[Hoot Gibson]

The team did finish 10-0...I'm not mistaken on that part, as it was Teeny VanHoose's first year to coach at JC after leaving Boyd Co. The 1976 year was a disaster under one year coach Jerry Beatty. I just can't remember how the district title part came out. I think that Central was also in the same district as Russell at that time too. One needs to remember at this time that Boyd Co. was a state powerhouse, and were only a couple years removed from being the at large Kentucky 4A state champs, eventually losing to the Louisville area 4A champion in the title game.....Boyd had undisputably the best backfield in the state at that time. A couple of names from the Boyd program from the day were FB/LB Robin Chaney (Kentucky Mr. Football and eventual UK defensive captain) and stud RB Terry Keelin.....I cant remember why VanHoose left to come to JC at the time though. I think he was a former Johnson Co. native, and was rumored to be at odds with the members of the BOE at the time. Had VanHoose become a long time fixture at JC , the chances are pretty good that the word "tradition" would be used to reference the JC program like it is with Belfry. I think he would have consistently had the JC program at the level that Matney currently has them at.

I agree, Bob. I don't remember for sure, but didn't Vanhoose go on to a successful career down south somewhere? It is a shame that the BOE in JC's early years seem to think that as soon as an "outsider" coach posted a decent record, then any politically connected local coach could step into his place and maintain that same level. Vanhoose built an impressive program at Boyd County and provided immediate respectability to JC's program and then he was gone.