Matney holds forth on scheduling and flood recovery

 

Posted: Friday, August 7, 2015 2:36 pm

Zack Klemme / The Independent

 

“I know that before I came here we didn’t have trouble with teams wanting to play. They didn’t mind coming in here and beating up on us. Everybody wanted to schedule us for Homecoming. I think the first year I was here, we were at least four Homecomings that year of other teams.

 

“Another thing that boggles my mind a little bit is, there are teams that have to play Belfry in the playoffs, and yet they won’t play us, and to me, it’s almost like a perfect warm-up game, because I’m from there. We run very similar styles of offense and defense. So, to me, if you have to play them, to me it’s a no-brainer you’d want to play us, and I’m sure that probably played into part of Lexington Catholic wanting to schedule us this year.”

 

One other thought: the Golden Eagles’ strength of schedule, or perceived lack thereof, has drawn some chirping from outsiders, on message boards, etc., in recent years. Johnson Central’s non-district opponents were a combined 28-40 last season.

 

Link

 

Over the years, Matney has taken his criticism on BGP, now his words will start the conversation. Is he right? Are teams afraid to play Johnson Central? I found his comments about being willing to play Trinity interesting.

As a fan, I would love to see J.C. play home and home (week zero)with any of the following teams

1-Beechwood

2-Louisville Central

3-Owensboro

4-Mayfield

5-Bowling Green

 

Most years these could be mega match ups.

Interesting article. I'm curious who the area teams that Matney says used to play them regularly but won't now that he's there are? Also I recommend anyone in the area to pick up a copy of The Independent on Aug, 20th.

As a fan, I would love to see J.C. play home and home (week zero)with any of the following teams

1-Beechwood

2-Louisville Central

3-Owensboro

4-Mayfield

5-Bowling Green

 

Most years these could be mega match ups.

 

Some of those would be interesting matchups, though I think BG is a little out of JC's league. But man is that a long drive for any of those games, most schools just are not willing to do that.

Some of those would be interesting matchups, though I think BG is a little out of JC's league. But man is that a long drive for any of those games, most schools just are not willing to do that.

 

Yep.

 

Paintsville to almost anywhere is a long drive.

Lexington and N. Ky. are JC's best bets for beefing up the schedule. Perhaps Louisville, but even Louisville is a pretty long drive for a regular season game and Louisville schools have much closer options for scheduling.

 

Mayfield is a 6 hour drive one way. That is not going to happen unless they meet in the middle in a bowl type of game. Almost as bad for all those Western Ky. schools NewarkCath listed.

Lexington and N. Ky. are JC's best bets for beefing up the schedule. Perhaps Louisville, but even Louisville is a pretty long drive for a regular season game and Louisville schools have much closer options for scheduling.

 

Mayfield is a 6 hour drive one way. That is not going to happen unless they meet in the middle in a bowl type of game. Almost as bad for all those Western Ky. schools NewarkCath listed.

 

Agreed. Which therein lies the problem for JC beefing up the schedule. Even most Lexington and NKY teams will not be willing to make that drive because they can find equal competition close by. I remember last year the NCC fans complaining about scheduling a home and home with Ashland due to the drive and there being equal competition in their own back yard.

 

Mattney implies that teams are afraid to play them, which is why I asked what area teams that used to play them dropped them from their schedules. Would those teams really improve JC's schedule or is Mattney just upset they will have to do a lot of traveling to beef up their schedule? I don't know what teams he's referring to so I have no idea myself. The lex cath game makes sense for one reason and one reason only, as Mattney said Belfry and JC are a lot alike. Outside of that, I doubt that game would have even happened.

I think that JC vs Lexington Catholic game will be great for both teams. I don't think LC has ever turned a home and home with any KY opponent. I do think this too will be a great measuring stick game for both teams. I not only want to see the matchup but I definitely want to see the adjustments that will be made. They both are so different from one another that I'm not sure who can impose their will

Interesting article. I'm curious who the area teams that Matney says used to play them regularly but won't now that he's there are? Also I recommend anyone in the area to pick up a copy of The Independent on Aug, 20th.

 

Some of those would be interesting matchups, though I think BG is a little out of JC's league. But man is that a long drive for any of those games, most schools just are not willing to do that.

 

Agreed. Which therein lies the problem for JC beefing up the schedule. Even most Lexington and NKY teams will not be willing to make that drive because they can find equal competition close by. I remember last year the NCC fans complaining about scheduling a home and home with Ashland due to the drive and there being equal competition in their own back yard.

 

Mattney implies that teams are afraid to play them, which is why I asked what area teams that used to play them dropped them from their schedules. Would those teams really improve JC's schedule or is Mattney just upset they will have to do a lot of traveling to beef up their schedule? I don't know what teams he's referring to so I have no idea myself. The lex cath game makes sense for one reason and one reason only, as Mattney said Belfry and JC are a lot alike. Outside of that, I doubt that game would have even happened.

Looking at their past schedules, I found it impressive that Matney took a 1 win team the year before he arrived and turned them into a 9 win team.

While looking briefly at old schedules here are some teams: Sheldon Clark, Lawerence County, N. Laurel, S. Laurel, Montgomery County, Whitley County, Bryan Station, Woodford County, Estill County, Breathitt County, GRC, Central, and Mason County.

 

They just started playing Ashland Blazer and Rowan County again, because of district alignment, I think.

I know nothing about past history of the teams I mentioned or what the match ups would be like now.

As a fan, I would love to see J.C. play home and home (week zero)with any of the following teams

1-Beechwood

2-Louisville Central

3-Owensboro

4-Mayfield

5-Bowling Green

 

Most years these could be mega match ups.

True those would be nice match ups. But for the ones you mentioned, they have no need to make a trip like that to find mega match-ups.

I think a JC/Cabell Midland game would be a good one. That's about 1.5 hour drive.

I think a JC/Cabell Midland game would be a good one. That's about 1.5 hour drive.

 

It would be. Geographically the Huntington/Ashland/Ironton area would be JC's best bet for finding good teams to beef up their schedule. Even teams from the Charleston area. The problem is most of those teams already have local intrastate and out of district rivalrys in place which leaves little wiggle room to add a new out of state team. Also the way the playoff system works in those states is different than ours, i dont remember the specifics, but I remember this being a local issue in the past regarding local intrastate play.

Wasn't it his choice to not renew the contract with Boyle County after the initial 2 year home-and-home contract expired?

I think as posted before in this thread taking in Bowl games in week 0 and in week one could help beef up the schedule.

 

Could they have their own bowl game?

It would be. Geographically the Huntington/Ashland/Ironton area would be JC's best bet for finding good teams to beef up their schedule. Even teams from the Charleston area. The problem is most of those teams already have local intrastate and out of district rivalrys in place which leaves little wiggle room to add a new out of state team. Also the way the playoff system works in those states is different than ours, i dont remember the specifics, but I remember this being a local issue in the past regarding local intrastate play.

 

I believe Ironton chose not to continue it's brief series with JC because of a new conference affiliation in Ohio. When available, Ironton, Wheelersburg, Cabell Midland, Huntington High, and Wayne(WV) would give JC a good fight most years. Especially Ironton and Wheelersburg at their best. Johnson Central would potentially provide big time Harbin points for those Ohio schools.

Edited August 8, 201511 yr by DevilMayCare
Added a thought