I see no one other than Mercer winning it this year. They had better win it. I don't care about the numbers and I wish all the luck in the world to Mercer. They had a good program last year and as stated many times they would probably have won it without the burg kids. Mercer is Number one and earned it. Let's get off there back and let them play ball.

 

You know it's funny how this stuff works out at the end. The best team wins it all. O.C., Fort Campbell, were the best two teams all year last season. Thats all we heard about. How Fort Campbell with there Mr. Football was going to Louisville and take care of Russell or Belfry. Fort Campbell did not show up as expected. Then about 3:30PM on December 3, 2006 Russell was number one. It's funny how once the game is over we know who the real number one is.

 

I sure hope with all this talk about how good Mercer is that they make it to Louisville and the second best team will play them for all the Pizza.

 

It ain't over till it's over. YOGI

I think it will be the Mercer or Belfry winner from the Eastern Semi State vs. The 2A Region 2 winner (Corbin/Western).

Get a little old when I keep hearing Mercer didn't have speed up until the merge. We all know that this is a untrue statement. Andrew Mccloud had great speed for 4 years as did Walker and Scheller who were the backs last year. Mercer beat Harrodsburg by quite bit last year so someone some where on that team stopped these 2 speedy backs. Not to take away from them because they are great and except for when they played Mercer I cheered for them. Point is Mercer has had some speed prior to this year.

 

Not trying to start something. Where were all these speed guys when they played Russell last year? Hurt? Sick? Or was Russell just faster.

2a will again come down to the team with the best O and D lines. The skill players including linebackers are a wash for all the contenders.

 

Belfry beat us in 2004 because they were better on the lines. We beat them last year because we were better. Both these teams won the state games as they manhandled OC on the lines.

 

So the team that developes the best group at trench warfare will win it ...

Belfry and Russell know the way .. the rest have to learn this and produce it come playoff time.... Mercer vs Newport will be a big test if Mercer manhandles a team coached by a former UK lineman .. the rest of 2a is in trouble ... If they don't the race is still on ..

Get a little old when I keep hearing Mercer didn't have speed up until the merge. We all know that this is a untrue statement. Andrew Mccloud had great speed for 4 years as did Walker and Scheller who were the backs last year. Mercer beat Harrodsburg by quite bit last year so someone some where on that team stopped these 2 speedy backs. Not to take away from them because they are great and except for when they played Mercer I cheered for them. Point is Mercer has had some speed prior to this year.

 

 

Cmon Heisman. I didn't say Mercer was slow or nothin. I know we were fast. Mccloud broke a long one every game. It was a given. But, you can't deny the weapon that we have in Corey. We are blazing fast now. It all comes down to blocking anyways.

I can see Corbin as a sleeper...Maybe Prestonsburg, as well

Speed/skill tends to even out come playoff time ..... Tell me about some line play ... last year Mercer was big and that's about it ?

 

Exception, Belfry in 2003,2004 was gifted in the backfield.

I see no one other than Mercer winning it this year. They had better win it. I don't care about the numbers and I wish all the luck in the world to Mercer. They had a good program last year and as stated many times they would probably have won it without the burg kids. Mercer is Number one and earned it. Let's get off there back and let them play ball.

 

You know it's funny how this stuff works out at the end. The best team wins it all. O.C., Fort Campbell, were the best two teams all year last season. Thats all we heard about. How Fort Campbell with there Mr. Football was going to Louisville and take care of Russell or Belfry. Fort Campbell did not show up as expected. Then about 3:30PM on December 3, 2006 Russell was number one. It's funny how once the game is over we know who the real number one is.

 

I sure hope with all this talk about how good Mercer is that they make it to Louisville and the second best team will play them for all the Pizza.

 

It ain't over till it's over. YOGI

 

 

I post alot on the Mercer topics. But I've never said they would win it all. I like our chances as good as any. But, Just because I am pumped about this year and the future I will never say somthin like that. I may seem arrogant but, I'm not trying to be. With the merger and the new facilities the football team has it's hard not to be pumped right now. Who wants to be a paper champion? Mercer knows they will have to battle like everybody else.

I think Western will give anyone trouble thay are a very quick team....

I post alot on the Mercer topics. But I've never said they would win it all. I like our chances as good as any. But, Just because I am pumped about this year and the future I will never say somthin like that. I may seem arrogant but, I'm not trying to be. With the merger and the new facilities the football team has it's hard not to be pumped right now. Who wants to be a paper champion? Mercer knows they will have to battle like everybody else.

