[dawgbyte02]

Wow! The truth shall set you free.

[TheUnderground]

Blake obviously you poured your heart into that, and certainly should have signed it at the bottom. Lets hope we can put our emotions aside and when Cecil is named head coach you will consider coming back and being a paid assitant.:notworthy:notworthy

[bulldog42]

I'm close with Cecil, Bugs(Coach Burchett), Copley and John Caudill. One thing about every one of those guys is they love our program. They will all tell you they've never been anywhere like it. Whoever the coach is I just hope people understand the uphill battle the constantly face and support them.
This job goes WAY WAY beyond what people see on Friday nights. We've got kids that have no adults in their lives. They don't know what they are going to eat on weekends etc. I can't tell you how many kids I've seen clothed, fed etc behind closed doors. We've got kids that have all the support they could ask for but we also have kids that have to grow up to way to fast. Being a part of the Bulldog Family means more than people understand to a lot of kids. It's a place where they have a family. It's a place where they have teammates they can depend on. It's a place where they have male adults that try to influence them in a positive way. It's a place where they are fed, clothed and prayed with at times. Honestly I'm not sure there's a much bigger job in Louisa to shape the future because the majority of these kids are the men in our town 10-20 years down the road.
Personally could I use a couple grand they lied to me about heck yeh. That does not even pale in comparision to the friendships, memories and life lessons our program has given me. I've got a 7 year old + 4 year old that I'm trying to figure out the best thing for. I'm kind of holding on to see what's going on with work too. Here or not I will always be a Bulldog even when I'm 6ft under. Just holding off to see what's going on with work and trying to figure out what's best for my kids.
Our kids that are still here know I love them and they know I'll always help them as much as I can. I just helped one last week work on getting a scholarship and another try to walk on to play at Morehead. We're always family!
On a side note and I'll start another thread congrats to Jason Micheals on being named the San Diego Chargers TE coach last week! Coaching Gates isn't a bad gig lol.

[StrayBullet]

People I have talked to recently keep telling me the same thing. Look for Joey Cecil to be named Head coach because it will be an easier transition for the players.

[dawgbyte02]

What most do not understand about the coaching positions, that in season, it is a full time job with overtime. A head coach will work his teaching job, then put in another 50 hours coaching. An assistant will put in 30-40 hours during season. They don't do it for the money in Ky high school athletics. These folks miss many family events and have very little spare time to hang out with their family especially during the season. It takes a very dedicated individual and a very committed family to even have a chance at success. Then you factor in disgruntled fans, unhappy parents, school budgets and it is a wonder any sane person would accept a coaching position.

[SweetTea]

Finally somebody gets it! I played in the early 90's when "the program was put on the map". That would be Coach Goldsmith that put it on the map. 11-0 my Soph year, 3 pts from state (loss to Mayfield in the final 4) my Jr year and 12-2 my Sr year (Chuke's 1st year as off coordinator where we lost 1 game 3-0 and the other in a low scoring 5 turnover game at Pburg). The program was built on nasty..swarming defense and a powerful offense (when Garry Morris who is at Russell now was there we also had an efficent passing game).
Chuke took the keys to the car and brought a ton of swagger. I worked summers for him + drove back from college on Fri's to coach. I coached with him when we broke Breathitt's streak. He was nasty and brought a hit you in the mouth attitude.
During McPeeks era I would meet them in Georgetown to help at camp and started a youth camp at home.
When I moved back I got a call to come help try to get things turned around. I had the pleasure to Coach with Goldsmith and Salmons both. I've been around all areas between the 4 walls and know when it's right and when it's wrong. These last two years it's felt right again. The family atmosphere, the love, the work ethic etc is there again.
The problem is anybody in Louisa that sticks their neck out to try to help our kids gets takent to the woodshed on boards such as Bluegrassrivals and Topix. Both where people hide behind fake names with no accountability and bash things they have no clue about. A lot of times it's people that are living off the government and have nothing better to do with their time.
Growing up in Louisa was an amazing experience. Next weekend I'm going to dinner with 5 of my best friends from 1st grade...I'm 36 now. It was a blue collar communitty that stuck together and worked together for the greater good of our little town. Blue collar parents that worked hard to provide for their families. They supported the coaches and more than that they supported the kids through thick and thin. When we started winning at football this place changed. It was a different place to live. Those guys working at the plants, in the mines etc had something to look forward too all week long. Bragging rights. We might be a little backwoods town but by gosh we were going to kick your *** on Fri night! It brought this place together. That is a big reason so many people live in the past.
I speak from 1st hand experience on this one. I've coached with Chuke, Goldsmith, Salmons, Cecil, Burchett (and coached Copley). Our town has become a place were the majority are the problem and could care less about the solution. Big difference when Eddie Wayne (who should be in the hall of fame at LC) was leading our schools and Jeff May (who lost all kinds of money and is sueing the school). Am I pissed I got lied to a bunch and didn't get paid for coaching heck yes. Do I understand it...not at all. I do know this though Mr. Armstrong had a nice retired life. He was asked to do this job because of his experience. He has been my Sunday school teacher and was bed side in Lexington when my Uncle died. I've spent time with him and I can tell people he's got more on his plate than the normal man could handle. There's a lot of things I don't agree with but I know his heart and I know his hair is turning grey for the kids in Louisa.
The support for football is totally different than the 90's. We could get what we needed and did what we needed to do back then. Now we get no concession money, coaches don't get paid that are supposed to, we get a tinsy tiny part of gate money and there is nobody to turn to for us to get money in this communitty. Unfortunatly anybody that does try to help the program by supporting our kids with money gets slammed on a message board by somebody that hides behind their computer.
On the jealousy+support etc. I've never been more embarassed my 1st year back when the officials stopped a game at home to ask if we needed a fan thrown out for all the obscene things he was saying. Ended up he was saying it about Coach's son. The same man that built the program... REALLY? Then we get people on here promoting their dad but slamming our other coaches...REALLY? We get people on here slamming our top prospect that has worked his tail end off and been a great roll model...REALLY? We get people on here slamming our QB who is a top notch kid and leader....REALLY? We get people on here slamming our coach that took the program from 0-11 to 12-1 in one season then got an offer closer to his parents in a bigger school...REALLY? We let the best basketball coach in history walk out the door with no fight...REALLY? People are fist fighting at the youth football+baseball fields....REALLY? We have people talking about our middle school QB who is an outstanding kid...REALLY? The list goes on and on.
To many people have the mentality that if we run the belly read nobody will stop us! We'll win state every year! You know why because Chuke did it in the late 90's with Jason Micheal (D1 QB), Gerad Parker (D1 WR), Spencer Hariss (D1 SS), Mike West (D1 RB), Dontae Wright (D1 OLB), Nick Meadows (NAIA RB) I could go on. But wait we NEVER won it all then! I say all this as a coach on those teams coaching those guys! People in Louisa need to get out of the past and realize we have different kids and it's a different time. As a coach that has been around Lville and coached at Lexington Catholic I can tell you first hand once you get outside of our little bubble here it's a different game. Coaching is 10 times what it was in the 90's! We didn't win it with all that D1 talent before the coaching got way better. We won't win it being one deminsional and that's not counting all the D1 talent Chuke had. It's going to take a great defense, a physical offense that is efficient throwing the ball. A KICKER!!! Plus great special teams. You can't be weak in 1 area anymore just ask Boyle Co how important their kicker was for them twice the year before last.

I just wish the people around here would learn to love and support our kids for who they are NOW! They are a bunch of country kids that love each other. They love our communitty and they work their rear ends off for it! They understand the work it takes to be a winner. They know what it's like to feal abandonded and what it's like when moral is low. They also know they have the character inside them to fight through it together and come out the other end stronger. We might not have a bunch of D1 kids right now but we have kids that know the honor it is to wear a Bulldog uniform on Friday nights. They know they represent the tradition and they also know they are going to make memories. They know there will be doubters and haters. There will be fools who hide behind fake names on dumb message boards that have no accountability. They also know that those people don't mean squat. The people who do mean squat are those who line up beside them in the weightroom all off season. The same guys that line up beside them prepared on Fri nights.
Basketball suffered a major setback because of lack of support. The new coach and kids are doing everything they can and should be commended. Baseball is set up to have a great season. The girls sports are in a position to have a great Spring. Football is on the edge of buying into the bull+ falling apart or using all that has gone down to pull together and make this season one for the ages. After years of fighting we are finally 3A where we should have been all along. We have leadership, talent and a bond between the 4 walls there. Whoever gets this job I hope they get support. The fickle fans need to go somewhere else and be fickle. This is our home. Thick or thin, football or softball, tennis or band it doesn't matter! We've got enough people that look down their noses at us. Until the day comes and we get our head out of our ***+ realize that the only way this place is going to get better is by sticking together then we will continue in the downhill spiral we are in.
It's quite simple! YOU ARE PART OF THE SOLUTION AROUND HERE OR YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM!

great post but.....

the a big part of the problem in the past has been the board members etc. now that we have armstrong im confident in him to make good decisions with our athletics........

as for salmons he shouldnt be bashed. he moved closer to home, got a much better job and midland wont care at all to spend whatever he needs to get them to a state championship, look at their facilities its better than alot of colleges. top notch. better talent there and easy to recruit. i would have done the same thing. everyone bashes him saying about leaving his players but do you not think it was hard on him? look at the time and hours he has spent with those kids, im sure this wasnt an easy decision to do and its not personal at all.....


but as for his success here at LC changing the schedule does not make him a great coach, because thats all that happened.
im sorry get mad all you want but as a member of the community i see how the basketball team and the baseball team and softball and track and tennis, play the best teams in and out of the state. baseball has always has a very tough schedule with the best and top teams from all over.
but football playing tolsia, east ridge, paintsville, etc is like playing LMS.
thats my only beef, if i play 10 games of chess with a 5 year old im going to win all 10 times easily. but then when i got on to playing people my own age im gonna get beat. probably a bad analogy but you can get my point.
we went 12-1 because we had no competition couldnt even score on bell that year...
last season we lost to the only competition we had with SC rowan and bell.
im just saying the cakewalk schedule isnt good enough.

if we wanna be the best and we have all this pride etc etc, then we have to play the best.

even with the schedule change for the 2011 season it just cancels itself out.
look for a 5-5 or 6-4 season at best.



i would have liked to see what salmons could have done with the 2007-2008 team alot of talent there...

[bulldog42]

I understand where you are coming from but that mentality is part of what got the program in the shape it was in. We are LC by gosh we will beat everybody! Give us Belfry, Pburg, Breathitt, Letcher Central (who was solid at the time), Sheldon Clark, Russell etc. What that did was run the program into the ground. LC won one game in 2 years there and had a string of four or so awful years.
You can keep pounding your chest which got our brains beat in, kept kids walking the hallways from playing etc or you can make a change. We have always been a 3A school but were stuck playing up which made depth important. The schedule was changed to get more winable games. That in turn brought more enthusiasm to the program and made getting kids out of the hallways a lot easier. Everybody wanted to be a part of something special. It worked!
I've won a state championship and been in about 5 Regional Championships. Coached against Highlands, Trinity, St X, Scott Co, Belfry, Breathitt, Pburg, Russell, Bowling Green etc. I am with you 100% you need to play top competition to prepare yourself for the playoffs but that is WHEN you have something built that is sustainable and ready to take that next step which is where we are now. Doing that 4 years ago would have meant continious disaster. The plan was water it down some 2 years, get some wins, momentum rolling, kids coming out etc. That part worked. The next step was beefing up the schedule some and get to 3A where we could make a run. That's where we are at. Do I wish our schedule had a Pburg, Russell, Beflry in it the past 2 years YES but things didn't work out. The schedule is more than solid now and we have a bunch of kids that are hungry + expect too win which is a HUGE difference than 4 years ago.
In a nutshell I understand where you are coming from but the program had been going down the path you speak and it was disasterous. Now there is a solid foundation built and a group ready to take the next step. That doesn't take away from the past 2 years. The year before this past one I honestly think we had a top 3-4 team in the mountains.
As for getting into people's personal life on a public board you should at least state your name if you're going to talk so much smack about a man.

[foxtrot1]

I am not obsessed with Greg Kiser or his money. All that I said about him were clear facts. He was on the basketball committee just as he is on the football committee. Why? Was he an athlete? Does he know anything about sports? I have nothing against Greg. but I don't think it's right that he single handedly picked our basketball coach and then allowed his son to not play. Before I go on let me say that I fully support Coach Miller and believe he is a great role model/coach for our high school team. My problem is that the entire search committee other than Kiser picked another man for the basketball job. I really hope this doesn't happen in the search for a football coach as well. Lord knows we have plenty of experieced football people around here who could help make this decision and not let a players dad do it.

I agree with Bulldog42 on a lot of issues. That was clearly a well thought out post. One would hope that everyone could come together and support all the kids of LC better. Not just football, basketball, baseball , etc. But all of them. Our future is our kids and if things don't change we are in for major trouble. I love the fact that I was raised in Louisa, but as I've grown older I realize just how bad the small town politics are here. It's a place I love and for the sake of the entire town, I hope the school system gets straightened out soon. After all, education is what 99% of these kids will make a living from; not football or baseball or basketball, etc.

[dozerdawg707]

Congratulations Coach Cecil!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TheUnderground]

Congrats Coach Cecil, look forward to the new year!

Foxtrot, you have no idea what goes on behind closed doors!
Kiser did not even vote on the football committee.
Get a life. Talk about yourself on a public Forum.:flame:

[foxtrot1]

Congrats Coach Cecil, look forward to the new year!

Foxtrot, you have no idea what goes on behind closed doors!
Kiser did not even vote on the football committee.
Get a life. Talk about yourself on a public Forum.:flame:

I'm glad he didn't. I simply said that he should and if what you are saying is true then good!

[foxtrot1]

I understand where you are coming from but that mentality is part of what got the program in the shape it was in. We are LC by gosh we will beat everybody! Give us Belfry, Pburg, Breathitt, Letcher Central (who was solid at the time), Sheldon Clark, Russell etc. What that did was run the program into the ground. LC won one game in 2 years there and had a string of four or so awful years.
You can keep pounding your chest which got our brains beat in, kept kids walking the hallways from playing etc or you can make a change. We have always been a 3A school but were stuck playing up which made depth important. The schedule was changed to get more winable games. That in turn brought more enthusiasm to the program and made getting kids out of the hallways a lot easier. Everybody wanted to be a part of something special. It worked!
I've won a state championship and been in about 5 Regional Championships. Coached against Highlands, Trinity, St X, Scott Co, Belfry, Breathitt, Pburg, Russell, Bowling Green etc. I am with you 100% you need to play top competition to prepare yourself for the playoffs but that is WHEN you have something built that is sustainable and ready to take that next step which is where we are now. Doing that 4 years ago would have meant continious disaster. The plan was water it down some 2 years, get some wins, momentum rolling, kids coming out etc. That part worked. The next step was beefing up the schedule some and get to 3A where we could make a run. That's where we are at. Do I wish our schedule had a Pburg, Russell, Beflry in it the past 2 years YES but things didn't work out. The schedule is more than solid now and we have a bunch of kids that are hungry + expect too win which is a HUGE difference than 4 years ago.
In a nutshell I understand where you are coming from but the program had been going down the path you speak and it was disasterous. Now there is a solid foundation built and a group ready to take the next step. That doesn't take away from the past 2 years. The year before this past one I honestly think we had a top 3-4 team in the mountains.
As for getting into people's personal life on a public board you should at least state your name if you're going to talk so much smack about a man.

I haven't had a problem with the weak schedule the past two years simply because of how low the program had sunk. We needed those two years as a team, school, and community. I agree that now it is time to slowly up the ante and start playing better competition. I'm excited for what the future holds.

I don't think people posting on here should get into other people's personal lives, but this is a place for everyone to share the opinions they have on various topics. If people want to slam a coach for leaving a school or question his reasons why, they shouldn't be expected to state their name. Some are comfortable doing that and others are not. Why does everyone care so much about who the other posters are? This is a good place to exchange intelligent opinions (in most cases haha).

