Knotts' offseason of discontent

There's a must-read story about Independence coach Tom Knotts by writer Langston Wertz Jr. in Thursday's Charlotte Observer.

There might not be a better all-around high school football coach in America than Knotts, by my estimation. Indy's record -- eight consecutive state titles and 108 straight wins -- sort of speaks to that. But I have always found Knotts to be an exceptional person and an admirable leader of young men.

Wertz's piece on Knotts and how he has dealt with success -- and quite a bit of adversity lately -- is very telling.

Independence, ranked No. 7 in the National Prep Poll, opens the season Friday at Olympic.