An assortment of odds and ends that I've collected over the past several days and haven't had a chance to pass on:

Although no schedules have been finalized as yet, College of Charleston's Antwaine Wiggins, the former Greeneville High School standout, and Tony White Jr. of Knoxville will have a chance to play before the home folks.

Cougars Coach Bobby Cremins sought a game in Knoxville for the benefit of White, who played at Bearden, and Wiggins, and UT Coach Bruce Pearl has agreed.

White is the son of former University of Tennessee star Tony White, who played on Rocky Top from 1983-1987.

The game will be played at Thompson-Boling Arena on Nov. 27, the day after Thanksgiving, according to reports.

Moving the TSSAA football championship games to Cookeville surprises me a bit, but I don't think it's a bad thing, unless you are a big supporter of the Chamber of Commerce in Murfreesboro.

The TSSAA last week accepted a bid from Cookeville to host the state championships in football. Murfreesboro had been home to title tilts from 2000-2008, and prior to that, games had been staged in Nashville at Vanderbilt University.

While Tennessee Tech has all the amenities needed to host the football games, I hope the basketball and Spring Fling stays in Murfreesboro. The Board of Control will take action on Spring Fling during their August meeting.

Speaking of the TSSAA, the Board of Control has voted to increase the price of tickets to state title games, which is depressing in these tough economic times. But after watching the crowds dwindle at the state basketball championships over the fast few years, I can certainly see the board needed to do something to recover some lost funds.

Sectional prices for basketball, volleyball, softball, baseball, soccer and track will increase from $6 to $7, while football playoff tickets will also be bumped up a dollar, from $7 to $8.

I've always been a firm believer that students from participating schools need to be sold tickets at a cut-rate price. Charging a student $8 to come support his/her team at a football playoff game seems ridiculous. They should be allowed to attend for a couple of bucks. You need the students there to cheer, and a lot of them can't afford it.

High school football season looms in just a couple of months, and the first of what I suspect will be several ratings of teams has arrived.

There will be six classes for playoff purposes once the regular season has ended. Earl Nall has already sent out his pre-season No. 1 teams for 2009 and they are as follows:

Class 1A, South Pittsburgh; Class 2A, Trousdale County; Class 3A, Alcoa; Class 4A, David Lipscomb; Class 5A, Henry County; Class 6A, Murfreesboro Oakland. Knox Webb and Memphis University School are his picks as the top Division II (private schools).

Bob Kesling, the "Voice of the Vols," deserves a big thanks for his continued support of the Boys & Girls Club of Greeneville and Greene County. Kesling's annual Golf Classic was held Friday at Link Hills, and he was again successful in coaxing a number of former and current University of Tennessee coaches and players to come to Greeneville to play golf in support of the local club.

You know summer is here, and it arrives on Sunday, when the Greeneville Astros come to town, and they are here with the Appalachian League season starting on Tuesday.

Astros fans are urged to stop by the General Morgan Inn downtown Monday from 5-7 p.m. to meet the 2009 Astros and the coaching staff. There is no admission charge and fans will get a chance to talk with the new players and get autographs.

The first home game is next Friday night at 7 p.m. at Pioneer Park.