Looking Back

The days for the most part are summer and beautiful and as typical of October the evenings are cool and clear and district play has begun for the Corbin Redhounds.
The ‘Hounds opened district play at Wayne County and came away with a 23-14 win. It was Josh Sanders who once again led the Redhound rushing attack with 95 yards while Clint Cashen threw pretty well despite an interception or two. Jordan Wagers kicked a rare Redhound field goal in the second quarter bringing back memories of Brian Metzger, Gus Hauser, Eric Dixon and Tom Kring.
The direction taken by the Redhounds following district play has yet to be determined or at least is a very well kept secret.
It is difficult to anticipate just how much success this Redhound squad will have in the playoffs, as they have not faired well in close games and there will be close games in the playoffs.
The days of October in 1940-41 and ’42 were most likely very similar to 2006 and high school football players were running up and down the field all over Kentucky, but at Lynn Camp High School there was a fullback that was among the best that was playing in ’40, ’41, and ’42. and that was David Baker.
David, as matter of fact, was one of the best players to ever play at the school on the hill. David grew up as part of the “The Greatest Generation” that Tom Brokaw wrote of in his book of the same name.
David served in the 101st Airborne Division and the 82nd Airborne Division in World War II where he was awarded a Bronze Star.
Baker was an all-state honorable mention selection and received a letter from the University of Kentucky the same day he received a draft notice from the Selective Service. The United States Army won and David was off to World War II.
David Baker was inducted into the Lynn Camp Wildcat Hall of Fame on Friday evening at the Lynn Camp-Cumberland football game and I offer my most hardy congratulations.
I would like to also offer a belated congratulations to Tommy Faulkner, who was inducted into the Corbin Redhound Hall of Fame as an assistant coach. Tommy was an excellent coach on an outstanding staff under head coach Archie Powers, whom I have often referred to as a master builder.
Coach Powers brought in what was the greatest coaching staff of all time, that included Willard Farris, Dennis Brown and Tommy Faulkner, initially to join coach Larry “Cotton” Adams, who was already the top assistant to Coach John Warfield. Later Coach Powers added Coach Clyde Burchette and that would culminate in as good a coaching staff as it gets. My congratulations once again to Coach Tommy Faulkner on his well deserved honor.
I wonder how many points the University of Kentucky football team would give up if it were not for Wesley Woodyard.
Time and again he makes a touchdown saving tackle. I like Coach Mike Archer as a person, he seems very dedicated and his heart seems to be in getting it right, but let’s face it he is not even close as year after year when he has coached at Kentucky they are horrible on defense.
I am 65 years old and I am too old to coach football, and Rich Brooks is 65, and I feel he is in the same boat I am. If we feel we need a coach that is well seasoned, let’s get one that is a proven winner and hire Howard Schnellenberger, a move that should have been made when they hired Bill Curry or when they hired Jerry Claiborne.
While the University of Kentucky piddled with the likes of a mediocre Claiborne, a totally exempt Bill Curry, a crazy Hal Mummy and an old Rich Brooks, Schnellenberger was building football programs at Miami and Louisville.
Schnellenberger is an alumni of the University of Kentucky but for some reason when he has become available UK is always looking out the windows.
I understand President George Bush is considering hiring Rich to head up the FEEMA program used to help evacuate people from disaster areas. Coach Brooks evacuates Commonwealth Stadium of 70,000 fans very rapidly, and according to a radio report Saturday evening with score 42-0 at that time Coach Brooks evacuated another 30,000 LSU fans. Hmmm.