Tigertalker

Hopkinsville was the fastest team there. Michael Atkinson (WR) 4.53 Forty--Atkinson has been in the WR rotation the last 2 years. With a consistent work ethic he could be a playmaker for the Tigers. Could replace Josh Ladson but with better hands. Antwain Loving (WR/DB) 4.6 Forty--Loving is the best athlete in the school. Started last year until being dismissed from the team. Good hands and good at going over the middle. Has great upside and needs to continue to mature. Loving has really hit the weights with aggression and wants to make the most of his last chance. Chris Thomas (QB/DB) 4.52 Forty--Started last year and showed good progression as the year went on. Improving his QB skills and the staff would like for him to become more a leader on and off the field. Chris has added 40-50 pounds to his bench and another one that has gotten after it in the weightroom. Emanuel Taylor (RB) 4.54 Forty--Last year was E.T.'s first year of organized football. Power runner with good vision and good hands. Taylor is working hard in the classroom and that is where the staff is most proud of. If he continues to work hard and listen to the coaches he could have a special senior year. A.J. Murray (DB/OLB/WR) 4.7 Forty--A.J. struggled early last year but as the season went on made some plays and gained some confidence. Might move up to LB next year. He was one of the most improved in the spring game and really took advantage of Coach Jones weightroom workouts. Chad Brown (TE) 4.84 Forty-- Chad has never played football. Looked real good in the spring and is working/asking the coaches any and everything about the game of football. Has a great body for a TE with good hands and foot work. After the spring he had and if he continues to keep doing what he's doing he will be a threat for the Tigers somewhere on the field. Will Bevill (OL/DL) 5.2 Forty--Bevill has started since his Sophomore season. Last year he was the Tigers best Linemen as far as technique. He can play any position in the line. Shawn Bell (DE) 4.9 Forty--Transferred to Hopkinsville. Saw little action last year. Has a good body and has worked himself into a position to get himself a long look when the season starts. The Hopkinsville staff is high on next years team. Good speed, experience, and playmakers returning. A good nucleus of young tallent in the program with high numbers. Somebody needs to emerge and take the team leader role like Curtis Pulley and Chuck Thomas have done the last 2-3 years. If some kids get stronger between the ears and mature then there's no reason Hopkinsville couldn't make a playoff run. Other notables: Antwain Lightfoot (Henderson Co.) was the fastes player there and will be the fastes player in the area unless some young kid emerges with jets for legs. Lightfoot (Henderson Co.) and Brandon Ethridge (Hopkinsville) capped off the combine with a foot race. Lightfoot won by a step and a half. Keith Tandy (QB/DB) Christian Co. was not there due to baseball. Tandy is probably the best athlete in Western, Ky. Rodney Bell (RB/DB) Caldwell Co. ran a 4.7 Forty. In my opinion one of the better RB's that nobody knows much about. David Jones (QB) Paducah Tilghman ran a 4.75 Forty. There were 4 coaches clocking the 40 times (1 Hoptown, 1 Caldwell Co, & 2 Christian Co.) Players ran twice so they could get a legit time.

I haven't heard his name. People say there is no reason for him to leave where he's at now. D.G. was here once as an Assistant under Hayes then took the girls job before leaving Hopkinsville. Sherill rubbed some the wrong way while he was here is what they say.

I like a few names on the list. I like Tommy Wade and there's no doubt he would be a tremendous assett to the program as a coach. Wade has strong connections at the collegiate level. Al Cooper is my sleeper choice. I know him and like him. He is known in the Clarksville area as a hard worker and good coach. You hear all the time the saying he's a great person. That statement is true about him. He is a big part of "Buddy Basketball" in Clarksville for handicap children. His players also get involved in the community as volunteers and clinics. Al takes up for his players/students. I think it was 2001 there was something false written about one of his players and Coach Cooper in a calm and polite way let the writer have it. He didn't lose his cool but got his point across with some command. Marty Cline is a strong canidate. I didn't realize how strong until recently. Everybody in Hoptown knows what he brings to the table. Some of his friends are quick to tell people Cline was a Hoptown guy growing up until he enrolled at UHA. All 3 of those guys bring a great deal of positives and I think they will run a more controlled and organized conditioning program and offseason program. Whomever the new Coach is will a great deal of young tallent. The middle school kids coming up are as good as they ever have been. The 9th grade class was strong in certain areas but need some maturity. But the middle school class is the one a lot of people are pointing to. 6'4 185 8th grader Darnell Davis has tremendous upside. Good athlete and has gotten early comparison to Curtis Pulley. That's not fair to Davis but he is stronger now then Pulley was at the same age and Davis got good minutes this year in varsity action and showed a lot of positives in his game.

