio Engineer: John Morand of Sound of Music Studios
Best Show Sound/Mixer/Engineer: Jonathan Kassalow of Strange Matter/The Bike Lot/Gallery 5/Other
Show of the Year:
(Major)(3way tie)
DEVO at The National
A Place To Bury Strangers @ Strange Matter
Erykah Badu @ Kanawha Plaza Parking Lot
(Local)(tie)
Spindrift, The Diamond Center, The Young Sinclairs
@ Strange Matter
Municiple Waste, Suppression @ Strange Matter
Best Official/Yet Underground Party: WONDERLAND 2010 (warehouse event)
Best Richmond Music Scene Media Source: RVA Magazine and Website
Best Local Radio Station: WRIR 97.3
Best Local Radio DJ: (tie) Mike Rutz and Michael Miracle of WRIR
Best Music Calendar of Events: (tie) Mike Rutz’s ACTIVATE! Weekly Music Calendar @ wrir.com and The Weekly Rant @ Weeklyrant.com
Best Non-Music Show (radio or live in person):
Open Mic Comedy Night every other Monday at Café Diem
Wordy Birds (Interviews with writers by Liz Humes from WRIR)
Comedian David Marie Garland
Best Local Music/Band Documentary: The Silo Effect’s "The Treehouse Sessions"
Best Multiple Day Music Event: Best Friends Day
Best Outdoor Concert Series: Fridays at Sunset
Best Indoor Concert Series: The Listening Room Series
Best Musical Selections By A Local Bartender: Jason Hodges of Avalon Restaurant and Bar
Best Richmond Music Scene Photographer: PJ Sykes
Best Place in Richmond to Get News On What Bands Are Up To: Strange Matter
Best Neighborhood for Richmond Musicians to Live In: Church Hill
Best Blog Site About the Richmond Music Scene: rvaplaylist.wordpress.com
Best Place to See A Local Musician When He or She is Not Playing: Any local restaurant’s kitchen/bar
Cecil B. DeMiller and Rhodes Richmond Music Scene Lifetime Achievement Award:
Joanna O and Jesse Split of Turnstyle (new music and apparel) as well as local DJs
Best Video: (tie)
NICKELUS F - Agressive Content Directed by: Will Bryan
JAESEN K (feat. Juan Huevos) - Get Fucked Up Directed by:
Ian Newell
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Local Musicians In Memoriam: Ross Harman of the band
The Gaskets
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Shot Outs to places, people, and organizations that contributed to the 2010 Richmond Music Scene: Byrd Theater, Gods of The Bobble Heads Radio Show, Crossroads (Jackson Ward), Richmond Symphony, 821, The Mosque (Landmark Theater), Andrew Necci, Shannon Cleary, R. Anthony Harris, Student Hip-Hop Organization at VCU, Brown’s Island, Belle Isle, VCU School of Music-Art-Film-Photography-Theater, Slaughterama, The Camel, Cary St. Café, Bamboo Café, Avalon, Sprout, Charged Up Ent., Chocolate Milk, Hollywood Cemetery Records, Godfrey’s, Hat Factory, Canal Club, Commercial Taphouse, Balliceaux, Ghostprint Gallery, Reference Gallery, Café Diem, Legend Brewery, Bogarts, Richmond.com’s Scene + Heard, Richmond Jazz and Blues Society, People’s Blues of Richmond, Gallery 5, Spaghetti Project, Really-Really Free Market, Ada Gallery, Forcefield Records, Weekly Rant, Lonnie B, CenterStage, Cellar Door, City of Charlottesville, Tea Bazaar, Caliente, The Southern, Musictoday.com, WNRN, WDCE, WVCW, WVNZ, Virginia Union, City Dogs, Xscape Club, Club 534, VCU Ram Band, VCU Gold Rush Dancers, Every area high school band, Cous Cous, Plaza Bowl, Cotton Club, Bunny Hop Bike Shop, Food Not Bombs, Illegal underground house/space venues, Any small yet extremely inspirational gospel group in the area, Lift, Velocity Comics, PLF, House of Real Toys, Various dishwashers, cooks, chefs, and bartenders, The Wingnut, The Black Hand, Crossroads Coffee, Get Money Green Brothers, Face Jay Ent., A-Money Promotions, RVAFreaks.com, Sound guys at all the local venues, The Bike Lot, Kevin Willoughby, rvashows.proboards.com, Facebook, Street performers, Chris Bopst, U of R’s Tyler Haynes Commons, Richmond Flying Squirrels, EQ, Da Spot, Milestone Jazz Club, Triple Stamp Records, The Bucket Boys all around town, Richmond Coliseum, Modlin Center for the Arts, McCormack’s, First Fridays Art Walk, All involved in the Folk Festival and Two Street Festival, James Talley, Silver Persinger, Ward Tefft, Shelley Briggs, Venture Richmond, Rumors Boutique, Fridays at Sunset, The Various Cultural & Nationalities Independent One Day Festivals, Bill Reid, High school music teachers, The Showplace, Ipanema, The 14 ‘Head Shops’ in Metro Richmond, Grace St., Robinson St., Broad St., Fulton Hill Neighborhood Resource Center, Open High, Record Finders, Turnstyle, Vinyl Conflict Records, Steady Sounds Records, Plan 9, BK Music, Witchmond, Rat Ward, Smooth Dirty Productions, Richmond Music Center, Metro Sound, Mojo’s, Chop Suey Books, Sound of Music Studios, Etching Tin Studios, Empire, All the rehearsal spaces around town, Video Fan, Eric E. Stanley, The Biograph, GWAR, Lamb of God, mechanics who fix band vans, and all the others...Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!
