Coaches Office with Coaches Charles and Salmons

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:05):
Coach David Buchanan.

Speaker 2 (00:09):
Coach Chuck Smith, two legendary high school football coaches. This
is the Coach's Office, a behind the scenes look at
Kentucky high school football.

Speaker 3 (00:35):
Welcome to the Coach's Office, behind the Scenes with Chuck
Smith and David Buchanan. This is season three, episode eleven.
I'm Chuck Smith. I'm joined by co host David utannan
podcast editor Slash Historic Segment Micky Oakum, and our social

(00:56):
media manager is Noah King. Our YouTube version of this
this podcast you can access at tacop T dot C,
dot O, dot P and if you get on there
and you hit like and subscribe, that helps us out.
So we appreciate that we have a different kind of
show in store for you tonight. I think you're really

(01:17):
gonna like it. Uh, it's it's new for us. We
have to the two head football coaches for Friday night's
game between l c A and Raceland. We've got Doug
Charles of l c A and Mike Salman's of Raceland
as our guests. Uh, they will, they're they're closing out

(01:38):
the regular season, okay, and then we get ready for
the playoffs. But this is the final regular season game,
and uh, they're gonna be on the show and we're
gonna we're gonna bring them on here shortly, so be patient.
A tough topic, uh for tonight is again anonymous. Uh,
it's this time it's from a coach. And when does
a head football coach know that it's time to leave

(02:01):
jobs change schools.

Speaker 4 (02:03):
That's a really good question.

Speaker 3 (02:04):
It's a tough question, I think, But David, now, I'll
get into that a little bit later.

Speaker 4 (02:10):
The games of the week, we have Allen County.

Speaker 3 (02:13):
Scotts Ball at Barron County that want to be a
really good game Baron Kenny's having a good year this year.

Speaker 5 (02:18):
And then Paris at Ludlow and that's the Rady Reese Bowl. Yeah,
Rady wan state titles at both places. I thought that's
pretty cool.

Speaker 4 (02:27):
That is that's really cool.

Speaker 3 (02:29):
Yeah. Now a little bit about the coaches. Okay, coach
Doug Charles. He again, he's the head football coach of LCA.
He's in Class two A, been a powerhouse in Class
two A, been a player for the state championship, you know,
in the mix of the last three and four years.
Twenty twenty three, he was eleven and two and went

(02:52):
third round to the third round, and twenty twenty two
he was nine and five and went to the made
it to the fourth round, and twenty twenty one he
was fourteen and one it was the state runner up,
and twenty twenty he was ten and two and made
it to the fourth round. So that just tells you
right there, you know what kind of program he's got

(03:15):
and how successful they've been. Coach Salmons is working out
of Class A to different classifications. He's in Class A
head football coach of Raceland. He's currently six and three
and twenty twenty three he was eleven and four of
the state runner up, and twenty twenty two he was
thirteen and two and also the state runner up. And

(03:39):
then twenty twenty one twelve and two and the fourth round,
made it to the fourth round, semi finals.

Speaker 4 (03:46):
Wow, this is I mean, this is dude. Big dogs
play at each other. It's going to be a lot
of fun.

Speaker 3 (03:53):
It'll be a lot of fun for the coaches, I know,
but it'll be a lot of fun for fans to
watch that game. Both coaches, both programs, as I said,
have been major players, major factors uh in their particular class.

Speaker 4 (04:06):
Of the last three or.

Speaker 3 (04:07):
Four years and in the conversation for a state championship.
It's it's awesome uh to have them on tonight, David,
if you want to bring the coaches on.

Speaker 5 (04:16):
Yeah, we guys, we really appreciate this. We realize this
is somewhat awkward. Uh, but uh, we're just trying to
give our listeners something, uh, a great experience and and
we think you guys are a big piece of that
right now. So your willingness to do this this evening, Uh,
I can't stress how much we appreciate your time and

(04:37):
your willingness to do something that's, uh, you know, quite
a bit different. And hey, guys, thank you all so
much for being here and doing this tonight.

Speaker 4 (04:47):
We're glad to to be Uh.

Speaker 6 (04:51):
It's such a good company and guys are so accomplished,
and uh it's an't have to worry about coach seven's
and now we're we're too around the boys and uh,
you know we're we're big fans of each other.

Speaker 4 (05:02):
I think other than two or three hours that we
go at it.

Speaker 6 (05:05):
Uh uh this weekend and uh, but you have certainly
a lot of respect for everybody on this call. And
uh say it was in the program that he's built,
and uh, I just want to continue to do with
consistency and uh we were fortunate enough to you go
up down there last year and just what he's gone
from the uh, just the whole program, the facility is

(05:28):
the class, the way that they treat they treat you
when you get there. I mean, it's all a by
product of his leadership and uh uh you know it's
in order to tee it up against guys like you.

Speaker 7 (05:44):
Thank you, coach Man.

Speaker 1 (05:46):
Yeah, hey, I got you that.

Speaker 8 (05:53):
Sorry, I'm the young pup on here, but obviously super
humbled and grateful to be on here with you guys.
Obviously a lot of respect for coach Charge and just
what he's kind of taught me and taught our program.

Speaker 4 (06:03):
Along the way.

Speaker 8 (06:04):
And there's no better way to prepare for the playoffs
and what we're going to experience Friday night.

Speaker 1 (06:09):
And that's really what it's about for us.

Speaker 4 (06:12):
Yeah, awesome. Also, hey, I'll get it started.

Speaker 3 (06:15):
I'll ask a question, and really the question is for
both of you. You all can just take terms answering it.
This week is or this is week ten, and really
the outcome of the game will probably have no implications
on your district ranking. I know that RPI stuff, but
it probably your district schedules over with. In other words,

(06:37):
do you put everything you have into winning this game?
Do you try new things? Or are you just trying
to cruise through and get to the playoffs. I've even
heard people rest in some players during week ten. You
know what you're also approach to week the last week
of the season. I guess this week eleven, but the

(06:57):
last game of the season, regular season, non district game.

