[Blau Vogel]

Not much Diversity here in the Mountains. Plus there is not much Industry here other than Coal mining. Lots of the problems are bought on by local goverment. County Occupational tax and City tax often keep major Manufacturing Companys out of this area. Perfect example would be comparing Paintsville to a little town across the river Called Prichard WV. Other than a small mom & pop rubber products manufacturer Paintsville has ZERO manufacturing plants. Prichard on the other hand has one the Worlds largest Auto parts makers expanding a large plant there, plus a Large Japanese factory doing CNC production work, add a large steel supplier and lots of other industrial based buisness. Add a huge railroad station that will be under constuction soon. Prichard has no County Occupational tax or a City tax plus the property tax is about 40% lower than Paintsville/Johnson CO. IF Federal ,state and Local Goverment keep sticking it to the Coal Industry that Fancy Football Field at JCHS will be Flea Market. Johnson Co managed to run off Amercian Standard who at one time provided the area with Over 800 jobs.

I am sorry, but I still don't understand...What does the above have to do with two schools with the same number of students not being able to compete with each other. 300 teen aged boys from here seem the same as 300 teen aged boys there. If a coach can get 50 - 75 of them to commit to the hard work it takes it should be pretty much equal. If the coach can only get 20 - 30 out it is tough, but that is not an excuse.