JoeFan

Clyde, you are right about the 6 class system. It has spread out the talent too far for most districts to be competitive. Its not just a "last week of the season" thing. It has been that way all year. In very few districts have there been more than one game which mattered and which was really in doubt. I like the district system because a team knows what they have to do. It is right in front of them. But if you want the last couple of weeks of the season to really matter, you need to go to a format like Ohio or Michigan. Then every game counts and you don't know where you stand in the playoffs (or even if you are in, in some cases), until the last game is played. One possibility is to eliminate a week of the playoffs, take the only top two from each district and seed them based on strength of schedule. That would eliminate the blowout first round games and give each team an incentive to schedule tough non-district opponents.

I'm a Prestonsburg fan but I don't see how they can be ranked in the top ten based on performance. Leslie County deserves to be there based not only on a head-to-head win vs. P-burg but upon talent. As for no one beating NCC, I don't know about that. Somerset is an excellent team and will have them at home if everything stays true to from in the playoffs. As to Prestonsburg, they haven't been the same team since he loss of Anderson, their best athlete. He won't be back this year. However, I have a long memory and I recall a P-burg team in 2000 that struggled all year and got on a roll in the playoffs. That team won the region and it took the buzzsaw that was Boyle County to knock them out.

Prestonsburg hasn't stopped the run all year but have played pretty well against the pass at times. Pike Central likes to throw it all over the field. If they can establish a run game it could be a long night for the Cats. Prestonsburg is about as healthy as they are going to get and should benefit from it on both sides of the ball. The offense should be more diverse with Collins back and the ability to both run and pass should slow down the pass rush giving the QB more time to find open receivers. I don't think either defense will shut down the opposing offense. Going with my heart I'll say P-burg 38, PC 35.

I've been on both sides of a blowout. To me it stings just as much to have the winning team ostentatiously stop playing. Its a slap in the face when the better team pulls all its starters in the first half and start running two dive each play. It may keep the score down, but its not football. The kids on both teams showed up to play a football game. Neither gets any better if one stops playing. The only taboos for me are fake punts and onside kicks by the winning team. Other than that, each team should play its game, run its offense and play its starters until they have played enough. You can practice six hours a day and it still doesn't improve a team as much as one game against a real opponent. Now, with that said, under most circumstances, if the clock is running at the start of the second half, I think it is best practice for the winning coach to play his starters no more than one series on offense and defense. I would rather substitute a few at a time rather than as a mass. On offense, leave the starting line or the starters with a top sub or two in until the losing team subs its defensive line.

I agree with those that suggest five years under most circumstances. However, in the interim, a school should look for internal signs of progress. Is the off season program operating smoothly and have the kids bought into the system and the dedication that is being sought? Are there discipline problems? Are the coach and his staff providing good roll models for the athletes to emulate? On the field, are they competing each week? Is the coach getting the maximum out of the talent he has on the field? Success is relative but a school has a right to expect some wins, as long as they are providing the program with enough support to enable it to function. If, after five years, the best athletes in the school still shun football and the talent level on the field still is not enough to produce winning seasons and, at least, competitive playoff runs, the school needs to take a look at the cause. In 1A some schools are just too small to be competitive. I don't care if the ghost of Knute Rockne coaches a school with a male enrollment of 90, they are not going to beat Beechwood, year in, year out. If such a school intends to keep playing football, the administration must define success in terms of the benefit to the student athletes. There are still many life lessons to be taught and the experience of dedicating oneself to a team cause should not be overlooked in any program.

3 hours to game time and not much interest in this thread. This is one of the more interesting match-ups in the last week of the regular season. Two teams with excellent passing attacks. P-burgs secondary has been criticized during the regular season but, if you check the stats, the Blackcat defense is ranked No. 9 in 2A. The rush defense is No. 10 in 2A. Coverage has been pretty good though there have been lapses in tackling. Neither team has played as pass-oriented an offense as they will face tonight. Prestonsburg did play and were defeated by Breathit Co., but, again, the culprit was missed tackles. Boggs can find some holes and a broken tackle could lead to scores. If Prestonsburg shores up the tackling, those passes should be short gains and P-burg should come out on top. I make them a three touchdown favorite, at home. PB - 35, PCC - 14. If not, it could be a long night with a lot of points on the board. PCC - 49, PB 34. Good luck to both teams. May they both be injury free heading into the playoffs.

I haven't seen Ft. Campbell play. I know they have great team speed. I don't think that will intimidate Desales. They don't make mistakes and they take advantage of yours. They may not have great speed but its not bad. Their secondary is very solid. Their best cover men can play press and you won't find them out of position often. If Ft. Campbell wins by two touchdowns or more I'll have to acknowledge that they are an incredible football team.

I don't think the season is too long. I wish ours lasted one more week. I don't think eliminating the bye week was a problem, though that's already been done. Losing a second scrimmage game to get a bye week in the season makes it tough to get ready for the early games. My suggestion is to eliminate the three and four seeds. Yeah there is always a three seed which makes some noise in the playoffs (ie Sheldon Clark this year), but somebody has to lose. Rather than end a week earlier, start a week later. That way you limit some of the hard practices in the worst of the heat. Just some random thoughts.

How many people watch you give a final exam? [About fifty is the reply.] Well, I have 50,000 watch me give mine - every Saturday! Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, to English Professor Tommy Mayo (at Texas A&M) when questioned about his emphasis on winning and his salary. Not trying to pick a fight, I just thought of this when I read your post. I'm not a teacher and I'm a property owner so I pay school taxes, but I don't begrudge a coach a day or two to go to their sport's championship. Maybe your school districts a model of fiscal restraint but for mine, a sub for a couple of days is a drop in the bucket. PD days are handed out for all sorts of lame things, this seems pretty legit to me.

Weather may be a factor. I don't usually place much emphasis on this as both teams have to play under the same conditions. However, if there is a driving rain it will make it difficult for Prestonsburg to move the ball through the air. A little rain should make no difference on a turf field. If anything, DB's may find it a bit harder to make cuts, which aids P-burg. However, if there is a hard rain it will make it difficult to keep dry balls in the game and for the QB to spot his receivers. On the turf, the running game should be less effected as the o-lines should find the footing sufficient. Turnovers are a possibility for both teams. Absent weather concerns, I think it comes down to whether SC's defensive backs can keep the PB receivers covered and whether the PB offensive line can give Burchett enough time to find one open. If no, or light to moderate rain: PB 28 SC 21 If heavy rain: PB 12 SC 6 (still got to go with the Blackcats)

What are your thoughts on a much anticipated game in EKy?

First off, don't worry about it because no one is listening to you. Players are doing well to hear their teammates and, maybe, a coach hear or there. Second, if the coach doesn't want you to hear it he can pull the team over to the sideline. He doesn't really care. But its his responsibility to convey the play in a way no one can hear it, if he does care. Football is not baseball. Its "wrong" to steal signals in baseball because of the "unwritten rule". Its accepted tradition. Its wrong in the NFL to use electronic means to steal signals, because of a written rule. There is nothing written in football about a fan overhearing a call. Fans should stay off and back away from the field. They should not physically do anything to effect the game. They should not curse or berate a player (they are kids). Other than that, say anything you want and have a good time.

It's not bad if you deep fry it. Bon appetite. Belfry will be alright. Lot of potential for improvement. They will get the procedure penalties out of their system. Good luck the rest of the way.

