Also I'm sorry you feel that way about Ashland, but to my knowledge there was never a contract set in place.

It was early November 2012 and both teams were still playing in the playoffs. No contract had been signed but they had a verbal agreement, which is normally good enough among honorable coaches until a written contract could be signed later. It had been a great series the past 4 years, and early in the scheduling process Coach Hart and Coach Haywood had agreed to extend it another 2 years. Belfry went ahead with scheduling based on that agreement.

 

On October 4 Coach Hart publicly stated how much he loved the series because it prepared them for the playoffs, and he planned to extend it in this Independent article,. Then the first week of November, Coach Hart backed out and said the Tomcats were not going to be as stront and they were going to schedule somebody not as good as Belfry.

 

Of course, it was Hart's right to make that decision, but it was very bad timing and it hurt Belfry in the wake. Maybe he knew he was on the way out and he wanted to help the new coach out with an easier schedule. I lost some respect for him after he made those public comments but then privately did the exact opposite from what he stated in that article.

 

How does it apply to this thread? Scheduling matters. Ashland needs an opponent like Belfry to prepare them for Johnson Central and the playoffs and replacing them with Sheldon Clark did not fit that bill. In the end, it all worked out. Belfry beefed up their schedule and went on to win the next two state championships in Class AAA. Ashland got two easy wins against Sheldon Clark by a combined score of 98-16, but the Tomcats lost to Johnson Central twice by a combined score of 84-14 and lost in round 2 of their playoffs.

I am just going to shut up and let 'Tusi handle this one.

 

All I will say is that I empathize with JC because Belfry has had a rough time filling a schedule, but because they are a 3A school it has opened a few more doors. Johnson Central doesn't have that buffer where they can play an East Carter or Gallia Academy to finish a schedule out.

 

I will also say I don't think we should say "poor pitiful Johnson Central" either. They have burned some bridges along the way and passed up opportunities because they insist on Home and Home's.

 

A prime example of the difference is NewCath. Both teams reached out to play NewCath..obviously Belfry got the nod.

I think you are right, ATL, Belfry and JC share some of the same struggles in scheduling.

 

JC has a bit of a different battle because they are a bigger school, which makes it harder for OH and WV schools to justify taking the risk.

 

You hit on the biggest difference, IMO, and that is JC has burned a lot of bridges, whereas Belfry (and Haywood) has a much better reputation among the coaching fraternity and are more likely to get games. Matney has said some things, and done some things that have tarnished the shine off for JC and a lot of programs don't want anything to do with them.

 

I wouldn't label that fear, but I would venture to guess if JC suddenly became a pushover, at least some of those same programs would welcome a shot at the Eagles.

I don't know how good some of them are, most are not very good.

 

Richlands looks to be quality.

 

Gate City is pretty good but a smaller, much smaller school.

Ironton, OH

Wheelersburg, OH

1 Trinity (Louisville)

2 DuPont Manual (Louisville)

3 Male (Louisville)

4 McCracken County (Paducah)

5 Pulaski County (Somerset)

6 Simon Kenton (Independence)

7 Mayfield

8 Central Hardin (Cecilia)

9 Bowling Green

10 St. Xavier (Louisville)

11 Belfry

12 Highlands (Fort Thomas)

13 Dixie Heights (Edgewood)

14 Owensboro

15 Lafayette (Lexington)

16 Scott County (Georgetown)

17 DeSales (Louisville)

18 Central (Louisville)

19 Ballard (Louisville)

20 South Warren (Bowling Green)

21 Bryan Station (Lexington)

22 Owensboro Catholic (Owensboro)

23 Pleasure Ridge Park (Louisville)

24 Southwestern (Somerset)

Max Preps Kentucky Top 24

25 is Johnson Central

All teams that are not afraid to play Johnson Central.

