mountainmutt

The Mutt is hearing from a very good source that Darrell Guffy and Rich Prewitt are both going to be hired by Williamsburg. Guffy will be the head basketball coach. Prewitt will be a high ranking school administrator and assisstant basketball coach. If this rumor is true, Williamsburg is picking up a top notch basketball man in Rich Prewitt. Any one that knows Rich is aware of his exceptional work ethic and leadership skills. Rich is an outstanding man that will stand in the face of a tough situation and excel. Rich would be a great hire for any organization. In Guffy, they are picking up a good person with high values. As a basketball coach, Guffy still has a lot to learn, but he is young, energetic and he has a point to prove. Prewitt's experience, personal skills, and leadership will be a tremendous asset to Guffy. I think these two guys will do a great job as a team. Williamsburg will be tremendously improved immediately.

Highhopes Positive thinking never hurts. Coach Deaton seems like a very nice man. I hope he left Whitley knowing he was welcome. Maybe, we can have a big party soon.

Maybe, I am in the minority, but I think the Williamsburg job holds a lot of potential and could be a very good job for the right fit. The boosters at Williamsburg are a good natured, fun loving group. Nobody in the state has a more loyal following than Williamsburg. Williamsburg is a small school, but there are always a few good ball players in their system. There may not be enough talent to contend for the regional title every season, but there is always enough talent to put a winning team on the floor. Every six to eight years, Williamsburg has enough talent to compete for the regional title. The Williamsburg fan base understands the cyclic nature of athletics in a small school and would be supportive to a good coach in the off seasons. Williamsburg is a very good school and would be a nice place for a coach with young kids to eduacte his children. Williamsburg is a nice place to live with easy access to the interstate and the Knoxville and Lexington areas which would allow a big city coach to be able to go to dinner and enjoy the cultural activities at UT or UK. I am just saying that Williamsburg is not one of thoses isolated little burgs that a lot of college graduates fear or dread. I think Williamasburg would ba a fantastic place for a young coach to start his career or for an older coach to end his career. If the administration is willing to look hard enough and concentrate on selling the town, school and residents, I think they can make a very good hire without having to offer $85, 000 a season to their basketball coach.

Names of interest from this area: 1. Vernon, either of the three would be great hires. I think Mark is the most likely of the three to consider the position. 2. Woods (either of the two) local boys who win where ever they are. Not sure Williamsburg can afford either of them. I can not see these guys in the class room. 3. Guffy, a young coach with a lot of energy and a point to prove. Could be a great hire. Nothing like scorn to motivate a man. 4. West, was very successful at Williamsburg. Maybe enough of the old faces have changed to allow his return. 5. Prewitt, a good basketball coach living within the city limits. He would be a great hire, but I cannot see him leaving the county. 6. Evans, did not have great success at Whitley, but he has had success in the past. Would probably be a good hire. 7. Jim Rains, has always coached girls but is a very good basketball coach. If he would accept the job, he would be an ideal hire. 8.Mike Crowley a Williamsburg native with good coaching skills. Just a few names that would fit nicely with the Williamsburg program. What do you think Southern?

I am very high on Madison Central. They have a legitimate shot to win the whole thing. They may be the most athletic team at Rupp. If they shoot well in the big house, look out.

:flame: :banana:

Lovethosehounds I am sure that you guys are very sad to see Guffy go. Guffy has been very good to the hounds during his tenure. Maybe Deaton can make this rivary more fun than it has ever been. There is no reason that Whitley, Corbin and Laurel should not be among the top 20 every year. :ylsuper:

I am familiar with both teams. I think the game will be a dandy and I expect both teams to be back next year. Both teams are obviously well coached and Tourny hardened. I think Anderson will be the difference. He is big game player that can score from anywhere on the court. He has a knack of being hot when it counts. Warren Central 64 Mason County 60

Mike Deaton was presented to the media today as the new head coach at Whitley County. Welcome to Whitley County Coach Deaton!!!! The Mutt is very happy to have you here at Whitley. Coach Deaton will formally meet with Parents, Players and Boosters this evening at Whitley High (6:00 PM). More good news to come in the near future for Whitley Basketball. A brighter future for Whitley Basketball is dawning. :dancingpa :dancingpa

The three point shot has created a generation of spotup 3 ballers and peepoor foul shooters. As the Wizard said kids do not even want to shoot spotup 15 footers much less pull-up jumpers off the dribble. I think the 3 ball should be eliminated from play at any level below 9th grade. You go to elementary or youth league games and kids are slinging the 3 on every possesion. Younger kids are not strong enough to use good form on the 3-ball. This leads to bad form. Kids are so hung up on the long ball that they do not practice anything else. Leave the 3 ball out until high school and kids would have to develop ther skills to score.

Highhopes, You make many good points. I never take any of this board stuff personally. Actually, the juicier or nastier it is, the more I enjoy it. A good heated argument just makes my day. My son is a big boy learning lessons in life day by day. When it comes to extracirucular activities, he makes his own decisions. Sometimes, I agree with him. Sometimes, I do not. He is the one that has to live with his decisions. Some of the best lessons come the hard way. He knows that the high school experience is short and once it is over, it is over. I think he is going to make a good high school basketball and football player. Only time will tell. I think people should be allowed to say what ever they want on these boards. Noone has to read or post unless they are so inclined. People should have a more mature sense of humor. Complaining and disagreements are a big part of sports, especially for old fart spectators of spectator sports. When you are too old to play, all you can, is talk. All the talk make sports much more interesting to the spectators and players alike. If nothing else, it lets the kids know people are interested. I personally have always followed high school sports because I love my almamater and the kids involved. Of course, as fans, we have much more access to the players and games since the players live in our houses and neighborhoods. It would be kind of hard to have the UK players over for a cookout twice a month. Rajon Rondo never spends the night watching TV in my basement with my son. I really do not know whether or not Guffy was actually contacted by phone regarding his dismissal. He had to expect what was coming, but he should have been called into the office for the news. I guess we will have to disagree on his coaching ability. I personally would not like his style of basketball if he had gone 35-0. His style of play is not nearly physical enough for the type of kids we have at Whitley. I think main problem, was simply that he was far too inexperienced for the head coaching job at a big public high school. He had no understanding of the overall job requirements (for example spring and summer practice and his responsibilities regarding the feeder programs). I think he also had diffiulty relating to the typical Whitley High Student and in general, the typical Whitley County resident. He clearly did not understand the political and promotional requirements of the job. He made no efforts to befriend or organize the parents and boosters and he certainly did nothing to promote his program to the community. Most of these shortcomings were no doubt due to his inexperience with being a public figure in a large rural community. I think many of his problems with recruiting kids and keeping kids in the program were due to simple demographics. He was from a large urban high school in Indiana with a nationally known basketball program. A place where kids were lined up just to get on the team and a place where personalities are quite different. Even, in this day of mass communications, the mountain mentality is very unique and the Appalachian persona is very alive and well in Whitley County. I think Guffy is an intelligent guy and a solid person. His idealism will fade with experience. He learned a lot at Whitley and it will show in his next job. Darrell Guffy will have brighter days.

Joe Roskopf is going to be dominate player in 1A football. I thought he was the best back in Southeastern Kentucky last season. A nice combination of vision, speed and power. :thumb:

1. You can only play 5 guys at a time in basketball. 2. A basketball team with 8 quality players is loaded. 3. In basketball, it is much easier for one or two players to completely dominate the game. 4. The demographics involved with private schools is a factor. 5. Football is a very expensive sport. Privates definately have an advantage. 6. Basketball is played on many different levels. Self improvement is easier in basketball. Imoroving in football requires coaching and facilities. Kids play basketball all the time at home. 7. You need at least 30 good football players to win at a high level. A weakness at any position can be easily exposed.

I have a few question for all the Guffy defenders. I am asking with an open mind. I will honestly try to keep my mind open because maybe I may have missed something or I may have been misguided by emotion in forming my personal opinions. 1. What did Guffy do at Whitley to show the team was progressing or that he was a good coach? 2. How did parents interfere with his progress or contribute to his firing? How could/should this interference be stopped? 3. Why is it a bad thing for parents to be concerned or vocal about a team that performed like Guffy's teams including this years JV. How are Whitley's parents any different than those at other schools. 4. Why shouldn't the admistration be concerned over Guffy's performance and what did they do that other school administrations would not do? 5. Why should Guffy have been given another year to prove himself? I look forward to hearing the responses. Maybe, I can learn something or change my opinion. I will try. :confused:

Thunder, I made my statement based on Spring Practice which thus far has featured Teague at quarterback. I have heard (not confirmed) that McCumbers has not participated in the Spring Drills. McCumbers has a good arm and a high football mentality, but I do not think he would fit the option very well. McCumbers has very slight frame (5-10 140) and is not considered fast. I do not know his 40 time but I have watched him play since he was a second grader and he has never been a runner. He is very smooth and he can flat out throw the ball but contact is not one of his strong points. He is a pocket quarterback. Mark Teague on the other hand has been the premier runner in the Whitley Feeder program since he was in the 4th grade. He played some in the backfield last year behind Rider and displayed his running ability several times on punt/kickoff returns. Teague is very fast and he also sees the field very well. Teague has the physical attributes to be an ideal option quarterback. He is fast and has good size (5-10 180). Teague will make a lot of noise over the next two seasons. I think he will ba star at quarterback. In my opinion, Whitley will be a very good option team. I think they will be one of the more explosive teams in the mountains next year running the option. Whitley's roster is much more suited to a power running attack than they are to a passing oriented attack. Purely speculation on my behalf, but I would not be surprised to see McCumber's look to transfer. He is a three sport athlete but he is an awfully talented quarterback to not play. Teague clearly has the better physical attributes for an option attack but McCumbers would be an ideal fit for a passing attack like Jim Black's. Regardless of how it turns out, I wish Jordan the best. He is a terrific kid.

In my opinion, coaches should not sub down to the end of the bench until the fourth quarter if there is a substantial difference in your bottom five and your top five. Its like running a horse. Every horse needs a good workout just to stay hungry. The playing rotation (usually top 7 or 8 players) should stay in the game and play hard for three quarters. Regardless of where a kid is on the roster, he shoud be encouraged to play as hard as he can at all times. The fourth quarter of a blowout game is a great time to groom next years rotation. It is a good time to keep coaching. It is easier to point out little mistakes when you are up by 30 than it is when you are trying to win a close game. It is also easier to pay personal attention to a particular player in a blowout. Mercy is not a requirement in basketball or any other sport and really should not be tolerated. A coaches responsibilities are to his own players not the opposing teams players. The kids on the floor should be trying to win by as much as possible at all times. Let the opposing coach deal with his kids humiliation. All you can do is play your entire squad. Remember that the time the bottom five spend on the court is as important to them as it is to any other player. Beating your opponents brains out is doing him a favor because it should be a motivator to work harder . It also shows the losers how much progress they need to make, to be competitive. Brutal beatings also tend to cast a bright light on inferior coaches that need to be fired for their own players sake. The Mutt says pour it on them. :banana:

Mark Teague at Whitley County runs a legitimate 4.5. He will be at QB running the option next year. :ylsuper:

I think you are absolutely correct, especially at the high school and below. Teams that score more points in the paint than their opponent win over 95% of the time.

