Is there a scenario that exists where the KHSAA could force Mercer/Harrodsburg consolidated football team to play in Class 3A in 2006?

 

Will the KHSAA consider the newly consolidated football team a "new program"? If they do, then I think they can mandate they play in 3A based on the following from the tournament rules for football found on the KHSAA website.

 

Current FB Alignment

 

I. Assignment of Schools to Districts, Regions and

Classes

a) CLASSES

The Kentucky High School Athletic Association shall

sponsor postseason competition in football for boys,

provided that fifteen (15) percent of the member schools

declare intentions to participate in said competition.

Member schools desiring to participate in KHSAA

sponsored postseason competition shall notify the

Association office prior to September 1. Classification shall

be based on enrollment in grades 9-12 including all special

education students. The state shall be divided into four

classes based on enrollment by the Commissioner, with the

approval of the Board of Control.

Newly added or deleted

programs will be handled on a case by case basis by the

Commissioner's office

.

I do not see how they could call them a new program when they already are a program. If the KHSAA moves them to 3A It will add alot more problems for the people in their district and in the district they would have to go. The teams inthe district that they had to go would have to cancell one game to make room for them, and that would leave several other teams without games. Harrodsburg opponents already have that problem, but if this happened it would effect several teams. Most teams that just start a program do not play in a district.

 

I am not from Mercerburg as they are calling it, but everyone needs to chill out, like someone said in another thread Harrodsburg only won 3 games last year. The are not merging with the Green Bay Packers.

It would mess with too many schedules on very short notice. I don't see this happening.

I can see the logic in that. However, it was not the KHSAA that made the last minute decision to merge that has created the situation.

 

From here it looks like the KHSAA is in a bit of a catch 22.

 

If they do nothing, then how much grief will they catch if the new program does actually win the title? How many people will be wanting to crucify the KHSAA for not maintaining a level playing field? How many accusations will fly about the motives and timing of the merging of the sports teams?

 

On the other hand, if the KHSAA looks at this and declares Mercerburg a new program and places them in 3A, then they catch it from both schools and all the schools that have to re-arrange their schedules to suit.

 

I have no idea if this issue will ever make it to the KHSAA table, but don't you think they need to at least consider it in the interest of diligence and equity?

I can see the logic in that. However, it was not the KHSAA that made the last minute decision to merge that has created the situation.

 

From here it looks like the KHSAA is in a bit of a catch 22.

 

If they do nothing, then how much grief will they catch if the new program does actually win the title? How many people will be wanting to crucify the KHSAA for not maintaining a level playing field? How many accusations will fly about the motives and timing of the merging of the sports teams?

 

On the other hand, if the KHSAA looks at this and declares Mercerburg a new program and places them in 3A, then they catch it from both schools and all the schools that have to re-arrange their schedules to suit.

 

I have no idea if they will even consider this, but don't you think they need to at least consider it in the interest of diligence and equity?

 

You are right on with this post. The KHSAA is in a bad spot. Why did the merger go thru for sports team when the kids won't even be in the same building this school year?

 

Whatever they decide to do, they need to do it now so that schedules can be adjusted if need be. And this will impact a TON of teams if they opt to move them to 3A. Not just the schools on their schedules, but also the teams that their opposition is facing, and so on.

You are right on with this post. The KHSAA is in a bad spot. Why did the merger go thru for sports team when the kids won't even be in the same building this school year?

 

Whatever they decide to do, they need to do it now so that schedules can be adjusted if need be. And this will impact a TON of teams if they opt to move them to 3A. Not just the schools on their schedules, but also the teams that their opposition is facing, and so on.

 

If I have heard correct, some of the students, maybe not all, depending on the classes they take will be "mixed" together throughout the school day, at both H'burg and Mercer Co. classes. Those kids will just be bused over, which wont be much different for some of the current H'burg students who opt to take classes at Mercer for Vocational classes.

Why did the merger go thru for sports team when the kids won't even be in the same building this school year?

 

Excellent question that will be at the heart of the controversy no matter how it turns out, IMO. :thumb:

Buffalo Gap, what happens next year? In other words, will all of H'burg students attend at the current Mercer Co building? Or will they use a combination of the two or build a new school or what?

