[EKUAlum05]

Everyone knows this is the Belfry area and its coverage is the same as WSAZ coverage area so why all the crying about transfers when their just going to an area school.

Long post...



As long as Belfry continues to compete for State Titles and has kids going on to play collegiate football transfers are going to come with the territory, and with that criticism and outlash. As Belfry fans you just have to have thick skin and realize that is part of the game.

I have mentioned this in different forms of threads over the years, but it is just a model that always holds true. Talent pool always flows. Programs are only as good as their momentum or their ability to have the talent pool flow their way.

"Recruiting" is the most overused and short sighted term in HS Football. In this day and age it is very rare that true "recruiting" goes on in the sense people associate with the word. Coaches at the HS level are not seeking out players and their families...at least not at top programs. But, with the proficiency of social media, information on the internet, and the culture of parents wanting their kids to be winners or get exposure... self-recruitment has became very abundant. With improvement in transportation, communication, and information District Lines are not what they used to be.

My theory is that there is a talent pool for a given area and depending on how a program creates momentum or prestige is how that talent pool flows. Histroically and still n most cases the average family simply takes the cheaper/easier path and stays within their district lines. They take advantage of the shorter commute, the free transportation by bus, sending their kids to school alongside the kids of families they know... and so forth.

What we are seeing though is a change in dynamics. Competition has changed at the grassroots level where there are more people inter mingling. The rise of AAU, Travel Ball, All-Stars, Camps, etc has parents wanting their kids to play with/against the best and pulling people from all across different district lines regardless of sport. Kids are communicating with other kids from different areas via social media and creating friendships that fifteen years ago were improbable due to a lack of communication outlets. Now you can tweet or skype with someone who lives two counties over. Pre-2000's this was a long distance phone call that you got yelled at for.

The landscape of collegiate recruiting has changed as well thanks to the evolution of the internet. What has never changed is the fact parents want their kids to be "the best" and hopefully to get a free education, and kids want to see their name mentioned and get praise. Now everyone can make a highlight video, everyone can create exposure, and now when you are in the headline for a 200 yard rushing game the entire State and sometimes country can know about it, whereas 15 years ago only the people reading the newspaper would see it. It is a cut throat world as a result and parents will flock to where their kid has the best chance to get that acclaim and attention.

A side product of the above paragraph is that with this new information and communication it is easier for parents to know where opportunities exist. In the case of the Corbett kid it is very clear this is what drove that transfer and why a Logan coach is frustrated. Corbett is friends with Horton and Joplin and I am sure communicates with them, has probably competed with them from an earlier age, and it is pretty apparent the reason he moved is because he heard there was an opportunity at Belfry to play QB at an early age and be surrounded by talent that will make sure he wins a lot of games and plays on big stages. From what I have heard this was his family's decision to move their entire life to send their kid to a program where he would have these opportunities, while in the same token get a chance at a better education to prepare him for college. Instead of being the only big fish in a small pond, the Corbett's chose to be a big fish with other big fish in a very huge pond.

The flow of talent pool is everywhere. Belfry gets a bad rap because of Rand McNalley. Because kids come from "Out of State" there is some notion that it is so much different (Even though WV football on the whole is drastically weaker than KY but I digress). In truth, a kid's family relocating 10 miles from Red Jacket to Huddy is the exact same a kid's family relocating 10 miles from Zebulon to Bowles Addition, or Betsy Layne to Pburg.


This principle is why Highlands has dominated for decades and why people hate Private Schools. Highlands doesn't have to recruit, but there is a monumental talent pool in the NKY/Cincy area big enough to support numerous schools. For decades families have made a point to get into the Highlands' District to take advantage of the education and the top tier football program that assures their kids wins, championship rings, and the exposure that comes with it. Private schools are hated because they have "advantages" by not being restricted by a District, typically being elite academically, and in most cases having the financial flexibility to pay coaches more and invest into their program. It's never been about Trinity/St. X actively recruiting players so much as it is the fact Trinity/X are simply THE best option by a large margin in a massive talent pool like Louisville Metro. That's why they are hated is because they are essentially assured the talent pool will flow there while the Jefferson County schools or other 6A County Schools around the State can't match them.

Talent pool flow is why some programs rise while others fall. In NKY there will always be the Have's and the Have Not's... same for Louisville... Lexington... and the Ashland area. That's why the Mingo County people are so frustrated. As long as Belfry keeps winning and is the best option for football/academics the talent pool will flow their way from the Feeder System up, and in correlation they will continue to remain the Have Not's. Yet you don't hear them complain one bit about basketball where the talent pool for years has flowed their direction. This is why Pikeville fans lash out. It is actually hypocritical because over the past five years Pikeville has probably had more transfers than Belfry Grades 9-12, but Belfry continues to win head to head and get more acclaim mainly because Belfry simply has a bigger talent pool to use. In the Late 80's and Early 90's under Hilliard Howard though Pikeville made their name thanks to talent pool flow when the truly elite talents amassed in Maroon so they could play for Championship Rings.

To end my thesis :biggrin: Belfry fans should just own what it is and be thankful the program is where it is at. You can't be mad at others who are upset because if the shoe were on the other foot you would be saying the same thing. What has made Belfry the prime destination is a legendary coach, perhaps the best community support in the State, and the hard work to make the feeder system what it is to assure that regardless of talent fluctuation Belfry will always field a quality product. With a shriveling economy nothing is guaranteed to last and if Belfry ever falters (Haywood retirement?) or another program rises it is never guaranteed to be as good as this.

As for right now though... it is great to be a Pirate fa and seeing what is in the cupboard for the next 3-4 years.