pancho

At this point, it's not about winning or losing this game. I believe that Harrison County is a better team than what the score indicates and giving up now is not the way you demonstrate your faith in those young men and their abilities. Giving them another chance to show what they can do against the defending AAA state champs might help them out later in the season. I didn't count them, but Harrison County couldn't have had more than 30 guys dressed for the game last night and just about all of the starters were playing both ways. That was certainly a factor in a game where LexCath demonstrated considerable depth. One more thing ... how 'bout those kick returns by LC's Ben Revere ... is that guy fun to watch or what? Also, the running of back Shane Isreal ... I heard someone near me say he reminded them of a pinball machine ... bouncing off of tacklers and then he keeps on going. I'll be there tonight. pancho

I don't think it works that way. The fact that both schools exist together there in Boyle County and have to compete with each other and have comparisons made about each to the other actually makes BOTH schools stronger in football. Combining them would probably not have your predicted result in the long run. I doubt that the raw football talent in Boyle County is any better or worse than in many other areas of the state. What sets Boyle County and Danville apart is their dedication, development of the talent they do have, and their belief that they can do it. I know it's gotten a little off-topic here but the same sort of synergy will eventually develop in Lexington when the public schools start playing LexCath. And only then will you start seeing Lexington schools playing in the Football finals on a regular basis. Quit whining ... start winning.

I get the impression that some people out there feel that the answer to the problem of private school domination of some girls' sports is to set rules in place which would reduce the quality of the programs and the abillity of the athletes at those schools. Is that the idea? So the idea is that if we don't strive for excellence, but strive for mediocrity instead, then everything will be "fair".

There's been a lot of talk about Justin Burke (truly a remarkable quarterback and a real leader on and off the field ... what's not to like about this guy!) and some of the other so-called "skill positions" (they're great too!) ... BUT ... a huge contribution this particular season was made by the O-line and the D-line. Let's face it, while this aspect of LexCath's game has been weak in the past few years, we're seeing a marked improvement in that department this year and especially towards the end of this year. Throughout the playoffs, the O-line gave Burke great protection and plenty of time to throw. They also did a great job creating holes for Isreal and Osborne. LexCath's D-line was simultaneously tenacious and alert. It was the line play that really improved in the postseason. It's easy for LexCath football to attract and retain aspiring WR's, QB's, and RB's but for a championship team you need the full package and the less heralded players up on the line are absolutely essential. IMO, the future of the team lies in its ability to continue developing their talent in this area and coach them for superior play on the line.

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/sports/high_school/13365523.htm

That was beautiful and I agree completely with your nomination!

Tony, that was very obscure ... http://bluegrasspreps.com/showthread.php?t=54304

Just call me a Birdsfan fan. :thumb:

Come on over JC ... you know you want to ... we're keeping a kneeler warm for you. :thumb:

... and don't forget that the Catholic win in 3A was an upset too.

Tell that to the good people of Danville and Boyle County. How in the world do they do it? For one thing, they work hard enough down there that parents don't have to think about whether to make their kids drive up to Lexington for High School (after all, it's not really all that far!). How does Highlands and Beechwood do it, they're an easy drive from some real football powerhouses (in Cincinnati)? I don't quite know what to tell you. I wouldn't mind a constructive suggestion that involved some kind of a "handicap" for private schools ... maybe a formula that would add to their student population and make them play up a class (difficult for X and T in football though) ... maybe have a special limit for how long they get to practice in the Summer ... or refuse to play them so they have to look out-of-state for decent competition ... or have a separate playoff so that they don't have to face real competition. But it really comes down to the fact that when people consistently lose to a more successful program they are tempted to make excuses, label that program as a "cheater", and seek to penalize it. It's interesting to me that after KERA (Kentucky Education Reform Act) was enacted, we created our own Kentucky test and that made it more difficult to compare our students' performance with those of other states or with those in private schools. What has that really done for us? By the way, many would say that KERA was one of the best things to happen in KY for the private schools. Do you see anything familiar with this (ahem ... Prop 20)?

The issue is that many people are looking at this statistic and assuming that the Catholic Schools are doing something wrong and what they ought to do is to ask what is it that the Catholic schools are doing right.

That is so, so true and it's also so easy to forget at a time like this. Your observation underscores just how tough it is to win the state. Congratulations to LexCath on a superb season and post-season. A sincere Thank You for the work that you do and the enjoyment that you've brought to us. Best of everything in the future to the seniors. Congratulations to all of the other teams LexCath saw over the last few weeks ... Grant Co., CovCath, Highlands, Rockcastle Co., and Bowling Green ... we hope to be able to see you again in the future. Especially, most sincere congratulations to Coach Bob Sphire who has been the constant force at LexCath over the last 15 years. Sincere thanks for all you've done for our kids.

You are correct UNDERTHEBRIDGE! And I'd go on to say that Coach Sphire is a good and experienced coach who works hard and attracts (and retains) players who want to work hard. He also has a keen eye for talent and develops that talent in his players through instruction and mentoring. Justin Burke is great in many, many ways and will certainly be missed at QB for LexCath but someone will step up and take his place and they'll have Justin's example of class and poise to help guide them too.

It's true that Centre (or other D3 schools) won't generally get anyone going there who has any realistic ambitions to play in the NFL. They do however recruit te best players they can in order to remain competetive in their conference. To recruit these players (who, by the way, also have to meet the more rigorous acceptance standards that the school sets), they offer them the chance to actually play football in college (it doesn't all have to end in HS), and they offer an environment where they can be a student-athlete and not a student-athlete. That is to say that the student can actually take a load of classes which would allow him (or her) to actually get into med school or law school or grad school after four years. I'm not saying it doesn't happen but it's only the truly exceptional student that can actually accomplish this at a D1 school on an athletic scholarship. Now, the last incentive ... it's widely recognized that a competitive student athlete, even at a non-scholarship school, will typically have an easier time getting admitted and getting financial aid than a similar non-athlete because he (or she) has the ability to "contribute to the campus life" more. I hope this helps.