PARISPRIDE

We were promised to have kids on Friday nights... didn't happen (Band won), we lost kids to eligibility in the preseason (one of which was one of if not THE best football player I've ever seen) and had kids railroaded by the admin during the season by a bogus policy that wasn't enforced come Girls B-ball season. The straw that broke the camels back was when the system started to cut deals with seniors to graduate who would have been tremendous contributors last fall. The new coach will experience all these things and more I'm sure. As I stated before... Good Luck and God Bless!

haha... nice one. Truth hurts bro. :ylsuper:

Obviously you and HDawg are both close to the program or have some sort of care for what happens in the future, and it's funny... cause I don't ever recall seeing you at a fundraising function or parent meeting to get this program off the ground! I love all the people on here who claim to have their finger on the pulse of Paris Football but yet don't have the work ethic or care to step up and help. Maybe if all the posters had spent their time working to better our program and not degrading it then Paris would be a nice place to build something. I hope all the possible candidates are taking notes... this is the type of people that support Paris football... all bark and no bite. Too many Chiefs and not enough Indians. As for my job, I'm glad to have it and will continue to work to educate the kids that enter my classroom everyday. I wasn't the one that stirred the muddy water, I'm just trying to clear it for anyone that thinks they understand the situation. The staff and I, all be it small, worked our butt's off to help these kids and this is the appreciation received. I'll be in Florida soon enough and you guys can take turns trying to stab the future coach in the back and cut his throat... :laugh:

Great job Travis. I wish you the best at H-berg and thank you for your hard work and effort as a Paris Greyhound! You will have a great career.

The former OC from Palm Bay High School is interested in taking the position. I think he's crazy for wanting it because of the paramount differences from Palm Bay (2 Time 5A State Champs in the last 5 years) to Paris but his wife is dead set on KY and I will support him. He is a friend of mine and is someone that would continue to develop a level of discipline and accountability that the Paris kids need. Some don't get it at home and they certainly don't get it at school... football could be a way to a better future for some of these kids and I can only hope that the administration and more so, the community will gather behind the next coach and help them be successful. Without quality assistants, a quality booster organization for football and a high level of discipline and accountability on and off the football field it will be tough row to hoe for any individual. There are several people in this community that want to talk about 81, 82 and what Paris football once was; but the effort and elbow grease to get it back is lacking! There were a handful of parents who weren't afraid to step up and help in any way shape or form, and Paris football is indebted to them. Unfortunately for the new coach, those parents had seniors and are so fed up with the administration and focus on football that I doubt they will be back for a game. There are a few more you can trust to be there and work hard, get to know the good from the bad and stay away from the ugly. I agree with several other posters that a local individual might be the best bet. Someone possibly not affiliated with the school except for as a coach. Someone that knows the community and the kids. Whoever gets it needs to watch his back and look out for who they hire. There are people roaming the building that will stab you in the back and we let go of assistants who want to befriend the players and undermine the program. Overall, be careful... working at Paris is like an everyday soap opera. Hey, nonetheless... whether you win games or not it will never be boring. Good luck and God Bless... you will need it. I'll send you some Oranges during the next flood. :dancingpa

Sounds like Bruce Jones is the lead dog in the race right now. Good luck to whoever is hired... with the recent flooding it will be hard to coax anyone to take the Paris job. :confused:

This game had a real "Hickory High/Jimmy Chitwood" feel to it! Elliott was completely outmanned yet fought with an unbelievable desire. Congratulations Mason and good luck vs. PT.... to the Elliott supporters, it was a pleasure to be seated on your side. I hope everyone else at this game took away some of Elliott County's karma... with all 5 coming back next year they will be TOUGH! :thumb:

That's what they do in Florida and believe me... I can't wait to get down there! :ylsuper: Every spring sport is scheduled so that the state championships are in late April and therefore football gets the entire roster back for spring football starting May 1. Every team has the choice to play an actual spring game vs. another opponent to wrap up spring and NO, there is no dead period in the summer. :thumb: It's a football oriented system and that's what makes it so advantageous for anyone looking to seriously build a program.

