FINALLY!!! You tell us your true issue!!!

 

So your entire problem with the All "A" boils down to "Private schools" and the schools around you in Northern Kentucky? All of this other stuff you talk about is just camouflage for your real issue which is that your biggest rivals have success in a tourney and there is nothing you can do about it but belittle any title that they may or may not win.

 

Also, St Henry, Holy Cross and Brossart are not rivals to HHS. And there are several other private schools up here that aren't mentioned.

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If you are an advocate for this tournament, then you must support classifications. (not necessarily you). I could care less either way. I will play by what KHSAA tells me to. But that's where the problem for me comes in. If the KHSAA says its all one state, why have the A. Please don't tell me "it's just another tournament". It's a state tournament for the small schools. We all hide behind whatever excuse we can come up with to argue otherwise. But we all know it's a state tournament. May not be officially recognized by KHSAA, but it's treated exactly the same...other than having your name on the KHSAA site. That's the ONLY difference. So again, if you think this is a great tournament and experience for kids, I'm assuming you want to vote for classification across the board, right? If you don't, then you (not necessarily you) are a hypocrit. It's not just A schools and 6A schools in the state. There are teams in between.

 

For the record, if we didn't want to stay as one state winner, then my vote would be for 3 classes in every sport. I believe state championships should be extemely difficult to win and it should be a great accomplishment when it's achieved. Today, we want to hand them out like candy.

 

First sentence is a flawed premise. I have no problem with this tournament, and I also am not a proponent of classification. Therefore your initial statement is false.

 

Let me ask you this. Lets say St. Henry's put on a huge invitational tournament. They invited 63 other teams to play in this single elimination, 3 day event. All those teams showed up to play, and a champion was crowned. Would you have a problem with this tournament?

First sentence is a flawed premise. I have no problem with this tournament, and I also am not a proponent of classification. Therefore you initial statement is false.

 

Let me ask you this. Lets say St. Henry's put on a huge invitational tournament. They invited 63 other teams to play in this single elimination, 3 day event. All those teams showed up to play, and a champion was crowned. Would you have a problem with this tournament?

 

Nope!

 

Let me ask you this. I pull together all the mid-size schools to participate in my tournament. I set it up the exact way the A is setup today. We have district and regional winners and crown a state champion at the end. Pretend there is no All A in existence. We don't allow any 6A or 1A schools in the tournament. We only "invited" (ha ha, call it what you want) 3,4,and 5A schools. Now we have a mid-size school state champ and an overall state champ. You okay with that?

Nope!

 

Let me ask you this. I pull together all the mid-size schools to participate in my tournament. I set it up the exact way the A is setup today. We have district and regional winners and crown a state champion at the end. Pretend there is no All A in existence. We don't allow any 6A or 1A schools in the tournament. We only "invited" (ha ha, call it what you want) 3,4,and 5A schools. Now we have a mid-size school state champ and an overall state champ. You okay with that?

No problem with it, why would any one have a problem with it when everyone knows there is still an overall state champ being determined.

No problem with it, why would any one have a problem with it when everyone knows there is still an overall state champ being determined.

 

Here's the thing. I would never do that because, you're right, we already have a way to determine a state champion and I don't like creating more ways to hand out trophies.

Nope!

 

Let me ask you this. I pull together all the mid-size schools to participate in my tournament. I set it up the exact way the A is setup today. We have district and regional winners and crown a state champion at the end. Pretend there is no All A in existence. We don't allow any 6A or 1A schools in the tournament. We only "invited" (ha ha, call it what you want) 3,4,and 5A schools. Now we have a mid-size school state champ and an overall state champ. You okay with that?

 

Ok. Second part to my question. All 64 of the teams playing are the 64 smallest school teams in the state. The winner is crowned "St. Henry's KY Small School Invitational Champ". Any problems there with that?

Nope!

 

Let me ask you this. I pull together all the mid-size schools to participate in my tournament. I set it up the exact way the A is setup today. We have district and regional winners and crown a state champion at the end. Pretend there is no All A in existence. We don't allow any 6A or 1A schools in the tournament. We only "invited" (ha ha, call it what you want) 3,4,and 5A schools. Now we have a mid-size school state champ and an overall state champ. You okay with that?

 

I have no problem with the tournament if you want to set it up that way. Only trouble is...just like the All A...the winner of your tournament would not be recognized as a state champion. So your "state champ" portion of your post wouldn't fly.

Winning the ALL A 9th Region is not claiming to being able to compete against larger schools....its winning against schools your own size. And it is certainly no recipe for success in the KHSAA District, Region or State. Besides last year, if your name wasnt Ryle or Conner you werent in the hunt for the last 8+ years in this region regardless how large or small your school was.

 

RCC9-Alot of the last couple posts I feel are slanted against St Henry and NCC. So Im wondering since you have all the answers...what should we do? Do you want us to decline playing in the ALL A if we feel we can compete at the highest levels of our region? Can we make that decision on a year to year or month to month basis? What if we are a little weak in said season...can we get back in? Or should someone else determine those things for us?

 

Like I said a couple posts ago, if your school was eligible for it then you would play in it. I dont hear all the things you hear so I dont know who is boasting that winning the ALL A is putting them up with the top, larger schools. I also dont hear the "we are a small school and compete" excuse that im assuming you do. But im sure both have been said.

Here's the thing. I would never do that because, you're right, we already have a way to determine a state champion and I don't like creating more ways to hand out trophies.

 

So you don't participate in any in season tourneys or put any on at your school? That's all they really are a chance to hand out trophies as you say.

I don't post very often but to be honest, this thread seems pretty ridiculous. All A? What's the big deal? Let them play. Two things that I think has been overlooked is financial stability of a minor sports program and committed coaches. Some of the small schools simply might not have the funds to travel to tournaments around the state. That doesn't mean they do not want to. The other point is having coaches who commit themselves to ensuring that their players have a true high school sports experience in every way shape and form.

 

Our district holds 3 of the top teams in the region every year and every year one of us is not in the regional tournament. Is that fair? Who knows, but we aren't the only district in the state with this issue and you never hear us complain. It is what it is and we know we have to work harder next season.

 

If I have read all of this correctly, why don't we just eliminate districts and just have a regional tournament? This would allow all of the kids a chance at the post season and also the opportunity to play in a large tournament without having a financial burden.

 

And one last thing. NCC, good freaking luck and do our region proud!

So you don't participate in any in season tourneys or put any on at your school? That's all they really are a chance to hand out trophies as you say.

 

nah nah nah...apples to oranges. When I say "creating ways to make up championships that already have championships created" That's different that just playing in a tournament. And if I do play in a tournament in season, I typically could care less if I win it. I'm usually playing to get games in and to play good competition. I could care less about the trophy. Playing for a state championship is a different animal. That's why I play in the in-season tournament. To prepare for a championship run! Those that play in the A get a chance at two championship runs.

Winning the ALL A 9th Region is not claiming to being able to compete against larger schools....its winning against schools your own size. And it is certainly no recipe for success in the KHSAA District, Region or State. Besides last year, if your name wasnt Ryle or Conner you werent in the hunt for the last 8+ years in this region regardless how large or small your school was.

 

RCC9-Alot of the last couple posts I feel are slanted against St Henry and NCC. So Im wondering since you have all the answers...what should we do? Do you want us to decline playing in the ALL A if we feel we can compete at the highest levels of our region? Can we make that decision on a year to year or month to month basis? What if we are a little weak in said season...can we get back in? Or should someone else determine those things for us?

 

Like I said a couple posts ago, if your school was eligible for it then you would play in it. I dont hear all the things you hear so I dont know who is boasting that winning the ALL A is putting them up with the top, larger schools. I also dont hear the "we are a small school and compete" excuse that im assuming you do. But im sure both have been said.

 

I never said winning the A is claiming to be able to compete. Two separate things. I said teams want to say they can compete (and they can) with just about every team in their region. And then defend the A by saying it's a chance for the small schools to compete. Well several of the small schools do compete. Their program is at a level they can compete. They play and compete the same as everyone else. St Henry and NCC can compete at the same level as 85-90% of the ninth region, why would they agree with the philosoohy that the A is for schools that would never get an opportunity otherwise. Well HHS, Holmes, Cooper, Dixie may also never get an opportunity otherwise either. If St. Henry and NCC can compete with these schools, why do they deserve and second chance to experience championship play and the kids at these other schools don't. If they can compete at the same level as these much larger schools, don't tell me they need an extra opportunity these other schools don't get.

 

As for Ryle and Conner comment, that's exactly what I'm saying. All other 15 or so schools in the regions have never competed for the regional title either. That puts us all in the same boat. Now you add the A and give them an opportunity to win a region in the A. What's that do to the rest of the region? If we all are in the same boat and could never have a chance to experience winning the region, why do you feel it's okay to add a chance for a small school but not the others...when those small schools have typically beat all the other school in the region anyway. Remember, you won your district over 6A Dixie and NCC won their district over 4A Highlands. Why do yours and NCC's kids get a second chance to experience success and Dixie and Highlands do not. You can clearly compete! I'm not making that point to say "where's my chance". I'm making that point to show that fact that saying "this tournament is for the small schools that can't compete" is a farce. You don't need it. You CAN compete just as well as 90% of the schools in the region. By the way, that's a compliment to you and NCC!!!!!!!

