o-line

:eek:

Not sure about Russell's defense, TOPPERDAD, but if your score holds true, then Breathitt will be a definite threat to make the trip to Louisville once again next month! :thumb:

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Breathitt was the #1 ranked team when we managed to come away with a hard-fought playoff win at Jackson that year. And, while our subsequent game with the Pirates was close throughout, Breathitt had managed to sideline 2 of our best players. So you can never underestimate Coach Holcomb's ability to get his team ready to play any given team, no matter their style of play.

Like I said in the game thread, EKU, after losing starting QB Hughes along with his senior leadership, in the Pikeville game just a few weeks ago, both Burchett and the Blackcats have been on the uphill side of the learning curve and, while Burchett and the team have begun adjusting to the switch, they're not where they would have been had Hughes not sustained his injury, although Coach D has made a few strategic changes that appear to have effectively shortened that curve. But you're right! "Load up the bus ....", travel through a couple different area codes, and we're playing another Regional Final game. :thumb:

I've noticed that Firefox won't navigate the Blackcat site like Windows Explorer. Firefox will, however, reveal the pull-downs, but you have to hold down the pull-down and then stop on the tab you want to view, which then opens. It's definitely not Firefox-friendly!

Our website is a good source for some background, roster, etc., although Hughes was the QB until his season-ending injury at Pikeville a few weeks ago. Michael Burchett has had to step into that role a bit earlier than anticipated. Here is the link: http://www.blackcatfootball.com/

:thumb: Best site anywhere for Kentucky sports, especially high school football, during season, basketball, during season, etc.! :ylsuper:

Absolutely, onei! "Hats off to Shelby Valley in coming out playing hard at the beginning." And Blevins had lined up as TE on that play and Burchett had time to look for his first two options before dumping it off to him. And as long as the o-line continues giving him the time, he'll be completing many more, and the more comfortable he becomes, the more he'll give other team fits and start zipping the ball before they know whether it's a pass or run play. A good arm indeed, and continues to get a better feel for what he needs to do with each game. The injury to Hughes, while unfortunate, has given Burchett the experience he needs for the Blackcats to be successful over the next couple of years. And we've been to Louisville a few times over the years, summer and fall, so it's not a trip we're not familiar with, but DeSales will be a tough opponent, and will take a nearly perfect effort from the Blackcats to come away with the "W". But you're right. "On to Louisville....." :ylsuper:

Hey, we really appreciate that! :lol: j/j, of course....

The holding calls at the wrong times after long drives kept frustrating the Blackcats early in this one, but the physical play dished out by the defense finally began to show by the end of the 1st quarter. Shelby Valley came out ready to play from the opening kickoff, and moved the ball well during their first couple possessions, but the Blackats were able to force them into mistakes and, while Valley enjoyed some success with their passing game, that stingy Blackcat defense kept turning up the pressure, causing the Wildcats to continue turning the ball over. Burchett, forced into playing QB after the injury to Hughes during the Pikeville game, has stepped up to the task, with the help of his o-line, and beginning to enjoy more time to run the offense which finished the game without a single turnover. The second half was all Blackcats! :thumb:

I am not aligned with JC but nevertheless, the priorities for the KHSAA should begin with the child's best interest which, ultimately, isn't their responsibility, and then whether the school's athletic activities gave them an advantage, etc., instead of attempting to determine the degree of advantage, or lack thereof, before seeking to determine whether the child's transfer to another school was legimate, even if it requires the Kentucky Board of Education to amend their policy in this respect, thereby placing the most important decision in the hands of the education professionals. Then, if someone still files a complaint with the KHSAA, the KHSAA should then contact the KBE for confirmation as to whether a child has met the KBE's transfer requirements, before the need for their involvement becomes necessary. This initial step should be the responsibility of the KBE, not the KHSAA, whether this may or may not be popular with either entity! :eek: Then, only after such decisions are made by the KBE, should the KHSAA begin their involvement with athletics which should be, after all, their sole responsibility. This would also eliminate any complaints the KHSAA would be responsible for regarding eligibility.

Frustration as well, with Hughes' ACL injury as the latest example, is a contributing factor. Ordinarily, multiple injuries during seasons separated by 3 years wouldn't provoke such thoughts..... :confused:

Like I said, very few will see it as I do. :argue:

Not so much cheated as a victim of circumstances. But the inference to playoff alignment as apropos to theme. And, of course, I hate to disappoint you, but just felt the urge. The Presidential campaigns are starting to get heated!

JD is referring to 2 different seasons, westsider(and maybe I'm getting a bit senile in my old age but, IMHO, I feel it's too early for these kids to find out how cruel politics can be in the political arena, but I keep hearing the same old song and dance, and it simply ain't so!). I realize I'm stepping on a few toes here, but I feel the need to tell it as it is(at least for the past several years, or so), and hope my comments don't create any animosity toward anyone other than myself, although the adults who enjoy playing here do so with the kids' thought process which will, more than likely, ultimately transcend to the playing field where the kids should learn that hard work, determination, and perseverance, plays a much larger role in the transition to their next level, and should determine wins and losses. But this probably will continue, at best or, more likely, get worse! But you should consider KHSAA's influence, and politics(Pike always sends a very large number to the polling booths, which should be sufficient but, unfortunately, only helps to perpetuate this with those who choose to take advantage of it :irked: ) which, unfortunately, a select few benefit from, and who pass along the wrong lesson for our kids to learn what degree it can have in their future(most will never enter the political arena) leaving them to sort this out on their own, and losing time better spent on the opportunities available to them in preparing for life as an adult. An example, as a matter of fact, is the opportunity for Belfry to host the playoffs through Semi-State both this year and next! :creepy: Also, I watched the Owensboro Catholic game you mentioned fall prey to this situation. But Prestonsburg, while not playing their best regular season game at home should, nevertheless, have won that game with Belfry if not for only a couple of strategic penalties. And, if not for the injuries finally taking their toll at Breathitt Co.(and P-Burg continues to struggle even more, as time passes, to get enough numbers to allow even enough to play both sides of the ball, much to the pleasure of the many detractors, with the reason, not the least of which is, in part, due to this) which, if hosted at P-burg wouldn't have been the case as it would have been a different opponent, with the subsequent game with Belfry played at P-Burg and more difficult for the officiating to have influenced the outcome. I realize very few will see it as I do, but I will sleep better after this, much as those involved, who could care less, do! :thumb:

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Why would anyone want to give them any more power than they currently have? They aren't a part of the KDE, and they're already arbitrary in their rulings, so why reward them with even more power to use as they see fit? :confused:

There are situations where the KHSAA does rule this way! This is strictly at their discretion, of course.

I agree. It appears there's far too much patronage. If the rules were uniformly enforced, such as "sit out a year", which often results in whatever the KHSAA deems appropriate, etc., that "client" would have more credibility. It's a separate entity and not a part of the KDE and, while I'm not positive the same problems wouldn't occur, since politics has been known to intervene with the KDE, at least the school system would make the decisions regarding a particular student's eligibility, or ineligibility. As it is now, athletics is more important than academics since we have both the KDE, as well as the KHSAA deciding the disposition of a child's future involvement, or the lack thereof. We, as recently as '03, were in a situation that, in retrospect, should not have taken for granted the student would be successful in achieving, whereas the student was to complete additional academic work which would have allowed him to continue to attend the classes with the same classmates as in prior years, but failed to do so. So the student was placed behind his classmates by the KDE, which should have been sufficient grounds for ineligibility as regards athletics. But we also have the KHSAA, which is allowed to dictate the same disposition, after it has already been decided! So, ultimately, the KHSAA has more power to decide a child's fate, as it pertains to athletics, than does our KDE, or there would be no need for their involvement! I do see the need, however, for knowledgeable individuals to be involved in athletics in our school system instead of academicians, but I believe they are available. If not for the seriousness of the subject, I'd almost think it funny that these adults would want their names associated with child's play! This isn't the NFL. :creepy: And the NCAA is represented by the schools they are involved with. :confused:

:ylsuper:

17 48 99 5 20 24 16 8 2 6 Didn't get my picks in before leaving for Talladega last week, so I've got to hope for some luck from here on out! :sleep:

We just need to make sure we have a country with a future to leave them! As long we maintain our present position in the world, along with substantial adjustments needed to ensure their future stability, we will be able to feel good about their future. We're still the greatest country in the world, but our borders need secured and our social system is almost beyond fixing. If we continue to borrow from Social Security, it won't be there for them. We need strong leadership to defend our country, and those with the courage to make the necessary changes, or we'll leave them with a country that's broke and without the ability to assist those who are truly in need.

What a heart-wrenching situation, and a fantastic gesture by these kids who did this on their own. But it's also a tribute to the communities they're in! All too often, adults selfishly exert so much pressure this simply would not happen, even though it would be much less uncommon if more kids were able to grow for themselves, instead of driven entirely by those who distance themselves after that last game! Sure, these kids gain some direction and develop a better understanding of the work ethic they'll need, but their views of winning are more than they're given credit for. We need to remember where we came from and, hopefully, make it more conducive for them to become a part of the communites they've given so much of their youth to. They understand "dog eat dog" much earlier than we did! And they should know their sacrifices were not only for themselves.

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