Bardstown, Knott Co Central, Russell, and Others Out of 2014 "A"

[Mustang]

In reading the release from the All "A" Committee on schools eligible for participation in the 2014 Touchstone Energy All "A" Series, I noticed there are some teams, prominent this year, not eligible for 2014.

 

Schools who played in the "A" State this year but who have seemingly outgrown their eligibility are Bardstown, Knott County Central, Russell, Webster County, and Magoffin County.

 

Bardstown, who showed an enrollment of 650 in the "A" State Tournament program, 7 appearances in the "A" state tournament, finishing as this year's boys runner-up. They have been champions once, and runners-up on four occasions.

Knott County Central, a predominantly sophomore led unit, will be among the top teams in the state next season listed their enrollment as 622, and Russell an enrollment of 646.

 

There are 120 schools listed as eligible with the 9th Region having the most participating schools at 12, and Region 12 the smallest with 4.

 

http://www.allaclassic.org/General%20Information/Participating%20Schools.pdf

[gchs_uk9]

It appears there are fewer schools than in the past. I believe there were 132 last year. I guess the recent closing of a couple schools has caused them to modify the number of participants.

[CBDV]

There is a movement, especially in the east, of team threatening to drop out if something is not done to get AAA and most AA football schools out.

 

For example the 15th Region had EVERY school other than Pike Central, Belfry, and Johnson Central in the All "A"....joke. Even with the ones dropped out of the 15th, unless Sheldon Clark is playing up in football they are "AAA" and P-burg is "AA"....

 

This is a step, but still not enough.

[mcpapa]

What is confusing to folks is the title "All-A"; especially with the football classifications (smallest 32 schools playing football are Class A), and to a lesser extent, the three classification system in track & field and XC.

 

It's supposed to be a tournament for the smaller schools, but the "All-A" designation gets some peoples' shorts in a bunch.

[Mustang]

I'm pretty sure they take the total number of schools in the state, divide by two, and the schools that fall in the lower 50% are deemed eligible for the All "A".

[uselessinfo]

I can see the issue though. The original intent of the All A was to provide a feel for those teams that genuinely had no shot against the big boys in district and regional play. Teams like Bellevue, Dayton, Ludlow, etc. Heck schools like NCC were "too good" to play in it and opted out for some years. Now it has become a tourney for schools of 600 students.

[Omega Man]

Any new schools added? Or just total fewer schools so fewer teams eligible?

[JimmyV]

I agree that it is not a true class "A" tourney. Bishop Brossart is 2A in football. They win the 10th every year. As Mustsang mentioned a school like Knott who is 3A in football, is going to be loaded next year. Doesn't New Cath play 2A football as well? Some might argue that it might not make a difference but it does. They should rename the tournament. Take out the name All "A". If schools with larger numbers are allowed to participate then rename it something that is more suitable for the make-up of the tourney. What that would be I don't know.

[gchs_uk9]

I'm pretty sure they take the total number of schools in the state, divide by two, and the schools that fall in the lower 50% are deemed eligible for the All "A".

 

I believe there are around 270 schools in the state, which would make 135 teams in the tournament. That may well have been what they did last year, when 128~ teams participated, but with only 120 listed for next year that doesn't appear to be the case.

[gchs_uk9]

They should rename the tournament. Take out the name All "A". If schools with larger numbers are allowed to participate then rename it something that is more suitable for the make-up of the tourney. What that would be I don't know.

 

Why should they change the name of a tournament they have run for 30 years? They have never claimed the tournament to be only for 1A football schools.

[EQUUS GREVYI]

I can see the issue though. The original intent of the All A was to provide a feel for those teams that genuinely had no shot against the big boys in district and regional play. Teams like Bellevue, Dayton, Ludlow, etc. Heck schools like NCC were "too good" to play in it and opted out for some years. Now it has become a tourney for schools of 600 students.

 

I agree that the tournament may not have been initiated for schools with enrollments of 600 or more. But to say this should be exclusively for the schools that can't complete in the districts/regionals is silly. Brossart, NCC & Holy Cross all have enrollments that put them solidly in the middle of the field included in the ALL A. They shouldn't be excluded simply because they can compete for a regular regional title on a somewhat regular basis. If Brossart can win the 10th All A title every year with their 400 students-more power to them! Same goes for NCC & Holy Cross!

[green2006]

Bishop Brossart enrollment is around 360

[uselessinfo]

I agree that the tournament may not have been initiated for schools with enrollments of 600 or more. But to say this should be exclusively for the schools that can't complete in the districts/regionals is silly. Brossart, NCC & Holy Cross all have enrollments that put them solidly in the middle of the field included in the ALL A. They shouldn't be excluded simply because they can compete for a regular regional title on a somewhat regular basis. If Brossart can win the 10th All A title every year with their 400 students-more power to them! Same goes for NCC & Holy Cross!

 

 

Never said that. Just giving information of the original intent of the tournament and the fact that some schools felt they were above playing in it; and now are dominating it and view it as important. Times change. Personally the need to just go to classes in all sports and be done with it.....But I realize that will not happen.

[Lawnboy13]

Bishop Brossart enrollment is around 360

 

NewCath's total enrollment is 393, if we are to guess the number of boys at half that number it stands a "tad" shy of 200.

[spindoc]

If they would simply drop the "All-A" from the title, this wouldn't be that big a deal. The Touchstone Energy Classic. Boom, problem solved. Invite whomever the heck you want.