I realize that they do not play together very often, but could it be that Bell County and Highlands have the most interesting football "rivalry" in the state? Consider what's happened in the past:

 

Last year, HHS barely beat BC on the field, then had to forfeit the game (even though HHS was allowed to advance to the title game, which they won).

 

I can't remember the year, but BC had to forfeit an early-season game against HHS (which BC had won on the field). In fact, I think that BC went on to win the state title that year.

 

In 1996, HHS went to BC and won a close game (by a FG at the end) en route to winning 3A. I remember hearing all sorts of allegations that BC was having the chain gang on HHS' sideline signal to BC's coaching staff whether HHS was going to pass or run the ball before each play.

 

One year in the early 90's, HHS was scheduled to play BC in the state semis on Thanksgiving weekend. The game was then scheduled to be played a day early, Thursday, which is Thanksgiving Day. The game then went on to be called "The Turkey Bowl!"

 

Every time these two hook up, something crazy happens!!! Is there any other football "rivalry" which can boast of this level of strangeness???

 

I must admit, I was hopeful that HHS and BC were both going to win their regional finals games in 2005, to see what would happen next. Maybe next year...

LOL. Nice post. I would have to agree. They dont meet often, but it is one of the most heated and unusual rivalries in KY HS football.

It is an interesting rivalry that's for sure. The Bell Co. folks like to portray it as smashmouth vs. finesse, although that's not really the case (point in case is Highlands last drive last year when they ran power football the whole drive to score at the end of the game). The Highlands folks like to accuse Bell County of watering down the field and play kids who weren't even on the team (I don't believe it but several years ago when we played, a kid from a rival school nearby told several Highlands fans that a couple of kids that had played on a WV high school team that had been eliminated from the WV playoffs were playing for Bell in the game). There is just a lot of mistrust between the schools; as you were, make that between the fans. I have no idea how Dudley and Dale get along. Maybe wonderfully, but the fans sure don't seen to like one another. We always look forward to coming to your place however, as it means we've made it to the semifinals.

I dont neccessarily think that the Bell Co. fans like to portray it as smashmouth vs. finesse. I think they look at the game more as a "running between the tackles" attack vs. a "passing and outside running" attack, or as the traditional 3A mountain representative vs. the traditional northern KY representative. I think Bell Co. fans in general really respect the Highlands HS team (at least I do), and visa versa. I just think when it comes to playing each other they really dislike one another because of what has gone on in the past (Turkey Bowl, watering down the field accusations, playing ineligible players, etc.). But I guess all thats what makes the rivalry so interesting.

This one could get real interesting.

This one could get real interesting.

 

:laugh:

I was thinking the same thing, especially considering we arent but one season removed from the Mitchell incident. Curious how long this one will last!

Both teams are great programs and I think another thing that makes the rivalry more interesting is the way SOME people, and I am not accusing anyone of this, but its true, portray the areas where each team are.

Highlands is in an area that is very wealthy. It is a program that gets a lot of transfers in that are great football players. Also I am not accusing anyone of recruiting because I believe good athletes and their families seek out good programs sometime to send their players to.

Bell County is portrayed some as a school right in the Appalachian Mountains and some people think of the people as hicks. And there is some. lol. And both teams really want to beat each other when they face.

 

I do think both programs really respect each other though.

Both teams are great programs and I think another thing that makes the rivalry more interesting is the way SOME people, and I am not accusing anyone of this, but its true, portray the areas where each team are.

Highlands is in an area that is very wealthy. It is a program that gets a lot of transfers in that are great football players. Also I am not accusing anyone of recruiting because I believe good athletes and their families seek out good programs sometime to send their players to.

Bell County is portrayed some as a school right in the Appalachian Mountains and some people think of the people as hicks. And there is some. lol. And both teams really want to beat each other when they face.

 

I do think both programs really respect each other though.

:thumb: :thumb:

Both teams are great programs and I think another thing that makes the rivalry more interesting is the way SOME people, and I am not accusing anyone of this, but its true, portray the areas where each team are.

Highlands is in an area that is very wealthy. It is a program that gets a lot of transfers in that are great football players. Also I am not accusing anyone of recruiting .

 

Speaking of transfers, when you won your only state championship your best player lived in Harlan County.

Speaking of transfers, when you won your only state championship your best player lived in Harlan County.

Whaaaaaaat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :sssh:

People that live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. After reading SilverShadow's post, I believe he may have opened a can of worm's. Does anyone have any more info. or a name of the player in question. If this is true, I wander why this wasn't brought up last year during the Mitchell debate?

Speaking of transfers, when you won your only state championship your best player lived in Harlan County.

 

The only problem with this is that he wasnt our best player and that young man was taken off the team something like 5 games into the regular season before the playoffs began (that is why Bell's record that year was something like 10-5, because they forfeited the first 5 games). He therefore had no outcome on Bell Co's run to a state championship, unlike the Mitchell case where he had a HUGE IMMEDIATE impact on HHS race to a state championship. Bell Co. made there playoff run without the ineligible player and got to the finals fair and square.

 

Now I am not here to argue this topic again, we went over it last season. HHS was obviously one of the best 3A team in the state last year and was deserving of the championship since they proved that in the state finals game. I'm just not so sure they would have been there in the finals if Mitchell didnt play in at least one of those playoff games (namely the Bell Co. game). They may have made it to the finals without him they may not have? No one will ever know. Irregardless, they are and forever will be the 2004 Class 3A State Champ I think we should just drop that topic and leave it at that before it gets hairy like it did last season.

People that live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. After reading SilverShadow's post, I believe he may have opened a can of worm's. Does anyone have any more info. or a name of the player in question. If this is true, I wander why this wasn't brought up last year during the Mitchell debate?

 

Read my previous post..... two totally different scenarios and thats why no one brought it up at the time.

Speaking of transfers, when you won your only state championship your best player lived in Harlan County.

 

Bell County has a lot of students that live in Harlan County, but come to Bell because it is actually a shorter drive than it is to any of the highschools in Harlan. Also, there is a lot of Bell County kids who go to Tennesee or other areas because the drive is shorter.

And I will say that some kids do come to Bell County because they like our sports programs. But that usually happens once out of every 3 or 4 years.

 

And I am not trying to get into an argument over the issue, but Highlands attracts a lot of talented kids to transfer in. I am not accusing anyone of recruiting, but thats just the way it is. Wasn't the Nevels kid a transfer as well? It happens a great deal at Highlands.

Bell County has a lot of students that live in Harlan County, but come to Bell because it is actually a shorter drive than it is to any of the highschools in Harlan. Also, there is a lot of Bell County kids who go to Tennesee or other areas because the drive is shorter.

And I will say that some kids do come to Bell County because they like our sports programs. But that usually happens once out of every 3 or 4 years.

 

And I am not trying to get into an argument over the issue, but Highlands attracts a lot of talented kids to transfer in. I am not accusing anyone of recruiting, but thats just the way it is. Wasn't the Nevels kid a transfer as well? It happens a great deal at Highlands.

 

To back you up LMB, all this is done legally of course by both schools...HHS and Bell!

 

The only times I can remember when it wasnt was the Mitchell case last season and the kid on Bell's team in 91. Of course I have already distinguished between these two cases in earlier posts.