For as long as I can remember that has been seen more times than not in any given year.

 

In the experience with Boyle's run from '99 to '03, anyone would probably say that the Semi-Finals in '01, '02 and '03 were the more difficult games than the title matchup.

 

It happens that way sometimes. And for the record, Boyle travelled to a loaded Hoptown in '01 and a very talented unbeaten PT in '03 to win. I don't remember a lot of controversy over the trips then. Why has that changed?

 

I don't know about the past, but I've complained about it since I joined. :lol2:

Both topics are worthy of debate, and fun to knock around, but in the end they likely will never happen because of logistics and cost.

 

If it could be worked out feasibly, I would support both, but don't feel really strongly about either.

ROAD Team In KHSAA State Football Semifinals

 

SIX CLASSES (12 GAMES)

2014: 6-6

2013: 7-5

2012: 5-7 (Hazard lost to Fairview in reality, given forfeit win later)

2011: 5-7

2010: 9-3

2009: 2-10

2008: 6-5 (Trinity vs. X played at PJCS, so no true road team)

2007: 5-7

 

FOUR CLASSES (8 GAMES)

2006: 5-3

2005: 1-7

2004: 3-5 (Highlands later forfeited road win at Bell, so 2-6 I guess)

2003: 5-3

2002: 3-5

2001: 6-2

2000: 6-2

1999: 1-7

1998: 4-4

ROAD Team In KHSAA State Football Semifinals

 

SIX CLASSES (12 GAMES)

2014: 6-6

2013: 7-5

2012: 5-7 (Hazard lost to Fairview in reality, given forfeit win later)

2011: 5-7

2010: 9-3

2009: 2-10

2008: 6-5 (Trinity vs. X played at PJCS, so no true road team)

2007: 5-7

 

FOUR CLASSES (8 GAMES)

2006: 5-3

2005: 1-7

2004: 3-5 (Highlands later forfeited road win at Bell, so 2-6 I guess)

2003: 5-3

2002: 3-5

2001: 6-2

2000: 6-2

1999: 1-7

1998: 4-4

 

Look at 2009 2-10. That is crazy.

Both topics are worthy of debate, and fun to knock around, but in the end they likely will never happen because of logistics and cost.

 

If it could be worked out feasibly, I would support both, but don't feel really strongly about either.

 

I don't think it should be tampered with. More headache than the problem that is trying to be solved.

 

(And that from a guy who remembers a little Fire Department help in one semi-final game eons ago. :lol2:)

Super Saturday Semis could work, don't get me wrong.

 

Just a lot of logistical work/planning to get there.

 

That being said, I live in the 5th Region for the other sports (basketball, baseball-softball, volleyball, soccer, etc.). Although I'm reasonably close to Lindsey Wilson College (brought up as neutral-site host), there is NO easy way to get there from many even 5th Region schools unless you're coming from the Cumberland Parkway.

 

Campbellsville much easier even though it doesn't have the parkway access.

 

If the E'town Sports Park had more seating -- it's doable, although the E.S.P. is NOT likely to expand/remodel considering it just spent $40 million less than 7 years ago -- it would be a perfect neutrall-site host. E'town High School is a given (located off I-65, WK-BG Parkway, 31W), but the Panthers are on the upswing and could be in the state semis soon under Coach Mark Brown.

It would be a great idea. Have state finals on first Saturday in December alternating between Louisville and Lexington and do state semifinals on Thanksgiving weekend. Eastern semifinals would be in Richmond at EKU and Western semifinals would be in Bowling Green at WKU. If UK and UL do not want state finals at their stadiums, have state finals alternate between Richmond and BG and do state semifinals like this:

Western Semifinals: Campbellsville, E-town, or Hopkinsville.

Friday- 1A, 3A, 5A

Saturday- 2A, 4A, 6A

Eastern Semifinal-Morehead, Georgetown, or Lexington Dunbar.

Friday-2A, 4A, 6A

Saturday-1A, 3A, 5A

Racer89,

 

But then you get into the actuality/reality of the matchups:

 

- Remember all the John Hardin-Bowling Green semis? What sense it would be to play it at E'town (home game for John), WKU (home game for BG) or Campbellsville (at least a 45-minute windy-road drive for both when it is far easier to go straight down 65 to play the other)?

 

- In 6-A, one semifinalist is GUARANTEED to be from Louisville (District 3 or 4). District 2 (Central Hardin, Meade, North Hardin) is considered Louisville metro (for geographic and population purposes by the government). So 3/4 of 6-A West is from a 45-mile radius, yet they're going to have to drive OUTSIDE that radius to make 5 or so teams happy? That's helping the minority over the majority.

 

- Last year, having Trinity-Meade play at Campbellsville/Lindsey would have made zero sense. E'town maybe, because it's 30 minutes or so for Meade and an hour-ish for Trinity. Same thing for Louisville Central-South Warren. You could have them play at E'town, but it's out of the way for both to go to Lindsey/Campbellsville when both (Central, SW) are easily accessible off I-65.

 

- Having Russell play Belfry (East semi last year) at EKU wouldn't make any sense.

 

- Having both Highlands and LexCath leave the golden triangle to play at EKU wouldn't make any sense. Same thing for Dixie Heights and Ballard. Maybe they could play at Georgetown College.

 

- Having Graves-John at Campbellsville/Lindsey would have been insane. It would have been 40 milles CLOSER for Graves to just play at John instead of going to Lindsey (extra 40 miles) or Campbellsville U (extra 25-30 miles).

 

I know it was a movie, but you probably need to have a "Friday Night Lights" philosophy: Wait and see where to play (when they picked the Astrodome). Or wait until the quarters with a list of sites (and have a series of stadiums/locations in mind).

 

If you do the predetermined thing, you're going to end up with two teams (playing each other) increasing their travel costs for no reason (and NOT getting any part of the concessions).

Whatever. Almost every state does it. Oh, and Ohio seems to play decent football. Inferiority complex much? It's an opinion. You got one, or just want to bitter?

 

nothing to be bitter about concerning OHIO....

Split the concessions three ways between the host and the two teams playing each other. Also, some other sites to look at in the west would be either Owensboro or Hopkinsville and Morehead in the east. Each of these places has big stadiums and is accessible by interstate or parkway.

While possibly solving one problem with the eastern and western neutral sites, you haven't even touched the bigger issue of the TWO best teams playing in the state finals. I think in an earlier past you can see the each class has a top loaded bracket. Schools are getting punished over geographical location because of the east/west division. If you are going to even consider neutral locations for semi finals there is no way to overlook seeding those finals at the same time and killing two birds with one stone. Then, and only then, have you made a conscious effort to better football in the state completely.

I honestly don't care about whether the games are at neutral sites or not, but I strongly agree with you on the seeding issue. And it's multiple classes too.

 

Just this year for example the top four teams in 1A are in the Eastern bracket, the top four in 2A are in the Western Bracket, six of the top seven in 3A are in the Western bracket, three of the top four in 4A are in the Eastern bracket, three of the top four in 5A are in the Western Bracket. Shockingly 6A is the most balanced, but even then the top two are Western and numbers 5-6 could make a case for being higher.

 

Rankings used are BGP's most current.

 

Great point, and this is exactly what I am talking about.

Whatever. Almost every state does it. Oh, and Ohio seems to play decent football. Inferiority complex much? It's an opinion. You got one, or just want to bitter?

 

No inferiority or bitterness at all, I just get extremely tired of the argument that Ohio (or any other state for that matter) does it so it must be better. Personally I like having home games all the way to the championship game, much better atmosphere. If you're going to neutral sites then they better be on turf and in facilities that are better then average high school facilities. It would be absolutely absurd to do neutral sites and to go to other high school or even small college facilities that may be a step down from where a team plays.

No, I don't think a neutral field should be utilized..regardless of where it's at or who u play, u can't be the man until u beat the man..

Other states also have their hands in the cookie jar a lot deeper then we would like them to here in Kentucky