Ironton, OH

Wheelersburg, OH

1 Trinity (Louisville)

2 DuPont Manual (Louisville)

3 Male (Louisville)

4 McCracken County (Paducah)

5 Pulaski County (Somerset)

6 Simon Kenton (Independence)

7 Mayfield

8 Central Hardin (Cecilia)

9 Bowling Green

10 St. Xavier (Louisville)

11 Belfry

12 Highlands (Fort Thomas)

13 Dixie Heights (Edgewood)

14 Owensboro

15 Lafayette (Lexington)

16 Scott County (Georgetown)

17 DeSales (Louisville)

18 Central (Louisville)

19 Ballard (Louisville)

20 South Warren (Bowling Green)

21 Bryan Station (Lexington)

22 Owensboro Catholic (Owensboro)

23 Pleasure Ridge Park (Louisville)

24 Southwestern (Somerset)

Max Preps Kentucky Top 24

25 is Johnson Central

All teams that are not afraid to play Johnson Central.

 

From what I understand JC reached out to Pulaski and Southwestern...but both insisted on JC coming to Pulaski County back to back (like what Belfry had to agree to with Southwestern to fill their schedule).

 

JC played Ironton recently and had great success and Ironton was not interested in playing.

 

JC vs Central will not happen as long as Scroggins is there. Bad blood between the two schools from when they played in 2007 in the regular season.

 

They play Belfry.

 

The rest is up for debate but a lot of those schools are either far stretches geographically or have limited non-district options due to historic rivalries.

Matney has taken a couple of items and blown well past exaggeration and general excuse making.

A. Johnson Central is near the edge of the state- yes and so are a lot of other teams, that deal with it better.

B. Johnson Central is a top 25% program now and the bottom half don't want to play them- yes and so are a lot of other teams that deal with it better.

 

You're going to have to travel some, its just the location God gave you, suck it up.

You're not going to get small schools or schools outside the top 40-50 programs in the state to play you so you can beat on them and beat your chest, suck it up.

I suggest maybe you should ask to become a mainstay in the pike county bowl yourself, it seems to be working for Belfry.

Take a compass and draw a 120 mile radius around your school and get on maxpreps to sort every school rated within 7 points of you and give them a call.

I think some feel I'm defending Coach Matney, and I guess I kinda am.

 

He can coach, look at the two programs he took over before he got there and the one he left.

 

I can also understand why he has a chip on his shoulder......trust me.

 

With that said he has one of the best jobs in EKY, so he should probably tone some of it down, or at least watch what he does/says a little more.....but, and I don't know this for fact, just relating/looking from the outside, I think he feels he will never get the respect he deserves and there is one thing that one always eat at him.

Matney has taken a couple of items and blown well past exaggeration and general excuse making.

A. Johnson Central is near the edge of the state- yes and so are a lot of other teams, that deal with it better.

B. Johnson Central is a top 25% program now and the bottom half don't want to play them- yes and so are a lot of other teams that deal with it better.

 

You're going to have to travel some, its just the location God gave you, suck it up.

You're not going to get small schools or schools outside the top 40-50 programs in the state to play you so you can beat on them and beat your chest, suck it up.

I suggest maybe you should ask to become a mainstay in the pike county bowl yourself, it seems to be working for Belfry.

Take a compass and draw a 120 mile radius around your school and get on maxpreps to sort every school rated within 7 points of you and give them a call.

 

I wonder why he doesn't offer to align with Prestonsburg and try to start his own Bowl? Pburg is a big name program.

 

 

Also why not try to bring the Apple Bowl back vs. Paintsville?

 

That program is on the rise... JC would still mandhandle them...but I would rather manhandle Paintsville and get a HUGE gate than manhandle some Home School team from Indiana. Chirico seems like the kind of coach who may welcome the challenge as well... if he can prove competitiveness it would potentially offer a significant improvement.

 

 

The oddest part of the whole JC scheduling thing is the lack of 6A Schools from Central KY. Maybe it is just how JC handled Bryan Stations and Woodford County when they shared a District? One would think though that teams like Dunbar, Tates Creek, Henry Clay, Madison Central, GRC, Lafayette, etc would be a logical option? Those teams have had no issue scheduling other teams including smaller EKY schools.

I think some feel I'm defending Coach Matney, and I guess I kinda am.

 

He can coach, look at the two programs he took over before he got there and the one he left.

 

I can also understand why he has a chip on his shoulder......trust me.

 

With that said he has one of the best jobs in EKY, so he should probably tone some of it down, or at least watch what he does/says a little more.....but, and I don't know this for fact, just relating/looking from the outside, I think he feels he will never get the respect he deserves and there is one thing that one always eat at him.

