It's not the size of the school that I have a problem with. It's the # 8 ranking that is my problem. All the 4A schools in KY and we don't have any with a better resume' to be considered in the top ten?

 

There what is?

 

Platoon or not platoon? Example; Highlands started platooning in 2009, and they had how many state titles before then? How many 1A schools have the TALENT and the NUMBERS to platoon? I'll wait. I'm a Bluebird fan, I've known about "THE NUMBERS" for a long time.

 

So is it about resume then? The teams that a program schedules to play? Is that what makes them the top of their division? Or is it about which teams are likely to beat which other teams in their division?

So is it about resume then? The teams that a program schedules to play? Is that what makes them the top of their division? Or is it about which teams are likely to beat which other teams in their division?

 

Obviously, a 4A beating a 4A is more impressive than a 4A beating a #8 1A. That's the way I see it. If you disagree, that's fine with me.

Should a 4A team be in the top ten while scheduling a #8 1A team?

 

With respect that 1A team would beat

5A Lincoln County

5A Apollo

5A Perry Central

It's not the size of the school that I have a problem with. It's the # 8 ranking that is my problem. All the 4A schools in KY and we don't have any with a better resume' to be considered in the top ten?

 

There what is?

 

Platoon or not platoon? Example; Highlands started platooning in 2009, and they had how many state titles before then? How many 1A schools have the TALENT and the NUMBERS to platoon? I'll wait. I'm a Bluebird fan, I've known about "THE NUMBERS" for a long time.

When Highlands was not platooning, how many teams did they play, and beat, that did platoon? Platooning, at that time, in Kentucky was not common. Then, what happened when Highlands did start platooning? Especially, when they played teams that did not platoon?

 

"There it is" is the school size argument. In Kentucky, there is very little difference in a good 1A football team and a good 4A football team, or a good 6A football team for that matter. Yea, throw out the "they have more students to choose from" argument, but that is only a valid argument if you have more "athletes" to choose from. Having more students does not necessarily correlate to having more football players. The only time that I concede that having more students means a better football team is if the team platoons. That is a game changer. My argument is, IF you have a 1A football team that platoons (Mayfield) they will beat other schools, regardless of size, that do not platoon.

 

In Kentucky the top 10 teams in each class are very close in talent. Obviously you have great programs, that platoon, that are head and shoulders above others, but the non-platooning teams in the top 10 in 1A or 2A are just as good as the non-platooning top 10 teams in 3A, 4A, or 5A. That is why you see the Raceland's and Beechwoods, and Hazards beating the 4A schools.

 

Now, the six class system is a different argument and one that has many solutions that everyone will never agree on.

Obviously, a 4A beating a 4A is more impressive than a 4A beating a #8 1A. That's the way I see it. If you disagree, that's fine with me.

 

Maybe in Florida...but not in Kentucky.

 

Let's call it like it is is...there are some awful schools in this State and once you get beyond about the Halfway mark in each class there is typically a massive dropoff.

 

A bad 5A team is still a bad 5A team. A good 1A team is not necessarily the same as a good 3A or 4A team...but they typically will be better than a bad team from almost every class.

 

If you are a 4A team which Non-District schedule would you rather play?

 

Schedule A:

1A Raceland

1A Hazard

2A Danville

3A Mason County

1A Pikeville

 

Schedule B:

5A South Laurel

3A McCreary Central

5A Letcher Central

5A Grant County

4A Greenup County

 

I think everyone would agree the first schedule is exponentially more difficult.

Obviously, a 4A beating a 4A is more impressive than a 4A beating a #8 1A. That's the way I see it. If you disagree, that's fine with me.

 

I'm not saying I disagree. In fact, you essentially just made my point. I was asking what point you were trying to make about ranked 4A teams having 1A teams on their schedule. If a 4A team is capable of beating all of the other teams in their division, then who cares whether they have 1A, 2A, 3A or 4A teams on their schedule?

Which one of these non-district schedules will better prepare a team for the playoffs?

6A Lou Southern

6A Marshall County

5A Logan County

5A Ohio County

5A Apollo

 

or

1A Mayfield

1A Beechwood

2A Desales

2A Caldwell County

2A Newport Cent. Cath.

There it is. And, here is my company line, the only difference in football teams is: Platoon, or not platoon. Other then that, size of the school gets you nothing.

 

Ram its not just a black and white thing but I agree with the principle. I think it matters how many play both ways. Some teams have all 11 going both ways. Some teams only have 3,4,5,6,7, etc going both ways and then obviously platoon teams have 0. There are varying degrees with the straight platoon being the best because then you also double practice time.

Ram its not just a black and white thing but I agree with the principle. I think it matters how many play both ways. Some teams have all 11 going both ways. Some teams only have 3,4,5,6,7, etc going both ways and then obviously platoon teams have 0. There are varying degrees with the straight platoon being the best because then you also double practice time.

I agree, I just didn't want to have to type all the variations, possibilities and nuances. I was hoping the smart people would understand what I was saying. lol

I'm either too anal or not smart.

I'm either too anal or not smart.

We'll go with too anal.

 

All I'm saying is the number of students in the school doesn't matter, the number of good players on the team does. For example: some 1A schools have 15 players, others have 65. There are 3A and 4A teams that don't have anywhere close to 65 players. The school size does not dictate the quality of football, the program does.

When Highlands was not platooning, how many teams did they play, and beat, that did platoon? Platooning, at that time, in Kentucky was not common. Then, what happened when Highlands did start platooning? Especially, when they played teams that did not platoon?

 

"There it is" is the school size argument. In Kentucky, there is very little difference in a good 1A football team and a good 4A football team, or a good 6A football team for that matter. Yea, throw out the "they have more students to choose from" argument, but that is only a valid argument if you have more "athletes" to choose from. Having more students does not necessarily correlate to having more football players. The only time that I concede that having more students means a better football team is if the team platoons. That is a game changer. My argument is, IF you have a 1A football team that platoons (Mayfield) they will beat other schools, regardless of size, that do not platoon.

 

In Kentucky the top 10 teams in each class are very close in talent. Obviously you have great programs, that platoon, that are head and shoulders above others, but the non-platooning teams in the top 10 in 1A or 2A are just as good as the non-platooning top 10 teams in 3A, 4A, or 5A. That is why you see the Raceland's and Beechwoods, and Hazards beating the 4A schools.

 

Now, the six class system is a different argument and one that has many solutions that everyone will never agree on.

 

Agree to the bolded, somewhat. Wouldn't talent be the determining factor in these 4A schools vs. the 1A schools that platoon?

I never use the SIZE of the school to determine the quality of it's football team/players. Sorry if my previous post was misleading. The Highlands and the Mayfields of the world are more of the "exception" than the "norm" in KY high school football.

Agree to the bolded, somewhat. Wouldn't talent be the determining factor in these 4A schools vs. the 1A schools that platoon?

I never use the SIZE of the school to determine the quality of it's football team/players. Sorry if my previous post was misleading. The Highlands and the Mayfields of the world are more of the "exception" than the "norm" in KY high school football.

That's the thing, does a school like Highlands start the best 22 player? Or, do they develop players well enough to fill the positions they don't have the "talent" to fill? I will go with the latter. Many people think you have to have 22 great athletes to platoon, I disagree. You have to take your 5 great athletes and build players out of what is left well enough to play a single position. Many coaches will cringe at that thought and say they "don't have the athletes to platoon", but does anyone?

 

What if you take an average athlete and make him practice one single position for two years, he plays say ILB, all he does is practice the technique and reads for that one position every day. I venture a guess that even though he is not that fast, not that big, not a great player he will play that one position better then a player that splits time between guard on offense and LB on defense and the obvious fatigue that goes with playing both ways.

That's the thing, does a school like Highlands start the best 22 player? Or, do they develop players well enough to fill the positions they don't have the "talent" to fill? I will go with the latter. Many people think you have to have 22 great athletes to platoon, I disagree. You have to take your 5 great athletes and build players out of what is left well enough to play a single position. Many coaches will cringe at that thought and say they "don't have the athletes to platoon", but does anyone?

 

What if you take an average athlete and make him practice one single position for two years, he plays say ILB, all he does is practice the technique and reads for that one position every day. I venture a guess that even though he is not that fast, not that big, not a great player he will play that one position better then a player that splits time between guard on offense and LB on defense and the obvious fatigue that goes with playing both ways.

 

Shhh, Ram you are giving away the secret!

Shhh, Ram you are giving away the secret!

Don't worry, no one ever listens to me anyway. lol