You can't lump private and independent programs in with the publics. Schools whose have revenue drivers that are derived from sports success completely dwarf enrollment size as a success factor.

 

I get your private school reasoning, but have never understood your independent school argument. Seems like you always attach independent schools to good schools that have an advantage over others. Yet I see Newport, Ludlow, Bellevue, Dayton,Erlanger Lloyd out there. Why don't you ever bring up those INDEPENDENT schools when making this argument??

I'd be interested to know how many Catholic kids are on successful football teams.

Enrollment matters. If it didn't every state in the country wouldn't have at least some classification of sports. Is it the only reason, absolutely not. It is a factor.

Enrollment matters. If it didn't every state in the country wouldn't have at least some classification of sports. Is it the only reason, absolutely not. It is a factor.

 

 

Absolutely for district purposes. Enrollment size doesn't make you a good team though.

Absolutely for district purposes. Enrollment size doesn't make you a good team though.

 

IT IS A FACTOR! I didn't say it was the sole reason. There are plenty of large schools that aren't committed to a successful program so it doesn't matter how many kids they have. There are others that don't have large numbers but are very successful. You must have a commitment financially, from the community and coaching staff. With all of that, it's simple math. Pick 300 boys and 1,000 boys randomly. Which would you like to start a program with?

 

Of course there are exceptions. There are schools like Highlands that can compete with larger schools. Most seasons Mayfield, Beechwood, NCC...etc. But to say it has zero impact makes no sense.

 

Not sure how you can say it doesn't matter but want 4 classes?

 

Scott County does it because there is no other HS within 20 miles. Therefore, there is no competition for athletes. They intentionally avoid building a second school for athletic purposes.

 

If I had stud, I would move across the river to play REAL football!

 

Okay, so they do it with numbers then, right? No other choices to go anywhere else. And aren't they pretty close to Lexington?? HHS isn't close to SK (15-18 miles away) and they complain about HHS taking players. Wouldn't some of SC's district border on or near Lexington schools?? Also, explain Boyle Co's success then? There are plenty of other programs with the same examples.

The question should be, If you were a stud and had money, where would you go?

 

You're talking to the wrong guy about money. I went to HHS, played football and lived in an apartment all my life. Not because I was a transfer, but because my mom was a single parent. We didn't have a car and had to make sure we lived on a bus line so my mom could get to both her jobs to allow us to stay at HHS. (and yes I walked up hill both ways to school). I'm telling you things because there are countless examples of that at HHS. It's not all sunshine and rainbows for all the kids that go to HHS. Yes, there is some money in the city, but there are very well off families in every school. Just like there are MANY families that struggle...yes, even in Ft Thomas! They do what they have to do because they want to be a part of the community and create the best enviroment for thier children. Get off the money things. Drives me nuts!

You listed Boone in there. When Boone was really good there were less schools in the area to choose from.

 

Exactly, so their enrollment was higher and kids didn't leave. They kept their kids and they were successful. They had the kids (enrollment) and the program (kids didn't leave). That's what it takes. Then more schools are built enrollment goes down, new coach (program changes) and they become average.

Danville and Boyle County have taken on all comers from any class and been successful. Size doesn't matter. Shoot, Highlands is smaller than Boyle and Highlands is 4-2 against Boyle and Danville is smaller than Highlands and is 1-1 against Highlands. Size doesn't matter.

 

Actually Danville is far better than that vs. Highlands. In my memory Danville defeated the Birds in '77, '86, '87 and '03.

Birdsfan, since you are here, just out of curiosity does HHS have a dependency on open enrollment tuition revenue?

No, not at all.

Absolutely for district purposes. Enrollment size doesn't make you a good team though.

Exactly. It's like the Navy SEALs. Without the high intensity workout...high level training...and high expectations, you've got nothing more than a whole bunch of gutsy soldiers.

 

Size arguments are just excuses by people not willing to pick themselves up and make a successful program happen. There are a lot of small schools -- tiny schools, in fact -- that have made the necessary steps to create a top-notch football program. Having a lot of boys to choose from is nice, but it is VERY far from being the whole picture. It's not how much raw material you have lying around your campus; it's what you create with it that matters!

You're talking to the wrong guy about money. I went to HHS, played football and lived in an apartment all my life. Not because I was a transfer, but because my mom was a single parent. We didn't have a car and had to make sure we lived on a bus line so my mom could get to both her jobs to allow us to stay at HHS. (and yes I walked up hill both ways to school). I'm telling you things because there are countless examples of that at HHS. It's not all sunshine and rainbows for all the kids that go to HHS. Yes, there is some money in the city, but there are very well off families in every school. Just like there are MANY families that struggle...yes, even in Ft Thomas! They do what they have to do because they want to be a part of the community and create the best enviroment for thier children. Get off the money things. Drives me nuts!

That is very true, but I was speaking of athletes that didn't live near the school or the bus line. I'm talking about athletes that may live in Boone county etc. that have to pay for not only the enrollment etc. but also must have the means to commute back and forth to HHS etc.

 

I do not know what the tuition is for HHS as an example, but I do know that schools like Cov Cath etc. are as much if not more than some in state universities. It's not cheap. For example, tuition for CCH is around $5600 plus $675 for books and $50 technology fee per year. That isn't chup change for most people.

 

You may not like talking about the money thing, and you are right, it may not affect a lot of people, but it is a fact that it does affect others. Wether you like it or not, in today's day and age and how the economy is, money is a factor for some.

I get your private school reasoning, but have never understood your independent school argument. Seems like you always attach independent schools to good schools that have an advantage over others. Yet I see Newport, Ludlow, Bellevue, Dayton,Erlanger Lloyd out there. Why don't you ever bring up those INDEPENDENT schools when making this argument??

 

Does success in football drive increased revenue in independent school programs? Do you think tuition enrollments would be as high if football did not exist? Would the same level of donations be there if football did not exist?

But to say enrollment is overrated or has no say is just pure ignorance, because Tradition brings talent, talent brings enrollment, and enrollment brings $ which means upgraded facilities, and much more.

But isn't that more a case of changing the nature (or quality) of the student body rather than having a much larger student body?

This is false. Highlands is not playing up. They are a 4A school per enrollment numbers.

No, we're actually right on the cusp, and will probably fall into 3A at the next alignment.