Hasbeen

It was said on one of the sports shows last night that Whitley has 80 players on this years roster. They were saying that it was a WC record. If the Colonels can keep near that number in the future they will turn things around very quickly.

Harlan 105.1, both commentators picked W'burg in a close game. W'burg 104.7, same as above. B'ville 96.1, two of four. Total--Williamsburg 6, KC 2

If what I'm hearing is true, this could be Rock's best team in years. A normal Rockcastle team is awful good, a "best" would be awesome. Rock by 21.

I've been listening to some of the area sports shows. The majority of our local "experts" are picking Williamsburg. I don't see it. If Central's young kids had a game or two behind them, I would be picking them by three tds. In fact, I think I will anyway. Knox Central 35 Williamsburg 14

Good call. Clay returns an awful lot from a very good team. Look for them to be top five soon.

Both of these games would be a lot easier to predict after we've seen the teams once. Leslie County's switching of Howard to QB is an interesting footnote. Both games will feature the run (KC and Lynn Camp) vs. the pass (W'burg and Leslie). I'm going to lean towards KC and Lynn Camp. Better defenses, ball control offenses.

Both Milan and Hensley stated that they compiled this pre-season top ten based a good deal on BGP. I think it's an OK starting point. I'm sure there will be changes.

To be played on a yearly rotating basis at Lynn Camp and Knox Central. This year's matchups will be this Friday: Knox Central vs. Williamsburg @ 6:00 Lynn Camp vs. Leslie County KC will be replacing ten graduated starters including the entire offensive backfield. Williamsburg has a new coach. Lynn Camp returns Roscoff but loses Chaffin. Leslie is coming of a very good season. Should be interesting.

I really didn't think Harlan moved the ball all that well in the scrimmage. Still, unless Cawood has drasticaly improved from last season, Harlan should take this one.

Not much of importance to be gleaned from this scrimmage for the average fan. It was just a basic "start at your own 35, run ten plays and switch to defense" type of thing. Also I saw at least three coaches from rival schools in attendence scouting Harlan so I doubt they were showing a whole lot. Biggest thing to note is that Harlan ran all but a handful of plays from out of the shotgun, a definite change of strategy for them. I thought the KC defense played well with numerous sacks and interceptions. I thought the new qb, soph Corey Smith showed promise.

It allows them to schedule anyone they want as opposed to playing a mandatory district schedule. Downside is that they are not allowed in the playoffs regardless of their record. They are projected next season to be included in the same 4A district as Bell, Rock, Knox Central, and Madison Southern. I've not heard if they plan to participate.

They have to replace 11 graduated seniors, all of whom started. The bulk (no pun intended) of the o-line and d-line return older and stronger. New qb is expected to be soph Corey Smith, a little undersized but lightning quick on the scramble similar to some of Rockcastles's qbs recently. Running back will probably be Jr. Brandon Tollever who showed flashes of being a power back with speed when subbing for an injured Matt Ramsey at times last year. Soph receiver Josh Brown appears to be a star in the making. I see the loss of last seasons linebacking corp as being the biggest obstacle for the Panthers. I can't make a season prediction until I see how the young guys respond to varsity starts, but I think the biggest area of improvement will be overall team speed. The schedule: 1.Williamsburg 2.Wayne County 3.Cawood 4.McCreary Co. 5.Madison So. 6.Perry Central 7.Letcher Co. 8.Clay Co. 9.Bell Co. 10.Rockcastle Co. The last six are district games. In a district such as this, some very good football teams are going to be staying home come playoff time.

:thumb: :thumb: I agree with GT.:scared: Each championship will be a championship played against peers (or at least as similar as can be made with 6 classes.) As for teams with losing records making the playoffs, it already happens with many of our districts having only four teams. I say big deal. It's only one game. Maybe making the playoffs will inspire some community support and a thirst to improve among some traditional have-nots.

Plus two years probation. The violations were self-reported which usually leads to a lesser punishment. Like MountainThunder, the thing that stands out for me is that what Barber did was unnecessary. The students approached him which indicates they were willing to come without enticements and residency would not have been an issue.

Most likely Josh Brown. He will be a soph.

Now that I think of it, some of the young kids that I am so high on also play basketball and would be doing the summer thing right now. If KC looked good without them, I'm going to be really anxious to see them this fall.

I've got to try and catch one of these 7 on 7s. Many think Knox Central will have a bit of a let down after losing so many seniors but I thought their best athletes were on the JV and frosh teams last year. Was the Panther QB a bit undersized but very quick? Is that the same Stuber playing for NL that QB'ed them last season?

I've not heard that and really can't see any reason for it but stranger things have happened. Either way the middle school will have full use of the old gym, the old football field and the even older gym that was restored last year and will be used as a practice facility. Look for ground to be broken for the fieldhouse on the new campus any day now.

It does seem to get quiet when things are going well. How about a picture of the new gym to tide you over till football season?http://www.knox.k12.ky.us/news/20052006/May/openhouse/html/IMG_6708.html

I'm not so sure that the parity is the result of improvement by some second tier teams as much as a rejoining of the pack by what is normally top teams. I will concede it as more entertaining. With the exception of OBI, any team there could have won the regional this year along with NL and Corbin who would have had an equal shot had they made it. However, I do like what's happening at Whitley, and I like having North and South in the region. By next season KC will be in their new school and get a full season on their own field for the first time, hopefully the new indoor practice facility will be ready to go, and the consolidation of all the elementarys into one middleschool will be a big plus for the feeder program. If the new Harlan consolidation stays in our region this will be one tough area to come out of.

I think it will just come down to who gets a break in this game. Both were just a hit or a fielded ball away from being eliminated already. The 13th has shown a lot of parity this season and not necessarily in a good way.

From Knox Central: Jerry Carey, baseball, Union College, Pittsburg Pirates. (1930s ?) Pat Hauser, Tennessee State, Miami Dolphins. (2 years during the Csonka, Warfield era.) Oliver White, UK, Pittsburg Steelers (briefly) Tony Patterson, East Tennessee State, played professional basketball overseas for two or three years.

Knox Central scored 4 runs without an out in the bottom of the 7th to win 7-6.

Middlesboro definitely has the easiest road to the the second round among the district winners. South, Clay, and Whitley should join them although it wouldn't surprise me to see Knox Central or Cumberland there.

I'm glad you reported this. WYMT's Brian Milan broke this last night and I've spent the past 30 minutes trying to find a link before posting.