Boyle might have opted to move up to 4A if Brandon Smith had not been in 4A at South Warren. There would have been a good possibility they would play each other not only this year but several times in the future. This is not something they would want to do. Play in your class and if you want to schedule up, do so early in your season as Boyle did with Central Hardin this year. Why would a 3A school with much smaller numbers want to play in 6A just to pacify a few misguided followers.

Edited September 12, 201511 yr by Country
left a word out

To be honest with I'm not so sure Boyle County realized they were going to be that much better than everyone they played with the exception of Central Hardin. I predicted some close games but they put a running clock on three straight ranked opponents. Scary thing is Boyle County continues to get better.

 

I do get your point but Chuck Smith knows what he's doing. He made a schedule he thought was most appropriate. It just happens that this team really clicks.

 

This!

 

When this schedule was made, the first 5 games included a defending state champion from 4A, a semifinalist from 5A, a quarterfinalist from 6A, and two games against perennial top 10 teams from their respective class. Every game so far has been against a ranked team that was undefeated at the time of the game. This is a very appropriate schedule for a 3A team trying to win a 3A state championship.

 

This is not a case of soft scheduling, it appears Boyle just may be ahead of schedule in what will hopefully be a return to the type of consistency we saw during Smiths last tenure.

 

Remember, in the 6 years prior to his departure, Smith led Boyle teams went 86-4 with winning steaks of 47 & 25 games included in there. They won 5 consecutive state titles and finished as runner up in the other season. As far as player development goes, those teams produced multiple Div 1 and NFL players.

 

This staff had proven it once had the right formula for meeting the above criteria of making itself and its players better every week.

Play the Scott Co.'s, Trinity's, Elder's etc. Challenge yourself with the best as Highlands does.

 

I think if you are clearly that much better than your class, it does nothing to grow you as a player and a team to play these types of games every week. No adversity, no challenge.

 

Heard the same mantra in 00, n 99. Wait til you get to AAA and play real football. We saw how that was answered then.

 

The reason HHS went up was to preserve their District and traditional rivals.

 

HHS hasn't played Trinity since 00. The others you mention are closer in geographic area and make good sense to play.

 

Like Country said, I will trust Smith n Pardue with what they do.

Play the Scott Co.'s, Trinity's, Elder's etc. Challenge yourself with the best as Highlands does.

 

I think if you are clearly that much better than your class, it does nothing to grow you as a player and a team to play these types of games every week. No adversity, no challenge.

 

You say they are clearly better than their class. Boyle doesn't. Boyle will be fortunate to win state. It's far from a done deal. Not to mention this is one year. If Boyle wins 3A the next four years and dominates 3A like Highlands dominated 4A the last 4 years then maybe it is a discussion. 4-0 to start the season in the 3A classification doesn't mean Boyle should be playing up. Let's not jump the gun now.

This!

 

When this schedule was made, the first 5 games included a defending state champion from 4A, a semifinalist from 5A, a quarterfinalist from 6A, and two games against perennial top 10 teams from their respective class. Every game so far has been against a ranked team that was undefeated at the time of the game. This is a very appropriate schedule for a 3A team trying to win a 3A state championship.

 

This is not a case of soft scheduling, it appears Boyle just may be ahead of schedule in what will hopefully be a return to the type of consistency we saw during Smiths last tenure.

 

Remember, in the 6 years prior to his departure, Smith led Boyle teams went 86-4 with winning steaks of 47 & 25 games included in there. They won 5 consecutive state titles and finished as runner up in the other season. As far as player development goes, those teams produced multiple Div 1 and NFL players.

 

This staff had proven it once had the right formula for meeting the above criteria of making itself and its players better every week.

 

This is an excellent post.

Play the Scott Co.'s, Trinity's, Elder's etc. Challenge yourself with the best as Highlands does.

 

I think if you are clearly that much better than your class, it does nothing to grow you as a player and a team to play these types of games every week. No adversity, no challenge.

 

I changed my mind. Boyle County is providing that adversity and challenge to the other teams on their schedule. Other than Danville(Who is proving to be a top team in their class) Boyle has defeated ranked teams in 3A, 5A and 6A. They aren't playing scrubs or cupcakes.

 

Either way, I thought Anderson County grew as a team by letting their varsity players gain some valuable experience against the Boyle County JV team in the second half.

Bell and Danville did the same. All 3 games could have been 60 to 1 score by the other teams, Boyle is way better than any of them. Danville could not beat Boyle if they played 20 times. As to leaving in the varsity, I like that for Boyles JV, just going to make them better. And as for Anderson, Bell, and Danville, they have a whole season in front of them, they cannot let their guys get down. I see that as a win for Boyle for next year's team. It will be harder next year for Boyle and these teams. Smart Coaching by Smith not just playing for this year. In my opinion there are probably only 6 or 7 teams that could beat Boyle period in any class at this Pont in the season.

Bell and Danville did the same. All 3 games could have been 60 to 1 score by the other teams, Boyle is way better than any of them. Danville could not beat Boyle if they played 20 times. As to leaving in the varsity, I like that for Boyles JV, just going to make them better. And as for Anderson, Bell, and Danville, they have a whole season in front of them, they cannot let their guys get down. I see that as a win for Boyle for next year's team. It will be harder next year for Boyle and these teams. Smart Coaching by Smith not just playing for this year. In my opinion there are probably only 6 or 7 teams that could beat Boyle period in any class at this Pont in the season.

 

 

And 3 or 4 of them may be in 3A.

This!

 

When this schedule was made, the first 5 games included a defending state champion from 4A, a semifinalist from 5A, a quarterfinalist from 6A, and two games against perennial top 10 teams from their respective class. Every game so far has been against a ranked team that was undefeated at the time of the game. This is a very appropriate schedule for a 3A team trying to win a 3A state championship.

 

This is not a case of soft scheduling, it appears Boyle just may be ahead of schedule in what will hopefully be a return to the type of consistency we saw during Smiths last tenure.

 

Remember, in the 6 years prior to his departure, Smith led Boyle teams went 86-4 with winning steaks of 47 & 25 games included in there. They won 5 consecutive state titles and finished as runner up in the other season. As far as player development goes, those teams produced multiple Div 1 and NFL players.

 

This staff had proven it once had the right formula for meeting the above criteria of making itself and its players better every week.

 

I second @PurplePride92. Excellent post!

I changed my mind. Boyle County is providing that adversity and challenge to the other teams on their schedule. Other than Danville(Who is proving to be a top team in their class) Boyle has defeated ranked teams in 3A, 5A and 6A. They aren't playing scrubs or cupcakes.

 

Either way, I thought Anderson County grew as a team by letting their varsity players gain some valuable experience against the Boyle County JV team in the second half.

 

:no:

 

What is in bold is, quite frankly, unnecessary.

 

I have all the respect in the world for Coach Smith and Boyle Co. I simply asked a question about playing tougher teams.

 

I don't know if you have ever coached football but when you cruise to every victory easily in the regular season, it does nothing to help prepare your team for the playoffs. Most coaches would rather have competitive games to help their teams. That's all I'm saying.

 

Good luck to Boyle the rest of the way.

:no:

 

What is in bold is, quite frankly, unnecessary.

 

I have all the respect in the world for Coach Smith and Boyle Co. I simply asked a question about playing tougher teams.

 

I don't know if you have ever coached football but when you cruise to every victory easily in the regular season, it does nothing to help prepare your team for the playoffs. Most coaches would rather have competitive games to help their teams. That's all I'm saying.

 

Good luck to Boyle the rest of the way.

 

A contrary point to what you're saying is this. The fact that in the past, and seemingly will be the case this year, Boyle's younger players are continually getting significant playing time throughout regular seasons against pretty decent competition. By the time these freshman and sophomores become seniors they will have seen the field much more than similar players at other schools. The type of results Boyle had seen so far can end up paying significant dividends in the 2016 and 2017 seasons. That, coupled with 4-5 weeks of extra practice every year the team makes a run at December and by the time these kids graduate they realistically could have an entire "extra season" that has led to their development. IMO that's what keeps the snowball rolling once it gets started at places like Boyle, Highlands, Mayfield etc.

:no:

 

What is in bold is, quite frankly, unnecessary.

 

I have all the respect in the world for Coach Smith and Boyle Co. I simply asked a question about playing tougher teams.

 

I don't know if you have ever coached football but when you cruise to every victory easily in the regular season, it does nothing to help prepare your team for the playoffs. Most coaches would rather have competitive games to help their teams. That's all I'm saying.

 

Good luck to Boyle the rest of the way.

 

I couldn't resist. I sensed sarcasm in your post and quite frankly, I love sarcasm.

 

You're close enough to this situation to know that folks in Boyle County expected a good season but no one expected the season to start off the way it has. You've also been around long enough to know that Boyle County scheduled Highlands in a home and home as recently as 4 years and that didn't go so well. They didn't grow from being challenged or facing adversity. Sometimes no matter who is on your team and schedule you simply aren't good enough. So while you may say that what I said is unnecessary I tend to think your initial post stating "if Boyle County thinks they are clearly better than everyone else in this class then why don't they play up...blah blah blah" was unnecessary. There's is a much better way to "simply ask a question about playing tougher teams" than how you did it. Last time I checked the fine folks of the Boyle County football program know what they are doing.

Lol at ANYONE questioning the scheduling and/or the program management of Chuck Smith.

 

Smh

G

I couldn't resist. I sensed sarcasm in your post and quite frankly, I love sarcasm.

 

You're close enough to this situation to know that folks in Boyle County expected a good season but no one expected the season to start off the way it has. You've also been around long enough to know that Boyle County scheduled Highlands in a home and home as recently as 4 years and that didn't go so well. They didn't grow from being challenged or facing adversity. Sometimes no matter who is on your team and schedule you simply aren't good enough. So while you may say that what I said is unnecessary I tend to think your initial post stating "if Boyle County thinks they are clearly better than everyone else in this class then why don't they play up...blah blah blah" was unnecessary. There's is a much better way to "simply ask a question about playing tougher teams" than how you did it. Last time I checked the fine folks of the Boyle County football program know what they are doing.

 

No sarcasm on my part whatsoever.

 

As I said, I have all the respect in the world for Coach Smith and Boyle Co.

 

I asked a question, if you don't like the way I asked it, I can't help that.

 

Again, good luck to Boyle Co. the rest of the season.

A contrary point to what you're saying is this. The fact that in the past, and seemingly will be the case this year, Boyle's younger players are continually getting significant playing time throughout regular seasons against pretty decent competition. By the time these freshman and sophomores become seniors they will have seen the field much more than similar players at other schools. The type of results Boyle had seen so far can end up paying significant dividends in the 2016 and 2017 seasons. That, coupled with 4-5 weeks of extra practice every year the team makes a run at December and by the time these kids graduate they realistically could have an entire "extra season" that has led to their development. IMO that's what keeps the snowball rolling once it gets started at places like Boyle, Highlands, Mayfield etc.

 

Some very valid points.