Uncle Rico

A guy mentioned to me that we need a huge flag flying in the middle of our tailgate party. I think they are still working on an official logo though. But the HC that will be on the Helmets would do. A big cardinal flag with a white HC or a white flag with HC in cardinal. I don't think the players realize how much Harlan County is behind them. I agree that would be a great way to pump them up especially the first game if they pulled in to the parking lot and saw all these Bears fans already there. The best I can remember the way you go into LCC they wouldn't see us until they get into the parking lot. Maybe the boosters can plan something and make some money.

PRACTICE STARTS TOMORROW!!!!!!!

I'm just excited to see the Harlan County Black Bears take the field, and of course win a lot of games.

Busted, Thanks for setting me straight. I wasn't looking that far ahead, of course we will have seven playoff games. And don't ever question my faith again! Just kidding Who's cooking at the tailgate parties?

Took a sneak peek at the Black Bears football field, the grass is coming in nicely and the bleachers look awesome painted black and cardinal. Only three home games we better make them count! Anybody want to practice tailgating?

It is very difficult to hit 100 mph fastball, I have seen many and hit few. When I was a kid we would go to batting cages and if we just hit the 90-100 ones we were excited but there is a difference in hitting it and hitting it well. There is also a need for different skills. I believe there is a lot more skill needed in football then what people think. Linemen have to know how to shift with a run, pick up pass rushers. Personally I think linemen may have the most required knowledge (not neccessarily skill) of any football player, but I think a Quarterback has to deal with a lot along with receivers running routs it's not just kids playing in the back yard. I don't think one is anymore complicated than the other to me basketball is pretty simple though. But that's just me, different strokes for different folks!

I would love to see some of the good teams from around Knoxville come here and it really wouldn't be a bad trip for Bell or Harlan Co. to travel there! At least we could watch a good football game and eat someplace decent afterwards.

Thanks for digging up some facts. I agree about the difficulty of kids with bad habits, but then I have to disagree with Log Mountain I think some kids with obvious talent are groomed for their position in High School. Some kids are just naturals and some have to really work at it, A good coach mixes and matches those two to build a quality team.

I guess that is just a sign of good coaching, I can't imagine taking 8th and 9th graders and teaching them basic football and them playing quality football, I'm not saying it can't be done but man that has to be a lot of work. I was under the assumption that before Bell had a middleschool team that they played at their individual schools. That's the way it was in Harlan Co. Then the number fell around the middleschools and they had to consolidate to one team.

I have to respectfully disagree with you. In an earlier post someone mentioned Bell Co. didn't always have a middleschool team. Some of my friends from there and some other people I have talked with mention that even pee wee teams start out the basics of Coach Hiltons style of play. Plus I think that you are ahead of the game if you have really been coached well in middleschool. I think football knowledge plays a role in playing football, just like skill and the weight room.

So the kids hadn't played football until they make it to High School? Or do you mean they didn't have a consolidated football team?

Not to jump on bandwagon of jumping you trenches, but you say Harlan Co. needs to step it up. We have a new state of the art school and one of the best football coaches in the state laying a foundation for a good football team so I believe we are stepping it up! We are playing Letcher Co. Central not to sure if they are a powerhouse, but they did make a deep run in the playoffs last year, Breathitt is coming here also, and we would love to get into a series with Bell, I do believe Coach Larkey and Coach Hilton have discussed this already! Any clue as to why the middle school wouldn't play Harlan Co.this year? And don't give me the you all kicked us out of your conference, they weren't in the conference last year when we came there! Even though we might be rivals or soon to be rivals all anyone is stating is that we need to team up to work on getting quality competition to come play since most of the smaller independent schools have taken their balls (or lack there of) and went home.

Win or Lose you sure want have a problem remembering who the Harlan County Black Bears are when you leave here. If by nothing else the fan support should be memorable.

I'm with Odessa, there is a reason they play the game, To see who the better team is! This will be Harlan County's first home game ever so emotions will be high and the team and fans will be ready to go. It will make it even more special to be playing such a High Caliber team. It will be (I think) their fourth game so Coach Larkey should have all of the kinks worked out by then. So you better pay attention to what Odessa's saying because there's always a chance that the Bears might just put you through the place where snowballs have no chance. It should be a great game!

I think they know, there is a website here in Harlan called the Harlan Playhouse and someone posted a series of emails between New Harlan's and Bells coach. It has to do with New Harlan trying to get them to come here and play and the Bell coach seems bitter blames New Harlan for kicking them out of the conference, when we are the only team that is willing to play them. Something fishy some place the last three times New Harlan has played Bell it has been at bell, they must not like traveling 119. Also heard a rumor that the middle school coach and Coach Hilton don't exactly see eye to eye. I'm sure Hilton and Larkey will get together and get the middle school lined out. New Harlan Bell games are some of the best overall football games I have ever seen, both teams always play hard.

I hear some Black Bears stirring around ready to come out of hibernation for the first time. The excitement building up and having to wait is almost unbearable. GO BEARS!!

Harlan County is just up the road, hopefully next season the two will play and start a long fruitful love/hate series. Larkey/Hilton makes for some good showdowns.

New Harlan's colors are navy blue and red. White helmets with the new england patriot logo on them, navy blue jerseys and red pants.

Is the Catron kid still around? If so what do they expect from him?

The Harlan on your schedule could be Harlan Independent. The Dragons. Kind of confusing, but they came togther before the High School consolidated and they didn't know what to call them. But if you play the Harlan Green Dragons and play the New Harlan Patriots you would definitely know the difference. Two different programs. It's good to have this forum just for people like us, it helps clear up a lot confusing things.

New Harlan were the champs this past year, they beat Pennington Gap, VA. A very good game, the kid from Pennington ran all over the place, New Harlan ran a kick off back for a touchdown in the final seconds. There are some different opinions on what happened to Bell County, I believe the closest thing to the truth is, no one but New Harlan wanted to play them so they left the confernce either by there choice or the conference (who ever makes those decisions) This past year the CVC was Evarts, Cumberland, New Harlan, Leslie County, Jonesville VA, and Pennington Gap VA, not sure if anyone else was in the conference and as far as I know it will be that way this year. The CVC used to have a few different teams, but most of them got tired of Bell and New Harlan's dominance. Bell apparently has joined another conference and has a full schedule and declined to play New Harlan, which is terrible like you said these games have been as good or better than highschool games. I hope this rivalry can get started again someday.

It would be nice to always have Lee on the shedule. I can remeber some good games at Cawood between the two. The crowd really got into those games. A lot of crowd participation. To me there is just something about crossing state lines, it's kind of like you are playing for the whole state when you play someone from TN or VA.

This is a good reason to have a large football team. If the first guy can't or will not do something then there will be somebody that will.

You know I would like to see some of the good teams from around Knoxville come and play. I get to watch some of there games when I'm at the Lake and they look pretty good. Alcoa is one that I can remember and isn't that were UK got a recruit from? Randall Cobb

Had my wires crossed Thanks, typing and thinking at the same time gets confusing! It will definetly be hard for him to get to 300 if we have trouble scheduling teams like they did this year. No mistaking anything he is here to win and win it all.