footballfool

Cassidy is there, and they also have Doug Schneider coaching the O-Line. Two pretty good pickups for FC, Higgins definitely needs the help on Defense. Last year they would score 40, but give up 45. Supposedly Cassidy likes Louisville and has applied to Jefferson County Schools for a teaching job, etc. Guess he is tired of jumping around the country and is ready to settle in.

Fern Creek has announced the addition to their football staff of Mike Cassidy, former U of L Defensive Coordinator, and Defensive Coordinator for several other major Div. 1 schools. Apparently he has applied for a teaching job as well.

Coach Coverdale, as done the entire staff, buys into and stresses Beatty's system. They are indeed a team. It is a proven system and new kids step in and step up every year. By the way, condolensces to the family of former Coach Dennis Schrecker, who passed away last week. Great guy and he was a big help while at Trinity, prior to returning to his alma mater, Male, where he is now in their Hall of Fame.

To answer your question inorout, I have nothing against Fern Creek and wish them nothing but the best. I know the Hines kid quite well and see him several times a week. He is a great kid who will get his act together and be back in uniform, hopefully at FC. I never spread any rumors, but I do know where there is a problem. Yes, I did defend the kid last year, after he apologized to the team and staff, and admitted he was wrong, and asked to finish the season. I defended him because of the reasons he reacted the way he did, but definitely did not defend his actions. The kid took it on himself the next game to show up and go up into the stands and apologize to the fans for his actions, while most kids would have stayed away. If you want facts, not rumors, then you should be prepared for the ramifications. Fact, the Benzick kid was upset and mad because he was benched for the first half as he had missed practice for two days while being home sick, (he left school in an ambulance with an allergic reaction). He was told by the staff to be at practice, regardless of being sick, if he expected to play, in direct violation of JCPS rules and policy. His parents would not let him go to practice and thus he was benched. His dad has saved the voice mail from Higgins demanding that Benzick be at practice, he "did not care how sick he is". However, think about this, if he had broken school rules and went to practice, he would have played, thus being rewarded for breaking the rules. Other kids who missed school but showed up for practice got to play. It was like that all season. Everyone associated with FC knows the Hines kid practiced every day that he was on disciplinary suspension, 3 days, in full gear and never missed a snap as that was the week of the Male game for the District Championship. I have two friends that are teachers at FC and they were livid that Hines was allowed to practice and nobody was enforcing the rules. Hines mother told several of us at the Male game that Higgins had called her son and told him to be at practice every day. I saw him there myself two of the three days. When Benzick's father asked the administration about it, after his son was not allowed to rejoin the team, he was told that they were "looking into the report and would handle it in-house" but yet not one person, player, or staff missed a minute of game time thru the playoffs. Benzick's dad told me that his son was suspended once also and that he never missed practice either. Players are encouraged to break the rules, and those who don't, sit. I donate a lot of money and time each year to FC and hope to see their level return, but not at the expense of the kids and what they are being taught. By the way, this is not a rumor and you can check with KHSAA as a formal complaint was placed and signed by several parents. As I understand it, it was referred back to JCPS, as practicing while under suspension, is a local Board issue. Benzick's dad was going to file a lawsuit and got signed statements from 9 other parents who saw kids practicing under suspension but the season was over and he decided it would prove nothing. FC has great kids and great teachers, but the pressure to win needs to back off. Higgins will get the program back but he cannot be expected to do so in just a year or two.

I hope Hines gets his act together, first for himself, and second for FC. I saw him this past weekend and he told me he had not been to class in almost 30 days. One of the kids with him, a starter from last year, also told me that he was moving in with his grandparents and transferring to Bullitt Co. once this year was over (not sure which school in Bullitt). He just does not want to play for FC anymore. They have a lot of good talent back though, with Welch, Zimmerman, etc. and have the potential for a good squad. Their freshman team last year did very well if i remember correctly.

It is not always the players and parent's fault either. One poster is right on here though, Coach H has laid out his rules, and it is get on board or get out, regardless of everyone elses rules.

Fern Creek has a lot of work to do to be competitive this coming year. They lost a lot from last year's team plus this next year's team is falling apart. Hines, their Div. 1 prospect QB, 6'4", great arm and tremendous stats, who would have been a junior has quit the team. Their backup QB, Carlos, played sparingly last year and prefers his normal position at Wideout. I was told yesterday that two starters from last year are transferring and two others have decided not to return to the team as well. Lots of turmoil, upset parents, etc. etc.

