LOOKING BACK

 The Corbin Redhounds opened their football season with a 42-16 win over the Harlan Green Dragons Friday night. The ‘Hounds flashed their speed as Caleb Watkins, Matthew Taylor, Vinny Hoover and Roman Mitchell all put touchdowns on the scoreboard.

I go back a few decades to recall my favorite season’s opening game. It was the ’58 season opener against Dixie Heights. The Redhounds had played Dixie Heights in the Recreation Bowl in ’56 and the Colonels had won that final game of the ’56 season, 26-7. Calvin Bird had scored the ‘Hounds only touchdown from 48 yards out.

In the ’58 opener, Dixie Heights had traveled to southeastern Kentucky to face the Redhounds again. Like a bolt of lightning Billy Bird raced across Campbell Field scoring four touchdowns, each from more than 40 yards out. Coach Bill Shannon of Dixie Heights said, “we simply had no answer for the Bird kid, he was simply sensational”. Corbin 28, Dixie Heights 7

Pedigree seems to be the order with this year’s outstanding set of Redhound backs. The state championship teams of the late 70’s and early ‘80s had Ronnie Watkins, Roy and Greg Taylor and Burley Foley. In the mid to late ‘60s the names of Bill and Vin Hoover were prominent in Redhound football. In the ‘80s it was Bill’s sons, Vin and Tony, and more recently big Vin’s son, Bram.

From these thoroughbred sires, we have worked our way to Caleb (Watkins), Matthew (Taylor), Vinny (Hoover) and Brady (Foley).

Clayton Taylor, the father of Roy and Greg Taylor and the grandfather of Matthew Taylor and Brady Foley would have you believe with his family, it all began in Harlan County in the early ‘50s when he played at Black Star. It could be true, I understand he was pretty good.

Bill Hoover’s son Vin, and the nephew of big Vin, has another Vin and that is this year’s representative on the Redhound squad. That Hoover bunch has more Vins than George Forman has Georges.

In all seriousness, these kids, Caleb, Matthew, Brady, and Vinny, all are outstanding players and come from great bloodlines.

Ryan Fritts, yet another standout running back for this year’s Redhounds, has been slowed by an injury suffered last year early in the season. Ryan is questionable for Saturday’s game with Danville. Hopefully, Ryan will be able to recover and have a great senior season.

Whitley County

Whitley County blasted the Lynn Camp Wildcats Friday night and now has an off week to prepare for what could be the game of the year in the mountains as they face the Bell County Bobcats, Sept. 11.

UK Wildcats

As the Kentucky Wildcats under Coach Rich Brooks prepare for their season opener Saturday with Miami of Ohio in Cincinnati, I have high hopes with a bit of apprehension, after all this is Kentucky football.

I find it difficult to place my trust in quarterback Mike Hartline after last year’s performance. I am sure Coach Brooks and Coach Joker Phillips have weighed the situation and will make the correct calls.

The Wildcat scheduled once again is very strong, as it will always be that way in the SEC.

If Kentucky should manage to win eight games with their schedule, surely it will bring warranted recognition to a program on the rise. Another six-win season would not indicate that Kentucky football is any more than mediocre.

A question in my mind is, will Morgan Newton and Ryan Mossakowski be content to spend their first two years at the University of Kentucky watching Mike Hartline run the Wildcat offense?

NFL

My buddy Chris Parsons is a Chicago Bears fan and I am officially joining Chris in that regard.

I am picking the Bears to win the Super Bowl behind the next great quarterback, Jay Cutler.