[RichBrooks]

Bell County is bulit on holdbacks and has always been a top program at the high school level. I agree there isnt as big of a difference between a 19 year old and a 17 as there is between a 15 and 13. Knox county used to be the laughing stock of the state 5-6 years ago and now they are a very solid program. one thing that changed in this time period is implenting junior football and kids starting to hold back. Coaching also improved. I am a firm believer in holding back kids, I feel it benefits them in school and athletically. The argument will never end holdback vs not. Parents who dont believe in it wont believe in it and parents that do will always support it. When a child graduates at 17 they arent physically or mentally ready to tackle the decisions that they are going to face in college. In college students are beasically held back all the time, they just call it a redshirt. So the kid who is 17 as a senior in high school and doesnt redshirt ends up playing against people who could 5-6 years older in college. No one will ever change my mind on the issue just as I will never change anyone else's.