 

As far as what should you do...I have said multiple times.. I have absolutely no issues with the tournament. I do think it's good for the kids that get to play in it. I have nothing against the teams that play in it. I have a problem with the hypocritical excuses.

 

Is this an in season tournament or a state championship. People that debate this use whichever one they want to make their argument. If it's a state tournament, then we should discuss classifications. If it's a mid-season invitational, then quit calling yourselves state champions. It's not fair to the real state champions! Call yourselves what you want to argure it is. You are a mid-season, classic, invitational champion.

 

I'm saying when you have schools like St Henry and NCC and many others arond the state, you should be proud of what you have and have worked hard to build. You can compete with all the larger schools every year. You don't need the A to be competitive. And neither do many of the other A teams around the state that win it just about every year. And because you have built a perennial competitive team, you walk all over the other A teams anyway. So the schools that everyone really think this tournament is for actually have no chance because they can never beat the other teams that can compete with the big schools anyway. So what's the difference if Bellevue is playing NCC or Conner. Both are going to result in a run rule. Whats the difference is Ludlow is playing Highlands or St Henry. Nothing, again. Both will end in a run rule. When you have teams that are just as good consistently as schools much larger, size doesn't matter because the same schools that get beaten up in the region will get beaten up in the A just as bad. I'm not saying pass it up, I'm saying the A may have run it's course because several A schools around the state have found ways to compete as wells year in and year out just as much as their much larger peers. For example, 4 of the 16 teams in the girls sweet 16 this year were A teams. 7 of the 16 regional finals in girls bball contained A teams. That means we were 3 wins away from having almost half of the teams in the sweet 16 being A teams. My point, small schools have found a way to compete. Just like many mid-majors now compete in the NCAA every year. They find a way. Just like St Henry and NCC does. Do they have a chance to win the whole thing, maybe not. But neither do 90% of the teams in the state!...regardless of size.

I don't post very often but to be honest, this thread seems pretty ridiculous. All A? What's the big deal? Let them play. Two things that I think has been overlooked is financial stability of a minor sports program and committed coaches. Some of the small schools simply might not have the funds to travel to tournaments around the state. That doesn't mean they do not want to. The other point is having coaches who commit themselves to ensuring that their players have a true high school sports experience in every way shape and form.

 

Our district holds 3 of the top teams in the region every year and every year one of us is not in the regional tournament. Is that fair? Who knows, but we aren't the only district in the state with this issue and you never hear us complain. It is what it is and we know we have to work harder next season. If I have read all of this correctly, why don't we just eliminate districts and just have a regional tournament? This would allow all of the kids a chance at the post season and also the opportunity to play in a large tournament without having a financial burden.

 

And one last thing. NCC, good freaking luck and do our region proud!

 

With this statement, this is my point. All teams do not get a fair shot. It is what it is. They live with it, right? That's my point exactly. Why create a second state tournament. We all play by the same rules and we deal with the hand we are dealt, right?

 

And are you saying a larger school has more money than a smaller school...to travel and do things? I know when we travel, school pays for nothing. We pay for it all, outside of transportation. From my perspective, the size of the school has nothing to do with whether you can travel or not. And all these A teams seem to travel to their two state championships fairly easy. I doubt financials has anything to do with it. Are you saying Holmes has more money than NCC or St Henry or Dayton or Ludlow. My guess is their budgets are very similar. they are all pretty low and travel money, outside of transportation, is raised. I know thats what we have to do.

 

Coaches that commit themselves to ensuring their players have a great experience?? I would hope any coach that is coaching high school is dedicated to that. Maybe I'm wrong.

I don't post very often but to be honest, this thread seems pretty ridiculous. All A? What's the big deal? Let them play. Two things that I think has been overlooked is financial stability of a minor sports program and committed coaches. Some of the small schools simply might not have the funds to travel to tournaments around the state. That doesn't mean they do not want to. The other point is having coaches who commit themselves to ensuring that their players have a true high school sports experience in every way shape and form.

 

Our district holds 3 of the top teams in the region every year and every year one of us is not in the regional tournament. Is that fair? Who knows, but we aren't the only district in the state with this issue and you never hear us complain. It is what it is and we know we have to work harder next season.

 

If I have read all of this correctly, why don't we just eliminate districts and just have a regional tournament? This would allow all of the kids a chance at the post season and also the opportunity to play in a large tournament without having a financial burden.

And one last thing. NCC, good freaking luck and do our region proud!

 

Now this I like!