[Strikeout King]

What do the Jaguars need to do to improve from last year's disappointing 3-7 Team?


Aug. 19, 11 Pineville Home 7:30 pm

Aug. 27, 11 Lynn Camp (@ South Laurel) 8:00 pm Cumberland Valley Bowl

Sep. 2, 11 Wayne County Home 7:30 pm

Sep. 9, 11 McCreary Central Home 7:30 pm

Sep. 16, 11 Russell County Away 7:30 pm

Sep. 23, 11

Sep. 30, 11 Pulaski County Away 7:30 pm

Oct. 7, 11 Southwestern Away 7:30 pm

Oct. 14, 11 Madison Southern Home 7:30 pm

Oct. 21, 11 Lincoln County Home 7:30 pm

Oct. 28, 11 OPEN

[T1up]

What do the Jaguars need to do to improve from last year's disappointing 3-7 Team?


Aug. 19, 11 Pineville Home 7:30 pm

Aug. 27, 11 Lynn Camp (@ South Laurel) 8:00 pm Cumberland Valley Bowl

Sep. 2, 11 Wayne County Home 7:30 pm

Sep. 9, 11 McCreary Central Home 7:30 pm

Sep. 16, 11 Russell County Away 7:30 pm

Sep. 23, 11

Sep. 30, 11 Pulaski County Away 7:30 pm

Oct. 7, 11 Southwestern Away 7:30 pm

Oct. 14, 11 Madison Southern Home 7:30 pm

Oct. 21, 11 Lincoln County Home 7:30 pm

Oct. 28, 11 OPEN

are you serious Pineville 1a, Lynn Camp 1a,McCreary County, Madison Southern, Wayne County looks like the hardest out of conference game will be Oct 28th against open. Very weak schedule

[Strikeout King]

are you serious Pineville 1a, Lynn Camp 1a,McCreary County, Madison Southern, Wayne County looks like the hardest out of conference game will be Oct 28th against open. Very weak schedule

That's what the schedule showed

[HG_Bullfrogs]

What do the Jaguars need to do to improve from last year's disappointing 3-7 Team?

Disappointing, maybe to the coaches and players Id say but from being around Laurel County basically my whole life, no one expects much since NL has not ever been any good. I don't think NL had 3 wins in 4 years a while back.

[HG_Bullfrogs]

are you serious Pineville 1a, Lynn Camp 1a,McCreary County, Madison Southern, Wayne County looks like the hardest out of conference game will be Oct 28th against open. Very weak schedule

What do you expect or should I ask how do you expect NL to ever accomplish anything if they don't downgrade from 6A and 5A schools they play every year. NL has been around for right at 20 years and they don't might have 60 wins to show for it. Not a tradition rich program. Nothing wrong with the schedule, I mean NL hasn't been giant slayers and they started almost all freshmen last year so they will still be young just as SL did. Both schools and programs are getting closer to better days ahead of them. Heck, NL has won more games in two years than they have in the past 6 combined probably. They aren't going to achieve long term success by getting drilled by the Lexington powers, NKY powers or Louisville powers like they have been in the past.

I saw SL shedule also and something that stuck out to me was both schedules are similiar in not just competition but location. So it may be that the board are handcuffing programs from traveling such distances because all the games for both schools are close. Laurel County just announced huge cutbacks and teacher firings this week.

So I ask are you serious, make a schedule out for a team that went 3-7 and 0-10. Add Bell County, Harlan County, Corbin, etc and continue what has been happening for the past 20 years.

[SLHSCard]

I agree 100% with HG's post.

[former]

I also noticed there are no long road trips, maybe that has something to do with it. Plus did you ever think other teams may have wanted to step up a level or two, I mean it isnt like NL is a power or anything, actually they are one of the worst in the area. If you look at thier records the past few years, then you will see why teams like Bell, Corbin, Harlan Co, Rock, Lexington, wants to play them, easy wins.
2005 (3-7)
2006 (3-7)
2008 (2-8)
2009 (5-5)
2010 (3-7)

17-34, yeah who dont want to play them, sure Corbin and Bell does. IMO it is a good schedule for a team trying to get going like NL.

[Bolt]

are you serious Pineville 1a, Lynn Camp 1a,McCreary County, Madison Southern, Wayne County looks like the hardest out of conference game will be Oct 28th against open. Very weak schedule

I agree with you T1. While others on here are saying they should be playing 1A competetion, i say its a joke. Cmon guys, playing LC, Pineville, Mccreary and Wayne will only give them nothing to gain, only embaraasment if they lose. Everybody schedules a cup cake or two every year, but to take the entire non district schedule and make it the weakest schedule in the state for north and south laurel, two 5A schools, is ridicolous. You only achieve what you go for. And they are not going to achieve anything with this schedule.

[Bolt]

What do the Jaguars need to do to improve from last year's disappointing 3-7 Team?


Aug. 19, 11 Pineville Home 7:30 pm

Aug. 27, 11 Lynn Camp (@ South Laurel) 8:00 pm Cumberland Valley Bowl

Sep. 2, 11 Wayne County Home 7:30 pm

Sep. 9, 11 McCreary Central Home 7:30 pm

Sep. 16, 11 Russell County Away 7:30 pm

Sep. 23, 11

Sep. 30, 11 Pulaski County Away 7:30 pm

Oct. 7, 11 Southwestern Away 7:30 pm

Oct. 14, 11 Madison Southern Home 7:30 pm

Oct. 21, 11 Lincoln County Home 7:30 pm

Oct. 28, 11 OPEN

That Sept 23rd game has to be South Laurel since they are in the same district now.

[former]

I disagree, but I wonder who you think they should put on thier schedule?

if you never win, then you wont know how to win. Do you think Rock only plays all good teams,we have to play who we think we can compete with, no one in the area can compete with some of the schools I am sure you will mention.

[LWC]

Gotta get some cupcakes to build confidence. It is hard to get the best athletes to put their bodies and reputations on the line to go 2-8 and 3-7. Even if you are beating up on Madison Southern's every game, people will automatically think the team is better.

Maybe that and finances are what is driving this schedule. I just refuse to believe that North AND South Laurel are as bad as they have been. The athletes are there because other teams have been either good/great, just got to get them to play football.

[former]

I have always know SL to have the athletes, at least they did when Rock played them. I dont remember playing NL so I dont know about the athletes there. i am sure they have a few, but according to their records, they must not be overloaded with them.

[Sasquach]

Pineville (1A): Won 8 Games last year and could have went to state if it
wasn't for Hazard (who could have beat MANY 5A schools last
year) Numbers should prevail, not a bad opener.

Lynn Camp: Easy Win

Wayne County: Solid 3A team that went .500 last year. Should be a win,
but not a blowout.

McCreary Central: 4A Easy Win, although they should be better this year

Russell County: a 4A 7-win team that went into the playoffs and lost to the
EVENTUAL State Runner-up in 4A (Allen County Scottsville)
No slouch there.

So non conference North has 1 REALLY good opponent, 2 Decent teams regardless of class, and 2 chances to pick up automatic wins. How is that ANY different than a UK or an OHIO state scheduling Miami of Ohio, Bowling Green and Akron? Throw in a money game vs. a Big East school or something.

Heck, look at a Corbin or LCA schedules, They throw in a Lynn Camp of the world every once in a while too. Bell plays McCreary Central.

As for District:

South - Arch Rival and Extremely difficult game
Southwestern - Very good team with Talent
Pulaski - Has won region and been region runner-up last two years
Lincoln - Good opponent, same level of program
Madison Southern - Down program, but you don't choose your district.


If you just look at the opponents, its a GOOD schedule. You have 3 VERY VERY good opponents (Russell, Southwestern, Pulaski) You have a 4th EXTREMELY hard game (South) You have 3 Average Opponents (Lincoln, Pineville, Wayne) and 3 Really bad opponents / Automatic Wins (Lynn Camp, Madison Southern, McCreary)

3 Great
3 Good
3 Bad
1 Arch Rival

Seems like a pretty good schedule to me for a program trying to build a foundation....Look at ANY college schedule or in fact ANY good programs schedule and it will break down a similar way

(by the way, instead of just judging programs by their "class" or "name" look at the KHSAA scoreboard and see what they have actually done, its not hard)

South's schedule looks very similar to me. Smart scheduling, good competition and chances for success.

[Sasquach]

I agree with you T1. While others on here are saying they should be playing 1A competetion, i say its a joke. Cmon guys, playing LC, Pineville, Mccreary and Wayne will only give them nothing to gain, only embaraasment if they lose. Everybody schedules a cup cake or two every year, but to take the entire non district schedule and make it the weakest schedule in the state for north and south laurel, two 5A schools, is ridicolous. You only achieve what you go for. And they are not going to achieve anything with this schedule.

Depends what they are trying to accomplish. Someone said 60 wins in 20 years. So 3 wins average. No tradition. Maybe there Short Term Goal is to go abover 500 a few years, generate some success. Once you are winning consistantly, you upgrade the schedule and try to maintain that 500 or so average? THEN you try to win some championships or play some real tough teams after 4-5 years of success. Kind of like what UK did under brooks.

Its not like North and South are going to just "decide" to set their goal as a State championship and it happen because they schedule Highlands, Trinity and ST. X haha. Its called being realistic.

Also, their schedule looks like everything is under an hour or so, that I'm sure has a lot to do with fuel prices.

Who is your team?? Lets look at their schedule

[3wishes]

Madison Southern is a district game.

Russell County is a 4A school that took ACS to the wire twice last season.

Wayne County is a 3A school who plays up in schedule each year with teams like Rockcastle Co. They also win 6-8+ games yearly.

McCreary Central is 3A or 4A and has won more games the last 4 years than NL.

Lynn Camp is a Bowl Game and both them and Pineville will bring a much bigger crowd than Corbin did last year, about 200.

5 non-district, two 1A, one 3A, two 4A's for NL (a team that has won 10 games in 4 years)

[former]

After seeing what the other teams have done, it seems like a pretty tough schedule for NL.

Rock plays Sheldon Clark, Estill, and Frankfort, all of who are lower class than us. si really see no big deal in the schedules. Except no one wants to play Rock and everyone wants to play NL/SL

[Bolt]

Depends what they are trying to accomplish. Someone said 60 wins in 20 years. So 3 wins average. No tradition. Maybe there Short Term Goal is to go abover 500 a few years, generate some success. Once you are winning consistantly, you upgrade the schedule and try to maintain that 500 or so average? THEN you try to win some championships or play some real tough teams after 4-5 years of success. Kind of like what UK did under brooks.

Its not like North and South are going to just "decide" to set their goal as a State championship and it happen because they schedule Highlands, Trinity and ST. X haha. Its called being realistic.

Also, their schedule looks like everything is under an hour or so, that I'm sure has a lot to do with fuel prices.

Who is your team?? Lets look at their schedule

I never said they shouldnt try to generate wins. However, why not schedule some teams like Knox, Whitley, and Perry. They could pull off and upset and could shoot there season into overdrive.

My team, or should i say the team i watch the most consistently is Whitley.
They also play Lynn Camp, who they have played since 1963 and will continue to because its only a 15 minute drive and saves money, and not to mention there one cupcake every year, and Whitley also scheduled Russell this year after trying to fill in a game they needed. Last resort type of thing but like you mentioned, they had some success last year.

Now for the rest of the schedule.

Lets mention that North is actually a larger school than Whitley and has more boys in the school and both are 5A
The rest of the schedule includes Bell Co., Boyle Co., Somerset, and Rockcastle and Clay with district games against Harlan Co, Perry Co, and Letcher Co, so saying they do the same is not going to get you anywhere like you were thinking.
If you want to go back a few year you will see that even though we knew we were going to be out manned a lot of the time, we have played the toughest schedule in the mountains consistently over the past few years.
That stretch includes, Lex Cath, Belfry, Bell and Boyle and even met a Highlands and good pulaski co teams in the playoffs.
So, a smaller school in the same class, schedules like this every year, and yes i admit Whitley has a lot more tradition, but i dont know why North cant beef it up just a little.

Aug 26, 11 Russell County away
Sep 2, 11 Rockcastle County away
Sep 9, 11 Bell County home
Sep 16, 11 Clay County home
Sep 23, 11 Lynn Camp away
Sep 30, 11 Somerset home
Oct 7, 11 Perry County Central away
Oct 14, 11 Harlan County home
Oct 21, 11 Letcher County Central home
Oct 28, 11 Boyle County away

[Strikeout King]

That Sept 23rd game has to be South Laurel since they are in the same district now.

It was left blanked on there school's website

[former]

Most schools do not play teams they may face in the playoffs during the regular season. At least Rock dont do that, if so we would be playing Lex cath, Mercer, Boyle. I think Whitley and Perry are in the opposite dist as NL. right?

[3wishes]

Bolt, comparing Whitley and North are like apples and oranges. WC is about 40+ years older than North Laurel and has a little bit of tradition compared to none of North Laurel.

North did schedule Knox two years ago, they won. Ina perfect world I'm sure a coach would love to have their picks but scheduling is a two way street. It requires both coaches to agree and finally a date that matches. Scheduling is not an easy task unless you want the big boys every week. Even the Bells of the world had a tough time getting games.

North isn't going to schedule someone from the opposite district and have to turn right back around and possibly play them again in the playoffs.
Just because you think that gameplan works for Whtley doesn't mean would work for North.

[T1up]

Bolt, comparing Whitley and North are like apples and oranges. WC is about 40+ years older than North Laurel and has a little bit of tradition compared to none of North Laurel.

North did schedule Knox two years ago, they won. Ina perfect world I'm sure a coach would love to have their picks but scheduling is a two way street. It requires both coaches to agree and finally a date that matches. Scheduling is not an easy task unless you want the big boys every week. Even the Bells of the world had a tough time getting games.

North isn't going to schedule someone from the opposite district and have to turn right back around and possibly play them again in the playoffs.
Just because you think that gameplan works for Whtley doesn't mean would work for North.

I would say North Laurel has been around a lot longer than say "HARLAN COUNTY" so time framing in no excuse. North Laurel was very close to becoming a 6A school and I'm not blaming the coach or team for this schedule winning starts at the top. The administration should raise the bar by giving more support and expecting more. I have seen more fans on the visitor side than the home side at North Laurel, and also South Laurel. Laurel County as a whole has a problem with football because there is no excuse for either of us to be so bad.

[former]

Yeah but from what I understand, Harlan co combined 3 high schools and NL and SL split kids. Way different IMO

I have only coached LL and I was only as good a coach as my kids were good. Plus after refereeing for 8+ yrs, I have seen teams with good coaches win because they had better kids and I have seen good coaches lose due to the players not being good. A coach is only as good as his players and obviously neither Laurel school has had success. Heck even bad coaches win with good players.

[HAT51]

I also noticed there are no long road trips, maybe that has something to do with it. Plus did you ever think other teams may have wanted to step up a level or two, I mean it isnt like NL is a power or anything, actually they are one of the worst in the area. If you look at thier records the past few years, then you will see why teams like Bell, Corbin, Harlan Co, Rock, Lexington, wants to play them, easy wins.
2005 (3-7)
2006 (3-7)
2008 (2-8)
2009 (5-5)
2010 (3-7)

17-34, yeah who dont want to play them, sure Corbin and Bell does. IMO it is a good schedule for a team trying to get going like NL.

Very good schedule and smart scheduling

[Dungy]

Does it not come down to your personal view of the coach, school and program? Both sides can be argued validly. If you appreciate the current leadership and want to see them do well, then such a schedule gives them a great chance of the growth and success they hope to build. If you think the program is stagnant and avoiding the right path, then the schedule is wasting time with cupcakes and not going in the right direction. Both arguments can be supported depending on your side of the fence. It is possible some of the same posters would state the opposite opinion when discussing other teams.

[Bolt]

Most schools do not play teams they may face in the playoffs during the regular season. At least Rock dont do that, if so we would be playing Lex cath, Mercer, Boyle. I think Whitley and Perry are in the opposite dist as NL. right?

True, however, it would be good to see South and North both play Whitley, knox, and a corbin every year.
Keep in mind while everyone is saying scheduling Corbin is a tough opponent has forgotten how much corbin has fallen off the last few years.
Last year north and corbin played on wymt. I believe the game was tied at 3 at halftime or was 7-3 before corbin won by a couple of touchdowns and it was a very close game.
Corbin also only beat south 21-0 at Corbin and scored late so its not like they cant compete with them.

[Bolt]

Bolt, comparing Whitley and North are like apples and oranges. WC is about 40+ years older than North Laurel and has a little bit of tradition compared to none of North Laurel.

North did schedule Knox two years ago, they won. Ina perfect world I'm sure a coach would love to have their picks but scheduling is a two way street. It requires both coaches to agree and finally a date that matches. Scheduling is not an easy task unless you want the big boys every week. Even the Bells of the world had a tough time getting games.

North isn't going to schedule someone from the opposite district and have to turn right back around and possibly play them again in the playoffs.
Just because you think that gameplan works for Whtley doesn't mean would work for North.

Maybe, maybe not, but its not like its that big of a deal to play a team twice.
If two teams from the same district makes the region championship its the same thing, playing twice.
North did good with knox a couple of years ago, they should have tried to keep them.

[HAT51]

Maybe, maybe not, but its not like its that big of a deal to play a team twice.
If two teams from the same district makes the region championship its the same thing, playing twice.
North did good with knox a couple of years ago, they should have tried to keep them.

If you will do some checking, you will find that Knox and Corbin also avoid scheduling certain teams that are close. With the programs they have, maybe they should be the ones to beef it up some. Sure they are more than willing to schedule NL/SL. Corbin wouldn't schedule Bell for years. Now they do because of it being a district game. Knox and Bell are no longer playing since they are non district.

[Dungy]

Every coach schedules according to the challenges their team is ready for while avoiding possible playoff teams or too many opponents that will likely result in losses or broken confidence. It seems every year there are accusations of 'ducking' in almost every thread. I have met Coach Larkey twice, and my impression is that he is not afraid of playing any team but has simply pieced together a schedule that is the best chance for his team/program to develop throughout the season as it is ready. I think every coach would like 10 winnable games that slowly builds in the level of challenge presented on the way to the playoffs.

[former]

True, however, it would be good to see South and North both play Whitley, knox, and a corbin every year.
Keep in mind while everyone is saying scheduling Corbin is a tough opponent has forgotten how much corbin has fallen off the last few years.
Last year north and corbin played on wymt. I believe the game was tied at 3 at halftime or was 7-3 before corbin won by a couple of touchdowns and it was a very close game.
Corbin also only beat south 21-0 at Corbin and scored late so its not like they cant compete with them.

Corbin hasnt fallen down as most would think. they beat LCA and Clark Co last year and had Hazard beat. Dont sound like they fell down much.

Has NL ever beat Corbin? If not why would they continue to play them until they are ready to compete. I am sure Corbin would love to keep playing NL. Not for the reason of a challenge either. I have heard some comment on poor attendance of Corbin on away games, maybe that is a factor.

[HOSS UK]

Are you for real playing pineville yea they were 8-4 last year and have no one returning on that team there 2000 yd rusher, top rec and top def lb all were sr. But what ever makes you feel good i guess.