They sent a letter out asking what would create more interest in the school and football was the overwhelming response. At the time of the football inception, attendance was way down and still might be today.

 

Actually attendance was peaking (400+) around that time--2006, with 1-A District play starting in 2007 if memory serves. Thus the reason they went 2-A when realignment was done using a couple year old numbers? No current stats, but I think they're in the 340-350 range now?

 

Growth was definitely a factor I'm guessing, as serious growth was expected with the lifting of the sewer moratorium in Southern CC; and multiple large developments planned & approved. These were stymied by the recession, and subsequent mishandling of the "recovery". Just now taking shape, but slow growth is now what I'd expect.

It is very difficult for a 1A or 2A school to field successful Soccer and Football teams because they are simply at a numbers disadvantage especially with Soccer not being classified. NCC has probably had the most success with it. Holy Cross soccer kind of went down once they established football. Brossart is still very relevant in Soccer and I'm sure St. Henry has noted the struggles with doing both. The rest of the 1A and 2A schools in NKY don't even try to do both.

 

I still say it is a huge mistake for Brossart to start the year with 20 students who have signed up and then try and play a 2A schedule. And not sure how much interest there will be in playing in the new 1A district the next 4 years. That is a lot of travel and I would guess the interest won't be all that great.

While not an "insider" at BBHS, but still rather close to the school & it's sports programs; I can't imagine they started football to raise attendance?? The move to start football went back to the late 90's, and I'm guessing, was due to the success of their other sport's programs, along with a look to the future growth of the school. It was tabled back then, and IMO, that played a critical role in where they stand today.

 

The root cause of today's football dilemma comes down to a couple of items--"Timing" and "How" they started the program!!

 

The "Timing" in the sense of when they started football, and The "How" in the rush to play in District Play vs. allowing the program to "grow into" District play, similar to the model Walton Verona followed.

 

"Timing"--Had they started football in the late 90's or early 2000's, IMO they'd have been very successful. Many factors were more in their favor during that timeframe than when they actually got around to getting it off the ground. Many of BBHS's most athletic (and larger) classes came through the school from the late 90's until 2007. While no one can say with certainty how many of those kids would have played football, there was defiantly a larger pool of athletes during that timeframe. Campbell County football was in a bit of disarray, and certainly didn't have the enthusiastic support it currently enjoys. This was before the late Bush/Obama economies and attendance was higher as well.

 

"How"--IMO they made some fatal moves early on that helped speed the path to their current state, starting with the early coaching issues. If I remember correctly they went through 3 Head Coaches within the first few weeks--First one was denied employment by the Diocese nearing summer practice, 2nd quit after a week due to some overzealous parental intervention at summer practice, and the third was obtained at the last minute when it was hard to find a quality staff. Instead of starting with a core of younger players and playing a freshman schedule, then moving along in competition as they grow older, and backfilling with additional sets of younger players; they went straight into district play their 2nd year I believe with a pretty young & thin roster? Had they "started slow", grown the youth program, and allowed the support & numbers to grow, they'd have ultimately had more success, again IMO. The coaching carousel that resulted certainly didn't help, and the unfortunate reclassifying to the smallest 2-A school (due to a temporary attendance spike a couple years earlier) was a killer.

 

While the philosophy of building by going after the 2nd & 3rd tier of football kids (kids from BBHS feeder schools by the way), that would have sat the bench for most if not all their careers at NCC, or those not interested in playing at Campbell, which was still in a bit of disarray; was probably sound thinking in the beginning, but the move to 2-A (with NCC) and Campbell's program's resurgence in popularity were killers.

 

Where to go from here?? My thoughts would be to probably "blow it up & start over" to some degree. I thought the original plan to go back to an independent schedule for a couple of years and regroup was a good one, but needed to be finalized at the end of last season when they knew they were graduating 9 Senior kids from a roster that was essentially in the high teens the last few games. Waiting until this summer (and a total regime change) is going to cause one of two things--A group of other 2-A district foes rightfully upset with the resulting scheduling voids, or some sacrificial lambs if they try to play the 2-A schedule with 16 kids.

 

Ideally, they should go back to the beginning, build a team from the ground up with middle school & freshman aged kids interested in committing to football for all four years. Put together a strong foundation in youth football (which they've had going for the last couple years), and move to 1-A District play when those kids are upperclassmen. Find & retain a solid staff committed to the future & willing to take time to "Build" a program.

 

The economy is ever so slowly coming back, and the moratorium on building in the Alexandria area is lifted. A new 1200+ home subdivision is under way in A-Town, and there is other growth expected in current developments farther south in the County. Any growth in Campbell County will be to the South! Certainly a good portion of these new families would be interested in a Catholic education for their children, so the future growth potential is bright. BBHS owns the property for a sports' complex, and with some support could make that happen rather quickly I'm told. The new principal will be a shot in the arm IMO, and one who seem to have an interest in growing a quality football program.

 

The future of BBHS football can be bright, but they need to start from the ground up again; and avoid the mistakes of the past. Go Mustangs!!

 

WOW!!! I didnt know, great info :thumb:

Was Teegarden also the coach when Pendleton County had a down turn in players and went the independent scheduling route?

Was Teegarden also the coach when Pendleton County had a down turn in players and went the independent scheduling route?

 

I want to say he came from Ryle?

I want to say he came from Ryle?

Head coach at PC before Ryle, the most recent time. He was at Ryle on two or three different occasions.

Edited June 24, 201412 yr by doubledeuce

Good information.

 

Brossart and St. Henry are clearly the places to be for the cross-country/soccer/track/girls volleyball crowds.

 

-CardinalsFan

 

Ahead of NDA? Brossart Volleyball and St. Henry Volleyball are miles apart.

While not an "insider" at BBHS, but still rather close to the school & it's sports programs; I can't imagine they started football to raise attendance?? The move to start football went back to the late 90's, and I'm guessing, was due to the success of their other sport's programs, along with a look to the future growth of the school. It was tabled back then, and IMO, that played a critical role in where they stand today.

 

The root cause of today's football dilemma comes down to a couple of items--"Timing" and "How" they started the program!!

 

The "Timing" in the sense of when they started football, and The "How" in the rush to play in District Play vs. allowing the program to "grow into" District play, similar to the model Walton Verona followed.

 

"Timing"--Had they started football in the late 90's or early 2000's, IMO they'd have been very successful. Many factors were more in their favor during that timeframe than when they actually got around to getting it off the ground. Many of BBHS's most athletic (and larger) classes came through the school from the late 90's until 2007. While no one can say with certainty how many of those kids would have played football, there was defiantly a larger pool of athletes during that timeframe. Campbell County football was in a bit of disarray, and certainly didn't have the enthusiastic support it currently enjoys. This was before the late Bush/Obama economies and attendance was higher as well.

 

"How"--IMO they made some fatal moves early on that helped speed the path to their current state, starting with the early coaching issues. If I remember correctly they went through 3 Head Coaches within the first few weeks--First one was denied employment by the Diocese nearing summer practice, 2nd quit after a week due to some overzealous parental intervention at summer practice, and the third was obtained at the last minute when it was hard to find a quality staff. Instead of starting with a core of younger players and playing a freshman schedule, then moving along in competition as they grow older, and backfilling with additional sets of younger players; they went straight into district play their 2nd year I believe with a pretty young & thin roster? Had they "started slow", grown the youth program, and allowed the support & numbers to grow, they'd have ultimately had more success, again IMO. The coaching carousel that resulted certainly didn't help, and the unfortunate reclassifying to the smallest 2-A school (due to a temporary attendance spike a couple years earlier) was a killer.

 

While the philosophy of building by going after the 2nd & 3rd tier of football kids (kids from BBHS feeder schools by the way), that would have sat the bench for most if not all their careers at NCC, or those not interested in playing at Campbell, which was still in a bit of disarray; was probably sound thinking in the beginning, but the move to 2-A (with NCC) and Campbell's program's resurgence in popularity were killers.

 

Where to go from here?? My thoughts would be to probably "blow it up & start over" to some degree. I thought the original plan to go back to an independent schedule for a couple of years and regroup was a good one, but needed to be finalized at the end of last season when they knew they were graduating 9 Senior kids from a roster that was essentially in the high teens the last few games. Waiting until this summer (and a total regime change) is going to cause one of two things--A group of other 2-A district foes rightfully upset with the resulting scheduling voids, or some sacrificial lambs if they try to play the 2-A schedule with 16 kids.

 

Ideally, they should go back to the beginning, build a team from the ground up with middle school & freshman aged kids interested in committing to football for all four years. Put together a strong foundation in youth football (which they've had going for the last couple years), and move to 1-A District play when those kids are upperclassmen. Find & retain a solid staff committed to the future & willing to take time to "Build" a program.

 

The economy is ever so slowly coming back, and the moratorium on building in the Alexandria area is lifted. A new 1200+ home subdivision is under way in A-Town, and there is other growth expected in current developments farther south in the County. Any growth in Campbell County will be to the South! Certainly a good portion of these new families would be interested in a Catholic education for their children, so the future growth potential is bright. BBHS owns the property for a sports' complex, and with some support could make that happen rather quickly I'm told. The new principal will be a shot in the arm IMO, and one who seem to have an interest in growing a quality football program.

 

The future of BBHS football can be bright, but they need to start from the ground up again; and avoid the mistakes of the past. Go Mustangs!!

 

BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Actually, the football future at Brossart is not as bleak as some on here would like to make you think.

 

Yes, this year, facing having to play 2a competition is a bear. BUT between now and next season we will do everything in our power to find 30 solid committed players to compete in the new 1a district comprised of Brossart, Nicholas County, Bracken County, and Berea. Competing in these district games with the potential of winning a couple, could provide Brossart with the niche we are looking for. We could have a winning record, win a couple of district games, make a run in the post-season, and provide the opportunity to kids who acutally want to play, compete, and contribute the opportunity to do so.

 

The KHSAA did us no favors by realigning us to 2-A a few years back, and as a result interest has waned to the point where we find ourselves today.

 

Hopefully, we will get things ironed out, get those 30 committed kids, and start fresh with a new attitude and perspective for Brossart football.

Didn't Brossart re-align themselves to 2A based on their enrollment? The KHSAA just followed the enrollment rules set forth by the member schools..... of the KHSAA. Sure Beechwood was the largest 1A school and Brossart was the smallest 2A but it is not like they were being punished. Fair is fair. Walton-Verona has done just fine going from 1A to 2A. Four years from now maybe Brossart will be back in 2A, maybe they won't.

I was told Brossart still looking for a Coach? P Wiggins will stay with colts program this year.

Has Brossart decided to play a full schedule this year or is that still to be determined? Also, anyone know the reason why Teegarden left when he did so close to the season starting? At this point in the year getting a coach is going to be a challenge. Maybe a call to Dale Muller wouldn't hurt. He isn't coaching this year. Just kidding.

Didn't Brossart re-align themselves to 2A based on their enrollment? The KHSAA just followed the enrollment rules set forth by the member schools..... of the KHSAA. Sure Beechwood was the largest 1A school and Brossart was the smallest 2A but it is not like they were being punished. Fair is fair. Walton-Verona has done just fine going from 1A to 2A. Four years from now maybe Brossart will be back in 2A, maybe they won't.

 

At the last realignment four years ago, Brossart was reclassified from 1A to 2A by the KHSAA, based on rolling two-year enrollment figures. However, at the time of the reclassification, the actual enrollment numbers had dipped back to 1A levels (and future enrollment projections indicated they would remain at that level). Both Principal Dick Stewart and Athletics Director Mel Webster traveled to Frankfort to plead the case to remain in the 1A classification, but the KHSAA rejected the case.

 

Everyone at the time the decision was finalized predicted the eventual spiral that the football program would experience. They've done their best to keep noses above water, but it was inevitable. I agree with Mustang .. if they can survive this year, I believe the future will be competitive and sustainable.

Has Brossart decided to play a full schedule this year or is that still to be determined? Also, anyone know the reason why Teegarden left when he did so close to the season starting? At this point in the year getting a coach is going to be a challenge. Maybe a call to Dale Muller wouldn't hurt. He isn't coaching this year. Just kidding.

 

I could see something like that actually happening. As people get older, their perspective changes, they get off the mice wheel, and enjoy giving back. It would be a challenge, but it might also be very refreshing. What a great story .. a HOF coach, coaching for the absolute joy of trying to help develop kids!! It would be a no-lose situation ... Dale could come out, show them how to build a program, get unbelievable publicity for the school, and teach them how to win. He would have rapt attention .. who wouldn't listen to him?

 

No one actually believes they can win ... imagine if they actually beat someone?!

Dale Muller and Mike Code under the same roof... :thumb: