CoachJ

There's a lot more than just Friday nights for these guys. They are also asked to do lower level games (Freshmen and JV) and they have weekly or bi-weekly meetings where they do 'professional development' by watching film and critiquing each other...at times I've had our director of officials (when it was Matt in NKy or Don now in Louisville) call me and, after scrutinizing the film say, "yeah, we blew that one." More often, there are things I send in to get reviewed (they ask us to send in clips that will help them get things right in the future) and what I THOUGHT was something that was wrong was actually called correctly. Both Don and Matt would go through an extensive explanation of why what was called was called -- this goes a long way in helping me not argue things in the future that aren't what I thought they were in the past. I'm also in the group that is amazed these guys are willing to do this job (unless they have aspirations to get into college or NFL officiating -- to which, we have SEVERAL great Kentucky officials at both of those levels who started their careers on Friday nights in the bluegrass). I'll always let them know when I think things get missed by these guys -- but as I tell them when they admit they 'blow it' -- I make MANY more mistakes in the game than they do. But I hope that doesn't belie the respect we have for what they do -- after all, would be tough for ME to do what I love if there aren't enough of them doing what they do.

Sounds like a good showing for East. I'm ExCITED about what Coach Champlin is building.

Jason does a GREAT job -- especially considering it's an area where HS football has a LOT to compete with on Friday nights. The idea of a 'media day' is something much appreciated by our coaches and kids.

A list should be made public of any team actually playing an older kid DOWN a level, unless maybe SUGGESTED by a program like T to encourage another team to be willing to play them.

No problem...sometimes it's good to be an insomniac. Tough for anyone outside a program to know the "why's" and who better to explain them than the guy who deals with it every day. Incidentally, I can't disagree with any of the points here about how we should be more prominently mentioned in the 'big 3-4' discussion. Talent at our place IS very good...haven't always had all the pieces in all the right positions and sometimes we had to recruit the halls to get the 'talent' to play FOOTBALL, maybe their Soph or Jr year (why one year we struggled mightily first 3 games but almost upset Scott County on their field in playoffs). Fortunate to have a bball coach in Chris Renner who doesn't discourage kids from playing football -- actually pushes some TO football to help their toughness! Feel like now we might have the right schemes on both sides of the ball I feel comfortable with (took some time and some tough decisions to get it there) AND good "6A depth" at each position as well. Definitely don't have the 'burners' that Male has or the 'crazy depth' T or X have but we're thinking this year we might be able to compete with the top guys pretty well. I tell our guys that despite how hard they work in off-season, great numbers, hard-working coaches, etc., it ultimately ONLY comes down to execution and until we're done with camp, there's no way to predict what kind of 'execution team' we'll be. Until then, we're even honored just to be "in the conversation."

...and I'm all for scheduling tough (go back if possible to see who we played at 3A Oldham Co. & at 1A Pikeville) but I don't think it would be smart to schedule all 6 of your nonDistrict games against teams you'd likely not be favored no matter what your district is. Our roster numbers aren't terrible (will dress 75-80 for varsity--non-FROSH--this year) but if we added Bowling Green, Highlands, & Elder to Male, Manual, & Desales I think I might go up for child abuse!

Not sure whose schedule you're looking at. Our non-district games (only ones we have control over) are Oldham Co, Male, Desales, Manual, Western & Doss. Include Trinity (district game) & we are playing 3 of the previous "super district" and a reigning state champ of a lower class. I think that would compare pretty favorably to any other Jeff Co public for strength of schedule (kudos to Central who has similar scheduling philosophy). I think it's true to say "couldn't get MOST Ky teams;" we didn't go along with the "boycott the privates" nonsense many chose to engage in. My philosophy has been if you want to ever beat them, you must get more familiar with them. I don't remember it being late in scheduling cycle when I called Coach Lampley about a home-and-home, but I think we had someone cancel on us to open up a week so they were who I called but the only week they still needed didn't match up with the week we needed.

Absolutely no different than most of us have been doing for years. Camp is not an issue as long as you get them up VERY early, you do your late practice VERY late, and you keep the practices pretty short (all things that should happen at camp anyway). Easy to get 3-hours rest between practices if you do it that way.

:sssh: ...will say I have been watching a lot of "Knute Rockne All-American" this off-season! Why go 'old-school' when you can go 'old-old-old-OLD school!'

No problem! ...you were 100% right on what matters most in this thread anyway.

