Cover Corner

If Russell can handle Boyd like they did then JC would have to make some major mistakes to make this one comparative. Better go ahead and start the running clock now.

Similar to the success that UK Basketball has after Calapari, Duke has after Coach K, Belfry has after Haywood, and Alabama has after Saban. Programs of these caliber are going to be very good regardless. Will he compete for titles every year like now? Maybe maybe not but they will be in the thick of things more often than not.

I am far from an Ashland fan but Coach Love is a WONDERFUL person and role model. I know he has struggled with Johnson Central but so had every other team in EKY. Ashland was a top 3-4 team in the class last year and got beat by another top 3-4 team in the class prior to injuries. No shame in that. Ashland is like every other program in EKY jobs are being lost (AK Steel, CSX, coal mines, etc). Numbers are not what they once were and when you lose a class as talented as the one that just graduated you feel it over the next couple of years. I have watched Ashland twice this year and they are young but play very hard. They will get better. I seldom pull for Ashland but I will actively root against them if they force out an individual of Coach Love's character due to his record against a district opponent with a larger student body.

What was Russell thinking? Why did Conley not touch it more? Russell's coaching staff did a poor job on offense. Congrats to Ashland.

Johnson Central looked really good tonight. I am not sure I was as impressed as I was with them last year but they are really good. I thought there backs ran much harder and that their secondary is improved. Not having the Pack kid as a kicker makes a difference when you try to flip the field but the kicker did a great job on PATs. Central dominated the game and I bet they had close to 100 yds in penalties. Lex Cath is athletic and dangerous but they are well behind Belfry. If Lex Cath comes out of the West (and based on the Boyle game tonight I figure Lex Cath or Central are the favorites) then the winner of Belfry/Corbin (barring no big upsets) would be heavy favorites.

Wow Fleming is getting an awful lot of love on here. When I saw them last year I was very much not impressed. They only beat Russell due to Conley being banged up and then got demolished by West Carter. I am not saying they won't win their district or they won't be undefeated but I have concerns of them getting past Lawrence or Pike Central in round 2 let alone having any shot at the Big Red Machine.

Is anyone sure if the JC scrimmage on Aug 5 vs Cabell Midland?

Dropping out of district play will help, but it will take some time to recover from the mess that is the SC football program. The program has been decimated from the loss of jobs in the area and from recent coaches not taking an interest in the feeder program. I am not sure SC will ever return to the position it once was but it should not be at the level it has been at the end of Shawn Hager's run and the last year.

Those teams may be on the rise but I watched West Carter get dominated by Lawrence last year in the playoffs. They made some plays in some onside kicks and Lawrence let off the gas and made the score much closer than the game really was. I still think there is a gap in talent between the 2 districts in the region, but that is just my thoughts. Bottom line is I am not sure it matters who wins the district and who is runner up. All it does is decide if Belfry beats you in the 2nd round or if Lawrence beats you. (Not trying to take anything away from a district title. It is an accomplishment to be proud of for sure, but I still feel this is a very weak district)

Hope that Russell has a solid season. They have the luxury of playing in one of the weaker districts in AAA, but they have the Big Red Machine from Pond Creek in the region so I guess it all balances out. If I am Russell I feed Conley early and often. He is a special player IMO.

Heard rumblings that Coach Derosset had a bit of a struggle in keeping his job this offseason. Also heard that assistant Shawn Hager and Derosset were not seeing eye to eye. Hope this was not true. Eastern KY football is better when P'burg is at a high level.

Who will be the football coach

Dylan is a really good high school basketball player. He is what I would call a great spot up shooter and has a nose for the basketball. He is also a GREAT KID from a very good family. On the flip side he is somewhat of a betweener for me. He is not a post player with his size but not a wing with his athleticism when looking at the next level IMO. He has solid size but is a little slow of foot and can struggle getting open looks against athletic opponents. I don't think he will make a serious run at Mr. Basketball but I do think he will be the best player in the 15tn region next year and one of the better high school players in the state even if he is not a great college prospect.

I do a buffalo chicken dip. Really easy and GREAT on a salad. *4-6 Boneless skinless chicken breasts - frozen (We use Tyson) * 1 packet of Hidden Valley dip mix poured on top of chicken breasts * 1 tablespoon of butter * 1 regular size bottle of Frank's Red Hot Wing sauce * Heat on low for 8 hours then pull apart with forks * Add 1 block of cream cheese in 1/4 increments mixing and allowing to fully melt prior to next increment * Once all cream cheese is melted serve and eat. Good on salad, nachos, buns, taco shells, and any other way you can think. Heats up great also.

Probably a good move for SC. They need to try and generate some wins and get some excitement back in the program. Hard to do that when Belfry, Pikeville, and Lawrence on the slate. Hope McCoy can turn it around. Will be a tough task. Hager left that place in a real tough spot by not working the youth programs like he should have. Now I know with the decline in population and employment opportunities it would have been a struggle regardless, but it should not have been as bad as it was and that rests on Hager IMO.

Ok so what is the hashtag on Twitter?

Wrong thread? But I agree

Those are all three great programs and I don't want to take anything away from their accomplishment, but I also think this goes to show that in KY football is broken down into two groups. The "Haves" and the "Have Nots". I assume other states are similar but in KY the talent gap is normally pretty wide.

I agree with all this. More often than not when you try to cover up the truth you make the act worse instead of better.

To say that he is not liked by many at all is a bit broad. Has he rubbed some people wrong? Of course. Every coach with success has, but the people who do not like him are in the minority. I know several who do not exchange Christmas cards with Matney but he is a great person who cares about his kids and his community. Coaching is about your commitment to your team not to others. Would I have beat some of the teams the way he did? No. But also remember some of these teams were the same ones beating others like drums, but get their panties in a twist when the shoe is on the other foot.

Does not seem to effect the Basketball State Tournament at Rupp. Seldom is there much of a crowd in the upper level. Bottom line with KHSAA it is all about $$$. As long as sponsors will throw cash at them in BG Tackett and his tools will continue to use WKU.

I will be shocked if this is not a running clock. There is a big difference in athletes in this one IMO. Hope both teams come away injury free but expect Male to have their way in this one. Good luck to both

Gary Ball is a good sports personality and a GREAT PERSON. There are few people in the state that out more time into high school athletics than Gary Ball. That being said o don't know if I agree with the pick. Won't be surprised if Lafeyette wins as they are dangerous, but wouldn't pick against SK in this one but Gary knows his stuff.

Only teams I called great were Male, Trinity, Sinin Kenton, and Scott County. I doubt South Warren could hold any of those teams to 3 points. I am not sure South Warren could score 3 points in any of those teams.

Simon Kenton and Scott County would not score on South Warren???? There is a big difference in being a GREAT 4A school and a GREAT 6A school. South Warren is special no doubt about it but your constant pounding of your South Warren chest is giving the SW fans a Superman complex. Don't get to ahead of yourselves yet. Enjoy your great season that could possibly end with a state title but don't think cause you are the biggest kid on an average block that you are the baddest kid in the neighborhood. Also who are you to cry lack of knowledge on someone about a hypothetical game that will never happen. You do not know what the outcome would be more than anyone else. I could see Scott Co and Simin Kenton possibly putting a running clock on SW with a little luck.