Here are some notable results I got this morning will post more when I get all the information from Friday's combine. Best Bench 185Lbs reps: Michael Jones and Matt Wallance of Paducah both had 25 times reps. Matt Wilson of Caldwell also reped out at 25. Jake Wilson from Warren Cerntal 24 reps. Vertical Jump: Brandon Ethridge of Hopkinsville 36.3, Eric Sapp from Owensbore 34.7 and Treven Bailey of Christian County 34.4 Shuttle Run: Jesse Gilham from Henderson 4.22, Chris Thomas of Hopkinsville 4.24, Jon Jon Wilson from Murrray 4.24 and Treven Baliley 4.34 40 yard Dash: Antoinne Lightfoot from Henderson 4.35, Brandon Ethridge from Hopkinsville 4.37, Jon Jon Wilson from Murray 4.45, Nick Hall from Owensbore 4.5, Emanuel Taylor(ET) from Hopkinsville 4.5 and M Orazine from Ballard County 4.5 From what I heard it was a good turnout with 22 schools participating and about a dozen colleges there on hand arranging from UK, Eastern KY, Western KY, Murray, Austin Pea, Campbellsville and several others from what I gathered. Will post all of team results later when I get all the information from a certain coach.

Don Dillard has applied. Dillard is the current head girls coach at Christian Co. It's been no secret that he's wanted a boys job for sometime now. Dillard has had success with the Christian Co. girls team but has had a difficult time with fellow teachers and administration members. I don't see Hopkinsville giving him the job.

Shows what I know...

Word coming from out of Hopkinsville High School is they are very pleased with the interest they are getting in their basketball opening. Marty Cline has applied. Cline current Madisonville girls coach spent 2 seasons as the head man at UHA where he won 2 region titles. Prior to that he was a longtime assistant under James Davis at Madisonville. Tommy Wade has applied. Wade is currently an assistant coach on the college level under Roy Harper. Wade has been an assistant at Ky Wesleyan, South Alabama, and St. Catherines. Prior to that he was a longtime assistant at UHA. Wade is well known in the coaching circle and has been successful on both levels. He is a graduate of Hopkinsville High School. Terry Hayes has applied. Hayes the was recently terminated by the current Hopkinsville administration. But with the hire of a new Principal was told he could re-apply if he wished to. Jim Simmons has applied. Current and longtime Graves Co. assistant. I heard his name mentioned over the weekend. I don't know much about him other then he had applied. Al Cooper has applied. Current head coach at Clarksville Northeast High School in Clarksville, Tennessee. Cooper has been there a number of years tasted success. Runs a solid and well disciplined program. Known in the Clarksville area for his work ethic and the volunteer time he puts into working with kids with disabilities. There is other applicants that have applied but these are the ones garnering the most attention. They also have gotten a lot of feedback from several out of state coaches. Brad Fraser has not applied. Fraser former Christian Co. coach and current coach at Kenwood H.S. in Clarksville, TN. Fraser has expressed interest but has not applied. Chris Crutchfield has not applied. Crutchfield is currently in charge of Basketball Operations at TCU. He has been a successful assistant coach at the college level and drew good praise for his recruiting. Crutchfield played on the state championship team at Hopkinsville in 1985. His name was mentioned early and often when the job became open. It is still a name getting in the mix but he has not applied.

WESTERN KENTUCKY 2001-2005 1) Owensboro Catholic 2) Mayfield 3) Hopkinsville 4) Henderson Co. 5) Bowling Green Honorable Mention: Paducah Tilghman, Fort Campbell, Warren Central, & Christian Co. EASTERN KENTUCKY 2001-2005 1) ??? 2) ??? 3) ??? 4) ??? 5) ??? I'll let the true Eastern, KY fans and knowledgeable ones give their opinion.

