I have little doubt that this thread may be closed, but I have a serious question to ask for the Mercer County fans.

 

How much better is Mercer with the influx of talent from Harrodsburg? Two touchdowns? Three touchdowns?

 

I bring this up because of this ... of the seven Mercer players that made the Danville Advocate-Messenger's all-area team, five of them were former Harrodsburg players.

 

Talking with someone Friday that is familiar with the Mercer program, he thinks the Titans are three touchdowns better than what this year's Scotties would have been. After discussing the situation, I believe it.

 

From his count, seven offensive starters were at Harrodsburg, including the center and the entire left side of the offensive line (inclding a 330-pound tackle) and the two speedy running backs that have combined for something like 60 touchdowns. Mercer's top returning back would have been pretty good, too, but he has been slowed by a hamstring injury since the spring, when he was running track.

 

On the other hand, only three or four starters on the defense were from Harrodsburg. Yet two of them were among the four that made the A-M's all-area team.

 

There is little doubt that the merger had an impact on this year's team ... I'm simply wondering how much so. Would the old Mercer team have made it to the state finals? And how good would Harrodsburg's team have been, even with their customary lack of depth?

Not to sound like I am spewing sour grapes (becaues Mercer beat us) but neither team would have been going to the state this year. Harrodsburg had some really good players last year but I didn't think they had enough players to put together a team that could have made it to the finals. I can't speak for what Mercer did because I never saw them play. Together they have formed a team that obviously no one can stop. Now here's my question and it's a fair question. How can you put the football teams together this year but not put the schools together until next year? It seems to me that if you put two schools together it should have been all of the schools at the same time and not just the football team. I've wondered if Boyle and Danville decided to put their schools together and let the football teams merge first before the actual schools what kind of out cry you would have hear all across the state. I bet you would have hear such an out cry it would still be ringing in your ears. Now this takes nothing away from this team and what they have accomplished. They have fought their battles and have won them all and they deserve to go to the state. I, however, can't quite figure out the merge of the teams before the actual merge of the schools. And you can tell me whatever you want and it obviously was done the way KHSAA wanted to do it, but it really doesn't seem fair to me that they were allowed to be in a lower class when the merge took place.

Not to sound like I am spewing sour grapes (becaues Mercer beat us) but neither team would have been going to the state this year. Harrodsburg had some really good players last year but I didn't think they had enough players to put together a team that could have made it to the finals. I can't speak for what Mercer did because I never saw them play. Together they have formed a team that obviously no one can stop. Now here's my question and it's a fair question. How can you put the football teams together this year but not put the schools together until next year? It seems to me that if you put two schools together it should have been all of the schools at the same time and not just the football team. I've wondered if Boyle and Danville decided to put their schools together and let the football teams merge first before the actual schools what kind of out cry you would have hear all across the state. I bet you would have hear such an out cry it would still be ringing in your ears. Now this takes nothing away from this team and what they have accomplished. They have fought their battles and have won them all and they deserve to go to the state. I, however, can't quite figure out the merge of the teams before the actual merge of the schools. And you can tell me whatever you want and it obviously was done the way KHSAA wanted to do it, but it really doesn't seem fair to me that they were allowed to be in a lower class when the merge took place.

 

I don't know how else to explain this. Harrodsburg school system no longer exists. The schools are merged. There is one Mercer County School System. Everything in the high school is merged.

 

Now back to the topic. Mercer is definitely better than they would have been. I don't know if you can quantify it or not. They definitely wouldn't have had the offensive firepower that they have. Defensively they would have still been very, very good. I believe their record would be about what it is now. The games would have been closer, and the varsity would have been playing the whole game all year instead of half the game. The biggest difference would be that a lot more players would have had to go both ways. And that definitely takes it's toll.

