[Colonels87]

Granted, I don't keep up with the SHS program like I used to, but I do still know a lot of the Jumpers from back when I played against them in the '80s. Their best running back from back then is now a doctor, and their best receiver back then is a police officer. One of their best linemen from that era is a doctor, another is a lawyer, another is a college professor.

And more recently, I do know that they had maybe their best player in decades just a few years ago. He's now a starting receiver at Vanderbilt. Another recent alum is a three-year starter at Centre. I also watched former Jumper Tremaine (sp?) Perkins have a very nice career at (and graduate from) EKU.

I agree, things do start at home. But for some kids they need positive mentoring from coaches and other adults in the community. Best Jumper Running back in the 80's, Fletcher, 70's Venable. One of the best receivers in the 80's Lewis. Recent linemen, Jones; recent offensive standounts Newell & Newell. You need to asked the ones that did not make it if the Jumper faithfull backers could have done a better Job. That is just naming a few, there are more who's chances at success could have been increased with better mentoring. Some of the issues with this current situation and others were identifed and i think that some people just put blinders on for what ever the reason.

[RoShamBo]

I agree, things do start at home. But for some kids they need positive mentoring from coaches and other adults in the community. Best Jumper Running back in the 80's, Fletcher, 70's Venable. One of the best receivers in the 80's Lewis. Recent linemen, Jones; recent offensive standounts Newell & Newell. You need to asked the ones that did not make it if the Jumper faithfull backers could have done a better Job. That is just naming a few, there are more who's chances at success could have been increased with better mentoring. Some of the issues with this current situation and others were identifed and i think that some people just put blinders on for what ever the reason.

The three latter come from a background you couldn't even imagine. I mean zero influence at home for their entire life. And Brandon actually did very well in high school and stayed out of trouble all through school, was receiving numerous D1 offers, probably would have been the best RB in the state his senior year. Then 3rd game of his SR season he tears his ACL and his football career is essentially finished. For the record, from my most recent meetings with those three you mentioned all are doing well now. You must be a Commonwealth Journal subscriber, they would never put anything about an SW or PC player on the front page.

It is not a matter of putting blinders on, you are just picking out small exceptions and judging an entire athletic program based of it and I just think that is a little extreme. I played football for Somerset, I came from a lower middle class background, and I have a college degree and have never been in any sort of legal trouble.

The only thing I think the coaching staff needs to improve upon is putting their players out there to college coaches. There has been a lot of talent at Somerset that ends up never playing college ball, while SW and PC are sending equally and sometimes even lesser talented players to play D1A-D1AA.

[William_Munny]

Well said RoShamBo. Always seems to be someone that has to put a successful program down when a young kid makes a mistake. And expelling him from school or kicking him off the team, is like turning your back on him and kicking to the curb. I guess that is how some people mentor or show a child direction.