Before the season started, long time assistant Coach Mike Jones retired from Russell Schools. Was he a bigger part of Russell's success then some believed? Was his retirement a bigger deal that many thought it would be?

 

I think he was as much of a part of Russell's success as Coach McGlone has been.

Not sure. I haven't seen Russell yet this season. Last year they looked a little undersized when compared to years past; but I don't know if this is still the case.

I guess maybe I am the only one that has thought about.:lol:

Unless Coach Jones took a bunch of larger, stronger, faster kids with him when he retired, I'd say no. All about the Jimmy's and Joe's.

Unless Coach Jones took a bunch of larger, stronger, faster kids with him when he retired, I'd say no. All about the Jimmy's and Joe's.

 

Come on doc, you don't think having him made Russell a little better?

Come on doc, you don't think having him made Russell a little better?

I think he was a fine coach, very well respected. However, for 3 weeks Russell has been out-athleted. And in the past 3 games "a little better" wouldn't be scratching the surface of what would be needed for Russell to be in those games.

Unless Coach Jones took a bunch of larger, stronger, faster kids with him when he retired, I'd say no. All about the Jimmy's and Joe's.

 

I think your right!! :thumb:

In no particular order, I think there are several things that have contributed to the perceived "decline" of Russell football over the past 3 years.

 

1) Players. They don't have as many talented and motivated players as they did during their run between the years of 2002 and 2007. They've had a few like Drew Abrams and Travis Jones, but just not enough of them. This could be attributed to the size of the school, the fact that more and more good athletes choose soccer and/or basketball, or both.

 

2) Strength of Schedule. Not to take away from what the 2002-2007 teams accomplished, but let's be realistic...the schedule wasn't anything like it is now. For example, the state champion 2005 team plowed through the likes of Greenup County, Ashland, Powell County, Morgan County, West Carter, Lewis County, Estill County, East Carter, and Fleming County on their way to the playoffs that year. Now compare that with having to face vastly improved Greenup and Ashland teams, Ironton, Mason County, and some of the best Raceland teams they've ever had. The strength of schedule has greatly improved. Please don't get me wrong, though. I give all the credit in the world to those 2005 and 2006 teams for doing what no other team from our area seems to ever be able to do...win the big ones. They did it against the likes of Newport, Belfry, Corbin, and Owensboro Catholic.

 

3) Success of other area teams. I believe the improvement of other area programs has made Russell's decline look a little steeper than it actually is. Ashland has vastly improved their program over the past 3 years. Lest we forget that the Tomcats were 2-8 as recently as 2007 under the same head coach as they have now, Leon Hart, who is now praised for being a great head coach (again proving that it's all about the Jimmys and Joes as SpinDoc said). Russell's main district foe, Mason County, has improved leaps and bounds over the same time period overtaking Russell as the team to beat in district play. Russell added Raceland to their schedule just as Raceland was bringing along the best class they've ever had for their junior and senior seasons. The 2 losses in a row to the smaller intra-county rival Rams adds to the negative perception of the direction of Russell football. At the same time, they added Ironton to the schedule during these last couple of years. Unlike the schools on this side of the river, Ironton doesn't seem to go through too many "bad" seasons...ever. And hey, even Greenup has a good football team this season as well!

 

4) Complacency. I thought the success of Russell football over those 2002-2007 seasons would carry over to the youth and the community to provide something that could be rallied around and built upon on a yearly basis. That hasn't happened, though. It looks like the teams of the past 3 years don't work out as hard and frankly don't care as much as the teams just a few years ago. Going back to the 'yukking it up on the sidelines' comment made by SpinDoc on the Ashland-Russell game thread, it doesn't look good for the program when some of the players honestly just don't care if they win or lose. Again, there are many who do care and that is evident, but just not enough right now.

 

This complacency carries over to the fans as well. Sometimes it seems the team is hardly even cheered for when they come on the field. The crowd for the Sheldon Clark playoff game at home last season was terrible. The crowds for both home games this season have been less than I expected. Sitting near the 50 yard line, I had plenty of room to stretch back on the bleachers behind me and put my feet on the bleachers in front of me for the Ironton game. This wasn't the case years ago.

 

5) Target on their back. Russell made themselves the "team to beat" in the area for a few years by winning the state championship in 2005 and then playing in the title game again in 2006. Very few schools keep that sort of success going because other teams eventually raise their level of focus and play against them. I recall going to the Russell-Ashland game at Ashland in 2008. Ashland had just come off a 2-8 season, was off to a 1-2 start on the 2008 season with losses to Raceland and Ironton, and was a team on the brink of tanking yet another season. However, the atmosphere in Putnam Stadium that night was one of the best I had ever seen. From pregame warmups on, you could tell that Russell was in trouble. From every fan in the stands to every player on the field, Ashland simply wanted it more. They blew Russell off the field 36-10. Since that game, Russell football has an overall record of 11-14.

 

6) Raceland's Playoff Success. Like it or not, the last team standing in November is considered by most passive fans to be the "top team" in the area because they get the whole spotlight to themselves come playoff time. Out of the Boyd and Greenup County schools, Raceland has been that team over the past couple of seasons. It was Russell for many years prior to that, but not now. Partially due to having good teams and partially due to having a favorable opposing district in rounds 1 and 2 of the playoffs, the Rams will likely be the last team standing again this season. This, too, has contributed to a lesser perception of Russell football.

 

So was Coach Jones important? I'm sure he was, but I think there are other more important factors like the ones I listed above that are contributing to the perceived decline of Russell football.

Edited September 14, 201016 yr by ryanparker

I guess maybe I am the only one that has thought about.:lol:

 

I mentioned this same thought earlier in the summer before the season started, but no one responded with any comments as to weather they thought it would affect the team.

In no particular order, I think there are several things that have contributed to the perceived "decline" of Russell football over the past 3 years.

 

1) Players. They don't have as many talented and motivated players as they did during their run between the years of 2002 and 2007. They've had a few like Drew Abrams and Travis Jones, but just not enough of them. This could be attributed to the size of the school, the fact that more and more good athletes choose soccer and/or basketball, or both.

 

2) Strength of Schedule. Not to take away from what the 2002-2007 teams accomplished, but let's be realistic...the schedule wasn't anything like it is now. For example, the state champion 2005 team plowed through the likes of Greenup County, Ashland, Powell County, Morgan County, West Carter, Lewis County, Estill County, East Carter, and Fleming County on their way to the playoffs that year. Now compare that with having to face vastly improved Greenup and Ashland teams, Ironton, Mason County, and some of the best Raceland teams they've ever had. The strength of schedule has greatly improved. Please don't get me wrong, though. I give all the credit in the world to those 2005 and 2006 teams for doing what no other team from our area seems to ever be able to do...win the big ones. They did it against the likes of Newport, Belfry, Corbin, and Owensboro Catholic.

 

3) Success of other area teams. I believe the improvement of other area programs has made Russell's decline look a little steeper than it actually is. Ashland has vastly improved their program over the past 3 years. Lest we forget that the Tomcats were 2-8 as recently as 2007 under the same head coach as they have now, Leon Hart, who is now praised for being a great head coach (again proving that it's all about the Jimmys and Joes as SpinDoc said). Russell's main district foe, Mason County, has improved leaps and bounds over the same time period overtaking Russell as the team to beat in district play. Russell added Raceland to their schedule just as Raceland was bringing along the best class they've ever had for their junior and senior seasons. The 2 losses in a row to the smaller intra-county rival Rams adds to the negative perception of the direction of Russell football. At the same time, they added Ironton to the schedule during these last couple of years. Unlike the schools on this side of the river, Ironton doesn't seem to go through too many "bad" seasons...ever. And hey, even Greenup has a good football team this season as well!

 

4) Complacency. I thought the success of Russell football over those 2002-2007 seasons would carry over to the youth and the community to provide something that could be rallied around and built upon on a yearly basis. That hasn't happened, though. It looks like the teams of the past 3 years don't work out as hard and frankly don't care as much as the teams just a few years ago. Going back to the 'yukking it up on the sidelines' comment made by SpinDoc on the Ashland-Russell game thread, it doesn't look good for the program when some of the players honestly just don't care if they win or lose. Again, there are many who do care and that is evident, but just not enough right now.

 

This complacency carries over to the fans as well. Sometimes it seems the team is hardly even cheered for when they come on the field. The crowd for the Sheldon Clark playoff game at home last season was terrible. The crowds for both home games this season have been less than I expected. Sitting near the 50 yard line, I had plenty of room to stretch back on the bleachers behind me and put my feet on the bleachers in front of me for the Ironton game. This wasn't the case years ago.

 

5) Target on their back. Russell made themselves the "team to beat" in the area for a few years by winning the state championship in 2005 and then playing in the title game again in 2006. Very few schools keep that sort of success going because other teams eventually raise their level of focus and play against them. I recall going to the Russell-Ashland game at Ashland in 2008. Ashland had just come off a 2-8 season, was off to a 1-2 start on the 2008 season with losses to Raceland and Ironton, and was a team on the brink of tanking yet another season. However, the atmosphere in Putnam Stadium that night was one of the best I had ever seen. From pregame warmups on, you could tell that Russell was in trouble. From every fan in the stands to every player on the field, Ashland simply wanted it more. They blew Russell off the field 36-10. Since that game, Russell football has an overall record of 11-14.

 

6) Raceland's Playoff Success. Like it or not, the last team standing in November is considered by most passive fans to be the "top team" in the area because they get the whole spotlight to themselves come playoff time. Out of the Boyd and Greenup County schools, Raceland has been that team over the past couple of seasons. It was Russell for many years prior to that, but not now. Partially due to having good teams and partially due to having a favorable opposing district in rounds 1 and 2 of the playoffs, the Rams will likely be the last team standing again this season. This, too, has contributed to a lesser perception of Russell football.

 

So was Coach Jones important? I'm sure he was, but I think there are other more important factors like the ones I listed above that are contributing to the perceived decline of Russell football.

 

Well said Ryan, & interesting food for thought.

I mentioned this same thought earlier in the summer before the season started, but no one responded with any comments as to weather they thought it would affect the team.

 

I just find it odd that no one thinks he was more of a factor. I think he was a big part of Russell's success over the years. But, maybe I'm wrong.

RP I read the #8 post you wrote. I love reading the things you put on here. But I'm having trouble understanding your thinking on the strength of schedule para. No matter the strength of schedule for that season. That team won the STATE championship. So I have to believe they were the best in the state. So if they had played any other 1,2,3 and most 4A powers. I have to believe they would of won all or 99% of the 1,2 and 3A powers. And would have beaten all or most of the 4A schools. JMO If you won the state championship. You eventually had to play three or four of the best teams in the class 3A.

 

Over the past few years I've noticed some turmoil in the feeder program. That results in family's fighting and families pulling the kids from the team. An in some extreme measures taking the kids to other area schools. I do know to some degree you have that at any youth program. Just has seemed a little excessive in Russell the past few years.

 

When I played against Russell way back when. I new it was going to be a rough game. I new I had to strap it all on a little tighter for those games. I remember being a four year starter. And my fresh. year we played in Russell. I got hit by a player, his name was Abrams. He hit me so hard I couldn't remember anything that happened before that hit. Warm-ups and the first 1 1/2 quarters were all gone. Now the toughness imo is gone. Every team has a few tough players. Like you said it could be other sports. But there has been all those sports in Russell for years.