thedailytimes.com : Your 24/7 news source

Hey, Justin Price, it's Maryville College calling.

The Scots need you.

How would you like to take some time away from your offensive coordinator duties at your high school alma mater and spend some time at your college alma mater?

You see, since you've graduated and departed for Anderson County's coaching staff, the guys who've followed you at quarterback haven't grasped the value of their bodies and are somewhat lacking in the theories of being shifty or elusive. You're the last guy to make two full seasons under center.

They like to pretend their running backs and lower the head.

I'm not sure if you've noticed, but Lucas Wall, the guy from William Blount who came after you, lasted just a season before having to call it a career for injury.

Derek Hunt, the Maryville High signal-caller, he battled for a season and a game, but he's had to hang it up due to a series of skull-rattling concussions.

Tim Conner showed a lot of the arm and precision that you did when you set that school record for fewest interceptions, but of late he's having to talk his way back into the game after waking up on the grass watching the birdies fly in drunken circles above him.

Things got so desperate Saturday in that 21-14 loss to Ferrum that the third- and fourth-string guys both had series in the second quarter, and the mustang-Tate package -- the one where a running back is taking snaps -- was the best option available. And the two touchdown passes, only one came from a quarterback. Six guys took a snap or threw a pass as the arms and fates allowed.

You would like how these quarterbacks fight. Conner came back for the second half and made a game of it in less than perfect health. But maybe you could show them how to side-step and throw or elude and slide. You knew there's a unspoken value to the team and the season of not getting yourself knocked silly for an extra yard every time you scramble toward a defensive end that has 5 inches and a 100 pounds on you.

As a group, these guys have spent enough time on Sharon Wood's training table that their girlfriends are getting suspicious.

We're not knocking your former coaches, but the only quarterback on the staff is your former backup, Daniel Dunn, and he's working with the defense these days.

We're thinking maybe it takes someone whose name is in the record books at the position for both throwing and running smart. You've obviously passed that "Gambler"-esque ability to "know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to to walk away, know when to run" on to your quarterback at Anderson County.

By the way, when the playoffs end, maybe you could see how he feels about bagpipes?

But back to the subject at hand, we're not asking for you to give up your job with the Mavericks. Just maybe watch some tape over the holidays and moonlight during spring practice.

We hope they'll all be healed up by then.

Marcus Fitzsimmons is a sports writer for The Daily Times who enjoys comments posted to his online column at www.thedailytimes.com