Conversation is reminiscent of the Mercer County discussion circa 2006.

 

In 2006, Russell went on the road and defeated Belfry in the semifinals at Belfry, and then went on to face that Mercer County team in the finals, where they lost in a close battle 15-12.

 

Ironically, Russell again faces Belfry on the road in the semifinals for a chance to move on to Bowling Green where they very well may end up facing this South Warren team for the championship.

To me the similarities between SW and Mercer are slim.

 

I have little issue with the SW case. They are playing the hand dealt and have essentially been 3A since the school was created.

 

Mercer County IMHO should have an asterisk by their title. They used a loophole to their advantage and "merged" the last year of alignment but were still operating out of two schools. I was actually at Mercer prior to the season starting and spoke with the administration and it was made very clear that the impact of the football team and their success was paramount in the decision to expedite the process. Heck... Their mascot even outlined it!

 

Mercer should never have been allowed to compete in 2A that season. To me Russell was the rightful State Champ.

To me the similarities between SW and Mercer are slim.

 

I have little issue with the SW case. They are playing the hand dealt and have essentially been 3A since the school was created.

 

Mercer County IMHO should have an asterisk by their title. They used a loophole to their advantage and "merged" the last year of alignment but were still operating out of two schools. I was actually at Mercer prior to the season starting and spoke with the administration and it was made very clear that the impact of the football team and their success was paramount in the decision to expedite the process. Heck... Their mascot even outlined it!

 

Mercer should never have been allowed to compete in 2A that season. To me Russell was the rightful State Champ.

The cases may not be similar but make no mistake about it, neither Mercer or SW deserve(d) to be playing in the class they were (are) allowed to. Everyone knew SW's enrollment was going to skyrocket and no one did anything about it, much like Mercer they (SW) manipulated the system to their benefit and the KHSAA allowed it and IMO may have even assisted in it by changing the rules to go to 4year enrollment averages, which will give SW four more years of playing down a class... So while you say the cases are not very similar you may be right, but in the end the story is the same in that the theme is manipulation, lack of oversight, and asterisk's...

Love fans who try to compare their program to a giant before they've accomplished ANYTHING. Win something first then post. It will still be hilarious but you won't look quite so foolish.

Love fans who try to compare their program to a giant before they've accomplished ANYTHING. Win something first then post. It will still be hilarious but you won't look quite so foolish.

 

Agree with your statement. South has won 13 games big deal. It wont be the first time a team has been 13-0. Fact is if they don't make to 11:00 am December 5th at WKU it sometimes happens. All I could say is they had a nice run it would be disappointing, but life goes on.

The thread title made me laugh out loud. Good stuff.

The cases may not be similar but make no mistake about it, neither Mercer or SW deserve(d) to be playing in the class they were (are) allowed to. Everyone knew SW's enrollment was going to skyrocket and no one did anything about it, much like Mercer they (SW) manipulated the system to their benefit and the KHSAA allowed it and IMO may have even assisted in it by changing the rules to go to 4year enrollment averages, which will give SW four more years of playing down a class... So while you say the cases are not very similar you may be right, but in the end the story is the same in that the theme is manipulation, lack of oversight, and asterisk's...

 

This happens with every reclassification. It seems like they run a 2 year average report, see how much movement is involved. Run a 4 year average report, see how much movement is involved. Then adopt the one with less movement. Classification in the state of Kentucky is an absolute joke. I am not talking about 6 classes although that is part of the reason stuff like the SW situation happen. It is the implementation of the system that is the problem.

Love fans who try to compare their program to a giant before they've accomplished ANYTHING. Win something first then post. It will still be hilarious but you won't look quite so foolish.

 

Go post in the H thread.

To me the similarities between SW and Mercer are slim.

 

I have little issue with the SW case. They are playing the hand dealt and have essentially been 3A since the school was created.

 

Mercer County IMHO should have an asterisk by their title. They used a loophole to their advantage and "merged" the last year of alignment but were still operating out of two schools. I was actually at Mercer prior to the season starting and spoke with the administration and it was made very clear that the impact of the football team and their success was paramount in the decision to expedite the process. Heck... Their mascot even outlined it!

 

Mercer should never have been allowed to compete in 2A that season. To me Russell was the rightful State Champ.

 

I question this entire post. Who did you speak with on the administration? Name names. Operating out of two schools? Please explain more in detail. How were they operating out of two schools?

 

I ask because I live here and had a front seat into the entire merge and I have a super hard time believing anyone who was on the administration admitted to you that they merged for football when they all stated publicly that sports had nothing to do with it.

PP, as far as the 2nd part of your question, in the fall of 2006 wasn't it discussed ad nauseum on here that Mercer County HS was officially created before the building was months away from being ready for occupancy? And so the students continued to attend their respective schools, yet played sports as MCHS consolidated?

PP, as far as the 2nd part of your question, in the fall of 2006 wasn't it discussed ad nauseum on here that Mercer County HS was officially created before the building was months away from being ready for occupancy? And so the students continued to attend their respective schools, yet played sports as MCHS consolidated?

 

False. Harrodsburg High School became the 9th Grade Academy and the Harrodsburg Middle School was the 5th Grade Academy. Mercer County High School housed the 10-12 grade. Once the new high school was finished being built 9-12 began to be housed in the same building.

If it had been like that, then what was the uproar on here about back at the time?

 

According to this article, the BOE's of both districts voted in spring/summer of 2006 to merge, but that was well before the new school was built. This article was written in July, 2006 and stated that Harrodsburg High and Mercer County High students would continue to attend in separate locations until a merged campus would be completed, expected in 2008.

 

Now, they may have scrapped that idea in favor of what you posted, but that isn't how it was reported on here IIRC, and definitely how this article portrays it.

 

-------------------------------------------------------

 

Harrodsburg and Mercer school systems merge officially - Central Kentucky News

 

Even though they'll compete on the field together, Harrodsburg High and Mercer County High will continue to operate on separate campuses for grades 9 through 12 once school resumes Aug. 2 until a new, merged campus opens in 2008.

 

The combination of the two districts means more academic offerings for students, including more fine arts and technical programs, as well as advanced placement and honors courses in math, science and foreign languages, said Mercer County Superintendent Bruce Johnson, who will head the new district.

The new school district is planning a 78-acre, $25 million high school for grades 10-12, which is expected to open in 2008. The current Mercer High facility would then become a center for seventh-, eighth- and ninth-graders.

So back to my point about Mercer having an asterisk by their championship.... It's 8 years later and we're still debating the conditions of it... In the court of public opinion that is an asterisk. If SW wins a SC the merits of it WILL be debated for years as well. The solution is very simple for the KHSAA, if your going to classify schools based on 4 year enrollment numbers than demand the school provide you with a projection of enrollment for those 4 years, then place said school where they belong based on what the enrollment numbers say, for instance if a school's projections show they will have 4A enrollment for three of the 4year period than put them in 4A... As it is now, SW will play down in class for 8 years... That is something SW knows and the KHSAA knows... The good thing is I believe the competition in 4A will take care of the problem on its own, It's so lopsided this year that I'm not sure 3A can handle it and SW may steal a SC from a deserving 3A school....

By definition that is true but the 9th graders were at Harroddburg High. The Harrodsburg and Mercer students were not segregated by schools.

 

That's how I remember it.

My memory isn't what it once was, but there were several discussions about it on here that said otherwise and that was what fueled the fire so to speak.

 

I don't remember anyone ever disputing that fact at the time. :idunno: