Why doesn't St. Henry play football?

**gchs_uk9** · Jul 18, 12, 08:07 AM

I was curious as to what was the largest school in Kentucky not playing football so I looked at the KHSAA enrollment reports. What struck me was that St. Henry has around 250 boys, yet doesn't play football. Located in football crazy northern Kentucky one would assume there would be interest. Can anyone enlighten me as to why St. Henry doesn't play?

**kyvince** · Jul 18, 12, 08:21 AM

Two reasons Soccer and Cross Country.

**plantmanky** · Jul 18, 12, 08:24 AM

Originally Posted by kyvince

Two reasons Soccer and Cross Country.

Also to I don't think St. Henry wants to pull any kids from Cov Cath (which is what they would do if they did start football.)

If St. Henry was to start football, I am not sure that their school could handle the enrollment increase.

**hoops5** · Jul 18, 12, 08:34 AM

Originally Posted by plantmanky

Also to I don't think St. Henry wants to pull any kids from Cov Cath (which is what they would do if they did start football.)

If St. Henry was to start football, I am not sure that their school could handle the enrollment increase.

I would think that would be a good thing? Except that they would probably no longer be an All A school.

**BIGZIG** · Jul 18, 12, 10:01 AM

If St Henry started football I believe they would not only draw students away from CovCath but also Holy Cross and also some of the public schools in that area. If they were to start a football program it is my opinion that it would be a matter of time before they became very good.

**theguru** · Jul 18, 12, 11:09 AM

I was told a few years ago in the wake of all the lawsuits against the Church over pedophiles in their ranks the powers that be didn't want to commit to the money needed to start the program because they needed to hang onto every penny in the piggy as a precautionary measure.

**AAATC** · Jul 18, 12, 11:10 AM

They took a serious look at starting a program around 8-10 years ago.
The soccer powers put up roadblocks, and the start-up costs were a big issue as well.
It seems like they are pretty content without it.

**Theoldguy** · Jul 18, 12, 11:19 AM

All you have to do is look at HC and what happened to their Boys soccer program once they started playing football. I believe St. Henry prefers to be the top dog in the State in Cross Country and Soccer, than be a start up program in football and in a sense who can blame them.

**hoops5** · Jul 18, 12, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by Theoldguy

All you have to do is look at HC and what happened to their Boys soccer program once they started playing football. I believe St. Henry prefers to be the top dog in the State in Cross Country and Soccer, than be a start up program in football and in a sense who can blame them.

TOG, did Holy Cross begin without a football program?

**theguru** · Jul 18, 12, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by hoops5

TOG, did Holy Cross begin without a football program?

Yes, football is "new" to the state champion Indians.

**Voice of Reason** · Jul 18, 12, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by hoops5

TOG, did Holy Cross begin without a football program?

Originally Posted by theguru

Yes, football is "new" to the state champion Indians.

Like maybe 12 years or so back new, right? When was their first year 1998? That would be 14 years ago.

**Colonels_Wear_Blue** · Jul 18, 12, 01:14 PM

Originally Posted by theguru

I was told a few years ago in the wake of all the lawsuits against the Church over pedophiles in their ranks the powers that be didn't want to commit to the money needed to start the program because they needed to hang onto every penny in the piggy as a precautionary measure.

Not the case. Money for a football team and any facilities improvements required would have to be pulled from the high school's own funds. For example...Cov Cath's improvements over the last decade were from their own pockets. St. Henry would be in the same situation.

All of the money spent over the abuse scandal was from a combination of diocesan insurance and the sale of non-school and non-parish diocesan properties.

**Colonels_Wear_Blue** · Jul 18, 12, 01:15 PM

Originally Posted by BIGZIG

If St Henry started football I believe they would not only draw students away from CovCath but also Holy Cross and also some of the public schools in that area. If they were to start a football program it is my opinion that it would be a matter of time before they became very good.

Shhhhhh...

**THUNDERBIRDS** · Jul 18, 12, 01:25 PM

Originally Posted by BIGZIG

If St Henry started football I believe they would not only draw students away from CovCath but also Holy Cross and also some of the public schools in that area. If they were to start a football program it is my opinion that it would be a matter of time before they became very good.

.

Exactly!!!

A little interception traveling north on I-75 to Park Hills. It wouldn't happen overnight but it would eventually deplete the Blue Boys....IMO!!!

**hoops5** · Jul 18, 12, 01:29 PM

Originally Posted by Colonels_Wear_Blue

Not the case. Money for a football team and any facilities improvements required would have to be pulled from the high school's own funds. For example...Cov Cath's improvements over the last decade were from their own pockets. St. Henry would be in the same situation.

All of the money spent over the abuse scandal was from a combination of diocesan insurance and the sale of non-school and non-parish diocesan properties.

That sounds right. Was a portion of Marydale retreat center part of that?

**Colonels_Wear_Blue** · Jul 18, 12, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by hoops5

That sounds right. Was a portion of Marydale retreat center part of that?

I'm not exactly sure how the sale of that property worked...but as I understand it, the actual Catholic Center building is still owned by the diocese, but the land around it s not. Then the retreat center is owned by someone else as well, but the buyer is now leasing it back to the diocese. I'm pretty sure that's how it worked out, at least.

**Lawnboy13** · Jul 18, 12, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by hoops5

That sounds right. Was a portion of Marydale retreat center part of that?

If I'm not mistaken the land where Citibank now sits was once part of Marydale land.

**Colonels_Wear_Blue** · Jul 18, 12, 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by Lawnboy13

If I'm not mistaken the land where Citibank now sits was once part of Marydale land.

Yep. I went to summercamp at Citiba....err....Marydale. You can still see one of the old cabins on your right when you drive down Houston Road from Stevenson.