Let me be straight forward - my one and only issue with the All-A is with semantics. It's the word "State"

 

I'll paraphrase what is saw posted awhile back somewhere on here that I agree with . . . to you, and I, and people in the know, we all know there's only 1 KHSAA State Champ in almost all sports (football classes are a separate discussion). But to the broader population, and to some extent the media, there is no difference in perception between the All-A winner calling themselves, or being called "State Champs" and the KHSAA State Champs.

 

And call me petty, call me whatever, but I love the fact that there's only 1 official State Champ in KY in almost every sport, determined in a true statewide tourney. And whoever wins it is going to have to go through a gauntlet to do so. And that team deserves, in the minds of the general public, to be the sole owner of that title. So when a different team wins a regular season tournament (one that frankly excludes the top teams in the state) and fans, parents, and sometimes (but not always) the schools themselves hail it as a "State Championship" I have a problem with that. Because it does happen..we've all seen it. It gets inflated. Banners, T-Shirts, etc. Celebrate the win? Sure. But does the winner of the LIT or the Traditional Bank Holiday Classic hang a banner and call it a "State Championship"?

 

I don't get caught up in the "Hoosiers" romantic feelings towards small school sports. You can't tell me that the level of play at the All-A is better than the LIT. The girls at E-Town, Ashland Blazer, Henderson County, Holmes, and Highlands work just as hard and earn every accolade they get.

 

So have fun, celebrate the tourney, hand out the scholarships, and crown the champs - just call them the "All-A Champs" or "All-A Tournament Champs"

 

I posted this picture in the post game girls thread. I think that is actually how they are being called.

 

Let me be straight forward - my one and only issue with the All-A is with semantics. It's the word "State"

 

I'll paraphrase what is saw posted awhile back somewhere on here that I agree with . . . to you, and I, and people in the know, we all know there's only 1 KHSAA State Champ in almost all sports (football classes are a separate discussion). But to the broader population, and to some extent the media, there is no difference in perception between the All-A winner calling themselves, or being called "State Champs" and the KHSAA State Champs.

 

And call me petty, call me whatever, but I love the fact that there's only 1 official State Champ in KY in almost every sport, determined in a true statewide tourney. And whoever wins it is going to have to go through a gauntlet to do so. And that team deserves, in the minds of the general public, to be the sole owner of that title. So when a different team wins a regular season tournament (one that frankly excludes the top teams in the state) and fans, parents, and sometimes (but not always) the schools themselves hail it as a "State Championship" I have a problem with that. Because it does happen..we've all seen it. It gets inflated. Banners, T-Shirts, etc. Celebrate the win? Sure. But does the winner of the LIT or the Traditional Bank Holiday Classic hang a banner and call it a "State Championship"?

 

I don't get caught up in the "Hoosiers" romantic feelings towards small school sports. You can't tell me that the level of play at the All-A is better than the LIT. The girls at E-Town, Ashland Blazer, Henderson County, Holmes, and Highlands work just as hard and earn every accolade they get.

 

So have fun, celebrate the tourney, hand out the scholarships, and crown the champs - just call them the "All-A Champs" or "All-A Tournament Champs"

 

OK, as I shake my head.

Well you talking to one right now. Sorry to disappoint you. I said it last year and I'll say it again, I could be a Dayton High School grad and fan and still feel exactly the same way. I could care less if HHS ever participates in an All A event. Please tell me why HHS has anything to do with this conversation. If you think it's jealousy, you couldn't be farther from the truth.

 

I think you would think differently if you were from an All A school.

 

Easy to say you wouldn't when you haven't been there to experience with a school in it.

Just a quick thought: if Bracken and Augusta advanced every year, would it be that special? Ask NCC boys if its special anymore just to advance. You need a few powerhouses to 1) bring a special brand of basketball that is fun to watch 2) create the dramatic upset. It might be the blunt truth, but no one wants to watch a champinoship game between Fulton County and Silver Grove. But it's pretty cool when an Augusta comes in and knocks off the top dog in their region to advance.

 

They sure came ot in '93 to watch Dilce Combs and Fulton County.

I'm not saying only the NKY schools win it. I did the research awhile back. In just about every region, the regions have always been won by 1-2 teams over a long period of time. Some stretched to 3, but about 85 percent of the time, each region is won by one of the same two teams. I'm not talking about just NKY.

 

As far as if my kids went to a small school I'd love it...probably right. But they don't. They go to a medium sized school. Why don't they get a chance to experience that environment? No, not jealousy, so don't go there. Just using an example. My daughter is on her 4th varsity year and has never gone to state of won a region and has played on some really good teams. And she may not this year or next. I don't care. You have to earn that prestige. That's why it's so special when you do. But guess who they will have to go through this year to win it...Holy Cross...you know...the team that just won the A state championship that is set up to provide a chance for teams that don't otherwise have a chance to compete. Again, make it for the true small community teams and I feel like it's a beautiful thing! But when the same teams win their region every year and the same teams show up at the state, it's not doing what it's intended to do and people promote with false reasons. Saying this tournament is for smalls schools that wouldn't have a chance to experience an event like this is not really that true. Yes, maybe the occasional exception, but not the norm. There are 1000's of kids (regardless of school size) that will never make it to a state championship tournament. Heck, I think there are close to 300 schools in KY and only about 30 different schools have ever won the state. That's a lot of kids that didn't get their chance to ever experience it. If that's the reason for the tournament, then make it for the schools that don't have a chance. If it's not, then let's go to classes in basketball...and even if you did that...there would still be 1000's of kids that don't get to experience it. It should be an honor to make it. So if Etown wins the state, who is the state champion? Etown won't care a bit. But why only one other class should be able to claim it.

 

If you want to know what I'd do...well I would start by lowering the student attendance number down to true A schools. That starts to eliminate some of the larger 2A schools that happen to have a lot of success in this A tournament. Then, I would truly make it an invitational where you are invited by a committee that oversees the teams. If you are expected to have a year like HC, they you don't get invited. You could even send out invites in December after some games are played. That way you would be able to tell is a borderline team is for real or not. I know you'll say, well what about scheduling. Well it's really not that hard. If you have a team like HC, you know you're not going to get invited when the time comes. If you have a team like Bellevue, you know you are going to be invited. There will be some borderline teams, but not as many as you think. Those teams are the ones that would have to get creative with their scheduling. You have a little unknown. But you do today as well. You have no idea if you're going to advance in the tournament. And there are always other games cancelled around this time of the year. So if you are unsure if you will be picked or not, you could still schedule games in the late part of the week and cancel if you needed to.

 

Again, I do think this is a great event. I really do! And I have truly been educated on here by many and do see it in a different light now. But I do wish it could be worked out to really be for the small teams that don't get opportunity. I'm sure it's a blast for the couple of teams that consistently make a run in this tournament. But it would be even better if teams like Ludlow, Bellevue, Dayton, Augusta, Calvery, Villa were making these runs every year. That would be awesome!

 

Looks like someone has attended B-Ball-fan's class on thread posting.:lol:

Well you talking to one right now. Sorry to disappoint you. I said it last year and I'll say it again, I could be a Dayton High School grad and fan and still feel exactly the same way. I could care less if HHS ever participates in an All A event. Please tell me why HHS has anything to do with this conversation. If you think it's jealousy, you couldn't be farther from the truth.

 

Not disappointed and based on what I've seen on here, you report on many schools and care about the sport. Just not sure this all about the small schools' plight. Maybe some, but not all. Think some poking by a few others on here may have gotten a few Bluebirds sensitive to this issue.

. I have no problem with the event. But we either have classifications for state titles for everyone or we don't.

 

 

I don't see classifications anytime soon and I think the All A has kept the talk for classification at bay.

 

The KHSAA has the best of both worlds. They have their sweet sixteen and the small schools get to participate state wide in a smaller school tournament called the All A.

Its just not a state championship period, governed by KHSAA, who by the way certify all those A, AA, AAA coaches, and refs. Until KHSAA deems it otherwise, it's a fine "tournament", and that's all it is. Football and Track are the only 2 sports that separate. Not opposed to doing so in basketball and other sports. Until coaches, AD, school administration, and KHSAA have talks over it, it will never be and there will never be an all "A" state patch given, recognized by KHSAA, just medals provided by the tournament.

 

NewCath boys been getting some nice rings the past couple of years for their efforts. BTW, the say State Champions on it. :banana:

 

RCC9 - please report to the principal's office. :brb:

 

...and you were doing so good too. Positive feedback and BAM !....It's almost like Groundhog Day 48 hours late.

NewCath boys been getting some nice rings the past couple of years for their efforts. BTW, the say State Champions on it. :banana:

 

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How dare they say State Champs? Was this KHSAA approved? LOL. Congrats to both "A" State Champs this year. The rings look great!

I don't see classifications anytime soon and I think the All A has kept the talk for classification at bay.

 

The KHSAA has the best of both worlds. They have their sweet sixteen and the small schools get to participate state wide in a smaller school tournament called the All A.

 

I agree it is a great tournament and I don't understand all the fuss, I will tell you this some small Schools can beat the larger Schools, If you want to look at softball there is not one team in the 9th region in the last five years that could win the All A in Softball.

NewCath boys been getting some nice rings the past couple of years for their efforts. BTW, the say State Champions on it. :banana:

 

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Funny, when HHS football players line up, they have a lot less fingers available....:dancingpa

How dare they say State Champs? Was this KHSAA approved? LOL. Congrats to both "A" State Champs this year. The rings look great!

 

AAU jackets and rings arent approve either:laugh:

NewCath boys been getting some nice rings the past couple of years for their efforts. BTW, the say State Champions on it. :banana:

 

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Because the school or boosters paid for it, their choice. But again, not recognized by KHSAA. I can go out and buy nice rings too from Jostens for being chicken wing eating champ, so big deal. It's false pretense and sad that 20 year from now they will actually tell their kids they were state champs when they were not. Cov Cath was. Period. Congrats on their tournament champ rings.

NewCath boys been getting some nice rings the past couple of years for their efforts. BTW, the say State Champions on it. :banana:

Rings AND t-shirts