[papagrit]

I agree that for political/economic reasons, especially in rural counties like Rockcastle, there are some kids that get an edge in playing time because of who they are/who they know. It occurs. I've not noticed it happen with the football program as extensively as say the baseball program. The football coaches seem to be more inclined to try to put the best players available on the field. Some football parents will disagree with me on that statement and that's fine. I respect that. Usually the parents that aren't happy with the football coaches' player choices are parents who's kid plays in a skilled position where there is more competition for starting spots than say a lineman position. I've personally just not really seen it in varsity football as much as in the other varsity sports. The least political of any sport in Rockcastle would probably be the track team. What's funny about that is the fact that Rockcastle's girls track team has won numerous state titles, indoor and outdoor in the last decade. The girls track coach has his favorites and those girls are the ones that can jump or throw the farthest and run the fastest. He does a tremendous job with that team and there doesn't seem to be any politics involved.

[Fly Like a Duck]

It's hard to be political in sports like Track, Golf, Wrestling, Tennis, etc. "Individual Team Sports" as I call them.

I still don't buy the politics in football at all, well, I'm not going to say that completely bc I don't know every school. However, the kids that play "because of who their parents are" is a very, very, very, very, VERY small number (if any).

[rustyankle]

Well I have not seen it in the varsity football program they try to put the best out there but the baseball program is awful with politics I just hope the football team don't do what they have done

[HonestJohn]

I think one freshman has a great chance at starting this year. We will have last years QB and one WR back, but if you watched any of the 8th grade games last year there is one (if not more) players who really can make plays happen after the catch. They are undersized for high school, but so was the Mills kid for Whitley last year. Did he impact the high school team any? I think the freshman may be as good as if not better than many of our upperclassmen. I think the schedule this year is going to be brutal for Rock. They may need all the extra players they can get, especially if none of the upperclassmen have added any size during weightlifting. The line will determine the success or failure of this years team. I hope the whole teams attitude and heart is there and they give it their all, but with youngsters today, who knows. They don't seem to have the desire or the ambition to go the "extra" mile to accomplish the goals they desire. Go Rock. I will be cheering win or lose. Winning I hope.

[LWC]

Can the team, top to bottom be so bad that there are no Freshmen or Sophomores capable of stepping up and providing more wins than last season? If the program really has fallen that far, it might be time readjust our expectations.

[Full deck]

I think one freshman has a great chance at starting this year. We will have last years QB and one WR back, but if you watched any of the 8th grade games last year there is one (if not more) players who really can make plays happen after the catch. They are undersized for high school, but so was the Mills kid for Whitley last year. Did he impact the high school team any? I think the freshman may be as good as if not better than many of our upperclassmen. I think the schedule this year is going to be brutal for Rock. They may need all the extra players they can get, especially if none of the upperclassmen have added any size during weightlifting. The line will determine the success or failure of this years team. I hope the whole teams attitude and heart is there and they give it their all, but with youngsters today, who knows. They don't seem to have the desire or the ambition to go the "extra" mile to accomplish the goals they desire. Go Rock. I will be cheering win or lose. Winning I hope.

8th grade fast against other 8th graders ain't the same as 8th grade speed on a high school game vs other teams varsity players.

[Cardfan1]

Rock has some good incoming frosh, but to expect them to compete against 18 and 19 year olds is impossible. They will learn and grow.

[rustyankle]

I will say this I know one boy that has worked his tail off everyday since the last game I hope some of that carry over to more players

[johnnyd]

It has to be the "right" 8th grader. It has to be one that is mentally tough enough to handle getting blown up and can keep on coming. You can ruin some kids putting them in the fire before they are ready.

[footballfever]

I agree. Freshman playing 1A, 2A is one thing. Throwing a Freshman out there against 4A, 5A, 6A competition is a different animal!
There are very good players in 1A but usually all teams have 9th graders and average players along with the 2-3 really good players.

[Full deck]

I will say this I know one boy that has worked his tail off everyday since the last game I hope some of that carry over to more players

All that work for naught, since a freshemn may take his job.

[HonestJohn]

8th grade fast against other 8th graders ain't the same as 8th grade speed on a high school game vs other teams varsity players.

Did you even see the Mills kid for Whitley Co. play last year. He was a freshman, and may have been the leading rusher on his team (in 5A I might add). They played Boyle, Somerset, Russell Co, Knox Central, and many other good teams last year. It all depends on the athlete. I am interested in seeing how he does this year without the BIG Bryant kid taking all the attention of the defense and him being the focus of attention. But make no mistake, he is a great athlete. Seems to me some kids mature and grow and can handle contact sports better than others, and they are ready at an earlier age. I think you may see some of that this year at Rockcastle. I think they will not only get some playing time, but make a difference is some of the games they get to play in. Don't get me wrong, I know the older mature players will be the glue that brings it all together (if it comes together) this year. I think a .500 or better season is entirely possible. If they play real good and play team football they may even win the district. You never know about a team until the season starts and you see how they gel. Go ROCK.

[Iam4thecats]

I think a .500 or better season is entirely possible. If they play real good and play team football they may even win the district. You never know about a team until the season starts and you see how they gel. Go ROCK.

The old Rock teams were known for being greater than the sum of its parts. Can this new group find some of that old magic?

[RunItUpTheGut]

Did you even see the Mills kid for Whitley Co. play last year. He was a freshman, and may have been the leading rusher on his team (in 5A I might add). They played Boyle, Somerset, Russell Co, Knox Central, and many other good teams last year. It all depends on the athlete. I am interested in seeing how he does this year without the BIG Bryant kid taking all the attention of the defense and him being the focus of attention. But make no mistake, he is a great athlete. Seems to me some kids mature and grow and can handle contact sports better than others, and they are ready at an earlier age. I think you may see some of that this year at Rockcastle. I think they will not only get some playing time, but make a difference is some of the games they get to play in. Don't get me wrong, I know the older mature players will be the glue that brings it all together (if it comes together) this year. I think a .500 or better season is entirely possible. If they play real good and play team football they may even win the district. You never know about a team until the season starts and you see how they gel. Go ROCK.

Very rarely do you get a kid like Mills though.
Ysidro started as a freshmen at QB for Whitley, and he just wasn't ready for it physically or mentally, but it was a down year and it got him experience.
If I were a coach i would never want to play a frosh, unless he is crazy good like Mills is.
Id play a frosh if he's really good, and an early bloomer, but its hard to stick a kid in a varsity game as a freshmen and expect him to compete in most cases in higher classed football.

[rustyankle]

Yeah if a freshman gets his playing time over him then they have earned it

[Fly Like a Duck]

Very rarely do you get a kid like Mills though.
Ysidro started as a freshmen at QB for Whitley, and he just wasn't ready for it physically or mentally, but it was a down year and it got him experience.
If I were a coach i would never want to play a frosh, unless he is crazy good like Mills is.
Id play a frosh if he's really good, and an early bloomer, but its hard to stick a kid in a varsity game as a freshmen and expect him to compete in most cases in higher classed football.

There it is. If it's going to be a down year, and the upperclassmen you have (for the most part) aren't really any better than the young kids, then play the young cats; get them experience & lick your wounds.

I know a team that will be doing just that next year.

[T1up]

I hope this season is better than last season. If Rock can win one game this season, I hope it is the home opener. Even when Rock was good they struggled with 1st week games sometimes.

I would like to keep the never-lost-against-Madison-Southern streak alive.

If I am not mistaken, Knox Central loses Jeff Canady and Devon Evans, Clay County loses Jacob Hyde, and Russell County loses Britt, Williams (kicker), Whittle, and Mann (QB). That should help close the talent gap.

