The Birds have not lost a district game in a decade, lost their 1st (EVER) game to a 5a team this season after a run of 8 consecutive years in State Championship Games in 5a and 4a...They were definitely down this year. I believe after an unprecedented run of success some players and coaches can get a bit apathetic? Maybe they did this season in preparation, etc?....BUT, I believe this group showed great resiliency to bounce back the way they did. I wouldn't be too quick to write off the relevance of Highlands Football as a power throughout the state in all classes. This season could be the necessary suffering it takes to get back to where they want to be.

 

And how were the coaches and players apathetic in their preparation for this year?

Please give some examples of what you are saying here.

No spring practice didn't help things this year.

No spring practice didn't help things this year.

 

Is that on the coaches, players or the administration since the field was completely torn up and unusable?

 

Also what would spring practice have helped with?

Not placing blame but when your starting QB looks totally lost in 7 on 7 drills during the summer it couldn't hurt. I'm sure there are many places around NKY they could have found to practice.

Do the birds play the Jags again next season. That will be a good test since Cooper is basically a 5a team playing up.

Valid points, but do you believe that someone in NKY was going to allow Highlands to use their facility and on top of that you have the need for transportation to and from.

Do the birds play the Jags again next season. That will be a good test since Cooper is basically a 5a team playing up.

 

Same schedule as last year except the venue flips.

That's good, I like the local schedule.

And how were the coaches and players apathetic in their preparation for this year?

Please give some examples of what you are saying here.

 

Call it apathy, or whatever you like. Success does leave clues, so do 6 losses in a Bluebird Football season. I believe the process of the off season will be handled with a chip on their shoulder if nothing else.

Valid points, but do you believe that someone in NKY was going to allow Highlands to use their facility and on top of that you have the need for transportation to and from.

 

This is a pretty dumb discussion, but yes they have practiced at other facilities in the past. They would typically take place at the Fort.

This is a pretty dumb discussion, but yes they have practiced at other facilities in the past. They would typically take place at the Fort.

 

So why is it dumb? You felt the need to reply and obviously there are people talking about a lack of spring practice as a potential issue. So where would they practice at the Fort?

Correct me if I'm wrong as I don't know Highlands statistics very well, but hasn't Highlands won 7 or 8 of the last 9 or 10 state championships? Pretty good run, if you're counting :sssh:. Many were saying the sky was falling during the season against very good 6A schools. I don't know but I didn't see anyone quit. Made the State Semifinal game and was 1 quarter away from the State Championship game in a season most knowledgeable Highlands fans knew would be down off the referenced gravey train run. I'd say this 2015 team overachieved given the cards they were forced to play. Would you take, at least, the State Semifinal game each year? I sure would...

Call it apathy, or whatever you like. Success does leave clues, so do 6 losses in a Bluebird Football season. I believe the process of the off season will be handled with a chip on their shoulder if nothing else.

 

The process of the offseason, did it change last year from years past?

Correct me if I'm wrong as I don't know Highlands statistics very well, but hasn't Highlands won 7 or 8 of the last 9 or 10 state championships? Pretty good run, if you're counting :sssh:. Many were saying the sky was falling during the season against very good 6A schools. I don't know but I didn't see anyone quit. Made the State Semifinal game and was 1 quarter away from the State Championship game in a season most knowledgeable Highlands fans knew would be down off the referenced gravey train run. I'd say this 2015 team overachieved given the cards they were forced to play. Would you take, at least, the State Semifinal game each year? I sure would...

 

Well said. I am trying to understand what everyone is referencing that occurred in this year that did or did not occur in previous seasons. Spring football has been brought up and no there was no spring football. The facility was not useable until just before the first practice after the dead period. And when I say facility, I mean the football field and the locker room.

A mid 4A size school playing a 6A schedule other than district play will have success some years and not so much other years. Its at tribute to the HHS football program that they have more successful years than not.

 

With success the coaches have established a platoon system and have player rotation within the platoon. All of this is to make the team stronger thru the games and to allow for individual players to get on the field to support the team.

 

They have over 90 players - Soph. thru Seniors playing JV and varsity. The kids put in the hard work and the coaches find spots for kids to play even if they are not the stud athletes.

 

On BGP you hear parents that feel their boy is not getting to play yet they are better than the Seniors that play. Also there were some who wanted to shorten the bench and play guys both ways. This is the result of not having the same success as in the past but the chatter will disappear in the future when the depth of the team improves.

 

I believe the coaches believe in the system they established (platoon and rotations) and will make only small adjustments even if they are losing to 6A schools.

 

Championships will come but not the annual event like the resent past now that they are playing up in class.