The Johnson Central of old was the school of choice for senior night or the dance! Times sure have changed and it seems as if teams don’t wanna play them. For an example Ashland had an open date and would have Help them prepare to play Belfry and yet they refused. I also heard rumors that Frederick Douglas was asked as well. Do teams just not want to play them for lack of respect for the program or because of the respect for the program? 

A lot of teams may not want to get their brains beat in by JC and/or they don't feel it is a match up that helps them win a state championship. 

Typically it’s a sign of respect or at least I would take it that way. 

1. There are only a couple teams in EKY that have anything to offer JC, either those teams are usually on JC's schedule (Belfry) or they are in JC's class and don't want to play them unless it is the playoffs. A lack of 6A schools or lack of quality 5A programs do not help. For any other team they either have to come from out of state or from a significant drive. 

2. JC's ground and pound style is not ideal for teams. Your 5A and 6A teams typically won't need to face anyone similar. The physicality of the game is scary for the chance of injury you don't want to take in a non-district game usually.

3. The new RPI doesn't help. Outside of maybe Pikeville and Beechwood most years, most of your 1A and 2A teams who may benefit from stepping way up in class know a running clock is a certainty. There aren't many 3A teams any better and the option to play up for points is even less worth it. 4A teams just won't want to play unless it is their one shot in the playoffs. 5A & 6A teams now get negatively effected by playing down in a game they most often will lose. A good rule of thumb with the PRI is don't play down unless you plan to win.

4. Egos get in the way of a lot of coaches. Not everyone is Chis McNamee (Pikeville), Philip Haywood (Belfry), or Doug Charles (LCA) where they will sacrifice a perfect record in a game they are underdogs in for the long term reward. 

Long story short.. it is definitely a respect for JC now and not a disrespect. I think anyone in the State not named Trinity and Male (some years X) know they are going to be in for a war.

 

Personally, the teams who make the most sense to play JC that haven't been in the picture much are the two 5A Pulaski County schools, Ashland (a few things in play with that one), Bell County (played this year), and maybe some of the better small school Louisville powers like CAL, DeSales, Central (not while in 4A). 

The only argument for dis-respect would be CovCath and Highlands also make sense. CovCath has no issue filling a schedule though and let's be real, highlands doesn't want any of that smoke after how those programs have flip flopped since Highlands at JC's lunch in the early 2010's.

31 minutes ago, ATLCat said:

The only argument for dis-respect would be CovCath and Highlands also make sense. CovCath has no issue filling a schedule though and let's be real, highlands doesn't want any of that smoke after how those programs have flip flopped since Highlands at JC's lunch in the early 2010's.

Paintsville is 3 hours by bus from Park Hills. With schools in NKY and Cincy being much closer (not to mention Catholic schools in Indy and Columbus only being 2 hours away), it doesn't make logistical sense for CovCath to play Johnson Central. One option would be a bowl game in Lexington, but a home and home seems like a non starter.

I feel like geography is a huge issue for Johnson Central. There just aren’t many teams nearby that can compete with them. Many teams who would make a good matchup can find a good opponent much closer to home which helps with travel and ticket sales. Johnson Central has in sense become a victim of their own success. 

23 minutes ago, colonel-fan said:

Paintsville is 3 hours by bus from Park Hills. With schools in NKY and Cincy being much closer (not to mention Catholic schools in Indy and Columbus only being 2 hours away), it doesn't make logistical sense for CovCath to play Johnson Central. One option would be a bowl game in Lexington, but a home and home seems like a non starter.

No doubt. CovCath probably would get more out of playing JC than some of the 6A teams but with the GCL or even large public schools across the border in Ohio; it makes sense for less gas and more gate.

Highlands, OTOH, might be a different subject. There aren’t many GCL teams the birds want to face but those NKY 6A teams now are more equally yoked as well.

2 hours ago, Turfwars said:

The Johnson Central of old was the school of choice for senior night or the dance! Times sure have changed and it seems as if teams don’t wanna play them. For an example Ashland had an open date and would have Help them prepare to play Belfry and yet they refused. I also heard rumors that Frederick Douglas was asked as well. Do teams just not want to play them for lack of respect for the program or because of the respect for the program? 

As for Frederick Douglass there was talks in the late spring but at the time there were no corresponding dates available. There has been no talks in the past several months with Douglass.

1 hour ago, WestDanville said:

Typically it’s a sign of respect or at least I would take it that way. 

Agreed.