​LET'S ROLL, WILDCATS, ROLL!!

End of an Era: Coach Joe Gaddis Retires

Photo courtesy of 5StarPreps

(article from Oakridger.com)

After 38 years coaching high school football, Oak Ridge coach Joe Gaddis announced his retirement on Monday. Gaddis first coached Oak Ridge from 1988-1998 and was rehired in 2013. ​

​He began his head coaching career at Tullahoma in 1983 and has since coached multiple seasons at Henry County, Pascagoula (Mississippi), Austin (Alabama) and Lexington (North Carolina). He also coached a single year at Peabody in 2012.
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"I'm just proud that in some small way, I was able to continue the great tradition of Oak Ridge football," Gaddis said. "Oak Ridge for the last 75 years to me is in a class by itself. There's no place like Blankenship Field. There's not a better atmosphere. There's not a better tradition in Tennessee than Oak Ridge football."

Gaddis won a state title in 1991 at Oak Ridge and finished as a runner-up in 2020. He finishes with a career record of 334-146. This year, the Wildcats went 3-8, losing in the opening round of the 5A playoffs, but Gaddis has high hopes for next year's team.

"I think coaches all know when it's time, and I just felt like it was the right time," he said. "Selfishly, I thought about coaching one more year because we had a bad year this year, and we're going to be really good next year. I thought I'd rather go out on a more positive note ... but then I thought, that's really a better scenario for the new coach to come in and have a great season on the heels of a 3-8 and have the town rally around him."

Gaddis will continue to teach at Oak Ridge, but he said he "doesn't have a clue" what comes next for him aside from that.

Contact Emily Adams at eaadams@gannett.com or on Twitter   @eaadams6.

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​An Excerpt from The Oak Ridger
“Jackie Pope’s accomplishments being memorialized”
​Beverly Majors Special to The Oak Ridger

...
​Herbert Jackson Pope died March 22, 2021, and today, his accomplishments are being memorialized.

A memorial column with an inscription is in the works. Part of the plaque’s inscription states:  “This memorial is dedicated to Jackie and the thousands of Wildcats who have and who will descend these 72 steps into the blazing lights of Blankenship Field and everlasting glory!”

The proposed memorial brick column will be placed at the top of the 72 steps.
Jackie was instrumental in keeping the 72 steps as they are, even once all renovations are complete. The steps are part of the foundation of Blankenship Field, and each Wildcat, past, present and future, are proud to walk down them. It’s a tradition that must be maintained, according to Revitalization Foundation members.

“The Pope family is honored and truly appreciative by the community leaders, the ORHS administration, the Board of Education and the Wildcat boosters to create an enduring monument at Blankenship Field to memorialize my father, and to honor his teammates and the tremendous Wildcat spirit they exemplified,” said Robbie Pope, his son. “We are hopeful that it will long serve as inspiration to future Wildcats in their pursuit of excellence as athletes, students and citizens, as well as a perpetual reminder to all Oak Ridgers of the storied history that this very special community shares."
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The cost of the project is estimated at $5,000. Donations to the memorial project should be made to the Blankenship Field Revitalization Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization, identifying the donation is for the Jackie Pope Memorial. Memorial donations should be made at TnBank of Oak Ridge, 401 S. Illinois Ave. 
(Posted with permission from The Oak Ridger)
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Full article may be found at: 
www.oakridger.com/story/sports/2021/08/26/jackie-popes-accomplishments-being-memorialized/8246540002/

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Important Dates:
Dec.    Freshman Football Banquet
Jan.     Varsity Football Banquet



​​2021 Varsity Game Schedule:
Aug 19: South-Doyle 28-20 L
Aug 27: Bearden 14-9 L
Sep 3: @Clinton 22-7 W
Sep 10:@Farragut 35-30 L
Sep 17: @Lenoir City 36-0 W
Sep 24: BYE WEEK
Oct 1: Powell R 38-7 L
Oct 8: @Greeneville 35-9 L
Oct 14: *@Karns R 42-35 L
Oct 22: Dobyns-Bennett 14-10 L
Oct 29: Campbell Co. R 48-21 W
R = Region Game
* = Early Start Time

HELPFUL LINKS:

• ​TSSAA.com/Football
• ​NAIA Eligibility Center
• NCCA Eligibility Center
• D1 Academic Requirements
• D2 Academic Requirements
• NCAA 2019-20 Guide for the College-Bound Student Athlete
• ORHS Athletics
• ORHS Athletic Training
• Maxpreps​ ​