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I’ll say during the 90s is when passing/spread started taking off in the state. Couch, Redman, Breathitt, and some other places started to sling it. I think one of the Madison schools starting using the old Georgetown Run and Shoot at that time.

In areas outside of the major population areas the fringe sports typically follow one of two cycles. You either get a lifer at that position or someone willing to fill in the role for 3-4 years maybe. Now your big three it’s more rare to see two of those open in the same year. Also you look at how often those spots open over a stretch of time. I think Carroll will be in their fourth HC in 9 or so years. One left for another job and two were let go. As far as talent coming up goes. The road to Kroger field doesn’t go through Owen, Trimble, Switzerland Co, or Grant.

That is my first thought is people in charge. I’m sure there are other places that are similar but I know of at least one district that over a 8 year span has replaced every coaching position except girls basketball. In most cases the jobs are on their 3-4 coach in 8 years.

He was let go by Carroll Co.

My guess was he stepped down and wasn’t asked to leave/let go. He was in the final two for the Shelby Co job according to some. Was he let go? Carroll is a strange place. They appear to have good numbers, facilities appear to be good, a decent mix of size and athletes. Yet with all of that something appears off.

What happened there?

When do teams have have to say they are dropping out of district play?

I would have to go through the realignments over the years where they publish who are opting out of district play. As far as getting fired after a district win goes. One of the coaches I know the team won a district time for the first time in 15 years. Beat a 5A team for the first time in 15 years. Won their way into the playoffs for the first time in over 15 years.

Which teams that have dropped out of district play have had their numbers hurt by doing so? There are a lot of coaches that have gotten district wins for the first time in a long time that either ended up fired within a year or so or did not see an improvement in numbers or support.

Good question. One I believe is the physical nature of the sport. Football is a sport where you really can’t avoid physical contact. I would guess that football has a higher likelihood of injury between mismatched opponents. A second guess would be the amount of games. You only get 10 and 3-5 of those you’re forced to play. I believe other sports have more flexibility in their schedules to play similar teams. Also for possibly the same reasons schools will (at often can) teams they would never play in football. Pendleton Co has struggled in football but their other sports options are more open. Harrison Co when you compare baseball and football. As far as kids going other places to play goes that isn’t as much of an option for many. Kids will talk about going places also if they are getting curb stomped in district play.

I have never seen a team hurt by going nondistrict. I have seen teams get hurt by getting skull drug by teams in n their district. There are parts of the state/schools that are aware of who is in their district. You might be surprised how many fans and players are unaware of things like who is in their district or even what class teams are in. Let’s take Boone as an example again. Let’s say they play Scott the first district game and lose. Now they know they aren’t making the playoffs and get to look forward to getting hammered by 2-3 more district opponents. Halfway through their season they know they don’t have anything to play for in some people’s eyes. If your numbers are low for your class and you have to play freshmen and sophomores on Friday night against D1 kids that isn’t helping anyone. If you’re nondistrict where you can schedule schools with similar rosters it is easier to build off of those freshmen and sophomores. Now when you return to district play they have experience and more out of season and hopefully success on the field. I know I’m not really going to change probably anyone’s opinion. I know from living it what it’s like. I also know there are a number of coaches that have similar feelings. Many believe districts need to either be structured differently or to get rid of them. Especially now with the RPI.

The “lesser” teams are trying to play competitive football. They would be trying to play teams that are similar matchups. I’m just throwing teams out there but does anyone think Scott HS, Gallatin, Pendleton, Boone or any number of teams are going to make a playoff run anytime soon? When you go nondistrict it’s for 2 years. You can get a pretty good idea where you might be in 2 years.

The last part is there is a deadline to send in paperwork to be removed from district play for two seasons. At that point you can either go nondistrict again for two seasons or return to play. If/when you return to play you will be placed into a 5 team district because you opted out. This is in case you opt out again the district will have 4 teams instead of 3.

Make excuses? The KHSAA forces you to play teams you might have no business being on a field with. If you really look at some of these matchups that are forced on teams it becomes almost unsafe. It doesn’t benefit either program. It in fact it probably hurts a ton of programs in many ways. I would guess that many people that have the view point of just buck up and play have not coached or played on teams forced into these types of games. Using a method similar to Ohio makes more sense.

The DC made a post on social media saying he was stepping down. From the post it doesn’t sound like it for a new job. The post made it sound as if there were some philosophical differences.