For some that has nothing to do with it. Only want a better brand of playoff football. Let me throw this one out there. We clamor on about how KY doesn't get the respect for our football. How does the watered down playoff system help that image?

 

I would argue two points here:

 

1. We can all agree that there will be some (not a lot, but some) great games and a few upsets in round one. Would you prefer to miss these?

 

2. What is wrong with three rounds of "quality" football and two rounds of average to subpar football?

 

Who cares what other states think? When Trinity was top notch the national scene elected them National Champions...seems to me that when a KY team is good, the respect is there.

I would argue two points here:

 

1. We can all agree that there will be some (not a lot, but some) great games and a few upsets in round one. Would you prefer to miss these?

 

2. What is wrong with three rounds of "quality" football and two rounds of average to subpar football?

 

Who cares what other states think? When Trinity was top notch the national scene elected them National Champions...seems to me that when a KY team is good, the respect is there.

I don't disagree that there are some great first round matchups. And those teams are usually fairly well matched.

Do you agree that there are some teams that have no business advancing to a playoff if the regular season means anything at all?

 

And for the record, I think football in KY is fine, but it's been a topic on this very forum many times that KY doesn't get the respect it deserves.

I do agree that there are teams that are completly out of place when paired with certain opponents (Caverna v. Mayfield). But I do believe that the kids on the bad side of these matchups still want to play the games. And to me, that is reason enough to play the games. JMHO

I probably should not speak for the khsaa but it is my understanding that their decisions regarding football playoffs is what is best for kids first and the game of football second. Providing good games for spectators would slide down the list of priorities. I agree there are two big negatives with the first round- travel & some big mismatches. But, the positive, giving kids one more HS football game, and it is a November playoff game, makes it worth it.

 

When I was at Paris, I hated the set up because we only had 27 players and were facing 3 games with NewCath, Beechwood, Bellevue, etc. I thought a one game shot in the region championship like it was in the 80s gave us a better chance to win it.

 

My point is that the setup has not been advantageous for me personally and there are legitimate negatives about it. But, in the big picture, more kids benefit from it in my opinion so I do support it.

Go watch, or better yet call the HC or any kids at Phelps, and see if they want to go to Fairview Friday.

It has nothing to do with "where would you rather be?" That's not the point at all. It's just that some think that the playoff system should reward teams for their seasons by making the playoffs in the first place. Or at least I think they should. IF you look past the first week, the playoffs are solid for the most part, agree? And if you agree, then doesn't that seem like a feasible fix?

Even though most teams get in some don't in football...but every team in soccer, baseball, basketball and volleyball get in...where is the out rage for those sports????

1A Ludlow and Nicholas Co

2A Butler, DeSales, Lloyd Mem and Danville

3A Wayne, Powell and Lawerence Co

4A Owensboro, Spencer and Mercer

5A Greenwood, North Hardin and Montgomery Co

6A Seneca, Male, DuPont Manual and Boone Co (who BTW was 3 point from the state finals)

 

All won playoff games as a 3 or 4 seeds last year...I'd hated for any of those teams seasons to have ended without going to the playoffs because some people don't like the competition in the first round. If KHSAA sports are about the kids then how do you tell those 19 teams plus all of the others that were within a score or two of winning that they don't belong?

What about seeding the playoffs and giving top 4 teams in each class a bye. Then the other games could be closer

 

I like your idea.

What if your school plays in a loaded district and finishes a 3 or 4 seed, and are a better team than most if not all teams in the other district you are paired with in the playoffs? Yes, there is blowouts, but in some cases it does bring the best teams in the region deeper in the playoffs. Do you think its fair for kids who play for good teams to sit at home while others are still playing that they know are not as good of a team, simply because they play in a stronger district and don't finish as a 1 or 2 seed?

What if your school plays in a loaded district and finishes a 3 or 4 seed, and are a better team than most if not all teams in the other district you are paired with in the playoffs? Yes, there is blowouts, but in some cases it does bring the best teams in the region deeper in the playoffs. Do you think its fair for kids who play for good teams to sit at home while others are still playing that they know are not as good of a team, simply because they play in a stronger district and don't finish as a 1 or 2 seed?

Then you don't make the playoffs. This is not a selection of the top 32 teams in each class. I think it raises the level of play through the regular season if not everyone is given an invite. To most states, making the playoffs is an accomplishment and a goal for teams.

I like the idea of the top 8 teams in each class getting a 1st round bye with all 2nd place teams in each district getting an automatic bid to the playoffs with them playing a 1st round game vs the next best 8 teams, regardless of where they finished in the district . You may only have 2 teams make the playoffs in any particular district and 4 from another, but, that would still make the regular season more important and eliminate the 0-10, 1-9 record teams.

#4 seed Montgomery county beat #1seed cooper last year in the first round...anything can happen on any given night

 

And what happened to Mont. county the following week?

Is it a matter of revenue?

I like the idea of the top 8 teams in each class getting a 1st round bye with all 2nd place teams in each district getting an automatic bid to the playoffs with them playing a 1st round game vs the next best 8 teams, regardless of where they finished in the district . You may only have 2 teams make the playoffs in any particular district and 4 from another, but, that would still make the regular season more important and eliminate the 0-10, 1-9 record teams.

You then run into a problem where teams schedule cupcakes in non district ggames to build their record up etc. you have to go by district games. So if they useed your idea you couldn't have 4 in one district make it and 2 in another district onnly make it etc.

1A Ludlow and Nicholas Co

2A Butler, DeSales, Lloyd Mem and Danville

3A Wayne, Powell and Lawerence Co

4A Owensboro, Spencer and Mercer

5A Greenwood, North Hardin and Montgomery Co

6A Seneca, Male, DuPont Manual and Boone Co (who BTW was 3 point from the state finals)

 

All won playoff games as a 3 or 4 seeds last year...I'd hated for any of those teams seasons to have ended without going to the playoffs because some people don't like the competition in the first round. If KHSAA sports are about the kids then how do you tell those 19 teams plus all of the others that were within a score or two of winning that they don't belong?

 

Thank you. That is my point. As bad as some of the games are, there are upsets every year. And there have been #4 seeds that have gone deep into the playoffs. I believe the year Simon Kenton went to the title game in 6A that they were a #4 seed. I believe the argument for these teams who do win upset games and the argument that every other sport lets all teams into the playoffs are slam dunk arguments in favor of allowing as many teams as possible into the playoffs. In fact, I have a hard time understanding why we have this debate every year in football and never have this debate for other sports.

I think 6 classes is one too many but I'm not complaining about extra football. I'm easy.