Speaker 6 (07:03):
Oh for us, uh, the very reason that we schedule
teams at the caliber of a cup things in Racelan
is to get ourselves prepared for you know, potentially round three,
uh in the playoffs. So uh, you know it's a
game where we know we're going to have to game

(07:25):
plan and and uh and watch field and do all
the things and prepare and detail.

Speaker 4 (07:32):
Were headed and uh.

Speaker 6 (07:34):
And frankly, you know with the way uh certain enough
dispairs any of the programs, but you know, when you're
trying to get a game, it's got some juice, it's
got some meaning that's that's going to be contested and
and and going to make you stay up.

Speaker 4 (07:51):
A little later and getting up a little earlier. Uh.
You know, if it doesn't happen this week, it's probably
not going to happen the next two weeks. Uh.

Speaker 6 (08:00):
So we look at it from that perspective that you
know it to try to get the right uh, the
mindset and uh, to try to get the mojoe and
the momentum you want to have going into uh you know,
traveling to Mayfield or you know that last forever they

(08:20):
they choose the sentence this year.

Speaker 8 (08:24):
Yeah, I mean, uh, you know, you guys are right
the district has said. And I don't foresee I don't
know about Coach charles situation, but our r P, I
I don't think is going to be effective really, you know,
very minimal this week, uh successfully or unsuccessfully on the field.
But but for us, you know, you only get so
many chances to get on the field and tee it up,
and so we want to make sure that we go

(08:45):
out there and put our best food forward. And uh,
you know, much like Coach Charles, we're looking forward to
week three and in week four of the playoffs, and
we obviously want to be staying on the last day
and class A football, and there is no better preparation
than what we're going to have on Friday night for
those those environments. And it's on the road for us
this year, and Coach Charles was grateful enough to come
down here last year, and so we'll be two hours

(09:06):
from home and in a hostile environment with people who
are really passionate about their football teams on the field,
and so there is no letting off accelerator or anything
like that. We're going to try to prepare just like
you know, any other game or you know, biggest game
on our schedule and trying to make sure that we
get that momentums coach spoke about as we move forward

(09:26):
to the November and play lemination football.

Speaker 5 (09:29):
So coach coaches, both of you are anticipating a good
run in November. Will you adjust your normal weekly routine
this time of year as compared to August and September
or will you continue as is what what are you
doing right now?

Speaker 6 (09:45):
You know, we started getting back into that. You know,
we had a pretty last week. We had a Washington
County team that came in but once seven football games,
so you know we had to get run things up
a little bit. But you know, you know, us old coaches,
we tried a little different everything we can do to

(10:08):
trying to figure out the magic sauce. And no two
teams are different from year in and year out. But
one thing we did this year was we took off
because their bye week this week this year didn't coincide
with our spring break because I think K just say

(10:28):
moved everything back a week.

Speaker 4 (10:30):
So we got us out of sint there.

Speaker 6 (10:32):
So you know, we had gone through a pretty rigorous,
uh first five games, and then we got into district play.
So we came our guys, we we were Selby was
gracious enough to play us on a Thursday night right
before those stormshead if you may remember that, and so
we could get that game in and then from that

(10:55):
night we didn't see our guys for ten days. We
told them, they said, just be compressed, working on academics,
go to college visits, play all those kinds of things.

Speaker 4 (11:06):
Get your legs, you know.

Speaker 6 (11:07):
Get your things entered, treatment whatever, and uh, you know,
so we're gonna trust you guys to to come back
and see kind of that worked out. It's it's really
been good for us. Uh, you know, we're getting healthy.
We've this time of year, you're gonna have a few
things along the way. But fortunately going into this Friday night,
where's healthy. We've been over here.

Speaker 4 (11:28):
Uh, guys been on and off.

Speaker 6 (11:32):
But they're they're they look pretty good today. And I
think my pull go on Friday night. So you know
that's our approach is. Uh, it's been pretty much standard now.
I mean, you got a jav game tonight. I'm just
getting you from and uh, but it's regular routine. Uh
uh aside from the senior night and you know pop,

(11:54):
I mean was last week and those kinds of things
can be a little tracks in a little bit, but
it's part of the whole hospital experience.

Speaker 4 (12:00):
We just can't take it business as usual since we
gave them.

Speaker 8 (12:06):
Yeah, you know, a great question from coaches there. You know,
the our thing here is about how consistent can you be?
You know, our program modos built on hashtag keep pounding,
and we try to be as consistent and uh stay
involved in the process for as long as we can.
And so I'm a little bit and maybe all ball

(12:26):
coaches are creature of habits. Uh, so we don't vary
too much from the standard.

Speaker 4 (12:31):
Uh.

Speaker 1 (12:31):
Then we do, you know, have our.

Speaker 8 (12:34):
Obviously our alternative alternations we go through, uh through our processes,
but again, we want to try to make sure that
you know, our kids know what to expect, what a
Monday practice looks like, or what a Tuesday practice looks like,
or what a Thursday practice looks like. And so you know,
credits to coach taking ten days off. I don't know
if I if I could do that, if I would

(12:54):
go crazy or my wife would be in favor of
me doing.

Speaker 4 (12:56):
Such a thing.

Speaker 1 (12:58):
But we just really try to be real assist in
what we do.

Speaker 8 (13:01):
There's some changes throughout the nuances of practice and the
things that we cover in practice, but buy and large,
we try to be consistent and try to move forward
to just get a little better every day.

Speaker 3 (13:11):
Yeah, hey, this my question next question might overlap a
little bit with that, is you both play a very
tough non district UH non district games early in this
season and then generally speaking, your district schedule is not
very tough at all, and how my question is how
do you motivate players and your team to continue to

(13:35):
improve as you work through those what you know, less
competitive district games so that you're ready for the playoffs.

Speaker 4 (13:43):
Is there anything that you do, Is there any any.

Speaker 3 (13:45):
Secrets, I mean anything you do like uh, you know,
I used to try to to you know, we go
into that game and I say, all right, we're.

Speaker 4 (13:53):
Gonna get better at this whatever this was. And that's
that was the focus for the week.

Speaker 3 (13:58):
You know, there's something do you all do anything you
know that you know that can the listeners could learn
something from, uh, to motivate your players those less competitive games,
to make sure.

Speaker 4 (14:09):
You don't lose anything. As the playoffs are approaching, well for.

Speaker 6 (14:15):
Us, we have a uh we recognize that the competition uh,
you know slows down a little bit once we get
into the district play and uh, you know, it's it's
it's a big step uh from you know, playing the
cows and the pieballs and the boil Counties and uh,

(14:36):
you know Catholics and all those of the world and
then going playing teams that are just you know, not
quite as together. You know, it's a it's a psychology.
It's a psychological thing, really, and Armando has just been
pushing each other. Uh, and we do a lot of
we feel every practice of course, and you know, reposition

(14:58):
do a really good job any consistent feedback. Uh, you know,
we're always trying to coach. This is the biggest struggle
that we've had. Uh, you know, are good and good
the best of the best around. People look at it.
You want the healthy as you can going into the deal.

(15:19):
And we you know, we don't have an abundance of
you know, we can we stay in a couple of injuries,
but you know, schedules.

Speaker 4 (15:27):
Give us enough. And then we say, you know, how
hard do we really want to go? You know good?

Speaker 6 (15:31):
You know we're always debating is the staff of where
that is?

Speaker 4 (15:37):
Uh? Yeah? Do you all do a lot of good
on good? A lot? That's a little bit. You're the
one that's got all the championships in the wisdom? Do
you do you do a lot of good on good?
What what during those weeks? Or do you well?

Speaker 6 (15:54):
We do we we we we do good on the
best we have after the good time with I got you.

Speaker 4 (16:02):
Uh you know, we're playing up. We're two boys.

Speaker 6 (16:04):
Last year we were was the first year and and
and and my tenure that we've been able to have
really platoon just about everybody.

Speaker 4 (16:13):
We had a couple of guys both ways. But uh, but.

Speaker 6 (16:17):
Then you know, and that's all great because you see
keny hearts coming down a line. Uh Uh you know,
trailing a pool or something that you're you know, you're
your one hundred and seventy pounds, why get get blown up?
You know, so you know it's uh, you know, we've

(16:37):
always I don't know that we've ever gotten to rock coach,
we must always trying to strike a balance, stay healthy
and and uh but also keep your guys competitively.

Speaker 4 (16:47):
We've done little watch scrimmages.

Speaker 6 (16:49):
Three in the last five years to where we've had
a knight that we've even up the teams and we've
made the rules and we've we've got we've.

Speaker 4 (16:58):
Brought officials in. We tried about it. Getb Yeah.

Speaker 1 (17:06):
You know, for us, I think one thing is.

Speaker 8 (17:10):
Maybe a little reverse is the reason that some of
our district games have been to our advantage is because
of those preseason games. I firmly believe some of the
things that we have put our football team through the
early part of the season allowed us to have some
of that district success. You know, again, no discredit to
those teams, but just you know they're not get and

(17:33):
you know, the way our football team was uncomfortable multiple times.
I'm sure Coach Charles has seen this on film, very
uncomfortable in some very very hostile environments, just like just
like this team went through. Uh, that's what allowed us
to grow and have those successes in those district games.
And so I think that's part of the tough schedule too,
that that you really can get your kids to buy

(17:55):
into that. And that's that's been a big benefit to us.
You know, another thing that we really try to do
and you just try to as a coach. You know,
I learned this from coach Ross. I know Coach Buchannan's
is a Bill Tom rosskuy You know, I love Bill.
You try to find just a way to motivate kids.
And so last week our opponent had the leading rusher

(18:16):
and Class A football. You know, you can say what
you want about their level competition, but the fact the
matter is you gonna catch and say he was a
number one rusher in Class A football. And so you know,
you just try to hang your hat on just trying
to find a way to motivate those guys when they
come in, Hey, this is the lead rushing Class A
football and you know, what can we do about it?
And so the things like that have helped us to

(18:38):
the good on good discussion, Coach Charles interested here you
say that we try to do a period every.

Speaker 1 (18:42):
Week called a championship period.

Speaker 8 (18:44):
I learned that we picked that up along the ways,
just a small period. You know, we're talking five to
eight STAPs to try to there's always some exposure there
for injuries, and this coach spoke about you try to
minimize those, but just really trying to get you know,
your best on your bed. So we usually try to
do it midweek and uh, and that's usually kind of
a real, real hyped up juice period for us. And

(19:06):
and so that's that's been good in district play too,
just to just some guys really see that that speed
and that will be a big adjustment for us on
Friday at lca IS is the speed of the game,
just because you know, the past couple of weeks hasn't
been able to demonstrate what they're gonna be able to
do to us.

Speaker 7 (19:24):
I got you.

Speaker 5 (19:24):
So you brought up Bill Tom. I could we could
do a whole episode on Bill Tom. And I learned
a lot about a great mindset as a head coach
because we had some huge games. And I tell you what,
Bill Tim always sent things a lot better in stride
than I did. Of course, I was twenty seven years old,
so I guess cut me a little.

Speaker 7 (19:44):
Slack, but I love him.

Speaker 5 (19:45):
Hey, so here here's the last question. And as coach,
this is a tough one for you. Uh you know,
I know for me, uh, I'm never gonna get over
eleven to eight in the quarterfinals at Putnam Stadium when
Russell got us. You know, I mean, getting close is tough,
and so I'm sort of I'm sort of putting you

(20:08):
on the spot here.

Speaker 7 (20:09):
You know, you guys have both come so close to
winning at all.

Speaker 5 (20:13):
If you could go back and change anything from the past,
do you think it would have changed the outcome or
do you feel like, you know what, we had the
best plan possible. We just came up a little short.
I know that's a tough question. Hey, what do you
think coaches?

Speaker 6 (20:32):
Well, I know, for us, you know, when when we
were able to to get there first time sin So nine,
which was in twenty two I think it was two.

Speaker 4 (20:49):
Yeah, we uh, you know, we had we had a.

Speaker 6 (20:55):
Tried and testing group, you know, we had we ended
up it three or four of the teams and eventually won.

Speaker 4 (21:02):
The state championships that year.

Speaker 6 (21:05):
And but we never you know, we knew that Beach
was who they are and uh.

Speaker 4 (21:13):
And you know we did everything.

Speaker 6 (21:15):
I mean, we went in practice a full week at
Georgetown College with a smaller uprights, and you know, we
we tried to keep things just goring as we could
playing on a Friday afternoon, you know, and trying to
keep things that you know, the routine as we came.
And you know, we do a lot to go back

(21:38):
and and shooting with the kills, ifs and bucks and
all those kinds of things.

Speaker 4 (21:43):
You know, you know, the you know, if if I
go back to that game, coach, just my biggest regret,
if there's a regret, Uh, we had We had a.

Speaker 6 (21:59):
It was a crazy game and it ended up going
into overtime and they got the ball and they score
two plays in and then lead out the ball and
scored in two plays and I neededly held up to
two fers. I'm already talk about guys, I'm going for two.

Speaker 4 (22:19):
And because I.

Speaker 6 (22:22):
Knew a week before that they coach Rash do the
same thing at WESTCRR and he had won two games
that year. They won two games that year in Somerset
and Catholic, going.

Speaker 4 (22:35):
For two at the last lay of the game.

Speaker 6 (22:39):
So you know, as a as a coach with some
with some young people, also wanted that to be on me.

Speaker 4 (22:45):
Didn't get pay me for going for two. Uh.

Speaker 6 (22:49):
And the biggest thing, and I go back through heread
is is that I got lost in the moment, as
did stand as we reflect my I didn't realize.

Speaker 4 (23:03):
We're trying to make it.

Speaker 6 (23:03):
I could have been easy to call a timeout and
really thought through it.

Speaker 4 (23:07):
A little bit.

Speaker 7 (23:08):
Yeah, well we didn't.

Speaker 6 (23:10):
Then our guys said, hey, you know, we've been scoring
here pretty easy. Let's let's keep it going. Let's let's
not let's not go for two right now. So we
turned to the one out there and we got a
block extra boy, first time all year.

Speaker 4 (23:28):
Uh, let's just stay championship.

Speaker 6 (23:30):
So you know, uh, you go back and and you
know it's the game and you win and loses the team.

Speaker 4 (23:37):
Uh. An interesting story. And coach Matt, you will appreciate this.

Speaker 6 (23:44):
Uh, being from the mountains, being from pipe Wood Hill
and Howard d n A and and all that. And
you know I always hit off the meal with Mike
help him and he so all those guys, me and
my boys. So Justin Addicks is playing in next game
and uh I, uh so it was a COVID year,

(24:08):
really really strict on the changed how long you can
the handshakes and all that kind of stuff. So I
immediately went over and graduated trash and they went me
off into the media a.

Speaker 4 (24:19):
Tunnel there and they had all the people the microphones
in the deal. It's literally.

Speaker 6 (24:25):
Three minutes fresh deal, right, and all those microphones in
your deal and all that kind of stuff, and I
just remember having a piece and I made a comment
and I said, you know, guys, it's we competed, we prepared,
we did everything we we could do the drive minal

(24:49):
football and you know, but it's a football game and
uh you know has licensed to with meats Wood and uh,
I said.

Speaker 4 (24:59):
We're all know is that? Uh? Uh good? The son's
coming up in the morning and the good morn still
on the f and.

Speaker 6 (25:07):
Uh When I when I got outside that dealing and
Justin was playing the next game, the first guy out
there to greet me as I came out of the
tunnel was Justin Addicks.

Speaker 4 (25:18):
He said, I've been there, coach, He said, I don't
know if you'll ever get there in view, he said,
but I've been. I know what it's like. He was
out there and I.

Speaker 6 (25:26):
Told my my ID as we were walking into to
address the team after a distant gout, you know, I said,
he said, Jach, he said, please tell me about you.
I'm just sorry, guy, that was such a tough loss.
And all I said, listen, I said, I've got to

(25:48):
I'll be the woman going to say those fifty five kids.

Speaker 4 (25:52):
And what I told.

Speaker 6 (25:53):
Him was is that the we will never allow if
we if I as a coach allowed them in our
programs to be defined by the outcome of the football game,
whether it be on a good stage or a small stage.
They're I've done an atrocious job as a head coach.
I'm I'm gonna really disservice.

Speaker 4 (26:14):
To you guys. And we had a great year.

Speaker 6 (26:19):
We won a lot of football games, and uh, you know,
we always see victory and Jesus is a tradition in
our story.

Speaker 4 (26:25):
We win or lose.

Speaker 6 (26:26):
Because at the end of the day, after every game,
you know, is your victory Jesus or you just it's
easy to see victory and Jesus. When you win on
the state championship, it's a little tough if you lose
one of the block pat. But uh, but we said
we're talking about the ending stories, or we were, and
we celebrated. I mean, we're supposed to just sitting in
a room and turning the lights off. I mean, you know,

(26:48):
life goes out. And of course we we lost two
state champions by three points.

Speaker 4 (26:54):
I don't want to good lords time to teach us.
But we're still standing and still good. So you know
we're gonna I love that story.

Speaker 1 (27:05):
Yeah, I do it.

Speaker 5 (27:06):
I think I think our listeners they're not going to
hear anything like that anywhere else.

Speaker 7 (27:11):
Coach that was awesome. Coach Samons, what about you?

Speaker 8 (27:15):
Yeah, I mean, first of all, very very hard touch
there about Coach Charles. Obviously he's in a situation we've
been a private school. He can do some things, obviously,
coach we can in the public school. You know, some
of those things are frown of upond. But you know,
one thing I'd say about Coach Charles is we have
been there a couple of times. Three times. Uh, we
have not been that close. We battled for a few,

(27:36):
you know, a long time in a couple of different games,
but never never down to the overtime, or certainly down
to one point. You know, The one thing I would
say is as coach adults, as coaches, you know, we
always try to reflect and learn. And I think that's
what all of us do, Uh, in this profession. Could
you change this play car or that play call? Well,
sure you could, right, I mean hind Insights twenty twenty.

(27:58):
I think, what do we do soon as I get
soon as we get back home Saturday from Friday night
from ELSAA, the first thing we'll do is go turn
on the film and we'll learn from it.

Speaker 1 (28:07):
Right, And so I think there's some reflection there that
we've done.

Speaker 8 (28:11):
But as a whole, I would say, you know, to
get your program to that stage takes some growth, and
to climb the ladder take some growth, and to stand
on top of the ladder takes more growth. And I
think that's kind of the evolution or the process that
we've gone through. We have certainly climbed some RUMs of
the ladder, we just haven't hoisted from the top yet.

(28:33):
And like Coach Charles said, there's always a lesson there
and the blessing there's a lesson and you know, hopefully
I'm around to see it, and uh, but I just
think that that's.

Speaker 1 (28:43):
Part of it. You know, you don't fall to the top.

Speaker 8 (28:44):
You're going to earn your way there, and it's all
part of the story.

Speaker 7 (28:48):
Hey, I think straight.

Speaker 5 (28:50):
Yeah, I appreciate y'all sharing that because I think those
are the toughest things to talk about. I really do.
And you guys were, you know, pretty open and I
think genuine will not think. I know, those are genuine
insights from those experiences that our listeners are not going
to get that anywhere else.

Speaker 7 (29:08):
You guys are awesome.

Speaker 3 (29:10):
I had one of those, Coach Charles my last state
championship game. We lost twenty one to twenty and I
had one of those decisions at the end to make,
and uh, first the one I chose at work. That's
why we lost. But I really appreciate your answer because
I'm with it. You know, at the end of the game,

(29:34):
I just said, you know what, it just wasn't meant
to be. And we had a good team.

Speaker 4 (29:38):
It just wasn't meant to be.

Speaker 6 (29:40):
I tell these, uh, I'm gleased with a great staff
and a lot of young bunk.

Speaker 4 (29:46):
Because I'm sixty three, you get a little milbumly so, but.

Speaker 6 (29:53):
I tell them, if you will accept this pretense from
the Grand game.

Speaker 4 (29:58):
If you want to want to get.

Speaker 6 (30:05):
Lose a lot of game, you can't. I like it,
you know, but I don't want to know one guy
if he comes, he's up there that far around in
the corner. He's got his bag. I guarantee you it's
gonna be an awesome game.

Speaker 4 (30:24):
I'll tell you. I love to be there at that game.

Speaker 3 (30:27):
You guys are great coaches, and uh, we really appreciate
you being on you. I love you, your your feedback
and your your information. I know our listeners are really
gonna learn a lot from it.

Speaker 5 (30:38):
Yeah, hey, Doug, I think I bet you we sold
you a hundred more tickets tonight. You're gonna make all
kinds of money at that game. Coach Sam is going
on a piece of that game before he gets on the.

Speaker 4 (30:51):
We've got you.

Speaker 6 (30:52):
I've got to before we gotta eat two und forty
eight kids and our middle school kids. You already his
middle school, his middle.

Speaker 4 (30:58):
School eight out Saturday.

Speaker 6 (31:00):
He's going to come up to He's gonna come up
to our house this last weekend and instilled candy.

Speaker 4 (31:08):
And I've got all this big deal.

Speaker 6 (31:11):
To seventy kids and parents and big hotel youth celebration
and kill.

Speaker 4 (31:23):
I was.

Speaker 8 (31:24):
I was talking to our booster come today about lining
up post game feet sounds like something like he should
have enough food there to feed our boys after the game, right.

Speaker 4 (31:35):
We feed her polish kidding afterwards.

Speaker 7 (31:39):
That's awesome.

Speaker 5 (31:40):
Hey, I tell you what, Bill tom Ross, when we
have those battles in the early nineties, Parents and Raceland,
Bill thim I'd see him after the game. He'd have
a pile of food on that point. I mean, he
he knew how to enjoy it. And you know what,
it didn't matter whether he won or lost. He he
was in great spirits and won the top football and
uh he was. He was super to be with. I

(32:03):
thought of that, you offening about that postgame meal. So hey, guys,
you all have a blast Friday night. It's gonna be
a great night, and enjoy every second of it.

Speaker 1 (32:13):
I appreciate it, really appreciate it. Thank you guys for
having us.

Speaker 8 (32:15):
Thank you, thank you you.

Speaker 7 (32:19):
Look, guys, when does the.

Speaker 4 (32:21):
Head football coach you know it's time to leave his job?

Speaker 7 (32:25):
That's correct?

Speaker 5 (32:26):
Uh, well, here I'll go first. When the head football
coach and the administration no longer share the same vision
for the program, I think it changes best.

Speaker 7 (32:38):
Uh. Often if there's a change in the administration.

Speaker 5 (32:42):
Leadership, Uh, the head football coach may be the ones
that looks to make a change. Not all the time,
but a lot of times. Administrators they're more inclined to
support and go along with the things of the coach
that they hire as opposed.

Speaker 7 (32:59):
To the one they here.

