This was an interesting question brought up in another thread. Normally schools "boycott" T and X for various reasons but should it be the other way around? The point is, if you are an up and coming 6A school you NEED to play X and/or T at some point in the assent of your program or the shock will probably be too much when you match up in the playoffs.

 

Should X and T refuse to play other 6A schools (besides their district opponents)?

In Trinity's case, that's effectively what's going on. I don't think the reasoning is that Trinity is boycotting anyone, but given the type of matchups we're getting on a week-to-week basis, why bother playing a Kentucky-centered schedule again?

If they can have a winning record by playing powerhouse teams from other states then it is in their best interest to keep doing so. The programs in Kentucky will never be able to catch up. The Kentucky teams with their boycotts and excuses have turned Trinity to this schedule and maybe X will go that way too. You reap what you sow.

In Trinity's case, that's effectively what's going on. I don't think the reasoning is that Trinity is boycotting anyone, but given the type of matchups we're getting on a week-to-week basis, why bother playing a Kentucky-centered schedule again?

 

So you believe this is at least in part Trinity making sure the public schools have an extremely difficult time catching up with them?

If they can have a winning record by playing powerhouse teams from other states then it is in their best interest to keep doing so. The programs in Kentucky will never be able to catch up. The Kentucky teams with their boycotts and excuses have turned Trinity to this schedule and maybe X will go that way too. You reap what you sow.

 

I agree the boycotts only hurt the public schools because they need to be playing T to get better and T is getting better by playing such a tough schedule.

 

And T and X are not going anywhere folks. Basketball rules KY and we are a one class state meaning there will not be any private classes.

So you believe this is at least in part Trinity making sure the public schools have an extremely difficult time catching up with them?

 

I think it's more of a case of Trinity trying to find competitive games. They gain nothing by playing mediocre KY teams. In the end, they should do what's best for them and find someone that can expose weaknesses so they can get better.

 

Of course, others (Hellbird) seems to think they owe it to KY to play other KY teams. They owe them nothing.

I hate to beat on a dead horse here because I think Trinity is #1, but Bowling Green has played either Trinity or X for 9 straight years. That kind of coincides with the change in the Bowling Green program. (spread offense, then 2 platoon system)

 

Just sayin'

So you believe this is at least in part Trinity making sure the public schools have an extremely difficult time catching up with them?

 

The theory seems to be that playing good teams better prepares you for playing good teams in the future. If that's the case, then why would Trinity not want to test themselves and get better in order to get to Bowling Greeen in December?

The theory seems to be that playing good teams better prepares you for playing good teams in the future. If that's the case, then why would Trinity not want to test themselves and get better in order to get to Bowling Greeen in December?

 

Did you just answer a question with a question?

I hate to beat on a dead horse here because I think Trinity is #1, but Bowling Green has played either Trinity or X for 9 straight years. That kind of coincides with the change in the Bowling Green program. (spread offense, then 2 platoon system)

 

Just sayin'

Hammer meat nail. Schools that want to beat the premier teams need to play the premier teams to get better. I know, I'm bringing Highlands into the conversation, but since Highlands started platooning, how many teams in NKY started to make attempts to do the same? Teams that have to play Trinity and St. Xavier have found that they have to platoon to compete with them, ie: Scott County. Why do you think Scott County has improved over recent years? They have to beat Trinity and/or St. Xavier in the playoffs. Coach McKee knows that and is making a concerted effort to beat them. Collins is doing a similar thing because they know they have to beat Highlands and after last years Championship game Coach Lucas knows that.

Did you just answer a question with a question?

 

Did I?

 

Truthfully, I think the 6A public schools are not a terribly large part of Trinity's thinking. Big matchups with the best schools from Tennessee, Indiana and Ohio have proven to be big draws for the fans. They also theoretically help Trinity get better as the season progresses.

Did I?

 

Truthfully, I think the 6A public schools are not a terribly large part of Trinity's thinking. Big matchups with the best schools from Tennessee, Indiana and Ohio have proven to be big draws for the fans. They also theoretically help Trinity get better as the season progresses.

 

Sure but it doesn't help some of T's other sports and can be tough sledding for JV and Frosh games.

Sure but it doesn't help some of T's other sports and can be tough sledding for JV and Frosh games.

 

That's fair. No denying there are problems. And I don't think it comes from a flat-out refusal to play anyone and certainly not from some kind of boycott on Trinity's part. All that boycotting nonsense came from the other side.

 

But I'll say this: I remember the schedule my senior year at Trinity and, not including St. X, the team played three non-district games against AAAA Kentucky competition: North Hardin (44-0), Fern Creek (52-0) and Eastern (57-0). Is that really what the fans of either school want to see?

Well, the Trinity schedule is a happy accident. Trinity was quite content to play the best local schedule they could. Then someone got the bright idea that they could punish Trinity by refusing to play them. Then Trinity was forced to put together a schedule that included some of the best teams from the surounding states. They found that they got better. They also found that they could make a LOT of money with that schedule. They also found that the whole country would notice. Now, kids can dream of coming to Trinity and not only will they get to run on to the field in front of 35,000 at PJCS, they will also run on to the field in front of a national audience on one of the ESPN stations. They can go on a national web site and find out that people all over the country know their name. Will Trinity refuse to play local teams in the future? I doubt it, but also don't look for a schedule with seven non district games against local schools.

Personally, whether we win or lose, I'd rather see us lose a competitive game to a program that matches up well with us than go back to the days of pasting Southern & Fern Creek (for instance). I absolutely loathed attending those games, because I felt damn guilty cheering for my team against a woefully overmatched opponent. And those two teams used to be in our district, so we had no choice.

 

I think that there is some crazy idea that just because we've lost to some great OOS teams we've slid into "average", and I simply disagree. I think that we enjoyed an unprecedented few years with some of the best players in the country on our team. That was somewhat of a "perfect storm". But I sure as heck don't want us to take our foot off the pedal now. Now that we are more normalized, this is the time to be even more dilligent about scheduling competitive games, because it only yields great things in the long run.

 

One thing I really appreciate about the Trinity program is that it isn't just about this year. I love how every decision is about the future of the program.

 

So, in the end, just as TrinityAlum describes, it started out as a necessity to fill the schedule. But I now feel it's a necessity to continue to grow the program. It's not about Trinity boycotting Kentucky schools. It's about Trinity doing what it has to do to continue to improve the program.