Grammy winner Sheryl Crow said it best.

“A Change Would Do You Good.”

After a winless season in 2014, East Carter has taken that message to heart with a new-look football program led by first-year coach Tim Champlin.

The school hired the Pikeville native in January after he spent a year as an assistant for former coach Zack Moore. Moore departed for Morehead State.

Champlin said a few modifications were needed to get the team back on track.

“Coming off 0-10, it seemed like no better time to change than now,” Champlin said. “We felt like there was some things that needed to be changed. … We are trying to incorporate in these guys that change is inevitable. Change is good. Accept it and go with it. We felt like the things that we were doing might not have been the way this program needs to go.

“We felt like it was time to change and try something different.”

 

 

"Hot Reads" ? It's Operation Alteration for East Carter - The Independent Online: Sports

The attitude has changed in the Eastern part of Carter county. There are still some non-believers, but I believe in this group. Things are definitely looking up for us in the Raider Nation.

What's been holding East Carter back all these years? I feel like they should never be as down as they have been recently. The Raiders should always at least be competitive. Hopefully Coach Champlin can light a fire under the program and community and get them back to the playoffs. Best of luck to the Raiders this year.

What's been holding East Carter back all these years? I feel like they should never be as down as they have been recently. The Raiders should always at least be competitive. Hopefully Coach Champlin can light a fire under the program and community and get them back to the playoffs. Best of luck to the Raiders this year.

 

I personally believe something happened during the Baldwin era (losing) that just created a bad environment. You'd have kids missing all of the workouts, summer practices, and showing up the week of game 1 and starting that game. Weight room wasn't taken seriously, just bad losing environment.

 

When Moore came everything started to turn around but a lot of the parenrs and the community who weren't playing and just in the stands didn't see the progress that was being made and the 0-10 season last year (in a rebuilding year) led to the resignation.

 

I believe Moore built the foundation to start to turn it around. Champlin has the team believing they can win and if he puts some Ws up the community will start believing.

 

This year senior Darin Phillips and sophomore Josh Ford will be the leading rushers most likely. Ford will be one of the best players in the area when he graduates probably. QBing will be sophomore Taylor Hickle who split time last year.

 

The team should have some depth honestly, a very good sophomore class having a year under their belt. I've been told quite a few players won't start both ways.

 

Looking forward to the Grid game against Bath!

Bath Co. should provide a good measuring stick for EC. They only went 2-8 last year, but return almost everybody. I believe they only lost 4 or 5 starters. I think they're the sleeper team in Russell's district this year. They could sneak up on some people and grab the 2 seed.

I will get to see these guys up close next week and I can't wait.

 

Good luck to E.C. this season.