I have a good friend from the Florida coaching ranks who would be very interested in taking the reigns at Paris. Kevin Mays has been on staff at one of the best programs in the state of Florida (Palm Bay High School) as an offensive coordinator and would be a good fit here to continue building off the discipline and direction we worked very hard to achieve. His wife is dead set on getting to the bluegrass state and I would love for him to lead this program... I want to see it land in good hands and he would do an outstanding job! He cares about the kids and is passionate about the game. Paris would be lucky to get him. :thumb:

I would love to see the kids have spring practice... but it wouldn't be right for me to conduct. I have discussed it with current assistants and our AD and am hopeful that there is a way for assistants to have spring ball. It would be a good time to work on fundamentals and reward the kids that have worked hard in the weightroom this winter. There are some great kids here and I wish them well. Several posts have touched on issues holding back the football program, but the surface to the problems at Paris hasn't even been scratched and this forum isn't the place to air them. "We will stay the same until the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change." There are good kids at Paris and the ability to build a good football team is alive. As I stated before, it will take time. I plan on helping in the transition in any way shape or form for the future coach and wish that person and everyone in Paris nothing but the best. Lot's of good people and I'm happy to have met and worked with them.

Coach Scenters is a great coach and a better person. He will build a program focused on helping his players become better men and winning football games will be a bi-product of that mission. He has his priorities straight as a coach and mentor to young people. With an outstanding football IQ and work ethic he will build a successful football program at Garrard. I'm sure he already has a few coaches committed to coming with him and one I know for sure is just as outstanding a person as he is. Good luck to Coach Scenters and his staff at Garrard!:thumb:

I have tried to thank everyone I can in the past 72 hours since my announcement for all the hard work this past season. I'd like to use this venue to honor the wonderful people of Paris and wish the kids and future coach nothing but the best. Leaving Paris was a difficult decision but with the level of focus and community support that high school football gets in Florida this opportunity was impossible to pass up. I will do all I can for Paris Football in the future and hope that the next coach can build off the momentum and discipline we have instilled. Paris, as we all know, has a storied tradition and there are still many good kids here to build a program around. With a dwindling male population from the high school to the elementary it will be a challenge in the long run. It can and will happen with time. Overall, it has been an outstanding experience and I wish the kids, parents and all of Paris nothing but the best. :thumb:

There has been a lot of interest in these fine individuals as well there should be. These men showed great leadership and ability along with a good work ethic! Here's what I can tell thus far in the recruiting process: Travis A. - Heidelberg College (OH) lead Campbellesville (KY) interested Des Henson - Yet to be determined Zack Klimper - Hopes to walk on at EKU Jeremy Shupe - Possible walk on Zach Stevens - Georgetown/EKU both very interested. We are working hard to develop positive relationships for these kids and I wish them all the best wherever they choose to carry on their education!

I agree 100% with KyFans11. We are proud of the direction that we are headed in and with continued effort we will be improved in the future. I have recently added two new assistants to our staff that we feel will help us tremendously this spring and fall. We have averaged between 15-18 kids per day in the weightroom and although those numbers aren't overwhelming, I feel that it is a great start. We need to develop those kids strength and speed wise and everyday we teach and discuss football concepts with our kids to help improve our football IQ. We have some tremendous backs and receivers coming back next year and with a strong, disciplined and fundamentally sound offensive and defensive line we should have more of an opportunity to compete. Our focus on the classroom is beginning to pay off and I truly believe that we will not lose kids to eligibility during the summer or preseason next year. We were hit very very hard with the loss of a few key players for us last year during the preseason and we are working hard to create an appreciation for the classroom that will prevent things like that from happening in the future. Overall, we are focused mainly on one thing... developing well rounded and disciplined individuals. If we can create an environment that is advantageous for our kids and their futures then winning football games will be a by-product of that mission. :thumb:

This kid is really special... we found out first hand week one this past season!!! Congratulations to Richie and to Coach Buchanan. What an outstanding achievement for a very good athlete.:thumb:

Oh, were not making excuses... I believe all LCA supporters can do plenty of that for the next year or so. We are big fans of Raceland and no one will sing their praises more than I do... simply because we know that they do it the right way. :ylsuper:

:thumb::thumb::thumb: Great post. None of this changes the facts about what is happening. "It's not what you say that matters... It's what you do that defines you." We've all made mistakes in coaching, teaching and in dealings with kids. But what is happening at LCA is inexcusable and hopefully with all the attention surrounding this sitaution the KHSAA will reconsider their ruling to create a level playing field for 4 hard working programs that share a district with LCA, not to mention the east and southeast regions in Class A.

Coach Cooksey is a great man. He will be well remembered by the Paris staff as a good coach and better person. I speak for the staff by saying that we wish Nathan McPeek the best with the Fairview program. I love being a part of our fine district and believe that McPeek will do a wonderful job making Fairview a competitor. :thumb:

Proof??? Wait and see if LCA bumps up in 2009... that's the most substantial proof available. If you can throw a 90 mph fast ball, squat 500 lbs, or dunk a basketball you go to the top of the waiting list to enroll as long as it doesn't flirt with the cut off line for 1A. Need proof for that? Go for a visit and walk the halls, take a look at a weight session, watch a basketball game or check out their baseball squad this spring. It's a Gold mine.

Everyone should go to the North Gwinnett High School Football page... WOW!!! He is one heck of a football coach that has obviously built an incredible program. Great job Coach Sphire!!!

:dancingpa Wow, I've been looking for some great bulletin board material!!! Safe to say... we'll be hitting the weights a little harder tomorrow because if this. Anyone with a pulse knows that LCA recruits, screens kids, and limits their enrollment to remain 1A. Maybe the KHSAA will step up and do the right thing... Maybe? Either way, doesn't matter to me or my boys, we'll be talking about working to the point when we can compete with LCA every set, every rep, every day. I rarely post, but this one is interesting. Nice post above...:thumb:

WKU would be a perfect fit for the state championships after next season! I say that not only because I am a proud alumnus, but because many do not know that with the push to Division I Western's facilities will blow The Ville away! It will be much more accommodating for visiting fans and coaches. If location is the biggest reason to fuss I ask that you visit WKU's Athletic website at http://www.wkusports.com. Look at the football link and check out the upgrades. Think about accessibility in terms to stadium location. It would definitely be a longer trip for us but I believe that it would be worth the trip. GO TOPPERS!!! :dancingpa

OUSTANDING POINT!!! This is another big piece of the puzzle that we are working desperately to create... a great feeder program. Right now we are lucky. We have great coaches at all levels that are pushing the kids to do the right thing on and off the field. Great role models in the youth program are a big key to success at the high school level! :thumb: The great southeastern KY programs that I'm familiar with have awesome feeder programs. (Bell, Rock, Breathitt, Corbin, Belfry, etc.) Hats off to all these programs for setting great examples for young coaches everywhere!

Good luck LCA... represent our district and bring home the hardware!!! :ylsuper:

I think this is a great discussion... Here at Paris I have been hitting the halls on a daily basis recruiting kids from other sports and activities to help us in the weightroom. Paris is a very, very small district and with only 90 - 100 boys in grades 9-12 we need every willing and able student to participate. We struggled mainly because of a lack of numbers this year. At times, because of injury, I can recall dressing as little as 22 players this past season. Our future success depends on our ability to get kids out this winter and develop their strength, footwork, technique and toughness. With our efforts we are seeing immediate success! Our numbers are up and the most beneficial aspect of this is not only the fact that we can develop these kids on football fundamentals early, but we are breeding great competition day-in and day-out. It's exciting to have familiar faces hitting the weights during the off-season but it's even better when kids out of the halls that can truly help on the field are getting involved as well! I hope everyone out there will stomp the halls and get kids involved in their respective programs... I feel that it has already been a big boost for our program!:ylsuper: