[bulldog42]

No, blake preece needs to go to. Him coming here was the worst thing that happen at lawrence county.

Since you throw a blanket statement like that out and you have won't tell me who you are when I PM you I'll defend myself from somebody sitting behind a computer screen hiding out!
The perception from outsiders reading this thread should be really interesting. You have people that have never played football, parents, out of starters all throwing out there what is going on but some of it just isn't true. I've held off on posting in this thread but the more I thought about it the more I think it would be good to give a reality check. I played on the teams in the early 90's that laid the foundation for this program under Coach Goldsmith and Chuke came in my Sr year. I've had broken bones, stitches, surgery etc all for laying my body on the line for this program. The days of building this program was like no other feeling I've ever had! The pride in our town was 2nd to none. We went 11-0 my Soph year, first final 4 my Junior year (lost by 3 too Mayfield) and undefeated in District my Sr year only to lost to a great Pburg team after we went 11-2. I was fortunate (and forever grateful) that Chuke gave me a summer job and got me into the door of coaching. I gave up a couple of summers and drove back on Friday nights to help out. I coached WR's and was blessed to have guys like Gerad Parker, Spencer Harriss and Matt Peterson. Playing and coaching I was a part of 2 final fours and most of the best wins ever at Lawrence County (Russell double OT, Mason Co 3yd line to win Region, Raceland game that started the snowball effect, Breathitts win streak coming to an end, Flemming hook+lateral play etc).
There was always a bad taste left for me because we were so close to playing on the carpet but just kept coming up short. I felt like the biggest reasons were 2 fold. One we never had a kicking game and two we couldn't throw the ball when teams packed it in on us. I made it my goal to go out and learn as much as I could about the passing game. I got a head coaching job at a middle school in Oldham County right out of college and we went to the Mid Bluegrass Championship my first year there (3 back power team). We had success the whole time I was there then I moved up to the high school to start a new program. On the side I made it a mission to learn as much as I could especially in the passing game. I've flown to Dallas, Minn, driven to Chicago, Notre Dame etc to keep learning so one day I could come back to Louisa and try to get us over the top. While I was in Louisville my childhood buddy Morgan Cyrus and I decided that we wanted to do everything we could to try to help the youth at LC have a chance to live the experiences we had. We got almost 20 old players back that played at LC in the past and started a youth camp. Every single guy I called jumped on the chance to come back and help and they all did it for free. Most are working, in school, have kids etc but they know what the program means to the young men in Lousia. We had close to 45 kids the first year and this past year the number was up over 80. The cost of the camp is cheap so we can get as many kids involved as possible and the money goes right back to the youth league to get them off to a solid start. They even started a cheerleading camp to go with it. While I was in Oldham Co I followed Coach Sphire for about 5 years (clinics, observing Lex Cath games etc). When Coach McPeek got the job at LC we tried like crazy to get back but couldn't find my wife a job. We ended up moving to Lexington after we had our little girl and I got an interview at Lex Cath. That year working with Coach Sphire, Coach Letton and that whole staff was out of this world. I had never been around so much organization, so many great coaches that had the freedom to be able to focus on their specific positions everyday etc. The run we had there was a dream and it was even more special that Justin Burke's mom was a Louisa girl Finally I got the experience of winning a state champion sip but there was still a part of me that felt like the void would never be totally filled until we did it at home. When we found out we were having our little boy I decided to switch jobs and with the help of God the center of my territory was LOUISA! While I was in training I got a call to see if I wanted to take over the offensive coordinator's job at LC. A DREAM COME TRUE!!!
I knew a lot of folks in Louisa didn't know what the forward pass was and I knew there was going to be a lot of heat with position battles. I didn't get moved down until June so that made things pretty tough but I knew we had a great group of kids. We had an awesome summer and felt like we were going to get things rolling this year. I think there were multiple reasons we didn't achieve success this year. Some I will share and some I will keep to myself. In short I think the blame can be put in every single direction. Our schedule for a team that is rebuilding is crazy and the fans are going to have to realize that whoever gets the job faces the same schedule next year minus Coal Grove. The coaches have taken incredible shots this year and some of it is flat out sad. I'm an honest person and I can say that after reflecting back on the season there are several things I would have done different and it was a learning experience. I think there were several things that the coaches have to take blame for and learn from. The biggest thing I think is that we have GOT to start getting kids out of the hallways and playing. We were lucky to get kids like Cody, Timmy and Brad out but it's hard not to think what it would have been like if those guys would have been around for off season workouts and passing league stuff. When you start naming groups you run the risk of hurting feelings but in every group there are those that deserve some blame and those that have been outstanding.
I think coaches, players, parents, fans all need to take a look at what they can do better. I gave my spill on the coaches now I'll go to some of the parents. The majority have bent over back wards and supported our program to the max. Unfortunately there have been a couple that crossed the line this year. Coach Goldsmith BUILT the LC program. He loves his players and everything associated with the program. I can't tell you the number of times he has driven a kid 45minutes out after practice because that's the only way that kid is going to be able to play. Week after week he took kids to places like Cumberland and Campbellsville on recruiting visits even though we got waxed the night before. Then he has a couple of parents that dog cuss him and his family until a fly wouldn't land on him. Inexcusable! There are multiple examples but I'll spare it.
Like I said when you are naming groups you have those that deserve to be called out and those that are on the opposite end of the spectrum and should be praised. The thing that made me the most proud of our kids is that they has adversity slung in their face every single week. Playing top 5 teams in the state week in week out, 10+ injuries to guys that started or played a lot, 6 Sophs and a Freshman on the field at times etc. 99% of those guys never one time pointed the finger of blame at each other. They learned what it was like to get your character tested in tough times and how to fight through them to become stronger young men. For that I think they will always have something to reflect back on in the though times down the road. I think whoever comes in has got to get the kids to sell out that this is the ultimate team game. We had a lot of times that kids would take off a play and that killed us. We had times that kids that didn't get the ball wouldn't block. Film doesn't lie and honestly I think those kids would tell you. Little things add up and we've got to get that attitude. To me attitude is everything. I've been a part of a team like this one, been a part of a new high school program, won a state championship. The difference between those teams is their attitude. You don't go into games hoping to win, you go in expecting to win and that is the attitude we have to embrace!

I'll finish the rest on my next post!