Simmons Says - April Mailbag

Last month, I said I wanted to bring back the mailbag. The thing I had to do to really make it a reality was actually do them — which I almost forgot in April. But after a couple emails and the same questions sent over and over, I remembered.

As a reminder, if you want to be part of the mailbag, send your questions to jeff.simmons@mainstreetmedia.llc. With my Simmons Says radio show now fully sports-focused, I’d love to keep things in that lane, but honestly, I’ll answer whatever you throw at me.

Here we go.

Question from multiple people: What were your thoughts on the WC-Boyd flag football game and should they continue to play yearly?

Anybody who saw me Monday night at the game — particularly during or after — knows I wasn’t in a great mood. It was tough for me to watch many of the girls I’ve been coaching for several years struggle in a game, especially when I know I had opportunities to help coach and my schedule just wouldn’t allow it.

So if you’re wondering why I was mad, that’s the reason. I was mad at myself for not doing more to help the Lady Broncos be more competitive in a game that got away from Boyd early (WC led 25-0 after a quarter) and turned into the blowout people — and by people, I mean my WCSA co-host Chris Sullens — were predicting. It was also tough seeing the gap be that wide on the field when I was hopeful it would’ve closed a bit over the years.

As for the other side, I can’t say enough good things about the Lady Pioneer flag football program. From the moment it was announced Warren County would have a flag football team in 2025, the first question I had was, “Would we take it serious?” I think that’s clearly been answered by Paul Willis Martin and company.

Warren County is as technically proficient as any flag football team I’ve seen. They use their weapons on offense in multiple ways, scheme mismatches — something they could’ve done over and over Monday if they wanted — and flash an impressive assortment of formations that keep defenses on their toes.

And even with all that movement, change and potential chaos, they’ve been able to prepare two different quarterbacks to excel. Chloe Wanamaker, before her injury (get better soon, Chloe), was rolling through teams, and freshman Dorlia Haycox has picked up the slack as the team has rattled off 10 straight wins.

That shouldn’t be easy to do. When you’re trying to be multiple and precise, you’d usually expect one signal caller — a true QB1 — to emerge while taking most of the reps. Warren County will have dual QB1s next year when Wanamaker is healthy. That’s incredible depth being built in just Year 2 of the program.

I also want to point out to some who want to take Monday’s outcome as a chance to bag on Boyd that the Lady Broncos joined a prestigious list — Oakland, Riverdale, Smyrna, Siegel, Cumberland County, Livingston Academy and Shelbyville — all programs Warren County has beaten by 30 or more this season.

Either all those teams are bad or Warren County is really, really good. I’m leaning toward the Lady Pioneers being one of the top 10-12 teams in the state.

Finally, should the game be played every year? I’ll say yes — if it’s treated more as a co-op matchup between the programs for senior nights, community sponsorships and fundraising. That benefits both teams.

If it’s just a game scheduled for mighty Warren County to beat down on Boyd every year, I’d pass.

Question: Recently there was talk of building a new stadium at the high school… would success make it easier to sell, and would it make the team more consistent?

With spring practice about to kick off for the Pioneers — and flag football dominating headlines right now — this question feels pretty relevant. To the first part, I’ll say absolutely.

When CJ Taylor and company were lifting the Pioneer program out of the ashes in 2019, I started talking to people in the building about striking while the iron was hot. And to their credit, I think they tried.

People remember the 2020 run — top-10 ranking, CJ winning Mr. Football, the program breaking a 30-year streak of losing seasons — but 2019 is really where it started. Those wins over Rockvale and Siegel at home in the final minute energized the town and had Pioneer pride flowing.

COVID dampened the ability to fully capitalize on that momentum, even though I still think the stadium was packed for most home games — especially the Riverdale-WC showdown of top-10 teams.

This may be something I haven’t said publicly, but around that Riverdale game, I started telling people the Pioneers should consider going non-region the next two years. It sounds strange, but the reasoning was simple: keep the momentum going.

If you fall off after that senior class leaves, you’re out of sight and out of mind just as quickly.

Well, nobody wanted to drop out of region play after making the playoffs in 2020, and the next four years the Pioneers went 3-36. Reset button.

And that, in my opinion, set back stadium talk for years. Even with the Belew era getting off to a strong start in 2025, it’s going to take sustained success before the public backs a $20-25 million project.

As for whether a new stadium would make the team more consistent — I’m skeptical.

It might help participation and benefit multiple programs, but I don’t think it turns Warren County into a football factory overnight.

Personally, I don’t think we’re building one anytime soon. I’d guess the next stadium comes with a new high school — and I don’t see that happening in the 2020s. Maybe the 2030s, and even that feels 50-50.

Question: Will any of the WCHS spring teams claim a district title?

When I first got this question, I needed clarification — because the Lady Pioneer tennis team is one win away from a district title, which makes “yes” pretty easy.

But the follow-up made it clear the focus was on team sports: flag football, soccer, softball and baseball.

Flag football feels like the best bet. A team trending toward a 15-1 regular season is clearly among the best in Region 3-AA. But the path still goes through Blackman.

The Blaze have rolled through the region schedule just like Warren County and already own a 27-20 comeback win over the Lady Pioneers.

I’d bet on a rematch in the region championship — and then we’ll find out who’s best. Warren County is better now than it was a month ago, and even then it was a few fourth-quarter miscues away from winning.

Softball and soccer both have a path to the region, but I’m not ready to predict district titles. Lincoln County has had the edge on the diamond, and Shelbyville is the team to beat on the pitch. A No. 2 seed would be a strong outcome for both.

Baseball faces the toughest road. The Pioneers would likely need to beat Coffee County in a play-in game, then take down top-seed Cookeville in a best-of-3 — both teams that swept them in the regular season.

Even if they do that, they’d still face Lincoln County or Shelbyville for the championship — again, both teams that swept Warren County.

I don’t see a district title there. The focus should be getting into that series with Cookeville and seeing what happens.

I think that’ll be enough for April. Again, send in questions for May. Get random, get crazy — I don’t care.

Until then, enjoy all our coverage on the Main Street Journal website.