It is great news for NKY if SK raises the level of its football program. The upcoming game against Conner is going to be a good measuring stick for this year's varsity squad.

 

Well said, and agreed on both counts.

They are solid on all levels and have an excellent feeder system.

 

Is Simon building one of the top programs in KY?

 

They are the second best team up here with Cov-Cath banged up. They seem to be building a solid program so why would they not be on Highlands schedule and I am not being sarcastic but they should play Highlands if they want to see where they stack up.

I'm rooting like crazy for SK to get on Highlands and CovCath's schedules next year.

 

wont happen.....SK wont schedule guaranteed losses!

Collins 4A

 

HHS 47 Collins 0

SK 23 Collins 21:D

So, because SK has not won multiple state titles they are not building a top program? Yeah, that makes sense!

 

Just look at how far they have came in the last 10 years. It really is remarkable, if some of you would take your contempt for one poster on here away and look at what a turnaround has occurred there.

As far as turning around a program, I think the job Markesberry has done at SK is nothing short of amazing.

A more interesting discussion (perhaps one for the offseason) was what were the factors that caused the change. I could be wrong, but from an outsiders perspective I think the class with Miles Simpson seemed to really change the tide from all the talent in Kenton County flowing to Dixie and SK became a viable option for football playing students.

Sounds like SK is building!!! This is a major step in the right direction. Need to add some Championships to the resume to be included in the TOP of the State programs. In time, they may get there.... Its good to hear that SK has good/excellent numbers, now what are you going to do with them????

I think it's a combination of things that has them going in the right direction. Newer facilities and recent success, the last few years, have kids/parents choosing SK. It shows in their numbers. Now they have to keep that up for several years to be considered one of the top programs in Ky but they are definitely moving in the right direction. It killed me to post that!!

As to the original question, the answer is yes. SK is on the rise, due to a number of things (population, feeder programs, better coaching/developement at the youth level and an outstanding staff on the HS level). The community is now firmly behind the Pioneers and the enthusiasm on Friday's is evident everywhere.

 

SK is playing a solid schedule, as they have done for the past 4 or 5 years. Some years the teams are down (HC this year) while they were state champs a few years ago. In the end, being Regional Finalist in 4 of the last 5 years is a great accomplishment for a program without much history. Winning the district is nice, but going to regional/state finals is much bigger IMO (how many finals has CC been to in the past 5 years?)

I agree with several on here. First, I think it's terrific to see NKY teams starting to make comebacks. It was lost for awhile. We (NKY) used to be strong across the board. Not just one or two teams, every district was a battle and whoever got out of the district usually made a deep run. When I played in the 80's, 3A was loaded in NKY. Whoever won up here was pretty much State champs! In my time, HHS, Conner, Newport and Cov Cath all won state titles. Again, whoever made it out of NKY, won state...and pretty easily. I love seeing SK, Camp Co, Conner and others on the right track. There are several others that are doing the right things now too. Back in the day, (yes I went to HHS), but I took pride in the fact that NKY football overall was very good.

 

Now with that said, I do think it's time for some of these programs to step up their scheduling. I look at SK (and not knocking them at all, but it's their thread), but to not have Cov Cath or HHS on your schedule is not doing you any favors. And you have two 2A schools on there. First, I truly believe in putting together the toughest schedule possible to challenge and test your team. It will pay off. Secondly, if you ever want respect as a program, you have to show you can compete with the top programs. You don't always have to win, just compete and not be afraid to compete. No one cares what your overall record is if you didn't play good teams. I'd rather be 5-5 going into playoffs, but know I've been tested. It will pay off! If not, you run into games like SK did in Scott Co. They came away from that game thinking they were unbelievable and HHS fans felt they were very average. I'm not tooting horns here, I'm just being honest. And I'm only using SK as an example. Not trying to drill them at all. You can almost place any 6A and 5A school in place of them. But I do like the fact that Camp Co is stepping it up, Cooper seems to be on the right track (hopefully they can sustain it). Will Conner be able to still thrive after the their stud leaves. I love that Boone and Ryle have new coaches with new ways of doing things. Hopefully they will be on their way up again. We need this in NKY!

