MexicanBob

It happened at camp, more of a combined workout. I'm fairly sureit doesn't count as a scrimmage.

ttt

Harlan has an incredible new school to be proud of. The Gym is great. I can understand why everyone in Harlan wants to host the Region. BUT, IF the decision is made to take it to the Arena, I don't think that Harlan should be allowed to host in their turn. It wouldn't be fair to the other districts.

If people would worry half as much about raising their own kids as they do worrying about what other parents are doing - then we'd be a lot better off. To be brutally honest, it's not anyone's business but the family's concerning a decision to hold back. Perhaps the family feels maturity is an issue even if an outsider doesn't. Perhaps making A' and B's isn't good enough for the parents and they want their child to be better prepared. And perhaps it is for athletic reasons. Maybe the child has a chance to play college and get some scholly money. Or maybe the child just gets a better chance to excel in high school. Either way, it is of no business to self rightious know it alls that always know whats better for someone elses child.

More kids apply than are accepted. So the date obviously isn't a problem for the players. For those that it is, they simply don't have to apply. I for one would rather have my son play in January then in June or July when it's likely to be 90 degrees and humid.

As a parent, I would LOVE to attend practices. I want to be able to watch and enjoy my children as much as possible while they are still children. However, I realize that it's about my child and not about me. If there is ANY chance they my being there distracts my child or another player, then that overrules any desire on my part to watch. I never go inside during practice, and I'm not one of those parents that presses my nose to the glass in the door to get a glimpse of what is going on. But it's not because I don't want to watch, it's because I never want to provide any impediment to my daughter or her team's success. Being the parent of an athlete is hard. You have to show self restraint. You have to realize that the coach knows more than you do. And you have to realize that however talented that you think your child is, that they are part of a team. In any case, it would be better for the team to win and my/your daughter to have limited PT, than be a star and the team lose!

Some thoughts; As far as I can tell those that played on the championship Highlands teams of years ago won't be suiting up. So I don't know if the fact that Highlands was won 987 state championships has an bearing on this game. OTHER than that it shows Highlands has a great program. As far as I can tell, the past scores of Highlands against Mountain teams has no impact on this Friday's game - because those teams aren't the ones playing. All it shows it PAST success. Highlands won't overlook anyone. I know nothing about Highlands team this year other than the scores I have seen and stories I have read. I'm sure that most Highlands fans have similar insight into Whitley County. Whitley fans, players, and coaches are looking forward to seeing where the Colonels stand against one of the states top three programs. Hopefully we will measure up. If the ride ends, so be it. But it won't end without a serious effort. I'll look forward to hearing Bluebird's fans impressions after the game, because there is no doubt that they understand good football and good football teams. Safe travels..

I just don't buy it. The bottom line is when enrollment drops, the school is allowed to play in a class that reflects its enrollment. So that shouldn't be a factor. Williamsburg is among the smallest districts in the state, but somehow manages to compete for a district title 3 out of every 4 years and actually wins it more than not. Sure the tax base is set. BUT most indy school districts are basically the town city limits give or take a bit. The average price of property is much higher in a town than in the county generally (not always), because of commercial property. The issue with whether Indy's do well or in fact thrive has to do with leadership both admistratively and coaching. Which is in fact the same thing that dictates success for county school districts as well. So again, is there a trend? I think not. I would bet there are as many Indy districts enjoying great years as ever. It's just that they are different names than many are used to. That's indicitive of the cyclicle nature of smaller school systems.

It would indicated that for some time, neither has been what they used to be. It's also nothing new. A trend would suggest that the common events were just happening (as in the word trendy). However, that's not the case here. And it certainly isn't indictive of a larger trend of independent schools struggling, which was point of the thread. Pikeville and Mayfield's struggles have little to do with them being independent schools and more to do with how their programs are now being managed. Williamsburg, Corbin, Raceland, Frankfort, Middlesboro, Murray, Hazard, Prestonsburg (I think they are an indy), Eminence, Danville (rated in the top 10 in most ratings and polls)........ When the majority of Indy's are successful, I think it's likely innaccurate to say that there is a trend of struggels because a few of the higher profile indy's have had coaching changes that affected their level of dominance.

It's probably a flawed theroy. I could list more than a handful of public schools that had been good, who aren't having good years. And as has already been mentioned as many Indy schools are succeeding as not. To address the schools you mentioned. Pikeville hasn't been Pikeville for a decade or so. They have had a year or two of good teams, but over the past 10 years they've suffered through the cyclical nature that all small schools go through. Pad Til lost their head coach last year, he was a great one. That probably has something to do with their team. Mayfiled, I'd put in the same class as Pikeville. They haven't been the Mayfield of old for some time. Harlan has had years like this before. They are VERY young, they'll be fine again next year. Paris hasn't been a state power since the 80's. Glasgow and Bardstown, I have no real info on. I think that MOST Ind schools are smaller. That means that they have years where they don't have as much talent, it's part of a cycle. I don't see any trend going on here.

It was Jellico who wouldn't keep the Jackets.

Playing Cumbelrand or Evarts close isn't the samething as playing them combined. Then throw in Cawood and it gets even tougher. Also, I've always thought the Harlan County schools were poorly coached (other than when Tim Saylor was there), they always had more athletes and players than records indicated. Put all those together and throw in a top five coach in Kentucky and I don't see a close game. Lynn Camp has always used games like this to get better for their district and they will. But in this one, Harlan 42 Lynn Camp 14.

I disagree that this is Frankfort's game to lose. Williamsburg will win this by a couple touchdowns. The Jackets have their best team since they beat Corbin a few years ago.

1. corbin It's close with the Redskins 2. cumberland Won't know just how good til Region tourn 3. jackson Darkhorse to win the 13th 4. North Laurel Better than anyone thought 5. South might drop as the season goes on 6. Whitley mark them with a bullet 7. Clay Could contend by years end 8. Pineville overrated by most. 9. Bell County Haven't beaten anyone despite 6-0 record 10. Middlesboro only 4-4 but have potential to beat anyone in 13th

I don't agree that it's a lite schedule. Corbin twice, SL twice, the Hoopin it up, Wayne's Tourney, Knox Central, North Laurel, Middelsboro, McCreary, Casey, Jackson. I don't think that's lite. I would agree that there are other teams that have tougher schedules, but it's a challenging schedule unless you're the top team in the Region.

I agree Williamsburg made drastic improvement in how hard they played. When you play harder, you get more things done. One thing I don't understand is why Williamsburg isn't playing more people. They played the 6 or 7 top players to death, they had zero chance for a run late because they were out of energy. The Williams kid had played a lot early, don't know why he didn't play last night. There were also other kids on the bench that could be playing some minutes. You can't develop depth unless you play them. Over the course of a season, those 6-7 kids will wear down.

What's wrong with the Jackets???:confused: Will they win a game this year?

Last I checked the regular season meant more than that. Finish with the District's top seed and you likely get Wiliamsburg. Finish second and your game will be considerably tougher with Whitley County. There's much more at stake than bragging rights.

It's not realistic that EVERYONE who transfers sit out. So there must be some type of guideline which determines eligibility. My issue is that the KHSAA doesn't enforce their guideline evenly and fairly. Maybe they treated the student fairly in this case. But overall, I do think the KHSAA acts arbitrarily and capricioulsy with regard to application of the transfer rule.

You are assuming that the rules are enforced fairly and evenly. THis isn't always the case with the KHSAA, it often appears that their actions are often capricious at best and malicious at worst.

You down WC every chance you get. You never have anything good to say about the Colonels. The bad thing is you have limited if any knowledge about the WC Football team. What happened last year was that they need a MASH unit instead of a trainer, too many injuries. This year's Colonel team is and will be fine. Last week was hard to watch, but it wasn't indicitive of the team. Heck, look at last week in college football, half the top ten losing, many to bad unranked teams. Stuff happens, to every team at some time. Let's look at what's gone on. WHitley lost to Middlesboro by a TD and played well enough to win. Middlesboro smokes Clay last week. Whitley loses to Bell but scores 14, which is the most that Bell has given up all year. Whitley beats Newport. Which by the way is a decent team. WHitley whips North Laurel. Against Perry, Whitley's offense moved the ball at will. The defense had one of those unexplainable games. So if you're going to make slanted uneducated comments, at least have your facts straight and don't be looking through your orange and black tinted glasses.:flame:

And you're basing your determination of Williamsburg on the fact that you've seen them play this year, right? If not, I can't see how you could think that the Cumberland D has just enough to sop the Jackets.

thanks. They let Clay County gerymander the districts to their own benefit instead of just using common sense. But when has the KHSAA ever used common sense?

Best I remember, Williamsburg won the game by a couple TD's. They were without a key player. And their QB was seeing his first start. It was oppressively hot. ANd the Jackets had to travel to Evarts for the game. I hope that cumberland is basing their evaluation of Williamsburg on the Grid Game. It will be a long night for the Skins!!! :fight:

Propsed new 13th 49th Clay South Laurel North Laurel Jackson County OBI 50th Corbin Lynn cmap Williamsburg Whiltey 51st Red Bird Knox Central Bell Barbourville 52nd Middlesboro Harlan Ind Harlan county Central Pineville