[ryanparker]

You are right. We all should still remember that Russell is pretty good. That is a fact that a few local teams could find out in the coming weeks. It seems as if Russell has been left for dead by many after the embarassment at Ashland. Here are some stats I posted on another site in response to someone questioning Coach McGlone's abilities:

Here's a summary of Russell's results over the last 11 years (I counted this year as well) with an emphasis on how we compare to our area teams (and by that I mean 16th region schools):

* Russell's overall record in the last 11 years: 108-30
* Russell's overall record vs Ashland in the last 11 years: 6-5
* Russell's overall record vs Boyd in the last 11 years: 8-3
* Russell's overall record vs Greenup in the last 11 years: 9-2
* Playoff record - Russell has played as long or longer into November/December than any other team in our area for the past 11 years in a row. In fact, every other team from our area has usually been destroyed when they get far enough in the playoffs to be playing good competition:

2007 - lost to Breathitt by 3 in state quarterfinals,
2006 - beat Corbin by 8, shut out Belfry 19-0 at Belfry, lost state championship game by 3 to Mercer
2005 - won at Newport by 1, beat Belfry by 6, won state championship over Owensboro Catholic by 13
2004 - lost to eventual state champ Belfry in state semifinals
2003 - lost to Lloyd Memorial in state quarterfinals
2002 - lost at eventual state champ Breathitt by 1 in state semifinals
2001 - lost to Fleming in 2nd round
2000 - lost to Lexington Cathoic by 1 in 2nd round
1999 - lost to Boyle in 2nd round
1998 - lost to Prestonsburg by 6 in 1st round

Russell and Ashland are very similar in talent year in and year out. Other than that, no other school in the area compares. Ashland is a larger school and thus has to play better competition. Therefore, they don't traditionally make it as far in the state playoffs. I think Russell has established themselves as a "powerhouse" in our area. Are they a statewide powerhouse? No. But I think they have done enough to at least be respected statewide. These are pretty good results that Coach McGlone has had...not mentioning the fact that he won the state in 1978 as well with an entirely different generation of Russell players.