[jetpilot]

I think that you are not giving the Paintsville coaching staff the credit that they deserve. Joe Chirico took over a Paintsville program that was in danger of disappearing. What he has done with the program in such a short time is nothing short of amazing. Paintsville did not just beat Pikeville in the second meeting last year, the Tigers soundly beat the Panthers.

I don't know about you, but I have never seen such a big swing in a team's fortunes in a single season. Paintsville rebounded from a 62-8 loss to Pikeville to post a 30-6 playoff win only 10 weeks later.

Both of these teams are very well coached but I certainly would not give the coaching edge to Pikeville in light of last season's results. I am no Paintsville fan but Coach Chirico has made me a believer in his program. Nobody in the state has turned in a better coaching job over the past two years. It takes a special coach to turn around a dying program to field a top 5 team in just over two seasons.

I give the edge to Paintsville because of the home field advantage, but nothing would surprise me. Paintsville embarrassed Pikeville last season and that can be a powerful motivator.

First of all, I love Paintsville's coach, team and school. However I have to make a few points here, all IMO purely as a Monday morning QB...

1. The post you responded to had nothing to do with Paintsville's coaching staff. They were not compared to Pikeville's staff. They were not mentioned at all. You are implying the poster should state that Paintsville has a great coaching staff. He wasn't talking about Paintsville staff at all.

2. Paintsville did not soundly beat Pikeville. Pikeville actually had more yardage, you can look it up. The game turned on a few bad penalties against Pikeville in the first half, a couple of horrible injuries to key players, and two turnovers that were basically 14-point swings. Paintsville made the plays though and everyone on here has given them their due.

3. Coaching - love Chirico, love his attitude, love his play calling. But I am going to say this and you can bash it all you want. The transfer gods smiled on him to put 3 D-1 players in his backfield. Daniel tried to transfer to Pikeville and the KHSAA denied the transfer. Belcher transferred in before the season started. And then they made that great pickup off the waiver wire late in the season to put the third D-1 guy in the backfield. So yeah 3 D-1 guys will make a coach look good. And yes I know all teams get transfers.

Look, again I love what Chirico has done. Stopping the migration of talent from PHS to JCHS has been huge. Coaching has been top-notch. Motivation has been second to none. But EKUAlum05 wasn't questioning any of this or even mentioning any of it when he complimented Pikeville on how good of shape they were in and how well they block.

And finally, none of this amounts to a hill of beans when they tee it up Friday. Thankfully, we can all talk until we are blue in the face but it will be decided on the field.

Good luck to both teams and the only advice on here you can take to the bank is you better get there early.inglepar