By J. Trace Kirkwood
Two very gutsy teams put every physical ability they had on the field at El Donaldson Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky, last night. The visiting Wildcats rolled up U.S. 31-W with a team full of athletes that includes two of the best in the state with Courtney Dalcourt and Patrick Flippin. Bowling Green stood its ground with one of the strongest back field runners I've seen at the high school level with Tevin Barksdale.
I was excited because Frankin-Simpson had the attitude that they didn't care that Louisville Trinity is the only team to beat Bowling Green at home in the past several years. They took the field to win the game and not cower at the Purples' tradition. The Wildcats did what any good street fighter has to do to win a well-matched fight: come out and pop the big guy right in the nose and hope that he doesn't get mad enough to kill you.
Franklin's Hayden Williams picked off a J.P. Jackson pass about three-and-a-half minutes into the game in Bowling Green territory. Courtney Dalcourt found Brandon Kinnaird with a touchdown pass, and the Wildcats took a quick 7-0 lead on the Purples.
The Wildcats had an opportunity to take a two touchdown lead, but their drive fizzled in the worst sort of way late in the quarter. I won't "if" things because football is filled with important plays, ones where the momentum of the game shifts. Late in the first, Bowling Green seemed surprised by Franklin's tenacity and possibly with Dalcourt's superb athletic ability. Everything seemed to be going for the Wildcats. Dalcourt connected on a downfield pass that would've netted a first down with Franklin heading into the Purples' end of the field. However, a holding call brought the ball back. Instead of it being first and ten near the 50 (I can't remember where the play had ended, and I apologize) their next play started deep in their own territory with a 2nd down and 20.
The Wildcats couldn't get the first down.
Bowling Green got the ball back and finished the first quarter with a touchdown pass from Jackson to Zack Williams.
I have no way of knowing if the holding call ended a Franklin-Simpson drive and touchdown, after all, the Wildcats had two more downs to get a fresh set of downs. I just feel like if they punched another touchdown on the Purples and made it 14-0, they would've had a pretty good shot at winning the ballgame.
That's the beauty of football, though. In basketball it's hard to measure what a foul or a lost ball does to a team, but in football the mistake is measured out in one yard hash marks. After a penalty, when the referee puts the ball down on the grass, the fans can see "we are here and we could've been there."
It was tied at 7 at the end of the first.
Each team scored a touchdown in the second quarter. Bowling Green's Tevin Barksdale made one of the most impressive touchdown runs I've seen with a spinning, tackle breaking 48 yard rumble into the endzone. Barksdale showed everyting a running back needs to be good in that run. He showed agility by avoiding tackles and his own blockers by spinning like a springtime cyclone. He showed strength by busting through tackles. He showed speed by flying through Franklin's backfield.
Franklin's defense probably felt a little like a trailer park in April after that run.
The Wildcats didn't back down. That's why I like Tim Schlosser's team so much. They answered with a drive and touchdown with 4:50 left in the half. The teams went to halftime tied at 14 a piece.
Bowling Green opened the second half with a 24 yard touchdown pass from Jackson to Barksdale. The Wildcats blocked the point after attempt, and for awhile I thought it might prove critical to the game. That left the door open for Franklin to take a lead possibly win a close game. And, Franklin responded with a touchdown and a point after to take the lead 21-20 with 4:37 left in the third quarter.
Their lead was short lived because Bowling Green answered with at touchdown at the 1:53 mark in the quarter. The Purples opted for a the two-point conversion. Jackson dropped back and made a short pass into the endzone where a gang of Purples and Wildcats were clustered in line with the right hashmarks. I couldn't count how many times the ball was tipped, but it ended up in the hands of Tevin Barksdale. The Purps slammed shut the door the blocked extra point left open.
The Purples' first possession of the final quarter featured a long drive and a J.P. Jackson keeper into the endzone. Jackson did a superb job of faking a hand-off. I bought it. The Wildcat defenders bought it. I was convinced he handed the ball off to Barksdale, and I think for a split second J.P. Jackson was the only person in Donaldson Stadium that knew he had the ball.
Bowling Green was up 35-21.
Franklin-Simpson looked tired. That's what the big lineman for Bowling Green does to teams. They wear them down. Even though the Wildcats looked fatigued, they managed to score two more touchdowns in the fourth, but the Purples scored two more. The game ended in an absolute scoring frenzy.
Here's what I took from this game: If Courtney Dalcourt ends up at a 1-AA football program, that lucky school will have the steal of the decade. As a Hilltopper fan, I'd love to see this kid wearing red and gray next season. the guy is a heck of an athlete, and he is among the best football players in the state.
Franklin-Simpson is the most dangerous .500 football team in the Commonwealth. They won't be .500 for long, and should finish the season 6-4. Sorry, Coach Schlosser, the Wildcats are good, but I don't see them beating Fort Campbell on the road. The Wildcats are off next week then they paly three at home before heading to The Fort.
Tip to Coach Schlosser: When you play Fort Campbell, stay out of Oak Grove, unless you have a post game steak at Charlie's. There are rites-of-passage available in Oak Grove, but for young football players a steak at Charlie's is the only one they need to experience.
Also, Tevin Barksdale can run the ball late in the game with four or five guys on his back. He had a run in the fourth quarter and carried three Franklin defenders five yards. I'd hate to have to try and tackle him in the open field.
OBSERVATIONS
Doctor, Doctor: Apparently, in order to be eligible for Homecoming Queen at BGHS, you have to be the daughter of a local doctor. Th elist of last names for the candidates and their escorts are all the ones my insurance company has paid. For a minute I thought I was listening to pages at the Medical Center.
Throw Backs?: Bowling Green's cheerleaders celebrated Homecoming by climbing into an attic at the school and dragging out old uniforms. It was a nice touch. I did notice that none of them wore the long sleeve sweaters, knee socks, longer skirts, and carried gigantic pompoms like they did back in my day. It wasn't so much of a "throw back" as a "toss back." Wait! Toss back? That's a whole 'nother subject.
National Geographic Moment: The stadium lights attracted some of the most impressively large grasshoppers I've seen outside of National Geographic photos from Africa. One kid crushed one in front of me, and it sounded like he crushed a bag of potato chips.
ESPN: I guess they broadcasted last night's game in Bowling Green. There were cameras there, and the one in the north endzone was up in one of the most precarious looking contraptions. I can't even describe it, but they would have to pay me hazardous duty pay to ascend in that thing.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Bowling Green 59 - Greenwood 7
By J. Trace Kirkwood
Greenwood's Hunter Thompson should consider this subject for an English essay: Fear and Loathing at El Donaldson Stadium. The Gators have never won at Bowling Green's home field. Heck, I don't think they've ever beaten the Purples on any football field.
When the Hell's Angels discovered that gonzo journalist, Hunter S. Thompson, who was a native of Louisville and an alumnus of Male High School, might profit from writing an article about them, they beat him nearly to death. I'm not trying to say that the Bowling Green football team is the Hell's Angel's, but they keep putting a good beating on their crosstown rival Greenwood. They beat the Gators 56-0 last season, and this game seemed to be headed that same direction.
On the second play of the game Bowling Green's J.P. Jackson connected with Lavance Anderson for a 78 yard catch and run touchdown pass. Less than a minute later Jay Beard blocked a Greenwood punt, which resulted in a touchdown, and the Gators found themselves on the short end of a 14-0 score.
The Gators stopped a Bowling Green from scoring a touchdown only once in the first quarter. Then, the Purples had to settle for a Max Oldham field goal. Tevin Barksdale scored a touchdown with 53 seconds left in the quarter, and as time expired Tyreon Clark intercepted the ball and ran it back for a touchdown.
At the end of the first quarter, Greenwood was in a 31-0 hole.
Bowling Green slowed down a bit in the second quarter. Instead of scoring touchdowns at a frenzied pace, they scored only one in the quarter and took a 38-0 lead into the break.
In the locker room Hunter Thompson probably pondered writing Bowling Green Purples: The Strange and Terrible Saga of a Really Good Football Team. At halftime, I pondered why I came to this game instead going to see a game with two teams in Scottsville.
The second half was more of the same, although Bowling Green only mustered three touchdowns in the half.
Greenwood did sneak in a score with 1:09 left in the contest, but Tevin Barksdale took the Gators' kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. It was Greenwood's The Curse of Lono condensed into Barksdale's hundred yard dash -- give or take a few yards.
Hunter! The football season is NOT over.
OBSERVATIONS
To The Max: I hope some colleges -- especially my alma mater -- are after Max Oldham. The kid can flat out kick a football. He kicks it out of the back of the endzone on kickoffs, and the one field goal he had split the uprights. He's very good.
Who Let the Dogs Out?: Uh, ahem. I'm not sure if I can come up with a tactful way of putting this. I always laugh when I see cheerleaders and dance teams dance to this song. I won't include a link, but people should consider the lyrics of a song before they use them. Trust me, I'm not offended by this because I'm not easily offended, but it's humorous when people don't really listen to what a song is saying. I think I've written about a funny thing at Male High School when I was a student there many moons ago. Our cheerleaders had a catchy cheer that went "WE ARE MALE BULLDOGS!" I've never thought self-deprecation worked for cheerleaders.
Dear Old High School: It's sort of strange for a Male High alumnus to watch a Bowling Green game. The purple and gold. The letter "H." It's all very familiar. There's also the familiarity of winning a lot of games and going deep into the playoffs only to watch someone else carry off the big trophy.
Greenwood's Hunter Thompson should consider this subject for an English essay: Fear and Loathing at El Donaldson Stadium. The Gators have never won at Bowling Green's home field. Heck, I don't think they've ever beaten the Purples on any football field.
When the Hell's Angels discovered that gonzo journalist, Hunter S. Thompson, who was a native of Louisville and an alumnus of Male High School, might profit from writing an article about them, they beat him nearly to death. I'm not trying to say that the Bowling Green football team is the Hell's Angel's, but they keep putting a good beating on their crosstown rival Greenwood. They beat the Gators 56-0 last season, and this game seemed to be headed that same direction.
On the second play of the game Bowling Green's J.P. Jackson connected with Lavance Anderson for a 78 yard catch and run touchdown pass. Less than a minute later Jay Beard blocked a Greenwood punt, which resulted in a touchdown, and the Gators found themselves on the short end of a 14-0 score.
The Gators stopped a Bowling Green from scoring a touchdown only once in the first quarter. Then, the Purples had to settle for a Max Oldham field goal. Tevin Barksdale scored a touchdown with 53 seconds left in the quarter, and as time expired Tyreon Clark intercepted the ball and ran it back for a touchdown.
At the end of the first quarter, Greenwood was in a 31-0 hole.
Bowling Green slowed down a bit in the second quarter. Instead of scoring touchdowns at a frenzied pace, they scored only one in the quarter and took a 38-0 lead into the break.
In the locker room Hunter Thompson probably pondered writing Bowling Green Purples: The Strange and Terrible Saga of a Really Good Football Team. At halftime, I pondered why I came to this game instead going to see a game with two teams in Scottsville.
The second half was more of the same, although Bowling Green only mustered three touchdowns in the half.
Greenwood did sneak in a score with 1:09 left in the contest, but Tevin Barksdale took the Gators' kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. It was Greenwood's The Curse of Lono condensed into Barksdale's hundred yard dash -- give or take a few yards.
Hunter! The football season is NOT over.
OBSERVATIONS
To The Max: I hope some colleges -- especially my alma mater -- are after Max Oldham. The kid can flat out kick a football. He kicks it out of the back of the endzone on kickoffs, and the one field goal he had split the uprights. He's very good.
Who Let the Dogs Out?: Uh, ahem. I'm not sure if I can come up with a tactful way of putting this. I always laugh when I see cheerleaders and dance teams dance to this song. I won't include a link, but people should consider the lyrics of a song before they use them. Trust me, I'm not offended by this because I'm not easily offended, but it's humorous when people don't really listen to what a song is saying. I think I've written about a funny thing at Male High School when I was a student there many moons ago. Our cheerleaders had a catchy cheer that went "WE ARE MALE BULLDOGS!" I've never thought self-deprecation worked for cheerleaders.
Dear Old High School: It's sort of strange for a Male High alumnus to watch a Bowling Green game. The purple and gold. The letter "H." It's all very familiar. There's also the familiarity of winning a lot of games and going deep into the playoffs only to watch someone else carry off the big trophy.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Warren East 36 - Bardstown 35
By J. Trace Kirkwood
The last time I saw a football game at Warren East was in the fall of 1984 when I went to their Homecoming with a recent alumnus who was my friend at WKU. It was somewhat of a culture shock for me because I was just weeks from having spent most of my time and life in Louisville. That's the first night I met my friend's sister, who was wickedly beautiful and also shot-down in the Homecoming Queen voting. I have to admit that I questioned the judgment of Warren East students when I met her because my friend had already told me she lost the voting.
I also remember that they played "Cow Chip Bingo" at some point during the night. Remember folks, I grew up in Louisville, and I went to a downtown school. The closest cattle to Male High School were breathing their last breaths at the Bourbon Stock Yards and Fischer's Meat Packing. I don't remember the details because I probably opted to watch my friend's sister rather than a cow standing on a football field about to have a bowel movement. The choice, well, seemed obvious.
Fast forward 24 years to Friday night in Bristow, Kentucky. I can't attest for the tastes of the Warren East student body, but I do know that Raider football team is much improved from 24 seasons ago. They play hard. Coach Ben Bruni gets the most out of his players, and they never give up. Never!
Bruni is armed with superb athletes like Shenard Holton, who is one of the best athletes in the state and runs like whirling top through defensive backfields. He also plays defense and pops players like an angry steer (I guess my memories of Warren East has left me with images of cows, which is kind of surprising to me). Antonious "Fuzz" Owens plays on both sides of the ball and can move his 205 pound frame in ways that don't seem humanly possible. On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Jeremy Werner pursues and destroys quarterbacks and running backs.
I anticipated a good game because East and Bardstown tangled to a 27-20 game last season with the Raiders prevailing. It was even better this season.
I could waste words describing how Shenard Holton and Fuzz Owens made impressive runs and catches to score touchdowns and how Bardstown answered back with their own touchdowns. I could do the same and describe how the Tigers ended up with a 21-14 lead at halftime.
Neither team was ever in control of the game. One of the things I love about high school football is how quickly the momentum shifts back-and-forth when two good teams are on the field. That was the case Friday night at Warren East.
The only time I thought a team might have control of the game was when Bardstown took a 35-22 lead in the fourth quarter and the Raider defense looked tired. They never looked defeated, though, and that's what counts.
After Bardstown took the commanding 13 point lead with 6:16 left in the game Warren East dug down deep and found a way to put together a quick drive. Fuzz Owens scored with 5:02 left and put the Raiders within touchdown of the visitors. I think the East fans felt a sense of hopelessness when the Raiders failed on the two point conversion.
East's defense impressed me at this point in the game. They looked tired. They played tired. Heck, they were tired. Instead of giving up they found a way to stuff the Tigers' offense, which had easily marched down the field on their previous possession. They backed Bardstown up to the one yard line, and the Tigers' punter kicked the ball from the back of the end zone to the his own 26 yard line.
Warren East took over with 2:46 left in the game. East quickly moved the ball to the goal line, but had some trouble getting through the Bardstown defensive line to score. It worked to their advantage. With 30 seconds left, Holton rushed the short yardage for the touchdown. East converted for two points and took a 36-35 lead.
Bardstown had one last chance, but I decided that their quarterback couldn't throw the ball down the field very well. They kept trying these short dump and run plays that got them nothing with a determined East defense.
The Raiders win in Cardiac Kids fashion.
That's two great football games in as many weeks. This is great!
OBSERVATIONS
Duck Footed Tigers: Some of Bardstown's players wore gold colored cleats. It made them look like they had duck feet. I wonder if they know it looks funny.
Why?: Why do football scoreboards have tenths of seconds these days. I've been watching football since I was a curtain climber when Earl Morrall played for the Miami Dolphins, and I've never seen a split second matter a whole lot at the end of a football game (in terms of on the clock). After all, the clock doesn't end a play until the ball is dead. It's a game of inches, not seconds.
Friendliest People: Warren East fans and staff are some of the friendliest. When I got my ticket and went through the gate, three people thanked me for coming to the game. After the game, I wanted to thank them for such a good show. So, if any of you are reading, THANKS!
Cow Chip Bingo Redux: I lost the cow chip bingo contest that night so long ago. I seem to remember that the cow wouldn't...well...nevermind, so they drew the numbers. I would've had the prize if the cow made the decision. It makes me wonder: How much Ex-lax would it take to make a difference for a cow?
Homecoming Queen Redux: What the heck were you people thinking?!
A Team to Watch: Watch out for the Graves County Eagles. They are 3-0 and have beaten Tilghman and Marshall County. They tangle with Mayfield next week.
The last time I saw a football game at Warren East was in the fall of 1984 when I went to their Homecoming with a recent alumnus who was my friend at WKU. It was somewhat of a culture shock for me because I was just weeks from having spent most of my time and life in Louisville. That's the first night I met my friend's sister, who was wickedly beautiful and also shot-down in the Homecoming Queen voting. I have to admit that I questioned the judgment of Warren East students when I met her because my friend had already told me she lost the voting.
I also remember that they played "Cow Chip Bingo" at some point during the night. Remember folks, I grew up in Louisville, and I went to a downtown school. The closest cattle to Male High School were breathing their last breaths at the Bourbon Stock Yards and Fischer's Meat Packing. I don't remember the details because I probably opted to watch my friend's sister rather than a cow standing on a football field about to have a bowel movement. The choice, well, seemed obvious.
Fast forward 24 years to Friday night in Bristow, Kentucky. I can't attest for the tastes of the Warren East student body, but I do know that Raider football team is much improved from 24 seasons ago. They play hard. Coach Ben Bruni gets the most out of his players, and they never give up. Never!
Bruni is armed with superb athletes like Shenard Holton, who is one of the best athletes in the state and runs like whirling top through defensive backfields. He also plays defense and pops players like an angry steer (I guess my memories of Warren East has left me with images of cows, which is kind of surprising to me). Antonious "Fuzz" Owens plays on both sides of the ball and can move his 205 pound frame in ways that don't seem humanly possible. On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Jeremy Werner pursues and destroys quarterbacks and running backs.
I anticipated a good game because East and Bardstown tangled to a 27-20 game last season with the Raiders prevailing. It was even better this season.
I could waste words describing how Shenard Holton and Fuzz Owens made impressive runs and catches to score touchdowns and how Bardstown answered back with their own touchdowns. I could do the same and describe how the Tigers ended up with a 21-14 lead at halftime.
Neither team was ever in control of the game. One of the things I love about high school football is how quickly the momentum shifts back-and-forth when two good teams are on the field. That was the case Friday night at Warren East.
The only time I thought a team might have control of the game was when Bardstown took a 35-22 lead in the fourth quarter and the Raider defense looked tired. They never looked defeated, though, and that's what counts.
After Bardstown took the commanding 13 point lead with 6:16 left in the game Warren East dug down deep and found a way to put together a quick drive. Fuzz Owens scored with 5:02 left and put the Raiders within touchdown of the visitors. I think the East fans felt a sense of hopelessness when the Raiders failed on the two point conversion.
East's defense impressed me at this point in the game. They looked tired. They played tired. Heck, they were tired. Instead of giving up they found a way to stuff the Tigers' offense, which had easily marched down the field on their previous possession. They backed Bardstown up to the one yard line, and the Tigers' punter kicked the ball from the back of the end zone to the his own 26 yard line.
Warren East took over with 2:46 left in the game. East quickly moved the ball to the goal line, but had some trouble getting through the Bardstown defensive line to score. It worked to their advantage. With 30 seconds left, Holton rushed the short yardage for the touchdown. East converted for two points and took a 36-35 lead.
Bardstown had one last chance, but I decided that their quarterback couldn't throw the ball down the field very well. They kept trying these short dump and run plays that got them nothing with a determined East defense.
The Raiders win in Cardiac Kids fashion.
That's two great football games in as many weeks. This is great!
OBSERVATIONS
Duck Footed Tigers: Some of Bardstown's players wore gold colored cleats. It made them look like they had duck feet. I wonder if they know it looks funny.
Why?: Why do football scoreboards have tenths of seconds these days. I've been watching football since I was a curtain climber when Earl Morrall played for the Miami Dolphins, and I've never seen a split second matter a whole lot at the end of a football game (in terms of on the clock). After all, the clock doesn't end a play until the ball is dead. It's a game of inches, not seconds.
Friendliest People: Warren East fans and staff are some of the friendliest. When I got my ticket and went through the gate, three people thanked me for coming to the game. After the game, I wanted to thank them for such a good show. So, if any of you are reading, THANKS!
Cow Chip Bingo Redux: I lost the cow chip bingo contest that night so long ago. I seem to remember that the cow wouldn't...well...nevermind, so they drew the numbers. I would've had the prize if the cow made the decision. It makes me wonder: How much Ex-lax would it take to make a difference for a cow?
Homecoming Queen Redux: What the heck were you people thinking?!
A Team to Watch: Watch out for the Graves County Eagles. They are 3-0 and have beaten Tilghman and Marshall County. They tangle with Mayfield next week.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
The Pigskin Classic, Franklin, Kentucky
By J. Trace Kirkwood
They're not talkin' pork rinds.
In Franklin, Kentucky, pigskin talk means football, and this year they put together a couple of nice football games for the folks of Simpson County to enjoy. It's a great deal, too. I paid six bucks to see two high school football games, and the concessions are great and reasonably priced. Next September, if a family is looking for a great way to spend a beautiful September Saturday night, I recommend that they point their cars down U.S. 31-W and find their way to James "Shadetree" Matthews Stadium, which is near the end of College Street and take in the Pigskin Bowl.
Game 1: Russellville 36 - Barren County 21
The Panthers from Russellville were smarting after Franklin-Simpson laid a 47-15 shellacking on them at Rhea Stadium a week earlier. It didn't look good for Russellville at first. Barren County scored first and quickly and seemed to have the momentum early in the game. A defensive lapse left a Barren County player wide open and the quarterback nailed him with a pass. I apologize for not having players' names, but I had just walked into the stadium when Barren County scored.
The Trojans seemed in control and had a their one touchdown lead at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Russellville found their momentum that seemed lost in their nightmare game against Franklin-Simpson last week. Fifty-nine seconds into the second quarter quarterback D.J. Quarles played a nice fake and rambled 26 yards for a touchdown to tie the game. Then, with 3:43 left in the half Quarles connected with Zach Smith for a 64 yard touchdown pass to put the Panthers ahead 14-7. Momentum loves to switch sides in football, and Russellville was riding high after the second touchdown.
Barren County committed one of the mortal sins of football by fumbling the ball with just 1:33 left in the first half. The Panthers, bolstered by Smith's catch and scramble touchdown seemed to be in control of the game, and a late half touchdown would have put them in complete control. Russellville was on their way to a touchdown but fumbled the ball with 1.1 seconds left on the clock and deep in Trojan territory.
Barren County dodged a deadly bullet.
Russellville controlled the third quarter, though. Damien Elam, who was the game's MVP, was everywhere. First of all, he plays on both sides of the ball and plays them well. Elam is only a sophomore but plays the defensive backfield like a pro. He anticipates ball movement well and made several tackles by coming all the way across the field and knocking the blocks off of the Barren County rushers. I had little doubt he would be the MVP. He was certainly going to get the Pick and Roll (aka Hook and Ladder) MVP award for the game.
Elam also caught a 27 yard touchdown pass in the third quarter.
Russellville had a commanding lead at the end of three: 29-7 after a 73 touchdown run.
Barren County mounted a good fourth quarter rally with two touchdowns, but the game was out of reach. The drama in the fourth quarter was that the last seven or eight minutes was played with a blacked out scoreboard. Fans were clueless about the amount of time left in the game. Finally, as the two teams were about to lineup, the officials blew their whistles and the game was over. It reminded me of playing sandlot football as a kid back in Louisville. When it was time for one of our Catholic families to have supper, our games ended. We sometimes stopped in the middle of a play. All of our players were off to supper.
Russellville won 36-21 and evened their season at 1-1.
Game 2: Daviess County 25 - Franklin-Simpson 20
This is the best high school football game I've seen in a long time. I've only made it to Bowling Green games in the past couple of season, and they pounded their opponents in those games. The Purples can beat everybody except for teams north of Elizabethtown.
Franklin-Simpson was coming off their pasting of the Panthers in Russellville last week and were ranked 7th in 3A football. Daviess County upended Evansville Harrison in the Border Classic in Owensboro last week, and the Panthers were ranked 10th in 6A ball.
This is the game I was there to see. I knew the Wildcats were good after watching them put the smack down on Russellville a week before, and I knew that Courtney Dalcourt and Patrick Flippin would prove to a handful for Daviess County. My brother-in-law, who is from Hancock County, is friends with Daviess County Coach Marcus Kimbrell, so that is another reason we decide to take in the Pigskin Classic.
Franklin-Simpson drew first blood in the game when Courtney Dalcourt, who is one of the best athletes in the state this season, turned prime Daviess County pass coverage into a touchdown when he hustled into the endzone with 10:19 to play.
I really knew nothing about Daviess County. The last time they had a real good season was when I was listening to "Men at Work" cassette tapes, wearing peg-leg jeans and Cheeno shirts, and mullets were actually in style.
The Panthers are led by quarterback Cole Lanham, who is a left handed kid who settles into the pocket and zips perfect spirals right into the numbers of his receivers. He can also scramble and rush very well. One of his favorite targets is Joey "Kosmo" Kramer (I made up that nickname, but I did scan their roster for a kid named Costanza). Kramer is unafraid to raise up his arms and catch high thrown balls in the middle of the field. When I was a kid we called these "hospital catches."
I noticed that Lanham also had a target named Chad McCain. Everyone! Please! Let's keep this kid out of Florida on the first Tuesday in November. I thought it was funny that a lefty was willing to throw the ball to a kid named "McCain." I also wondered if it takes a 42 year old woman from Alaska to keep him in the ballgame.
Lanham linked up with Kramer at the 9:09 mark in the first quarter to tie the score. This is when I first sensed that we were going to be witness to a great football game. The quarter ended with the score 7-7.
The two teams matched each other in the second quarter. Neither team could score. Well, without sounding too corny, it was a cat fight.
I hope I have the kid's name right. I think it was Hayden Williams for Franklin-Simpson got tangled up in a crazy Daviess County interception play that ended up with the Wildcats regaining possession after Dylan Clark fumbled the ball. Williams was injured and EMT's had to remove him from the field. Let's hope the kid is alright.
Courtney Dalcourt faked a hand-off and rumbled for 60+ yards for a touchdown, giving his Wildcats a tough earned 14-7 lead. Daviess County answered when Dylan Millay, an incredibly fast runner, scrambled for a touchdown. The Panthers missed the extra-point, so Franklin-Simpson held onto their 14-13 lead, which was the score at halftime.
I thought that the missed PAT could really hurt Daviess County in this game. It was shaping up to a be a close, hard-fought game.
Daviess County opened the second half with an effective drive for a touchdown to take a 19-14 lead. The Panthers did a good job containing Dalcourt and Flippin the third quarter. They bottled both of them up at the line and kept them from getting lose in their backfield. Both are good enough athletes to wreak havoc on defensive backs. I really felt like Daviess County's defense was the key to winning the ballgame. It really says something for them to be able to clog up a guy like Courtney Dalcourt.
The third quarter ended with the score 19-14 in favor of the visitors.
After sacking Dalcourt for a big loss on third down, the Panthers got the ball and scored with 8:43 left in the game. Millay ran a spinning and tackle breaking 21 yards to give Daviess County a 25-14 lead. The Panthers missed the two point conversion.
A chain of events unfolded that only happen in big, exciting games. The contest had the feel of a playoff game.
With 6:39 left in the game, Daviess County intercepted a Dalcourt pass, but they could not capitalize on the turnover. They had to punt, but the punter -- Lanham -- shanked the punt off his shin, and the Wildcats took over on the Daviess County 30 yard line. Twenty seconds later, Dalcourt found Jerrell Wickware in the end zone. They missed the PAT, and the score was 25-20.
Daviess County needed to run out the clock, but they had the worst possession of the game when they needed one of their best. They punted the ball away and Wickware had a great return to the DC's 24 yard line. On fourth down, Daviess County committed pass interference, which gave the Wildcats a fresh set of downs with little time left on the clock.
Dalcourt threw to the back of the end zone on first down, and Daviess County was able to run out the clock.
"County" took home the victory in a great contest. Well worth the six dollars to get in.
OBSERVATIONS
What It Really Means: At halftime of the Russellville-Barren County game, the Russellville Panthers walked out into one of the fields behind Matthews Stadium and knelt down and listened to their coaches. They took shelter in the shade of a big oak tree. A coach or a booster drove a pickup truck out there with jugs of Gatorade on the tailgate. The sun was setting behind that oak tree. It was a great scene. My Louisville friends don't get to see scenes like this up there, but, to me, it's a great piece of Americana to see high school football players spending halftime going over plays in the middle of what could've been a pasture.
Concessions Confessions: I love concession stands at football games. I don't know why, but food at football games is so much better than basketball games. At Franklin, they cook all their food on a this gigantic grill, and all that smoke of those different food gets all mixed up and adds flavor to everything. Plus, $10 will buy all the food you care to eat at "The Shadetree." The ladies at the concession stand are sweeter than west Kentucky tea, too. I might be at every Wildcat home game this season. Heck, I might buy one of those houses on College Street along with a football season ticket.
They Didn't Kill Kenny: Everybody in Franklin knows and loves Kenny Perry. They don't care that he ducked the British Open. I also think that it must be a town or county ordinance that Kenny plays a round of golf with everybody down there. I've not spoken to a single golfer down there who hasn't played a round with him.
Between the Hedges: Franklin-Simpson has a hedge of boxwoods on both sides of the football field. I started looking for UGA VII along the sideline. It's a great place to watch a football game. Did I mention the concession stand?
Name Game
Future Member of U2: Jacob Edge (Daviess County)
Future BMW Dealer: Beamer Barron (Daviess County)
Future Basketball Referee: Gage Hacker (Daviess County)
Future Horse Trainer: Tyler Furlong (Barren County)
Candle Makers in the Making: Jerrell and Darius Wickware
They're not talkin' pork rinds.
In Franklin, Kentucky, pigskin talk means football, and this year they put together a couple of nice football games for the folks of Simpson County to enjoy. It's a great deal, too. I paid six bucks to see two high school football games, and the concessions are great and reasonably priced. Next September, if a family is looking for a great way to spend a beautiful September Saturday night, I recommend that they point their cars down U.S. 31-W and find their way to James "Shadetree" Matthews Stadium, which is near the end of College Street and take in the Pigskin Bowl.
Game 1: Russellville 36 - Barren County 21
The Panthers from Russellville were smarting after Franklin-Simpson laid a 47-15 shellacking on them at Rhea Stadium a week earlier. It didn't look good for Russellville at first. Barren County scored first and quickly and seemed to have the momentum early in the game. A defensive lapse left a Barren County player wide open and the quarterback nailed him with a pass. I apologize for not having players' names, but I had just walked into the stadium when Barren County scored.
The Trojans seemed in control and had a their one touchdown lead at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Russellville found their momentum that seemed lost in their nightmare game against Franklin-Simpson last week. Fifty-nine seconds into the second quarter quarterback D.J. Quarles played a nice fake and rambled 26 yards for a touchdown to tie the game. Then, with 3:43 left in the half Quarles connected with Zach Smith for a 64 yard touchdown pass to put the Panthers ahead 14-7. Momentum loves to switch sides in football, and Russellville was riding high after the second touchdown.
Barren County committed one of the mortal sins of football by fumbling the ball with just 1:33 left in the first half. The Panthers, bolstered by Smith's catch and scramble touchdown seemed to be in control of the game, and a late half touchdown would have put them in complete control. Russellville was on their way to a touchdown but fumbled the ball with 1.1 seconds left on the clock and deep in Trojan territory.
Barren County dodged a deadly bullet.
Russellville controlled the third quarter, though. Damien Elam, who was the game's MVP, was everywhere. First of all, he plays on both sides of the ball and plays them well. Elam is only a sophomore but plays the defensive backfield like a pro. He anticipates ball movement well and made several tackles by coming all the way across the field and knocking the blocks off of the Barren County rushers. I had little doubt he would be the MVP. He was certainly going to get the Pick and Roll (aka Hook and Ladder) MVP award for the game.
Elam also caught a 27 yard touchdown pass in the third quarter.
Russellville had a commanding lead at the end of three: 29-7 after a 73 touchdown run.
Barren County mounted a good fourth quarter rally with two touchdowns, but the game was out of reach. The drama in the fourth quarter was that the last seven or eight minutes was played with a blacked out scoreboard. Fans were clueless about the amount of time left in the game. Finally, as the two teams were about to lineup, the officials blew their whistles and the game was over. It reminded me of playing sandlot football as a kid back in Louisville. When it was time for one of our Catholic families to have supper, our games ended. We sometimes stopped in the middle of a play. All of our players were off to supper.
Russellville won 36-21 and evened their season at 1-1.
Game 2: Daviess County 25 - Franklin-Simpson 20
This is the best high school football game I've seen in a long time. I've only made it to Bowling Green games in the past couple of season, and they pounded their opponents in those games. The Purples can beat everybody except for teams north of Elizabethtown.
Franklin-Simpson was coming off their pasting of the Panthers in Russellville last week and were ranked 7th in 3A football. Daviess County upended Evansville Harrison in the Border Classic in Owensboro last week, and the Panthers were ranked 10th in 6A ball.
This is the game I was there to see. I knew the Wildcats were good after watching them put the smack down on Russellville a week before, and I knew that Courtney Dalcourt and Patrick Flippin would prove to a handful for Daviess County. My brother-in-law, who is from Hancock County, is friends with Daviess County Coach Marcus Kimbrell, so that is another reason we decide to take in the Pigskin Classic.
Franklin-Simpson drew first blood in the game when Courtney Dalcourt, who is one of the best athletes in the state this season, turned prime Daviess County pass coverage into a touchdown when he hustled into the endzone with 10:19 to play.
I really knew nothing about Daviess County. The last time they had a real good season was when I was listening to "Men at Work" cassette tapes, wearing peg-leg jeans and Cheeno shirts, and mullets were actually in style.
The Panthers are led by quarterback Cole Lanham, who is a left handed kid who settles into the pocket and zips perfect spirals right into the numbers of his receivers. He can also scramble and rush very well. One of his favorite targets is Joey "Kosmo" Kramer (I made up that nickname, but I did scan their roster for a kid named Costanza). Kramer is unafraid to raise up his arms and catch high thrown balls in the middle of the field. When I was a kid we called these "hospital catches."
I noticed that Lanham also had a target named Chad McCain. Everyone! Please! Let's keep this kid out of Florida on the first Tuesday in November. I thought it was funny that a lefty was willing to throw the ball to a kid named "McCain." I also wondered if it takes a 42 year old woman from Alaska to keep him in the ballgame.
Lanham linked up with Kramer at the 9:09 mark in the first quarter to tie the score. This is when I first sensed that we were going to be witness to a great football game. The quarter ended with the score 7-7.
The two teams matched each other in the second quarter. Neither team could score. Well, without sounding too corny, it was a cat fight.
I hope I have the kid's name right. I think it was Hayden Williams for Franklin-Simpson got tangled up in a crazy Daviess County interception play that ended up with the Wildcats regaining possession after Dylan Clark fumbled the ball. Williams was injured and EMT's had to remove him from the field. Let's hope the kid is alright.
Courtney Dalcourt faked a hand-off and rumbled for 60+ yards for a touchdown, giving his Wildcats a tough earned 14-7 lead. Daviess County answered when Dylan Millay, an incredibly fast runner, scrambled for a touchdown. The Panthers missed the extra-point, so Franklin-Simpson held onto their 14-13 lead, which was the score at halftime.
I thought that the missed PAT could really hurt Daviess County in this game. It was shaping up to a be a close, hard-fought game.
Daviess County opened the second half with an effective drive for a touchdown to take a 19-14 lead. The Panthers did a good job containing Dalcourt and Flippin the third quarter. They bottled both of them up at the line and kept them from getting lose in their backfield. Both are good enough athletes to wreak havoc on defensive backs. I really felt like Daviess County's defense was the key to winning the ballgame. It really says something for them to be able to clog up a guy like Courtney Dalcourt.
The third quarter ended with the score 19-14 in favor of the visitors.
After sacking Dalcourt for a big loss on third down, the Panthers got the ball and scored with 8:43 left in the game. Millay ran a spinning and tackle breaking 21 yards to give Daviess County a 25-14 lead. The Panthers missed the two point conversion.
A chain of events unfolded that only happen in big, exciting games. The contest had the feel of a playoff game.
With 6:39 left in the game, Daviess County intercepted a Dalcourt pass, but they could not capitalize on the turnover. They had to punt, but the punter -- Lanham -- shanked the punt off his shin, and the Wildcats took over on the Daviess County 30 yard line. Twenty seconds later, Dalcourt found Jerrell Wickware in the end zone. They missed the PAT, and the score was 25-20.
Daviess County needed to run out the clock, but they had the worst possession of the game when they needed one of their best. They punted the ball away and Wickware had a great return to the DC's 24 yard line. On fourth down, Daviess County committed pass interference, which gave the Wildcats a fresh set of downs with little time left on the clock.
Dalcourt threw to the back of the end zone on first down, and Daviess County was able to run out the clock.
"County" took home the victory in a great contest. Well worth the six dollars to get in.
OBSERVATIONS
What It Really Means: At halftime of the Russellville-Barren County game, the Russellville Panthers walked out into one of the fields behind Matthews Stadium and knelt down and listened to their coaches. They took shelter in the shade of a big oak tree. A coach or a booster drove a pickup truck out there with jugs of Gatorade on the tailgate. The sun was setting behind that oak tree. It was a great scene. My Louisville friends don't get to see scenes like this up there, but, to me, it's a great piece of Americana to see high school football players spending halftime going over plays in the middle of what could've been a pasture.
Concessions Confessions: I love concession stands at football games. I don't know why, but food at football games is so much better than basketball games. At Franklin, they cook all their food on a this gigantic grill, and all that smoke of those different food gets all mixed up and adds flavor to everything. Plus, $10 will buy all the food you care to eat at "The Shadetree." The ladies at the concession stand are sweeter than west Kentucky tea, too. I might be at every Wildcat home game this season. Heck, I might buy one of those houses on College Street along with a football season ticket.
They Didn't Kill Kenny: Everybody in Franklin knows and loves Kenny Perry. They don't care that he ducked the British Open. I also think that it must be a town or county ordinance that Kenny plays a round of golf with everybody down there. I've not spoken to a single golfer down there who hasn't played a round with him.
Between the Hedges: Franklin-Simpson has a hedge of boxwoods on both sides of the football field. I started looking for UGA VII along the sideline. It's a great place to watch a football game. Did I mention the concession stand?
Name Game
Future Member of U2: Jacob Edge (Daviess County)
Future BMW Dealer: Beamer Barron (Daviess County)
Future Basketball Referee: Gage Hacker (Daviess County)
Future Horse Trainer: Tyler Furlong (Barren County)
Candle Makers in the Making: Jerrell and Darius Wickware
Friday, August 29, 2008
Franklin-Simpson 47 - Russellville 15
By J. Trace Kirkwood
I want to clear up some old and new business before I head into my astute analysis of the football game in Russellville on Friday night. First, take note that my name now appears above the story. A loyal reader pointed out to me that maybe I was hiding my identity from fans, coaches, and players by not putting my name on the stories. I never thought of it that way. They said, "Chris Gregory puts his name on the stories, but you don't. Are you scared?"
There's no yellow stripe on me, and I never intended to shelter my identity from the savvy and intelligent readers of the Pennyrile Pick and Roll. I didn't want the website to be about me, unless I could share something funny or stupid about myself. There's plenty of material to draw from the latter.
Secondly, the Pennyrile Pick and Roll will be loosely known as the Pennyrile Hook and Ladder during the football season. I won't change the banner, but I will be covering some football games this fall.
Finally, my little boy is a Pick and Roll correspondent in the making. I told him he was a skunk tonight because he was being disobedient. He very seriously and with a straight face told me, "I spanked a skunk right on his behind one time, and he didn't even spray me." It was an absolute and complete fabrication, but he told it like it was true. He never recanted his story, either. He's got the skill set to be either a politician or a Pick and Roll writer.
I'm afraid to write too much about the Russellville game because I'm writing a story for High School Zone Magazine about Russellville's stadium and team. There's a good reason for that. When I write for HSZ, I make a little money. When I write stuff for Pick and Roll, well, I generally lose money.
Normally, when I've been to a game at an old stadium like Rhea Stadium in Russellville, I'd go on ad infinitum about the architecture and the atmosphere of the old place because I love old stadiums and gymnasiums. I'm not going to that here because I don't want the publisher of the magazine to phone me and call me bad names. Mostly, I want the checks to clear the bank.
I will say this. When the stadium lights took over after sunset, they were a beacon to every flying, jumping, and crawling bug in Logan County. I was raised up on the edge of the Everglades and swatted fewer bugs on a summer evening. I don't mean anything bad about the stadium because it's a problem for all football stadiums at this time of the year.
Early in the game Franklin-Simpson discovered how to get over and through Russellville's defense. They also capitalized on nearly every mistake the Panthers made during the game. After a fumble at 8:25 in the first quarter, the Wildcats pounced with a touchdown at 7:32 with a pass from Courtney Dalcourt to tight end Jim Murphee.
Franklin-Simpson running back Patrick Flippin had a huge night busting through holes in the Russellville defensive line. The Wildcats spread out their offense, and Russellville had no answer for it. Flippin hung a second touchdown on the Panthers with 3:51 left in the first.
On the kickoff after a missed field goal, Russellville's Damian Elam mishandled the ball but ran the ball back 97 yards for a touchdown. After he fumbled around with the ball inside the five yard line, the Wildcat return coverage split like the Red Sea in front of Moses. Elam's touchdown breathed some life into the Panthers and their fans, but with less than a minute in the quarter Dalcourt connected with Murphee in the endzone by threading a three yard pass through a pair of Panther defenders. The first quarter ended with the Wildcats up 20-7.
In the second quarter Flippin busted a 63 yard ramble through the middle of Russellville's defense and scored a touchdown. Dalcourt found Zack Herrington in the endzone for another touchdown with 3:51 left in the half. Franklin-Simpson took a commanding 34-7 lead to the locker room.
Late in the third quarter, Russellville Head Coach John Myers replaced starting quarterback Zach Smith with sophomore D.J. Quarles. It seemed that Quarles brought another dimension to the position because he was able to run the ball better than Smith. With 9:24 left in the game, Quarles linked up with Zach Smith, who was playing wide receiver, for a 60+ yard touchdown pass. Smith ran past all the Wildcat defenders.
Russellville opted for the two point conversion and handed the ball off to Damian Elam, who made the athletic play of the night. He jumped over a diving Wildcat defender to convert the extra-points.
Franklin-Simpson should have a good ball team this season with Courtney Dalcourt at quarterback and athletic receivers like Murphee and Herrington. Patrick Flippin adds another dimension to their offense out of the backfield, not too mention Dalcourt skills at scrambling. Dalcourt, however, needs to give up on the scramble and throw the ball out of bounds after he has rolled out of the tackle box.
Russellville? They are going to have to start popping people on the football field. They don't seem to play very physical football, and they have to quit making so many mistakes. The turn the ball over too much, and their special teams are inconsistent.
OBSERVATIONS
What is this, Exxon? Fans have to shell out five bucks for a program and roster at Rhea Stadium. The program is for all the fall sports, but five bucks?! I'm just kidding because I know it helps fund some of the athletics programs. I was hoping for a coupon for Roy's barbecue.
It's Rigged! Russellville Independent School System's superintendent's wife won the drawing at Rhea Stadium. Hey, now!
Funny Story: One of my best friends, Russ Cummins, who does the play-by-play for Fern Creek High School football told me a story about his uncle "R.D." R.D. played for Bowling Green years ago when the Purples and the Panthers tangled every year. A Russellville player delivered a crushing blow to my friend's uncle, but R.D. jumped right back up and ran to the sideline and sat down on the bench. There was a problem, though. The hit knocked the sense out of the player, and he was sitting on Russellville's bench. The Panther players got away from him like he just walked out of the reactor core at Three Mile Island. Bowling Green had to dispatch a manager to retrieve their discombobulated player. If I remember right, that happened at Rhea Stadium.
I want to clear up some old and new business before I head into my astute analysis of the football game in Russellville on Friday night. First, take note that my name now appears above the story. A loyal reader pointed out to me that maybe I was hiding my identity from fans, coaches, and players by not putting my name on the stories. I never thought of it that way. They said, "Chris Gregory puts his name on the stories, but you don't. Are you scared?"
There's no yellow stripe on me, and I never intended to shelter my identity from the savvy and intelligent readers of the Pennyrile Pick and Roll. I didn't want the website to be about me, unless I could share something funny or stupid about myself. There's plenty of material to draw from the latter.
Secondly, the Pennyrile Pick and Roll will be loosely known as the Pennyrile Hook and Ladder during the football season. I won't change the banner, but I will be covering some football games this fall.
Finally, my little boy is a Pick and Roll correspondent in the making. I told him he was a skunk tonight because he was being disobedient. He very seriously and with a straight face told me, "I spanked a skunk right on his behind one time, and he didn't even spray me." It was an absolute and complete fabrication, but he told it like it was true. He never recanted his story, either. He's got the skill set to be either a politician or a Pick and Roll writer.
I'm afraid to write too much about the Russellville game because I'm writing a story for High School Zone Magazine about Russellville's stadium and team. There's a good reason for that. When I write for HSZ, I make a little money. When I write stuff for Pick and Roll, well, I generally lose money.
Normally, when I've been to a game at an old stadium like Rhea Stadium in Russellville, I'd go on ad infinitum about the architecture and the atmosphere of the old place because I love old stadiums and gymnasiums. I'm not going to that here because I don't want the publisher of the magazine to phone me and call me bad names. Mostly, I want the checks to clear the bank.
I will say this. When the stadium lights took over after sunset, they were a beacon to every flying, jumping, and crawling bug in Logan County. I was raised up on the edge of the Everglades and swatted fewer bugs on a summer evening. I don't mean anything bad about the stadium because it's a problem for all football stadiums at this time of the year.
Early in the game Franklin-Simpson discovered how to get over and through Russellville's defense. They also capitalized on nearly every mistake the Panthers made during the game. After a fumble at 8:25 in the first quarter, the Wildcats pounced with a touchdown at 7:32 with a pass from Courtney Dalcourt to tight end Jim Murphee.
Franklin-Simpson running back Patrick Flippin had a huge night busting through holes in the Russellville defensive line. The Wildcats spread out their offense, and Russellville had no answer for it. Flippin hung a second touchdown on the Panthers with 3:51 left in the first.
On the kickoff after a missed field goal, Russellville's Damian Elam mishandled the ball but ran the ball back 97 yards for a touchdown. After he fumbled around with the ball inside the five yard line, the Wildcat return coverage split like the Red Sea in front of Moses. Elam's touchdown breathed some life into the Panthers and their fans, but with less than a minute in the quarter Dalcourt connected with Murphee in the endzone by threading a three yard pass through a pair of Panther defenders. The first quarter ended with the Wildcats up 20-7.
In the second quarter Flippin busted a 63 yard ramble through the middle of Russellville's defense and scored a touchdown. Dalcourt found Zack Herrington in the endzone for another touchdown with 3:51 left in the half. Franklin-Simpson took a commanding 34-7 lead to the locker room.
Late in the third quarter, Russellville Head Coach John Myers replaced starting quarterback Zach Smith with sophomore D.J. Quarles. It seemed that Quarles brought another dimension to the position because he was able to run the ball better than Smith. With 9:24 left in the game, Quarles linked up with Zach Smith, who was playing wide receiver, for a 60+ yard touchdown pass. Smith ran past all the Wildcat defenders.
Russellville opted for the two point conversion and handed the ball off to Damian Elam, who made the athletic play of the night. He jumped over a diving Wildcat defender to convert the extra-points.
Franklin-Simpson should have a good ball team this season with Courtney Dalcourt at quarterback and athletic receivers like Murphee and Herrington. Patrick Flippin adds another dimension to their offense out of the backfield, not too mention Dalcourt skills at scrambling. Dalcourt, however, needs to give up on the scramble and throw the ball out of bounds after he has rolled out of the tackle box.
Russellville? They are going to have to start popping people on the football field. They don't seem to play very physical football, and they have to quit making so many mistakes. The turn the ball over too much, and their special teams are inconsistent.
OBSERVATIONS
What is this, Exxon? Fans have to shell out five bucks for a program and roster at Rhea Stadium. The program is for all the fall sports, but five bucks?! I'm just kidding because I know it helps fund some of the athletics programs. I was hoping for a coupon for Roy's barbecue.
It's Rigged! Russellville Independent School System's superintendent's wife won the drawing at Rhea Stadium. Hey, now!
Funny Story: One of my best friends, Russ Cummins, who does the play-by-play for Fern Creek High School football told me a story about his uncle "R.D." R.D. played for Bowling Green years ago when the Purples and the Panthers tangled every year. A Russellville player delivered a crushing blow to my friend's uncle, but R.D. jumped right back up and ran to the sideline and sat down on the bench. There was a problem, though. The hit knocked the sense out of the player, and he was sitting on Russellville's bench. The Panther players got away from him like he just walked out of the reactor core at Three Mile Island. Bowling Green had to dispatch a manager to retrieve their discombobulated player. If I remember right, that happened at Rhea Stadium.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Basketball Lamentations
"The roads to Jerusalem are in mourning, no longer filled with crowds on their way to celebrate the Temple festivals."
Basketball gyms and arenas across the Pennyrile are quiet on Friday nights in the summer. There might be a handful of friends or players running the court in a pick-up game, but, for the most part, the lights are off and dust gathers waiting for the first stirrings of practice in the fall.
I love baseball, so I settle into that cove during the summer, but in Bowling Green baseball season pretty much ends when the Hilltoppers play their last game at Nick Denes Field. I can keep up with the St. Louis Cardinals via the internet, but I lament June around here. There's no basketball. There's no baseball. There's heat and humidity, and I mow my lawn counting the days until the high school football season starts. That helps a lot. It speeds the time until the first tipoff of the season.
By the way, for a few weeks this fall Pennyrile Pick and Roll will become Pennyrile Hook and Ladder because I will cover some football games around the region. There's nothing better than spending a mild fall evening watching high school football.
I've got to find out if Owensboro plays Breckinridge County and find that lady who takes off a piece of clothing every time the Red Devils score. I only saw her when they played Bowling Green. It was cold and the Red Devils only got on the board twice.
Still, I lament the wait for basketball season.
No Chris Gregory and I are not eating children or struggle at millstones. Our children do not stagger under heavy loads of wood.
Still, I was driven to watch NBA basketball. Oh, the sorrows we bear! Yeah, yeah. I know there's some NBA fans out there, but I've never been able to watch professional basketball very much. One night I switched off the basketball game and started watching hockey. I mean no offense to fans of "The Association." I've tried to like it.
I guess it's sort of like green olives. They look good but taste awful. No matter how many times one might get suckered into eating a green olive they're always going to taste terrible.
"Give us back the joys we once had!"
No, my name is not Jeremiah.
My kids went to Bowling Green High School's basketball camp. This was their second year to attend the camp, and they love it. They come home throwing bounce passes and guarding each other with a proper defensive stance. We live in Warren Central's district, so I tell them to be careful sporting those purple and gold t-shirts.
I want to say thanks to all the coaches and players at BGHS for enhancing my kids' love of basketball.
Chris Gregory is going to post something about coaching changes in the Fifth Region. There's nothing going on in the Fourth.
Damon Tabor, who was principal at Rockfield Elementary, is apparently going to coach the girls' team at Warren Central. He retired from Rockfield at the end of the school year. He wore out his electric paddle on my kids, so he decided to retire.
Hang in there hoops fans.
Basketball gyms and arenas across the Pennyrile are quiet on Friday nights in the summer. There might be a handful of friends or players running the court in a pick-up game, but, for the most part, the lights are off and dust gathers waiting for the first stirrings of practice in the fall.
I love baseball, so I settle into that cove during the summer, but in Bowling Green baseball season pretty much ends when the Hilltoppers play their last game at Nick Denes Field. I can keep up with the St. Louis Cardinals via the internet, but I lament June around here. There's no basketball. There's no baseball. There's heat and humidity, and I mow my lawn counting the days until the high school football season starts. That helps a lot. It speeds the time until the first tipoff of the season.
By the way, for a few weeks this fall Pennyrile Pick and Roll will become Pennyrile Hook and Ladder because I will cover some football games around the region. There's nothing better than spending a mild fall evening watching high school football.
I've got to find out if Owensboro plays Breckinridge County and find that lady who takes off a piece of clothing every time the Red Devils score. I only saw her when they played Bowling Green. It was cold and the Red Devils only got on the board twice.
Still, I lament the wait for basketball season.
No Chris Gregory and I are not eating children or struggle at millstones. Our children do not stagger under heavy loads of wood.
Still, I was driven to watch NBA basketball. Oh, the sorrows we bear! Yeah, yeah. I know there's some NBA fans out there, but I've never been able to watch professional basketball very much. One night I switched off the basketball game and started watching hockey. I mean no offense to fans of "The Association." I've tried to like it.
I guess it's sort of like green olives. They look good but taste awful. No matter how many times one might get suckered into eating a green olive they're always going to taste terrible.
"Give us back the joys we once had!"
No, my name is not Jeremiah.
My kids went to Bowling Green High School's basketball camp. This was their second year to attend the camp, and they love it. They come home throwing bounce passes and guarding each other with a proper defensive stance. We live in Warren Central's district, so I tell them to be careful sporting those purple and gold t-shirts.
I want to say thanks to all the coaches and players at BGHS for enhancing my kids' love of basketball.
Chris Gregory is going to post something about coaching changes in the Fifth Region. There's nothing going on in the Fourth.
Damon Tabor, who was principal at Rockfield Elementary, is apparently going to coach the girls' team at Warren Central. He retired from Rockfield at the end of the school year. He wore out his electric paddle on my kids, so he decided to retire.
Hang in there hoops fans.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Pick and Roll Parody
Ah, yes, the ivory towers of academia bristle with the Newtonian genius of McQuady, Kentucky's number one sage. This should build the confidence of the Commonwealth that her children are being well educated at institutions of higher learning like Western Kentucky University -- the Harvard of South Central Kentucky -- when they see this kind of creativity emerging from the tiled and marbled hallways of The Hill.
The song can be sung to the old Dr. Hook song "Cover of the Rolling Stone." It's always been one of my favorite songs, so I think it is funny that someone came up with a parody of Pick and Roll using that song. I started thinking about the song when I started writing columns for High School Zone Magazine and took copies to my parents in Mayfield, "Gonna buy five copies for my mother."
Chris Gregory and I don't have Indian gurus or teenage, blue-eyed groupies, and neither of us wears an eye-patch. I don't have a limo for my poor old gray haired daddy to drive, either.
If you don't know the tune follow the above link and listen. Here you go:
Well I’m a big time blogger
Not killing trees like a logger
And I write about things I know
I write about history and I write about hoops
I’m not worried about making much dough
I’ve got a big gas bill that gives my wife a cold chill
But it’s a chill that has got to go
When my wife starts reading what’s I’m writing
On the Pennyrile Pick and Roll
(Pick and Roll) Wanna read the stories by your lover?
(Roll) Wanna send the link to your mother?
(Roll) Wanna see what I’ll write next
On the Pennyrile Pick and Roll
I’m not shady just taking my old lady
To gyms that she ain’t never seen
I got my little son and daughter
Taking notes for our e-zine
Now it’s all designed to cover our region
But the region won’t really be covered
Until your team hosts a game that’ll get you
On the Pennyrile Pick and Roll
(Pick and Roll) Wanna read the stories that we cover?
(Roll) Wanna write about some others?
(Roll) Wanna see what we’ll write next
On the Pennyrile Pick and Roll
I’ve got me a 5th Region correspondent
Who’ll write anything I want
I got a fancy web counter
That’s keeping track of the hits
I got all the space that a blog provides
So I never have to cut it off
And I’ll keep writing and you’ll keep reading
What’s on the Pennyrile Pick and Roll
(Pick and Roll) Wanna read the stories that we cover?
(Roll) Wanna send a link to your mothers?
(Roll) Wanna see what we’ll write next
On the Pennyrile Pick and Roll
On the Pennyrile Pick and Roll
On the Pennyrile Pick and Roll
The song can be sung to the old Dr. Hook song "Cover of the Rolling Stone." It's always been one of my favorite songs, so I think it is funny that someone came up with a parody of Pick and Roll using that song. I started thinking about the song when I started writing columns for High School Zone Magazine and took copies to my parents in Mayfield, "Gonna buy five copies for my mother."
Chris Gregory and I don't have Indian gurus or teenage, blue-eyed groupies, and neither of us wears an eye-patch. I don't have a limo for my poor old gray haired daddy to drive, either.
If you don't know the tune follow the above link and listen. Here you go:
Well I’m a big time blogger
Not killing trees like a logger
And I write about things I know
I write about history and I write about hoops
I’m not worried about making much dough
I’ve got a big gas bill that gives my wife a cold chill
But it’s a chill that has got to go
When my wife starts reading what’s I’m writing
On the Pennyrile Pick and Roll
(Pick and Roll) Wanna read the stories by your lover?
(Roll) Wanna send the link to your mother?
(Roll) Wanna see what I’ll write next
On the Pennyrile Pick and Roll
I’m not shady just taking my old lady
To gyms that she ain’t never seen
I got my little son and daughter
Taking notes for our e-zine
Now it’s all designed to cover our region
But the region won’t really be covered
Until your team hosts a game that’ll get you
On the Pennyrile Pick and Roll
(Pick and Roll) Wanna read the stories that we cover?
(Roll) Wanna write about some others?
(Roll) Wanna see what we’ll write next
On the Pennyrile Pick and Roll
I’ve got me a 5th Region correspondent
Who’ll write anything I want
I got a fancy web counter
That’s keeping track of the hits
I got all the space that a blog provides
So I never have to cut it off
And I’ll keep writing and you’ll keep reading
What’s on the Pennyrile Pick and Roll
(Pick and Roll) Wanna read the stories that we cover?
(Roll) Wanna send a link to your mothers?
(Roll) Wanna see what we’ll write next
On the Pennyrile Pick and Roll
On the Pennyrile Pick and Roll
On the Pennyrile Pick and Roll
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