Jeff Griffith, of Warren East High School, believes South Central Kentucky has been a hot bed for high school football for many years, with several programs making state championship games and several winning state championship games over the years.

“It is very competitive every Friday night, year to year,” he said. “There are a lot of talented football players produced in South Central Kentucky every year from many different schools, several of whom are division 1 players.”

Griffith says his personal high school coach Mike Elkin is the person who instilled in him the love he has for the game of football. Dan Haley instilled in him his love for coaching.

“Both men were instrumental in football being a large part of my life since the fall of 1980,” he said.

Since starting out coaching 28 years ago, Griffith has seen many changes over the years, but the biggest difference is in regards to changes in safety.

“Everything from a safety standpoint, from the heat-related illnesses to the recent focus on concussions have been positive steps for the game of football,” he said. “Players today are bigger, faster, stronger and more committed to football programs than ever before.”