Crazy isn’t it?

 

Yes it is. He will not even listen to baseball coaches about classes.

Here's my idea as a great solution... Cut the classes back to 4 with approximately 55-56 teams in each class... Use some sort of ranking system and rank the top 16 teams in each of the 4 classes and that would be your division 1 class... Then rank the next 16 teams in each class and that would be your division 2 class... Here's an example using the class A (smallest 55 teams) and I based this off the current rankings from Max Preps... Not saying to use there formula, but, just for the illustration, this is how it'd look:

 

DIVISION 1, CLASS A

 

#16 Paris vs #1 Danville

#9 Raceland vs #8 Hazard

#13 NCC vs #4 Beechwood

#12 O'Boro Cath vs #5 Paintsville

#15 Holy Cross vs #2 LCA

#10 Pikeville vs #7 Somerset

#14 Lloyd Mem vs #3 Mayfield

#11 W.Verona vs #6 KCD

 

DIVISION 2, CLASS A

 

#32 Leslie Co vs #17 Ludlow

#25 Campbellsville vs #24 Eminence

#29 Crittenden Co vs #20 Washington Co

#28 Lynn Camp vs #21 Bracken Co

#31 Carroll Co vs #18 Prestonsburg

#27 Metcalfe Co vs #22 Williamsburg

#30 Russellville vs #19 Frankfort

#26 Murray vs #23 Hancock Co

 

Keep in mind, this is just an example using 1 source, but, at least you can get a pretty good look at how it could possibly shape up... In looking at this illustration, I personally like it and don't see that there would be that many blowouts... I'd make it where the higher seeded team would host each game except the state title games which would be on a neutral field, be it Louisville, B.Green, Lexington, etc...

 

Why I think it's a good idea:

 

1) You would now have 8 state champions vs 6 and you know how the KHSAA feels about that. The more the merrier and in this format, wouldn't water it down as it's said to be now...

 

2) Teams that typically get beat up in the 1st round games now have an opportunity to play teams of similar skill and size level and get an extra playoff game or 2, plus it would generate more interest across the state from fan bases that currently don't support there programs all that much...

 

3) You could have 2 separate sites hosting state championships if you want... One site hosting the Division 1 Championships and one hosting the Division 2 Championships or you could play them all at one site with Div 2 games on Friday after Thanksgiving and the Div 1 games on Saturday after Thanksgiving. I've heard the argument that the crowds would be hurt if the games were played on Thanksgiving weekend. I disagree with that. I think more folks are more likely to be off on Thanksgiving weekend and make the games than they would the week after...

 

4) While I realize the KHSAA want to see as many teams as possible qualify for the playoffs and I understand there reasoning, but, for the sake of noy watering down the playoffs, this looks like a happy medium. In this format, 128 teams or 32 per class would still qualify for the playoffs, which is approx. 58%. While some are clamoring for only taking 2 teams per class and leaving everything else the same, by doing that only 96 teams at 43% would get in, so, while this option does take away some teams as it stands now, it's still considerably better than the 2nd option above (32 teams better)...

 

5) I would suggest some lead way also in the rankings for geographical purposes. For example above... You may swap Holy Cross (a 15 seed) for Lloyd Mem (a 14 seed) to cut the drive for the participating teams...

 

What do you think?

I changed my mind this post ain't worth the time. Y'all have fun.

Not every team belongs in a playoff situation. If you want to eliminate 1st and 2nd round blowouts, then don't let every team from every district in. You should combine districts to 6-8 teams and only let the top 4 in from every district. 3 & 4 team districts are a joke.

I don't agree with this because what about teams who play in super competitive districts? If you look at 5A in the West there were some really good football teams that were all deserving to make the playoffs and who could have gone on a run to make noise. Now I do believe that 6 classes in KY is a joke we need to go back to 4 classes maybe even try 5 classes.

Not every team belongs in a playoff situation. If you want to eliminate 1st and 2nd round blowouts, then don't let every team from every district in. You should combine districts to 6-8 teams and only let the top 4 in from every district. 3 & 4 team districts are a joke.

 

How would you feel to be stuck in a district with Trinity, St. X, Male, Manual, etc,

PLEASE . Just cancel playoffs and give everybody a ring and while we are at it put all players on All State team

Not a lot of time spent thinking about this, but keep the existing system the same, but give the three and four seeds the option of dropping out of the playoffs and scheduling a "bowl" game against anyone they can schedule a game with. If their opponent drops out, the one or two seed gets a bye. That allows a good team from a strong district (say Butler this year) to pursue a championship and a really weak team (say Seneca this year) to schedule a competitive game. My guess is that most teams would stay in the playoffs. I would, but it does give them an option.