I am not from Mercerburg as they are calling it, but everyone needs to chill out, like someone said in another thread Harrodsburg only won 3 games last year. The are not merging with the Green Bay Packers.

 

I agree with you! Everyone needs to chill out and let this newly formed football team get to work on playing football. None of these athletes asked to be merged together from either side, but they are taking it in stride. They are forming new relationships, getting to know each other better, and trying to build some chemistry before they even get started with football in June.

 

Coach Jaggers just took over Mercer's program in 2005. Now he is basically starting all over again in 2006 with new added players. Why doesn't everyone just give it a rest and let Coach Jaggers get these boys together to take care of business.

 

No one can predict at this moment that this team will win the 2A championship. They haven't even had their first practice. No one even knows who is going to be playing on the new team or who will even be in the starting positions.

 

We are talking about Mercer getting maybe 20 to 25 new players on their team. Of those 20 to 25 players from Harrodsburg, only about 6 of them are seniors. Let's give Coach Jaggers, his staff, and the "newly" formed team a break! Just let them play football !!!!

I think the question is a legit one. Can the KHSAA move them to 3A this season. I don't think there is any malice in asking this legit question.

 

I really like Jaggers and think he will make the new school a force to be reckoned with. Look what he did at Mercer in just one season! The knock was that they could squeak into the playoffs but hadn't won a playoff game in several years. In his first year, he got those kids on the same page. I think he will do the same with the newly merged school.

 

I think that the real thread to be concerned about is the one asking if Jaggers should be fired if he doesn't win a state title this year. That is ridiculous IMHO, and that poster seems to not have much love for Jaggers. Myself, I think he is a fantastic coach who's history has shown him to be a winner!

I think if they merge or not, Mercer would have been good this year. Marty Jaggers is a good football coach!!! :thumb:

I think if they merge or not, Mercer would have been good this year. Marty Jaggers is a good football coach!!! :thumb:

 

Absolutely! Just give him even more good athletes, and the new school could be a real contender, year in and year out.

I think the KHSAA is like a huge battleship which is very slow to manuver in a specific detailed manner. However if they get all their guns focused on you - it's big trouble!

In other words - I don't think they can even get organized enough to respond to this issue before the season is upon us

 

I think one reason some have brought up this issue (entirely reasonable to do so) is that a few people on BGP have been posting statements that "Mercerburg" is a lock to win the 2A title, bragged how they are going to dominate 2A, or have considered them one of the favorites, etc. All this on top of some very dismissive comments about anyone who expressed any concern about the problems it will cause for all the other schools Harrodsburg had promised to play/scrimmage this season or the questions people had about why a team with with 3A numbers is eligible in 2A competition.

[we already know redistricting isnt done every year so no need to beat that horse]

 

So I doubt they will be forced into 3A now.

I also doubt that they are close to a "Remember the Titans" sequel

 

Woody Jr

[we already know redistricting isnt done every year so no need to beat that horse]

 

We all know that, which is why I thought the exception I listed in the first post was very interesting. If I read it right, it is totally up to the KHSAA's discretion to place them into 3A if they view this as a "new program" and in that instance it wouldn't matter if it is a re-districting year or not.

 

As Mountain Thunder stated, there is no malice in my question. I wish Mercer/Harrodsburg the best whichever class they are playing in.

 

My interest in this is more of the curious nature. To my knowledge this is unchartered waters and I find it a very interesting topic. Add in the fact that they are merging athletic teams at least a year prior to the physical merger and it makes it more interesting. Consider that it is in between redistricting and it adds even more interest.

 

No matter who you support, I don't see how you could not be interested in this case and how the KHSAA will handle it.

 

Please let's not make this thread into a Mercer vs Everybody Else thread. That is not what it was intended to be. I was interested in the KHSAA's role in this and whether they have any decision making to do in terms of which class Mercer/Harrodsburg will be in. I hope we can focus on that topic and deal with the other issues in their own thread.

Buffalo Gap, what happens next year? In other words, will all of H'burg students attend at the current Mercer Co building? Or will they use a combination of the two or build a new school or what?

 

Does anyone else have any info on this and do you think the answer to it should influence whether or not this year's team should be viewed as a "new program" by the KHSAA?