by design | Feb 9, 2026 | Columnist, Nagi
By Mark Nagi When you talk about HS football in East Tennessee, the name George Quarles often comes to mind. One of the most successful coaches in the state, Quarles won 94% of his games during his 18 years as the head coach at Maryville. The Rebels also won 11...
by design | Feb 9, 2026 | Columnist, Mattingly
By Tom Mattingly It wasn’t too long ago, in the late 1980s, actually, that Alabama and Auburn were squabbling over the venue of the “Iron Bowl.” Finally, Auburn drew a line in the sand. Auburn would play its “home games” in Auburn, a seemingly reasonable...
by design | Feb 9, 2026 | Columnist, Pratt
By Justin Pratt, Clear Springs Baptist Church Senior Pastor Imagine walking through a quiet, empty city at night. Put yourself there. The streets are familiar, but every shadow seems to move. Every distant sound, a car door slamming, a dog barking that doesn’t...
by design | Feb 9, 2026 | Columnist, Rector
By Joe Rector I’m snuggly tucked into my porch office. Since the room has no HVAC vent, the tiny heater I use is working overtime to keep the cold away. The Grammy Awards are playing on the television in the family room, but I have no interest in watching even...
by design | Feb 9, 2026 | Columnist, Ferguson
“Sometimes the best explanation of the otherwise inexplicable is evil.” James V. Ferguson, MD, FACP By Dr. Jim Ferguson Harold Ford Jr. still claims membership in the Democratic Party, even though that train has long since left the station. That entity no...
by design | Feb 9, 2026 | Columnist, Duncan
By John J. Duncan Jr. The Democrats and the national media they control got in a big uproar when President Trump said a few days ago that he wanted Republicans to “nationalize the elections,” obviously referring to the upcoming midterm races. The president’s...