I think the streak is about to come to a end in a very big way:biglmao:

[rustyankle]

I hope the streak don't end

[Full deck]

I hope the streak don't end

How many games has rock won in a row vs madison southern

[geauxtigers75]

How many games has rock won in a row vs madison southern

Every one of them since Madison Southern bumped up to Rock's district in 3A in 2003. So about 9 or so in a row.

[3wishes]

Every one of them since Madison Southern bumped up to Rock's district in 3A in 2003. So about 9 or so in a row.

It's closer to 20 in a row.
Rock has never lost to Madison Southern.
Been playing since the 1980's. Madison Southern dropped Rock in the late 90's but had been playing them pretty regularly.

[Santa Monica]

Pulaski County started 6 freshmen this past season, won their district, (5A) and made to to the Regional Championship Game. Sometimes, the freshmen are just better than the players you have. I heard Coach Hines say that very thing.

[HonestJohn]

Will be a long season if they lose to Madison Southern.

I think Rock is the underdog in this game. The RB for Mad. Southern has no less than 8 D1 scholarship offers (I think that is what I read on here) and they have a QB that has transferred in from one of the Lexington schools who threw for 2000+ yards last year (I also read this on here). With talent like that, I would say this could be the best team MS has ever fielded. I hope Rock can field a team who can at least try to play with talent like this. I think MS may just be the best team Rock will see in the regular season. I think Rock may just surprise a few teams this year, but you never know until the season starts. Go ROCK.

[johnnyd]

Rock has been working hard from what I hear in the weightroom. I think they will have more success than most think.

[Full deck]

Didnt rock always work hard in the weight room and I have heard other teams are working hard also. So it will come down to either talent or coaching I assume if rock does good this year, and from what i have heard, there is quite abit of talent at rock this year. alot of upperclassmen is what some have said on here.

[Briar jumper bd]

I believe that a couple of future freshmen at Rock will make an impact on the team this year. One I have watched that I like is Chase McClure. I've watched him play for years and he will have an impact if not start. You must play the best players and I think Parkey will do just that. As far as Freshmen not being able to compete, that's not true. P.C. started 5 freshmen, Somerset started 1 freshmen and Southwestern will start at least 3 this year! Somerset is 2A but our non district schedule was very tough not to mention we are in a District with Danville, LCA and Middlesboro! It can be done and it has been done. Rock has been blessed in the past with very talented teams that made it very hard for Freshmen to start and I also think the work ethic over all was better. The class of 2017 for Rock will be very successful if Parkey can keep them together. If upper classmen don't want their spot to be taken, work harder! Your not going to get me to believe that Parkey after a 2 win season is going to play politics with his job by starting a freshmen because of who he is! Whatever the case is I wish Rock the best and hope they turn things around!

[geauxtigers75]

It's closer to 20 in a row.
Rock has never lost to Madison Southern.
Been playing since the 1980's. Madison Southern dropped Rock in the late 90's but had been playing them pretty regularly.

Thanks for correcting, had no idea about that. :Thumbs: I thought Perry Central had it bad with losing streaks against Rock.

[rustyankle]

I think most ppl are thinking to much about freshmen and not the ones that has improved over the winter I have already heard that the these upperclassmen have been attacking the weights with a Passion this year plus we have some kids back this year that took last year off pretty good players , they is a bunch of the soon to be juniors just now coming into there body I understand n know that 90% of the freshman class was held back and started late my son is a grade below them and everyone of them was atleast 2years older n bunch was 3 years older so when they meet kids there own age n development I think its going to shock them , regardless the Rock will be just fine this year I have all the faith in the world in them boys they work there tails off and these seniors need to go out as winners n they will

[HAT51]

Rock has some good incoming frosh, but to expect them to compete against 18 and 19 year olds is impossible. They will learn and grow.

Nothing wrong with a freshman starting if he is the best. It happens in other 4A schools.

[ROCKSOLID69]

rustyankle i sent you a PM about NUC