Today's eighth installment of Museum District Radio is 'In the Kitchen'...
Song List:
The Models – Bend Me Shape Me The Soft Moon – Breathe the Fire Tulsa Drone – Chiaroscuro Ultramagnetic MCs – Dolly and The Rat Trap Cotton Jones – Gone the Bells Whipping Boy – Human Farm Woven Bones – If it Feels Alright The Liminanas – I’m Dead Future Islands – Inch of Dust Au Pairs – It’s Obvious Forest Swords – Miarches Solor Bears – Neon Colony oOoOO - No Summer4u Henri Salvador - Paurve Jesus Chist Spaceman 3 - Repeater Moon Duo - Stumbling 22nd St. Doris Day - Tic Tic Tic
12/27 POA (pictured just below), Window Watcher, Wrist Rocket, American Ruins @ The Warehouse (1300 School St.) 6pm. - It’s spring again, get out there and tell a friend...just kidding...
pic by Curtis Childress
12/27 Animal Magazine, Balaclava (pictured left by David Kennedy), Bubonic Bear @ The Library 7pm. (info and directions at www.rvashows.proboards.com) - Can a library get a library card?...
12/27 Paul Ivey (pictured atop by 5th Gear Photography), Thelma Shook, The Vacant Stairs @ The Camel 8pm. - Get drunk and crazy...mice everywhere!...
pic by P.J. Sykes
12/27 Clutch, Kylesa, Righteous Fool, Hex Machine (pictured just above) @ The National 8pm. - Frankly Scarlett Knight, I don’t give a damn...
12/28 Glows In the Dark (pictured just above), Old Soul @ The Camel 9pm. - I’m flapping my thoughts...
12/29 Cincinnatus C, Black Bloc, Stephen Palke/Matt Boettke (pictured just above), Heavy Breathing, Centrescape @ The Warehouse (1300 School St.) 7pm. - Dis gi’rl done front, Yo B...
12/29 Unholy Thoughts, Troops of Tomorrow, Mad World, Slugz (poster just above) @ That House (info and directions at www.rvashows.proboards.com/somewhere in J. Ward) 8pm. - Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia...
12/29 Among Giants, Family Cat, Ian Hanawalt, Jeff Riddle @ Moose Lodge 7pm. (info and directions at www.rvashows.proboards.com) - Read, write and break dance...
12/29 US Brass (pictured just above), Akris, Fire Faithful, Squall @ Emilio’s 9pm. - Come on baby...let’s get out of this holiday and go feel good...
I don’t know about you, but the tragedy that is the current state of affairs in high school football in the City of Richmond, Virginia has me quite irritated. The consistent losing by the football teams at Armstrong, John Marshall, Thomas Jefferson, Huguenot and George Wythe High Schools has become a cancer to our community. The great injustice for the varsity football programs in the city has been the level of unfair competition each team has had to endure in the past decade. City high schools have been forced to play against schools twice their size in enrollments. It is beyond David vs. Goliath. The constant and embarrassing losing is making schools that are far from being pathetic, look pathetic. This past decade has been more than tumultuous for the City of Richmond’s high school football teams. Something has got to give.
As many pupils have gone the way of Henrico, Hanover and Chesterfield Counties since the late eighties, so have tradition, quality play, and interest in high school football in Richmond City. There are 6 divisions that make up high school football in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the higher the enrollment, the higher the division. They are sanctioned and governed by Virginia High School League (VHSL). Currently the City of Richmond high schools play at a very unfair level (division). That division is VHSL AAA Division 5 where they are constantly playing schools that are way bigger in regards to the school’s enrollment and better in regards to a quality conditioning program, hands-on practice equipment, funding from team boosters, as well as the development of a competitive program from elementary, middle school and little league programs. Considering match-ups, The players themselves are smaller based on a low draw from the school’s already low enrollment. Most schools in the VHSL AAA Central Region districts of the Dominion, Colonial, Capital, and Central have enrollments from 1500 to 2500 students. These schools certainly belong in Division 5 and 6. These non city schools can have as many as 70 players on their varsity football team while the city might field a team with as many as 35 players if they’re lucky. The city schools have the following enrollments, yet play at the Division 5 level and still have to play some Division 6 schools every season.
