I've been one of the biggest LC boosters in the rankings, but I don't think they come close to ranking higher than Cov Cath - yet.

as a fan of the lawrence county bulldogs i have to agree here - we are a good team usually year in and year out but lets face facts - we choke most of the time whenever there is a big game to play or when there is work needed to be done and we cant finish the job - heres hoping to a different but just as successful season this year :thumb:

Originally posted by theguru

HE,

 

You make a lot of great arguments on here but IMHO this is not one of them.

 

I don't want to beat a dead dog but CovCath did play X closer than Trinity did and LC beat what has been a terrible Pikeville program as of late (by Pikeville standards, I can feel the hate email now) and a Sheldon Clark team that is an unknown. Also, LC has always been a "woulda, coulda, shoulda team" and until they get it done when it counts they are not going to get the benefit of the doubt because they have shown they don't deserve it.

 

Also, for what it is worth, I included LC in my Top 10 this week but I will probably get out voted.

 

Just so you know, in the past I have been accused of not giving NKY teams their due to avoid any perception there was a bias.

 

And I will tell you this, if I think anyone involved in the rankings has an agenda they will be on the outside looking in.

I did not mean to imply that any of the voters has an agenda, because I know from my stint as a moderator that they don't. I have great respect for the time, the effort, and the thought that goes into the weekly rankings (and that includes you, Oldbird ). I think it is human nature to rely on personal experience when ranking teams, and in general, the moderators get far more exposure to teams like Covington Catholic and Highlands than to Lawrence County.

 

As for being a "woulda, coulda, shoulda team," that was certainly true several years ago. However, freak injuries like Bryan Short's ruptured (and subsequently removed) spleen does not reflect poorly on the Bulldogs' current coaching staff, nor is there any indication that LC "choked" in big games last season. Lawrence County played in what was perhaps the most balanced 3A district in the state last season, and they managed to compile an 8-3 record, while narrowly missing the playoffs. Along the way, the Bulldogs (I think I am right here) lost two starting quarterbacks during district games. Idoubt that many teams playing in such a competitive district could have lost their first and second string QB's in two different district games and made the playoffs. In at least one game, the Bulldogs played without their entire starting backfield.

 

With all of the experienced players Lawrence County has returning from last year's injury-riddled season, I think they deserved a top-10 ranking before they stepped on the field this year. Had the same circumstances surrounded Covington Catholic, or one of the other teams more familiar to BGP voters, I think that they would have debuted high in the rankings.

 

Maybe I am expecting too much of Lawrence County, but I honestly don't see how Covington Catholic's 6-6 campaign rated a #4 preseason ranking, while LC has something to "prove," before they are given serious consideration. The "they are losing, but they have played a tough schedule" refrain sounds a lot like the discussions we had during the first half of last season. Granted, the Colonels' performanc vs. St. X was very impressive in light of the Trinity game, but I think it's anybody's guess what kind of season Boone County is going to have.

Hoosiereagle,

very nice post!! i agree with some details of it:ylsuper:

I definitely think that Cov. Cath. should be in the top 10, but I definitely think that LC can beat (and are better than) some of the current top 10 teams. It's that way every year. I don't think losing to national ranked and eventual state champion Highlands in '96 and '99 and '95 state runnersup in the playoffs qualifies as a "choke" or means we didn't prove ourselves. Everybody else lost to them in those years. In '97, we ended Breathitt County's 42 game win streak in the playoffs. In '96, we beat Ryle in the playoffs. In '99, we beat Whitley Co. 68-20, Bell Co. (@ BC) 40-6 and Rockcastle Co. (@ RC) 48-14. We were ahead of RC 48-0 at the start of the 4th quarter and they scored their two td's on our jv. Last year was the 1st year since 1990 that we didn't make the playoffs. In 1990, we went 11-0 and we didn't make the playoffs because we refused to play in our 3a district. We've proven ourselves more than most teams. I don't think anybody should accuse LC of not proving themselves. The only thing we haven't done is win a state championship. How many in the top ten has won a state title?

Originally posted by theguru

HE,

 

You make a lot of great arguments on here but IMHO this is not one of them.

