Three classes is a great idea. Only the district winners and runner up would go to the playoffs and all the state championship games can be played on a Saturday. For a long time, Tennessee had only three classes in football and it worked out well. Tennessee also did have post-season bowl games for teams not making the playoffs. These bowl games can be played on the first weekend of the playoffs.

 

With only 3 classes there's too much disparity between the biggest schools and smallest schools in the large school class. Under the alignment given, there are current 4a schools that would move to the largest division. It does zero to make that class more competitive or tougher.

 

I hate the idea of "bowl" games after the season. Meaningless games are no fun to prepare for or play. While the current system set's up blowouts, at least everyone's last game does mean something.

I see a difference in public districts allowing students to go wherever they wish in district and independents / privates being able to take anyone, anytime.

Hard to justify Highlands based on school size. They'd have to choose to play up, or we'd have to go to a system based on success / number of players.

It depends on what you mean by competitive. Could South Warren, Owensboro, or Pulaski win the class? I don't think so. Would the competitiveness of the class as a whole increase? Absolutely. Outside of T/X/Male the three teams listed could play with anyone else - competitively.

Many of the round one games in the current structure are essentially meaningless. Many, many teams do not want to be there. They have to travel 3+ hours, get a running clock put on them, and lose by 50+. Russellville 67 Ft Knox 0 a good example.

Many of the round one games in the current structure are essentially meaningless. Many, many teams do not want to be there. They have to travel 3+ hours, get a running clock put on them, and lose by 50+. Russellville 67 Ft Knox 0 a good example.

 

They have the option of not playing and under your plan they are already used to traveling 3 hours or more all season for their district games...so why whine about travel now.

I see a difference in public districts allowing students to go wherever they wish in district and independents / privates being able to take anyone, anytime.

 

How many public school districts will not allow an out of district student? If a student lives in Campbell County, can he choose to attend Simon Kenton? Can a student who lives in an independent district choose to attend the county school?

 

Let's put it this way. I don't believe there is any state rule that prevents a student from choosing to attend public school in another county. This is left up to the local school district. Therefore, any public school complaining about out of district students, just change your own local policy and you can have out of district students also.

Not playing is not feasible. You'd be killed by parents, AD, the other coach, probably the KHSAA, etc. The fact that nobody does it should illustrate that point clearly enough.

Yes, in general, I'm fine with the private / independent class being very small in comparison to the other group. Their needs should not mean that everyone else has to compete in an inherently unfair system. They can still play the other teams - just not in district / playoffs.

 

There is no 'inherently unfair system'. The only advantage that a private have that a public cannot is that privates may be single sex, which is more than balanced by the cost of tuition.

 

Any public school could get out of district students, have a winning tradition/atmosphere, have the same amount of male enrollment, or have alumni donations. None of those things are unique to privates.

 

It's worth noting that most of the classes are not dominated by a private school. Since the 6A system started only 6A and 2A have a majority of private state champs, and even then the 2A is only a private majority by a 5-4 count.

How many public school districts will not allow an out of district student? If a student lives in Campbell County, can he choose to attend Simon Kenton? Can a student who lives in an independent district choose to attend the county school?

 

Let's put it this way. I don't believe there is any state rule that prevents a student from choosing to attend public school in another county. This is left up to the local school district. Therefore, any public school complaining about out of district students, just change your own local policy and you can have out of district students also.

Boom! There you have it. School districts who choose to have closed enrollment need only blame themselves.

If they aren't unique to privates and independents why do they almost always make up over half of state championship participants while only making up a small portion of total schools playing football. They clearly have advantages. Saying public schools (often with multiple high schools in a district) can do the things they can do is simply wrong.

They should not have to do things that aren't good for their district's academics / financial viability just to compete with privates / independents in football. Privates / independents should compete against each other for state championships. Where is the fun in beating people who have very little chance against you?

They should not have to do things that aren't good for their district's academics / financial viability just to compete with privates / independents in football. Privates / independents should compete against each other for state championships. Where is the fun in beating people who have very little chance against you?

 

If that's the way you feel, how do you justify the large school division of your 3 class plan?? What fun is it for all the current, big 6a schools beating what are now 4a schools that you would be moving up??

The public / private - independent conversation wasn't the point of this thread. It's not what I was proposing. I think it's a good idea to split them, but I'd rather have a 3 class system, even if privates / independents stay in with everyone else.

 

Also, looking at the three class system, I could see Male winning the big class, Central, Boyle, Belfry winning the middle class. The small class would always be won by the independents / privates though.

If they aren't unique to privates and independents why do they almost always make up over half of state championship participants while only making up a small portion of total schools playing football. They clearly have advantages. Saying public schools (often with multiple high schools in a district) can do the things they can do is simply wrong.

 

Just because a school can do something that doesn't mean that it will automatically happen. Building a winning program takes time and dedication. It isn't easy but that doesn't mean public schools are somehow incapable of it.

 

You continue to state they have 'clear advantages' yet what do they have that public schools couldn't? There were only 2 private schools in the state finals this year and neither one won. As for independents, that's even less clear what advantages they have besides an open district; which any school could have.

 

They should not have to do things that aren't good for their district's academics / financial viability just to compete with privates / independents in football. Privates / independents should compete against each other for state championships. Where is the fun in beating people who have very little chance against you?

 

Somehow it doesn't disrupt the privates finances or academic standing, and given the privates have to pay for everything themselves that would seem to be a bigger threat to them.

 

Even if that somehow is true, one school can't call it 'unfair' that another chooses to put a higher priority on something. It's like getting angry because one team decided to practice and watch game film when the other team didn't.

 

Right, because Male, South Warren, and Belfry have clearly shown that they stand no chance against those private/independent juggernauts.