[ethand]

1A is now normal. The "covid" year is a fading memory, the transfer portal has slowed down (at least for now), and there is not a dominate team. I want to temper my expectations but I really feel my Rams have as good a chance as anyone to finally win at Kroger. The one wildcard I think is Sayre. They are a small private school in a relatively large metropolitan area and have the best chance for a few (or more) athletes to filter in. A state championship, a big name coach, and a nice environment is very enticing. In my opinion they have the best chance of becoming a dominate 1A program. Hopefully Raceland wins one before that happens.

I agree with your post about Sayre chances of becoming a dominate 1A program.The way the transfer portal is plus the money is there Sayre will probably reload every year.And yes I am a Pikeville fan#1 but I am also a fan of Belfry and Raceland.I always had tons of respect for coach Haywood and if coach Sammons can keep his team in the playoffs sooner or later the football is going to bounce coach Sammons way.He will win a state championship.He has just been there too many times for it not to happen.

[RAM-A-DEVIL]

Did Raceland lose a RB to Ironton?  Heard rumblings that an impact player has already enrolled at Ironton.

Yep. Well……BYE. Not going to hurt Raceland. Wasn’t our best back last year and wouldn’t have been this year. The 4.3 4.4 speed is legit but you can’t use it if you aren’t on the field. Looked like Tarzan……played like Jane. If the parents thought he didn’t get enough touches at Raceland they are really gonna be disappointed at Ironton. Shame a kids parents can’t stay out of the way and quit putting the screws to a kid.

[WestCoast]

Did Raceland lose a RB to Ironton? Heard rumblings that an impact player has already enrolled at Ironton.

Yes. Parents were never happy at Raceland. Keep in mind, he only played 5 full games for the Rams last year. Not taking a single thing away from the kid, but Raceland had a record of 8-2 in games where he played limited snaps or didn't play at all, and that includes the state championship game.
He averaged 4.3 YPC last year, while Raceland's other backs averaged 6.6 (Cooper), 5.1 (Arnett), 6.4 (Bloss), and 4.6 (Marushi). Wish him nothing but the best but Raceland will be okay.

[RAM-A-DEVIL]

The running back in question will be back in Ram land Monday April 7th. He never wanted to leave. Parents are loons.

[RAMDAD50]

The running back in question will be back in Ram land Monday April 7th. He never wanted to leave. Parents are loons.

In the end we should always want what’s best for the kids. It felt like this Raceland group was tight and I always felt he loved putting on the orange and black. I’m glad he’s back and I hope everyone can put this behind them

[ArmChairHC]

I honestly hope that is correct information. The kid has been a Ram since birth. He is a difference maker when healthy. He was only healthy in two games last year.

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Guess we will know for sure tomorrow

[jetpilot]

Went to Ironton and quickly realized he would never see the field?

[bac2369]

Will be watching for an updated post. Jet being jet…. It football season yet?

[jetpilot]

Will be watching for an updated post. Jet being jet…. It football season yet?

Just keeping it real bac!

[ArmChairHC]

From what I’ve heard…he would definitely see the field. As a starter or rotation guy. But not from the side of the ball he wanted. But, that’s all hear say. I just wish the kid would be left to make his decision and not let people around him do it for him.

[Belichick]

Sounds like fun for Raceland’s staff to deal with next year.

[bac2369]

Will be watching for an updated post. Jet being jet…. It football season yet?

Just keeping it real bac!

Yep same as Jet being Jet… lol

[bac2369]

From what I’ve heard…he would definitely see the field. As a starter or rotation guy. But not from the side of the ball he wanted. But, that’s all hear say. I just wish the kid would be left to make his decision and not let people around him do it for him.

The old saying seems to always be true. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

[ArmChairHC]

I dont foresee it being an issue for Raceland either way.

[Belichick]

I dont foresee it being an issue for Raceland either way.

Of course not. A talented player leaves to go to a school across the river thinking they'll be the man at a school who pumps out college offers. Finds out other studs go there as well and they’ll have to earn or compete for time. Doesn’t like that or think he can start and be the man there so he goes back where he started. Only issue is the home school has several other backs who played quite well when he was injured last season. Now the stable is full there also and who gets all the carries? Non issue. I’m sure not a single parent or player will complain when the season gets going.

[RAMDAD50]

I dont foresee it being an issue for Raceland either way.

Of course not. A talented player leaves to go to a school across the river thinking they'll be the man at a school who pumps out college offers. Finds out other studs go there as well and they’ll have to earn or compete for time. Doesn’t like that or think he can start and be the man there so he goes back where he started. Only issue is the home school has several other backs who played quite well when he was injured last season. Now the stable is full there also and who gets all the carries? Non issue. I’m sure not a single parent or player will complain when the season gets going.

That’s a lot of speculation. There actually could be other issues going on. Maybe this has less to do with the kid making decisions and more about the parents? There are other possibilities in every situation

[i82much]

I dont foresee it being an issue for Raceland either way.

Of course not. A talented player leaves to go to a school across the river thinking they'll be the man at a school who pumps out college offers. Finds out other studs go there as well and they’ll have to earn or compete for time. Doesn’t like that or think he can start and be the man there so he goes back where he started. Only issue is the home school has several other backs who played quite well when he was injured last season. Now the stable is full there also and who gets all the carries? Non issue. I’m sure not a single parent or player will complain when the season gets going.

That’s a lot of speculation. There actually could be other issues going on. Maybe this has less to do with the kid making decisions and more about the parents? There are other possibilities in every situation

You are correct. There are infinite possibilities and some on here are extremely talented and have narrowed it down and figured it out. I've never been comfortable talking about individual kids in the middle of making tough life decisions. Sometimes we lose our focus. We need to stay in our lane, sit back, shut up, and let it play itself out out and roll with whatever happens.

[ArmChairHC]

I agree there whole heartedly. That being said…it’s what this threads are for. I do think it’s a bonus for the character of those that have spoken about the issue though. Keeping the kids name out of it and all. For the kid, I hope whatever happens he is happy and healthy. He is a stellar athlete that has put in a lot of work over his career to be the best competitor he can be. Where ever it is and at whatever position I hope he can stay healthy and an enormously successful jr and sr year.

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I dont foresee it being an issue for Raceland either way.

Of course not. A talented player leaves to go to a school across the river thinking they'll be the man at a school who pumps out college offers. Finds out other studs go there as well and they’ll have to earn or compete for time. Doesn’t like that or think he can start and be the man there so he goes back where he started. Only issue is the home school has several other backs who played quite well when he was injured last season. Now the stable is full there also and who gets all the carries? Non issue. I’m sure not a single parent or player will complain when the season gets going.

I know exactly where you are coming from. But, it’s been known for years and years that Salmons will run the ball by committee. There’s always one guy that ends up seeing a lot of the work load in the colder months of the season though. The player in question however, had half the games played as the leading rusher and only lacked 2 rushes or so per game of leading the team in attempts. In only 8 games played he still led the team in YPG. If he is healthy, I think he is the teams leading rusher last year. His injuries though allowed for the development of other kids though. We have a lot more than what I thought we were going to. I am really excited for the season and I think things will sort themselves out and the run game will be more dynamic this year which will open things up on the edges. We return a ton and having him back in Ramland only adds to that.

[WestCoast]

I dont foresee it being an issue for Raceland either way.

Of course not. A talented player leaves to go to a school across the river thinking they'll be the man at a school who pumps out college offers. Finds out other studs go there as well and they’ll have to earn or compete for time. Doesn’t like that or think he can start and be the man there so he goes back where he started. Only issue is the home school has several other backs who played quite well when he was injured last season. Now the stable is full there also and who gets all the carries? Non issue. I’m sure not a single parent or player will complain when the season gets going.

I don't care how talented a player is, when the parents don't stay in their lane and are selfish and don't buy into the team concept, it NEVER ends well. Lots of stuff was put on social media last year after the championship game by these parents that screamed selfishness. It is a major distraction, and there is a lot of that on this Raceland team by PARENTS. I think the players just want to go out and play ball, and get along great and have good chemistry. But when Dad/Mom is in your ear every night telling you how great you are and how everything needs to revolve around you and bashing coaches, it is going to trickle down to the player. So now the coaching staff needs to walk on eggshells, scared to death they will make someone mad and they will leave. Should be interesting. You know once November hits it's going to be 80% run, 20% pass so he should get his chances for sure.

[RAM-A-DEVIL]

Went to Ironton and quickly realized he would never see the field?

You’re giving Ironton way way too much credit. If this were 25 to 30 years ago I would’ve agreed with you. Ironton is not remotely as good as they used to be. He came back mostly because he never wanted to go and the fact that they wanted him to play defense only. Mom and dad…..mostly dad….pushed this move on the kid.

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I dont foresee it being an issue for Raceland either way.

Of course not. A talented player leaves to go to a school across the river thinking they'll be the man at a school who pumps out college offers. Finds out other studs go there as well and they’ll have to earn or compete for time. Doesn’t like that or think he can start and be the man there so he goes back where he started. Only issue is the home school has several other backs who played quite well when he was injured last season. Now the stable is full there also and who gets all the carries? Non issue. I’m sure not a single parent or player will complain when the season gets going.

Won’t be an issue. Load will be shared by many people. Depth is a good thing to have in football and Raceland will use it next year.