Wow, HighHopes, thank you for your keen interest in the Whitley County Program and its kids. If you are suggesting that Whitley County has finally started holding back their better athletes, then you are correct. Whitley finally decided, that if they were going to compete in the 13th with Corbin, Clay, ect. then, they were going to have to put kids on the floor in the same age group as their competition. Whitley has played 17 year old seniors against 19 year old seniors for the past 40 years. You will see, Whitley, correct this situation over the next three seasons. The benefits will begin to be noticable very soon. As soon as, the new coach is in place. If Coach Guffy had actually used the Carolina Break, a little more often, he may have been able to win more than 13 games over two seasons. It would have to beat the heck out of Guffy's motion post and weak side overloads. In one, you isolate a guard underneath the basket with a center and in the other you get a three point shot from the deep corner for a 15% three point shooting team. It was amazing how effective the old blue play got open three pointers. This why Whitley averaged 45 points a game against teams other than Williamsburg and Jellico. If, Coach Guffy, had taken Brandon's advice on defense, maybe he could have kept a few games respectably close or maybe he might have won a couple. Instead he played his over play every pass, stand in the paint style and was blown out by some of the weakest teams in the 12th and 13th regions on a nightly basis. The only thing worse than Whitleys offense, this year, was their defense. I have watched Whitley give up over 30 layups a game for two years now under Guffey. The Russel County and Casey County games were the two worst defensive performaances I have ever seen on a high school level. When teams with 6 or 7 wins per season come into your home gym, shoot layups on every posession, and beat you by 40, it should be an indicator something is wrong. A record of 13-42 over two seasons with seven wins coming over Williamsburg and Jellico, really says all that needs to said. The numbers speak for themselves. I am also very happy that you have taken an interest in my son. I suspect you are right about Coach Deaton, Coach Anderson and my son getting along well. My son has played for Coach Anderson for three years and he has progressed admirably. I love the fact that Coach Anderson's hard nosed mentality is so apparent in my son. I look forward to the next three years of my son's career under Anderson with great anticipation. Your comments regarding freshmen and upperclassmen are absolutely true. Freshmen are not ready to compete against good junior and senior athletes. The problem with this concept, at Whitley, under Coach Guffy and his predecessor is that they could not keep good athletes on the team for more than a semester. Could have been the constant mind games, the hail of daily cynical remarks, or it could have simply been the humilation of continually getting beat by 40 points. As for scheduling, how could anyone in the 13th region have had an easier schedule than Whitley's this year. In state, Whitley played the bottom five teams in both the 12th and 13th regions. Out of state, they played two 1A Tennessee Schools (less than 200 students). Williamsburg beat one of these Tennessee schools twice. The schedule is never going to get any easier, Whitley is going to have to get better. Again thank you, Highhopes for your interest in my beloved Colonels, my friend Brandon Anderson and of course my son. I share your high hopes for Whitley County Basketball. Highest Regards Mutt :dancingpa

Brandon, is taking three graduate courses (at night) this semester. He did not have time to help with the team after Christmas break. His job as a husband and dad had to take precedent over his hobby this semester. Brandon has donated a tremendous amount of time (several thousand hours) over the past three years to the Whitley County Basketball Program. He has developed some very good players at the middle school. His work is going to show over the next three or four seasons. Brandon is a great guy and a very good coach. He stuck with Guffy a lot longer than most people did. No one has a greater vision of what Whitley County Basketball could be than Brandon Anderson. Brandon, like myself, was born and bred to believe that the kids in Whitley County were capable of being the best in the state at anything they were willing to work at. I hope my son is lucky enough to play under Brandon throughout his high school career. Nobody, turned their back on Coach Guffy. Coach Guffy was at Whitley for 5 years and had every opportunity to show progress. Had he shown progress, he would still be the coach. He had the opportunity to coach the kids, on the varsity level, that he personally chose and groomed as freshmen and JV players. The fact is, he had an 8-19 team last year, with no signioficant wins and a 5-22 team this year, with no significant wins. Seven of his thirteen wins as a varsity coach came over either Williamsburg or Jellico. Last year, he lost to Williamsburg badly in the first game of the district after beating them twice. This year, he was completely blownout by an average Corbin team three times. Corbin totatally humiliated Whitley twice this season. The worst team in Williamsburg history nearly beat Whitley this season. How could he not be fired? The administration had no choice except to uphold their responsibility to kids of Whitley County. The kids deserved a change.

