That is crazy EasyPro. You obviously do not know the fans in Bardstown. Many of this group of Eagles played against these Bardstown players in the 6th grade Pumpkin Bowl and there were close to 1000 fans for that. Bethlehem will not need to beat Bardstown to make a name for itself. The fact that a school with 135 boys will play St. X in the sweet 16 tonight in soccer, won the A championship, had the best district record in baseball, and is currently 9-0 in football speaks volumes about the kind of athletics in the school.

 

The Pumpkin bowl huh? Sounds like a dandy! :thumb: And yes, Beth will need to beat Btown if its planning to make a name for itself in football. I'm not sure soccer, or baseball have anything to do with that success...:confused: I do know that Beth's district best record in baseball got them second place in the district behind......you guessed it...Bardstown. I hope their 9-0 football record will get them more than another "L" at the hands of the tigers. But I will say that Bethlehem has come a long way since the days of 8 man football.

Bethlehem beat Bardstown in 2003 (at Garnis Martin Field, no less), much to the chagrin of many Tiger fans. It was Bethlehem's first year of district play, so it was a big win. It was a very, very down year for the Tigers, and even then Bardstown should have won the game.

 

I agree, though, that Bethlehem is going to have to beat a Bardstown, a Danville, a Mayfield, a Beechwood, or the like, during an "up" year, to garner statewide attention in football.

I agree that you have to beat the best to be the best. Bethlehem is not on the level of those schools at this point. They may knock some of them off this year but the challenge is to do it year in and year out. It is remarkable however how successful they have been in just 3 years of conference play. They are moving in the right direction and it will be interesting to see who they bring on as head coach next year. I have heard several rumors but nothing substantial.

The Pumpkin Bowl is a dandy! This game will be full of Pumpkin Bowl participants: Paul Downs, Kelvin Scott, Jeremy Burba, Alex Smith, Andy Smith, Jeremy Gesser, John Gordon, Tyler Paschal, Austin Carey, Logan Edelen, Boo Boo Underwood, A.J. Lewis, Kent, Simpson. Iknow there are more but, as I get older my memory starts to fail me. Help me out with those I have forgotten. GO TIGERS!!!

Piece of trivia. What genius came up with the idea of the Pumkin Bowl? Probably the same guy the pushed the idea of flag football and going to grade levels in the rec. league. Glad to see all that work in the Bardstown youth leagues paying off.

Pumpkin Bowl "Good" Grade vs. Age "Bad". But I know your heart is in the right place, that's why I still like ya' and am thankful for the efforts of people like you.

I agree that you have to beat the best to be the best. Bethlehem is not on the level of those schools at this point. They may knock some of them off this year but the challenge is to do it year in and year out. It is remarkable however how successful they have been in just 3 years of conference play. They are moving in the right direction and it will be interesting to see who they bring on as head coach next year. I have heard several rumors but nothing substantial.

 

I think it would be devastating to the program if they did NOT name Stan Torzewski.

The kids certainly love him and he is great with the defense. It will be hard to replace Steve Hart calling the offensive plays.

Speaking of great head coaches, the win over KCD was Joey Downs' 152nd in his 17-year Bardstown career. Remarkable winning percentage over a long time. Also accentuates just how awesome it was that Garnis Martin got 270 career victories.

 

Little-known tidbit for those outsiders reading this: Bardstown High School has had only 3 head football coaches in 11-man football since 1935 (Downs, Martin, and "Big Daddy" Ellis).

Speaking of great head coaches, the win over KCD was Joey Downs' 152nd in his 17-year Bardstown career. Remarkable winning percentage over a long time. Also accentuates just how awesome it was that Garnis Martin got 270 career victories.

 

Little-known tidbit for those outsiders reading this: Bardstown High School has had only 3 head football coaches in 11-man football since 1935 (Downs, Martin, and "Big Daddy" Ellis).

 

Who will be the next one? I hear Mark Brown is coming back this way and not to Nelson Co.

Who will be the next one? I hear Mark Brown is coming back this way and not to Nelson Co.

 

Again, I think Bardstown would be well-served by promoting internally this time and naming David Clark as the head coach. David is young, energetic, has been with the program 9 years, is the athletic director, and has a demonstrated commitment to the development of Bardstown High. He has done all of the offensive play-calling for the Tigers for several years now. He was a college quarterback and is a quarterback development guru. Insiders there will tell you that the rapid promotion and development of Alex Smith this season was in large part due to David taking Alex under his wing and convincing him he did not have to be a world-beater only to manage the game. David's wife has been a tireless background supporter of Tiger sports. His kids are in the school system. He is smart, savvy, and deserving.

 

The only thing David doesn't have is that he is not originally "from" here, which is a lousy, loser of a reason not to hire someone from within who knows the system.

 

I know Brown and Holsclaw have that relationship from John Hardin, but Holsclaw was here before he was there, and he knows the importance of chemistry to the Bardstown equation.

I was a player 98,99,00,01, and was fortunate to have had 4 head coaches on one team. Dave Clark, Bob Blackmon, and Ron Koontz would be head coaches any where else in the state, along with Joey. All are settled in the community and will be there for a long time. David Clark WILL be next head coach.

I was a player 98,99,00,01, and was fortunate to have had 4 head coaches on one team. Dave Clark, Bob Blackmon, and Ron Koontz would be head coaches any where else in the state, along with Joey. All are settled in the community and will be there for a long time. David Clark WILL be next head coach.

 

Amen, brother.:thumb:

 

I could say the same things about Ron and Bob. Bob, of course, coached at Paducah Tilghman and is as good as they come. I just figured with his new principalship at the middle school that he probably has moved on and wouldn't be interested in being head coach, though I could be wrong. Ron was a long-time coach at North Hardin and is another first-rate individual. Bardstown would be well-served by any of the three. David is younger, as Joey was when he started, which is why I feel he could have a long career there.

And back to the topic of the game, I will be coming down from Lexington to support my tigers. I wish I could have had a shot at Bethlehem my senior year. Oh well, I think I'll wear my ring, maybe give those boys a little more motivation.

 

Bethlehem is a good team, however they are one dimensional. Bardstown will be keying on Jackson, Stanley, and Simpson, and Koontz will have that defense ready. If they keep up with the tigers offense, they might keep it close. Bardstown by 2+ TDs.

Get there VERY early. There are almost no stands, and very little room with good viewing around the field. Bring a chair. At the Holy Cross game, Bethlehem faithful were putting up signs that said "Bethlehem Fans Only" in an effort to keep the HC folks out of the seats. Not sure you can do that, but whatever. It'll make it all interesting.