New playoff setup draws ire

 

Pulaski Southwestern football coach Dale Anderson thinks it stinks. Male coach Bob Redman used an even harsher word.

 

No matter whom you talk to, one thing is clear: Kentucky's high school football coaches don't like the new setup for the opening rounds of the playoffs, which begin across the state tonight.

 

First- and second-round games will match teams from the same district. Teams used to play opponents from nearby districts in first-round games.

 

"I have my own thoughts on why they did this, and to be honest I don't think it's in the best interest of the kids," Redman said. "I think it's very unfair and short-sighted."

You can blame the publics for this years playoff arrangement.

You can blame the publics for this years playoff arrangement.

Not true. This came from the KHSAA ... they sprung it on everyone this summer with no advance warning on the premise that it would solve travel issues and increase attendance for early-round games.

You can blame the publics for this years playoff arrangement.

 

Explain this one?

More on this from the Lexington Herald-Leader:

 

A BAD CASE OF DEJA VU

 

In talking with dozens of coaches this season, the majority detest the new playoff format, which was sold by the KHSAA as a way to cut travel costs. The coaches prefer playing somebody different early in the playoffs. Imagine getting routed in the regular-season finale, then having to get your team mentally ready to line up against the same team the next week. That's the unenviable position Madison Central, Paris, Garrard County and several other teams were in this week.

 

Coaches also don't like it that theirs is the only sport in which a district winner and runner-up can't meet in the region finals.

 

East Jessamine Coach Mike Bowlin went so far as to suggest that the playoff changes were "a smoke and mirrors trick by the KHSAA to get us off the real task (splitting public and private schools into separate championships)."

 

It's hard to find a coach who likes the new system. The closest thing to an endorsement came from Scott County Coach Jim McKee. "To just jump down (the KHSAA's) throat and say 'this stinks' before we've even tried it would be like ordering a ribeye steak at Outback and telling them it's burned before you ever cut it open. Let's give it a chance. If it's no good two years from now, we'll re-evaluate."

 

The format won't be quite as bad next year when teams won't be allowed to play district games the last week of the regular season.

You can blame the publics for this years playoff arrangement.

 

...but you can also blame the KHSAA. The new playoff format and the new 6 class system are ways the KHSAA tried to "compromise" with a public/private split.

 

I wish things would have stayed the same with 4 classes and the old playoff system.

It will not help attendance. We made the playoffs (the first time in 24 years) and I doubt we will have as many there as the regular season game. When we played our district game a couple of weeks ago, they slaughtered us. So the feeling around here isn't excitement, it's "oh well, I'm not going, they're going to get beat". If things were set up like they were last year, we would be playing a team for the first time in school history and I believe, the community and the school would show far more excitement. The entire system is in a mess!

It will not help attendance. We made the playoffs (the first time in 24 years) and I doubt we will have as many there as the regular season game. When we played our district game a couple of weeks ago, they slaughtered us. So the feeling around here isn't excitement, it's "oh well, I'm not going, they're going to get beat". If things were set up like they were last year, we would be playing a team for the first time in school history and I believe, the community and the school would show far more excitement. The entire system is in a mess!

That is because there is such a difference between your one and four seed. It is greatly going to help attendance in NKY AAAA this year. The four seed Campbell County beat the one seed Boone during regular season. The two seed Ryle beat the three seed Dixie by just two points last week. These two games are both going to draw huge crowds and should be battles. The only way it doesn't help attendance is if the teams within a district are not competative with one another.

Not true. This came from the KHSAA ... they sprung it on everyone this summer with no advance warning on the premise that it would solve travel issues and increase attendance for early-round games.

Be careful blaming the KHSAA on here. Some people get very testy.

The article stated that teams wouldn't be allowed to play district games at the end of the season next year but unless I missed it somewhere, that isn't accurate. There is a new format that was proposed and several teams I believe will be using it, the grid. However, I don't believe it is mandatory. Some school districts may still elect to follow the tradtional 5 non district and 5 district schedule format.

Be careful blaming the KHSAA on here. Some people get very testy.

Define Testy?

The article stated that teams wouldn't be allowed to play district games at the end of the season next year but unless I missed it somewhere, that isn't accurate. There is a new format that was proposed and several teams I believe will be using it, the grid. However, I don't believe it is mandatory. Some school districts may still elect to follow the tradtional 5 non district and 5 district schedule format.

It's mandatory.

:thumb:

It's mandatory.

You can blame the publics for this years playoff arrangement.

 

Bull.

I dont see the big deal! Basketball playoffs have been done this way for years.