[dirtybird]

The way I always heard it was that Coach Runyon's plan when he took the job in '05 was to coach one season to keep Chuke Williams from taking over. There was a faction of support for Chuke at the time. Runyon supposedly agreed to coach one season, and turn it over to Coach Jim Tom Allen. Allen was being courted by some other schools for their top job, and PHS did not want to lose him because he was an excellent teacher as well as a very good assistant coach. As is turned out, he didn't quite have what it takes to be a head coach at the time. His teams were very undisciplined and chaotic. Runyon's year was a sort of stop gap to hold the job for Allen. He cetainly did not abandon the program. Coach Runyon is the bluest bleeding Blueblood of them all. His name will be forever mentioned with the same reverence as Brugh and Adkins. These three are the backbone of what is tradition. If Runyon ends up coaching football again, it will be for the sake of restoring something he believes to the pit of his soul, Tiger Pride. He has no selfish motivation to do this. His legend is established. If there is a coaching change, and he is willing to do it, the school and everyone involved should welcome and encourage it all the way.

You are right in saying Runyon took the job to keep Chuke Williams from getting it. Runyon also knew he was going to be loaded that year and it would be a favorable situation for him. From what I've heard Runyon didn't like how popular Chuke was in the school and felt threatened by it so he took the job to oust him. To say Runyon "didn't abandon" the Tiger program is way off. I know your post probably makes your feel all warm and fuzzy inside about Runyon but he is one of the primary reasons for the downfall of Paintsville Football. Runyon ended up running off two good coaches in Jim Tom Allen and Joe Chirico. From what I was told by some of his former players Runyon didn't even coach the team when he was the head coach in '05. I just don't think you can count on Bill Mike to restore the once prideful tradition of Paintsville Football. I just hope Paintsville does the right thing this time around.