Mason County and Fleming County would be good opponents for Raceland to look into, IMO. Both schools have a history of fielding quality teams and aren't too long of a drive. Currently, both would provide the Rams with better competition(especially Fleming) than East Carter.

It has been brought to my attention that East Carter will not renew it's contract with Raceland for football. This is a growing trend. Boyd County dropped us a few years ago, Sheldon Clark revoked a 2 year deal before we even played. Our District has shrank from 4 to 3 teams. It is becoming difficult for us to find opponents to fill our 10 game schedule.

I don't like it. Do I understand? Yeah. East has been playing Raceland, Fairview, and Lawrence as tough out of district games. I'm not saying put a cupcake on the schedule, but those teams have been very good the last few years and East hasn't been able to beat them. While trying to turn things around they need as many wins as possible to get community support, it's tough here.

 

Hopefully in a few years things are different and we can be playing Raceland again competitively.

I don't like it. Do I understand? Yeah. East has been playing Raceland, Fairview, and Lawrence as tough out of district games. I'm not saying put a cupcake on the schedule, but those teams have been very good the last few years and East hasn't been able to beat them. While trying to turn things around they need as many wins as possible to get community support, it's tough here.

 

Hopefully in a few years things are different and we can be playing Raceland again competitively.

 

I get it, to a point. But playing a "club team", West Union, will not improve your team.

Wasn't a travel issue going to LCA before? Plenty of schools within that perimeter. And with all due respect to the directional Carters, maybe a better opponent. Just a thought.

LCA was a District game and we had to travel, just like Nicholas Co. And for the record, I am FOR traveling to play good teams but I have been told and have seen the numbers as to why we try and stay as local as possible. Unfortunately, it always comes back to money. 1 game, maybe not as big a deal, but multiple travel games are hard on the kids and their routines as well as the purse strings. I'm sure Coach Salmons will get it worked out. We may have to look at out of state teams again.

^ Like I posted earlier, we have a 2A perennial power that we are working on to at least schedule for a 2 year series. It looks good but not signed to date, at least to my knowledge.

Have they looked into scheduling Wheelersburg? I think a home and home with Beechwood would be awesome.

Beechwood and Raceland have tried for years to work something out. But it has always interefered with the Ashland date or a date of a district game. It will work itself out.

I get it, to a point. But playing a "club team", West Union, will not improve your team.

 

I said don't put a cupcake on the schedule. I would like to see this game replaced with a Lewis or Bath for us.

 

Is this the last game on the contract?

I can't speak of the last two years, but in years past most people would be surprised at the number of teams from outside the NEKY area Raceland has tried to schedule but could not. The boosters club was willing, and able, to pay for the Raceland travel over and above the approved amount. But, many other schools would not travel past a set distance. Of course, they were willing to play Raceland at their place, but they said they were "unable to come to Raceland". So, basically if Raceland would schedule all those games, they would have to go back to "Ramblers" because they would have no home games.

 

But, at the root of the discussion, I like Raceland scheduling the games across the pond. They are close, a good atmosphere and good competition. The West Portsmouth game and the the Valley game are very good games for Raceland to prepare them for the playoffs. I say, if possible, continue those games. When Raceland plays Ashland and Russell with their play-off atmospheres and good competition and Valley and West Portsmouth with their atmosphere and competition level for out of district games, I think that is a pretty good thing. That leaves three out of district games to fill the schedule. You add Greenup County and Lawerence County that leaves one game to fill.

I can't speak of the last two years, but in years past most people would be surprised at the number of teams from outside the NEKY area Raceland has tried to schedule but could not. The boosters club was willing, and able, to pay for the Raceland travel over and above the approved amount. But, many other schools would not travel past a set distance. Of course, they were willing to play Raceland at their place, but they said they were "unable to come to Raceland". So, basically if Raceland would schedule all those games, they would have to go back to "Ramblers" because they would have no home games.

 

But, at the root of the discussion, I like Raceland scheduling the games across the pond. They are close, a good atmosphere and good competition. The West Portsmouth game and the the Valley game are very good games for Raceland to prepare them for the playoffs. I say, if possible, continue those games. When Raceland plays Ashland and Russell with their play-off atmospheres and good competition and Valley and West Portsmouth with their atmosphere and competition level for out of district games, I think that is a pretty good thing. That leaves three out of district games to fill the schedule. You add Greenup County and Lawerence County that leave one game to fill.

Agree. So, it's not a $ issue entirely. Beechwood series home and away would be outstanding. Obviously not sure if that's even plausible, but that would be one I'd like to see happen. Otherwise, I agree with the Ohio teams on the slate in their stead.

Agree. So, it's not a $ issue entirely. Beechwood series home and away would be outstanding. Obviously not sure if that's even plausible, but that would be one I'd like to see happen. Otherwise, I agree with the Ohio teams on the slate in their stead.

We like to say Raceland doesn't back down from anyone, but I have witnessed the coaching staff fail to schedule two teams that wanted to play and I tried my best to get them to play the games. Some may think I am an idiot for trying, but I think both games should have happened.

 

Of course, I was from an era that Raceland did play anyone and we started playing Ashland when people thought Coach Ross was crazy for scheduling them. But, that game helped change a few minds. At first, people would have thought we were crazy for scheduling the two games above, but it would have worked out.

 

I also remember hearing people say Russell would win 9 out of 10 games when Raceland started playing them again. But.................

We like to say Raceland doesn't back down from anyone, but I have witnessed the coaching staff fail to schedule two teams that wanted to play and I tried my best to get them to play the games. Some may think I am an idiot for trying, but I think both games should have happened.

 

Of course, I was from an era that Raceland did play anyone and be started playing Ashland when people thought Coach Ross was crazy for scheduling them. But, that game helped change a few minds. At first, people would have thought we were crazy for scheduling the two games above, but it would have worked out.

 

Well you gotta tell us the two teams now.

Well you gotta tell us the two teams now.

Hey, I'm an entertainer. You have to build some suspense. Wait for it.............Wait for it............Wait for it.............

We like to say Raceland doesn't back down from anyone, but I have witnessed the coaching staff fail to schedule two teams that wanted to play and I tried my best to get them to play the games. Some may think I am an idiot for trying, but I think both games should have happened.

 

Of course, I was from an era that Raceland did play anyone and be started playing Ashland when people thought Coach Ross was crazy for scheduling them. But, that game helped change a few minds. At first, people would have thought we were crazy for scheduling the two games above, but it would have worked out.

Company lines are what the are. And I agree with you, we should spare the narrative and just say what it really is sometimes. And it's not $. Bill Tom Ross, there won't be another like him.

Belfry wanted to play Raceland several years ago. To be more accurate, Raceland was invited to the Pike County Bowl and would play Pikeville one year, then Belfry the second. The Raceland coaching staff wouldn't take the invite because of the Belfry game. I said we should play it. Here is my reasoning: Raceland played Russell, and beat them most years. Russell has to play Belfry in the playoffs. Belfry doesn't eat the Red Devils, so why wouldn't we play them? It makes your team better. Play the game.

 

Several years back, Highlands was having a lot of trouble finding teams that were willing to play them due to their success. They called Raceland. I told the coach, play the game. He said, "Are you crazy?". I said "No, play them". Again, my reasoning: Raceland plays and beats Ashland, Ashland has to play Highlands in the playoff. Play Highlands.