[PHSForever]

Other than 2009 and 2010 Pikeville would still have to be considered the #2 program in Pike County.

I understand people saying Pikeville is not what it once was, because that is true. But some of you act as if there is another program that has surpassed Pikeville, while that is just not true. I don't care about the fact PC or SV was better for 1 or 2 years. That is not good enough. The Panthers in 2011 added another Regional Title. While Pike Central's two best teams in school history lost in the first round and the second round. The other year, PC lost in the regional finals which is still equal to what Pikeville did in 2010. At PC it is celebrated to lose in the regional finals, while at Pikeville, it was why Mike Copley was fired.

Belfry does not play the same night as Pikeville and the crowd at Pikeville is still huge. If Belfry were to drop out, it would not be good for the PCB. But that isn't to be said it would be done. As others have said, the downfall of the bowl was all of the schools having to play in it.

One of my fixes would be make Saturday night Pikeville/Belfry night. Let Pikeville host Friday night for the other schools to play. Make it the two county school with the best seasons the previous year play. Most years it would be SV and PC. Bring in teams for them to play Friday night at Pikeville. Let the other two, Phelps and ER play Thursday night at SV. Saturday would alternate between Belfry and Pikeville with the host team playing the late game. Bring in two teams to play in those games.

The key is having Belfry and Pikeville on the same night. That is what this was designed to be. It is a reward for DECADES of excellence, whether some Pike Countians want to admit it or not. Pikeville, since 1972, has won 40+ district titles, 20 regional titles, appeared in 6 state championships, and have won 3 state championships with other undefeated seasons in the 50's. Numbers which have not been matched by the feeder schools before PC, SV, and ER combined. And will still be more in 20 years. Like it or not, the PHS program may not be what it once was, but it is still more prestigious than 80% of schools in Kentucky.

Amen to this. Not a big fan of the Thursday night concept, but if it pacifies the crybabies in the county (other than Belfry), then go for it. Every word of what you are saying about the PHS and BHS traditions are true. I just wanted to put in there that the 1955 undefeated Pikeville team was unanimous (I believe) #1 team in the state in the polls and was recognized as the "State Champion" for that year (No state playoff/championshps prior to 1959), which gives them 4 overall.

People act as if a couple of down years means PHS is finished or was finished. Simply not true. Every great program has their down years. Belfry, whom many consider the "gold standard" in Pike County as of late, had a losing record in 1993, .500 record in 1994, and then mediocre (for them) records in 1998, 99, 2000, and 2001 and again in 2009. Some people are just so enamored over recent success, or are too young to be able to rationally look at the big picture. Facts are facts though, and they can not be denied. Pikeville is on an uptick again, the feeder program (little league, 5/6th and 7th/8th grades who were the county champs blanking Belfry in 3 meetings) are strong again and receiving the attention and coaching of fundamentals that had been allowed to slide for a while, and this will pay big dividends down the road. The 2011 team was fantastic, and we all enjoyed the ride. But the future is even brighter because of them. I'm a father of a young son in the program, and I look forward to seeing these kids on the fields for the next 7 years and beyond.