You can throw all these "advantages" and "disadvantages" out the window now, it a mute point. Mercer must continue to take care of business on the field. I wish the Titans the best of luck.

Mercer jumps to 5A. Now these schools you stated may be large 2A schools and with the new system fall in 4A but none of them make the jump to 5A. That is a HUGE difference and a HUGE advantage in 2A this year.

 

 

Look at Lincoln co this year. They have just over 1100 students. Dunbar in the same class has over 2000. I believe that Lincoln is at a disadvantage #'s wise here. Thats just one example. I know Mercer has a huge advantage but look at the bigger picture. This has been happening in the upper classes for some time. We just have this advantage for one year. Even though I admit it might not be right but, we have to play somewhere.

Thank you all for this thread and the intelligent discussion posted. :thumb:

The best way I know how to describe the merge and the effect on this years football team is with these three facts.

1. Mercer Co. was 10-2 last year and lost to a superior Russell team.

2. Mercer returned a good portion of those same players and were primed to make some noise with or without the merge.

3. Mercer absorbed 200 students.....total.

 

Anyway, I for one appreciate the posts and courtesy in these posts.

You can go on and on about this for hours and it really doesn't matter! Mercer is 2a and that is the class they play in. Is it fair? The KHSAA must think so and that is why they play in the class they play in. As far as their jump next season goes, they will be welcomed by many 5a schools that will make it a fair situation. Mercer is a great team this season and I believe they will win the class 2a. The dealer (KHSAA) felt this was best and gave them a great hand.

Without the merger, Mercer Scotties would have been making noise this year. No one necessarily likes change, but I can tell you that 68 Merged and Mighty MERCER TITAN Varsity players are sure enjoying what this merger has done for them. They have accepted it. They have made new friends, playing in new positions and all has been done so unselfishly. This merger has made these boys into true TITANS and I am very proud to be affiliated with this football program. I am proud of all the players for being so accepting of the change, with one another, new coaches, new plays, school changes, new facilities and all has been done with their heads high and proud. Best of luck Mercer TITANS, I will remember you, and so will they!

For those who don't know the merger has created a lot of hard feelings. I work with "Harrodsburg" people who are still against the merger to this day. As an outside observer, I think it was for the best and that Mercer would have been one of the top teams if not the top team in 2A without the merger. People are finally getting to see what kind of talent Cory Jackson and Brandon Ford have and those kids who played for Harrodsburg are getting a chance to start a brand new tradition at Mercer County for the whole community and not part of it. From what I hear the merger has been successful and for the most parts there are no regrets, but as far as football, what's done is done. They are not unbeatable but the advantage they gained was in talent, not size. In all reality, 5-10 kids could have transferred from Harrodsburg to Mercer and if they were the right kids(Cory Jackson, Brandon Ford, DeMarkus Masterson, Freeman Edwards, etc.) then this team would be the exact same team you see now. Mercer's talent pool increased significantly, but all the players from both schools had to come together in a short amount of time to become a team with one mission and they did an excellent job of bonding together. Regardless of their classification, this Mercer team would be a team to be reckoned with and despite their lack of recognition in the Cantrall ratings, I believe that those who watch this Mercer team in the playoffs will soon see what I believe to be an outstanding team. Especially now that Donald Walker is back. Folks just need to get over the merger and move on. We all know that if Mercer wasn't as good as they are noone would care about how the merger may or may not have helped them in 2A.

 

Good luck Titans.

Can anyone counter the argument that what is going on this season in 2a doesn't even rise to the level of what has been going on for a long time in 4a?

 

Dunbar and others hold a 900 + enrollment advantage over other schools in it's class.

 

Perhaps Mercer fans have brought the criticism upon themselves. Or perhaps we all need to take a step back, put this into a greater historical perspective, realize the oppurtunity the traditonal size 2a teams are presented with (beating a Juggernaut) and get pumped up about the playoffs!

And yes, they will be "welcomed" into to 5A(IMO, the toughest class) next year, but they will be fine as time goes on. They lose a lot of experience off of this year's team as it is an extremely senior dominated team. That being said, their underclassmen have a year in as Titans and I think they will be fine. Trevor Short has alot of talent and speed is one thing that Mercer will never be at a loss of having from now on. Who knows, with Jaggers as the coach, they might surprise a lot of us next year, but that's so far away. Let's see what they got for us this year first.

 

Good luck Titans.

