LOOKING BACK

 The weather is brutal as Coach Steve Jewell and his staff prepares the football Redhounds for what could be the most interesting season in some time.

The challenge of a demanding scheduled always peaks the interest of the fans and in the long run better prepares the team for the playoffs.

With the season a few weeks away, I will take time to reflect to an outstanding decade of Redhound football from 1976 thru 1985.

In 1976 Coach Archie Powers’ team went 11-1, capped off with a 6-0 win over Mayfield for a 2A State Championship.

In 1977, the Redhounds were 10-3 after finishing the season as 2A runner-up this time to Mayfield, losing 13-13. In 1978 Coach Powers Redhounds finished with eight wins and a 15-19 loss to Middlesboro.

In 1980, the Redhounds were back in the championship mode. The Redhounds finished the season on a seven-game winning streak culminating in a 16-7 win over Fort Campbell in the state 2A championship game.

1981 was as exciting a season as I can remember. As the Redhounds roared through the first eight games of the season out-scoring opponents 346-30. Big wins over Glagow, 35-0, Danville 24-0 and Somerset 43-15 and earning the number one rating in the Litkenhous ratings including all classes A-2A-3A and 4A.

Before one of the largest crowds ever assembled at Campbell Field on Oct. 30, 1981, an injury plaqued-Redhound team lost to a number two ranked Middlesboro Yellow Jackets, 13-22.

In 1982, Coach Larry “Cotton” Adams fired the Redhounds up at half time of the game where they trailed Middlesboro by two touchdowns and behind a big run by Sam Jackson downed the Yellow Jackets, 22-21.

Coach Adams went on to win the state 2A championship by beating Glasgow, 18-6.

1983 was a year much like 1981, in that a great team was upset 6-7 by Somerset on a long run by the Briar Jumpers Tony Massey. In 1984 the Redhounds went 8-2.

In 1985 the Redhounds won their first 11 games before losing in the playoffs to finish 11-1.

The decade from 1976 thru 1985 found the Redhounds winning 92 games and losing 18.

The Redhounds have not won a state championship since 1982, but they have had some really good years and maybe a championship is near.

The move to 3A could be a good step in the right direction. The move was dictated by an increase in student enrollment, but could come at just the right time for Coach Jewell and his staff.

A strong freshman class is coming in to support an already strong returning cast of players from last year, giving the Redhounds strength in numbers and depth at most all positions.

I have been watching SEC days on ESPN the last week or so, and they include recruiting news along the bottom of the screen as the schools sign or receive commitments from five star players, four stars players, three star players and so on.

The University of Kentucky competes with the Western Michigans, Central Michigan, Ball State, Miami of Ohio, Toledo for three-star players or take whoever is left over after Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, or Tennessee has creamed the four and five star recruits from not only their states, but they will come in and take who they want out of Kentucky.

Will it ever Change?

It would be very difficult to alter the situation with Kentucky football. They may from time to time achieve mediocrity, but to every succeed on a level with the biggies of the SEC on a consistent basis, it will never happen.