The Hines kid at Fern Creek started as a freshman, and played very well. Lots of yardage and lots of touchdowns as well. He had a very good year last year as a sophomore as well. When Hines was a freshman, FC played Trinity, X, Male, etc, and the kid did okay. They only won 4 games that year but he did not have much of a supporting cast. Big kid, 6'4", with a tremendous arm. Other than that, I do not know of any other freshmen starting in 6A.

Then why not limit entries to so many per each school, like track, swimming, etc. I know that each kid wants to compete, but to be fair to all schools, allow 3-4 entries per class, per school, for the big meets. I think with track, you can enter 3 or 4 per event.

Jordan Whiting and Sam Robey are both listed as winners in various classes and they are certainly classified as football players.

The St. X team that won State in 95-96? St. Margaret Mary had 8 starters on that team, and I think that Jason Strothman and Chip Mattingly both made All State, but I do not think they were First Team.

Aaaaah, Ron Steele got lucky!! Had to say that, hell of a game though.

I will agree that the 94 Male team with Redman, Ibn Green, Tony Driver, Hackett, etc, might be the best Male team ever, certainly the best Male team not to win a Championship. Undefeated until championship game with 8 games over 50 points, 5 shutouts, etc.

Oh, I agree, the tie in the playoffs has to hurt them. I like the 2002 Rock team, but the 88-90 teams could also rank right there. I just remember watching TJ put up 50-60 points on good teams that year and Northington and Gray would sit the second half. I did not go to the championship game but I seem to remember a deal about a big storm or something,maybe that is why it was only 6-6. Any help out there?

I am a diehard Trinity grad and think that one of their teams would probably rank out as #1, but I remember watching the old Thomas Jefferson Team in 1971 with Mike Northington, Tony Gray, etc. They were undefeated all the way to championship game and tied Flaget 6-6. They had like 6 shutouts and only gave up 64 points all season. I thought they were as good a high school team as I had seen, and they still have to rank among the best.

Hey Shamrock69, I was on that same track team. I ran 880 and long jumped, triple jumped, etc. Apparently we know each. I saw Kevin at the funeral as well. I grew up with them and know their family well. Kevin is still an MD in Lexington.

Hey Shamrock 69, I am class of 70 and am partial to your picks as well. I just saw Dennis Scully a month ago. Unfortunately his Dad passed away and I attended the funeral. He still lives in Atlanta and is a big Georgia Tech Alum Booster. What about Joe Pierce who took over for Scully? He did a pretty fair job himself.

Tim Phillips for sure!!!!!!!!

Where did Doug Beaumont end up in the voting in both categories?

Simple thing, but if playoff system continues as is, at least not make the district teams play each other in the first round. In a lot of districts, district teams played each other the last week of the season and then the following week in the playoffs. Make the first round at least out of district games, and seed them like #4 in District 1 vs #1 in District 2, etc, etc.

Thanks Gus, say hi to Cap'n Call when you can. I figured it was but I could not put the years together to see if it was the same guy. Good coach and he should do well at Ballard.

Word on the street is that Mike Jackson is taking the head coaching job at Ballard. I would assume this is the Mike Jackson from Pikeville who just stepped down, but wasn't there a Mike Jackson at Oldham County as well??

When you field a team that has played under the same system and coaching techniques, and played since 3rd grade under those conditions, it is easy to be more disciplined, trained, and conditioned. Everyone keeps leaving out the Catholic Grade School leagues that coach these kids from 3rd grade on. Most of the CSAA coaches are ex Trinity or X, and coach the same type systems, training, dedication, and goals of winning to these kids. These kids dream of playing for X or T in a State Championship game from the time they are youngsters. That is the biggest asset of them all, regardless of what you think. I have put two sons thru high school football in Jefferson County. One played for the CSAA league and then Trinity, the other for the Optomist and then a Public School. The difference was absolutely unreal in terms of basics, techniques, attitudes, etc. with the private sector winning hands down. My son who entered Trinity as a freshman was so far ahead of my son who entered public school in terms of discipline, knowledge of X's and O's, etc. 6 of the kids who started on my son's CSAA team went immediately to public school and became outstanding players.

Yel, but what neat names could we come up with in the consolidation of JCPS. I have too much time on my hands I guess, but let's see........ ManBal, MalePleasure, SouthBut, and CentralEastWest, just to name a few quick ones.

The Athletes idea is great as it recognizes a lot of kids who play both ways and have success on both sides of the ball. These are the positions that are measureable such as yards gained, interceptions, touchdowns, etc. Like I said earlier, this was a banner year for Ky HS football and it would be tough to get all the deserving kids even on 3 teams. Again, great job.