LOOKING BACK

 As I promised last week I will explore a window of opportunity for the Whitley County basketball program to establish itself as a contender in the 50^th District and the 13^th region.

I feel the degree of difficulty for a coach to build this program is greater for the next Colonels’ coach than for South Laurel. The reason being that Whitley County for the most part has never enjoyed success with the boys program.

I have heard rumors that Brent Vernon was receiving strong consideration. Vernon is the son of former Cumberland’s Coach Randy Vernon, who I always had a great deal of respect for. Coach Randy Vernon was in my opinion the best coach Cumberlands ever had and one of the best at the NAIA level.

I am not sure if the young Vernon has the experience to take on such a daunting task, but certainly he has the right genes.

I also feel I would look at someone who has experienced success on his resume, like taking teams to the state tournament before.

Lewis Morris of Bell County took the Bobcats of Bell County last year and took Hazard to the state tournament a few years ago and in my opinion is a top-notch coach.

Al Holland is the current head coach at Hazard and has taken two teams to the big show, Hazard and Perry Central. He is a proven winner.

Mike Jones at Harlan County High School also has a high profile resume, but currently is in great situation with a roster full of young players coming back and family ties in Harlan County.

Whoever Mike Campbell and the powers that be, decide on, this a critical choice and a huge opportunity for the Whitley County basketball program.

 Redhound Basketball

I attended the Corbin Redhound basketball banquet Thursday and I am so proud of the Redhounds basketball program and their coaching staff, headed by Tony Pietrowski. They are truly a class act.

 Welcome Thom Smith

I want to congratulate Thom Smith who has accepted the Athletic Directors position at Corbin High School replacing Gerald Foley, who will retire at the end of this school year.

 Atomic Twins

I received the picture associated with this column from Chris Vermillion, the son of C.D. Vermillion.

The picture includes C.D., Darrell Storm and Bobby Cathers as three fifths of the starting line for Erskine College during the 1953-’54 season.

Erskine College is located in Due West South Carolina and in 1953-’54, Vermillion and Storms were known as the atomic twins and Cathers, a couple of years older was a leader on the team.

Erskine would play Furman that year in Rockhill, South Carolina. Furman also had a former Redhound, All-American Frank Selvy on their team. The game was close, but Furman won.

In 1954-’55, another former Redhound Roy Gilliam Jr. joined the atomic twins on the Erskine squad.

 UK Basketball

I know everyone is excited with the prospects of a great upcoming year for the Kentucky Wildcats of Coach John Calipari, if of course you are a Wildcat fan. I don’t think we should be too quick to anoint the ‘Cats. You never know about the chemistry of a team. I do feel that Coach Cal is a very good chemist and will have everything fall into place.

If you are looking ahead to the Corbin Redhounds football season, circle October 14 on your calendar as that will be when the Redhounds travel to Log Mountain to play Bell County in a key 3A game. It should be a great match-up.