Highlands had an oppurtunity to open with NCC next year in the Skyline Crosstown and declined when they had an opening. I know this isn't about being afraid to play NCC but I was stunned that Highlands would not play that game considering they have tried to schedule NCC several times over the past few years. The game would have been at Nippert.

I think in another thread it was discussed Highlands is not one to line the pockets of Mr. Gamble. Which I wholeheartedly agree!

Highlands had an oppurtunity to open with NCC next year in the Skyline Crosstown and declined when they had an opening. I know this isn't about being afraid to play NCC but I was stunned that Highlands would not play that game considering they have tried to schedule NCC several times over the past few years. The game would have been at Nippert.

 

I think that has much more to do with the Tom Gamble/losing a home game than it does with not wanting to play NCC. They turn down the showdown every year.

As long as Highlands keeps taking players from other schools , the competition will be weaker.

 

See, that's where you have it all wrong my friend. Highlands doesn't take anyone from anywhere. They accept anyone. As long as they meet specific requirements and pay up, no law says its a problem. Here we go again, they are an Independent school system and accept out of district students. As does any other Independent district, again as long as they meet requirements. Hope this helps you see the light.

1998 Season: 15-0

HHS 51 Louisville Male 41 W

HHS 88 Campbell County 12 W

HHS 64 Covington Holmes 0 W

HHS 62 Newport Central Catholic 0 W

HHS 72 Scott 7 W

HHS 51 Conner 20 W

HHS 70 Covington Catholic 26 W

HHS 41 Dixie Heights 7 W

HHS 40 Ryle 7 W

HHS 28 Simon Kenton 12 W

HHS 63 East Jessamine 12 W

HHS 34 Dixie Heights 10 W

HHS 37 Covington Catholic 14 W

HHS 44 Sheldon Clark 28 W

HHS 56 Louisville Waggener 7 W

The interesting thing about this is that this season (the 1998 season) is the season many people point to when stating Coach Mueller ran up the score a lot, and yet last year's HHS squad absolutely smashed the points record set by the 1998 HHS team (while playing the same number of games - 15), and I never heard anyone complain that Coach Mueller was running up the score last year.

From the outstide looking in, I'll take a jab. If I'm way off, I apologize. 1998 was the SR season for Lorenzon and Smith. They also had a ton of talented seniors and a really special Sophomore class. I believe that Mueller saw this and felt that the only way to capture the national attention that he felt the group deserved was to put up mind blowing numbers, and they did. They beat 4A champ Male in the opener and set the state record for pts scored in a season. They also beat local teams 88-12, 77-0, and 63-0, among other scores. Two of those teams were not district opponents and didn't need to ever schedule Highlands again. As a result, they have not. That was the year that "Running up the score," became synonymous w/ Mueller, so much so that it it is still part of his rep (unearned as it is right now.) At that time he was in his 5th year as head coach, and many of the old guard took the beatings personally. Now he's the senior man, so I think contempt has been replaced with a respect for how he's built a monster out of beast.

 

So here's my thoughts and it can apply to any of the teams mentioned, HHS, Trinity, X, and even the team from Buffalo.

 

I didn't really want it to go to HHS vs the rest of the world. I'm not trying to call out any local teams in any responses. What I was looking for were the responses to the thread to see what others thought. What has been said is exactly what I thought would be said, but really drives me crazy in this new world of competition.

 

I'm saying most of these things with the assumption that most feel HHS is the top football team in NKY. So I will use them as an example, but you could plug in any of the other teams that have the same issue as HHS.

 

Where are the days where athletes wanted to compete against the best and benchmark themselves against the best. Why is everyone so worried about a loss on their record, which in most cases means nothing to your season unless it's in district. Why wouldn't you want to see where your program stands every year? Why wouldn't you want to expose your athletes to what is really out there instead of playing a schedule that allows you to have a winning record? What justice are you doing the athletes that actually may have a chance to move on and play college. They are going to get to college and say "I've never seen kids this big and this fast before". If they have never been exposed to it, they start from behind on day one of college practice! What incentive does a kid have to work in the off season if their coaches are setting up schedules that are manageable for wins? Why would I bust my tail if my community and coaches are saying "go be good, but you'll never be as good as HHS. But don't worry, we won't play them".

 

I am really saying this on behalf of NKY football. I am an HHS fan, but I do root for all the NKY teams to do well (except SK.....Just kidding....I actually do root for them). But NKY is never going to get better unless they challenge themselves. You have a luxury of having a top program in your backyard. That's a blessing, not a detraction. You can expose kids to what it takes. You can expose families and communities to what it takes to be successful. You don't go out and tell everyone we are going to be good, but never test yourself against the best.

 

I coach AAU and have for a long time. I seek out the best tournaments and leagues to put my kids in. We play D1 level AAU events. We are a very average D1 team. However, I would never look to intentially play in a D2 event. I'm not concerned about wins and losses. With the group of kids I just had, I think we won 3 tournament in 5 years. The kids wanted to win, but were not heartbroken because they knew they were playing at the top and wins didn't come easy. They could walk out of the gym with a true understanding of where they stand. We were concerned about preparing our kids for the next level. I am concerned about challenging them and putting them in situations where they will fail. And trust me, we have failed big time on occasions. But guess what, my kids grew from that. They realized what was really out there to compete against. We didn't shield them from big losses. We would get back up and go play again! My team expects to play the best competition. It's what drives them to get out in the back yard and shoot or go get a pick up game together. They now are all Freshman and all of them will contribute to their JV and varsity program in a big way. Many had significant contributions as 8th graders!

 

Back on subject, if a team felt like the score was run up on them in the past, that's a different story. There is no room for that in sports. But other than that, there is no reason not to play HHS.

 

And yes, agree HHS doesn't get a lot out of it either. I'm not marketing for teams to step up and play them specifically. I don't enjoy watching blowouts either. However, those teams that would play them would eventually get better. They will see what's going on and what it takes to be at the top. If you don't schedule them, you have no idea.

 

As for HHS...the "Put your money where your mouth is" comment...HHS does schedule benchmark games. Trinity, Elder, Cov Cath and I'm sure Scott Co was supposed to be tests this year. They can't play a full GCL schedule. They would be wore out by the end of the year. They just don't have the size and depth those teams can come at you with every week. But playing HHS is not really a threat like playing any of the GCL teams. they are typically no bigger than any NKY teams they play. In fact, they are usually undersized, so please don't tell me the risk of injury is there because there would be no more risk than playing any other team.

 

What I'm trying to say is why have we all bought into the "everyone gets a trophy" philosophy?? Why do we feel we have to "protect" kids from competion??

I think that has much more to do with the Tom Gamble/losing a home game than it does with not wanting to play NCC. They turn down the showdown every year.

Not in this case. Gamble had NCC on board and Highlands then ask Gamble to play Scott Co.

Highlands has nothing to gain and everything to lose playing smaller class schools like Beechwood or NCC, so, they really have no desire to play them. They do play the 4a district games, so, that leaves the 5a and 6a schools... 6a schools: Ryle-have been playing them already.. Campbell Co-are on next years schedule.. Boone Co and Dixie Heights have played Highlands in the past, so, basically that leaves Simon Kenton.. In 5a, you have Cooper, Scott and Conner.. Does Highlands really want to play, Scott? I doubt it.. So that leaves Cooper and Conner..

 

So, this thread should really be titled: "Why doesn't Highlands play S.Kenton, Conner or Cooper?" because thats really the question here.. With that, you have to ask, has Highlands ever approached these 3 teams about putting them on the schedule or vice versa? And if they did decline, was it due to not being able to work out a mutual date, prior contracts with other teams or was it we don't want to play you because we're scared?

 

There, that cuts to the chase..Now you can talk the real issue..

Not in this case. Gamble had NCC on board and Highlands then ask Gamble to play Scott Co.

 

:popcorn:

As long as Highlands keeps taking players from other schools , the competition will be weaker.

 

Two posts on BGP and both are insinuating HHS recuits. I guess we got our answer PP2! No disguising this one!

RCC9.......some very valid points and quite frankly nobody is espousing the "everybody gets a trophy" feel; or at least I have not seen it on here. But I do believe that while we all want to "be the best" reality plays a part in this scenario too. Why not play a competitive game (win or lose very much in the balance). Unless you are in 4A that will prepare you more for your playoff type atmosphere than playing Highlands.

The interesting thing about this is that this season (the 1998 season) is the season many people point to when stating Coach Mueller ran up the score a lot, and yet last year's HHS squad absolutely smashed the points record set by the 1998 HHS team (while playing the same number of games - 15), and I never heard anyone complain that Coach Mueller was running up the score last year.

 

I think the 88 caused a lot of discusssion. Just my opinion.

Not in this case. Gamble had NCC on board and Highlands then ask Gamble to play Scott Co.

 

No idea then, maybe as UK#1Fan would say they are ducking the Breds! :lol:

No idea then, maybe as UK#1Fan would say they are ducking the Breds! :lol:

That's not point just found it odd.

Great 2nd post! I can only guess that your first post showed the same insight and keen intellect that this one has.

 

Looking forward to your next gem.

 

First post was....."How many football players at Highlands actually live in Ft. Thomas"