735 – Thomas Jefferson
850 – John Marshall
1076 - Armstrong
920 - George Wythe
1206 - Huguenot
These enrollments are based on 2009/10 VHSL data obtained from the VHSL website - Revised by VHSL Executive Committee Action 5-6-2010. These enrollments are more subject to change downward than upward in the next decade. Just to give you an idea of how outrageous the losing has become, take a look at these numbers: (data provided by www.maxpreps.com) (most of the victories are from when city schools played each another)
Thomas Jefferson – (4 wins in 7 yrs.)
John Marshall – (22 wins 7 yrs.)
Armstrong - (12 wins 5 yrs.)
George Wythe - (1 win in 7 yrs. – currently has the longest losing streak in the state around 60 loses in a row)
Huguenot - (29 wins 7yrs.)
John Marshall football players pictured
To see how we got here one must look at the past. High school football in Richmond used to be the event of the year. One of the biggest rivalries in America was the annual Armstrong High and Maggie L. Walker High game played over thanksgiving weekend and known simply as the ‘The Classic’ from 1938 to 1978. At the time, these were the only two all-black high schools in the city. ‘The Classic’ drew as many as 30,000 attendees to City Stadium. Henrico and Chesterfield Counties back then obviously has fewer high schools because of a more sparse population. High school football would not become as important as it is now to these counties until the 70s. The city had an amazing tradition in football from the great teams at Thomas Jefferson in the 50s and 60s, an all white school then, to the Huguenot High teams coached by the legendary Richard McFee in the 80s and 90s. McFee had numerous players go on to Division 1 Colleges on full scholarships. Some even went on to the NFL. Corey Holiday a Huguenot graduate went on to play in Super bowl XXX. Most recently in 2000, David Terrell, a Huguenot grad, was MVP of the Orange Bowl and played in the NFL as did Franklin Military (part of Armstrong High school) grad Ernest Wilford. There have been numerous other stand outs from city schools, I just personally remember these stalwarts. Then there is the greatest to ever lace up the cleats in Richmond high school football history, Willie Lanier. Lanier played for Maggie Walker in the early 60s and then years later after an astonishing NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs wound up with a Super Bowl ring and inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame.
One thing the city did foresee in the 80s was perhaps what is happening now in regards to enrollment. For around 10 or more years, the city combined schools for athletics. The teams were known as Jefferson-Huguenot-Wythe, Marshall-Walker and Armstrong-Kennedy. As you can imagine, these schools performed quite well in state tournaments/championships. The city did end up what a lot of people felt was the best decision and went back to each school having its own team, its own identity. Despite the success of the ‘combined’ schools, the logistics and travel to practices just became too much of a burden. It also didn’t allow schools to participate in their own source of pride. It doesn’t appear the city will go back to this way which is a good thing. The schools should do it their way individually just like all the surrounding county schools. Kennedy High seven years ago would merge with Armstrong High School, and the historical Armstrong High School name was kept.
The History of high school football in the City of Richmond first and foremost should tell the community that these teams can win if they are playing on a “level field” with other schools and regain the community’s support. The traditions can be recaptured, it just takes winning. Everybody loves a winner, yet winning for the five city high schools has hit a conundrum in the new century. At present day, City of Richmond high school football teams are in a bit of a pickle. There is absolutely no money, no booster clubs for the individual programs, or proper new equipment used for practicing such as blocking sleds, budgie grids, weights, and audio visual equipment. These factors along with the lack of interest from prospective players that would rather play video games at home, run the streets, or work an after school job to help support the his family. The ladder is obviously an understandable reason not to want to play football. While everyone loves a winner, the fact that the city schools are not winning keeps capable kids from wanting to try out for their school’s football team. This is yet another reason to ask the question why the losing? They are losing because of one preeminent fact - they are not playing at a fair level based on the schools enrollments which most of the kids in Richmond City high schools more than likely don’t realize. It really isn’t the lack of talent. The talent just needs to be pitted against equal talent. Who loses the most here are the players themselves. Also, it is not the fact the coaches don’t care. The coaches that do stick around definitely care, or they wouldn’t be coaching at a City of Richmond high school. They just have to deal with the hand that has been dealt to them. The coaches could bring up their gripes to the “higher ups,” but it would just fall on deaf ears. The long bureaucratic chain that is the Richmond Public Schools is unfortunately not at arms length.
Armstrong player with ball pictured
The five city high schools in the past seven years have consistently lost to Division 5 and 6 schools by these scores 60-0, 54-0, 49-0, 49-6, 56-6 etcetera. These scores have repercussions. The greater good of high school football in the city is that the players play not only for pride at Armstrong, John Marshall, Thomas Jefferson, Huguenot and George Wythe High Schools, but for the communities in which they live in. Failure in this city’s high school football programs has become so complacent that we are at a point that no one of political or appointed importance in the city school’s administration cares about anything anymore regarding football at the city high schools. The city schools even if in debt can turn the tides of this losing by making rational decisions about the direction it wants the five high school programs to go. According to VHSL Executive Director Ken Tilley, Richmond City high school officials have had the opportunity to move down to a lower division for football. Currently the city school’s athletic teams are in a two year contract to compete in VHSL AAA Group (Division 5 for football) until spring 2013. In spring 2013 Richmond City Schools have the option to drop two divisions to Division 3 which serves enrollments of 800 to 1200 students. The only issue here would be does the city take the other sports that have more success in competitiveness down two divisions? That seems to be the $64,000 question. There is also the question of having to start up another district for all city high school athletic teams which is way easier said than done.
