CoachJ

Mmmm...popcorn!

Billy is HC at North Oldham (has done a VERY good job there) & played at HCHS. Also cut his teeth in coaching at North Jr High (my first job was at South). Kevin was HC at Shelby Valley while I was at Pikeville. Known for having hard-nosed teams & he's an 'old school coach' in every sense of the word. Both are extremely passionate about football. Billy is a true 'football nerd' -- probably has watched more video about every kind of offense/defense/SpTms as anybody.

Kid is 'sneaky strong.' Can't take it in amongst the big boys and score as often as he does without strength. He doesn't lift in a way to get 'bulky'--more of a workout that develops endurance strength than what I do for our football guys.

Byrd was 1st Team All-District WR and DB. One of best young men AND weight room workers I've ever coached. Will be a preferred walk on at UofL at their request. Was a terror on defense in Bball. Snider IS. A gym rat--his skills prove that out. However, between his freshman and Soph year, his dad sought me out and asked me to train him in WEIGHT ROOM. So he started lifting in my Advanced Weightlifting class. After about 3 months, he was making great gains--as a result, starting varsity as a Sophomore was no issue--he could take it in amongst the tall trees, get hacked, & still get buckets. Interestingly, Quinten was a kid in class who--when I told Bball players they could have a day off if they had a big AAU game or something--he came up to me and asked if he could still do his squat workout anyway! By the way, Kelan Martin--our 6'5 Swingman who had 4 great Sweet 16 games, along with phenom Sophomore Jalen Perry are also in that strength class (Perry weighs 185 & dead lifts 400lbs...Martin bench presses 245--VERY GOOD for a kid with long arms).

prefer it that way!

I don't disagree with your point. Though I like physicality, I'm not sure I like it on a basketball court (especially outside the paint). However, I don't see the more physical style of play (or even the what-would-seem-obvious case you bring up) going away. It's all trickle-down from the higher levels. Thus, the need for that weight room and more emphasis on football/bball kids.

Our coaches--especially Chris Renner--did one of the most OUTSTANDING coaching jobs I've ever seen from the beginning of the season until its end Sunday afternoon. We have 8, 9, or 10 guys who were contributors in virtually every game. Most coaches play only their best 6 or 7 and get stuck in a situation where foul trouble or an injury costs them dearly. Never the case with us all year. There was a time in the post-season I saw Chris pull the entire starting five to 'send a message' and because the next 5 had played important minutes all year, we not only didn't miss a beat, but we extended the lead. Those guys felt vital to our team's success all year, so when called upon in the Region and State Tourneys, they were seasoned and ready down to a man. As for having a big lead and losing it, I'd ask the people on this board (most I'm sure who have seen a lot more bball than me): how many times have you seen a team--playing against another very good team who can score--try to take the air out of the ball with a lead and in the process, lose the game eventually? Essentially, you stop doing what you were doing to get the lead and your opponent is the only team on the court trying to score. Maybe if you have a big lead in the 4th quarter you might do that, but that wasn't the case in this game. Taking your team at ANY school -- especially one that has to come out of probably the toughest Region in the state -- not just to the Sweet 16 many times but to the State CHAMPIONSHIP five different times over a 14 year period is nothing short of impossible. Great job by our Bruins and Coach Renner and staff this (and every other) year. I'd put a pretty big amount on their being back -- and taking no prisoners -- in 2014.

