Here's a fun Belfry fact:

 

With Sheldon Clark deciding to install turf at their field, it means that Belfry will be playing 9 of their 10 regular season games on a synthetic turf surface.

 

If I am not mistaken about the allignment and playoff pairings it is highly plausible that Belfry can play 15 games this season, and 14 be on turf!

 

You are right. If Belfry finishes as the #1 seed in their district, then they would have home field advantage throughout the playoffs (as long as they keep winning, of course).

 

That means that if they are fortunte enough to make it to the finals, then they would have played 14 of their 15 games on turf and 10 of them would have been at home. :eek:

Here's a fun Belfry fact:

 

With Sheldon Clark deciding to install turf at their field, it means that Belfry will be playing 9 of their 10 regular season games on a synthetic turf surface.

 

If I am not mistaken about the allignment and playoff pairings it is highly plausible that Belfry can play 15 games this season, and 14 be on turf!

 

 

The uniforms may only need to be washed ONE time during the entire season (if the players use anti-perspirant, that is).

 

 

:lol:

The uniforms may only need to be washed ONE time during the entire season (if the players use anti-perspirant, that is).

 

 

:lol:

 

:laugh::laugh::laugh:

Is Belfry getting on the level that no one wants to play them that has something to lose?

 

Style match up is a bunch of bull, you play games to get better. Playing a close game(comes down to the 4th to pull out a win) against a style you might not ever see again is better than beating a team that has a style you will see by 21+.

 

I know for a FACT that Belfry has tried to schedule teams like Bell, Rockcastle, and others, even going as far as trying to get Parkersburg and some top teams in WVa. to sign a 2 years series, guess what they will play 1 at their place if we are lucky, no trip to Belfry.

 

Rock played Belfry in their Bowl game in 1992. Do you know how far of a drive that is for a game? I don't even remember in the past decade any such negations of Belfry and Rock trying to get a game. I know Rock isn't ducking them, they try to schedule close area games because of travel and rivalry. This has always been the case at Rock, they try to stay in closer distance of EKY and also schedule CKY teams, such as Harrison County, Lincoln County, etc.

Rock played Belfry in their Bowl game in 1992. Do you know how far of a drive that is for a game? I don't even remember in the past decade any such negations of Belfry and Rock trying to get a game. I know Rock isn't ducking them, they try to schedule close area games because of travel and rivalry. This has always been the case at Rock, they try to stay in closer distance of EKY and also schedule CKY teams, such as Harrison County, Lincoln County, etc.

 

They played Belfry in Pikeville, and it is a long drive, but an annual game between these two now would be worth it.

 

I know Belfry has tried to work something out with Bell the last time schedules were made, but I can't say the same about Rockcastle. I hadn't heard that before. I don't know if the poster was suggesting Rockcastle was ducking Belfry, but I'm sure that isn't the case.

 

Sometimes these rumors have a way of getting out of hand. Two teams will enquire about a game and for whatever reason it doesn't work out. Before you know it, fans of one team will say the other team is afraid to play them. :lol: He said, she said.

They played Belfry in Pikeville, and it is a long drive, but an annual game between these two now would be worth it.

 

I know Belfry has tried to work something out with Bell the last time schedules were made, but I can't say the same about Rockcastle. I hadn't heard that before. I don't know if the poster was suggesting Rockcastle was ducking Belfry, but I'm sure that isn't the case.

 

Sometimes these rumors have a way of getting out of hand. Two teams will enquire about a game and for whatever reason it doesn't work out. Before you know it, fans of one team will say the other team is afraid to play them. :lol: He said, she said.

Yeah I knew of several teams not wanting to play them for whatever reason, but I don't know if they contacted Rock. I never heard if they did. But I would really really like that game.

I wasn't suggestion that Rockcastle was ducking Belfry at all, just that I know Belfry has tried to upgrade the schedule with almost everyone imaginable and it just doesn't work out.

 

 

I do think a couple of other teams are "ducking" though........

They played Belfry in Pikeville, and it is a long drive, but an annual game between these two now would be worth it.

 

.

 

I agree it would be a great game, lots of hype and good smash mouth football. However, plenty of administrators are keeping schedules under a tight leash right now due to gas prices and funding, some teams in the mountains and Rock is one of them are having to stay closer to home. Just a sign of the times for now. Hopefully things will get bettter.

Gas prices? I get tired of that excuse. If gas prices are an issue, have a open for admission intersquad scrimmage - charged $5 a head and sell concessions. Sell T-shirts etc. This can be done the weekend before the REAL scrimmages and would probably pull in enough scratch to make the difference in gas money to drive to Rockcastle (just an example) as to East Carter.

 

If the "fundraising scrimmage" idea doesn't fit. Then have the team spend a saturday doing a car wash or something to raise the money.

Upgrading the schedule is priority #1 in my opinion.

 

I know I am beginning to sound like a broken record on this issue. I know there are difficulties. I just know the community supports the team and the staff. If gas prices REALLY are a major roadblock - lets get creative and put that one behind us.

 

A simple mailer explaining the difficulty and politely asking the community for a $5 donation would net - $2500 at least. ($2500 = enough to offset gas prices)

Upgrading the schedule is priority #1 in my opinion.

 

I know I am beginning to sound like a broken record on this issue. I know there are difficulties. I just know the community supports the team and the staff. If gas prices REALLY are a major roadblock - lets get creative and put that one behind us.

 

A simple mailer explaining the difficulty and politely asking the community for a $5 donation would net - $2500 at least. ($2500 = enough to offset gas prices)

 

I will gladly donate $25 dollars and am fairly certain my father would as well.

 

Heck, this is alot simpler than it sounds. All Belfry has to do is take Week 2 and invite one out of area team to come to CAM. Get one of the Pirates quality backers (Massey maybe?) to take the sponsoring rights and call it the ______ (fill in sponsor) Pigskin Showcase. Make it a festive atmosphere and invite an out of area, yet still regional, middle school to play the Belfry Middle School. Bring out some inflatables and some booths to the soccer field, slap the sponsors name all over the place, get the radio stations out there.

 

If Belfry takes on a Rockcastle, Bluefield, et all in Week 2 at home with this kind of atmosphere I GUARANTEE you won't have trouble filling the place (Belfry could play Jenkins and still be close to capacity!). The sponsor money goes to cover the visitors gas and give them a little extra for playing Belfry and putting a "L" on their record

Yes sir EKU! Just gotta get creative.

 

To be the best we gotta compete against the best. (or at least the better)

BTW, Go Pirates!

 

I am fully behind the program and am looking for a great year!

 

Just being constructive like Guru wants.

The Belfry program has made major steps the past ten years to seperate themselves from being a perennial "good team", to a perennial "great team". The biggest factors contributing to this IMO are:

 

1. Improvement of facilities- New field, new equipment, new weight room with new technologies, added practice field, no longer have to commute to practice at Hardy park. additionally, Belfry players now frequent the HIT Center in the offseason.

 

2. Middle School Consolidation- Kids are playing as a team and forming relationships/timing at a younger age. Only one offense and defensive system ebign taught allowing it to be second nature by the time they reach HS. Opportunity to play regional competition to make them stronger.

 

3. Coaching Evolution- Maybe it's just me but Haywood has evolved his wishbone to better suit the kids he ahs to work with. Now Belfry offers variations that are almost exclusively only found on Pond Creek. Defensively, Haywood and his staff have evolved from big, strong, slow D-linemen to short, fast, athletic d-linemen like Michael Hackney and Phillip Hickman.

 

4. Attitude- Proably the biggest change. Belfry's perspective every year has wet from focusing on winning the district and region, to winning the state. Belfry plays with more of a swagger it seems.

 

 

Now that Belfry has started making this change I honestly feel the next step from going from a "great team" to an "elite team" (like Highlands, Beechwood, etc) is to do the following:

 

1. Upgrade schedule

 

2. Improve depth, less two way players

 

3. Develop the grassroots level (Pop Warner/Midget League) further and educate those coaches.

I think they have to be considered "Elite" in Class 3A. but I like your post.

 

It would just be awesome to play great teams from out in the state. For example - playing Newport Central Catholic two years ago. That game was a good measuring stick for alot of people out in the state who don't get to see Belfry play.