barty32

Ashland - 33 Boyd - 12 I think some missed extra points will be a big issue in this game but Ashland takes this one easily. Oh yeah, and my friend here thinks that it will be some epic thriller: Ashland - 20 Boyd - 19

well the challenges im referring to Phinneaus is that the kids arent excited to be there. i talked to coach stricklin before the season started and he admitted he missed the kids from last year. he has no leader and no one who knows how to get the team fired up ready to win one for the team. Wburg has always been interested in their batting averages and other stats

I didn't think Cumberland would be that good. I haven't had a chance to see Williamsburg play but I know Coach Striklin has had a challenge this year with his players but like always is doing a fine job. He would get my vote every year for Coach of the year.

I was just searching through the threads and noticed that there wasn't an Ashland thread and I decided I would start one. So, just what do you all think about Ashland this coming season after the recent letdown of the 2007 season? What are their strengths and weaknesses? and Who do you think will rise to the occasion and do well this season, especially since Matt Thomas won't be there this year?

Wow impressive that Williamsburg pulled this one out. Not only is Middlesboro a good fastball hitting team but Williamsburg lost a lot of talent losing Catcher Aaron Root and Geoffrey Witt. Both were above average hitters and went on to play college ball i believe. Congrats to the jackets for pulling this one out.

I wrestled at Ashland and I went to several tournaments in Ohio back when I wrestled... but I do agree that KY wrestling is far from top notch and it is still in its growing stages and there just isn't enough interest for the sport.... most people either play basketball or do nothing at all... I really wish there was more interest for the sport.

I think Ashland may be a little bit of a sleeper, they may not win the region but they did give Russel an extremely close game the other night. Scores: Ash-6, Rus-25 Ash- 25, Rus-11 Ash- 23, Rus- 25 I'm still not sure what to think of their team this year but I'm sure you'll see a few suprises happen this year in the region if they continue to improve.

you read my mind... and I really hope we turn out sort of like last year using this game as a wake up call and finally get our act together.

I can see where we are both very opinionated on the issue, but all that each of us got to see between ashland and raceland was the game between the two teams, there wasn't much else to compare them to. I think it's a never ending argument. Ashland had plenty of weapons last year but i believe that they were on the defensive side of the ball mostly and they didn't show in that first game last year, all i'm saying is that Ashland wasn't prepared last year, and unfortunately they have that tendency, but tonight they were just outplayed by a better prepared Raceland team. Congrats.

I don't have a clue about the first two of those last four games but all I'm saying is that last year's game was a fluke and this year's game wasn't, Raceland earned this win tonight.

what school does he coach for?

Well... I guess I should put my two cents in on this one... The first win was definitely a fluke if you look at how last year's Ashland team thought that they would just march all over them after the 2005 season butt- whoopin' the Rams took from the Cats. Last year Ashland had the better team but wasn't expecting the Rams to be that pumped for the game. However, this year's Ashland team imo is like a boat with holes drilled in the hull... the only thing they have going for them is a good backfield, other than that they're terrible. Alot of work needs to be done by the Tomcats or it's gonna be a long season. But congrats to the Rams... this year wasn't a fluke at all. The Tomcats just don't have their act together yet this year, and quite frankly I'm pretty worried about this season.:confused:

I was really impressed with Carter at running back, and really the whole Ashland backfield was better than I expected it to be. However, Thomas really needs to get comfortable being in the pocket, then he will be a dangerous passing threat because he has a good arm. The o-line really needs some work. I saw several missed assignments, they got better as the game went on but you just can't have that "warm-up" time against some of the good teams that they'll face this year. The defense kind of disappointed me... They just looked slow. There's really no other word for it... imo. Coach Love has done a good job of getting them ready to play but they just need to play on instinct and not think so much, because all that time spent thinking really slows you down... if they can speed it up then they will be hard to get through.

Like others said before, I think Ashland will be fine... but I think they can do one of two things: 1. come out meaning business and fully reloaded, or 2. take a game or two to really get into rythm and win games like they did last year. But there's no way they are gonna go out and just bomb the whole season, they'll lose no more than three or four games (including the playoffs).

wow.. I can't believe nobody in eastern Ky has mentioned the growing Johnson Central - Ashland rivalry. The last two years have shown split wins, close games, and a little bit of bad blood.