There will be replies to this thread consisting of people who have picked us to lose just about every round of the playoffs. Just like their motto this season "We are better together". And so is the MERGED student body. It's hard to understand the situation or know the situation if you don't know the facts. They use both buildings to try and provide the best possible education for the kids. All of the former Harrodsburg staff members were merged with Mercer as well. It's one school system. Would it have made it better if they had kids crowded under one building? Academics is still the #1 priority for the students.

There will be replies to this thread consisting of people who have picked us to lose just about every round of the playoffs.

Mercer has been ranked #1 since midseason ... who in the heck has been picking them to lose?

Just like their motto this season "We are better together". And so is the MERGED student body. It's hard to understand the situation or know the situation if you don't know the facts. They use both buildings to try and provide the best possible education for the kids. All of the former Harrodsburg staff members were merged with Mercer as well. It's one school system. Would it have made it better if they had kids crowded under one building? Academics is still the #1 priority for the students.

No one has a problem with the two systems merging. Some do have a problem with students housed in separate buildings (with limited interaction throughout the day) competing in a merged athletic program and benefitting from the numbers advantage.

This is the best situation for the kids here so that's what they did. They needed the space for the extra 200 kids. Like I stated the Harrodsburg teachers were merged with Mercer's as well. So with the extra classes they are able to offer they need the space. This is why they are building such a large school for all the other academic opportunities.

Without a merger, I think Harrodsburg would have been a 5-5 team at best and Mercer would have been somewhere around 7-3.

 

Harrodsburg's speed would have helped, but they couldn't have moved beyond about the second round of the playoffs.

 

Mercer would have been competitive in their district because its so weak, but they probably wouldn't have beat Larue County.

This is the best situation for the kids here so that's what they did. They needed the space for the extra 200 kids. Like I stated the Harrodsburg teachers were merged with Mercer's as well. So with the extra classes they are able to offer they need the space. This is why they are building such a large school for all the other academic opportunities.

 

I heard last night that the freshmen will be housed at the old Harrodsburg High School next year, with the upper classmen at Mercer County. The new school should be built in 2-3 years. Did I hear that right?

I heard last night that the freshmen will be housed at the old Harrodsburg High School next year, with the upper classmen at Mercer County. The new school should be built in 2-3 years. Did I hear that right?

 

Yeah, they are going to do some shuffling to try and cut down on the bussing back and forth. The new school will be ready for 2008.

Yeah, they are going to do some shuffling to try and cut down on the bussing back and forth. The new school will be ready for 2008.

 

Where will the new school be?

This is the best situation for the kids here so that's what they did.

That is debatable.

They needed the space for the extra 200 kids. Like I stated the Harrodsburg teachers were merged with Mercer's as well. So with the extra classes they are able to offer they need the space. This is why they are building such a large school for all the other academic opportunities.

There was no reason that the Mercer County system couldn't have kept the two schools separate until the new building is ready. Just because the school systems merged didn't mean that a consolidation had to be done immediately, especially since the students aren't housed in one facility.

That is debatable.

There was no reason that the Mercer County system couldn't have kept the two schools separate until the new building is ready. Just because the school systems merged didn't mean that a consolidation had to be done immediately, especially since the students aren't housed in one facility.

 

I thought this thread was supposed to be about the impact of H'burg players on the football team. Not another rehashing of the merger.

Where will the new school be?

 

If you are familiar with the area which I believe you are it will be located on 78 acres between King middle and Mercer elementary and baywest and trim masters inc.

Without a merger, I think Harrodsburg would have been a 5-5 team at best and Mercer would have been somewhere around 7-3.

 

I'm not sure which three teams would have beat them.

 

 

Mercer would have been competitive in their district because its so weak, but they probably wouldn't have beat Larue County.

 

I'd like to know how many 2A districts were better than Mercer's. Newport is better than any team in Russell's district other than Russell. Same with Belfry's and Corbin's. We played Larue and OC and IMO Newport would have beaten them both. Lloyd also would have challenged all but the best of those districts.

I thought this thread was supposed to be about the impact of H'burg players on the football team. Not another rehashing of the merger.

Simply responding to a poster that chose to rehash the merger.