Mr. Gentry said that the Red Storm will be a option team in the paper. I believe UC rely heavily on the fullback to set the pace, sort of a grind out type of offense. I got to see the Storm play, and McCumbers did not impress me as runner, very good arm though. I thought Jefferies was a very good fullback when people were gearing to stop Rider.

Is he big enough to take a pounding in that type of offense at the 4A level? Whitley in the past has been known for their ability to run the football, even when people knew they were going to. Where do these kids fit into that type of system?

Whitley should be fine in the running game.......The talent level is on the rise....The fullback is a tough kid and they also have a couple of younger kids that can play.

 

I heard another coach was released yesterday...................

judgeone, I think we will be able to run the ball also, but the option is a different type of offense than the power game. I dont see McCumbers as a option QB, maybe there is someone else, I thought this kid was very good at what the Red Storm did this past year and would have gotten better in the same type of system.

 

Was the coached fired or did he decided to leave on his own? With Cotton gone, this will allow him some room to hire some new staff. It was'nt Ysidro was it? If those 2 are gone it will be extremely difficult for the new coach, at the 4A level.

Whitley should be fine in the running game.......The talent level is on the rise....The fullback is a tough kid and they also have a couple of younger kids that can play.

 

I heard another coach was released yesterday...................

 

Who was the coach?

Everyone has to be ready for an adjustment period with almost any new coach. Losing Rider will be a big blow for the Whitley, but they do have some nice young talent who did step up to take on some of that load last year. The new coach will have some good young talent, but it will take them a little while to learn the option game if that is indeed what he decides to run. I think that Bowman would probably be a better option QB, but McCumbers seems to have a more accurate arm.

 

The teams in their district who probably lost the least to graduation were:

GRC, North Laurel & Whitley County. It could be another interesting year in this district which was pretty wild this past season with WC getting back in the playoffs for the first time in 3 seasons, Madison Central losing to 1st year head coach David Abbott at North Laurel (but still winning the district) in the upset of the year, South Laurel jumping over GRC and up to the #2 playoff spot and getting a playoff win, Lincoln making a run at the playoffs in their first season in the district, plus Coach Dan Gooch taking over the reigns at Montgomery. 2006 could be even more exciting with all the possibilities. Great players coming back at many of these schools.

The last two off-seasons the talk on this board has been about all that SL has lost to graduation (remember people questioning how SL could replace Karr and Riley after 2004, or Lee after 2003?), and each year they have had very good seasons (7-4, 9-3). SL will surprise people this season as well. The QB Bowling and six other players who either started or saw extensive action last season return. The injuries SL suffered during the season in 2005 actually helped build depth and experience for 2006. On defense, Ledford, Bingham, Quinn, Keith, McQueen, and Hibbard are all returning starters - and Chad Nolan was a quality backup last year at LB. While it is unclear whether or not Ty Proffitt will play next year, if he does play, SL will have 6 outstanding skill players. Imagine Bowling's improvement after a year of growth, weights, and an off-season without splitting practiuce reps.

 

SL will not have the depth on either side of the ball they had last season, and there will be questions on the OL, but the outlook is still very good. Young players like Blake Fields, Chad Nolan, Brad Nolan, Brian Roark, and Wes King will all have a chance to make a difference.

 

Another fact that is lost on some people is the quality staff SL has. This will be the 5th season that virtually the entire staff is intact. The only changes have been the return of former assistants Chris St. John and Chad Hicks.

The last two off-seasons the talk on this board has been about all that SL has lost to graduation (remember people questioning how SL could replace Karr and Riley after 2004, or Lee after 2003?), and each year they have had very good seasons (7-4, 9-3). SL will surprise people this season as well. The QB Bowling and six other players who either started or saw extensive action last season return. The injuries SL suffered during the season in 2005 actually helped build depth and experience for 2006. On defense, Ledford, Bingham, Quinn, Keith, McQueen, and Hibbard are all returning starters - and Chad Nolan was a quality backup last year at LB. While it is unclear whether or not Ty Proffitt will play next year, if he does play, SL will have 6 outstanding skill players. Imagine Bowling's improvement after a year of growth, weights, and an off-season without splitting practiuce reps.

 

SL will not have the depth on either side of the ball they had last season, and there will be questions on the OL, but the outlook is still very good. Young players like Blake Fields, Chad Nolan, Brad Nolan, Brian Roark, and Wes King will all have a chance to make a difference.

 

Another fact that is lost on some people is the quality staff SL has. This will be the 5th season that virtually the entire staff is intact. The only changes have been the return of former assistants Chris St. John and Chad Hicks.

 

I agree. I have heard that Ty will be playing, and I hope he does! He really was a big boost to the SL offense last season and enjoyed watching him week after week last season.

 

You are right, each year, the Cardinals seem to be taking the right steps to getting better and better. I don't see them as the #2 seed next season, but the could surprise every one and win the district next season (Madison Central lost a load of talent in 2005 and the district will be wide open. Regardless, I think they continue their consecutive playoff run and could get another playoff win next season as these younger kids get even more PT! Coach Irwin is proving each year that he was the landslide best choice for this job! :thumb:

About Whitley County - while there will be a transition period to the new offense and coaching style of Coach Gentry and his staff, the WC program is not that far down. In the past few seasons, WC has run the I, Power I, wing-t, and wishbone, but the offense has always been run-oriented.

 

Moreover, the players know how to work hard and win (thanks to Coach Campbell), and everyone seems to forget that they were very close to an 8-2 record last season, losing close games to Breathitt, M'boro, GRC, and SL. If they win those two close district games, WC would have been the #2 seed and Coach Campbell might still be the coach. The margin between winning and losing can extremely small.

Slugo,

I agree, although WC did beat M'boro..............they did have several close games that could have been won.(but could have and should have are two different things) Wc had 7 seniors last year and 16 this year With the rest of the distict losing a lot of talent ...............look out for whitley.

The coach was Huddleston..............I think

Slugo,

I agree, although WC did beat M'boro..............they did have several close games that could have been won.(but could have and should have are two different things) Wc had 7 seniors last year and 16 this year With the rest of the distict losing a lot of talent ...............look out for whitley.

 

 

My mistake on the M'boro game - was there another close game they lost that I was thinking of? Shelby Co., maybe?

Shelby was close...........9 points at the end..................Whitley was behind by 14 and took the lead before half only to loose in the end........

Shelby was close...........9 points at the end..................Whitley was behind by 14 and took the lead before half only to loose in the end........

 

 

Why did Whitley come out on the short end of so many games?

Why did Whitley come out on the short end of so many games?

 

 

Tougher non district schedule than in years past. However, I believe that truly helped them in getting back into the playoffs when they had a must win game in the final week against North Laurel. They showed a lot of mental toughness, going for the 2pt conversion to win instead of OT.

Tougher non district schedule than in years past. However, I believe that truly helped them in getting back into the playoffs when they had a must win game in the final week against North Laurel. They showed a lot of mental toughness, going for the 2pt conversion to win instead of OT.

 

:thumb: