I say no. Every year Highlands bucks that belief by putting out a top notch team every single year and is one of the smaller 4A schools in the state. And not just Highlands. 4A is littered with schools that would defeat over 85% of the 5A and 6A schools. Some seem to believe that Trinity and St. X are better than everyone else because of their size. I say hogwash. I say football programs are built to be successful regardless of their enrollment. Using the theory that bigger is better means that if Highlands had Trinity's enrollment then they would be the best high school football team ever in the history of high school football.

$ matters.

$ matters.

 

I can agree with this. It matters more than enrollment numbers IMO.

If enrollment matters so much then what is wrong with Dunbar? They were smashed by an average 4A school. That same 4A school gave Madison Central all they wanted AT Madison Central and defeated Nelson County and West Jessamine. Both schools bigger than them.

 

At worst Highlands is the 4th best team in the state and they are a borderline 3A/4A school. If you are trying to convince me that enrollment matters all I can say is that a poor argument has been sent to me.

I say no. Every year Highlands bucks that belief by putting out a top notch team every single year and is one of the smaller 4A schools in the state. And not just Highlands. 4A is littered with schools that would defeat over 85% of the 5A and 6A schools. Some seem to believe that Trinity and St. X are better than everyone else because of their size. I say hogwash. I say football programs are built to be successful regardless of their enrollment. Using the theory that bigger is better means that if Highlands had Trinity's enrollment then they would be the best high school football team ever in the history of high school football.

 

Enrollment size absolutely matters. Is it the end all, be all of success? Absolutely not.

 

Let's use Scott County and Trinity to compare...

 

The 1200 boys that go to Scott County live within the district boundaries of Scott County. They go to school at Scott County and then decide to play football. The kids work hard and have a very nice football program.

 

The 1400 boys at Trinity live in 2 states and multiple counties. The boys that play football at Trinity also decide they want to play football at Trinity and therefore find a way to go to school at Trinity. You add a very strong work ethic and great coaching, you see the success that Trinity sees!

 

These are 2 very different concepts of how the boys become enrolled at each school.

You know, I generally agree with the idea that enrollment size may not matter but the chances of a Trinity having 2 to 3 studs at each position to rotate as opposed to say a Dixie's 1 stud that generally will be going both ways is certainly an advantage. And the reason has to be that Trinity's stable of horses to pick from is a heck of a lot larger than Dixie's.

I say no. Every year Highlands bucks that belief by putting out a top notch team every single year and is one of the smaller 4A schools in the state. And not just Highlands. 4A is littered with schools that would defeat over 85% of the 5A and 6A schools. Some seem to believe that Trinity and St. X are better than everyone else because of their size. I say hogwash. I say football programs are built to be successful regardless of their enrollment. Using the theory that bigger is better means that if Highlands had Trinity's enrollment then they would be the best high school football team ever in the history of high school football.[/QUOTE]

 

What's wrong with that analogy? :clap:

I think at the end of the day it comes down to coaching. I will take a kid who is well coached over a kid who is a natural talent but doesn't know the right technique to make him the best he can be. Mayfield has had 175 lb lineman routinely beat bigger lineman each week because of how well they are coached. Look at Paducah Tilghman. Plenty of better athletes than Mayfield but have lost 7 straight games to Mayfield. Mayfield just has better coaching.

You post the question. Does Enrollment size matter? The answer is a resounding yes. Does it matter that you can select your 100 football players from 1400 males or from 500 males. You do the math. What are the odds in finding the better group of players????? Or is it that you believe that the best athletes and football players simply are born in Ft Thomas and in Louisville??? More inaccurate assumptions. Having a larger pool to choose from obviously "matters"....

I agree that male enrollment is not the most dominant predictor of football program success. Certainly not enough to use as a sole criteria for assigning a program to a class.

 

I would say that the number one criteria would be whether the school district in question has financial drivers that result from success of a football program.

 

While at the Moeller /Trinity game yesterday, every other announcement it seemed was oriented towards inviting middle school kids to visit the enrollment desk to find out how Arch Bishop Moeller High School could mold your future. Never was the link of Football success to enrollment success so obvious. I'm not sure this has been studied at the High School level, but it certainly has a the NCAA level.

 

Freakonomics » How Much Do Football Wins Pay Off for a College?

 

The second criteria would be whether the school district in question is open or closed enrollment. Location and proximity to employment centers also factors in.

You know, I generally agree with the idea that enrollment size may not matter but the chances of a Trinity having 2 to 3 studs at each position to rotate as opposed to say a Dixie's 1 stud that generally will be going both ways is certainly an advantage. And the reason has to be that Trinity's stable of horses to pick from is a heck of a lot larger than Dixie's.

 

While that might be true, Dixie has a lot larger stable to choose from than say Boone Co HS, Conner, Cooper or even Ryle!

Is It the only factor. OF COURSE NOT. Coaching, support, money, middle school feeder systems, some schools boundaries or lack thereof......etc...

I agree that male enrollment is not the most dominant predictor of football program success. Certainly not enough to use as a sole criteria for assigning a program to a class.

 

I would say that the number one criteria would be whether the school district in question has financial drivers that result from success of a football program.

 

While at the Moeller /Trinity game yesterday, every other announcement it seemed was oriented towards inviting middle school kids to visit the enrollment desk to find out how Arch Bishop Moeller High School could mold your future. Never was the link of Football success to enrollment success so obvious. I'm not sure this has been studied at the High School level, but it certainly has a the NCAA level.

 

Freakonomics » How Much Do Football Wins Pay Off for a College?

 

The second criteria would be whether the school district in question is open or closed enrollment. Location and proximity to employment centers also factors in.

 

Great points

I agree, coaching has a LOT to do with this. However, I have to think if I have 6 decent players to choose from for a position as opposed to 2, that's got to be seen as somewhat of an advantage.

You post the question. Does Enrollment size matter? The answer is a resounding yes. Does it matter that you can select your 100 football players from 1400 males or from 500 males. You do the math. What are the odds in finding the better group of players????? Or is it that you believe that the best athletes and football players simply are born in Ft Thomas and in Louisville??? More inaccurate assumptions. Having a larger pool to choose from obviously "matters"....

 

They are not born in Ft. Thomas or Louisville, they just migrate there!!!!!