I've been to many Sweet16's over the years. I watched almost every game this year and one big thing stood out... Basketball officiating in HS is basically like college bball now -- very rarely getting fouls called for hands on the arm when you have the ball and even while shooting in the paint. I saw many times when balls were ripped away from people on rebounds or while pressing with LOTS of contact involved and no call. The other thing that stood out -- the FINALS consisted of two teams who were STOUT young men who had OBVIOUSLY been in the weight room. (I know from personal experience that the kids from Ballard have a coach who believes in the importance of STRENGTH...they're in the weight room at least 2 days a week even on weeks they have 3 or 4 games and he encourages his players to be in my end-of-the-day Strength class--have 5 bball kids in there this year.) I hope bball coaches in Ky took away that the way the games are officiated now, you'd better have STRONG players! Further, there were MANY football/basketball players on both those teams in the finals. I believe I heard 4 of the 5 starters from MC were football kids...and Ballard had 3 kids who started or played a significant role who are football/basketball. Coach Renner from literally the first day I was hired as football coach made it clear he ENCOURAGED his players to play football and has made it known that having football kids on his team makes them not just physically but also MENTALLY tougher as a whole. I, like most Ballard fans, was CRUSHED at the way things ended for our guys. But I am extremely proud of our coaches, players, and fans for the STRONG showing we made at Rupp this year and throughout the season as a whole. I'm pretty sure we'll be favored to win it all next year -- and I know a big part of that will be that we'll have one of the STRONGEST teams in the state. I know what's going on at Madison Central and Ballard (and Mason County and a few others) is not the case in other bball programs throughout the state, I hope the evidence from this year's finals will convince other bball coaches that getting stronger doesn't 'hurt your shot' (we're not doing 'bodybuilding' after all!) and you don't have to be a 24/7 gym rat to be an outstanding HS basketball player. Go Bruins!

I watched almost every game this year and one big thing stood out... Basketball officiating in HS is basically like college bball now -- very rarely getting fouls called for hands on the arm when you have the ball and even while shooting in the paint. I saw many times when balls were ripped away from people on rebounds or while pressing with LOTS of contact involved and no call. The other thing that stood out -- the FINALS consisted of two teams who were STOUT young men who had OBVIOUSLY been in the weight room. (I know from personal experience that the kids from Ballard have a coach who believes in the importance of STRENGTH...they're in the weight room at least 2 days a week even on weeks they have 3 or 4 games and he encourages his players to be in my end-of-the-day Strength class--have 5 bball kids in there this year.) I hope bball coaches in Ky took away that the way the games are officiated now, you'd better have STRONG players! Further, there were MANY football/basketball players on both those teams in the finals. I believe I heard 4 of the 5 starters from MC were football kids...and Ballard had 3 kids who started or played a significant role who are football/basketball. Coach Renner from literally the first day I was hired as football coach made it clear he ENCOURAGED his players to play football and has made it known that having football kids on his team makes them not just physically but also MENTALLY tougher as a whole. I, like most Ballard fans, was CRUSHED at the way things ended for our guys. But I am extremely proud of our coaches, players, and fans for the STRONG showing we made at Rupp this year and throughout the season as a whole. I'm pretty sure we'll be favored to win it all next year -- and I know a big part of that will be that we'll have one of the STRONGEST teams in the state. I know what's going on at Madison Central and Ballard (and Mason County and a few others) is not the case in other bball programs throughout the state, but maybe evidence like this year's finals will convince other bball coaches that getting stronger doesn't 'hurt your shot' (we're not doing 'bodybuilding' after all!) and you don't have to be a 24/7 gym rat to be an outstanding HS basketball player. Go Bruins!

Just curious about something...since TN separates public and private school championships, how did a "Christian Academy" beat Alcoa in the PLAYOFFS? (Good looking schedule by the way.)

Ballard HS 2013 Schedule ScrimmTBA @ Lex Cath 08/23/2013 @ St. X 08/31/2013 @ J'town 09/06/2013 @ Collins 09/13/2013 Western 09/20/2013 @ Manual 09/27/2013 Male 10/04/2013 OPEN 10/11/2013 Eastern 10/18/2013 @Fern Creek 10/25/2013 Oldham County 11/1/2013 Bryan Station

This one hurts to have to read. His speech was definitely the inspiration for our team going out on the field in this year's Border Bowl vs. Tennessee. Hoping and praying for the best for this very well-respected coach.

This is of high interest to me...I have seen MANY 'intentional' pass interferences fouls over the last 15 or so years (some by my guys, some by theirs). Not once have I seen an extra 15 yard penalty.