Brandon Anderson is a very very good basketball coach. He studies the game as intently as anyone I have ever been around. Brandon would make an excellent addition to any coaching staff. I hope he is at Whitley. None will out work Brandon.

Where he sends his children to school is his business. I think most rational people can understand his daughter's desire to recontinue her education at Corbin especially if she has been basically reared in the Corbin School system. On a cautionary note, I will also say that issues like this are fodder for gossip and ridicule. The Whitley job has great potential but there are undeniably some slippery slopes with regard to the perceptions of the Whitley faithful. To be successful, the new coach is going to have to win the confidense of the community.

Crumjr Woa, slow down. I meant nothing by my comment. Southern had a nice team not a dominate team. I was simply referring to a string of home games Whitley had in February in which they were blown out. Southern indeed had their way with Whitley. Had the brawl not occurred Southern would have won by at least 30. I think they were up by 27 at the end of three. Whitley lost several games in a row by whopping scores.

There are bad coaches and bad parents. There are also good coaches and good parents. Most parents are going to do what they believe is in the best interest of their child. Most coaches are going to do what they believe will protect their job or serve their own interests. These observations are fact. Given these facts, the coach must find a way to win to keep his job. In general, a smart coach will win over the parents before he wins over the player. Once a coach wins over a parent, the player has no choice except to perform becaused he gets pushed to work hard both at home and on the field. Many times a coach has to make decisions regarding parents just as he does players. There is no way around it. Choices have to be made and the chips have to fall where they may. Any coach that says he has not made decisions based on political influence or family connections is probably not telling the truth. A smart coach will make these decisions with his future in mind. A smart parent will use his influence to help his child in anyway he can. If things are obviously not going right for your child, then as a good parent you will rectify the situation or move your child to another program. I see no problem in either case as long as kids are allowed to go to school anywhere they want. When the state gets involved with transfer restrictions, there are inevitably going to be problems. A coach should not want to coach a kid that does not want to play for him and vice versa. The problem occurs when coaches decide that if a certain kid does not want to participate in said coaches program he should not participate anywhere. As for the real world, nobody should keep a job or career that they hate. Life is too short to waste just as the high high school sports experience is too short too waste.

Coach Guffy was not the right man for Whitley and this fact has been evident for at least two years. Had Whitley shown some improvement over the season, Guffy may have been able to keep his job, the truth is however, Whitley did not show significant improvement over the course of the season. The blowout lossess at home in February to relatively weak teams (Russell County, Clinton County, Madison Southern) sealed his fate. Trailing Corbin 40-14 at halftime did not help either. In addition to the varsity's woe's the JV team was 1-10. Lots of hope had been placed in the freshman and sophmore class as these kids had performed well in the past. 1-10 JV and 5-22 varsity does not exactly spell optimism. As 4chs stated, Guffy had not been able to retain the better basketball players coming in from the middle school. For whatever reason, only one middle school starter remained on the team in the 10th, 11th ,and 12th grades. Two of the best three freshman had already left the team and a third had decided not to play for Guffy next season. All three of these freshmen were two year starters at the middle school. All three were very physicaly mature, heldback kids that could play. No team can compete without retaining their top talent from their feeder program and for unknown reasons this was a problem for Guffy. As for knowing his fate, he has known for some time that he would not be back and has been rumored to be looking for another job. It would be hard to blame him under the circumstances. Guffy is a good guy and he will find a place that fits his persona much better than Whitley. I personally wish him the best and hope that he has tremendous success in the future.