Alright, here's my take on it. Everyone is correct that Belfry always starts out a little slow. Also, both teams have only one scrimmage due to playing on week zero. - Slight advantage to Prestonsburg, which usually starts out more prepared. Size is Belfry's advantage up front, but not necessarily in the backfield. Both teams are a little smaller than usual in the backfield. - Slight advantage to Belfry. Speed should be an advantage to Prestonsburg, both up front and at the skill positions. Depth - Advantage Belfry. Much greater numbers. Not sure how many are ready to play, but they fill up the sidelines, while P-burg has about 30 out. Offense - draw. Both teams have some new wrinkles, judging by the scrimmages. Belfry will either have Varney playing a little out of position at QB or they will start a sophomore at that spot. Varney is a very good runner at either QB or HB and gives Belfry an edge in the backfield. Belfry's line is much bigger but not as quick as the P-burg defenders. Will they get tired or wear the P-burg defense down as the game goes on. Advantage P-burg at the receiver spots. Craynon, Blackburn and Jamerson are all credible threats. Look for 1st year senior, Tyler Hall to contribute as well. Prestonsburg gets the upper hand passing, Belfry running. Defense - Advantage Prestonsburg. Strength punishes, speed kills, Prestonsburg has a ton of speed on defense. Mckinney is a tackling machine and there is experience in the secondary. Belfry's defense should be strong and won't be caught out of position much, but it will still be difficult for them to match up with a spread offense out of a 5-2 defense. Special teams - Wild card. Neither team has worked special teams in a live situation. Conclusion - another classic. Prestonsburg has home field advantage. They have only lost, a think, 3 home games since Josh Francis stadium opened in 2001. Belfry 27 Prestonsburg 31

Wow. I can't believe no one has started a thread on this. Its been a couple of years since these traditional rivals have met in varsity play. Any thoughts/predictions?

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Setting records brings notoriety. Since either Bowliing and/or Lewis could break some significant marks, I don't think you can count either out. I haven't seen Bowling but, while I like Lewis, I doubt he's the best player in the state.

the Sign Language Fan. Any fan doing the tomahawk chop or the gator chomp.

Really? I've spelled it wrong for 30 years. Not that I've written the word much.

1. Goose Creek Symphony - founder Charlie Gearhart is from Goose Creek, in Floyd County. 2. Tom T. Hall - Old Dogs and Children and Watermellon wine. What's not to love? 3. Keith Whitley - Just great. 4. Bill Monroe - How many people can you identify that founded a genre of music. 5. Rickey Skaggs - Picked up where Bill left off and took it to a new level. 6. Gary Stewart - One of the best honkey-tonk country singers. 7. The Judds. - You can't forget how sweet their harmonies were. 8. Loretta Lynn - For many years she was the female voice of country music. 9. Patty Loveless - An even better voice and some excellent songs. 10. J.D. Crow and the New South - Bridged the gap to modern Bluegrass.

If they do sue you in small claims court, check your credit report. If it is on there, file a counter-claim for defamation of credit and any other miscellaneous causes your atty can think up and have the case removed to Circuit Court. Then send them some interrogatories and request for production of documents seeking the basis of their claim. When they can't produce proof you win on their claim and can go after them for the trouble they have caused you. Or you could be nice and simply demand that they prove it to you to your satisfaction.

When they go to all soccer, the prison system could place sets outside the cells of incorrigible prisoners as a punishment, much like Dr. Chilton did to Hannible Lector with broadcasts of televangilists.

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I saw him at a scrimmage last year. My impression was that he is a very good high school QB. It seems he has added some weight this year, which will help him with college recruiters. His footwork was decent. He seemed to lock on to one receiver and made some questionable passes if he wasn't open. I'm sure he got much better as the season went on and looks as if he can continue to improve. His arm was very good, just a touch shy of excellent. I would say he's boarderline D1, but should be very good at a lower level.

Not to duck the question, but 2A has to be the most competitive division again this year. At least half a dozen teams have a legitimate shot at it. Louisville DeSallis should be in the mix as well as the teams mentioned before. Setting my Blackcats aside, I would have to go with Danville, Ft. Campbell, DeSallis and Corbin, in no particular order. I'm not sure how badly N. Cath was hit by graduation, but I would have to say you can't count them out.