 

 

I understand your point. Several posts back someone said it will be won in the trenches. I totally agree with that. Until Russell shows me that they can block and start smacking people in the mouth I will go with the #1 team and that is Mercer. I call it like I see it. Nothing wrong with being pumped up. If your line is suspect you will not win.

 

I believe in my Red Devils. I am confident that they will either smash people in the mouth or take it in the mouth. They don't like being smacked in the mouth. You cannot and will not win a championship without linemen that are hungry, mean, and play each and every down 100%. These Red Devils know what happens when you meet up with a team line Belfry and the linemen push you all over the field like they did in 2004. I have all the confidence in the world that the front six will rise to the occation. I am totally convinced that the most physical team will be eating pizza in Louisville. It may be Mercer, Belfry, Newport, Russell, Breathitt, or anyone else.

 

This is why I love this game so much. I

I understand your point. Several posts back someone said it will be won in the trenches. I totally agree with that. Until Russell shows me that they can block and start smacking people in the mouth I will go with the #1 team and that is Mercer. I call it like I see it. Nothing wrong with being pumped up. If your line is suspect you will not win.

 

I believe in my Red Devils. I am confident that they will either smash people in the mouth or take it in the mouth. They don't like being smacked in the mouth. You cannot and will not win a championship without linemen that are hungry, mean, and play each and every down 100%. These Red Devils know what happens when you meet up with a team line Belfry and the linemen push you all over the field like they did in 2004. I have all the confidence in the world that the front six will rise to the occation. I am totally convinced that the most physical team will be eating pizza in Louisville. It may be Mercer, Belfry, Newport, Russell, Breathitt, or anyone else.

 

This is why I love this game so much. I

 

 

Well said jeepman.

I think it will be the Mercer or Belfry winner from the Eastern Semi State vs. The 2A Region 2 winner (Corbin/Western).

 

Mercer won't play Belfry in the east. Corbin and Mercer's district swap places in the playoffs. So Mercer is in the west, Corbin is in the east this year.

1. Mercer

2. Belfry/Russell

 

 

 

 

 

Western

Caldwell

Numbers don't win squat. There are alot of bigger schools that can't compete with the top half of 1A. You still have to have quality in your numbers. Mercer does have quality numbers. Mercer was on the verge of being very good last year before injuries killed them. They do have 3A numbers this year. I would say that Mercer and their neighbor Danville are on the same level talent wise. Danville has 40 players total. If they played 10 times they would probably need a tiebreaker game. I'm just saying that I know that there are alot of teams in AA that have alot of quality players. And some field around 70 players as does Mercer. Old Mercer merged with Harrodsburg that had slightly over 20 players from a 3-8 team. Not to say that Harrodsburg didn't have talent last year. They just didn't have the numbers. Mercer had better numbers with around 45 players but, didn't have the speed. You add numbers and speed and that's where you get your difference. Not 900 kids in the school. Half those kids are girls. Now Mercer has numbers on the sideline to match the upper AA teams that had the depth advantage over them last year. 8 out of 11 starters on defense played for Mercer last year. It's close to 50/50 on offense. They also got a couple of high quality out of state transfers that were eligible this year. I understand why alot of people aren't happy about it. But it isn't like they had 900 kids lined up and said We will take you,you,you, and so on. The real advantage is where they lost so many key players (like their entire O-line and some huge losses on the defensive side) due to graduation that with the added 12 or 13 players (majority are seniors) from Harrodsburg that play significant minutes kinda slid into those spots that you might have had to fill with a younger inexperienced player. So just about everybody that starts this season started last season at Mercer or Harrodsburg. Once again, there is your difference. Not 900 kids.

 

Your theory is crazy. Whatever you say, you could not look me in the eye and tell me it's fair. Mercer did have a good team last year and probably would have been good this year regardless but to be able to add 20 players from another school is a HUGE advantage, even if you get 10 quality players from that bunch. IT'S A HUGE ADVANTAGE!!!! Especially for a 2A school. I can't even see why your trying to justify it. If it were me, "I'd say sorry everyone, we've found a loophole in the KHSAA rules and we're taking advantage of it"...... At least they'd say I was honest about it. You prove evryone's point in the last 2 sentences of your thread when you said "....everybody that starts this season started last at either Mercer or Harrodsburg" EXACTLY!!!!!!! If Belfry or Russell had joined up with any 1A school and were allowed to play in 2A, you'd be yelling foul also. So, just call it for what it is.

Has Mercer and Harrodsburg students joined classes together or just joined athletics?