[bulldog42]

I totally agree that it's great to talk about our program. I respect people havin a voice 100%. I don't respect people on here slamming kids especially our own kids. I also think it's bush to get on here and talk about a mans personal finances. IMO if you are man enough to slam a mans kids and talk about his finances then be man enough to post your name.
It's a shame this site is so poorly moderated that they let it get to that point. Would could be a great thing has slowly slid to a site much like Topix.

[HOMER]

Be thankful that you have people like Mr Kiser @ LC. Most Parents dont care about the other kids. I know Greg and if you dont know him then you should not be saying bad things about him. He supports every program in the system, Boys and Girls. Why shouldnt he have a say? Haydon is the best QB on the team, so he dont need money to pave the way for him. Iam not sure if Kiser reads this board, not sure why i do,but if Greg needs to find his boys a place to play, move on down 23 south, WE WILL TAKE HIM! Come together Lawrence CO, The kids, (not Parents) need you!

[CatDawg]

Finally somebody gets it! I played in the early 90's when "the program was put on the map". That would be Coach Goldsmith that put it on the map. 11-0 my Soph year, 3 pts from state (loss to Mayfield in the final 4) my Jr year and 12-2 my Sr year (Chuke's 1st year as off coordinator where we lost 1 game 3-0 and the other in a low scoring 5 turnover game at Pburg). The program was built on nasty..swarming defense and a powerful offense (when Garry Morris who is at Russell now was there we also had an efficent passing game).
Chuke took the keys to the car and brought a ton of swagger. I worked summers for him + drove back from college on Fri's to coach. I coached with him when we broke Breathitt's streak. He was nasty and brought a hit you in the mouth attitude.
During McPeeks era I would meet them in Georgetown to help at camp and started a youth camp at home.
When I moved back I got a call to come help try to get things turned around. I had the pleasure to Coach with Goldsmith and Salmons both. I've been around all areas between the 4 walls and know when it's right and when it's wrong. These last two years it's felt right again. The family atmosphere, the love, the work ethic etc is there again.
The problem is anybody in Louisa that sticks their neck out to try to help our kids gets takent to the woodshed on boards such as Bluegrassrivals and Topix. Both where people hide behind fake names with no accountability and bash things they have no clue about. A lot of times it's people that are living off the government and have nothing better to do with their time.
Growing up in Louisa was an amazing experience. Next weekend I'm going to dinner with 5 of my best friends from 1st grade...I'm 36 now. It was a blue collar communitty that stuck together and worked together for the greater good of our little town. Blue collar parents that worked hard to provide for their families. They supported the coaches and more than that they supported the kids through thick and thin. When we started winning at football this place changed. It was a different place to live. Those guys working at the plants, in the mines etc had something to look forward too all week long. Bragging rights. We might be a little backwoods town but by gosh we were going to kick your *** on Fri night! It brought this place together. That is a big reason so many people live in the past.
I speak from 1st hand experience on this one. I've coached with Chuke, Goldsmith, Salmons, Cecil, Burchett (and coached Copley). Our town has become a place were the majority are the problem and could care less about the solution. Big difference when Eddie Wayne (who should be in the hall of fame at LC) was leading our schools and Jeff May (who lost all kinds of money and is sueing the school). Am I pissed I got lied to a bunch and didn't get paid for coaching heck yes. Do I understand it...not at all. I do know this though Mr. Armstrong had a nice retired life. He was asked to do this job because of his experience. He has been my Sunday school teacher and was bed side in Lexington when my Uncle died. I've spent time with him and I can tell people he's got more on his plate than the normal man could handle. There's a lot of things I don't agree with but I know his heart and I know his hair is turning grey for the kids in Louisa.
The support for football is totally different than the 90's. We could get what we needed and did what we needed to do back then. Now we get no concession money, coaches don't get paid that are supposed to, we get a tinsy tiny part of gate money and there is nobody to turn to for us to get money in this communitty. Unfortunatly anybody that does try to help the program by supporting our kids with money gets slammed on a message board by somebody that hides behind their computer.
On the jealousy+support etc. I've never been more embarassed my 1st year back when the officials stopped a game at home to ask if we needed a fan thrown out for all the obscene things he was saying. Ended up he was saying it about Coach's son. The same man that built the program... REALLY? Then we get people on here promoting their dad but slamming our other coaches...REALLY? We get people on here slamming our top prospect that has worked his tail end off and been a great roll model...REALLY? We get people on here slamming our QB who is a top notch kid and leader....REALLY? We get people on here slamming our coach that took the program from 0-11 to 12-1 in one season then got an offer closer to his parents in a bigger school...REALLY? We let the best basketball coach in history walk out the door with no fight...REALLY? People are fist fighting at the youth football+baseball fields....REALLY? We have people talking about our middle school QB who is an outstanding kid...REALLY? The list goes on and on.
To many people have the mentality that if we run the belly read nobody will stop us! We'll win state every year! You know why because Chuke did it in the late 90's with Jason Micheal (D1 QB), Gerad Parker (D1 WR), Spencer Hariss (D1 SS), Mike West (D1 RB), Dontae Wright (D1 OLB), Nick Meadows (NAIA RB) I could go on. But wait we NEVER won it all then! I say all this as a coach on those teams coaching those guys! People in Louisa need to get out of the past and realize we have different kids and it's a different time. As a coach that has been around Lville and coached at Lexington Catholic I can tell you first hand once you get outside of our little bubble here it's a different game. Coaching is 10 times what it was in the 90's! We didn't win it with all that D1 talent before the coaching got way better. We won't win it being one deminsional and that's not counting all the D1 talent Chuke had. It's going to take a great defense, a physical offense that is efficient throwing the ball. A KICKER!!! Plus great special teams. You can't be weak in 1 area anymore just ask Boyle Co how important their kicker was for them twice the year before last.

I just wish the people around here would learn to love and support our kids for who they are NOW! They are a bunch of country kids that love each other. They love our communitty and they work their rear ends off for it! They understand the work it takes to be a winner. They know what it's like to feal abandonded and what it's like when moral is low. They also know they have the character inside them to fight through it together and come out the other end stronger. We might not have a bunch of D1 kids right now but we have kids that know the honor it is to wear a Bulldog uniform on Friday nights. They know they represent the tradition and they also know they are going to make memories. They know there will be doubters and haters. There will be fools who hide behind fake names on dumb message boards that have no accountability. They also know that those people don't mean squat. The people who do mean squat are those who line up beside them in the weightroom all off season. The same guys that line up beside them prepared on Fri nights.
Basketball suffered a major setback because of lack of support. The new coach and kids are doing everything they can and should be commended. Baseball is set up to have a great season. The girls sports are in a position to have a great Spring. Football is on the edge of buying into the bull+ falling apart or using all that has gone down to pull together and make this season one for the ages. After years of fighting we are finally 3A where we should have been all along. We have leadership, talent and a bond between the 4 walls there. Whoever gets this job I hope they get support. The fickle fans need to go somewhere else and be fickle. This is our home. Thick or thin, football or softball, tennis or band it doesn't matter! We've got enough people that look down their noses at us. Until the day comes and we get our head out of our ***+ realize that the only way this place is going to get better is by sticking together then we will continue in the downhill spiral we are in.
It's quite simple! YOU ARE PART OF THE SOLUTION AROUND HERE OR YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM!

What he said and maybe some will finally listen since someone from the staff the last few years said it. This county needs to see itself as a TEAM instead of one program or one sport or one click. We all know what TEAM means, we just have to decide to live it that way.

[foxtrot1]

I totally agree that it's great to talk about our program. I respect people havin a voice 100%. I don't respect people on here slamming kids especially our own kids. I also think it's bush to get on here and talk about a mans personal finances. IMO if you are man enough to slam a mans kids and talk about his finances then be man enough to post your name.
It's a shame this site is so poorly moderated that they let it get to that point. Would could be a great thing has slowly slid to a site much like Topix.

Agreed. Some things are better left unsaid. Finances and personal matters should be off limits. The fact of the matter is that some people just don't get that and they post comments on here without thinking it through. For the record I don't recall anyone slamming his kids. Some people don't share the same opinions on how good certain athletes are. That's not slamming. I would be the first to call someone out who says something that crosses the line.