I can't speak on Fraser's teaching because I never had him but people over at County have said nice things about him except for when he left. Fraser never did anything to me and I got talked to him a few times since we lived in the same neighborhood. I know he got under the skin of UHA when he commented on a post game radio show that he would love to play them in the regular season but UHA wasn't returning calls. Fraser and Terry Hayes got along well while both coached here. They were next door neighbors and their sons were close and took turns having sleep overs. Fraser may feel some loyalty to Hayes since they still communicate with one another and not apply for the job.

Goble was a 1st year Asst. in 1999 and Jones became the Defensive Coordinator in 2000. They played BG the 2nd game of the year in both those years. I remember CCHS playing a lot of freshmen and sophomores both those years. In 1999 Adrian Allen was their best player and was a freshmen. Both those seasons County played anywhere from 5-10 Freshmen a game. Mike Whiter' success in 2002 and 2003 came with those 99 and 2000 freshmen classes.

You hit the nail on the head with that one. Fraser could get in the mix. I know some of the guys over at Kenwood where he's at now and there's some predicting him to persue the Hoptown job. He has told some friends that the Hopkinsville job is one he would have to give a long hard look at. Now Kenwood loves him. He works hard, the administration is said to be a strong backer of his, and the kids love him. He's the reason the battle of the border has gotten back on the last couple of years. Has good contacts across the South. He had a certain number of consecutive years streak going at Christian Co. of playing in the region championship game. I know a couple of those years he didn't have top 3-4 tallent in the region. He also put the gameplan together to beat the 1996 UHA stud team in the opening rounds of the district. I admit though that UHA had lost focus and the last 2 weeks of the season looked disinterested.

2001: Hoptown beats BG in the playoffs. Dixie Jones Hoptown LB Coach Rusty Goble Hoptown WR coach. 2002: Hoptown beats BG in the playoffs. Dixie Jones Hoptown LB Coach Rusty Goble Hoptown WR coach. (2002 Jones actually called more of the defense and it was his gameplan that held Christian Co.'s high powerd offense to 7 points that year. 2003: Hoptown beats an undefeated BG team on the road in the playoffs. Dixie Jones Hoptown LB coach Rusty Goble Hoptown WR coach. (Rusty Goble called the play on the final drive when Curtis Pulley connected with Cody Adams in the endzone for the game winner. Craig Clayton was coaching from upstairs and took Goble's advice. Clayton said that himself.) 2004: Madisonville goes on the road and defeats an undefeated BG team. Dixie Jones Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator Rusty Goble Offensive Coordinator. 2005: BG goes on the road and beats Hopkinsville. Dixie Jones Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator Rusty Goble Offensive Coordinator. Now before people start hollering they were just assistants that doesn't count. It means that Jones and Goble were apart of beating BG 4 times in the last 5 years. Plus I know for a fact that Craig Clayton gave his assistant coaches more responsibility starting in 2001 because of the type of coaches he had on his staff. In fact the 1st week or 2 of practice Clayton was pretty much a no show and if he did show he observed and let his assistants run practice. That was part of Clayton's philosophy not cracking the whip at the beginning of the race. In 2004 Clayton had to spend more time with the WR's and Steve Lovelace had to be both the LB and DB coach because of the departures of Jones and Goble.

Dillard's let it out of the bag in a quiet way that he wants the job. Nobody is suprised by that. But anyone involved with Hopkinsville or follows HHS athletics knows Dillard won't get the job unless something remarkable happens. D.G. would not be considerd but his name might get a mention. He was an Assistant here before then coached the girls team he wasn't a faculty favorite back then.