Has Dunbar even won state before? I don't buy into the theory that larger enrollments have an advantage. Ask the folks at Danville about enrollment advantages. Danville has beaten many schools with larger enrollments. Either you have talent or you don't. Either you have great coaches or you don't. And besides, the new 6 classes will take care of the larger enrollment theory won't it? Trinity and St. X won't still be the best teams any more will they? Bowling Green and Highlands won't be the best 5A teams will they? Boyle County and Lexington Catholic will finally have teams that can compete with them now because they all will have the same amount of boys enrolled at their respective schools, right? Yeah, enrollemnt numbers make such a huge difference.

 

If Mercer is beaten by a 2A team this year, what will be the case? Will we hear about their enrollment numbers when and if they lose or is this only the case because they appear unbeatable?

We all know that if Mercer wasn't as good as they are noone would care about how the merger may or may not have helped them in 2A.

That may be true with some people, but some of us were raising questions about this and discussing the enrollment question long before we knew just how good this team was.

Sounds like a mess to me...........How far are the campuses apart????????

 

 

I can see where you and others who arent around here to see first hand would see that, but to be honest, it's quite the contrary. It's going as smooth as you at it can, probably better than most expected. The schools arent but 1 1/2 miles apart, right across the RR tracks from the other, literally.:thumb:

Wish the Mercerburg all the luck and hope the Red Devils get to defend there AA State Champions aganst them. Question, Do both these schools combine all sports, basketball, baseball, softball etc... this year or just football ??????:fire: :fire: :fire:

Wish the Mercerburg all the luck and hope the Red Devils get to defend there AA State Champions aganst them. Question, Do both these schools combine all sports, basketball, baseball, softball etc... this year or just football ??????:fire: :fire: :fire:

 

 

It's Mercer co now. Yes, all sports are combined. They will have one heckeva track team as well. Yes, I want to see a Mercer/Russell title matchup myself.

Can anyone counter the argument that what is going on this season in 2a doesn't even rise to the level of what has been going on for a long time in 4a?

 

Dunbar and others hold a 900 + enrollment advantage over other schools in it's class.

 

Perhaps Mercer fans have brought the criticism upon themselves. Or perhaps we all need to take a step back, put this into a greater historical perspective, realize the oppurtunity the traditonal size 2a teams are presented with (beating a Juggernaut) and get pumped up about the playoffs!

 

Mathematically speaking there is a very valid counter argument that this is much worse than 4A in the past. As your total number of players get larger even though you have the opportunity to have more quality talent there is a point of diminishing returns because you can only play 11 players at a time. The point being that at the 2A level your chances of having a great quarter back in 100 boys is 50% that of an enrollment of 200, but at some number your percentages are very high at having one great quarterback. Now at that point some teams may end up with two great quarterbacks and some only one. As long as the starter stays healthy his team has an equal shot at competing as the team with two. The big question is where is that magical number of diminishing returns. I don't know the exact number and I don't think anyone here does.

Can anyone counter the argument that what is going on this season in 2a doesn't even rise to the level of what has been going on for a long time in 4a?

 

Dunbar and others hold a 900 + enrollment advantage over other schools in it's class.

 

AMEN and THANK YOU!!!!

 

When we were at Oldham Co. (enrollment 550 boys and playing in 4A), this was our ONLY argument with having to compete for a championship (notice: I didn't say play) with X, Trinity -- both of whom had enrollments over 1200 boys -- along with about 20 other schools that had 800 boys or more in their school! The main issue wasn't public vs. private; Not "R-word" vs. no "R-word;" not great facilities vs. not-so-great.

 

It is also one of the main reasons I didn't remain there (simply looking at the history and playing the odds: in the 30+ years there's been 4 classes, NO school with fewer than 800 boys in the school at the time has EVER won the Ky. 4A State Championship...and only THREE have even made it to the finals!).

 

I know many of you that aren't directly involved in HS football on a daily basis or those that cheer for teams WITH such an advantage just think this kind of thing is "whining" or "excuse-making," but until you have to deal daily with scout team abilities in practice, special teams personnel considerations, depth at ALL positions for up to 15 games a year, etc., you just don't realize how much NUMBERS TO CHOOSE FROM DO MATTER IN FOOTBALL!

 

And, incidentally (to my good friend with the red tie on tonight;) ), IS the only real reason I supported any kind of different class/realignment structure.