FB15G8

I don't doubt that at all....you can tell by how much passion you have for the game...quite honestly, HHS and Belfry are both places that love the game. Its no fluke for either school. They both play football the way its meant to be played.

I can understand your thoughts...we beat HHS without our starting tailback...we played the state championship without our entire backfield after the 1 st quarter. Lots of things went wrong that night...and I will agree we had a lapse in our game that night...but we were there that night to have our lapse...we weren't celebrating that night after the game for sure...but looking back the HHS game was so big, the players never recovered...blame it on coaching and I am sure Coach Roddy accepted the blame. I am glad you guys got to watch us fail.

It was done within the spirit of the rules.. Mr. Walker from Georgia wore tear aways all the time...was Vince Dooley a "cheater"? And, what do you mean it was a situation the KHSAA had overlooked.... aren't most new laws or changes in laws brought about by circumstances that were previously overlooked or considered a non-issue. For instance, this year teams can't wear shoulder pads till Aug. 1st due to the heat....are you trying to say "the KHSAA didn't care about heat related injuries until this year"? I doubt that to be the case. Keep in mind, this was Belfry's breakout moment.... To keep saying BHS cheated is poor sportmanship in itself, particularly since it was nearly 30 years ago. I had no idea this was such a painful moment for HHS.

As I can recall, we had 12 each for 3 backs and used them all. We ran plays in and replaced them in the huddle. They cut the necks out to get them over the helmets.

Some of you guys needed to read the sign above Coach Roddy's desk. It read..."KWITCHABELLYAKIN".

We did learn a lot that night. We learned to be resourceful, use every advantage within the rules to achieve your goals. We learned to take other peoples perceived strengths and turn them into ours. We learned to work hard and to never allow a newspaper article or a loud cannon to keep you on the bus. KEEP IN MIND, we lost the finals 33-0 to Franklin Simpson...our only loss of the season. But you know, we had already won our state championship the week before.

Please be objective on this one...this was 1979...and HHS was the best program in the state. Roddy had to do what he had to do to win. He pulled no punches and never did anything that was without class. In fact, he won Coach of the year in 1979. Its been 28 years, this is truly a classic game and coaching move. Now, it goes against HHS, but how many things in the past 30 years haven't gone HHS's way. HHS is one of the most tradition rich programs in the state and if things have gone their way its clearly been because of hard work. I can't see where Roddy did anything wrong...there was no rule regarding who entered the field first, there was no rule against tear away jerseys. To be honest...he had the refs and HHS coach begging him to go onto the field first. It was really a circus in our locker room. The head ref and the HHS coach were completed baffled as to why BHS would not come out first.. Roddy clearly stated his position from the start. The whole scenario played into his plan....

This is very accurate. The HHS coach came over the last time with the refs as well. He was begging Roddy to go ahead and come out....it was like Roddy was screwing up their whole plan....and he was...a remarkable plan that played out just like he had drawn it up. We were all sitting around the locker room without shoulder pads and cleats...when the HHS coach walked in the gym with the refs you could have knocked him over with a feather...we were chilled out about as much as you could be. Roddy never allowed us to talk much...we rode the entire trip to HHS, (which was about 5 -6 hours on the bus, at that time it took about 35-45 minutes just to get to Pikeville from BHS) without speaking...a very intense trip to say the least.

That is correct. Or at least this is what I recall...our entire coaching staff found out after our regional game that Highlands would be playing on Saturday. They all went up and watched the game....the came back with a great plan. They made the whole cannon scenario seem like a big joke. WE could not wait to hear.....the players all agreed the cannon would be ours for the night....so it meant nothing but good things to us...we figured if we delayed going onto the field, then we decided when it was set off, therefore, we owned it for the night. Quite a night for a group of mountain boys. BHS had lots of respect for HHS, but that was all. Coulda, woulda, shoulda is all HHS could walk with on this night. There is no way BHS should have won that night....we were small, quick and strong....but we also played SMART. For 1979, our coaching staff was well ahead of their time.

First time we had worn them....and I do believe a razor blade may have touched those jerseys as well.

The second rule change was identify which team had to enter the stadium prior to game time. After Belfry warmed up, we went in and took off the cleats and shoulders pads and relaxed for about 45 minutes...Coach Roddy finally agreed to leave the locker room at the same time as HHS.

Yes, but Pikeville is playing Lex Cath this year and Pikeville is 1A. Corbin is Corbin....since when did clasees matter to them.

I agree with this...the KHSAA can't stop folks from moving/transferring, but I think they have clearly made a point about doing it the "right way".

Not certain of its significance but the 1979 Belfry/Highlands semi final contest at Highlands brought about two rule changes the following season. Its rare that one contest could bring about two rule changes.

Wow, that will prepare them for a tough season.

Coach does a nice job and he has a strong staff of young men to assist. MC has a good core group coming back, looks like we have some new guys and they a good core group of young players as well. It looks like all the players in the program are returning.

Did P'Burg have a player move?

I would think Brandon Rash is clearly the best athlete on this team. It will be interesting to see how his leadership skills develop.

Belfry probably would go for a 1 game series...although its tough for BHS to give up the home gate.

Hospitality at the Montgomery Tourney was great. A great atmosphere as well. Two gyms, one old school and the other state of the art.

I would agree that Belfry style does hurt them some in gaining opponents, but that is all it hurts them in....their style is bruising to say the least.

I agree. Hard to understand this one. But, Maggie gets an opportunity to get a Centre education and have a great experience. She is probably better off in the long run.

I'm glad somebody said it....it will obviously be a player that works his butt off over the next two years....and most likely has been graced with some size as well. But, why even approach this question. Too early to discuss and you are putting a lot of pressure on a young player.

I don't see Coach Whitaker staying long enough to fix the issues. Does he have the support to keep him there? What I mean is, I know they may want him there, but are they supporting him to get the job done?

Good point. You always need 1 game on your schedule that you probably should not be able to win. Everybody in the place knows you should not win it....and everyone once a while your kids rise to the occassion and you have a signature win for your program.