By TOMMY BRYAN

Preparations for the 2009 football season are underway at Mt. Juliet High -- without the services of standout running back Brady Earnhardt. The chiseled 5-9, 185-pounder is expected to miss most, if not all, of his senior year due to an off-season knee injury.

Earnhardt, who rushed for 1,168 yards on 179 carries a year ago (6.5 per attempt) and scored 11 TDs, reportedly tore a lateral collateral ligament while participating in a football camp at the University of Tennessee.

While the Bears will certainly miss his presence on the field, they will also miss his leadership.

"Brady is a rare athlete," said MJ head coach Roger Perry. "He had already graded out as the fastest and strongest player at the UT camp before he got hurt. I don’t know if I’ve ever had a player with his combination of power and speed."

The Golden Bears will employ a two-platoon system this year.

"Our depth situation will change, we’ll be two-deep at every position instead of four-deep," Perry said.

A familiar face is in a new place as longtime girls basketball coach Chris Fryer joins the coaching staff -- working with linebackers.

"I’d tried to get Chris involved since I arrived at Mt. Juliet," Perry said, "and I had just about given up."

Fryer a former offensive lineman and linebacker for the Golden Bears, had worked with football before during his teaching career.

His most recent effort on the gridiron came under the Dan Winfree regime when Winfree and several assistants were injured in a van crash while en route to scout a future opponent.

Fryer and others on the faculty filled in while the regular coaches recovered from their injuries.

Mt. Juliet High will be accepting season ticket renewals Monday - Friday, July 27-31 at the main office. Season ticket holders from the 2008 season who wish to renew may do so between the hours of 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

First-time season ticket holders are welcome the week of Aug. 3-7, 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Season tickets are available in both the upper and lower sections of new stadium, centered at the 50-yard line, and include a parking pass.

Mt. Juliet’s schedule includes six home games this season, including the September 4 home-opener against District 9AAA rival Gallatin High. The Golden Bears open the 2009 season Aug. 28 at Nashville McGavock.

Both the Mt. Juliet ninth grade and varsity programs will be participating in the third annual Justice Jamboree -- hosted by Wilson Central High. The event is set for Saturday, August 15.

Mt. Juliet High’s ninth graders will scrimmage Riverdale High at 5:45 p.m.

The first all-varsity event of the evening is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. as Mt. Juliet takes on Riverdale.

By TOMMY BRYAN, sports editor

Five Wilson County football players have been named to the Star Physical Therapy Preseason All-State football teams in their respective classifications, according to Murphy Fair’s 2009 Tennessee High School Football publication.

Honorees include: On the 6A team, massive offensive lineman Cameron Clemmons from Wilson Central High. Clemmons, a senior, checks in at 6-7, 265 pounds.

Three players from Friendship Christian School were named on the 2A squad, including: Senior quarterback Lee Maasen. Playing with a torn tendon in his right elbow, Maasen stands 5-11, 185. Senior Parker Teeter (6-5, 185) was named to the team as a punter, but he hauled in four TD passes a year ago as a tightend. Offensive lineman Turner Haddock was the only junior from Wilson County recognized. Haddock checks in at 6-0, 235.

Rounding out the Wilson County representation is Watertown High senior defensive lineman Nick Lennox. Listed at 6-4, 235, and a game changer on defense, the senior is moving to tightend on offense this season.

Watertown’s preseason practice got off to a sour start Monday morning as returning All-Region linebacker Cody Christian suffered a broken collarbone.

"We were working on our run game and a defensive player was blocked into me," Christian said during Monday night’s 7-on-7 passing scrimmage vs. Wilson Central. "It was a freak thing. His helmet hit me right on the bone. You can see the imprint of his facemask."

Christian is contemplating a surgerical procedure that could get him back on the field as soon as four weeks. Without the surgery, he could be out for six weeks.

Wilson Central has addressed its’ game field problems by sodding the length of the field between the hash marks with 419 Bermuda.

"We really need some hot weather for the Bermuda to take off," Central head coach Traye Aric, "we won’t be able to get on it until our jamboree August 15. That will have given us 45 days for the sod to take root."

Watertown’s Robinson Family Stadium never looked brighter Monday night thanks to recently installed lights. Four banks of new lights rested atop sturdy metal poles.

PLANNED AUG. 20 AT HERMITAGE GOLF COURSE

Considered one of the top 10 public golf courses in the state of Tennessee by Golf Digest, the Hermitage Golf Course will be the site of a tournament to benefit the Mt. Juliet YMCA at the Valley Center Thursday, August 20. A 1 p.m. shotgun start is planned for the four-person scramble format.

Entry fee is $150 per person or $600 per team and includes: tournament green fees, gift packages, lunch at the golf course, on course beverages and snacks during the day, dinner at the golf course after the tournament and a Mulligan package.  Anyone who registers before Aug. 5 will receive a $25 per player discount.

Tee box sponsorships are still available at $200 as well as golf cart sponsorships for $100.

Tournament proceeds are earmarked for the YMCA’s "We Build People" campaign and goes directly to providing children, adults and families the opportunity to participate in nurturing programs that are designed to help them grow in spirit, mind and body.

On-line tournament entry is available at www.professionalgolfevents.net. For a complete sponsorship package call Marsha Houser, 615-773-5363 or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .