[Panther Thunder]

Okay, I have kept quiet about this long enough. I see two arguments coming from the Pikeville fans. One is absolutely true, and the other is flat wrong.

First, that only Pikeville and Belfry deserve to play in the bowl. This is correct. Looking at each school's football history, only these two have the cachet to be considered "marquee" teams. If you want to go back to having just those two host two out-of-area teams, that's fine with me. I don't think any level-headed SV or PC fans would pretend that their programs are on the same level as Pikeville, much less Belfry. And to the people pushing PC as the headliner, a couple of good years does not qualify. I remember just a few years ago, Valley was clearly the better team of the two for about a 3-4 year period. But neither program has demonstrated sustained success. So, if it goes back to Pikeville and Belfry, I have no problem with that.

Second, is that allowing the county schools to play is what has caused the bowl to lose its luster. This is false. Just because the other county schools are playing what could be considered a "leadoff match" before the main game, does not affect who is playing the main event. It's not like Lafayette or Beechwood is going to say, "Well, we would have come to play in the PCB, but since we found out that SV and ER would be playing a game before us, we aren't coming now." That is just a ridiculous assertion, and has no logic behind it. Why would they care what goes on before their game? They wouldn't. There is some reason why the PCB has not been able to attract as many big names in recent years, but the other county schools are not to blame.

In short, give the other schools the boot from the PCB. They haven't earned the right to play in it. But don't expect that big-name teams are going to suddenly be falling over each other to come play once you do.

I would just prefer the Bowl be in it's original format. But, you have to admit that the schools playing in the Bowl has gotten the PCB into the mess it is in. There is no other way around it. There would be no arguments for Valley to host or PC to get a marquee game if they had never been allowed to play in it in the first place. It was a chain reaction, they were given a game, now they want more. If they would have never had the game, they couldn't argue to host or play in headline games, could they?

It started (probably innocently, but nonetheless it did) a political coup. Instead of just being satisfied with the profit split, they wanted a game. Then when they got a game, they were not satisfied, they want to host. Then when one got to host, they weren't satisfied, they now want the marquee game.

My point is that if the PCB had just said "No" in the beginning, we would not be in the mess we are in. But politics got involved, people did not want to hurt feelings, and now the bowl is on the brink of failure.

You are completely right about the 2 teams coming in to play. The other games have no effect on their decision. But, that is not what I was arguing. I was arguing that the bowl is being ruined because now everyone wants something different and it looks like the benefit of the doubt is going to go to schools that did not even exist when the PCB started. This problem would not have been possible with that chain reaction. And it is not me being a county "hater". But IMO, this bowl means a lot more (just in terms of tradition) to Pikeville and Belfry (and probably moreso Pikeville) than any other Pike County school and I don't see how PHS and BHS don't have ultimate veto power in the end. It is saddening to see something that I really care about and have emotions invested into be treated the way it is because of the selfishness of a select few.

And I just want to say, if I come off in a bad way in my posts, I apologize. I really just am articulating my thoughts. It is not anger or anything like that, but I am passionate about this subject. I harbor no ill will towards any of the schools other than what I feel is being done wrong and hurting this Bowl.