How can anyone make a positive evaluation of 4, 5 or 6 without seeing what they look like? Travel, etc. Who it helps, Who it hurts, etc. Otherwise, you are making a subjective decision based solely on a number which is about the most indefensible and arbitrary thing you can do leading to the conclusion that the biggest resistance is a resistance to change..

 

Actually, I have looked at it; quite a bit.

 

I have made a 6-class breakdown that is broken down by geography and enrollment.

 

It portions into a "SuperClass" the ONE class that has a disparity such that ONLY the Top 16 have historically even MADE it to the state finals in that class (that being, the top 16 schools in the state in terms of enrollment).

 

I also have what I think is the BEST solution to what I feel is the ONLY problem (that being the numbers disparity from largest to smallest teams in the top class) -- it involves allowing WHOLE COUNTIES to merge several of their schools into ONE team. That, I think, would allow for a similar number of boys to choose from as St. X and Trinity.

 

I also have what I think is the BEST solution to what I feel is the ONLY problem (that being the numbers disparity from largest to smallest teams in the top class) -- it involves allowing WHOLE COUNTIES to merge several of their schools into ONE team. That, I think, would allow for a similar number of boys to choose from as St. X and Trinity.

 

CoachJ - I like the "outside the box" thinking.

 

However, I'd be STUNNED to see many counties merge their teams. STUNNED.

 

Besides the coordination/politics/power struggle involved it seems this COMPLETELY gets away from the initial idea of increasing from 4 classes: more opporunties for players to be seen. The merging of 2 or 3 teams in a county means that instead of 22 or 33 offensive positions, you have 11. You now have 11 to 22 kids who would be playing offense not getting to play offense.

 

Now, if I've COMPLETELY misunderstood the 'merging' idea, disregard the above.

Actually, I have looked at it; quite a bit.

 

I have made a 6-class breakdown that is broken down by geography and enrollment.

 

It portions into a "SuperClass" the ONE class that has a disparity such that ONLY the Top 16 have historically even MADE it to the state finals in that class (that being, the top 16 schools in the state in terms of enrollment).

 

I also have what I think is the BEST solution to what I feel is the ONLY problem (that being the numbers disparity from largest to smallest teams in the top class) -- it involves allowing WHOLE COUNTIES to merge several of their schools into ONE team. That, I think, would allow for a similar number of boys to choose from as St. X and Trinity.

It would never last, but I would love to see the three Kenton and three Boone county schools go against each other and the rest of the world. I have a sneaking suspicion we'd do OK.

I also have what I think is the BEST solution to what I feel is the ONLY problem (that being the numbers disparity from largest to smallest teams in the top class) -- it involves allowing WHOLE COUNTIES to merge several of their schools into ONE team. That, I think, would allow for a similar number of boys to choose from as St. X and Trinity.

 

So competing with Trinity and X is more important than giving significant numbers of young people the experience of playing football?

 

This is one of the worst ideas I have heard of.

So competing with Trinity and X is more important than giving significant numbers of young people the experience of playing football?

 

This is one of the worst ideas I have heard of.

 

So do you feel sorry for the "poor kids of Trinity or St. X" because their school of 1300 or 1500 boys has only ONE football team -- thus depriving all those "significant numbers of young people" the experience of playing football?

 

Seems like they all seem to enjoy supporting a team that wins the state championship virtually very year.

 

Until they decide it would be in their best interests to divide into two teams, doing something radical like the above is the only way to REALLY make up for what I feel is the biggest advantage they have.

 

I don't see THEM doing that in the near future (nor do I blame them)...and it's starting to become obvious that none of schemes to "punish" them are going to achieve making 4A football any more competitive either.

 

...and, I personally believe in teaching young people the TOUGH lessons of COMPETITION. If you want to play football and you're good enough to start on many other teams but not good enough to beat someone out on YOUR team (like MANY of the 100+ players at X and T), you have two choices: quit and do something else (there are MANY other worthwhile things to do as a student-athlete besides football -- and I'm pretty biased!), or stay on the team and play an important role in some other way than on the field at game-time.

So do you feel sorry for the "poor kids of Trinity or St. X" because their school of 1300 or 1500 boys has only ONE football team -- thus depriving all those "significant numbers of young people" the experience of playing football?

 

Seems like they all seem to enjoy supporting a team that wins the state championship virtually very year.

 

Until they decide it would be in their best interests to divide into two teams, doing something radical like the above is the only way to REALLY make up for what I feel is the biggest advantage they have.

 

I don't see THEM doing that in the near future (nor do I blame them)...and it's starting to become obvious that none of schemes to "punish" them are going to achieve making 4A football any more competitive either.

 

...and, I personally believe in teaching young people the TOUGH lessons of COMPETITION. If you want to play football and you're good enough to start on many other teams but not good enough to beat someone out on YOUR team (like MANY of the 100+ players at X and T), you have two choices: quit and do something else (there are MANY other worthwhile things to do as a student-athlete besides football -- and I'm pretty biased!), or stay on the team and play an important role in some other way than on the field at game-time.

:thumb: Very well said Coach.

...and, I personally believe in teaching young people the TOUGH lessons of COMPETITION. If you want to play football and you're good enough to start on many other teams but not good enough to beat someone out on YOUR team (like MANY of the 100+ players at X and T), you have two choices: quit and do something else (there are MANY other worthwhile things to do as a student-athlete besides football -- and I'm pretty biased!), or stay on the team and play an important role in some other way than on the field at game-time.

 

So you believe in teaching a young person the "tough" lesson of competition and that he might not be good enough, but you don't believe in teams and maybe more importantly COACHES (who seem to be driving every stupid proposal in this state) realizing that they might not be good enough?

I wanted to vote, but didn't see an eight class system. Heck, do I hear 10, let everyone win a state title! Then, we can keep talking about Kentucky being a football state. BTW I wonder what would happen if football went to only one class for a few years? My guess is we'd see a drastic decrease in the number of kids participating. Not saying that's a good thing, but I don't like the idea of adding classes.

 

And before anyone thinks I'm knocking football as a sport, let me state, it's my favorite spectator sport. Particularly at the high school level.

 

With my rant out of the way, I'd like to see three classes. But, since that won't happen I hope it stays at four classes. I think we've become too saturated as it is, and I'd hate to see it get worse.

 

I understand numbers matter more in football than any other sport, but we're going overboard here. In baseball, it's a lot easier to find two stud pitchers every year in a school of 900 boys than 400 boys (law of probability). Yet schools with those numbers compete for the SAME state title.

 

Same goes for every other sport, the more kids you have to choose from, the more likely you are to find good players. Yet no other sport even has four classes, and we're talking about adding more for football?

I THINK 5 CLASSES WOULD WORK.