[E's Army]

Granny Bear when you come to Cumberland would you please pack up the Whitehead kid and bring him with you.

[bear claw]

Now that Fred has transferred, who will take over as feature back for the Black Bears, or will there be several to pitch in? I know there are several going to be great incoming freshman but we all know how freshman can be. Sophomore Rhett Alred? Senior Bobby Huff? Did Junior, Jake Ball ever come back? I know I am missing some. Granny, what do you think? I know I would like to be running behind the line we are going to have with Baby Zak and company.

[EKUAlum05]

Now that Fred has transferred, who will take over as feature back for the Black Bears, or will there be several to pitch in? I know there are several going to be great incoming freshman but we all know how freshman can be. Sophomore Rhett Alred? Senior Bobby Huff? Did Junior, Jake Ball ever come back? I know I am missing some. Granny, what do you think? I know I would like to be running behind the line we are going to have with Baby Zak and company.

Where is Massey transferring to?

[William Muney]

Williamsburg. Had some issues and from what HC fans I talk to regularly are saying maybe best move for the kid and HC. They just wish him well at the burg.

[Granny Bear]

^^
Fred is a sweetheart and always respectful to me; I love him!! He hasn't been very grounded lately since his father's illness and ultimate death. He has close family in Williamsburg and I wish him nothing but the best along with most if not all of Harlan County. Fred should be a tremendous boost for Williamsburg. I just pray that he sticks with football.

Now that Fred has transferred, who will take over as feature back for the Black Bears, or will there be several to pitch in? I know there are several going to be great incoming freshman but we all know how freshman can be. Sophomore Rhett Alred? Senior Bobby Huff? Did Junior, Jake Ball ever come back? I know I am missing some. Granny, what do you think? I know I would like to be running behind the line we are going to have with Baby Zak and company.

When I asked Zak about this bear claw, he just said he wasn't worried about it one little bit. I don't know whether or not that's his arrogance talking or what...you know how he is. He posted on face book today about how wonderful the first day went today and how coachable the whole team is. I thought that was arrogance, too until I read Eddie Creech's synopsis of practice. Alred has been talked about quite a bit, but I'm sure nothing is in concrete.

Now, if you will allow me some latitutde please.....I, ME, GRANNY BEAR could run behind that O line!!!
nicker:

[HDE]

Now that Fred has transferred, who will take over as feature back for the Black Bears, or will there be several to pitch in? I know there are several going to be great incoming freshman but we all know how freshman can be. Sophomore Rhett Alred? Senior Bobby Huff? Did Junior, Jake Ball ever come back? I know I am missing some. Granny, what do you think? I know I would like to be running behind the line we are going to have with Baby Zak and company.

Dylan Cornett is my first guess.
Huff will help and Jake Ball is playing the last I heard.
Paul Stapleton and Chase Coker are very good freshmen.

[bear claw]

I have heard some very positive things about today's practice. I heard the numbers were close to 70 with several not there do to summer basketball and the others that were accounted for. I did hear the Coker kid was a no show. Paul Stapleton will be a stud! Hadn't thought about Dylan, maybe one of the toughest kid on the team. I am glad to hear Jake Ball is playing. Granny, if Coach Creech says that it was a good practice then it was a good practice. I do want to say to Fred Massey that we Black Bears love you and wish you the best.

[Patriot]

Is the Swanner kid still playing?

[HDE]

Yes, as of last week he was.
He got a lot of JV carries last year and some in varsity.
One of the coaches said he could start at linebacker. There could be two sophomore linebackers with Napier and Swanner.

[Granny Bear]

I thought Cornett was injured (not severely)...

Zak said there were about 65 there, with 20-25 out for the reasons you guys mentioned.

[Mama Bear]

I thought Cornett was injured (not severely)...

Zak said there were about 65 there, with 20-25 out for the reasons you guys mentioned.

Cornett broke an ankle last season. He had a good baseball season. Jake Ball ran the ball good for JV last year. I had heard 74 were out yesterday including underclass men. Hope those numbers stay high in July when things get tougher. I'm excited!

[Granny Bear]

Oh, that's right!!

I'm excited, too.

Filthy Animal should get Zak and a couple more to lift that fallen tree off her hill. Good work out for them!

[Bear_Paw]

I am also hearing that Gauge Burkhart is playing this year. This could be a huge impact!

[bac2369]

So what's the expectations for Harlan county.

[Bobcat_Dad]

My expectations is they will be a better TEAM than last year. Coach Larkey has dealt with some of the problems and seems to have kids on the team that want to be part of a TEAM. Not sure how that will translate to wins and loses? I wish the Bears luck every week except week 10.

[ArJay]

I still say they will really miss Massey. He's a big ole boy!!

[Bobcats 9108]

Tough schedule again this year.

[Granny Bear]

So what's the expectations for Harlan county.

To go to state of course; what else????

I still say they will really miss Massey. He's a big ole boy!!

Yes, we would miss Fred whether or not he played football. Wish him all the best, and I hope he runs for a million yards.

Tough schedule again this year.

I hate the middle part of this schedule. But what doesn't kill you will make you stronger (Except for Bears; Bears will kill you!!!)
nicker:

[EKUAlum05]

Maybe I am wrong, but from an unbiased fan who really respects the HCHS program and pulls for them:

1. I think HCHS will be very strong up front on both sides of the football. One of the better Offensive and Defensive Line Units in 5A and amongst EKY.

2. I think Larkey will relish the role of having a team full of guys who buy in to the system and the cohesion it brings and will maximize potential.

But....

3. I don't see playmakers on this team at the skill positions. I also don't see that guy you know is going to get 3 yards on 4th and 2.5 like Whitehead. I think HCHS will have some quality guys at the skill positions but last year they had a nice mix of speed, home run potential, and that stalwart Whitehead that you could feed 35 times and move the chains.

4. HCHS has a brutal schedule that is going to test their mettle. Bryan Station is going to have athletes galore in their first game. Knox Central will be improved as they were a very average team last year. Bell County will be vastly improved by October 31st and look like a completely different team from last year. Then you have 3 teams that even had HCHS returned Massey amongst others they would enter the season already as an underdog against... hosting always powerful Greeneville, Johnson Central, and travelling to a stacked Belfry.

5. With all that said, I still fully expect HCHS to win their district... unless someone steps up as a game changer on offense and they prove they have the LB skill I think the Bears most likely finish 5-5 though as that Non-District slate is filthy. What will be important is not letting losses linger. I think a lot of the "turmoil" last year was the product of losing and unfair expectations. Losing can cause a snowball effect, winning creates momentum.. it is very important for HCHS to view these tough non-district games as being nothing more than a means to an end. The District games are all that matters, as long as they are getting better and making themselves tougher in the Non-District slate it won't detract them from their goals.

[Granny Bear]

I think that's a fair assessment but for a couple of things in your #5

[topnotch]

MUNY believe he is a different kid. The boys here and Fred seems as though he has always been here.

[topnotch]

I wish the Bears a lot of luck this year, I believe you will do well.

[BlackBear3]

Just hearing this about Fred.. Tough loss.. Wish him nothing but the best! Fred is a fine young man and I hope he sticks with football as well. Go Bears!!!!!

[Patriot]

This is a true Tom Larkey team! They will be an effective cohesive group.
HDE and I were talking about this the other day the Bears have always had that running back in waiting: TJ Greene to Dylan Smith to Marcus McMillian/Cody Taylor to Jake Middleton to Treyvon Long(didn't quite work out)/Cole Wilson to Fred Massey to.....I believe had the Ball kid been around he would give Black Bear a Nation a little more peace of mind. And that big fullback has always been back there. Everything will take care of it's self and I believe #40 Hunter Lewis will get you 3 yards when you need it, not the biggest kid but has as much heart as any kid ever has and you can't coach that. Chance Brown and Kennon Napier might also factor into that backfield a lot of pieces coaches just have to put them together, Excited to see how it all works out.

[Granny Bear]

Don't forget Hunter's work ethic. The way I hear it, that kid works like a dog!

[topnotch]

If Granny Bear says it I believe it.

[WideRight05]

[Image: http://tiffanyweb.bmts.com/~jules/beargrowl.jpg]

[Granny Bear]

Wow, nice picture! I can smell his breath!

[Bobcat_Dad]

Looks like they need a good dentist up the river. Haha

Great picture. That bear must be a transfer from out west?

[DevilWatcher]

Did the Harlan Co. Players go to the Down and Dirty camp at EKU?