glacierplus5

Valley's players have been on an emotional rollercoaster for the past 4 years as far as coaching goes.4 years -4 new coaches. Alot of thoughts can run through a player's head having to endure something like this,questions like aren't we any good, does anyone really care if we win or lose, doesn't anyone in the community care enough about our program to try and get a coach that wants to build a program????? Now to my point- I believe that the first thing you do is to hire a guy with no ties to the community.....In steps coach Saunders. Now if you want to win and win as fast as you can, the first thing you have to do is get rid of the kids that aren't 100 % in love with the game, this is a tough job to do, you lose alot of good athletes that would probably help your team but still it must be done.What's left are kids that will put it all on the line reguardless of what's said or done to them. Now you build confidence... remember now, alot of very good athletes have quit, and maybe just maybe the kids that are left are doubting wheather or not they can still win without certain players being on the team. BINGO !!!! Phelps was the game that was needed....not for Phelps' fans or anyone with a soft-spot for not running up the score, but for Valley players that remained on the team after so many had quit for one reason or another. I don't believe for a second that the coach for valley intended to hurt the feelings of the players from phelps, but was trying to build confidence within his own team. This is just my view on the whole situation, I wish valley the best,in what ever the future holds for them......and if another team can beat them by 60-70 points then bring it on, after what some of these kids have indured over the past 4 years, I'm sure it would only feel like a fly on their backside!! NOW go get another win . KW

Joshua Damron,Center #71 for the Shelby Valley wildcats will also be playing for the Highland cavaliers this fall. David Shaffer,DE for P-Burg this past fall will also be playing for UVA-Wise.

Congratulations to Josh Damron who signed a national letter of intent to play football for the Cav's on April the 12. Today the signee's got to watch the Highland cavaliers play their anual Red/Gray game which was a very hard hitting game! It was very suprising to me that the roster didn't have a single kid from Kentucky on it.As far as I know, so far this year,Coach Wasum has signed 3 players from KY, DE Dave Shaffer from Prestonsburg, Center Josh Damron from Shelby Valley and Tim Chaplin from Pikeville. Congratulations to these eastern Ky players.

Yes, ''somebody elses money''Valley's football boosters club started the idea and teco was very receptive and generous along with the BOE and private contributors, but to go as far to say SV's ''wanting'' to spend money on football.....nah, I personally don't think so.

Mat was POY from 2AA district 8,And coach Haywood was COY.I appoligize for not posting it earlier.

The following players made the All District teams for Region 8 2A Player of the Year -- Matt Maynard, Belfry Coach of the Year -- Philip Haywood, Belfry 1st Team Belfry--Chad Steel, Richard Harris, Dustin May, Tommy Church, Corey Chapman, Derek McCoy, Bobby Burton Shelby Valley--Joshua Damron, Zach Mullins, Adam L. Ratliff, Adam J. Ratliff, John Johnson, John McPeek Pike Central--Gordan Varney, Chad Blackburn, Quirvon Merchant, Daniel Coleman, Corey Mullins East Ridge--Steven Thacker, David Ratliff, Michael Slone, Brandon Varney Sheldon Clark--Jon Wells, Jon Allen, Josh Schmidt, Danny Hinkle, James Maynard, Adam Dials, Daniel Harless, B.J. Slone Prestonsburg--Wes Wood, Brandon Peters, Lincoln Slone, Brenton Hamilton, Zach Ousley, Tyler Layne, Darrick Williams Magoffin County--Brandon Shepherd, Bradley Wireman Honarable Mention Belfry--Jordan Phillips, Ronnie Edwards, Matt Dotson, Will Sutherland, Devon Kohari Shelby Valley--Larry May, Tyler Cable Pike Central--Justin Campbell, Tyler Hamilton, Joe Nichols, Joey Buckley, Ryan Palazzolo East Ridge--Travis Bartley, Brad Brahnam, Larry Bennet, Caleb Epling Sheldon Clark--Damen Hensley, Sam Schmidt, Ryan Kelly, Shawn Johnson, Donald Moore Prestonsburg--David Schaffer, Tyler Hamilton, Sam Chaffin, Seth Moore, Cody Crider Magoffin County--Michael Wright

I'll try to post it today. :thumb:

All have been contacted by at least 1 college showing interest,some with several contacts.The nice thing about this group is the fact that all most all these kids will get academic scholarships of some degree,a few getting full rides. This has a way of attracting a few more offers,knowing that all financal aid doesn't have to come from the intitution's athletic fund itself.

