Tigertalker

WHOP AM & FM carry Hopkinsville and Christian Co. games. Tonights game will be on I am assuming AM 1230. They've yet to get updated and carry games on the internet.

We have a winner!!! I think you'll see this Hoptown team get better each week especially as they get people back and the line develops.

Male won't intimidate Hoptown like they did their opponent last week. Right now Male is the better team with more size and a experience. Hopkinsville unfortunately will be without Antwain Loving (FS/WR) their best athlete and OT T.J. Shephard 6'4 250. Those two are out possibly the first 2 games of the year. I wish Hoptown had those two for the Male game but injuries are gonna happen in football. Hoptown's been hit by the early season injury bug. Eric Coleman is back practiceing after 2 weeks of being on crutches. Defensively give your QB time and you can pass on their defense. It's easier said then done. People in the stands neet not to blink or you'll miss something. Speed will be all over the field Friday night.

I can't wait to see Beaumount vs Emanuel Taylor next week at Hopkinsville. E.T. has added 12 pounds to his frame and was timed under 4.5 in the forty last week at school.

BG will tested again next week vs Christian County. I would say that County should be the favorite with all the injuries BG are having. Talk to some people around the County camp and they don't think the Purples can score on them. Should be a very close game.

I like Trigg Co. in this one. The Bridges kid is going to be a good one for them at RB. Madisonville hasn't looked all that impressive throughout the early going.

I assume he did. Their talking about him being Tandy's backup this season. I heard he's also been playing at WR. He will be a good one wish he was still wearing the orange & black. HOPKINSVILLE TIGER: Have you heard about the Hoptown freshmen team? Right now they are comparable to the 2001 senior class when they were freshmen. A good group of linemen and skill kids. 6'3 180 Darnell Davis could be a star if he wants to. With some maturity and keep improving his work ethic he will be.

Athletic, long, descent hands, and good speed. Not sure on if he likes to get physical. Early on has been Tandy's favorite target. He'll be an impact and make plays. Not like Shaun Brown was last year but he'll give them another athlete on the outside.

I wasn't at this scrimmage but from many that where there and coaches that came into town to get a look at a future opponent they said John Hardin rotated in and out several players throughout the entire game and played a vanilla defense not showing a lot. Keith Tandy was hard for them to handle. Christian Co. out athleted them and the Colonel speed on defense was said to be impressive. Not sure how the Christian Co. kicking game is looking but I think they return 1 of their kickers from last year. last year they used 2 kickers in some games. Offensively their playing well right now with Tandy and the emergence of transfer C.J. Trotter at WR. Their O-Line should be improved with several returning but that's been an issue for them in the past. Defensively they need to improve from last year or the offense will have to outscore everybody. Right now I would as a team they are ahead of schedule with Whitaker really cracking the whip early on. How much will Tandy have to play on defense? Who will be their RB with the loss of Dee Lett. Lett was going to give them power runner with speed in the backfield but is out with a knee injury. Last year he was a stud at DE breaking the schools sack record. He was a game changer big hitter on defense.

OT/ T.J. Shephard return date unknown WR/DB Antwain Loving (Their best athlete) probably out until the Memphis Ridgeway game. TE/SS Adam Briggs WR/DB Eric Colemen

Hopkinsville has been hit with the preseason injury bug. 3 starters and 1 top reserve are on the shelf for now. On a side note Brandon Ethridge RB/DB has been impressive on both sides of the ball and WR Michael Atkinson has had a good preseason and weightroom program.

Give me JOEY FOSKO (Paducah Sun) Knows his stuff when it comes to the high school sports scene in general.

He has a good RB in his sophomore and Higgins is high one of his freshmen. Last year he talked up this years sophomore class a lot. They need to figure out who their QB will be. In the Hoptown scrimmage with Daviess Co. Trigg had their moments but defensively had lapses and had trouble with the Hoptown athletes. Caldwell is the team to keep an eye on I believe. Rodney Bell is a real good RB that doesn't get the recognition some of the other backs in Western Kentucky get. David Barnes is a hometown guy and is getting all the support he wants from the school and community.

QB Chris Thomas is the one that makes Hopkinsville go. Last year in their 4 losses he struggled except for the Male game. E.T. didn't get 100 against Christian Co. but he only rushed the ball 7 times. He did have over 150 total yards in that game. Hoptown missed the services of Antwain Loving & Brandon Ethridge last year 2 good athletes with play making ability. WR Michael Atkinson wasn't around the last 5 games last year but has put on 15 pounds and could be better than Josh Ladson. Cardell McGregor gives Hoptown a legit run/blocking FB something they didn't have last year.

Hard to argue against that list. Bowling Green is loaded defensively they will be strong with speed. I don't think they will be as good as last year especially up front. How will the injuries to their QB affect them mentally? As good as they are up front and at RB they could succeed with average QB play simply because running the ball is options 1 & 2 for them. Hopkinsville has as much speed as they've had in 3-4 years. They've got depth along with experience. Their offensive line has good upside just needs some games together. Hoptown had probably their best offseason weightroom program since the 2001 season. Their WR core is solid but don't get the recognition because of the way E.T. runs the ball. They can win with Chris Thomas at QB. Bullit East lost what 16 seniors?

Neither does Hopkinsville. The first 3-4 games Hoptown runs maybe 10-20% of their offense. Defensively they showcase a small amount of their packages. About week 4-5 the staff cracks the whip and does more. They treat the season like a marathon not a forty yard dash. It's all about peaking late and not early.

Hoptown almost pulled the upset last year lossing to Male by 4 at Male. This year they are playing the Tigers in Hopkinsville, could get very interesting.

Darnell Davis (HOPKINSVILLE) 6'3 180 got some varsity action as a 8th grader last year. Moved here from Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina. Good looking athlete and coachable. Davis is also a good looking prospect for the Tigers football program.

This years event was called off because a 4th team couldn't be found except for a team that will be lucky to win one game. The Hoptown officials didn't want a bowl where one of the games would result in a running clock. Plus Christian Co. wouldn't join in and play Male or MBA. So instead Hopkinsville just kept Male on the schedule. Next year Christian Co. says they want to get a bowl started and they want Hopkinsville to be a part of it. Hopkinsville has said yes but they want the 2 other teams to be solid programs that will give the people in Western, Ky an event they want to come see. I'd like to see Mike Whitaker (Christian Co.) use some of his Eastern, Ky contacts and see if he can't get a East vs West Kentucky get together. Whitaker really has no comment about the situation though.

Beechwood called Hoptown this year wanting some of the action after MBA couldn't get things worked to come play. Hoptown could play 2 Nashville, TN area powerhouses every year less than an hour away. One long travel a year won't hurt nobody.

I know this year hasn't started before people wanna hang me. Hows the schedules for T & X look in 2007? The reasons for my asking is this. After 5 years of saying no for this and that reasons Christian Co. and Hopkinsville have agreed to exleast work together in hosting a bowl at the SOC next year. Steve Lovelace and John Faulk being at Christian Co. has helped the relationship between the two schools. There's been 4-5 teams mentioned including Franklin, Tennessee who is coached by former Hoptown Coach Craig Clayton. Hoptown proposed a Kentucky vs Tennessee bowl with Hoptown playing Franklin and Christian Co. playing another Tennessee team. One idea thrown out is West, Ky vs Northern, Ky. Hopkinsville told Christian Co. to get a public vs private and talk to the big boys in Louisville T & X. The Christian Co. administration was intrigued by the idea brought to their attention. Would the privates even consider talking to the West, KY schools? After the 99 semifinals St. X coaches told Hoptown coaches and administrators in the lobby of the stadium they would like to return to the SOC in the near future and play a bowl because of the facilities and competition.

Colleges like Tandy as an athlete and at the next level and see him as a WR or DB. They'd like to see if he can be physical enough to play DB. I'd say he's CB more than a FS. Not a good tackler or physical enough at FS. He played FS some a sophomore and didn't wow the opposing coaches. Last year he played some CB at the end of the year and used his athleticsm and out athleted the opposing player. I think Christian Co. will need him to play a lot of defense this year unlike the previous 2 and depending on the situation you'll see him returning kicks and punts.

Hopkinsville didn't have no more time to wait. If they would have waited they could have gotten something setup with a team from Alabama. Hoptown had spent a lot of time calling all over before Pendleton called and said they would play. I do wish the ordeal with Western and Holy Cross would have happend a little sooner and see if Hoptown would have gotten a call. The Hopkinsville schedule is still awfully tough with the likes of Male and Memphis Ridgeway.

For fun until things get real cranked up in the season. Your a Head Coach and need to put together your staff. Head Coach: TigerTalker (offensively would run some of the Bunch-Offense, 4 Horsemen (4 wides), & TE's) Offensive Coordinator/WR: Rusty Goble (Hoptown Off. Cordinator) Good offensive mind, works hard, and well with the kids. Plus I'd have someone get me my water during practices. (LOL) RB Coach: Rosco Echols (Bowling Green Assistant) Good football and organized coach. O-Line Coach: Doug Gloyd (Hoptown O-Line coach) good O-Line coach. Has had little tallent at Hoptown since the 2001 O-Line but continues to develop a consistent and steady O-Line. Offensive Coaches up in the booth: Craig Clayton (former Hoptown Head Coach) & Dan Goble (former Christian Co. Coach) 2 different offensive minded guys. Clayton's a wild west gun slinger while Goble's a coach that demands perfection. Defensive Coordinator: Dixie Jones (Hoptown Head Coach) Good Defensive Coach and exception strength coach. Kids like him and want to play for him. DE/LB Coach: Josh McKeel (Calloway Co. Head Coach) One of the bright new coaches in the business. Coaches has hard as he played. Secondary Coach: Steve Lovelace (Christian Co. Defensive Coordinator) Works hard and relates well to the kids. Good bright coach. Defensive Coaches up in the booth: Dan Hampton (former Christian Co. and Hoptown Defensive Coordinator) Was at Christian Co. in then 80's when they won their state titles. Good at fixing problems. Dale Anderson (Southwestern Coaches) One of my favorite Coaches today. I would just want him around. Media Relations: Curtis Higgins (Trigg Co. Head Coach) Higgins would handle all media questions simply because he likes to talk so much. when we win he could inform everybody that he is running for Mayor. (LOL) Sports Reporter: Joey Fosko (Paducah Sun) My favorite sports reporter in the state. You can have your 3 and I'll take him anyday of the week. Craig Clayton was also a fan of Fosko. As Head Coach I hold the right to hire and fire at will and replace with whomever I chose. With that staff we might not win everygame (would come close) but nobody would out do us in the fun department.

Tandy alone gives them the respect by many. But like you I am hardpressed to find a top 10 slot for them. Last year Mike Whitaker wanted his best players/athletes on offense and didn't let Steve Lovelace get much of the tallent on defense except for Lett and Willets. This year I don't see them having the depth from last year and Tandy will be a major player on defense in the secondary. But without Lett they lose that fearless hitter and pass rusher plus he was penciled in as the starting RB.