Dale was extremely accomodating -- I know he has a rough time getting teams willing to play. He was understandably disappointed when I had to tell him we couldn't play. Still hoping that in the next scheduling cycle we can get up there to play. With that big wall staring at you, the home crowd right behind and right on TOP of you, and the aura of tradition you can actually feel, it's without a doubt the most unique (and in my opinion, fun) place to play in the state. I hope they never build a more 'traditional' stadium to play in. (sorry for my part in "Highlands-jacking" this thread...now, back to Trinity scheduling)

True...but it's not like they were purposely avoiding us. We wanted to schedule all the teams in the 'Super District' for regular season games. I called Coach Lampley about it but the weeks we could've played he thought they already had games (they thought) lined up with Cincy St. X and I think Cathedral and I think they were more inclined to play a 'regional schedule' (can't blame them). So we moved on and found another opponent for those weeks. I called Coach Mueller at Highlands then to try and play them instead of T and we had something verbally agreed to, but then one of the local Louisville teams needed a game the same week and due to travel costs, it was decided we should play the local team (already had one game on schedule where we'd be traveling over an hour and a half -- generally in Louisville they like to stay local as much as possible). Wanted our kids to get to play in that environment up there, but I guess with St. X, Manual, and Male already on schedule in addition to Eastern, Bryan Station, and Collins might end up being the better part of valor not to play up in Ft. Thomas after all.

Today you almost have to be 6'4 just to be a POINT GUARD! Most 6'4/6'5 guys I see put up big points as post players--that won't play at the next level at that height. 6'4/6'5 and physical relates to Antonio Gates, Tony Gonzalez, etc. on a football field though. Kids (and their parents) are getting it though...much moreso now than when I was growing up in this state. ** Sorry, feel like my comments have kinda hi-jacked this thread...should be about the great Ky kids who signed to play D1/1AA next year.

Nice of you to say that...not sure how much any one person has influenced this though (and I've actually had very few full-ride kids in the 14 years I've been a head coach). I'd attribute a lot of it, actually, to the opening up of offenses during the time of Mumme at UK and John L Smith/Petrino at UofL. It's gotten MANY more of those 'best athletes in the school' to choose to play BOTH football and basketball. One of those kids was at Ballard when I took the job. His dad told me he'd be playing football, but his 'scholarship sport' was basketball. I said, "thank you" and meant it (he was a heck of a football player and an even better kid). Long story short, he got multiple football offers, nothing for basketball, accepted a full ride for football and ended up starting for Indiana University as a true freshman at defensive back (Forisse Hardin). I personally had very little to do with it (other than the films I send out on our kids). What did it was that kid choosing and his father allowing him to be a MULTI-SPORT athlete (not to mention having a basketball coach at our place--Chris Renner--who doesn't discourage kids from playing football AND basketball). Again, thank you though -- one of our (not just me, but our whole staff) goals is to be the program in the state that does the most to promote our players to D1 schools.

Sorry bout that! Thought the list was BGP All-State only...didn't look at it thoroughly enough. Nice job keeping up with all this. I like knowing exactly how many from our state sign full-rides so I can tell college coaches who come into my school that Ky is not devoid of D1 football talent as is thought. Looks to me like 32 Kentucky kids will get full-rides to play football for the next 4-5 years. Not Florida or Texas, but seems a LOT better than years past.

Uh, depends on your perspective! But seriously, enjoyed watching a player of his unique ability--truly tough to stop. Wish him a lot of luck at G'town.

Cam Lewis, Ballard HS, WR 6'3/205. Signed with WKU.

Fox COLLEGE Sports had the game LIVE...Fox Sports SOUTH is carrying the replay.

Sorry...got my dates mixed up. It's TUESDAY the 15th...and it's on Fox Sports South (not all cable providers carry that channel).

The game will be replayed on Fox Sports South TUESDAY, JANUARY 14 at 6:30pm.

Got some time...usually final deadline is around the week of the state finals, but much of the team has been recommended/scouted out by the beginning of the playoffs.

By the way, if you were a PLAYER in this year's game, would you post something on this thread about your experience? Also, I failed to say THANK YOU and GREAT JOB to Andy Croley, Brad Ingle, Ronnie Moses and the rest of the Border Bowl committee as well as Freddie Maggard (one of my childhood heroes ) and the Kentucky National Guard for taking this thing to a level I'd never have thought it could go.