Jay Greeson: 'Godfather' talk appropriate for epic

There are a few coversation rules in the newsroom.

Don't talk politics with our cartoonist. Don't mention stocks in the business department. And don't incorrectly quote movies in the sports department.

Seriously, someone will know and will call it to everyone's attention.

With Friday's epic matchup between Signal Mountain and South Pittsburg behind us, there were several parallels between the Eagles' 40-36 win and quotes from the all-time movie epic of my lifetime, "The Godfather."

It's not personal, Sonny. It's strictly business. - Michael Corleone to Sonny, right before Michael took the plunge to be part of the family business.

It was also the no-nonsense approach for the high-powered Signal Mountain offense that entered Friday night averaging more than 45 points per game. The Eagles gained 513 total yards - more than 250 passing and rushing - led by the star-studded play of quarterback Hogan Whitmire.

"That's the best game I've ever played," Whitmire said. "It was a great challenge for us, and we were ready to meet it."

I said that I would see you because I had heard that you were a serious man, to be treated with respect. - Don Corleone to Sollozzo

Every couple of years there's a new challenger, and every couple of years the Pirates swashbuckle themselves to the top of the heap. Friday night, the stage was different, the opponent was different and the names on the back of the jerseys were different. The result this time was also different.

Signal, which was blown out by these Pirates last year, faced adversity for the first time this season and stood tall.

You can act like a man! - Don Corleone to Johnny Fontane

The biggest of games generally produce the biggest of stars, not unlike the Don telling Johnny to man up and quit his babbling. Friday night, there was a host of stars but none was brighter than Whitmire, who had 229 yards and three touchdowns passing and one TD rushing. But two names emerged that will help each team throughout the season. Signal receiver Jon Patton caught the three touchdown passes and South Pittsburg quarterback Travis Millard was outstanding in his first big test of the season. Millard had two touchdown passes on 8-of-15 passing for 163 yards.

"I didn't know what to expect," Patton said amid the congratulations of the thousands of Eagles supporters who stormed the field afterward. "I never imagined anything like this."

Tell him if he wants to try any rough stuff that I ain't no band leader.

Yeah, I heard that story. - Jack Woltz to Tom Hagen

This the conversation before the famous scene with the horse head in Woltz's bed.

Yes, the Eagles remained unbeaten, but don't think for a second the Pirates gave it away. In its first real road test in its brief two-year history, Signal handled lead changes and 12 penalties. In the end, the Eagles' overpowering offense was too much.

I want you to use all your powers, and all your skills. - Don Corleone to Bonasera

The Don briefing the undertaker before showing him Sonny was one of the movie's more powerful scenes.

Pirates coach Vic Grider's pregame speech featured one theme - that Friday night was going to be a fight until the end. He was right, of course, his team was on the wrong end of a game that neither team deserved to lose.

It's an old habit. I spent my whole life trying not to be careless. - Don Corleone to Michael

In a passing-of-the-torch moment, the Don give his son a valuable lesson.

Both of these teams will be playing long into the playoffs, and the lessons from Friday will be valuable on their paths.

"That game ranks right up there at the top," Signal Mountain coach Bill Price said. "It was an electric atmosphere and a huge win. There's a good possiblity that there were two state champions on this field tonight."

And arguably the most famous of the all, a variation of the ...

Make him an offer that he can't refuse - which has various versions offered up by Michael and Don Corleone in the movie.

Let's toss this out there to these two programs, which may not be in the same district next season. If you offer to keep playing this rivalry, we'll keep showing up to watch it. How about that - no horse heads needed.

Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com or (423) 757-6273.

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