[Hoot Gibson]

That’s not true about the 3 running backs because they have done it on the field and that’s facts,true they don’t get the playing time on offense that the other running backs do because those 2 mainly play offense the other 3 which 2 are starting linebackers and the other one  plays on the defensive line because Pikeville lacks players there so I have seen them at running back so just maybe you need to watch some film on Pikeville so again you made a untrue statement and I didn’t say they were better but I did say effective. Actually one ran a 60 or70 yard touchdown this past game and the other one a 40 or 50 one against LCA now you come back with your competition statement so here go on and on. One more thing before I quit replying let’s both give some of the credit to the lines on both teams for these running backs to get those yards and yes I seen them break tackles and make moves or have great vision to see the holes but those bigs up front are the important part of this stats

You must mean the player that Jet described as an "All World running back." I looked back a few seasons and did not see any All World stats. I didn't make any false statements, I asked you to confirm whether my assumption about the JV team running backs was correct. My point is, it is your opinion and Jet's opinion that Pikeville is loaded with players who would be "effective" running backs but there are no real stats establishing that as a fact. So, who is presenting unsupported opinions? 

All of Johnson Central's running backs also play defense. They rotate players in the backfield to keep them fresh, which means that they have an experienced running back in reserve all the time - not players who would be "effective" if they played the position. Six JC running backs have rushed for a total of at least 100 yards this season.

Pikeville is a very good 1A team, as I have said many times. For a 1A team, they have great size and more than enough skill players to repeat as state champs if their key players stay healthy. They are not going to be competitive with "any team, in any class," unless Pike County consolidates every school district in the county and names it "Pikeville." There is a reason football teams are broken into classes based on enrollment size across the country. It seems like every season that fans from some team or another start boasting about how their team is a top 10 team in all classes, etc. This year seems to be Pikeville's turn.   

As far as replying to my posts, nobody asked you to comment on my exchange with jet. You are free to reply or not reply to any post that you want but if do not expect me not to reply in kind. So, take your ball and go home, if that is what floats your boat.

I am replying back but it’s not that I am mad or anything like that I just don’t want you to think I am trying to be angry or something but the only reason I replied in the first place is because it seemed to me that you were down grading some kids on Pikevilles team which are good backs and I am not the coach of Pikeville and don’t tell who plays or don’t play but since you know everything I guess they aren’t good enough to play especially for Central but like I said before I agree with you on a lot of things but this isn’t one of them but just like on a lot of things I don’t like being confrontational just give an opinion and go on and I don’t think Pikeville is a top team in all classes in Kentucky and never said it

Coaches make the decisions about who plays where and when. I am not criticizing the players or the staff either. Johnson Central used to rely too heavily on one or two running backs, just as I think Pikeville does. The JC program was producing some great running backs but not all of them were ready to play in crucial situations as freshmen and sophomores, so Coach Matney stuck with players who were ready to play at a high level. 

Now, I think that the middle school plays a much more challenging schedule and does a better job of getting kids ready to play when they reach high school. I am sure that Pikeville has enough athletes available to insert another player into the backfield if necessary but that is really not the same as having running backs getting reps in games when the outcome is still in doubt. When Joe Jackson was injured after JC won its first state title, I thought that his loss was a huge factor in keeping them from repeating the next season. IMO, Johnson County's football program has only recently reached the point where they have enough depth at skill positions to withstand the loss of a key player or two without a big drop-off in the skill level of their replacements. It is much easier to develop that kind of depth at a large school than a small school and I am sure that it is much easier for programs like Trinity and St. X to develop depth across the board than it has been for Johnson Central.

If more schools in Kentucky had coaching staffs like Pikeville and Johnson Central, then KHSAA would not have to resort to gimmicks like the RPI to ensure that two good teams reach the state finals and to prevent good teams in strong districts from making early exits. When I look at how bad football programs are at some schools, including some of the large Lexington and Louisville public schools, I really feel sorry for the players in those programs. They deserve much better coaching and support from school administrators. IMO, only a minority of high schools in Kentucky have adequate football coaching staffs and resources to field decent teams. For every Pikeville or Johnson Central in the state, there are at least three or four very weak , mismanaged football programs and what separates the quality of the programs has nothing to do with the natural born athleticism and potential talent of the students at those schools but everything to do with a lack of commitment by the officials making decisions in the district offices.