Thomas Jefferson Homecoming Game pictured
While meeting with Richmond City Instructional Specialist William James - Thomas Jefferson, John Marshall, Armstrong, George Wythe, and Huguenot High Schools athletic directors’ boss – he too stated the biggest hurdle is where to take all the other sports if the city decided to drop two levels just for football. When asked what is the solution if the city hasn’t dropped two divisions in football he was a bit tongue tied. Even James answers to a bureaucratic “higher up” ironically a couple floors above his office at City Hall. It is however at arms length unlike it would be for coaches. I started to sense that he higher the floor at City Hall, the redder the tape. William James without a doubt does care. He came out of retirement to do what he can to improve Richmond City Schools. He is a true testimony that perhaps the Richmond City School’s administration should turn to its elders from a grand era to learn how it should be done. Our conversation then changed to the microcosm of the issue. Interest in playing football for a city public school has dwindled of course, but also the numbers. Less and less boys are going out for football. This of course parallels with dwindling enrollments. In the past, there just haven’t been enough feeder programs to spark interest and keep a consistent system in place. The tide might be turning however; recently the under age 15 boys population in the city might be reversing the “not interested” trend. Thanks to the NFL charitable programs that hold football camps in the city, along with more kids involved with little league football in Richmond thanks to the Parks and Recreation League. The 1,700 kids involved in this league is a very encouraging high number. Many of the coaches are parents and men from the neighborhoods and who were former players themselves. This gives the kids a familiarity of a role model or someone they know and respect from the neighborhood and neighborhood community centers. These neighborhood parks and rec. teams play their championships at City Stadium in mid November which is a big thrill to the kids, parents and those involved with the neighborhood community centers. This goes a long way in building a lasting impression on kids who may want to continue to play football in the future with in the city high schools.
The county schools have many little leagues for football, and it shows later at the high school level. Everything from flag football, Pop Warner League football, to middle school teams prepare these young men for football at the high school level if they choose to play when in high school. The city must get to this level as well to get to a fair place in competitiveness according to James. Mr. James also brought up a point I really didn’t consider. Other sports play a big role in conditioning and getting “football” ready. Those sports could be wrestling, lacrosse, and track. Two city schools offer wrestling, but it just isn’t as important as it is to local private schools or public county schools. Lacrosse, which I would love to see in Richmond Public Schools isn’t offered at any school. Every high school in Richmond has an indoor and outdoor track team for boys and girls. If the city schools had these sports, participants would be better conditioned and ready for football. Many students on the football teams only play football, and many times they are out of shape, or not at a proper weight by late summer practices. Other contact sports play an imperative role in building a stronger athlete. Most male high school athletes in the county schools play other sports than football. Training and nutrition is also a factor. Some of the biggest high schools in the counties have experienced trainers and very knowledgeable nutritionists. The city schools are lacking in these categories as well. Most of the time it’s the head football coach doing all the work, he’s the coach, trainer, nutritionist, teacher, mentor, father, cop, counselor, and most of all a shoulder.
The disreputable side of high school sports is just like it is in college. Even at the high school level money and the dire need for a successful high school football program take precedence. Richmond City high school football players might perform so well as ninth or tenth graders that they are plucked by a bigger, better, and more academically sound county or private school. Is this fair? Not really, but it happens everyday. Besides all the other issues coaches at city high schools have to deal with, it’s hard to believe but having a young star football player with college scholarship potential could be the worst problem of all. These are the kind of players that can rejuvenate a program and get folks interested in supporting the team. The only thing is that coaches from public county or private schools can offer this kid and his family better surroundings and education. All this kid has to do is move to the necessary district. This is a practice that may not float in talent rich Hampton-Roads, or Texas, but in Metro Richmond it isn’t frowned upon. If the player is to go to a private school, he doesn’t have to move at all. He gets acclimated too much better facilities, and parents are more than happy their son gets a potentially better education. It is not that the city high school coaches are poor at what they do, but even they would say how can a coach in the city compete with these schools offering the kid a true advantage in his young life? And, as far as colleges go, most college coaches scout the county schools because they now produce the best talent in numbers. They are not flocking to the city schools as they use too. It’s all about the winning, and being a steady producer of talent. But, how can a city high school win when it has developed good young talent only to have it stolen away before their formative junior and senior years? The City of Richmond does have honor schools with in its system. Those schools are Community, Open, Franklin Military, and Maggie Walker Governor’s School. These schools can academically compete with any county school or area private school based solely on GPAs and where graduates are accepted college wise. If a student athlete does well on the books and with a little luck they can attend one of these schools, and still play for their city neighborhood high school. The quality of coaching can also help. If there are good coaches at city high schools, and there are some, that can go a long way with a star kid staying put and playing for any one of the five city high school football teams. There is also the problem of maintaining good coaches however. The turnover rate is certainly higher than to be desired. Some city high schools have had four different coaches in four straight years. It is virtually impossible to form a solid system and fellowship with this turnover rate.
