Mama Bear must be bored if she's trying to pick a fight with me.

I don't think I used the word "intense."

Harlan County and Leslie County are neighbors, though, and they play in the same league on the middle school level, so there are some elements of a rivalry there.

Mama Bear must be bored if she's trying to pick a fight with me.

I don't think I used the word "intense."

Harlan County and Leslie County are neighbors, though, and they play in the same league on the middle school level, so there are some elements of a rivalry there.

 

 

You always think we are fighting when I think we are discussing.

 

What about Bell County week 10? Would it be blasphemy to think that we may have a snowball's chance this upcoming year?

You always think we are fighting when I think we are discussing.

 

What about Bell County week 10? Would it be blasphemy to think that we may have a snowball's chance this upcoming year?

 

 

 

Yes.

 

It shouldn't even be suggested until the Bears beat Clay and are 9-0.

Whitley and Bell are my two big worries on our schedule this season. It's gonna be nice to not have to travel all over the country to go watch them play. I like this schedule. I really feel like we should be able to compete in 5A. Hopefully we can pick up where we left off last year and build on that.

Whitley and Bell are my two big worries on our schedule this season. It's gonna be nice to not have to travel all over the country to go watch them play. I like this schedule. I really feel like we should be able to compete in 5A. Hopefully we can pick up where we left off last year and build on that.

 

I think this was the biggest goal, getting close games because last year, it was awful having to travel and only getting 3 home games, it really was a negative factor. Having been playing Southwestern for the past 10 years it seems, they are always competitive and very well coached, this will be a great game and the bowl atmosphere will be something else, there are about 7,000 fans at the Ray Corral Bowl each year, if not more.

I could see them going anywhere from 5-5 to 9-1, but I don't know if it's a tougher schedule. Obviously, Bell is tougher than anyone they played last year and everyone is better than Grayson County, Va.

 

I think the Bears should be favored over Leslie, Lee, Perry Central, Clay and North Laurel, and probably Powell Valley, Va. (I heard they played Lee very close last year in a game or scrimmage). I think the Southwestern game could be about even at this point, especially since it's in Somerset. They are the definite underdogs to Bell County and will probably be rated slightly below Whitley and Letcher.

 

I think it's a great schedule for the fans. The longest trip is to Somerset, which is ironic when you consider all the "they'll have to travel to Lexington or Louisville to get games scare tactics." They also have some very good potential rivalry matchups with Bell, Leslie and Letcher.

 

 

Can't wait for rivalry between Bell and Harlan. Bell Co has lost all of its rivals that are not district games.

Edited January 15, 200917 yr by STRIKE3
fixed the quote

I look for the Harlan County/Bell rivalry to be huge I mean HUGE, especially if Harlan County can continue to build a solid program. Leslie and Letcher will be rivals but no where near what Bell will be. I could see Letcher becoming a good one coming close to Bell since they are district opponents.

If you want to play in a cow pasture grass is all you have to worry about. A good baseball/softball field requires much more than that. Would you be okay with just scalping the top off of a hill and having the football team play on it as long as it had grass?

 

Heck, I played on dirt, coal, sandrocks, and glass at Evarts back in the day. Mark off some grass. At least it home.

I look for the Bell/Harlan rivalry to be the biggest game in the mountains. I've played against Larkeys' teams and I know he'll have them Black Bears ready. Whos cares if it takes a few years. At least I know he will field a team and play anyone, not run and hide like others within a 50 mile radius. Middle school games between New Harlan and Bell was like a high school game when they played. Both teams were always evenly matched and people talked about their games for days. There is a lot of good talent in Harlan Co. and I believe that Larkey will bring it out. It's gonna be great for the kids, and the fans alike. The rivalry will bring people from all around and the money will be great for both programs. If my Bobcats ain't playin, I'll always pull for the Black Bears. Good luck and work hard Black Bears, build us a mountain power house and make us proud.

I look for the Bell/Harlan rivalry to be the biggest game in the mountains. I've played against Larkeys' teams and I know he'll have them Black Bears ready. Whos cares if it takes a few years. At least I know he will field a team and play anyone, not run and hide like others within a 50 mile radius. Middle school games between New Harlan and Bell was like a high school game when they played. Both teams were always evenly matched and people talked about their games for days. There is a lot of good talent in Harlan Co. and I believe that Larkey will bring it out. It's gonna be great for the kids, and the fans alike. The rivalry will bring people from all around and the money will be great for both programs. If my Bobcats ain't playin, I'll always pull for the Black Bears. Good luck and work hard Black Bears, build us a mountain power house and make us proud.

 

I agree will be one of the biggest rivalries in the mountains. Can't wait for football season to get started.

Heck, I played on dirt, coal, sandrocks, and glass at Evarts back in the day. Mark off some grass. At least it home.

 

Are you from Evarts or were you a visiting team?

I look for the Bell/Harlan rivalry to be the biggest game in the mountains. I've played against Larkeys' teams and I know he'll have them Black Bears ready. Whos cares if it takes a few years. At least I know he will field a team and play anyone, not run and hide like others within a 50 mile radius. Middle school games between New Harlan and Bell was like a high school game when they played. Both teams were always evenly matched and people talked about their games for days. There is a lot of good talent in Harlan Co. and I believe that Larkey will bring it out. It's gonna be great for the kids, and the fans alike. The rivalry will bring people from all around and the money will be great for both programs. If my Bobcats ain't playin, I'll always pull for the Black Bears. Good luck and work hard Black Bears, build us a mountain power house and make us proud.

:thumb:

I know I am not even supposed to talk about it until after week nine, BUT this series with Bell has all the makings of some good mountain football for years to come. Coach Larkey doesn't strike me as the type of guy to shy away from competiton. I am hopeful with the number of kids that are coming out for the off season work outs, that our staff will be able to put together a very competitive team. It's so great to see this many kids excited about football and willing to work hard for a common goal. I love it!

I look for the Bell/Harlan rivalry to be the biggest game in the mountains. I've played against Larkeys' teams and I know he'll have them Black Bears ready. Whos cares if it takes a few years. At least I know he will field a team and play anyone, not run and hide like others within a 50 mile radius. Middle school games between New Harlan and Bell was like a high school game when they played. Both teams were always evenly matched and people talked about their games for days. There is a lot of good talent in Harlan Co. and I believe that Larkey will bring it out. It's gonna be great for the kids, and the fans alike. The rivalry will bring people from all around and the money will be great for both programs. If my Bobcats ain't playin, I'll always pull for the Black Bears. Good luck and work hard Black Bears, build us a mountain power house and make us proud.

 

Thanks so much for the encouraging words for the Black Bears, Krack Back. I know the boys are definitely working hard in the weight room already. They got a little taste of what it can be like to be on a winning team with Coach Larkey and company this season, so I know they are hungry for some of the same (and more) this coming year.

Ison looked good on the O-Line at the Border Bowl. The QB's had a lot time to throw and he was part of that. Hope someone noticed him!

Here's some good news! There are currently 90 kids participating in the off season weight and agility program for the Black Bears. 10 of which are 8th graders. This number doesn't include the kids playing basketball right now in high school or the 8th graders who are playing in middle school who will join in after their season.

 

I'm sure from that number some may fall by the wayside, but the number of kids wanting to be a part of this team is extremely promising. I just find it so exciting that this many boys are willing to commit to the hard work in the off season that will make 2009 another exciting year for our county.