 

I don't want to beat a dead dog but CovCath did play X closer than Trinity did and LC beat what has been a terrible Pikeville program as of late (by Pikeville standards, I can feel the hate email now) and a Sheldon Clark team that is an unknown. Also, LC has always been a "woulda, coulda, shoulda team" and until they get it done when it counts they are not going to get the benefit of the doubt because they have shown they don't deserve it.

 

Also, for what it is worth, I included LC in my Top 10 this week but I will probably get out voted.

 

Just so you know, in the past I have been accused of not giving NKY teams their due to avoid any perception there was a bias.

 

And I will tell you this, if I think anyone involved in the rankings has an agenda they will be on the outside looking in.

 

 

Pikeville was 10-3 last year, losing a close game in the regional finals...yeah, that's about as terrible as it gets for Pikeville.

Even at their worst they would wax Lloyd or Bellevue, two N Ky teams that made the top 10 on BGP but didn't get hardly any votes anywhere else. Cov Cath, Holy Cross, Bellevue and Lloyd were all ranked higher here than anywhere else. And NO N Ky. team was ranked lower here than anywhere else. So there is a perception of favoritism. So guru you can voice your opinion about Pikeville which I don't agree with, but let me voice my opinion also which I'm sure you won't agree with.

Mtnfootballfan - I doubt if you could be any more wrong. You really need to reexamine your facts without the bias.

Mtnfootballfan, where do you think Pikeville should be ranked? Ahead of which teams?

 

Honestly, Pikeville has rarely been a legitimate state contender over the last decade ... gave Beechwood a close game in 1999, and that's about it.

 

Even last year, Pikeville was a low-top-10 team at best and early indications are this team isn't as good as last year's club ... they certainly haven't done anything to distinguish themselves just yet.

 

Of course, the season is still young.

Mtnfootballfan,

 

Help me out, what quality teams did Pikeville beat last year?

 

Also, according to the LIT and Cantrall Ratings at the end of the season last year here is how Pikeville and Lloyd compared to each other:

 

LIT: Pikeville 66.1 Lloyd 88.9

Cantrall: 50.4 Lloyd 63.8

 

Pikeville wax Lloyd? Surely you jest?

 

I am sure there was a bias in both of the power ratings too. We all know how those computes are out to get everyone just like in Terminator.:banana:

 

==============

 

HE,

 

We are just going to have to agree to disagree.

 

==============

 

lcfan,

 

You mention not winning a championship. When was the last time LC was even in the finals? How about the last time they were in the semi-finals?

1. Boyle (until beaten)

2. Rockcastle Co (until beaten by someone other than Boyle Co)

3. Hoptown

4. P.T.

5. Highlands

6. Mason

7. East Jessamine

8. Lex Cath

9. Bowling Green

10.Bell Co

Originally posted by CoachCarrier

1. Boyle (until beaten)

2. Rockcastle Co (until beaten by someone other than Boyle Co)

3. Hoptown

4. P.T.

5. Highlands

6. Mason

7. East Jessamine

8. Lex Cath

9. Bowling Green

10.Bell Co

 

Then shouldn't Highlands be number 4 after all if you are ranking based on how they finished last year Highlands was the other semi-finalists.

 

This makes less sense than any any ranking I have seen on BGP this year.

Oldbird's emphatic about it ... posting it twice, even ... :lol:

 

By the way, CoachC ... Mason beat Rockcastle last year ... what about the Royals?

 

And last but not least ... East Jessamine?

If we are doing it this way I think West Jessamine should be #1.

1. Boyle County

2. Paducah Tilghman

3. Mason County

4. Highlands

5. Lexington Catholic

6. Hopkinsville

7. Bowling Green

8. Covington Catholic

9. Rockcastle County

10. Bell County

Originally posted by Oldbird

Then shouldn't Highlands be number 4 after all if you are ranking based on how they finished last year Highlands was the other semi-finalists.

 

This makes less sense than any any ranking I have seen on BGP this year.

 

Not Really Rock is 40-4 the last 3 years . But I still think both P.T. and Hoptown are and where better than Highlands this and last year!

 

 

CC