As I understand the numbers on the KHSAA's site, Highlands is the 101 biggest school using the last two years' enrollment average. Assuming they keep the system the same, Highlands would remain a AAA school, although it would be one of the smaller ones (54 in a class means schools 55 - 108 are in AAA).

I miscounted earlier, but after having printed out the list and not trying to count in on screen, I have Highlands at 108. That's also factoring in the soon-to-be-consolidated school in Harlan County, which will be a 4A program.

 

Highlands will stay in 3A, but just barely.

But it is a pretty big assumption that they will keep things the same. I really expect the 6 class system to be voted into place. The majority of coaches on the coaches' advisory committee want it.

Six classes is a sham, a proposal supported by people who have a lot of self-serving motives.

 

Just my opinion.

Nobody has been allowed to play out of their class for several years now. It isn't a KHSAA decision to force Highlands to be treated any differently than anyone else. If their enrollment drops them into the AA ranks, then that is where they will play.

 

 

Exactly Highlands has been in the proper class for several years.

Simply put you play in your class,you are no longer allowed

to be bumped up even if it is your choice.

I miscounted earlier, but after having printed out the list and not trying to count in on screen, I have Highlands at 108. That's also factoring in the soon-to-be-consolidated school in Harlan County, which will be a 4A program.

Actually, Highlands is at 109 ... Covington Catholic is ahead of them, too, when you double their all-boys enrollment.

Actually, Highlands is at 109 ... Covington Catholic is ahead of them, too, when you double their all-boys enrollment.

 

Not to muddy the waters, but why would you double the enrollment if you base your classification on total boys which is one of the other things the coaches discussed? A boy is a boy and doesn't need to be doubled.

 

I admire the perseverance of my man leatherneck. I too come from days when there were even sub districts and you didn't even make the district playoffs if you couldn't get out of your subdistricts.

 

 

But what some who object to equally dividing don't remember (like my man Coachj) is the hell the Board used to take when the numbers were not even. To say there were accusations of gerrymandering the numbers to please one or two board members would be today's understatement (ask Coach Matney some time). But the decision to have four equal divisions took away that part of the alleged political aspect of the Board's involvement. Is it perfect? No. But at the same time, it represents a far better situation today than yesteryear.

 

As for proportional-division classes, etc., let's go one step further. If you haven't had a good quarterback in a few years, you get x number of boys deducted from our enrollment. If you haven't had an all-stater, you get y number of kids deducted from your enrollment. If you have only made the first round, and not advanced, let's deduct more students. Then after we have figured out all the deductions, classify based on that number. Yep, dumbing it down sure is the way to go. (that last little bit is tongue and cheek aimed at a couple of posters).

 

Simply put, and having watched realignments since 1983 or so, there is no way to please everyone, and about the best you can hope for is one over half.

So Southwestern would move up to 4A??

But what some who object to equally dividing don't remember...is the hell the Board used to take when the numbers were not even.

 

With all due respect, if someone wants the responsiblity of being a part of the Board, shouldn't their main goal to be coming up with the BEST solution rather than trying to avoid "the hell" they have to take when some aren't happy with that solution?

 

Again, I assert that decisions are made based on what's EASIEST for those that make decisions...and the above quote I believe causes that nail to be hit squarely on the head.

 

Is it perfect? No. But at the same time, it represents a far better situation today than yesteryear.

 

Precisely...it is far better for the BOARD...because there's less "hell" to take.

 

It's far better for the top 16-20 schools that have the luxury of getting to play teams with much smaller boys enrollments in the first couple of rounds.

 

But I'm afraid it is not far better to the 40 or so 4A teams that have virtually no shot to ever have a chance to compete in a state championship game. The advantages (platooning, quality substitutes, quality scout teams) by those 16 or so schools that DWARF them in numbers of boys to choose from is just too great -- and it is proven by the history of teams that have ALWAYS made the finals.

With all due respect, if someone wants the responsiblity of being a part of the Board, shouldn't their main goal to be coming up with the BEST solution rather than trying to avoid "the hell" they have to take when some aren't happy with that solution?

 

Again, I assert that decisions are made based on what's EASIEST for those that make decisions...and the above quote I believe causes that nail to be hit squarely on the head.

 

 

 

Precisely...it is far better for the BOARD...because there's less "hell" to take.

 

It's far better for the top 16-20 schools that have the luxury of getting to play teams with much smaller boys enrollments in the first couple of rounds.

 

But I'm afraid it is not far better to the 40 or so 4A teams that have virtually no shot to ever have a chance to compete in a state championship game. The advantages (platooning, quality substitutes, quality scout teams) by those 16 or so schools that DWARF them in numbers of boys to choose from is just too great -- and it is proven by the history of teams that have ALWAYS made the finals.

 

Oh well, we may just have to disagree on this one. As someone who sat in on some of those meetings in the 1980s, I can tell you that "easy" takes on two or more possible meanings. Easy in this case, is not the avoiding of hard decisions, in my personal opinion, but rather, taking the path that pleases the most people in the shortest amount of time. I think that Board has 18 people now, so their thinking might not be the same, but certainly back then, and even in what I read on BGP last year about basketball alignment, if they can please a majority by making what you term an "easy" decision, they likely will.

...if they can please a majority by making what you term an "easy" decision, they likely will.

 

I believe that is "copping out" -- but then again, I was at one time one of those having to deal with those unbelievable numbers disadvantages...then having to hear from those at huge schools that THE reason they always 'get there' was because THEY did things the "right" way (which, by implication, meant all of us with FEWER THAN HALF the boys in our school must NOT be doing things right).

 

However, I do NOT feel like the majority was "pleased." I would say if you took the KHSAA football schools as a WHOLE, you could say a majority was pleased...

 

...but what about the majority of the ONE CLASS in question (4A)? Would you say, Kissinger, that a MAJORITY of the 4A schools are "pleased" with a set-up that has had ZERO state finals appearances by schools with under 800 boys in the last TWENTY YEARS!!!

 

You are right, we will have to agree to disagree. (But I'm willing to bet the MAJORITY of the 4A schools would choose to agree with me.)

Coach J, what do you think of my idea of dividing the schools based on disparity of size rather than equal number for all classes. Might take a little more math than dividing 216 by 4, but I'm sure Mr. Tackett could pull it off. Also how would you feel about allowing teams eliminated from the playoffs to continue to practice (of course the seniors on the team wouldn't) until the championship game, thus negating some of the complaints that the rich get richer by all the extra weeks of practice and games they get to play?

I believe that is "copping out" -- but then again, I was at one time one of those having to deal with those unbelievable numbers disadvantages...then having to hear from those at huge schools that THE reason they always 'get there' was because THEY did things the "right" way (which, by implication, meant all of us with FEWER THAN HALF the boys in our school must NOT be doing things right).

 

However, I do NOT feel like the majority was "pleased." I would say if you took the KHSAA football schools as a WHOLE, you could say a majority was pleased...

 

...but what about the majority of the ONE CLASS in question (4A)? Would you say, Kissinger, that a MAJORITY of the 4A schools are "pleased" with a set-up that has had ZERO state finals appearances by schools with under 800 boys in the last TWENTY YEARS!!!

 

You are right, we will have to agree to disagree. (But I'm willing to bet the MAJORITY of the 4A schools would choose to agree with me.)

 

I never really noticed this. I mean, it doesn't surprise me, I just wonder why no one else has pointed it out. Your converting my to you way of thinking CoachJ. I like your points. My only question is, will the proposed changes help or will they just put a bandaid on the situation.

I never really noticed this. I mean, it doesn't surprise me, I just wonder why no one else has pointed it out. Your converting my to you way of thinking CoachJ. I like your points. My only question is, will the proposed changes help or will they just put a bandaid on the situation.

 

 

If they go 6 classes, which would only have 37 teams per class (there are 224 teams scheduled to play football in 07 I'm told) , I hope they can shorten the playoffs by a week. After the individual class state championship games, the following week I'd like to see the 6A champ play the 5A champ; the 4A champ play the 3A champ; and of course the 2A champ play the 1A champ. If they did that, I'd not feel so strongly about the championships being watered down. Of course, with 6 classes, I feel you must allow a team to play up a class if it wants to.

If they go 6 classes, which would only have 37 teams per class (there are 224 teams scheduled to play football in 07 I'm told) , I hope they can shorten the playoffs by a week. After the individual class state championship games, the following week I'd like to see the 6A champ play the 5A champ; the 4A champ play the 3A champ; and of course the 2A champ play the 1A champ. If they did that, I'd not feel so strongly about the championships being watered down. Of course, with 6 classes, I feel you must allow a team to play up a class if it wants to.

If you had the state champs play each other, would that not take away some glory of winning your championship game. It would serve more as step to get to the next game. Also say you are the higher class and lose to the lower class, wouldn't you lose the sense of accomplishment and pride that come with being a state champion?

If you had the state champs play each other, would that not take away some glory of winning your championship game. It would serve more as step to get to the next game. Also say you are the higher class and lose to the lower class, wouldn't you lose the sense of accomplishment and pride that come with being a state champion?

 

 

No I don't think so. If the smaller school gets beat, its what most people would have expected. If the smaller school wins, well all it means is that the smaller school was better than the larger school. Life goes on.

Proposed 6A

 

Paul Dunbar 2187 Avg students

Henderson Co

Henry Clay

Lafayette

PRP

DuPount Manual

Eastern

Scott Co

Daviess County

Senecca

Ballard

tates Creek

Male

Butler

Madison central

Central Hardin

Trinity

St. Xavier

George Rogers Clark

Conner

Nelson Co.

Shelby co.

Ryle

Campbell County

Meade Co

Boone Co.

Marshall Co.

Greenwood

Apollo

Simon Kenton

North Hardin

Fern Creek

Southern

Graves County

Bryan Station

Christian County

John Hardin 1293.5 Avg students

 

Proposed 5A

South Laurel 1290 Avg students

southwestern

North Laurel

Oldham Co.

Bullitt Central

Dixie Heights

Grayson Co.

Iroquois

Barren Co.

Whiltley Co.

Woodford Co.

Montgomery Co.

Lincoln co.

Scott

Ohio County

doss

Warren Central

Waggener

Grant Co.

Anderson Co

Clay Co

Madisonville North Hopkins

Owensboro

Bowling Green

Pulaski co.

Johnson central

North Bullitt

Jeffersontown

Atherton

Perry Co. Central

Hopkinsville

Central

Logan Co.

South Oldhman

Letcher co. Central

Hopkins Co. Central

Ashland Paul Blazer 975 Avg students

 

Proposed 4A

Madison Southern 972.5 Avg students

West Jessamine

Boyd co.

Harrison Co.

Holmes

Bullit East

East Jessamine

Franklin co.

Allen Co. Scottsville

Covington Catholic

Rowan Co\Calloway Co.

valley

Rockcastle Co.

Greenup Co

Knox Central

Marion County

Franklin Simpson

Pendleton CO

Russell Co.

Mcreary Central

Boyle co.

Lexington Cath.

Bell County

Western

Loan Oak

Breckinridge Co.

Warren East

Fairdale

Muhlberg North

Bourbon Co.

Lawrence Co.

Taylor Co.

Highlands

Mason co.

Paducah Tilghman

Adair co

Larue Co. 747.5 Avg students

 

 

Proposed 3A

Fleming Co. 745 Avg students

North Oldham

East Ridge

Powell Co

Union co.

Hart Co.

Moore

East Carter

Cawood

Garrard Co

Mercer Co

Wayne Co

Western Hills

Casey Co

Estill Co

Magoffin Co

Pike Co Central

Belfrey

West Carter

Breathitt Co

Spencer co.

Butler Co

Lewis Co

Russell

Muhlenberg

Morgan Co

Jackson Co

Knott Co. Central

corbin

Henry county

Sheldon Clark

Prestonburg

Edmonson co

Caldwell co

LLoyd Memorial

Shawnee

Leslie Co. 618.5 Avg students

 

Proposed 2A

Lou-Christian acadamey 615 Avg students

Trigg Co

Washington Co

Heath

Shelby Valley

Owen Co

Fort Campbell

Webster Co.

Todd Co. Central

Bath Co.

Newport

Monroe co.

Glasgow

Reidland

Danville

Middlesboro

Bardstown

Carroll co

Murray

Fort Knox

Owensboro Cath

Green Co.

Somerset

McLean Co.

NCC

Trimble Co

Metcalfe

Clinton Co

Betsy Lane

Holy Cross Cov.

Gallatin

Ballard Memorial

Allen Central

Lexington Christian

Mayfield

Crittendon Co

Bishop Brossart 404 Avg students

 

 

Proposed 1A

Bracken Co. 379 Avg students

Pikeville

Evarts

South Floyd

Russleville

Lynn Camp

Campbellsville

Nicholas Co

Walton Verona

Frankfort

Berea

Holy Cross Lou

Beechwood

Cumberland

Desales

Hazard

Ludlow

Dayton

Raceland

Phelps

Belleview

Bethlehem

Fairview

Fulton Co

Paintsville

Ky. Country Day

Harrodsburg

Caverna

Harlan

Williamsburg

Paris

Eminence

Jenkins

Pineville

Fulton City

Beth Haven

Evangel Christian 103 Avg students

 

 

I've got to tell you, I took the time to see what the classes would be like, and there not that bad. Will it fix anything? Heck I don't know. But it's not the death nole that everybody is saying it will be either.

Warren Central is the smallest 4A school per the KHSAA at 1132.5. If they are trying to fix 4A does this really do it? (John Hardin, the smallest proposed 6A school) 1293.5 students 647 boys from 1132.5 students (WC )589 boys. While I think it will be competitive. If you are addressing the disparity in 4A, my initail though is that this would not go far enough.