Searching for answers can take you to places you have never been before. In this case I found myself at George Wythe High School in South Richmond. I had never been to the school before. It is a school that has had some issues in the past, but thanks to getting lost trying to find my way around, I met some of the politest, helpful kids I maybe have ever come across. To me, George Wythe has quality kids that want to progress into quality adults in society just like every other high school out there. I wish most of the community could see this. George Wythe kind of gets a bum rap if you ask me. I then made my way to the gym and found Coach Gary Warren. Warren is also the girl’s basketball coach. As he came over to me to shake my hand I realized that of course this tall impressively physically fit man had played some football back in the day. More importantly, he had the respect of the students. You could tell that right off the bat. In the first five minutes of sitting down with him in his office, I could tell he was the kind of gentle giant and fair disciplinarian kids looked up too and very much needed at George Wythe High School. As we spoke he did not come off as a “Rah Rah” coach, nor was he looking for spirituality to be the answer for George Wythe’s losing streak in football. He had not one complaint about the losing streak, his student athletes, the city school administration, or his situation with playing at an unfair division in football. He sought no sympathy. He did not come off as an irrational man at all. He knew he was in the trenches, and had a no holds barred rational attitude about it all. For Warren, it is time to get to work. By the way, this man truly gives a ‘you know what’ simply by the fact he commutes to work every workday an hour and a half each way to George Wythe High School in South Richmond. I liked him immediately.
George Wythe players pictured
Coach Warren is a teacher whose main goal is to steer kids in the right direction. He stated at the beginning that every coach thinks they can turn around a program like Wythe’s, yet more than likely doesn’t make it through the first year. Coach Warren new right when he walked onto George Wythe’s campus two years ago that Wythe has won only one game in seven years. He also knew that because of security issues Wythe doesn’t play home varsity games, they have to play them at Huguenot High School. Most of their games are away games anyway. That did not matter to Coach Warren. Coach Warren was going to start anew. He first started something Wythe hasn’t had for years, a junior varsity program. The head coach for this team is a fellow George Wythe graduate and college football player. This allows a player to learn not only a system Coach Warren has put in place, but how to learn the fundamentals of proper football along with how to condition their bodies to withstand four quarters of a varsity football game. Coach Warren has had to basically break everything down regarding George Wythe football and start from scratch. He tells his players not to worry about what they don’t have, but worry about making themselves better football players and better men. Coach Warren tells his players they can still thrive despite that lack of better equipment, facilities or even from a low number of players. Just concentrate on your tasks at hand, like in life the rest will follow. He has laid down a strict foundation he says players respect and want to be apart of his team. Coach Warren feels more students are going to go out for football at George Wythe next season. He feels he provides disciple many of these kids wanted. They just have not been getting it in the past ten or so years at George Wythe. Of course Coach Warren and the players know about the losing streak. To them the streak is irrelevant; the division they play in although unfair is irrelevant to them for now. The George Wythe High School football team is working on one win at a time. They are building, and it will come.
Coach Warren certainly would agree sometimes that it is hard to do what he is trying to do at Wythe thanks to bureaucratic indecisions. There are of course bigger issues than what level a city high school plays in football, but I’m sure Coach Warren would love to know why does this city make it harder on his student athletes when they don’t have too? The most important point Coach Warren emphasized was numbers. The amount of players he has to compete versus the bigger county schools that play at Division 5 and 6 levels. His varsity team may only have 30 players, but come the 4th quarter even with Wythe perhaps right in a game, the 60 or so players on a county school team can allow for substitutions at key moments towards the end of a game. The George Wythe football players have the hearts to keep fighting, but their bodies just collapse. This in turn lets the opponents score 3, 4, or 5 touchdowns late in the game to not only win, but make it look like a blow out. This is the same situation for Huguenot, Thomas Jefferson, Armstrong and John Marshall High Schools as well unless there are playing each other. It is just unfortunate the heads of Richmond Public Schools don’t see what is going on in the trenches. I will say this however; Richmond Public Schools and especially George Wythe High School have a star in Coach Gary Warren.
