Carl Luther

They were toughuns'.

I noticed all year that LexCath scored in spurts. A little consistency seemed to be the only thing lacking offensively.

No. I may be wrong, but I'm not kidding. East Ky. is steadily closing the gap, IMO, and Ashland finished as a finely tuned, well disciplined, and very smart unit. By the end of the year, District 8 was as strong as any 3A district from top to bottom. I realize that the upper tier is concentrated in Louisville, Covington/Newport, and Lexington (a couple teams), but JC, Ashland, Boyd, Mason, Lawrence (well, any other year) and even Greenup (e.g., thumped South Point, OH) were capable of beating, or at least playing close, any 3A team on any given night. Eastern Kentucky has always had talent. Great coaches are starting to settle in, and our facilities are nice and getting better every year. We produce our share of talent relative to our population.

CC befuddles (yes, befuddles...at least once in life, you should use that word) me defensively. Is LexCath that much better offensively than, say, Highlands?

Loopster, when we finish 15-0, and there's no one left to play, it'll continue, but probably with a different twist. Our weak schedule kept us fresh, and minimized our injuries, or something like that. Under last year's system, I think Ashland and Highlands, two very good teams, would have advanced further. This year's system eliminated too many deserving teams early, and punished 3 of 4 teams in the most powerful districts. The best teams ultimately win out, I guess, but the most powerful teams should not have to eliminate each other in the first and second round.

CovCath is one great program. When we came up to the Bengals/Falcons, we watched the CCHS/FTH game on the tube, and I was personally mesmorized and hypnotised by the level of play of both teams. Shooo, then we had to go watch the Bengals the next day. Anyway, Covington and Newport sure play great football, and I think I speak for all Johnson Countians when I say we are honored to have the opportunity to watch CCHS play in person.

You're right. We've seen the top-rated QB in Ohio, and did okay, but haven't faced a full offensive package. I know the Ohio manchild completed 2 or 3 to our guys.

I like it. Sorta rolls off the tongue. Maybe we can get it stitched on our jerseys, or shorten it to J'ville, sorta like J'town does in Louisville.

OK, but I must say that I have never been blasted for complimenting another program. I think I see where you're getting all hung up though, after deciphering your last two posts. When I said "Rock ain't going nowhere", I was saying they'll be back next year. Rebuild. Strong program and tradition. You know, and this is kind of elementary, but words and phrases are meaningless unless they are read in the proper context. You obviously thought I was saying Rock ain't going nowhere next week, or something. Anyway, good luck to your son and team next year.

Maybe you're right. The team I saw, on that night, was as good as us on that night. We executed in the last 5 minutes, and they didn't. Worthy of top 5 at least. We'll know where Ashland ranks late Friday night.

Ashland has been our strongest opponent, and by the end of the year, was IMO as good as anyone in 3A.

We better have a chip on our shoulder!!! Its nothing personal to anyone. Its our shoulder, and our chip. We've been criticized all year for playing a weak schedule. Seven of those 13 wins came against, what I guess everyone was calling, weak district opponents. The Ashland team that played us last week would have also pounded Rockcastle. The Boyd team that played Ashland in Round 1 may have very well been better than Rock, and Mason County proved their point last year. What don't you guys get? You better hope your Tomcats come out with a chip on their shoulder next year, or you might as well just throw in the towell. The great majority of our district supports and respects us, as we do them and you. Thanks alot. Now, get out of our way while we finish what we set out to do!

You got it. He was nice enough to message me with personal apologies, which caught my rude, insulting, arrogant, persistent BGP felon butt off guard. Mark appears to be a class act, and I told him the same things most of us are saying. But if he's really sorry, he'll wear black and gold Friday night!!

Good grief... You've got to be kidding me. IT WAS A COMPLIMENT. How could a reasonable person read it any other way? As for who you pull for in the JC/CovCath game, suit yourself. Do you think anyone cares?

We have a real hard time filling our schedule with local teams. Hmmmmm..... A nice TV game for YMT, JC could alternate with Rock and Bell once every 2 years, and a huge draw for the home team. Ah...probably just wishful thinkin'.

Wow, thanks! I'll enjoy it.

Well said. I disagree that the homer announcers are ignorant, and I know for a fact that the CCH announcer is not. I'd hate to try being neutral and have to broadcast a JC game, and you can bet that the target audience of these type announcers love it. I know the Ashland gang have basically elevated their radio voice to Bo Schembechler (sic?) status. I, for one, like the way Spike does it. Not the greatest radio voice, a little nasaly, but not bad at all, and you hear it like it is. Ever heard Spike, Randy & Danny whine? I haven't. Ever heard them talk smack or call out another team? Nope. I think they're the best in E.Ky. On top of that, Spike has a great ability to see the whole field. Nine times out of 10, he has called the penalty accurately before the ref even announces it. Those kinds of things...great knowledge of the game, mean alot more than laying down good sound bites.

Hey Watusi, congrats to Belfry. I didn't think early in the year that they'd "reload" so effectively, but the Bucs looked great on Sports OT. I can only speak for myself, but I don't EVER take anything serious on BGP. Its fun, but only if we can smack each other around every now and then. I'm proud of our Mtn. teams, and I think we are on the verge of consistent respect at all 4 (at least 3) class levels.

Thanks. Its all in fun. Good luck, and hope we keep improving so we'll have many more in the new 5A. Nite Cincy, and wish we had a Hooters. Go Bengals (a high school all-star team could assist in the defense department).

Thanks. I used to cross the Suspension Bridge and slip between the bars at Riverfront. Stargill bounced one off a chick a couple rows in front of me in RF, and it went 20 feet over my head. Snuck into the all-star game in '70 right after it opened. Never did Nippert though, but I fished off the Mike Fink once. Good luck, and y'all (what's that Florence Mall water tower all about?) have a good visit to Eagleville (aka Johnsonville, or Paintsville).

Thanks. Not sure how to respond to such a smooth blend of insults and compliments. Mapquest will get you lost. Hit 64, turn left, go 100 miles to the light, turn right, go thru the next light then 30 more miles, turn left at the flashing light, thru 3 more lights, then a sharp left. Bring a chainge of underwear.

Oh, my bad. Hope its not beneath you to wallow around in our mudhole. It'll be fun. BTW, what's a "Nippert"?

Its in that city where all of Cincinnati's high schools go to pad their records. Give Johnsonville a year or two, and we'll come up there and maybe earn some degree of respect back for the Commonwealth.

Firebird, the more I read about these "holier" homers, the more I regret that we'll be laying an artificial surface on top of all these years of sacrifice next year. I'll guarantee that arrogant private school announcer one thing...he better be ready to play all weekend if he thinks "Our Lady of 10 Games on Carpet" has the illusion that he's gonna drop 56 points on this bunch. Pack a lunch Father.

Thank you from us all. Rock ain't goin' nowhere, and we're proud to rise to that level of respect. I'm a jerk sometimes, but our kids are very respectful and all business, with a dash of well-deserved, hard-earned cockiness. I thought the Rock players and coaches whined a little tonight, but that's what winners do when tradition and expectations reach that point. I personally would have been dissapointed had Rock not complained when things weren't going their way, and had Rock not fought 'til the end. Hopefully, we're on our way to expecting to win the region every single year!!! It may ruffle a few feathers, but who cares. Make some room for the new kids in town.