[Hatz]

I meant to add to my post that it's far more difficult to climb a hill than to stay on top of it. Chuck Smith did an amazing job of climbing the hill with Boyle...and it took him quite some time to do it. The things that were learned on the climb help keep you there. And the Boyle program hasn't let itself slip down very far from the top of the hill since.

Actually it began in small steps right away.  Chuck Smith's first team went to the playoffs and lost a 3 point heartbreaker to Corbin.  After a losing season 2, Rebels again made the playoffs and beat Corbin only to lose in the 2nd round.  If memory serves, Danville's juggernaught was in their way in '94, and '95.  In '96 they broke the glass ceiling beating Danville and making the semi-finals only to lose to eventual 2 time champ Breathitt 12-7.  I think at that point, Smith and the Rebels knew they could compete on a state level.  '97 was undefeated but lost in the mire to a team they had already beaten badly.  '98 Bobby Leffew was hurt and out for the season and the Rebels struggled to a winning mark but Lex Cath was too much for them.  '99 was the first of 3 straight 15-0 seasons and the Rebels went rolling along from there.  

Boyle had a winning tradition under Ed Rall in the 70's and early 80's but by 1984 the talent and administration support for the program went south and never recovered until Chuck Smith.