Gold Star

Hey, UKCATSFAN - I hope you had a nice week. We have missed seeing your post. Could you please give me a call. I have an important one for you. Thanks,

I agree with you that the four seniors should have started. I do appreciate the fact that he allowed all seniors to play on Rupp Arena tho. I also think that Milan Maddox has certainly shown that sitting on the bench did not hurt him-he hung in there when people were asking, "Why do you stay" He stayed because he was taught by two incredible parents to not be a quitter, and he had the love of an amazing uncle that sat on the bench and stood beside Coach Dodd's decisions, but Milan was the team player that the RHS pep club chanted his name above all others when he was put in the game. I think all BGP people should ask for a copy of Milan's letter to the team so that they can see the difference one team player made on the bench and not on the floor. He is loved by RHS deeply.

Dear IDOC - You know I am one of your greatest fans. What I was referring to in my previous statements were that I think we have to agree that Coach Dodd allowed the boys to play team ball and that was the difference in our regional games. I understand there are still issues but I agree with you that BGP would not be the place to air any negatives before the state game. I know that you give great support to all sports at Russell and yes, you gave very euthusiastically to the dinner for the basketball team because you care about these kids.... and you have opinions about the basketball coaches simply because you care. I apologize if I made too broad of a statement. I just did not think Sunday and this week was the time to have a FIRE DODD Thread. I felt that the creator of that thread was looking for negative comments and I just did not think it was the right time to make negative statements with the team going to Rupp. I still stand by some of my thoughts, but if I have to keep my mouth closed to get to know and enjoy those boys then for me I have decided I will do that - remember, I left a game in tears because the boys were told to not talk to me ...I love those kids...I can handle respecting the coaches and have my relationships with the boys. I am not qualified to coach - but you are, so you have more say, plus you have had a personal involvement - But I do like to fund raise for them because I want them to have priviledges and have great camps. I appreciate you.

We at Russell are very proud of our team and our coaches for taking Russell to Rupp. It was an incredible sight to be hold our team on that beautiful floor. We made it and we would have liked to stayed longer but Graves was great. It was not our boys fault or our coaches. We were beat by a very good team. We are very proud and I will say it again. We are Russell and Proud of It. :banana: :banana: :banana:

It was wonderful see the Russell Team on the of Rupp Arena. It was great for the fans. So what if we lost - we were still there and that was better than most teams could say. We can build on this experience for next year. I was very pleased that Coach Dodd allowed the bench boys time on the floor. This will be a great memory for them and something they can share with their grandchildren years from now. As I said - so what - Russell made it to the state. That is nothing to be sad about - Sure we would have enjoyed playing in other games - but, Graves was very good and I do not think that anyone in the Region could have handled them better than we did. The sixteen region is still great - and that's that. Look out for next year.

Russell by 3

Let me be in charge of selling these hats...Great Fund Raiser...I raised $600.00 in a 6 minute spread for the Dodd Squad Dinner tomorrow evening and all that gave - gave happily - I was handed a Gold American Express Card for our balance. I guess that means a fan trust me...Like I said everyone gave happily to the Coaches and The Team and Cheerleaders. It was be a wonderful evening. Duck - you are wonderful... You always said, "Dodd was the best" and we would all see at regionals. I am glad you are such an important part of Dodd's life. He could never have another true friend like YOU. I vote YOU Assistant Coach of the YEAR

Coach Dodd has earned all the Russell Respect...Yes, all fans, parents, kids, etc. make complaints, but maybe that made just a fraction of difference in Coach Dodd's will to win... He definitely has all Russell Fans praising him now. I listen to both sides and both sides are in agreement that he has done an awesome job molding these boys to win - last night and tonight. I don't think he is in a bad spot at all right now - both sides are in agreement. Plus those that complain are incredible people also, they complain because they care.

Casey Clark, since he left the team, has been at all the games on his own gas money supporting the team. He was one of the first to run out on the floor tonight to cheer the team on - I saw and heard him call to Austin Blair and give him a hug. It was unfortunate to lose such a great kid, but I truly admire Casey for supporting the coaches and team members. I hope he will be back next year....

The Dodd Squad again was great. You must give credit where credit is due. Coach Dodd has made a major impact on those young men these last few games. Coach Parsley praised Dodd tonight at the pep rally and I thought that was nice. Yes, we all have been down on the coaches at different times, but when Coaching really counted, it was now. The coaches have worked hard to revive and I think that have done an incredible job BUT our BOYS Each & Everyone of them played as a TEAM and they are absolutely AWESOME. I think the lessons they have learned about team playing will stay with them a life time. The Milan Maddox letter was such an inspiration and it should be a lesson to some adults also. I recently had an incident where I was cheated out of something that was definitely due me, and it is a horrible feeling to have that happen, not in basketball but in business for me, but I know the cheaters, I now know that they are not people of their word, and that has made me a better player...I will beat them at their game because their weakness is money....for that is what they cheated for.The ref's tried to cheat for our victory..But our boys, coaches, and fans made us proud. You know you cannot do wrong and get by with it - we prevailed because we played hard and our boys were not doing all those fouls...Two of our tops fouled out....We held together and WON.....We are Russell and We are Proud. I admire those boys....

Russell all the way - The Dodd Squad is back - Russell Wins and the other score will not matter.

Thank you - but the Russell Rooster's on a roll and they are rolling all the way to Lexington.

We will be dancing I-64 with them - We love the Coach and our Boys.:thumb:

We should make the history books. The best team effort ever....

Russell played the best game of the season... Congratulations to all team members for playing such an awesome team game. They each were great and I was so impressed that with 2 minutes left Coach Dodd went down his bench shaking each players hand. I think it was more than just winning for The Coach it was that they played an incredible game together. We will go to Rupp. I was sad for Fairview tho, because they are a great team also....they just had a down night like we did in the District, obviously that cannot be helped. I think Coach Cooksey is a wonderful coach. He deserves Rupp but just not this or next year. Coach Dodd has lead the guys to play with the best team effort and he has my hat off for teaching this method. Again, he has walked us thru to Saturday night. Thank you Coach and great appreciation to our boys. Also, thank you for allowing our Seniors time on the floor. What a wonderful ending for tonight and tomorrow night for them. He has given them a great memory for their last games. PS I think someone loving fan has frozen gatorade and transported to Morehead - thru traffic - police - security etc. do you think that has made a little difference. She loves her boys. See you tomorrrow... We are Russell:dancingpa