flyin'intheflag

Isn't it wonderful to live in a country where we can hang out in the comfort of our own abodes and openly question, without fear of retribution, the substitution patterns of a man who has coached at his particular high school for 27 years! This man and this school have taken their fair share of head peelings without anyone coming to their defense on the world wide web. Now that he is administering a few of his own--people cry foul. Elliott County is sending a message...I think it is summed up like this..."the beatings will continue until morale improves!" What a country!

Maybe they took as many players from the border counties that were nominated that they actually thought could compete at the all-star level and then they filled in the roster with KY products in an attempt to boost the roster with more quality??? Just a guess. Whatever the reason I hope they picked the best team possible because we certainly want to beat Tenn. Looks like a nice coaching staff for the KY squad as well. Godd luck to the KY boys.

Did he play indoor professionally for the Huntington Heroes?

This post was not about flyin'intheflag or about any specific, factual event. Interesting responses to this hypothetical situation. Glad to see that the majority of responders agree that quitting is not the best option. Climbing up on my soapbox: Though I am not the parent of any school's athlete on any level, boy or girl, I have seen many instances where parents will help out in some fashion with a team but then cause problems if things do not go the way they envisioned the season going especially when it comes to their little darling. So I guess this is not as hypothetical as I would hope because this type of thing is happening all over the state, at all levels of play, whether it is a parent being directly involved with a team as a stats person, assistant coach, PA Announcer, bus driver, etc. or being behind the scenes like a booster club or parent club. There was a time when parents allowed their kids to play if they gave it their all. They would drop them off at practice and then come back and pick them up. They would back their child's coach up and appreciate the discipline which came from their child's participation. They were pleased that their son/daughter was a part of the team. Now, in many cases it is just the opposite. Kids are pushed into sports at an early age. Parents drop them off at practice, park the car, and follow them into practice....and then sit in little huddles in the stands critiquing and judging all involved in practice. Many question their coach at any opportunity and just wait for a chance to point out a situation where the coach is too hard on their child. If they don't get to play enough, the parent will often be the first to encourage the child just to quit. I wish things were better. Happy New Year! Dismounting soapbox...sticks the landing.

Hypothetical situation. Let's pretend that I am the parent of a fine high school basketball player or maybe even two. Furthermore, let's pretend that both of my children are on the same high school basketball team, could be boys or girls, makes no difference really. Knowing full well that I will be at every game, let's say that I agree to perform a service for the team prior to the season...oh, let's say that I am the scorebook keeper or maybe the videographer. As the season unfolds the team is having a record year, the best in school history; however, in my opinion, in spite of the unbelievable start by the team, I feel that my kids are not getting to shoot the ball enough. I think I will quit, in protest, even if it causes a disruption right before the biggest game of the year. What do you think of that?

I posted earlier that I just had this feeling in my gut that East Carter just may win the AIT this year...turns out the feeling was just gas pains afterall. Oh well, the boys from Grayson will keep improving...ball handling is the key for this squad.

I would say that his record reflects the talent that he has had in the past and in the present at Elliott Co.

West Carter's own Jeremy Webb. Son of former WC coach and principal Jim Webb. Coach J. Webb was a solid player for Morehead State.

How many coaches in the state have more years of experience coaching a team than Rick Mays? Why are so many people questioning how he handles his team that he obviously should know better than any of the web jockeys on the net. Just keep questioning though because it won't bother Coach Mays. I am sure his hide is as thick as a rhino's from coaching all those years in a basketball crazed environment like Sandy Hook, KY.

That may very well help to explain the rather curious start the Lady Raiders have had to the season since starting out as the preseason #1 pick in the region. I am sure that those voting on such a thing were expecting East's best player to be looking to dominate in her senior season trying to lead the team to the state tournament rather than packing her bags and going to the house. Interesting. The Lady Raiders have some depth and this will give Coach Easterling some time to regroup.

Thanks lottoman I basically read only the threads that are of immediate interest to me so I have missed the threads about Highlands and Collinsworth's son.

Was that a stupid question? If so I apologize but would still be interested in an answer. I was a big fan of Chris Collinsworth when he played for the Bengals. I see him on TV all the time and thought maybe he might have taken up residence in the Cincinnatti area but really have no idea because I am just a fan and not a stalker. If he does live there then just maybe he might have a child at Highlands. Believe it or not there are many folks across the state that know very little about Ft. Thomas Highlands football and the individuals on their roster. That should be evidenced by the recent all-state voting.

The problem that you have with the all-state teams is human neglect and error. (AP is voted on by the media and the CJ is voted on by the coaches.) The media don't see as many games as you would hope. Some of the sports writers have preferences in sports and naturally have a greater interest. If football is not their primary interest then they are less likely to do their job well, so they end up calling their "sports writing buddy", often from another media outlet in a different area and say something like "hey, who are you voting for on all-state?" This stacks the ballot for the area of the guy who is actually paying attention to football in his area but leaves gaps in the state and also puts people on from a writers favorite teams who may be less deserving. All the while the fans cry foul with better hopes for the coaches vote in the CJ. The coaches on the other hand are human as well and often do a less than stellar job. Here is how that works. Many coaches will clique together and pool votes...scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. Also many of the coaches for the have-nots would rather take a beatin' than vote for the coaches of the have-lots schools. Some coaches are just so entranced with their team and their schedule that they don't really know about many statewide players and vote only for the ones they have seen. Some coaches are so worn out at the end of the season from listening to crazy parents and irate boosters that voting for the all-state team is not a big priority. Granted coaches should do a conscientious job of voting but, as you see, there are many reasons why they don't and that is just a few. Those of you complaining the most about omissions need to do one of two things--1. Come to grips with the fact that these are opinion polls, accept it, and move on. or 2. Encourage your head coach to be a little more socially graceful and do the things needed to get your players some attention even if it means associating with coaches from less blessed schools, or maybe try and win with the students from your own district and stop encouraging transfers, and possibly stop beating up on high school teams so badly when you don't have to. etc, etc, etc,.

Collinsworth did a great job shutting down or severly limiting some of the best receivers in the state this year. Guy didn't hurt us, Moore didn't hurt us, the two receivers on Trotwood's team that got D1 scholarships didn't hurt us. Detmer, Dixie's very good receiver, didn't hurt us. I doubt there are very few, if any, defensive backs that played against the level of receivers that Collinsworth and had as much success as he did. Is this Collinsworth any relation to Chris Collinsworth of NFL fame?

I think "East Carter 2007 AIT Champion" may be voiced over the PA.

Was not throwing any darts. I just picked up the end of the game on 105.7 and they (Fairviews own radio crew) were saying that East had the game won and the Eagles were fortunate to "find a way to win" once again. They kept referring to East Carter only taking 4 shots in the 4th. I thought there is no way that it could be correct...but evidently it was. A wise old bird once told me that it is hard to score unless you shoot it. 4 shots with only 1 make evidently was not enough. In spite of the results from this game I believe that East has the biggest upside for improvement of anybody in the region...they have some talented athletes.

A team with two D-1 superstar type players gets waxed by Bath County on their own floor? The only way that I could see the refs making that big of a difference was if they were carrying tasers instead of whistles. Is Rose Hill overrated? Is Bath underrated? Or, can we just mark this off as another strange night in high school athletics?

Did anyone see this game in person? 105.7 made it sound like the game should have been won by East Carter as they lead virtually the entire contest until final minute; however, they only shot the ball 4 times in the 4th quarter. How do you just shoot the ball 4 times in a quarter anyway? Is that stat even accurate or was it an error? Did the Raiders try to put it in the freezer too early or did the Eagles simply put the clamps down on them? Whatever the case that was a good win for Fairview. Another game that supports that Elliott is head and shoulders above all in the region with 5 or 6 good teams stacked behind them.

The twins have the quickest hands I have ever seen in high school basketball. In fact their whole team is constantly slapping at the ball and anticipating dribble direction and passing angles. Very impressive. I don't know enough about basketball to be the judge but from what I do know I would not call Elliott Co. a great fundamentally sound defensive team--but at the same time I would say that they are one of the most effective defensive teams I have ever seen. (Does that even make sense?) What I mean is that tonight they were double teaming and extending their defense out like a bunch of crazed dogs. East had people wide open...often...but the pressure on the ball kept them from finding the open man. I went away from this game with 3 thoughts: 1. East Carter is athletic and they will get better. They are a solid point guard away from being a really good high school team. 2. Elliott pulled away in the second quarter without Ferguson and tall Knipp. Scary! 3. I have been thinking all evening about a high school team that I would compare Elliott with. I don't know that I have ever seen a 16th region team (in over 40 years) that I would be willing to say 100% sure they were better than this Elliott County team. They are good. I will be traveling to Mason Co. for their game with the Royals.

So that big stadium is the county school? I just always thought that it was the high school stadium for Valdosta High. That is pretty impressive that you have both those schools in the same county and playing to that level.

The studs jersey number and grade? I saw Belfry play a couple of times this year but that name does not ring a bell to me.

I thought I read that Mav White from East Carter was on the list at linebacker.

As well he should be. It opens up more possibilities for his program to advance. This was a strange season in Ram-land for sure and one that surprisingly left a smile on Vanderhoof's face and thoughts of what could have been in the minds of the program. Amazing isn't it. Wins over Ashland and Greenup with losses to East and West Carter? Pounded by Lex. Christian early in the season and then leading with 2min left vs the same team late in the playoffs. This could have landed them on the carpet! What a strange season.

The best 1A team or the best team? How would you compare them against the powerful 3A teams from Carter County...both defeating the Rams this season? That sentence doesn't sound right now does it! It is pretty tough to use Racelands team this year to judge the quality of competition. They were so up and down this year I don't know what to think about the Ram's season.

Lots of questions and comments on the coaches with most wins, significant win totals like 200 or 300 victories, or fastest coach to reach certain victory levels. I am interested in the head coach with the most losses. Who has the most losses as a head coach and what contributed to their longevity in the profession in spite of many losses. The only reasons I could think of to keep around a guy with a lot of defeats is that he has countered the many defeats with many victories, or he is strong in other areas (teaching, turning out quality kids, good in the community, community legend, etc.), or school system just doesn't really care if the team wins or not! Who do you think might qualify for this dubious honor?