[EKUAlum05]

Belfy has an exceptional field...But why must everyone travel to Belfry to watch the Friday night of the Pike County Bowl? Shelby Valley has a field that is comparible. And it is easier for most teams to travel to.

Why not open up the Pike County Bowl and bring in outside competition for each of the Pike County Schools participating?

Chuck Taylor,
I am not going to use your post as a soapbox as I go on a long-winded rant here, but it is the best place for me to start.

:mad:

Why must everyone travel to Belfry instead of SV you ask? Well, first of all what percentage of the fans attending the game are Belfry fans? Probably 35-45% (definately the majority). Why would you reward a team who will porbably bring about 10% of the total gate with a home game over the school with by far the largest contingent?

Secondly, and most obviously, Belfry has been the pinnacle of football in Eastern Kentucky over the past decade, let alone Pike County. The Pirates have hosted standing room only crowds and have plenty of experience in this department, the same cannot be said for SV who has their biggest crowds usually when they play, well, Belfry!

Third, SV has hosted a night of the PCB before, as had Pike Central, those nights brought in out of area teams. Those nights also struggled to bring in quality crowds.

Finally, the county schools all get an equal split of the proceeds regardless of the crowds for any game at any location. It is unfathonable to compare the contribution Belfry makes compared to Shelby Valley to this game. not only directly, with the direct gate money and concessions from Belfry fans, but indirectly with the ammount of impartial fans wanting to watch Belfry play, and the numebr of fans from the Pirate's opponent who show up to see their team take on a top tier program.

I have absolutely no axe to grind against the other county schools' football programs in this matter. Shelby Valley, and Coach Saunders, are actively lookign to improve their program and that is something that has been missing for a long time in schools outside of Pikeville and Belfry. BUT, the greed of a select few looking to "hand dry" their background schools is utterly rediculous.