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I dont foresee it being an issue for Raceland either way.

Of course not. A talented player leaves to go to a school across the river thinking they'll be the man at a school who pumps out college offers. Finds out other studs go there as well and they’ll have to earn or compete for time. Doesn’t like that or think he can start and be the man there so he goes back where he started. Only issue is the home school has several other backs who played quite well when he was injured last season. Now the stable is full there also and who gets all the carries? Non issue. I’m sure not a single parent or player will complain when the season gets going.

I don't care how talented a player is, when the parents don't stay in their lane and are selfish and don't buy into the team concept, it NEVER ends well. Lots of stuff was put on social media last year after the championship game by these parents that screamed selfishness. It is a major distraction, and there is a lot of that on this Raceland team by PARENTS. I think the players just want to go out and play ball, and get along great and have good chemistry. But when Dad/Mom is in your ear every night telling you how great you are and how everything needs to revolve around you and bashing coaches, it is going to trickle down to the player. So now the coaching staff needs to walk on eggshells, scared to death they will make someone mad and they will leave. Should be interesting. You know once November hits it's going to be 80% run, 20% pass so he should get his chances for sure.

Staff will not be walking on egg shells. They will do what they think is right in their minds and move on. Players come and go and I’ve never heard one coach say a negative word about a kid if he leaves. It’s a next man up mentality. If a kid leaves it’s the next kids chance. As far as parents go they are all the same to me. They are about there kid and nothing else matters. I suppose it’s been that way since time began

[Belichick]

I’m not saying anything about the kid. Very talented great player. Just wonder how it’s perceived when someone leaves and comes back and others play the same position. If said parents of any of those kids don’t like the role or usage rate, do they start the typical stuff? Raceland will be a favorite in 1A next season, maybe THE favorite. Very good, deep, and experienced. These are the things that staffs navigate each year though. Not stirring the pot. If the team reads message boards a bunch of guys/gals type on here for entertainment and information, they are focused on the wrong things. Get in the weight room!

[ArmChairHC]

^^^agree here. This is a site for has been a or never was characters to talk crap and gossip. But, The kids do indeed read this crap we spew on a regular basis. That’s why it’s important that we hold ourself to some sort of standard, which most of us do a really good job at. The freedom this sight allows is a lot better than the other one…of which I was banned for calling the Briarjumpers “the bunnies”…but I digress…


We have talked this one into and out of existence imo…what’s the rest of 1A return? I expect Pikeville and Raceland to yet again be the odds on preseason favorites in many people’s minds. But KCD pretty much returns the house as well and they were right there with Raceland in the semis. Sayre loses ALOT, but does Pennington have the ability to reload and not rebuild? Campbellsville returns a good chunk of production as well. It’s nice to have some legit competitive action in 1A again. It’s been awhile since it has been like this.

[Belichick]

I would expect Raceland to be the best team in 1A. Campbellsville will be very good and if they add a couple of players during the offseason like they did last summer, they’ll be right there. KCD returns a ton of production and will be a tough out. Sayre is a real wild card because if they only return players in their system currently, they will have to rebuild. If they piggyback off the title and add some players from the Lexington area which is more of what I expect, I think they are good again. I don’t think they’ll be as good but good. I wouldn’t count out Hazard. I think they add some Perry kids and the younger guys are a year older and they had some young talent. Pikeville is a very large question mark. They should be good but how good would take a really good guess. They still have some players getting healthy and some guys who haven’t had a chance to prove themselves. Lots of question marks.

[RAM-A-DEVIL]

^^^agree here. This is a site for has been a or never was characters to talk crap and gossip. But, The kids do indeed read this crap we spew on a regular basis. That’s why it’s important that we hold ourself to some sort of standard, which most of us do a really good job at. The freedom this sight allows is a lot better than the other one…of which I was banned for calling the Briarjumpers “the bunnies”…but I digress…


We have talked this one into and out of existence imo…what’s the rest of 1A return? I expect Pikeville and Raceland to yet again be the odds on preseason favorites in many people’s minds. But KCD pretty much returns the house as well and they were right there with Raceland in the semis. Sayre loses ALOT, but does Pennington have the ability to reload and not rebuild? Campbellsville returns a good chunk of production as well. It’s nice to have some legit competitive action in 1A again. It’s been awhile since it has been like this.

I will respectfully disagree that KCD was right there with Raceland Last year. We played down to our competition. It was a game where you never felt in danger at no time during the game. We were undisciplined and did not finish off drives or get the blocks we were supposed to get. Go back and watch the game. We missed a million blocks in that game.

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I feel like if Raceland doesn't win it this year, then I don't know when they ever will.

I will go out in a limb and agree with this statement.