PtownDude

I'll be shocked if Barnes doesn't end up with the job, but he'll have to be approved by about a 13-member search committee first. Whoever the new coach is figures to have a pretty solid talent base for the next 5-7 years. As for wins and losses, that may depend a lot on realignment in 2007.

They've had several applicants (I don't know them all), but my understanding all along has been that the job is Barnes' if he wants it. He was No. 1 on the list three years ago, but Caldwell had to settle for their second pick when they hired Hatchell.

I've heard at one time his son was on the team. But not sure if he was in ’98 or not.

Actually, if a "small town" paper can get credentials to a UK game they should consider themselves lucky. It's been my experience that, more often than not, small town sports guys know more about what's going on on the high school scene than the bigger papers. Prep sports is the meat and potatoes of their sports sections, where in most larger dailies they run more national stuff. On the other hand, all local papers are "homers" to some degree. When Caldwell played Danville in the state football championship game in 1998, a certain well-known Danville writer/reporter was on the sideline wearing a Danville Admirals t-shirt. I think the main solution to the AP dilemma is just to get more people to vote, small newspaper, large newspaper, whatever. I know there are enough AP members in the state that just about every team gets seen at least once or twice.

Bell is ineligible again this week, so change my prediction from 42-14 to 42-7.

The first game with Caldwell was 9-7 before the Falcons scored on the last play of the third quarter. Then the Tigers basically gave up and the rout was on in the last quarter. Caldwell may keep it close for a half, but I think Ft. Campbell will win 42-14. However, that may be Ft. Campbell's last win of the year, since I think Trigg or OCath will get them in the region final.