Speaker 5 (33:00):
Not always, but uh, you know, your head football coach
roles are pretty important one in a school system, especially
you know, rural Kentucky. And I think sometimes when there's
a change in that administrative level, or if the visions
don't line up anymore, then I then I think that

(33:21):
may be.

Speaker 7 (33:21):
Time to go and maybe time to move on. So
what do you think about it?

Speaker 4 (33:26):
Yeah, well, I mean you're you're one hundred percent right,
I wrote down.

Speaker 3 (33:30):
You know, when you when you have conflicts with the administration,
you know, when there's disagreements with the decision makers regarding the.

Speaker 4 (33:39):
Direction of the program.

Speaker 3 (33:41):
You know, Uh, you've got a lot of work to
do on the field, a lot of responsibility, and the
last thing you need is to you know, have disagreements
and conflicts with the decision makers.

Speaker 4 (33:56):
You know, I mean, you don't have time for that.

Speaker 3 (33:58):
You know, and and when you don't feel like they're
supporting you, then you know, uh.

Speaker 4 (34:05):
Maybe maybe it's time to go.

Speaker 3 (34:06):
You know, you want an administration that has hired expectations,
but but high expectations, but they're willing to back it
up by giving you that help, uh that you want
and you need to to to reach to reach those expectations.
You know. It's if you have high expectations and you

(34:27):
just saying, hey, you know, it's your's your you know.

Speaker 4 (34:31):
Do the best. You know, this is what you got
to do it. But I would expect you to win. No, no, no, no.

Speaker 3 (34:36):
No, You've got to have an administration that you know,
I wanted one with high expectations, but I also wanted
one that was going to give me the things that
I needed to be able to accomplish what I wanted
to accomplish on the field. I don't need somebody saying, hey,
I want you to win, but you know I don't
have I don't have much to give you. You you figure
it out. No, that's not what you want. When you

(34:58):
as a coach, you know, become you know, apathetic or
uninspired about the upcoming season.

Speaker 4 (35:07):
You know, maybe you've maybe you you've.

Speaker 3 (35:10):
Lost your passion a little. You know, you know, you're
not having any fun. You go kind of going through
the motions. Maybe that's another you know reason uh, or
that you should maybe you know, or another sign that
maybe you should move on, do something different, find another passion.
You know, when the coach feels like they've reached that

(35:31):
plateau and uh, they in their current job, you know,
maybe they feel like they've done all that they can do,
is another reason why you maybe need to to move
on for a new challenge, to get those juices flowing again,
you know, that sort of thing.

Speaker 5 (35:48):
I think that, you know, something Brandon's quoted you on
before from when we had him on, and I thought
it was a.

Speaker 7 (35:54):
Really good quote, uh used and.

Speaker 5 (35:57):
That you clean it up if I'm wrong, but something
to the effect of, you know, when it starts to
feel like work, it might be time for a change.
And I thought that was a I thought that was
a very wise thing to say. And again Brandon has
said that to me and talk back to the time
we had Brandon on here, and I thought that was
really good because you know, in this role, it's really

(36:23):
sort of a calling.

Speaker 7 (36:24):
It's not a job. You you're sort of.

Speaker 5 (36:29):
I don't know you, you don't really have to. Now,
I'm not gonna lie to you on this. There's things
in the off season I have to make myself do
that I may not feel like doing okay in the
off season, but in season, Uh, I don't think you
have to make yourself do it. I think I think
you just I think you just want to do it.
It's just in season, you just run out of time

(36:50):
doing it all.

Speaker 7 (36:50):
That's all.

Speaker 1 (36:51):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (36:51):
I always felt like, and I've said this, I love
my career. I loved my profession. I never felt like
and truly never felt like I went to work every day.
I got up and went to school and went to
football practice. But I never considered it work, and I
always just, uh, it was just I would look forward

(37:13):
to doing every day.

Speaker 4 (37:15):
I really did it. You can believe that or not.
But I loved it. I was.

Speaker 1 (37:20):
I was ate up with it.

Speaker 4 (37:22):
I liked the teaching part.

Speaker 3 (37:23):
I liked the school teaching part, and and I loved,
you know, having an influence on kids outside of football
and impact on their lives. I loved that part of it,
and of course I loved the football part. Never, I
never felt like I had a job. I felt like
I just had.

Speaker 4 (37:40):
Something to do every day. They paid me to do it,
but I liked it.

Speaker 7 (37:43):
That reminds me. You bring that up.

Speaker 5 (37:46):
Steveney and I got to go to Nashville to see
jeff Lynn's elo. Jeff Lynn, I think he's seventy six,
and man, after he play every song, he would just
step back and.

Speaker 7 (37:56):
He would just smile real big.

Speaker 4 (37:58):
You know.

Speaker 7 (37:58):
It was like I kind of the nation of Man,
I can't believe.

Speaker 5 (38:02):
I still get to do this, and I can't be
believed these people are nice to me. I ain't saying it,
but it's like I sort of feel like that. When
I walk into Anderson County High School, I'm like, man,
I still I still get to do this. You know,
we're still letting me do this. They still let me
walk in, and I still get to coach, and I
still get to see kids, And you know, I think

(38:24):
that's I agree.

Speaker 7 (38:25):
I think that's a.

Speaker 5 (38:26):
Cool part of our our we call it our job.
But as we've said, uh, it really it doesn't feel
like that. It really doesn't.

Speaker 7 (38:36):
So well, Hey, what about.

Speaker 3 (38:38):
The games of the week, David, What are you thinking
Allen County, Scottsville and Barron County.

Speaker 7 (38:44):
Hey, that is going to be a good one. Uh.

Speaker 5 (38:47):
The head coach, Hey, the head coach at Allen County,
Scotchville's part of our coaching trees, a Larry French guy,
Brad Hood.

Speaker 7 (38:56):
They're eight and one.

Speaker 5 (38:58):
Their top uh prussuer and receiver is Chased Morris or
excuse me, Chase Ross. And their defense is led by
Jackson Morris. They just won a tough game with Happinsville.
And I mean, you know Brad, Brad's having a good year.
I know he got him in the state finals not
long ago, and who knows, maybe this is another year

(39:20):
they could make that kind of run.

Speaker 1 (39:22):
He's having a.

Speaker 4 (39:23):
Pretty strong year. Allen County's done.

Speaker 3 (39:25):
He's done a really good job over there, and he's
having a great year. I've got Barron County and Barron
County their head football coach is John Meyer. And if
you remember John, he was a longtime coach at Russellull,
which I'll get to in just a second, but this
is his first year at Baron County and he has
them at seven and two. And if anybody knows anything

(39:47):
about Barron County, they have not been successful over the
last several years. So to have them at seven and two,
they're six a football and to have them at seven
and two is quite an accomplishments lost to Central Harden
this past week fifteen to twenty that really there must
be something to that, because I thought he would have

(40:08):
beaten Central Hardened. But you know, with that kind of
record that he's had going had gone so far this year.
As I said, he was the head football coach at
Russell Bull at high school.

Speaker 4 (40:21):
For several years.

Speaker 3 (40:22):
He was one hundred and eighteen and fifty seven there overall,
did a great job at Russell Bull. He's been an
assistant at Glasgow for the past six years before taking
the Baron County job. I'm not sure that Baron County
has ever been or ever seen this kind of success.

Speaker 4 (40:42):
I really don't.

Speaker 3 (40:43):
I mean he's got them all from running and just
really doing a great job. The quarterback is led by
Tates Filman. He's kind of a duel threat guy, so
he's not only you know, you know, throwing the ball,
but he's also running the ball for some major yard
each and Dylan Tom, Dylan Thomas and Cody Kearney also

(41:07):
you know, carried the load a little bit with with
the running back position and the receiver has been Jackson Bird,
but I don't know, Baron's having a pretty good year.
I didn't want to have to go with It was
a hard one for me. It's gonna I think it's
gonna be a close game. I think it's gonna be
a good game. But I'm gonna go with Allan Kennty

(41:27):
because I think their schedule might be a little bit,
a little bit tougher.

Speaker 4 (41:31):
I got you.

Speaker 7 (41:32):
Uh, I don't know. I tell you what.

Speaker 4 (41:35):
I think.

Speaker 5 (41:36):
It's really closed. I'm I'm I'm gonna go with Barry
County because they're home so uh, because I think I
just think they're that close. I really did so all right,
So our next game, I'll let you go first, but
I'm coming into Randy Reese Bowl. Randy won a state championship,
but Ludlow High School then with the Paris High School
and and won two state titles there. So it's cool

(41:59):
to see Paris and love Low, uh facing off here
at the end of the season, and both both we've
got good football teams. The head coach at Paris who's
been a guest on our podcast is Taekwon Rice. They're
five and four. They're led in rushing by Alex Colder,
and then their top wide receiver also has two interceptions

(42:19):
and three fumble recoveries. His name is Elijah Webb and
Preston Cowen leads the team in tackles and he's also
got eighteen tackles for loss.

Speaker 1 (42:29):
So it's pretty good.

Speaker 5 (42:31):
They they they've got him a handful of players and
uh hey they're they're they're having a big season on
that orange turf.

Speaker 1 (42:39):
Yeah, yeah, they good.

Speaker 4 (42:41):
Good job.

Speaker 3 (42:41):
I've got Ludlow and their single a football as paris
Is And excuse me, they're head coaches. Woody McMillan, he's
the head football coach there. If this is his second season,
he's currently got them at seven and two, mean a
job he's done. In twenty twenty three he was eight

(43:04):
and five and made it to the third ram. So,
I mean, coach McMillan is doing a great job. He's
you know, off to the strong start this year at
seven and two, made it to the third round last year.
I mean, he's got a good he's got it going
on right now with this program. His running back is
Damian Anish. Really everything centers around Damian el Aish you know,

(43:32):
they quarterbacks Jackson, the two quarterbacks Jackson Mays and Reed Miller.
But again, Damian Andis has had some monster games, you know,
two hundred yards on eighteen carries, one hundred and fifty
nine yards I think on four carries and four touchdowns
in one game. I mean, he's the he's their guy.

(43:54):
He's the guy you're going to have to focus on.
You have to be able to stop and to think
about it is. Nobody's been able to offs.

Speaker 7 (44:00):
So far this year.

Speaker 3 (44:01):
So if you compare scores, and I don't always do
that because matchups or matchups and.

Speaker 4 (44:09):
They're different for each team.

Speaker 3 (44:12):
Harris lost to Bishop Bozart fourteen to twenty one, and
Ludlow beat Bishop Bozart forty six to thirty five.

Speaker 4 (44:21):
David, I'm picking Ludlow in this game.

Speaker 7 (44:24):
I got you.

Speaker 5 (44:26):
I'm not doing it out of loyalty to the Orange
and Black, although yeah, y are no, I'm not.

Speaker 7 (44:32):
I'm not, but I don't know.

Speaker 5 (44:36):
Here's the thing. Paris has got four losses. They do okay,
but you know, I thought roy Castle was pretty good
and roy Castle beat them one. They did lose to
Bishop Brosser at Bishop Brosser but they played a really
good raceling team. Within two touchdowns they lost a hazard a.

(45:00):
I've been a part of that Paris Hazard game. That
is a great that is a classic class A game.
I just think I don't know, I just I just
sort of think the Greyhounds are gonna do it. I
just I just think they're gonna I think the night
after Halloween and the orange and blacks out the handle.

Speaker 4 (45:22):
That's gonna be good. Two good games there.

Speaker 5 (45:24):
Yeah, absolutely, absolutely absolutely So, Hey, David.

Speaker 4 (45:30):
Our guests were really good.

Speaker 3 (45:31):
I thought they did a good job and that was
a good idea, so different than we tried, and it
I think it worked out well. I think those two
guys were I appreciate their willingness to give it a shot.

Speaker 7 (45:42):
And uh, I really liked how they talked.

Speaker 5 (45:47):
About, you know, the growth and you know the disappointment
and their perspective because but that's those are hard things
to talk about. I mean that those are hard, but
but they talked about them, and I just I don't
think our listeners are gonna get I think it's gonna
be tough for listeners to find that type of insight
and that type of real talk in other places, those

(46:09):
guys were very, very good and I sure do appreciate it.
Our guests next week will be Jay Fallon of Owensborough.
I got another anonymous tough topic, and it's fascinating because
these anonymous tough topics. Part of it is people want

(46:31):
to give us an anonymous tough topic. Part of it
is people are having real life things that they're struggling
with and they sort of want some help. And you know,
they know you and I. We've we've been We've been
through a lot of stuff. Now here's the thing next week.
I don't think I've ever been through this. I've had

(46:53):
times where my staff they all wanted to whip me,
but we work through it. But this next week's anonymous
tough topic. If a head coach loses his staff, can't
he get them back? I mean, that's I don't know.
I mean, it's like, I don't think I've ever been
a part of that. So I'm sitting here, I don't know.

(47:17):
I'm glad I got a week to think about it
because I'm gonna need it.

Speaker 3 (47:19):
Yeah, I'm gonna need a week to think about it too.
That's a good another good question, and I understand why
they're all anonymous too.

Speaker 4 (47:27):
It makes sense.

Speaker 5 (47:28):
Yes, yes, And I'll tell you what. In a lot
of ways, I almost feel like sometimes, I mean, the
tough topics have been good. I think the anonymous tough
topics might have been so far been maybe a little
bit even better. I'll say this, The anonymous tough topics
lead us to talk about things that normally people don't

(47:52):
want to talk about.

Speaker 9 (47:54):
Yes, yeah, yeah, I agree with that. Yeah yeah, heylisteners.
Hang on for Max's historical segment. It's great. I promise
you that you will not be disappointed. It's really good
and appreciate you guys. Y'all tune in next week.

Speaker 10 (48:18):
Sports, and in particular, high school sports, are woven into
the fabric of American High school sports are part of
the DNA of communities across the country, and that is
certainly true in Kentucky. Fans know the stories of the
big names, but there are many names and many stories
that have been lost to history. This series highlights those

(48:43):
forgotten heroes. Welcome to Forgotten Heroes.

Speaker 1 (48:46):
I'm your host, Mack Yoakam.

Speaker 10 (48:49):
In this episode, we're going to take a look at
a star who opposing coaches said was the best they
had ever seen, and who had the nickname Set, and
who called himself simply legend. He was Franklin Delano Branham.
Set was born in nineteen twenty eight in Prestonsburg, Kentucky.

(49:10):
When he was six, his father passed away, leaving just
Set in his mother. After his father's passing, Set and
his mom left eastern Kentucky for Detroit so Missus Brandham
could go to work in a bomber factory. When Set
and his mother returned to Prestonsburg, he came back as
a big time athlete. Set was a three sports star

(49:32):
for the Prestonsburg black Cats. On the football field, he
led the black Cats to a top ten ranking most games.
Set ran over around and threw the opposition. In the
nineteen forty seven Flood Bowl versus Pineville, while dropping back
to pass, he decided to drop kick a field goal instead,
and of course, he nailed the dropkick from twenty nine

(49:55):
yards out. He was named to the All State football
team in nineteen forty seven and was named to the
All Southern Team. On the baseball diamond, he led Prestonsburg
to an undefeated season and the state baseball title. He
was again named to the All State Team. On the hardwood,
Set averaged twenty three points per game with a high

(50:18):
game of thirty nine. And you guessed it, he was
named to the All State basketball team. There were questions
surrounding his eligibility and Set didn't play basketball as a senior,
but was still named of the Kentucky All Star Team
for the series with Indiana. At one point, Branham said

(50:38):
he was going to go to Georgia to play football.
Prestonsburg coach John Ibner left for Miami University in Florida
to be an assistant, and Set followed him to play
for the Hurricanes. As a freshman, he dominated the Miami
Spring game, and the next year, when Ibner left Miami
for Florida, Brandham wanted to go with him. It was

(51:00):
found out that he had signed a letter of intent
with the University of Kentucky and the only way Bear
Bryant would release him was if he didn't go to
Florida or any other SEC school. The Bear and Louisville
coach Frank Camp recommended Set to Utah coach Jack Curtis.

(51:21):
Coach Curtis was a Kentucky Navy who knew all about Set.
Brandon he called and offered Set a scholarship on the phone,
and Set told coach Curtis he would come, but he
didn't even have enough money for a pencil. In later years,
Set said Utah took excellent care of him, including making
sure he had a cap and gown for graduation day.

(51:45):
At Utah, he was named to the All Skyline Conference
team twice, and he led the Utes to three Skyline
Conference titles. When he graduated, he was Utah's third all
time leading score. Known for his sure hands, he only
fumbled once in high school and twice in college. He

(52:06):
also lettered in basketball in Utah, being one of the
few athletes to letter in football and basketball for the Utes.
After college, Set played professionally for the Rough Riders in
the Canadian Football League and he lost his spot in
the CFL. The future Supreme Court Justice Byron Whizzer White. Oh,

(52:29):
and why the name Set? He was unnamed for three years,
and the legend is his mother told him to Set
so many times over those three years that the name
stuck even after he was officially named for the new President,
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Franklin Delano Set Brandon, or as he

(52:53):
called himself. Legend passed away in twenty fourteen in Saint George,
Utah from pancreatic

Speaker 6 (53:00):
Answer contribute to induce intifactif Scutt