That’s what i am saying. But Tackett doesn’t want to hear about classes in other team sports.

 

Blaming the wrong person here, the BOC would make that call not Tackett.

My thoughts:

 

• Cut the classes down to either 4 or 5

• Top 2 teams in the now larger (hopefully more competitive districts) Make the state playoffs

• 3 and 4 seeds play in a separate smaller tourney. Do not call it a state championship call it the Bluegrass or (insert sponsor name) Tournament. It does not get the glamour and prestige of the state tourney. No central location for championship games, no rings, just a simple trophy.

• If you do not want it messing with the big games make the (Bluegrass Tournament), all be played on Thursdays or Saturdays.

• This way it provides a little catch 22 for non-power house teams to be in districts with powerhouse schools.

• Then once every decade or two when those small non-power house teams have that class of kids who make a crazy run (Logan County) and win a 1 or 2 seed then they get a shot at the state championship.

• It would also generate much needed money for some of those schools who do not get 5 extra gate money paychecks.

 

For all the old curmudgeons out there whose schools have cases full of state championship trophies, fingers full of rings, huge new stadiums, weight rooms, locker rooms, indoor practice facilities, a separate set of practice helmets and a booster club bank account with 50,000 dollars in it, give it a rest. You will still have all of those things it will just give the rest of the school something to play for. HOWEVER, LET ME STRESS I do not think that other tourney should be considered a state championship or even close to it. There should be a clear overwhelming difference in winning the state title vs winning the other thing.

 

The NCAA has done this same thing for 80 years with the NIT tourney but no complains about that tournament and no one has a problem with naming an NIT tournament champion. However, any Kentucky or Louisville fan would not trade 20 NIT championships for even one NCAA final four appearance because there is a clear difference in the two and that is how this needs to be.

My thoughts:

 

• Cut the classes down to either 4 or 5

• Top 2 teams in the now larger (hopefully more competitive districts) Make the state playoffs

• 3 and 4 seeds play in a separate smaller tourney. Do not call it a state championship call it the Bluegrass or (insert sponsor name) Tournament. It does not get the glamour and prestige of the state tourney. No central location for championship games, no rings, just a simple trophy.

• If you do not want it messing with the big games make the (Bluegrass Tournament), all be played on Thursdays or Saturdays.

• This way it provides a little catch 22 for non-power house teams to be in districts with powerhouse schools.

• Then once every decade or two when those small non-power house teams have that class of kids who make a crazy run (Logan County) and win a 1 or 2 seed then they get a shot at the state championship.

• It would also generate much needed money for some of those schools who do not get 5 extra gate money paychecks.

 

For all the old curmudgeons out there whose schools have cases full of state championship trophies, fingers full of rings, huge new stadiums, weight rooms, locker rooms, indoor practice facilities, a separate set of practice helmets and a booster club bank account with 50,000 dollars in it, give it a rest. You will still have all of those things it will just give the rest of the school something to play for. HOWEVER, LET ME STRESS I do not think that other tourney should be considered a state championship or even close to it. There should be a clear overwhelming difference in winning the state title vs winning the other thing.

 

The NCAA has done this same thing for 80 years with the NIT tourney but no complains about that tournament and no one has a problem with naming an NIT tournament champion. However, any Kentucky or Louisville fan would not trade 20 NIT championships for even one NCAA final four appearance because there is a clear difference in the two and that is how this needs to be.

 

Cutting classes will not make things more competitive at the district level. All it does is make the gap bigger between the largest and smallest schools. While you might pick up one more competitive game, you’re just as likely to pick up less competitive games. Classes exist because of disparity in size of schools. Cutting the number of classes doesn’t fix or address that problem.

Cut the 6 classes in half.

Split 6A in middle and have 6A1 and 6A2 state champions.

Do same for each class.

 

At least it gives the lower groups a chance.

Blaming the wrong person here, the BOC would make that call not Tackett.

 

I've read some of the emails that Tackett has sent back to baseball coaches on the classification issue. He basically says we are not in the business to just hand out trophies.

 

Then he wants to do this with football.

I like the idea of cutting down to 4 or 5 classes and taking the top 16 in that class for the tournament. Then you can go the way of NCAA basketball and have an NIT tournament with those other teams. Or you can go like NCAA football and after the 4 playoffs teams go with bowl games. The bowl games you would have to have sponser, but it would be a way to maybe give some of those lower level teams something to work for on a year-to-year basis.

Try any way you want to reshape this, at the end of the day there will still be a lot of blowouts. There will still be a lot of programs that have virtually zero chance of winning a state championship. So what is everyone trying to accomplish?