Corbin-Bell County

It is Friday evening September 15th around 9 p.m., a chill had set in over Campbell Field and here I am sitting in the aluminum stands on the visitors side. It is half-time and the Corbin Redhounds are down, 14-0.
The ‘Hounds seemed futile as they could do nothing well on offense, and the defense was fighting for its life.
“It’ is always darkest before the dawn”, “behind each cloud is a silver lining”, you have heard them all, but, the Corbin Redhounds found something in the second half and their offense began to click. All of a sudden Clint Cashen was being protected in the pocket and was throwing lazers to Rob Madon, Corey Sewell, Jake Reeves and Josh Sanders.
Bell County won the game, 17-14, but, a corner was turned in this game as the young ‘Hounds found a way to move the football against a quality team.
The rhythm of the offense was beautiful in the second half of the game and the defense was ferocious. Anthony Miller, Sean Nolan, Josh Martin, Zach Woody all were relentless in their efforts. Except for a bounce or two of the ball the Redhounds could conceivably be 5-0 this season and everyone would be excited about their championship possibilities. Do not give up the ship, the fight has just begun.
Where everyone is getting excited, is over the Kentucky Wildcats, be ye not misled, tis fools gold.
Ole Miss had some talent and were athletic in most areas, but were the worst coached team to play in Kentucky since John Ray left.
The totally undisciplined Rebels began shooting themselves in the foot early in the game and continued to do so throughout the entire game. Not just penalties, but stupid penalties on behalf of Old Miss forced the win on the reluctant group of Wildcats who fought valiantly to preserve defeat.
A win is a win I guess, but this Kentucky football team is pathetic and is probably the worst tackling college team in football. Wesley Woodyard may lead all of football in tackles, since he is the only player on the team that can tackle.
Kentucky may attain six wins on the season with as weak a schedule as they have, but I do not think so, I still have them penciled in at 4-8. Things are not always as they seem, but they are always as they are. Some friend of mine says that quite often.
As I watched the Bell County-Corbin game, I thought back to the early sixties when the two squared off at Bell County. The Bobcats had never beaten the Redhounds and Coach Cleo Purciful of Bell High felt confident that this was to be the year. Coach Purciful had big Russell Miracle at a running back and he was a load but the Redhounds had a pretty good running back of their own named Rodger BIrd and the ‘Hounds pounded the Bobcats once again. That evening Rodger made the most incredible 12 yard run I have every seen as he dodged and darted his way through the entire Bobcat team for a touchdown. I noticed in a letter to the editor from Mike Polio, the Commissioner of the Mid-South Conference that indicated he was a Rodger Bird fan. It is a shame for those who never saw the Bird boys play football or basketball for that matter.
It is very difficult to describe how great they truly were. I was talking with Isaac Wilson, a freshman basketball player and telling him of a great game Calvin Bird had played, and I felt woefully inadequate in my description of his accomplishments. They did provide me with memories that I hope will never dim.
Joe Roskopf of Lynn Camp rushed for 446 yards, a phenomenal feat against Pineville. The Wildcats are becoming well respected for turning out running backs like Roskopf and Jimmy Chaffin in the last few years. Do Wildcat fans still remember Harold Reedy and the great Oval Merritt?
Harold and Oval were hard running backs from the school on the hill that piled up rushing yardage in the 50s.
Reedy’s son Harold Jr., better known now as Dr. Harold Reedy, Jr., and better know in his playing days as “Nooners” was a four year starter and all-state player for the Redhounds in the eighties.