Watusi

A very nice look at the passing of the torch to Coach Varney. I think most everyone on Pond Creek knows the Pirates are in good hands. This was produced for the team football follies, so there is a few minutes of bloopers and such at the end lol.

This hire is as expected and is the right one. I can't say enough good things about Matt Varney and his qualifications for the job. He will keep this staff intact, and the staff is full of guys who have been there 20-30 years or more. Here is a really well written article from the local paper, Williamson Daily News... You can just see Coach Haywood's influence oozing out of Coach Varney and the other coaches interviewed. https://www.williamsondailynews.com/sports/varney-chosen-to-succeed-haywood-as-belfry-football-coach/article_c50c3efe-003b-11f0-b927-efccde9ab9dc.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawJASE1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHVnF1BAtk7nU9ypwavKWfUZGxPR0r-EtzqH4jeB5TFVQUAXOlAQMxqAA-g_aem_w3TUvUOzHoSvBkiSG4TVYQ

Exactly, if the new HC can keep the current staff in tact, it will help the transition immensely. A hire from within would help with that and that's what is expected.

Expect an announcement very soon.

Thank you for sharing that Coach. Although I just talked with Coach Haywood a few days before his accident, it is really good to hear his voice and listen to him talk about life and the humanistic side of coaching. He is going to leave a really big void.

Absolutely 100% true.

This has been a really hard day on Pond Creek. There is no way to quantify what Philip Haywood meant to Belfry, Kentucky and to Belfry High School. And to High School Football in this state. He was a great man and I am proud to have called him a friend and mentor. Thanks for any prayers you may offer up for his family especially and for our community. There are a lot of heartbroken people here tonight. This is a good report from WYMT, especially the parts at the end where he talks about how he wanted to be remembered. https://www.wymt.com/2025/01/22/legendary-football-coach-dies-injuries-sustained-crash/

Wow that’s a statement win. Gotta feel great for the Colonels. I hope to get to see them again at Kroger Field in a couple weeks.

I am a self appointed Golden Lions fan. Go Garrard!!

Belfry is obviously the favorite, but John Derossett can coach and the Hornets have been playing well. The Pirates should win with ease, but the game still has to be played. Plenty of distractions this week with Homecoming on Pond Creek, a disruptive weather week and the game being moved to Saturday. Coach Derossett and Coach Haywood know each other very well. John also played at Prestonsburg for Coach Haywood in the early 80's in addition to coaching with him at Belfry. Then when John was coaching at Prestonsburg, they had some battles. He knows how to prepare for the Pirates.

It is a testament to both for sure. Scheduling is tough enough, last minute scheduling is near impossible. There are too many boxes to check for each school. Chirico and McNamee are both top notch men and coaches. Glad this one worked out.

This post came back up for me because theguru just liked it. Must have been digging really deep into the archives LOL. Every word I wrote 10 years ago is still 100% true, and I still wear that same shirt on Fridays 😄

Great win for the Golden Lions, and I am super happy to see this for my good friends from Lancaster.

I think both teams have a lot of work to do defensively. And Belfry’s special teams are not good. Otherwise, as a Pirate fan, I like a lot of things about this team. They have heart and the never ever quit. The game had its ups and downs, and was absolutely entertaining. Several moments you could point to for each team and call it a turning point. Tough for Belfry to lose late in consecutive weeks but this one feels better than last week.