John Johnson TE, Josh Damron C, Pudge Ratliff OT, Mouse Ratliff OG, John McPeek TB, Zack Mullins FB, were named to the 1st Team ALL DISTRICT in region 8 from Shelby Valley . Larry May and Tyler Cable made Honorable Mention. Congratulations to these young men and good luck on your future indevors.

Tyler Cable and John Johnson should be by far the strongest players on the Shelby Valley team next season,Tyler was probably, pound for pound,one of the strongest on the team this past year with the only exception being Zack Mullins.

It's the most frustrating thing you can imagin,get this,The head coach was told that he couldn't hold the football banquet at the school unless it was to include all other fall sports....now that's the kind of support that the present administration gives to football.Don't get me wrong, we do have a very good booster's club,not very many members, but still the few that are involved do alot to help the players and coaches,but that's the only support the team gets.I'm so tired of beating a dead horse though,it will never get better until the present administration is gone. This isn't a big secret...they may be great educators,who knows, but as far as supporting a football program they are at the very bottom of the totum pole in pike county.

The entire problem rests soley on the community's back,the lack of support is a problem which has been there for years,dating back many moons.It all starts with success, or for the lack of better words,failure on the gridiron.This community needs a kid to reach the next level,have a successful career on the college level,and then return to the community and share the wealth ''knowledge''!!In years past most of the better athletes from the Virgie area excelled in basketball,therefore most of the community's interest is in this sport,example-Todd May,his success on the basketball court has made every parent in this community think that their child is going to be the next Rex Chapman.Basketball is pushed ''AND I DO MEAN PUSHED'' on these kids from an early age by their parents.The administration of the valley school system does nothing to change this fixation either because of the lack of knowledge about football in general.They have no motivation.In the 5-6 years I've watched this program,I've watched several kids that could have been great football players ,never even come out for the team,mainly because theres no noise being made to support it and also the lack of parental and community support for the football program.It's been BASKETBALL BASKETBALL for so many years in this community that they have become football ignorant....and the really bad thing about this is that some of these kids choosing not to play could have gone on to be outstanding football players on the college level.Basketball and football and even baseball go hand in hand now-a-days, and a school system should support all sports ,not just one, and until the community opens their eyes and realize that ,HEY, there's a great sport that happens in the fall of the year and just maybe my kid, or joe's kid,or my neighbors kid might just be the next Payton Manning....let's all go out and watch.....then things are just going to remain the same in the little basketball village of virgie.They need to wake up and realize that they will no longer compete year in and year out in basketball, their future success will come in football if the kids will participate,but what fool would want to bust his hump day in and day out,going against the grain that has grown so stubborn that they dare not mention football in the teacher's lounge or the principle's office for fear of retrobution....well, one guy did this year,he worked his tail off helping our kids, he put a little excitement back in the hearts of the handful of football supporters that aren't afraid of the choosen ones, and just watch what happens to him this coming season.The snakes are crawling....I wish somebody would step on'em. :fight:

Leslie Co. will be a hand full for the SC team,they are hands down the best team in this region.We didn't feel going into our game that they were a very fisical team ,but found out very fast that this was far from the truth.They have very good team speed and have a back(#3) that has more moves than exlack.Their QB is a athlete,he lines up 7-9 yds deep in the shotgun and has days to throw,they block the crashing ends very well,as does their large line,they move well to be that big.Their recivers run very good routes,and if they see that #11 is getting heat, will come back to the ball.#11 can thread the ball like a needle and if you can't put pressure on him ,you're in big trouble.SC will have trouble containing him,he rolls out well and can burn you on the QB keeper,he loves the sideline fade routes and he can put it on a dime if given time. VERY ACURATE!! Their best running play against us was the counter,#3 will leave you grabing at air,he may not have blasing speed but his side to side movement is second to none.I may get some heat on this but IMO, This team will beat Belfry by 20,if you don't have a great secondary you will not beat this team.They line the QB up so deep in the shotgun that the defense,even if you have a great pass rush,has plenty of time to hit his recievers.The best film to scout this team with would be the Bell game, Try to copy their lead!!! Good luck to Sheldon Clark.... YOUR GOIN' TO NEED IT!!

Everyone would think that Shelby Valley would rather beat Belfry than anyother team,but Prestonsburg is at the top of the list for Valley.It has something to do with what happened 3 years ago in a ''supposedly'' freshman game that was played at P-burg.The 13 freshmen that played in that game are going into their senior season, and they keep reminding each other that this coming fall will be their last chance to repay the debt.

Your right ,but he also chose to donate his senior year solely to the swim team...he recieved a full scholly to FSU , only to have it taken away after a bad moeped wreck that left him with only one arm.....they said he could still swim very fast but that he keep swimming in circles.....