Trigg Whisenant will be looking for eight when they pull that gate…@Trigg5whisenant, @MasonS3324, @LCCougarSports, @bigassfans, @eCampusdotcom, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball

’30 RB/DB looking for early PT entering freshman year

🎶I'll be lookin' for eight
When they pull that gate
And I hope that
Judge ain't blind
Amarillo by mornin'
Amarillo's on my mind...🎶
Terry Stafford, 1982

Every year we like to attempt to forecast which rising ninth graders are likely to see immediate playing time. The fact remains that 8th graders come up to ninth grade better physically prepared to play high school ball now than at any time in the past. These kids play more football, have all-star seasons and training, get coached at combines and sevens tournaments, and lift and train harder now than they did “…in my day.” We have already identified some rising ninth graders who should immediately contribute. Add this kid to the list. Trigg Whisenant is a RB/DB who may start out, night one, on defense but should find his way quickly to the offensive backfield. Whisenant is a 5’8,” kid who plays baseball, basketball, football, and runs track. He has a versatile skill set and a ton of football playing experience under his belt. As George Jones would sing, Whisenant “…will be looking for eight when they pull that gate…”

HB Lyon, Scouting Director, “KPGFootball”

Whitesburg, KY: One of my favorite country songs was recorded by George Strait in 1982. It’s title: Amarillo by Morning.

The song is about a rodeo cowboy who ain’t rich but is free and is telling the listener about the “simple pleasures” for which he lives on the rodeo circuit. There is a lyric I particularly like and included in the title to this piece.

In the song, Terry Stafford (who wrote it) writes, “I’ll be lookin’ for eight when they pull that gate and I hope that Judge ain’t blind…”

Lookin’ for eight relates to a rodeo cowboy’s preparing to ride a bucking bull or bronc for the required eight seconds to qualify for a score. The “gate” refers to the chute that opens to release the rider and animal into the arena.

The song is about the rider’s dedication to his craft despite his having lost his money, equipment, and relationships along the way. Even after numerous hardships, the cowboy is focused on the next ride at the county fair, looking for that eight-second mark when the gate opens.

It is pretty inspiring. It is relevant to football too.

Football requires the same type dedication to one’s craft. You will suffer hardships. You may well suffer injury. You will spend plenty of money on good equipment and the right combines, the right camps.

You have to focus on the next game, the next season, the next level of competition to which you hope to ascend. It is a never ending quest to perfect the craft. To honor the game and the principles and life lessons football imparts.

Trigg Whisenant from Letcher County, a 5’8″ RB/DB from Whitesburg, KY who is a member of the 3030 graduating class, is a student of the game. Sporting a 4.0-GPA thus far in his academic career, one might say Whisenant’s just a darn good student, period!

Whisenant plays football. Whisenant plays basketball Whisenant plays baseball. Whisenant is a sprinter on the track team.

Whisenant has been timed in the low to mid-12s in the 100-meters. Whisenant has been selected the Region 4, KYMSFA Player of the Year. Whisenant has made all the customary, middle school, all-everything teams.

Where does Whisenant fit into the Letcher lineup? Well, Garrett Howard and Brett Sturgill are both graduating this Spring. Gunner Holbrook has promise but he only netted 48-carries a year ago scoring four (4) rushing TDs.

While Holbrook is a ’27 kid, as far as practical experience, Holbrook’s game experience is just a smidgen better than having none at all. What will Whisenant do in high school? It is a legitimate question.

Whisenant was a bone fide, commonwealth-wide star at the middle school level. We have seen middle schoolers come up to varsity ball and acquit themselves rather well.

Letcher plays in a tough district in the KHSAA’s 3A classification. Alan Short’s Bulldogs, from Lawrence County, are an 8th district team and coming off an impressive 11-2 worksheet in ’25.

Still, those boys from Whitesburg are tough customers. Not the least of which is our feature today, Trigg Whisenant.

We are going out on a limb here and predicting Whisenant will start out on defense. However, before the year is out, this is one freshman we believe will be carrying the mail on offense by playoff time.

In other words, Whisenant will be lookin’ for eight when they pull that gate. Lord, he hopes those refs ain’t blind.

You know the rest…

This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball; reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!

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