Problems can be solved. It might take a ton of work and you might hit many walls, but there are ways to get around those walls in order to keep persisting. It is just mindboggling that the Richmond Public School’s administration doesn’t get the fact that this losing endured for so long by the five city high schools can be avoided by the simple step of playing at the VHSL AA Division 3 level. The Virginia High School League appears not to have an issue with the city dropping to Division 3. It is in my opinion that the city should do a number of things here. First, drop all sports including girl’s sports offered by city schools Football, Basketball, Baseball, Track, Cross Country, Soccer, Tennis, Volleyball, Softball, and Wrestling to VHSL Class AA (Division 3 for football). The VHSL should gladly allow a contract to be signed by the city to play at this level. Here is how the Metro Richmond high school districts are currently shaped up:
Colonial District Deep Run / Douglas Freeman / Hermitage / John Marshall / J.R. Tucker / Mills Godwin / Patrick Henry / Thomas Jefferson
Capital District Atlee / Armstrong / Hanover / Henrico / Highland Springs / Lee Davis / Varina
Central District Colonial Heights / Dinwiddie / Hopewell / Matoaca / Meadowbrook / Petersburg / Prince George / Thomas Dale
Dominion District Cosby / Clover Hill / George Wythe / Huguenot / James River / L.C. Bird/ Manchester / Monacan / Midlothian
Huguenot players pictured
Four districts of Division 5/6 schools make up the Central Region. If the city schools were to leave these districts to form their own district at another level, it obviously would not affect the county schools standings. In fact the counties could still form four districts of six teams or three districts of eight. This would not affect the playoff format at the end of the regular season either. It also would not affect travel time and gas millage. Plus the VHSL and the Central Region has to take into mind that newer high schools are being built or will be built in Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover Counties in the future, hence extra schools will be joining these districts.
Second, this would be controversial, but close down Thomas Jefferson High School. I realize it is one of the oldest and historical high schools in the city, but the city desperately needs money. The lottery sure isn’t helping like we are supposed to believe. Why not sell that beautiful building and land that sits in an amazing location real estate wise in the western part of the city? The money made can be used to help build new schools that serve a larger population of students in other neighborhoods. Thomas Jefferson may be at 735 enrollment, but in a couple of years that number will drop by a couple of hundred. It just would be more of a hindrance to keep that school going than not. The extra students can attend John Marshall or Armstrong which aren’t that far of a commute by car or bus. Besides, how many students are bused in from neighborhoods from other than the western portion of the city? The answer is more than you think. The gas money the city could save by having one less high school to bus kids to and from could be a factor as well.
Third, if the city did take all of its high schools even if Thomas Jefferson stayed open, they could bring in two other area high schools in the same boat as far as playing at a fair level. Those schools could be Hopewell and Colonial Heights High Schools. That would make up a six or seven team district. As far as who they would pair up against in the playoffs, that wouldn’t be as difficult a task. Many Class AA and VHSL football Division 3 schools play in Central Virginia. Still not as far in travel as one would think.
Forth, the city could do what I think would be a great idea and that is instead of even thinking about, let alone playing in the state playoffs for football, why not just all play each other every year along with a couple games against fair opponents and the top two city high school football teams at the end of the season play for the ‘City Championship’ at City Stadium. This game could build up to being one of the biggest events of the year. It could draw over 10,000, maybe 15,000 people just like the old Walker-Armstrong “Classic.” Make this game a source of pride to play in amongst the young men from the city. The game could even be on a local radio station, perhaps local TV. The half time show could be a battle of the City of Richmond high school marching bands. And, oh boy, if you haven’t seen our local high school bands, you are missing out. They are insanely good. John Marshall’s band in particular is sweet on the ears. Even though this option would not be for a run at state, the ‘City Championship’ could be a local Super Bowl. As far as security is concerned the logistics at City Stadium make this more manageable. Carytown Merchants around the corner from City Stadium would love the foot traffic too. This could certainly be a win-win situation.
Finally, let’s just say that Richmond Public Schools and the VHSL need to sit down and hash this issue out. Think of the kids is what I’d tell them. As much as I wouldn’t want to bring this up, but if Armstrong, John Marshall, Thomas Jefferson, Huguenot and George Wythe High Schools were predominantly white I serious doubt that football in this city would be so neglected. Race is in no way the major factor here, but simple decisions can be made to resolve this and they are not. Every time you hear about the city schools its more negative than positive. Reversing the culture of losing at America’s favorite sport would be a nice start. Richmond School Superintendent Dr. Yvonne Brandon and Mayor Dwight Jones need to wake up. Superintendent Brandon states she wants the city students to have an equal education as the county students; well the same should go for high school football as well. High school football defines high schools and the community around them. Ever wonder why rivalry games and homecomings are so important? Emphasis on academics is definitely job one, but also don’t forget that involvement in sports and the arts are proven to enhance a high school students performance in the classroom. Lacking high school sports programs just deflate the inner core of what makes a good high school, and that translates to the students. All there truly needs to be is communication in solving this problem of losing. Why is a lonely blogger for lack of a better word and non reporter like me getting access to coaches and school officials? If it is that easy for me, then I would think it would be even easier for Superintendent Dr. Yvonne Brandon to talk to the folks that are really involved here. Even if Richmond Public Schools kept all the other sports at VHSL Class AAA level, it is still time to save high school football in Richmond, Virginia. It is the right thing to do, and most of all too many people have invested too much time and energy for almost a century for high school football to just collapse for good in Richmond. Do the right thing Richmond Public Schools Administration and play at the VHSL AA Division 3 football level by 2013.