I agree with several on here. First, I think it's terrific to see NKY teams starting to make comebacks. It was lost for awhile. We (NKY) used to be strong across the board. Not just one or two teams, every district was a battle and whoever got out of the district usually made a deep run. When I played in the 80's, 3A was loaded in NKY. Whoever won up here was pretty much State champs! In my time, HHS, Conner, Newport and Cov Cath all won state titles. Again, whoever made it out of NKY, won state...and pretty easily. I love seeing SK, Camp Co, Conner and others on the right track. There are several others that are doing the right things now too. Back in the day, (yes I went to HHS), but I took pride in the fact that NKY football overall was very good.

 

Now with that said, I do think it's time for some of these programs to step up their scheduling. I look at SK (and not knocking them at all, but it's their thread), but to not have Cov Cath or HHS on your schedule is not doing you any favors. And you have two 2A schools on there. First, I truly believe in putting together the toughest schedule possible to challenge and test your team. It will pay off. Secondly, if you ever want respect as a program, you have to show you can compete with the top programs. You don't always have to win, just compete and not be afraid to compete. No one cares what your overall record is if you didn't play good teams. I'd rather be 5-5 going into playoffs, but know I've been tested. It will pay off! If not, you run into games like SK did in Scott Co. They came away from that game thinking they were unbelievable and HHS fans felt they were very average. I'm not tooting horns here, I'm just being honest. And I'm only using SK as an example. Not trying to drill them at all. You can almost place any 6A and 5A school in place of them. But I do like the fact that Camp Co is stepping it up, Cooper seems to be on the right track (hopefully they can sustain it). Will Conner be able to still thrive after the their stud leaves. I love that Boone and Ryle have new coaches with new ways of doing things. Hopefully they will be on their way up again. We need this in NKY!

 

Again, 4 out of the last 5 regional championship games for SK with the schedule as is. Are you thinking playing Highlands or Cov Cath puts SK over the hump vs. Scott Co/Trinity or X? I'd argue no. We're not ready to compete with those 3 teams YET. Coach is building us for that chance in the future (platoon, as an example) but not now.

As to the original question, the answer is yes. SK is on the rise, due to a number of things (population, feeder programs, better coaching/developement at the youth level and an outstanding staff on the HS level). The community is now firmly behind the Pioneers and the enthusiasm on Friday's is evident everywhere.

 

SK is playing a solid schedule, as they have done for the past 4 or 5 years. Some years the teams are down (HC this year) while they were state champs a few years ago. In the end, being Regional Finalist in 4 of the last 5 years is a great accomplishment for a program without much history. Winning the district is nice, but going to regional/state finals is much bigger IMO (how many finals has CC been to in the past 5 years?)

 

I agree with a lot of what you are saying except for the "solid schedule". HC actually on had one good year. And you have another 2 A team on your schedule. Yes, they are a solid 2A team, but still 2A. SK is a 6A program! They need to be playing teams that aren't 1 and 2A. I don't care how good those teams are in their own division. It's hard to find any 6A program with any 2A teams on their schedule, let alone two of them. Take a look, I did. I didn't look at every 6A program, but most of the top ones and none of them have a 2A team on there. And even the local one don't have 2A teams. Maybe 1 team has one, but not many have any. And to have teams like Cov Cath and HHS in your own back yard and not play them to put 2A teams on your schedule is not doing you any good in the respect department. And you're obviously not preparing yourself to face a Scott Co. type team. I'm not trying to disrespect SK at all. I would love for them to become a powerhouse and think they are on the right track, I'd just like to see them challenge themselves more as a 6A program.

This is silly and I'm sure it's doing what Guru intended. SK is not even a top program in NKY, let alone the state.

 

Who do we have to beat to be a 'top team in NKY'? We've beat state champs recently. We've beaten everybody that we should (and lost some we shouldn't have (ie Dixie last year). The mark of improving is beating who you should beat and not losing to those you shouldn't lose to. SK is almost there. In NKY, the only team than can say they are 'elite' is FTH. Everyone else is either trending up or down and SK is clearly trending upward.

A more interesting discussion (perhaps one for the offseason) was what were the factors that caused the change. I could be wrong, but from an outsiders perspective I think the class with Miles Simpson seemed to really change the tide from all the talent in Kenton County flowing to Dixie and SK became a viable option for football playing students.

Fewer parents being able to afford Catholic school tuition no doubt also is a factor. Miles Simpson is the best prep player I ever saw in Northern Kentucky.