All the Right Moves

The younger version of me would have been really into this as a coach and football dad. Let's go and get it. The older version of me with my kids nearly grown and gone now sees where this is a big issue with keeping kids playing football. Throw summer basketball in here too. As a kid I couldn't wait for the seasons of a sport to come around. Spring and summer baseball, football in the fall, and basketball in the late fall and winter. I am a football guy to the core...but I can honestly say that I do not know how much I would have loved the sport if it was 12 months a year or even the entire summer. I lived in the country 15 miles from school. I could not have been there 4-5 days per week thru the entire summer. Same with baseball and basketball. The year round "requirements" on sports has gotten out of hand. Instead of being ready and hungry for a sport to start many are now nearly sick of it by the time the 1st game rolls around. And if you look back thru history I seems to remember a lot of good teams and players before high school sports became year round. This may have been off topic but it is something that needs to be addressed.

KHSAA release said 2017 and 2018 brackets due back from commissioner in July to the board. Would make sense that it starts this season. Next realignment in 2 seasons. That would allow them to play both others districts in the region before then.

I think the biggest thing ( and no one is talking about it) is the cross bracketing in football.

Not just you. The fact that football begins mid summer is a huge factor like it or not. The kids are honestly tired by the time the season starts. If they want football to continue the season/ practice schedule needs to be adjusted. Week 1 (weekend before Labor day) should be week 1 period. 11 weeks from that date to play 10 games. Playoffs start the 2nd Friday in November. Here's my opinion based on this coming season: 7/24 - 1st week of practice. 5 days no helmet/ pads of any kind. primarily conditioning week. 7/31 - 2nd week of practice. 5 days helmet and shoulder pads. 8/7 - 3rd week of practice. Full pads. Many schools begin fall semester. 8/14 - 4th week of practice. Scrimmage/ Pre-season game week. Most all schools have began 2017 school year by the end of this week. 8/21 - 1st week of the season with week 1 games beginning 8/25. Teams not playing week 1 can have an additional scrimmage. Wouldn't this work? Most all schools this year especially would have 2 full months of summer break before the 1st practice.

The number of players, the number of coaches, KHSAA rules on quarters, field availability based on HS soccer and even MS football using the same facilities in many small schools. All of these are factors that you will begin to see only JV and varsity teams at most locations especially 3A down.

From what I have seen and heard the admin at FC has been non existant for a while. The inmates have been running the asylum. The culture is bad. Daddyball is an issue in many places from time to time but until the admin supports the staffs they hire it will continue. Most often things have to get worse before they get better. Sometimes rosters get smaller. Been there, done that. It is hard to watch while happening but will work out in the long run.

I would say better than 50% of the time this is the deal along with going to that school's camp. Introducing yourself to the staff to get your foot in the door goes along way.

Contender this year no but soon. Teams will play hard and physical, more than most on their schedule.

Congratulations

Bath County looks to take a big step forward in 2017 and even more in 2018. 2016 was the 2nd season for coach Johnny Poynter and was a growth year where many sophomores and freshman started and gained valuable varsity experience. The majority of the team falls in the incoming sophomore and junior classes as numbers are very good in those groups. The off season weight program has been the best in memory. The team already seems to have great chemistry as well as you see many of the players hanging together at most activities during and after school and in the community. The entire team has increased in size, strength, depth, and age. Multiple underclassmen started in 2016 but both sides of the ball will be dominated by juniors (especially) and seniors. The line will have a much needed increase in depth as injuries really took their toll on the young Cats last season. They look to have varsity level linemen at least 2 deep at each position. The same can be said for the skill positions as they will have multiple options available in the backfield and in the receiving corps. Defensively Bath County will always be solid under the direction of Johnny Poynter. Bath County will be a contender to win both the EKC and their district the next 2 seasons. 2017 schedule Rowan Co @ Powell Co @ Western Hills @ Estill Co Pendleton Co* West Carter* @Lewis Co* Fleming Co* @ Russell* Nicholas Co

Expect immediate improvement.

Pretty accurate assessment. I think many teams improve while Belfry steps back FROM WHERE THEY WERE. The problem for everyone else is where they were....way above. Time will tell how far they actually come back to the pack.

If JJ coming back Lord help JC's opponents........

It seems like TC is competitive in basketball, baseball, and soccer. It wouldn't be the 1st time that football plays 4th fiddle. Hilton seems to have improved the program from where they were for several years before. How many multi sports kids does he have? Have the other 3 youth and middle school programs/ sports steered them away from football? TC had 2 winning seasons since 2000 (1 in 3A and 1 in 4A) before this year with a lot of 1-4 win season in there. The argument of where are the wins (and the kids) started long before Hilton arrived. He has won 12 games in 2 seasons and venture to say he would be increasing from there next year.

Book it now as far as I'm concerned. Bring in something new.

I am surprised given Rowan's home record (was 10-0). On the road I would not have been. The margin is even more of a shock.

Yes. Jake Mitchell did not play a minute and they still put up 87 points. Coaching is everything. It is not a coincidence that the well coached teams are in the running every single year regardless of school size (and sport in most cases). Wish he had been there 5 years ago. The 4 seniors have stepped up this season and played well...but with what he has returning the next few seasons they could make some noise in the 16th region.

Final

Agreed but I would put Boyd ahead of Rowan. They are AVERAGING 87 points a game in February and have hit 100 3 times in the past 3 weeks. Regardless of your opponent that's strong. Bath County sits at 13-15 but could win 2 this week to end at 15-15. A win vs Fleming in the district puts them above .500 and region bound. Bart Williams is proof that coaching is everything in high school sports.

Would have loved to had him several years ago. Program would have been much, much different.

Coach Williams has done a great job. He has a chance to finish at .500 this season and get to the regional. He has a wealth of talent returning the next 2-3 seasons with the size and the skills to win a district or 2 and make some noise in the region. His sophomores won back to back OVC middle school titles. Good guy for the school as well as he is a big supporter of the other sports, especially football and baseball.

The beating Boyd Co put on Lawrence Co last night looks impressive.

G'town has loaded up at several key positions the past 2 years on both sides of the ball, but especially QB and RB.

Georgetown has loaded up 2 years in a row in many positions with KY kids that can flat out play.

Rowan is 15-5 in KY (3-1 in Florida over Christmas). They are 9-0 at home, 6-5 on the road. The game is in Morehead. Rowan wins.