Note: I would like to thank Coach Gary Warren and William James of RPS for their time. These men are truly class acts. Also a big thanks to Ken Tilley of the VHSL, Virginia High School League's website www.vhsl.org, www.maxpreps.com, and the player photos are courtesy of Armstrong, John Marshall, Thomas Jefferson, Huguenot and George Wythe High School's websites. For a great read by Michael Whitt on "The Classic" click HERE
Show Picks for the early week 12/20-12/22... (Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, and Happy Holidays to all readers of OWR!)...
12/20 Dammit Matthew Dammit, T-Divison (pictured left), Quarantines, Josh Haskins @ The Camel 8pm. - We can go to the nativity scene in intervals...
12/21 Narod Ensemble, UTV Chamber (poster just above) @ The Camel 9pm. - Taste the Christmas cookies Grandma ran over avoiding that reindeer...
12/21 The Atkinsons, Horsehead (pictured just above) @ The Republic 9:30pm. - Smoked turkey from Hickory Farms?...Um, fuck yes!...
12/21 Bio Ritmo (pictured right by yonas Hassen) @ Balliceaux 10pm. - I have twenty reasons to speak Spanish...
12/22 Rod Picott (pictured just above) @ Ashland Coffee & Tea 8pm - Baby come back, listen to me, you can blame it on me, I was wrong, but I just can’t live without you...
12/22 Noah O presents ‘The Rebirth’ feat. Noah O (pictured just below), Henny, Ron Flip, Ruin (pictured atop), The Hammer Boys (poster just above) @ The Camel 9pm. 18+ - Mainlining lyrical emotions and observations...
12/22 Tiny Boxes, Former Champions (pictured just below) @ The Canal Club 9pm. - Large second placers...
12/21 DJ WIlliams Projekt, Mark Slomski (pictured right) @ Café Diem 9:30pm. - Massive Attack went to private school?...
Notes:
* R.I.P Don Van Vliet aka Captain Beefheart (1941 - 2010) and Blake Edwards (1922 – 2010) * VCU barely won yesterday over those Bourbon Street ballers Tulane University. VCU goes at it again against ole' foe University of Alabama-Birmingham on Tuesday night at 8pm. * For obvious reasons there will not be Show Picks from Thursday 23rd to Sunday the 26th. They'll be back on Monday 27th. There are shows on the nights of the 23rd and 24th at The Camel worth checking out if you are already sick of the family. There will be a Christmas Day post of some sort. I'm sick of this blogsite for right now and need a little hiatus starting tomorrow evening. However, don't forget on the near horizon there will be the 2010 OWR Richmond Music Awards and 2010 OWR Richmonder of The Year Award. * Look out for the first 'OWR Investigates' post this evening...
Tonight's seventh installment of Museum District Radio is 'Rage For Clovers'...
Song List:
De Frank Professionals - Afe Ato Yen Bio Fossil Cities - At The Wheel Karen Cooper complex - Beeswax Skrewdriver - Confusion Farah - Law of Life First Revelation - Lord Come Into My Life Calibro 35 - Milano Out of Darkness - On Solid Rock Infinity Plus Three - Second Best Friend Ray Lemay - Spirit Move Me Arif Sag - Su Samsunun Evleri The Diamond Center - WTT Karnage - The Few, The Proud, The Dead PSY;OPSogist - The Lips Of God Church Police - The Oven is My Friend
12/16 Benefit Show for Frankie B. feat. Landmines (pictured just below), Real Talk, Josh Small, What Girls Want @ Empire 9pm.
- West of West is a staple gun store named Larry’s House of Peacocks...
12/16 The David Mayfield Parade (pictured left by Josh Joplin), Ryan B., Herschel Stratego @ The Camel 8pm.
- Isolation gets the prize in between the sheets sold on Forest Hill Ave...
pic by Jason Pierce
12/17 Serious Problems, Thunderlord (pictured just above) @ Wonderland 10pm.
- I forgot what I was going to say...
12/17 Loversville, Andy Vaughn & The Driveline, The Chiggers (pictured just above)(poster just above picture) @ The Triple 9pm.
- If you don’t love South Richmond teenagers, there is something completely fucked up about you...
12/17 The Dirty Truth (early)(pictured just above) @ Capital Ale House Music Hall 5pm.
- I love Richmond, California...
12/17 Schiavone Mcgee (late)(pictured right) @ Capital Ale House Music Hall 10pm.
- My pot belly is growing, and that rich kid in NYC killed himself...sounds like a long winter is a comin’...
12/17 Turnstyle Soundsystem pres. ‘BOOM’ feat. DJ’s Joanna O (pictured right), Jesse Split, and others @ Balliceaux 9:30pm.
- Still rising above the highest point of mass...then afterwards we can beat the tuna out of Rick Ruben...
