From current 2a teams, Western, Larue Co., and Loan Oak all jump to 4a next season. The majority of current 2a teams seem to move to 3a, but a substantial portion remain in 2a.

 

What does this ultimately tell us? Mercer isn't the only school who has an enrollment advantage. I realize by producing this thread I am bringing up the point once again. My point is this:

 

Anyone who has any conscience should say "yeah but Mercer, Western, Larue, and Loan Oak have an advantage over the others" AND the teams that will be 3a have an advantage over the ones that will be forced to stay in 2a based on enrollment.

Interesting.....

Mercer also has the advantage of fielding a team with experienced players from two different programs.

Mercer also has the advantage of fielding a team with experienced players from two different programs.

 

I don't have a dog in this fight; but are you suggesting that it's more of an advantage to have a big bunch of kids who didn't play HS football together (two different teams) than to have a big bunch of kids who did?

 

PS - to the thread originator - there will always be schools at the upper end of the enrollment range and schools at the lower end. The only way to avoid that is to have a separate class for every enrollment figure. Of course, some might argue that Kentucky is headed in that direction.

If enrollment is such an issue, then how does a school like Highlands (who is jumping 2 classes next year) compete with the big boys?

I don't have a dog in this fight; but are you suggesting that it's more of an advantage to have a big bunch of kids who didn't play HS football together (two different teams) than to have a big bunch of kids who did?

 

Yes. More talent trumps whatever advantage that continuity a team still has left over from last year.

From current 2a teams, Western, Larue Co., and Loan Oak all jump to 4a next season. The majority of current 2a teams seem to move to 3a, but a substantial portion remain in 2a.

 

What does this ultimately tell us? Mercer isn't the only school who has an enrollment advantage. I realize by producing this thread I am bringing up the point once again. My point is this:

 

Anyone who has any conscience should say "yeah but Mercer, Western, Larue, and Loan Oak have an advantage over the others" AND the teams that will be 3a have an advantage over the ones that will be forced to stay in 2a based on enrollment.

 

 

Finally, someone else with some logical reasoning about all this!! And another thing to throw out there CamField, how about the current 4A? A class where you have schools like Dunbar, Henderson Co. with over 2,100 kids and the other schools with over 1,800, playing in a class where some schools, like Lincoln Co. are playing with an enrollment of 1,160!! A difference in a 1,000 kids, within the same class..and you dont hear those smaller schools in 4A griping!!:thumb: :jump:

Finally, someone else with some logical reasoning about all this!! And another thing to throw out there CamField, how about the current 4A? A class where you have schools like Dunbar, Henderson Co. with over 2,100 kids and the other schools with over 1,800, playing in a class where some schools, like Lincoln Co. are playing with an enrollment of 1,160!! A difference in a 1,000 kids, within the same class..and you dont hear those smaller schools in 4A griping!!:thumb: :jump:

Do the players even attend school in the same building at Mercer?

From current 2a teams, Western, Larue Co., and Loan Oak all jump to 4a next season. The majority of current 2a teams seem to move to 3a, but a substantial portion remain in 2a.

 

What does this ultimately tell us? Mercer isn't the only school who has an enrollment advantage. I realize by producing this thread I am bringing up the point once again. My point is this:

 

Anyone who has any conscience should say "yeah but Mercer, Western, Larue, and Loan Oak have an advantage over the others" AND the teams that will be 3a have an advantage over the ones that will be forced to stay in 2a based on enrollment.

 

None of the teams listed above are moving from 2A all the way to 5A as Mercer will. The point has been made several times and is a very valid one that Mercer has a very large advantage this year because of a unique situation. The numbers don't lie, they have an advantage. Mercer fans need to stop worrying about it and just enjoy the season and hopefully come home with a state title. Every team needs a little luck in winning a state championship. This could be the luck Mercer needs. You play the hand that was dealt to you.

Finally, someone else with some logical reasoning about all this!! And another thing to throw out there CamField, how about the current 4A? A class where you have schools like Dunbar, Henderson Co. with over 2,100 kids and the other schools with over 1,800, playing in a class where some schools, like Lincoln Co. are playing with an enrollment of 1,160!! A difference in a 1,000 kids, within the same class..and you dont hear those smaller schools in 4A griping!!:thumb: :jump:

 

 

Umm, yeah you do, and that is one reason KY is moving to 6 classes.

If enrollment is such an issue, then how does a school like Highlands (who is jumping 2 classes next year) compete with the big boys?

 

Highlands does so because they maximize their potential.

The reason that Mercer jumps all the way to 5A is they have a larger percentage of boys in their school. Next years classes are based on the number of boys in the school, while the last two years were based on the total number of students. So while a school may have close to the same enrollment, you may have them separated by a class or two according to the number of boys.

Umm, yeah you do, and that is one reason KY is moving to 6 classes.

 

 

I meant, to the extent of what some from other 2A schools are saying about Mercer's enrollment, I meant to imply that.:thumb:

 

Secondly, and I could careless whether it's 4 classes or 6, b/c their is pro's and cons to both...but Im not speaking on the "real" reason why it's happening.:sssh:

The reason that Mercer jumps all the way to 5A is they have a larger percentage of boys in their school. Next years classes are based on the number of boys in the school, while the last two years were based on the total number of students. So while a school may have close to the same enrollment, you may have them separated by a class or two according to the number of boys.

 

This still doesn't help Mercer's case because for the most part football teams are made up of boys and Mercer has a large advantage due not only to a larger enrollment but also more boys to choose from in that enrollment. Again the numbers are what they are. I have no problem with them being where they are for this year as I said play the hand dealt you. But once the hand is over don't try to tell me you beat a flush with a pair of dueces.

Do the players even attend school in the same building at Mercer?

 

The kids are split, yet together, at both the Mercer campus and the Harrodsburg campus. For example, some may start out at the "mercer" campus for the first half of the day, then be bussed over to the "harrodsburg" campus, some kids even go back and forth for every block period. It sounds like a big cluster, but believe it or not, it has gone very, very well. The kids are mixed and matched througout the day by using both campus'. Different classes are offered at different campus'.