I'm talking about basketball because that's the topic that this thread was started about, and I'm completely aware at some of the turns the thread has taken throughout.

This is the latest chapter in a very long debate with multiple threads and topics over a period of years about football playoffs. VOR was using basketball scores to reopen the topic of football playoffs.

 

But, it sounds like you are on the "Right" side of the debate with your thoughts on football playoffs.

St. Pat played two small 8th graders tonight against one of the top teams in the state. Their safety was not an issue. They could play basketball tomorrow, no problem.

 

If you put those same two kids in a 1st round football playoff game against one of the top teams in the state, they are at risk for getting a severe injury.

 

i don't think you can apply the same logic in this situation. Two very different sports.

 

Aren't there rules in place to prevent 2 small (or large for that matter) 8th graders from participating in a varsity football game?

 

Aren't there rules in place to prevent 2 small (or large for that matter) 8th graders from participating in a varsity football game?

 

Yes, it can't happen. Against the rules in football.

Yes. Another example of how the two sports are different. And, physically, that same size kid could be a freshman and put into a varsity playoff game versus a top rated opponent.

 

If the St. Pat coach put my 11 year old in the game tonight, my son is safe. If a football coach puts my 11 year old in a football game versus Highlands, my 11 year old would get hurt, bad.

 

 

It's an extreme example to make a point.

 

Two different games/sports.

A team with the 3rd worst regular season record in the 10th Region at 8-18, Bourbon County upset solid 10th Region team Montgomery County who was without doubt expected to advance, and at least have a decent competitive showing in the 10 Region Tournament, yet Cinderella came to the dance with other ideas in mind.

 

Montgomery County is on their way home.

 

That's why they play they game.

And had the rules I would like to see applied to football were in place Trinity (who won the state championship in football in case you missed it) then Trinity would not have even been in the playoffs.

 

You should EARN the right to play in the playoffs during the regular season.

I am also appalled so many coaches ran up the score.

 

I have a serious problem with high school coaches running up the score (in any sport) myself. Having said that I will also say that maybe the score couldn't be helped. What I am meaning is that if a coach plays absolutely everyone that he has got .....after pulling starters early / as soon as the game is in hand/B] then he may not be in control of the score. Should the least talented of his team still greatly outscores the best the opponent has then there is not a whole lot that can be done. At no time imo should a coach tell a player "not to try".

Again ....if any coach is obviously and deliberately running a score up then that person shouldn't be coaching and/or is in coaching for the wrong reasons.

I am also appalled so many coaches ran up the score.

 

You shouldn't be. Not these days. Having brought up running up the score in the Football, Basketball, and Soccer boards before I can tell you no one seems to have any problem with running it up anymore. A steady stream of "the starters practice hard so let them play", "if you don't like it, stop it", and "what am I supposed to do, tell them not to shoot?"

You shouldn't be. Not these days. Having brought up running up the score in the Football, Basketball, and Soccer boards before I can tell you no one seems to have any problem with running it up anymore. A steady stream of "the starters practice hard so let them play", "if you don't like it, stop it", and "what am I supposed to do, tell them not to shoot?"

 

Sarcasm from endless debates. The thread was started as sarcasm.

This is just one example of probably only a very few, but anyone who is familiar with "The Covington Latin Trojans" know that they are an accelerated school for extremely intelligent youngsters who enter the 9th grade when they are really just at 7th grade age.

 

With this, when their varsity team competes they are at an obvious disadvantage, and have traditionally been so since they've suited up a team since the late 60's.

 

They enter each season with pretty much the knowledge that they're likely to end it with a losing record.

 

They purposely schedule most other small and/or christian schools with the hopes that they can at least compete with them to some degree, but still again against those teams they are always a couple of years younger than their opponent.

 

For nearly 50 years they've experience just as many losing seasons throughout that whole period. I could be wrong, but I think they have 100% losing seasons throughout the history all of their seasons.

 

There's been a few unusual and exceptional student/athlete talents that have come through (Jeff Stowers, Brian O'Connor, DAVID JUSTICE, and Mitchell Blewett to name the four obvious ones) who have helped the team reach a bit higher than ever before, yet still all in all, their disadvantage was typically insurmountable, yet still helping to add more victories during their seasons than in typical seasons.

 

These kids typically go on to graduate to attend fine colleges, and eventually lead very successful lives, sometimes ending up being your bosses and making more money than you can shake a stick at.

 

Yet, year after year knowing fully of what they are getting themselves into, they manage to suit up a team willing to take on the daunting task.

 

In those nearly 50 years of having a team, there were roughly ten seasons where they opted not to participate in the post season district tournament. A few years back they resumed when their fantastic player Mitchell Blewett was tearing up the nets, and thought to finally resume playing in the tournament once more. Of course at the typical disadvantage that they are, they've lost in the first round of those recent district tournaments, just as they have in all the numerous others that they've participated in as far back as their beginnings.

 

In 1971, while being the obvious walkover that they've always been, they managed to give eventual district runner-ups "Holy Cross", who went on to compete in the 1971 9th Region Tournament, all they wanted, and was giving them a super close competitive game with them only to fall short by game's end with a final score of 72-63.

 

I would have to bet that every player on that 1971 team has an exciting memory of how close they came at slaying the dragon and being most likely the only Trojan team over the years that came even that close to winning a district tournament game.

 

With all the odds stacked high against them, year after year, they never walk away from the challenge.

 

While some might think it's a self-esteem stealer to bother trying to compete when you are at an obvious disadvantage, somehow this school suits a team up every year anyhow.

 

It hasn't seemed to destroy these guys, and they have fun memories of playing for their school, graduating and going on to lead successful lives.

 

Who knows, it just might have the opposite effect than you might expect, and that it maybe builds a certain amount of character to go up against the dragon and have to walk away knowing that even after all you did to try to slay him, there was no way that you could, and that you had to accept that, all the while building a certain amount of pride by even taking on the task, but still learning how to lose with grace.

 

Losing with grace is a huge lesson most everyone needs to learn as they move forward into their adult lives. Life isn't always easy and no matter how hard you try you can't always be the winner. Learning how to deal with that is invaluable.

 

Next time you talk to one of them in their early 40s, ask them about the time they won at Gallatin Co. That sure was embarrassing.

Some are comparing basketball to football? That's like comparing apples and ice cream, it's not even close to being the same.

 

In football there you most likely are playing in cold weather, as well as practicing in that weather as well, then having a long road trip. Plus as we know there is a heck of a lot better chance of having a serious injury in football. You can physically get beat more that in football.

 

Basketball is practiced and played indoors, not as much of a burden than outdoor sports. Drive to your game is a lot shorter. There is the tourney atmosphere as well that many enjoy. Plus as was mentioned before, one champion.

 

I agree with what Chiefsmoke added to this thread.