Hoptown's not lacking for the "money" fans. Mike Whitaker (Christian Co.) has often made remarks to local media about that. 2002 Hoptown took 4 pep busses to Boyle Co. students only had to pay $1.00 and that covered their bus ride, ticket, and pizza before leaving. 2 local businessmen coverd the rest out of their own pockets. That drew some comments from some around town and over at County. New weightroom equipment, shirts, and uniforms being bought has drawn their share of remarks from certain locals. Someone said earlier that Rusty Goble's offense has scored 1 TD in 2 games against BG. True but the BG offense has only scored 2 TD's in those 2 games as well. Since 2001 Jones & Goble have a pretty good track record against a quality program like Bowling Green. Dixie did inherrit some good tallent at Madisonville. BUT the previous staff had no success with that same tallent. Last year Dixie inherrited another good group that was use to winning and the program didn't fall off even though when he was hired there was people on here calling for a possible 5-5 season. Was BG better then Hoptown last year? Obviously!! there was no disputing that fact heck BG was said to be the best team in 3A and have their best team since the 95 squad. But Hoptown wasn't the scrub team that people wanna believe. Hoptown could have put together a bowl for next year BUT the 4th team was a less then average team looking for a pay day (NO Problem with that). But it would not have been a setup of 2 good games. So Hoptown kept their home game with Male for week 2. Why won't Christian Co. join in on getting a bowl at the SOC? You have to ask them. Maybe it's the same reason they wanted no part of the scrimmage jamboree that was said to happen 3-4 years ago. FYI Christian Co. has already asked Hoptown if the Tigers would be interested playing in a bowl next year put on by Christian Co. I could see the Tigers giving that a strong possibility. Toothpick: As long as Buckley comes in and does the right thing then he will be OK in my book. But if he comes in and does the things to keep his friends happy then I would have issues. The current Principal as taken her share of shady treatment from the local media and some of it was unfair to her. I'm just happy a thread about something in Western, Ky got this many replies. WESTSIDER: In my opionion the "Best One" on the board. Give us something new to discuss because I am burnt out on this one.

I don't know if persueing Chumbler would please the Hoptown fanbase. He's a good coach his record speaks for itself. The new Principal will make the final decision on the hire and maybe he will consider exleast talking with someone he is familliar with. I still say Chris Crutchfield is a strong canidate to return home and the talk has been going on about Marty Cline since the Hayes rumors got out a month ago. You will hear the names of Don Dillard, Rick Smith, & D.G. Sherrill but I would be extremely suprised if any of them was the final pick even though Smith as been on the Hoptown staff the last 2 seasons.

Involvement as far as attending games and scheduling events. Buckley is close with former Hoptown coaches Craig Clayton and Steve Lovelace. Not knowing him personally I don't know how he will be with athletics. I know he was a solid football coach. I played against his 93 Graves team that school's best ever.

Nobody gave Madisonville a chance going into that game 2 years ago. It wasn't until after the game was over that people started talking about the BG soft schedule. Madisonville controlled the game throughout and should have scored more if not for turnovers. BG made a rally but for the most part was like a fish out of water with no success running the "Vear & Quick Pitch" their bread and butter in my opinion. I was predicting a BG win but thought Madisonville would play them close because of the Madisonville defense and the teams confidence at that time. But not many people outside of Madisonville if any gave them a chance and thought it would get ugly. Why would it been HUGE if Dixie would have pulled off the upset this year against BG? Hoptown was the home team, Hoptown was playing their best ball of the year, and BG was only better then Hoptown in a couple of positions LB where Hoptown was average, I'll give BG the advantage up front where they was bigger and stronger and Hoptown was solid, & the kicking game which was the difference. Other then that Hoptown matched up well with BG. Dixie's defense held their own. Now Rusty Goble's offense might of choked but missed a couple of opportunities on the opening series and then in the 2nd quarter fumbled at the BG 4. After that BG hit a stretch of series where they had the field position but couldn't capitalize. Offensively Hoptown was a little conservative when the field position was like it was. As for the Hopkinsville fans/turnout at games. I've heard A.D. Rick Roberts say a few times since he's been here that he's been pleased with the gate turnout of the home fans. The home side is big seats 3,000. Usually the 2middle sections have a good turnout with 2 ends being left empty. In some games when your playing a weaker team then some fans tend to not show up but for the most part Hopkinsville has a solid rowdy crowd. Plus there is a school across town that has their own fans that follow them so Hoptown can't have them all at their games. As for the Christian Co. fans turning out. I only see them once a year maybe twice and their crowd is sparingly. But for years going back to old Walnut Stree Stadium a lot of people only come out for the Hoptown Christian Co. game. Opposing fans/coaches have complained about Hopkinsville rolling out the speakers on the field and playing the pregame music and if their not complaining about that then their questioning the fans support.

