Very true. Their athletic director puts on email on the coaches Listserv seemingly every week looking for games.

 

I think part of the problem is JC is always looking for a home and home series. Some teams they have contacted would love to play them but just on a one year deal and some might not want to travel to Paintsville. In my opinion, JC should just go and play those teams and prove that they can play with other tougher programs rather than lower tier teams from PA, WV or OH. What do you all think?

I hope JC loses to either CC or FT. I love to hear Matney whine and cry over having to play them.

But since then, it's like the Eagles have been unwilling to do what it takes to "hit the road" and challenge their program to be a legitimate state contender.

 

IMHO, you hit the nail on the head right there.

 

Everyone takes pot shots at JC for their schedule and the defense is the fact they cannot find teams willing to play them. I think that is true to an extent...I think JC has made every effort to find quality in-state teams to play and have been told "thanks but no thanks", but I think the bigger issue at heart is the fact that JC only wants to schedule tougher competition on "their terms".

 

JC has played a lot of weird games against teams from Paducah, teams from Canada, teams from Cleveland, a team from West Mississippi, a team from NC, teams from Indianapolis, and a team from Philly to fill their schedule. The thing that raises my eye brow is seemingly every one of those games had the team travelling to JC to play.

 

JC has no problem ponying up money to bring someone to their homefield that needs a game, yet they have yet to play a single one of these "Schedule fillers" on the road.

 

My gut instinct tells me that if JC actually wants to upgrade their schedule they are going to essentially have to be the bigger team and bite the bullet for the sake of better competition. Agree to a 1 year deal on the road when a big name program needs their schedule filled. Agree to a 2 year deal where you have to play on the road twice (See Belfry vs. Southwestern).. Play at a neutral site for a Bowl Game...

 

The impression I have gotten is JC wants their cake and to eat it too. They want to play better teams and get a challenge, but they also don't want to take the chance of being outclasses. They want to host a Bowl Game or hype up a team from out of the state, but they want to make sure they win it. They want to spend money to fill a 10 game schedule, but they want to get at least 6 or 7 home games.

This year's Cov Cath team is just not very good. It should be a competitive game.

JC best years were when they stepped up to the plate and played quality teams, Lou. Central, Bell Co., Breathitt Co., Boyle Co.. Something is to be said for playing quality teams and not cupcakes you throw big bucks at to come to your place so you can beat them like a drum and build them up over the radio as a quality opponent.

Now as defense to JC... plantmanky nailed something else. They legitimately are a program noone wants to play on almost every level.

 

JC's 8th Grade team won the State Title in dominating fashion last year. As Freshman Belfry and Johnson Central played each other 3 TIMES this past year. In 8th Grade they played twice. Simply put teams don't want to get beaten to a pulp and don't want to play them. Belfry has a stellar crop of Feshman as well (they won their MS division's State Title as well in dominating fashion), and have the horses to compete with them (Belfry went 3-0 actually including a blowout win the last game )...but other teams for better wording don't want their teeth kicked in.

 

JC does have a major disadvantage geographically. The closest 6A schools are 2.5 hours away and all the 5A schools in EKY are usually weak. Pulaski County and Harlan County have been the only consistently good 5A teams. JC scheduled Harlan County and had no control that they would fall off so fast. Pulaski has too many natural rivalries in place. The WV schools wont play them because of their playoff system (FWIW JC regularly waxes Top 5 overall teams in WV in scrimmages) and Southern OH isn't littered with quality Bigger Schools and the ones that are feasible like Jackson, Athens, etc all are part of leagues. SW Virginia have no big schools... their best teams are the likes of Gate City, Richlands, etc who are 2A schools and not near the level of competition.

Long story short... JC and Belfry share common issues so I have though of this before. Belfry fortunately is a smaller school so they have a little more flexibility..but here is some ideas I have had:

1. JC needs to beg, borrow, or steal to travel to Jefferson County or CKY to play some of these Top 10-15 Caliber 6A teams. You aren't going to get a Trinity or even a Male or X... ... but there are a lot of teams who also value good competition that will push you. Manual, Ballard, PRP, Scott County, Henry Clay, Lafayette. Go to their place twice if you have to.

 

2. Partner up with someone and start your own bowl. Join forces with Belfry in Week 2 and bring in two quality teams each year. That or try to pair up two big time teams form out of the area for a headliner game. Imagine JC vs. Simon Kenton on the undercard and Maryville (TN) vs. Buford (GA) in the headliner. The nation's best teams want to play the nation's best teams. Help give them a platform to do so even if it means giving them the profits.

 

3. Hit the Road. Teams who have been ostracized is not exclusive to KY.Teams all around the Southeast make people mad win they win or how they win. Find them. Play them. Tennessee teams don't like Ensworth because they "recruit"..they don't like Alcoa... You show me a successful Private School and I will show you a public school system that think they are getting an unfair deal. Play those Private Schools! When CAK won two TN 3A Titles suddenly the public schools didnt want to play them... Belfry did...

I think part of the problem is JC is always looking for a home and home series.

 

Looking for a home-and-home is a bad thing?

Best way to stop that is to compete with him and ultimately beat him.

 

That's true. Doesn't change the fact that no one wants to play against someone who is a poor sport if they can avoid it. Treating people/teams/schools/kids that way ultimately leads to negative thoughts/opinions about you and your school. I can remember JC being up 9 against Ashland with 2 seconds left in the game, what does Matney do??? Runs a QB bootleg around the end for a senseless TD. Those types of actions go to the heart of what type of person you are and the program you run. I would never want my son to learn how to play football, treat others, and become and man for a coach like that.

I hope JC loses to either CC or FT. I love to hear Matney whine and cry over having to play them.

 

LOL

Looking for a home-and-home is a bad thing?

 

Im starting to think so. :idunno:

Looking for a home-and-home is a bad thing?

 

It is likely tough to get a quality team that would be willing to travel all the way to JC just because JC wants to play them. If JC truly wants better competition, they may have to travel without the expectation of a home game in return.

Looking for a home-and-home is a bad thing?

 

I think you have to do whatever it takes to make quality match ups.

 

Example: the bluegrass bowl in Lexington this year matched up 2 quality 6A schools in Bryan Station and St.X. Anyone of those teams could've pleaded for a home and home instead they benefited by testing their coaches and players on a neutral site. Any could argue that their schedules were already loaded, but that was a great test. JC could create match ups with quality teams on neutral sites or bowls like the Bluegrass one to justify their programs legitimacy. Instead they get punched for the first time come playoffs and they curl up in a ball.

 

To be the man (woooooooohhhhh) you have to beat the man.

 

In the football final 4 that's about to take place in January is anybody mentioning Marshall? No! So what they are undefeated. Their resume doesn't compare to Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Florida State, or Alabama's. So records don't mean much if the team lacks a pulse that you are pounding on.

JC could make a call down to Florida. Highlands seems to have no trouble getting teams to travel 1000+ miles to play in Kentucky with no return home game.

JC could make a call down to Florida. Highlands seems to have no trouble getting teams to travel 1000+ miles to play in Kentucky with no return home game.

 

Highlands also has a packed trophy case and is the second winningest program in the Nation.