12/17 SEX SAVES – a dance party benefit for Fan Free Clinic feat. Dirty Banners (pictured just above), DJ Shelz & Chez @ Cellar Door 10pm.
- I desperately want sex from a real live girl...
12/17 Scotts Garage, Parlour Shakedown (pictured left) @ Plaza Bowl 8pm.
- Pot, mushrooms and a civil war reaction that left people confused, yet they remembered to turn out their lights...
12/18 Mexican Fiesta Night feat. Oro Norteno band and Isabella @ Plaza Bowl 8pm.
- Ralph Sampson had a garden salad with fries...
Update Edit: This event's Facebook page is listing a different address from what is on the show poster. Go to this event's FB page for info...these damn raves!...
12/18 Winter Rehab at Warehouse 51 feat. bass dropping dubstep, drum and bass, breakbeats, electro, house, and techno DJs. A fashion show, vendors of clothes, food, and massage therapy along with a fabulous laser/light show (poster just above) @ 3703 Carolina Ave. (near International Raceway) 9pm-4am.
- M. Ward says Rave On...
12/18 The Velvet Nines (pictured just above), Alpha Whale @ The Playing Field 10pm.
- The polyester 10 would approve...
12/18 Balliceaux's Christmas Blow Out! Feat. Amazing Ghost (pictured right), Ghostdog & Cinnamon, James Wallace & The Naked Light, DJ tag teams of No Richmond & Soul Power, and a cheesiest Christmas clothing contest along with photos with Sketchy Santa (poster just above) @ Balliceaux 10pm.
- We all love cats, but what about cobras and referees?...
12/18 HAPPY SKALIDAYS - Benefit for Art 180 feat. Murphy’s Kids (pictured just above), No BS Brass Band, Tsunami Rising, Race the Sun, Patent Pending, Capital 7 @ Canal Club 5:30pm.
- Skalidays are for shopping...
12/18 RVA Magazine pres. SLAY BELLS feat. DJ Long Jawns @ Bellytimber (1501 W. Main St.) 10pm.
- Another DJ, another fucking turkey...pass the salt please...wait I love this beat, I think its house...go Jesus, go Jesus, go Jesus, its your birthday...
12/18 Miramar (pictured just above) @ Globehopper 8pm.
- Mercury Rev?...no, just another no thanks...
12/18 This is Your Life, Hold Tight!, Luther, Cold Ones, Fake Boys (poster left)
@ Rock Garden 7pm. (info and directions at www.rvashows.proboards.com- Is it anything?...
12/19 Cloak/Dagger, This is Your Life, Flechette (pictured right by Stephanie McFadden), Beasts of No Nation @ Strange Matter 10pm.
- Punk outta here muthafucka!...
12/19 Dex Romweber Duo (pictured just above), The Milkstains, Chrome Daddy Disco (poster left) @ Bandito’s 9pm.
- Who what where when...
12/19 Boris Wheatley (pictured left), This Kingdom Falls, Belle Gunness, Avev, Juggernaut, Our Blind Society, Awaiting Shipwrecks, Further Not Forgotten, A Study in Scarlet @ Alley Katz 3pm. all ages.
- No job, but a guilt complex from Virginia Military Institute...
12/19 Lobo Marino, Ben Misterka (pictured right by Onaje Imaging), Miss Hannah Marie @ Black Hand Coffee (Patterson & Sheppard in The Devil’s Triangle) 4pm.
- Supper is served on an organic white tail...Bank of America and there horror show hidden fees!...
12/19 John Howie Jr. and the Rosewood Bluff, The Venus Throw (pictured atop) @ The Triple (poster just above) 8pm.
- Still baking Christmas cookies after all these years...hello my name is Nikki Sixx...
12/30 HollyWood Cemetery presents Clash Party 9 feat. Young Richmond Outkasts, Lil' Omar and Big Ty (Lil Omar pictured just below), Hard 2 Kill Ent, Get It How You Live Boyz, G's Up Ent, D.H.B, Ballistiks, Swaag, Te Money, G Mook, So Illa, Young V, O.M.O (pictured left), Young Oohz will be hosting with celebrity guests like IPower 92.1's DJ A Plus, Swirv Deneiro, and Richmond's darling Honey B (poster just above) @ Alley Katz 9pm. (moved to tonight from the 26th)
12/31 DECEMBERWEEN feat. The PLF DJs Mr. Jennings & Reinhold (Mr. Jennings pictured right from Rvamag.com), Akasha, Beatdown, Kebunny, Sequida, MG, Linaluv, VJ Jordan La Liaison, along with Burlesque, Circus stuff, Games and more! (poster just above) @ Gallery 5 9pm.
12/31 Strange Matter NYE Party feat. Murphy's Kids, Crucial Elements (pictured left), Pelicanesis and DJ Sluggz @ Strange Matter 9pm.
12/31 3rd Annual NYE Richmond Roots Extravaganza! Feat. The Hot Seats (pictured left), Jackass Flats, A Good Natured Riot (poster just above) @ The Camel 8:30pm.