 

Good point and very accurate.

 

Listen to his call in shows and it becoems very clear.

 

I am mainly kidding when I say this...but there is some seriousness in it...

 

I wonder if his background following wrestling has some impact? He is a very good wrestling coach, but his persona as a Head Football Coach is similar to some WWE personality more than anything. Always outspoken and borderline outlandish... always promoting..always playing the underdog.

You know, it's not like JC has won 5 of the last 7 state titles or anything...why in the world would any decent school be afraid to play them? They have a pretty good program, but they aren't some unbeatable juggernaut by any stretch. Surely Matney doesn't believe that...or maybe he does, I don't know, but I sure can't see any truth to it.

 

Now, they are in an awkward location and I can see where some teams wouldn't want to travel that far to play them when they can get just as good competition much closer to home. If they are having problems getting good teams scheduled, it's the travel, not the JC program itself being so good and scaring people away.

Great. Nobody likes Jim but Jim. Now he has another forum to get people talking about him. The guy is one of the least liked in the profession for a reason. No one is 'scared' of JC....other teams just don't want to deal with the circus that is Jim Matney.

Johnson Central has the tough spot of location and the fact that they are one of the largest schools in the area. Couple that with Matney's physical style and smaller schools (P-burg, Pikeville, Paintsville) do not want to play that game and frankly I don't blame them.

 

A lot of people are throwing out some of the state's top tier programs (Trinity, Highlands, Bowling Green, etc) and in theory those are great, but when was the last time Trinity played and instate opponent that was not part of district schedule or playoffs? Many of those teams don't have to travel to rural EKY to play top teams so why should they?

 

Scheduling with those teams is difficult. The next tier (Scott Co, Male, St. X, etc) are nearly all from West of I-75 and with the rising costs of travel expenses for a football team it makes home and home games difficult.

 

The thought of a Bowl game is a solid one but often times you split a proceeds of the gate with other teams and unless you get into one of the top tier bowls (difficult to do) JC could be in position to be one of the teams that brings in a huge crowd and gets less of the gate than they deserve.

 

Matney is only expressing his frustration and people are acting like he is being unreasonable. JC has taken steps to beef up their opponents (They play Lex. Cath) so I applaud them for their efforts. Hopefully if they have the type of year many expect (I personally hope they win a state title) it may open some doors to better bowl opportunities.

Johnson Central has the tough spot of location and the fact that they are one of the largest schools in the area. Couple that with Matney's physical style and smaller schools (P-burg, Pikeville, Paintsville) do not want to play that game and frankly I don't blame them.

 

A lot of people are throwing out some of the state's top tier programs (Trinity, Highlands, Bowling Green, etc) and in theory those are great, but when was the last time Trinity played and instate opponent that was not part of district schedule or playoffs? Many of those teams don't have to travel to rural EKY to play top teams so why should they?

 

Scheduling with those teams is difficult. The next tier (Scott Co, Male, St. X, etc) are nearly all from West of I-75 and with the rising costs of travel expenses for a football team it makes home and home games difficult.

 

The thought of a Bowl game is a solid one but often times you split a proceeds of the gate with other teams and unless you get into one of the top tier bowls (difficult to do) JC could be in position to be one of the teams that brings in a huge crowd and gets less of the gate than they deserve.

 

Matney is only expressing his frustration and people are acting like he is being unreasonable. JC has taken steps to beef up their opponents (They play Lex. Cath) so I applaud them for their efforts. Hopefully if they have the type of year many expect (I personally hope they win a state title) it may open some doors to better bowl opportunities.

 

Honest question because I don't know. Did Matney approach Lex Cath with the intention of strengthening his schedule and to show people he is not afraid to play tougher teams or Lex Cath approached him?

Honest question because I don't know. Did Matney approach Lex Cath with the intention of strengthening his schedule and to show people he is not afraid to play tougher teams or Lex Cath approached him?

 

We approached them, Week 2 was open for both of us and they agreed for a return game in 2016. A solid team like Lexington Catholic is a great measuring stick for us early on and will show us what areas need development as we progress through the year.