I'd say it's true that on our (and maybe every other) staff, those who are not 'coordinators' would often complain they don't get the input they want and then gripe to others it's b/c the HC didn't entrust THEM with the responsibility instead. That doesn't mean the head coach took that away, just means they weren't in the coordinator's seat and thought they could've done better. Totally understandable -- I remember feeling that way too...wasn't selfish, I really thought our team would be better off doing things my way instead of who was in charge. I would freely admit that one of my biggest downfalls as a HC is loyalty to those I delegate major responsibility; what goes with that is sometimes you make angry those subordinate to those entrusted as coordinator when things don't go well. Sometimes the answer to a needed change is to change a coordinator, other times it's a change in overall scheme that is needed. Either way, SOMEONE on previous staff is going to be unhappy and vent to those outside the situation. Totally understand that -- it's human nature to do that. It's also something I willingly take on when making tough staff decisions. Can't always make everyone happy when major changes are necessary. When it comes down to it--despite (with only a couple exceptions) having TREMENDOUS men assisting on our staff--I did not allow "consensus" or "committee" decision-making when game-planning. Final decisions came down to a man who'd earned my trust by his work ethic and I didn't pull that away from them without significant cause--and in spite of some people's objections, didn't feel it was right to do in the midst of a season. Maybe some can make that (or the 'committee-style') work, but doesn't seem the best way to me. Thanks for your comments on the combine -- labor of love and hopefully is beneficial for both kids and small colleges. Good luck to you guys this year.

I concur with the sentiments about Central Hardin as well. Got to another level with a pass-happy offense, then new coach comes in with a more run-first attack and didn't miss a beat. That's pretty impressive and shows DISCIPLINED, COACHABLE kids.

I don't disagree with you, villecoach (except a bit on your win-loss stats). We must do a better job head-to-head against you for us to be ranked ahead I feel too (though you're a little off in that you've won 5 of last 7 and only knocked us out of playoffs ONCE in last 7 years). Was proud of how well our kids played against you last year as huge underdogs despite our starting qb out for disciplinary reasons (you guys were out a 'pretty decent' running back too, of course), but still didn't get it done. Totally agree with you nonetheless. You guys should definitely have the spot we occupy til we're able to do better where it counts on the field against you. If for no other reason, you've done so well against Male.

Lots of good points, appreciated compliments, and even MORE appreciated criticism (always looking to improve and knowing your shortfalls is important in doing so). However, must say I don't understand the ones about "not relinquishing responsibility to staff" and "soft schedule." (And would imagine it's hard for anyone to know the first thing if not intimately involved day-to-day on staff...so must assume someone made an assumption without all the inside info). As to schedule, would mention that we purposely scheduled St. X every year when other publics refused. Played Male every year (other than years they chose not to play us). Played Manual every year and even twice in regular season the same year. When other top L'ville publics said no to a game with us, we sought out highly-ranked teams out in state that would challenge and help us improve (Warren Central, Bryan Station, and eventual state champ Collins). Knowing it was a rebuilding cycle for us, still chose to play Byrnes, SC and Riverdale, TN. Even called Trinity to play when they were moved from our district (was told by AD their schedule was full with out-of-state teams). Regarding 'not relinquishing responsibility to staff,' have had a D-Coord every year since taking over in 2008 and have allowed them to make every Def installation schedule, every daily practice schedule, and every single play-call in the last 8 years (sometimes with suggestions, but always let the DC make what he felt was the final call). Had an O-Coord who called 85-90% of plays in game every year until I chose to go in different offensive direction last year--the year which we went to semi-finals, so I guess that year wasn't all bad play-calling-wise. Granted, playoff schedule wasn't what it will be this year, but we did beat the teams that didn't beat us on the way to the farthest the school has gone since the mid-80's. Valid criticisms I think are that while we've gotten close against both X (lost by 1 at their place) and T (lost by 7 at our place) in the last 7 years, we haven't actually finished a game against them on top. Also, we've beaten Male several times, but have not performed well against them the last two years. We've done very well against other L'ville publics (including Manual) but for program to reach the level we expect, must do better against "the big 3" than we have. Hope that didn't come off as "defensive!" Truly tried to reply with nothing but facts. A complete HONOR for us to even be mentioned in the same breath with programs that are perenially at the top of our sport...hoping that what we've tried to build to this point -- with some needed changes along the way (maybe later than should've been made) -- will see fruition this season. Really do have a TREMENDOUS group of young men on this team -- not just athletically but character-wise as well.

Freak. I mean that in the most positive way possible. Congrats and good luck to this impressive kid.

I don't know -- I would just caution anyone from thinking this type of "football" relates to what you're going to see on a field with linebackers not dropping into coverage on the snap of the ball, run-action passes, and the ability to control the game by running the ball. BE has a VERY good coach. I'm sure he's not really concerned about "winning" at a 7on7 competition. My guess BE uses these to work on their pass defense and expose things that need to be corrected vs. teams that choose to throw most of the time.

We finished second to them in the Friday night tourney and they were by far the best of this kind of football I saw that night. But I must also say I was very impressed with the way HENRY COUNTY played -- not known as an 'air-raid' type team typically with their current coach I don't think, but just played sound, hard-nosed, and fundamentally sound. And no whoopin' or hollerin' or showboat kind of stuff either despite winning their first 5 games in a row.

I'm curious as to what you mean by this. Outside of maybe 3 or 4 programs in this state (none of which would have this kind of issue this late), what a head coach is paid is set in stone by the local school board. I'd be very interested to know if there are high schools out there willing to go above and beyond the published pay-rate to acquire a coach at any time of year (again, outside those 3 or 4 programs I'm sure would 'find a way' to get who they want). COULD BE that you mean they hire an UNDER-QUALIFIED person, thus the published pay-rate is more than they're worth.

That's an interesting thought...

That would be fine, but honestly, I think it'd be better for kids/parents if similar camps were held in different corners of the state to keep kids from having to travel so far -- wouldn't help us from the fundraising part of it, but that's not the main reason we do it anyway. I'm working with a few coaching friends I know in different parts of the state to let them know the details of how we put it together, the college coach contacts, how to set up the website, etc. Issue would be convincing college coaches to spend several days in Ky in June. Though I think I've come up with a plan that could make it do-able for them. Details to come.

Had our camp tonight at Ballard. Had more colleges represented than ever also. All but 4 Ky. DII/D3/NAIA were there. Depauw, Hanover, Rose-Hulman, and Marian from Indiana. Mt. St. Joe and Malone from Ohio. Had 163 kids for our largest number of campers ever. Some of the 1on1 competition was VERY intense. Had a kid run a sub-4.0 shuttle run. Got kids from as far away as Paducah out west, East Carter/Johnson Central/Greenup County from the east, LOTS of very impressive kids from NKy, and one BIG young man who made it our way from Detroit, MI. College coaches told me they saw some difference-maker kids they'd not had on their radar prior to the camp so I think it'll be a win-win for the coaches and the kids in attendance. Am getting ready to send all of the results and contact information out to those colleges. I know some on here had kids in attendance. Would appreciate any feedback--including constructive criticism--you'd like to send me in a Private Message.

Some of our kids went to camps at Illinois & Purdue over the weekend. Very similar in way they were run. More in terms of other D1 coaches present at Purdue. (Illinois said their 1st camp in early June had lots of other coaches). Our small college prospect camp is tomorrow (Monday, June 22) at Ballard. From pre-registration numbers looks to be largest ever, and more colleges than ever have committed to being there. Very important for kids to pre-register if coming--makes it $25 instead of $30.

Our workouts are in the mornings. Kids sometimes do the "mental work" at our workout and then go to a camp in the evening if it's local. If they have a weekday camp far away, they are certainly excused from our workout. Different ways to skin a cat. I know at T you absolutely do not miss a June workout, but they don't have formal spring practices. We do quite a bit in the spring and if a kid misses in June and it's for a CAMP where he's working on football skills, we're okay with that. Then again, the offensive system at T is pretty complex compared to what most of the rest of us do and so they require a lot more 'classroom' work to learn the system. If a kid misses a day of a classroom session, it's probably similar to missing a day of math class. We put all our 'classroom sessions' online for our kids to watch at home prior to workouts so there's a chance for a kid to do an online 'makeup' if he misses for a camp. Our philosophy is since June is about the only time colleges will have camps and it's COLLEGE camps that really mean the most for their chances of getting offered, we allow them to miss for those. Then you have schools like Scott County. Very successful year-in, year-out and they give their kids completely OFF in June.

Each camp can do what they want with the results. Here are a few I've had experiences with... Illinois and Purdue: gives kid a card that travels with him from station to station. Times/measurements get written on it. Kid is given card at end of camp (my players tweet out a picture of their card...if it helps them . Ky Wesleyan: kids were told verbally what their times were. Our camp: card travels with the kid, but we keep the card so we can enter in the information and send it to college coaches (if the player gives permission). NUC/Best of the Midwest: I think they print their results online which kids and I think the general public can view a couple days after the camp.

Ignorance of the law is no excuse. If someone is abusing the limitations of season rule, they have no way of saying, "We didn't know." It's in the khsaa bylaws (online and in print) and we get emails from the commissioner letting us know what's allowed and what's not. Further, part of the school AD's job description anywhere is to make sure the coaches in every sport are aware of what can and cannot be done. Could someone cheat the rules and go out in shoulder pads and likely not get caught? Sure. But let ONE injury requiring medical help happen in a drill and when they fill out the incident report (necessary for insurance coverage) it becomes clear a drill was done that wasn't allowed... ...in today's litigious society, why would any coach open himself/herself up to that kind of liability just to get a few extra reps in shoulder pads in?