Bubba Wilson

Les, better check your sources, You stated in a thread that Elam would be back at KC as well. Sometimes people have a change of heart.

Is this job going to Brian Evans or is it really open? I heard a few names thrown around today, but will not mention them due to their present job situation. Knox seems to always have talent, but for some reason can not put it all together. 40 years is a long time for Knox Central to make a state tourney appearance.

Exactly, and everyone has to be able to cope with the decisions that are being made, especially parents.

Just as the football coaches make weightlifting, conditioning, passing scrimmages, and agilities a litmus test of who gets playing time and who doesn't. What else other than practice performance do these coaches have to base their playing time on? Why should any coach of either sport use some other formula to determine who gets the nod to start or play significant minutes, other than these things? Being a great athlete, does not make one a good basketball player or football player. It certainly helps.... but there are many other things that go into being able to contribute. Attitude being one of the most important IMO.

It is a tough situation no doubt. Kids weight training all year round, attending combines while playing other sports, summer basketball, passing scrimmages, etc. Seems the only way around it is to say you have X number of days to play each sport a summer with your high school team. I think most would be happy with basketball in June, dead period and then football after the dead period until school starts. AAU will always be around, to high profile, not controlled by the schools ( supposidly) and generates too much revenue at the national level. Basically there is no solution only questions.

Elam was always one of me favorite coaches to watch work the sidelines. A very intense competitor who seemed like a good motivator especially against Corbin. Wonder if the new contract issued to the Supt this week had anything to do with the timing of this move? Does Knox still have to pay Elam for coaching this season since they waited so late in the year to inform him that he would not be needed? Who will be possible folks for this position? Sizemore from South would be my top pick, then Evans and maybe Whitaker if all could coexist with another guard at KC.

Brandon Elam will not be be back as coach of the Panthers next season it appears. Many had speculated this earlier and now it seems to have come full circle. http://www.thetimestribune.com/breakingnews/local_story_149002808.html

I would say, Josh Hopkins 6'5 will join the four you mentioned HDE. Luke Stewart 6'3 senior will also battle for starting time and will play big minutes IMO. After that it will be up for grabs. Coach P normally like to have 7 to 8 guys he can go to so I am sure over the summer he will groom a couple more players for the rotation. I doubt any incoming 9th graders will dress varsity. The Hounds only dressed two last and one of those was Travis Smith who saw lots of varsity action. But you never know who will be around come basketball season.

Truly hate to hear this for T. Smith. Hope he makes a speedy recovery and everything goes well for him.

Good luck to Coach Coldiron. I always felt like he got a bad deal in Cawood. He has always been around the game and now will get his chance to prove himself against the best in Central Kentucky. Lafayette is one of the most storied programs in Lexington.

I would suspect Coach Fraley to play to his strengths. He will find a way to put his best players against your weakest players. His teams usually play tough defense as well. He will be a hit with the fanbase as he is quite entertaining both on the court and with the media as well. He is one of the most quoted high school coaches in the state. There are lots of Dave Fraley stories out there and most always bring a smile to your face. Best of luck to Coach Fraley.

Is this the same David Fraley who led Pulaski County to the State Championship in 1986? If so you are getting a great and legendary coach to lead the Patriots. I would not be surprised to see Coaches like Bobby Keith, Roscoe Denny and many others showing up at Knott County games and practices since both are good friends with Coach Fraley. Exactly what will Fraley be teaching? I think he retired several years ago and has been acting as a consultant with South Laurel, and Pulaski County during the basketball season.

I would suspect you will see about 10 to 12 players seeing action on the lines this year. Seems like a good year to bring some of the younger players along and allow the veterens to get some rest until the playoffs as well. Foley will no doubt play one of the backers if he is healthy along with Watkins. Alot depends on who is playing to determine the best way to get the most talent on the field. Coach Jewell and company usually find the correct combination and always put a solid team each and every Friday night. Should be a very exciting year.

I agree. The O-line and the Defensive side of the ball will decide how far this team can go. The big hosses need to be out for football and open some holes like the great ones of the past.

The Favre comparison is pretty accurate. Sometimes good things happen and sometimes bad. I feel whoever is taking the snaps will have the task of handing the ball off to a talent backfield and will not be called upon to put the ball in the air often this season. With the horses in the backfield the Hounds should be about 90 percent run game and 10 percent threw the air. If the line can open some holes, there is nothing wrong with that at all. Roman or Travis are both capable of doing the job via the ground game. Giving up points on the defensive side of the ball might be the biggest challenge this group of Juniors and Sophomore will face as they progress in their careers. Somerset has some fine young talent and seems to be doing a great job of keeping them interested in the sport of football. I look for big things for the Purple and Gold in the next two seasons.

I am sure that the Arena management will purchase some risers to place the folding seats similar to those in Rupp Arena by the time the regional tournament will be held next March. It would be a simple issue to address along with the Pavement in the parking lots.

If Omar pitches the Hounds have a chance....who will be on the mound for this matchup?

That looks like a solid unit 4CHS, now if they can fill in the other spots with some good backups the Hounds should put lots of points on the board. I think this will be an exciting team to follow this season.

Looks like Centre got a steal. Crawford could become a very dominant player in the SCAA. Best of luck to him as a student/athlete at Centre.

I agree and sometimes wonder what adjustments could be made to encourage more big kids to play the sport. Not sure if it is the middle school program, the dedication factor or the times we are living in these days. Seems Bell County does a great job of keeping a solid line each year and their success is well documented. A moderate backfield can gain yardage if the big hawgs up front can win the battle of the trenches on Friday night. It is hard to win State Championships with 5'9 180 kids blocking on the line of scrimmage.

Howington was the center on the loaded middle school team a few years ago. That group should be Sophomores next year with many of them ready to help the varsity Hounds. I agree it should be interesting. Looks like alot of kids battling for the same positions.

How will the Hound offense look? RB- Fritts RB- Taylor FB- Watkins QB- Smith TE- Manns WR- Fredricks OL- Morris OL- Lewallen OL- Mills Foley and Vorbeck will have to play somewhere as skilled positions. Who will be the other offensive line players? Sowders has some ability as a wideout and Smallwood as a tightend? McDaniels and Mitchell could provide a spark as well somewhere on the field when the Hounds have the ball.

I see your point, but you must look at the small schools like Lynn Camp, Wburg, OBI, Harlan Ind, Red Bird, Bville, Pville, Jackson County....they never get to host it due to size.....a nice check each year would go a long ways towards their programs regardless if they make the tourney...if you can come up with the cash I am sure they will be more than happy to vote in your direction. If the 52nd wants to stomach the blow then they have the right to agree to provide the same services.

I see your point of view and if the arena was in Harlan I would probably share the same reservations based on travel, but in the end it comes down to every school in the region getting money, every fan being able to have a nice chair back seat, plenty of parking, teams being able to play in an arena not a gym and most importantly a neutral location where no team has any mental advantage. I know Corbin has been involved in 4 out of the last 5 regional championship games, but I would support the move if the Arena was located in London or Barbourville even Manchester or Pineville. Maybe they will move the Harlan School to the 14th and then everyone would be satisfied with the Arena. Other than a long travel distance for Harlan County, there is not a drawback. One thing that would be improved is the time needed to clear the gym.......20 minutes after one game is over the next would begin...that in itself would help greatly for the teams having to travel on school nights. There would be no need for an hour to clear the gym between games. If Harlan County can come up with the same money for each school regardless of making the region then I say let them host it in the future. The new gym is great. The schools there do a great job hosting events and if I recall correctly my Hounds have won the region in Harlan County a couple of times as well.......but I can not see them being able to do this unless they have some financial support that I am not aware of. I can promise you this structure was not built for the sole purpose of hosting a regional basketball tournament for Corbin High School.....lol.....Les is right. It is a business and it seems to have worked out pretty well for the 15th region. We are in the dark ages here in the 13th. Almost half the regions in the state are hosted at big locations and those regions, schools are reaping the benefits thus so are the students. The extra money will lighten fund raising, increase summer camp money and more than likely provide many things for all the area schools. The neutral fan will come out and watch due to the fact they can buy a ticket and have a sit, no waiting in line, calling someone you know, etc. It just makes too much sense.