Hoptown has beaten Bowling Green four out of last five times they have played. Bowling Green won by 3 last season with one of their best teams in awhile. Dixie Jones also beat Bowling Green in a huge upset the season before while coaching at Madisonville. I was at the Trigg and Bowling Green game, most of Triggs yards came late with the scrubs in.

No bitterness!!! Hopkinsville is just going to look at some other options. Hoptown would like to put Trigg on the regular season schedule starting next year and Trigg has said it's worth discussing.

I am somewhat familliar with Gary Rankin from Riverdale. He will be keeping the coaching staff that Reid had at Alcoa except for bringing in his own weightlifting coach which is what Reid was in charge of. Brian Nix will be the Defensive Coordinator again and might have full reins of that job instead of sharing it with another coach. Rankin lost 3 of his assistants from Riverdale to other schools when they took assistant jobs elsewhere. Hoptown could have had their own bowl event this year but the 4th team would have been a more then lesser opponent for anybody and not been a great attraction. Hoptown asked Christian Co. one time if they was interested in playing in the bowl but they wasn't interested in playing Male or MBA. But this will more then likely be the final year for Hoptown being in the Integra bowl for Trigg Co. even if they do or don't have their own bowl next year. It's possible they return but not probable. Hoptown is 1-4 in the Integra Bowl: Trigg is 3-2 in their own bowl 2001 Trigg loss to Calloway Co. that finished 4-6 2002 Trigg beat Calloway Co. that finished 5-6 2003 Trigg loss to Mayfield 20-7 that finished 10-4 2004 Trigg Beat Mayfield that finished 8-5 2005 Trigg beat Madisonville that finished 3-8 Opponents finished with a combined record of 30-29. 2001 Hopkinsville loss to Male that finished 13-2 state runner-ups 2002 Hopkinsville loss to Male that finished 14-1 state runner-ups 2003 Hopkinsville loss to Ridgeway that finished 8-4 2004 Hopkinsville beat Ridgeway that finished 7-5 2005 Hopkinsville loss to Alcoa that finished 14-1 state champs Opponents finished with a combined record of 56-13 1 state title and 2 state runner-ups. Brian Nix (Alcoa) said it last year after watching some of the 1st game (Trigg and Madisonville). Hopkinsville and whomever they play are the Integra Bowl and said Trigg and Madisonville combined couldn't have competed in their Jamboree. Trigg did could to get Mayfield but then went back for a lesser opponent. Hopkinsville and Alcoa will play the first game this year of the Integra Bowl instead of the 2nd.

No Bowl games this year at the Stadium of Champions. Hopkinsville has put together another brutal schedule though. 1) Alcoa (Tennessee) Integra Bowl Cadiz, Ky...Alcoa will probably again be the best team Hoptown will play this year despite having a new coach this year. 2) Male 3)AT Mayfield 4) Ridgeway (Tennessee) 5) Christian Co. 6)AT Union Co. (District) 7) Calloway Co. (District) 8)AT Madisonville (District) 9) Hopkins Co. Central (District) 10)AT Paducah Tilghman Good chance this will be the last year for Hoptown to be in the Integra Bowl at Trigg Co. Hopkinsville wouldn't mind getting Trigg Co. on the schedule for payback for being the Integra Bowl since it began in 2001.

LeVar Weston signed with Kentucky Wesleyan last week along with Hopkinsville teammate Chuck Thomas. Chuck will play DB. LB/FS James Willets of Christian Co. also signed with Ky Wesleyan.

New Mexico........HopkinsvilleTiger reminded me of that.

I guess only time will tell. Casey was great and will go down as one of the best backs in WKY history. Joey Casey had better agility then Taylor not sure he was much faster then Taylor. ET runs a true upper 4.5 forty. Size wise Casey was bigger but I think Taylor is more of a pyhsical runner. Yea, it might be a stretch comparing the two Casey was known threw out the nation as one of the best back in the South. Not much is known about Taylor. But I tell you, it is sure fun watching him run. Chick who are your top five RB's in WKY history the last 20 years or so? Tigertalker top 5 backs: 1) Mark Higgs 2) Al Baker 3) Artose Pinner 4) Joe Hood 5) Joey Casey Others: Sonny Collins was the best ever but I never saw him play, & Derrick Thomas of PT was unreal.