ChiefSmoke

When we got wind of what was going on, we knew we had to pull that off. He was resistant but deep down I think he also knew what it would mean to the people that love him. It turned out super and I am so thankful it happened. Thanks for saying this. It sure does mean alot and we appreciate it.

We just sent a box to Coach Gruden and I sure don't want to make him mad! ? I would also admit my answer now could change in less than 24 hours. I change my mind alot. But...fascinating that this has come up because I had a similar conversation with my AD just this afternoon after our 7 on 7. He said that what we do on offense fits our QB & personnel well, but that we are not a traditional passing game team. I told him, in 34 years, I have really only had two QBs that were the prototypical straight drop back guys. We have never had a heavy emphasis on a drop back NFL style passing game. We put in one straight dropback concept a couple decades back. We still carry it. We put it together with input from Andrew Coverdale and Mike Holcomb... as good as it gets when it comes to the passing game. Offenses are evolving to fit what HS & college QBs can execute well. There are very few pure, straight drop back QBs, and truthfully those guys have always been rare. But, in the past, there was more of an effort to make everyone a drop back passer. Even in 1982, at Mercer County HS(Coach French was NOT a "passing" coach) where we were struggling, I was the QB, we did 5 step drop under center. That type of pass pro from under center is tough on a HS offensive line. And, we really didn't have alot of speed to run those routes at a depth that made it effective. BUT, we did it. And, had a little success with it. I would add though, and this fits my initial statement about offenses evolving, we had a lot of success with 2 very simple play action passes. In The Why Is Everything: A Story of Football, Rivalry & Revoluton by Michael Silver, Mike McDaniel is praised for adjusting his schemes to his talent. They said he was a genius. Guys...that is what HS Football Coaches do! The more we see coaching at the collegiate & NFL level move toward a HS model, there will be more variation in offenses because of the variety in skill sets on different football teams. I have even told Trosper who is trying to climb the collegiate football coaching ladder.... DO & THINK like a HS Football Coach, but NEVER say you got this from HS football. Also, to justify so many jobs at the collegiate and professional level, schemes and plays have become incredibly complex. Cutting edge right now is to move back towards more simplicity... which has been our approach for 34 years. In that regard, football will continue to evolve, or at least cycle for a period of time to simpler and less complex. Now, in SUPPORT of Coach Gruden's point, football IQ is NOT what it use to be. Playing outside with your friends and watching it on TV contributed more to knowledge and understanding the game than all the video football games.... which do help to a certain extent. But, playing QB in the street against a pass rush that is going to plant you on the concrete is more like Friday night than having a sandwich and holding your controller in the basement. Also....more guys are developing the strength and skills to physically make throws that only a small number of QBs could make just 10 years ago. Those guys would benefit from more of the intellectual piece and learning coverages. There is a little bit of a rivalry in football when it comes to the passing game. Old school NFL hates the Air Raid guys. Says they don't teach the game. Air Raid guys say the old school NFL guys make the game more complicated than it needs to be. On this rivalry, I generally side with the Air Raid perspective. Is the game going to dissolve? Not from passing game issues. The guys with arm talent are going to need to learn the old school NFL system to climb that ladder. Coaches trying to survive & succeed at all 3 levels are going to seek what works best for their personnel. I will admit, that is not always as easy as it sounds. I have struggled with that at Anderson. I THINK we are much closer to matching our offensive scheme with who we are. Us old guys tend to think the sky is falling and that the old days were the best. I am guilty of the same, often. I mean, who do you think was the guy on the field today in black shoes with white shoestrings and getting in a Power I for a 7 on 7? ? @theguru hope this addresses what you were looking for. I enjoyed answering the question after a long but good day of coaching football! ?

Paris HS... cradle of coaches Cory Dumphord, Paris HS HFC Juan Byars, Paris HS HBC Tyquan Rice, Bourbon Co HS HFC Terence Brooks, Paris HS HBC Best wishes to these Paris HS Alumni!

For your school, approximately how many players will be on your total roster, grades 9 thru 12? Will you have a freshman team, JV, neither or both? What are your numbers like compared to 2025? What are your numbers like compared to 2019?

What was that called... snug tie? That white band around the top. Wish I had a pair of these!

Thanks for sharing the link. According to the BGPreps Poll, X & Instagram...this is the look preferred by KY HS Football fans. ?

Please tell me the socks were striped.... red-blue-red. ?

Should these coaching shorts make a return to the sideline in 2026? ?

Best I could find…. These drills have been banned in Kentucky & Massachusetts. The NFHS makes recommendations, but the final decision on “rules” is left up to each state association.

Got to stop and visit my old quarterback in his office now that he is the Head Football Coach! What a great moment it was to see him. So proud of Cory Dumphord!

I enjoyed watching it at the beach w/ my son and son in law. The drama was entertaining and certainly a change of pace. Now, it is football season. One thing you have to admit. Those guys can sure recover quickly from a horrendous injury. ?

Has anyone ever seen a board drill where the players lined up 4 yards or more apart from each other? I have not.

My beautiful wife and beautiful granddaughter make it look good. I married up... big time. ??

Those guys were crazy good on excellent football teams.

Guys - we are changing things up a little and kicking off Season 5 with an episode on July 23rd. As much as we have enjoyed the past 4 years, we are always looking for ways to make it a little different/evolve and keep things from getting stale/boring. BluegrassPreps has been an excellent source for content & questions. Thank you to all of you and especially @theguru! If you have any ideas on the following, please share here for Season 5: Guests Tough Topics Listener Questions Mini Episode Topics Games of the Week Format change ups, etc. Thanks to @DevilMayCare, I already have a head start on 2026 Mr. Football. Appreciate you all. KY HS Football is special and BluegrassPreps has certainly been a big factor in promoting & celebrating what we all enjoy and love each season. Enjoy the rest of the summer and get ready to have a blast this fall!

The dynamics are certainly different. That part is interesting to me. Not necessarily I want to see my QB run into the bleachers at Bob Ware Field to see his girlfriend.

Who googled "Cape Verde" last night? That was fun to watch. Maybe the best part... the guy scores the goal and runs into the crowd to see his girlfriend. ?

Our locker room floor was installed today. Thank you Bearcat ? sponsors! April 2023: June 2026:

Was fortunate to get to introduce Joe Flacco tonight. He received the Blanton Collier Sportsmanship Award. He is a big man and an impressive person!

New locker room floor going in. The old floor was the original, going back to the early 90s. I can't say enough about how supportive this community has been the past 3 years. We have had a lot to do, but they have been super to jump in and help us get what we need for the kids & program.

BGPreps Crowd- we hit 100 K Listeners for Season 4! BluegrassPreps has been a tremendous source of content, listener questions & tough topics. For example, I would not start down the road of Mr. ? w/o talking to @DevilMayCare. Thank you to @theguru & everyone that has contributed ! ChiefSmoke / David Buchanan

When is Shannon Huth going to make the list? Good grief he was a beast! Can't remember his first name, but Wulfeck in 1992 was awful good as well.

These have been really cool. Saw many of these guys in person from my time at Paris. Got to coach Menetrey in the 2005 KY All Star game when we beat Tennessee. Impressive group of football players. I still think Greg Hergott is the best Tiger of all. Back in the early 90's formation tendencies were killer, until you played Mike Yeagle and the Tigers. They could attack the entire field, vertically & horizontally from their base set... which I think was the double slot / wing... a run and shoot look. Their defense, the standard northern KY 5-3, was perfect for that day and time and their personnel were exceptional. Which, was part of Mike's genius. Our base was a 5-2 Monster, but we had to play a 4-4 against him. His offense was tough to defend in a 5 man front.

My old QB/FS, Kaelin Drakeford, came in to do a DB Camp for our guys. Kaelin has just finished his collegiate career at Chattanooga. He started out at Eastern Illinois and did well there, also. Coach McCann & Coach Mathews put together an Oline camp for our guys. The day started rough with the weather. We were glad to get in our workout at 7 am and the camps, later in the morning. We have had a good June so far!