LOOKING BACK

 Caleb Watkins became the first Corbin Redhound football player to seriously threaten the Redhound record for number of touchdowns or points scored in one game since Billy Bird scored ten touchdowns and scored 66 points against Williamsburg on October 23, 1959.

Watkins hit pay dirt eight times against Knott County Central in a rather strange game. The Redhounds scored 85 points, which I believe to be a team record for points scored in one game by a Corbin Redhounds football team.

Watkins is a tremendous football player and his potential is unlimited. My hopes are that he will receive the support he needs to play at the next level. I feel Caleb is yet another student athlete the Redhound football program has produced over the last decade capable of playing Division One football. Unfortunately we have not been very successful in providing the support necessary to help kids like Jarod Lawson, Clint Cashen or Michael Campbell.

On October 23, 1959 Bobby “Muncy” White and Phil Henderlight, two Redhound football players, were at Harold Perry’s Barber Shop on Kentucky Street, behind the First National Bank getting a touch-up job on their flat tops.

The two young  (at that time) Redhounds worked up a wager with Perry, the barber, giving him Williamsburg and 60 points for haircuts for the rest of the year.

That evening as the story goes.., Billy Bird flashed his brilliant speed and broke for four quick touchdowns.

At halftime several of the Redhound teammates of Bird, led by Billy’s close friends, lineman D. L. Lynch and Fred Rader and of course, White and Henderlight went to coach Walt Green and told the coach that they would like for Billy to have the opportunity to break his older brother, Calvin’s record for touchdowns and points in one game.

Calvin had scored eight touchdowns against Knox Central and tacked on an extra point for 49 points.

With the game well in hand Coach Green agreed to play Billy with the first team for a series of plays then play Billy with the second unit and then Billy would play with the third team.

Billy scored 10 touchdowns and six extra points for 66 points.

White and Henderlight? Well, they got their flat tops trimmed about every two days the rest of the year.

Billy Bird always had a shy smile and was one of the most well liked and respected players by his teammates to ever play at Corbin.

Billy Passed away in the mid-seventies, but his memory will live forever in the minds of his friends and teammates.

Harold Perry decided to give up cutting hair after flat tops went out of style and spent the next thirty years working on the Railroad.

Henderlight played golf with me last week, and “Muncy” White? Well, he just does what his wife, Candy tells him to do.

Kentucky played valiantly but once again came up short, losing to South Carolina by two.

Randall Cobb had yet another sparkling performance. Cobb is a winner trapped in a program that is designed to mediocrity. I am not knocking Kentucky’s football program, it is what it is.

Mike Hartline’s injury will afford Coach Rich Brooks an opportunity to explore different options at quarterback. It is time for a look at prized recruit Morgan Newton.

Newton will undoubtedly make mistakes but with his athletic ability he will also make some plays.