I don't think that would have been fair to the Mercer County kids, either. If the KHSAA had proposed that solution, there may have been a lawsuit.

 

Or, Mercer would have done the most fair solution for everyone involved ... keep separate high schools and let them compete in athletics that way for one more year.

I said it would not have been fair to Mercer. But like I said, that is one school and there are alot more than that who feel it is unfair the way it is now.

 

I agree with your second statement.

Once again, they would have been a medium 3A school.

 

It won't be sad for us, believe me, we all have worked too long to be sad about a trip to Louisville.

Don't be so sure-

I know it is just for one year but you have to think about the seniors from other 2a schools who have worked so hard for as long as they have played football in an attempt to get to the state championship game to have it taken from them by a team that should be playing in a bigger division. Its a shame really. If my team was beaten my senior year in a situation like this, I would be extremely angry.

 

 

Reading all these posts talking so negative about our team makes me angry too. What about our Seniors? 22 of them, Mercer County Titans. 17 and 18 year old boys who have played opposite each other since what, 2nd grade and all of a sudden are thrown into being on the same side of the field? July 15th we became the Titans. Just over 4 months these boys have been together as one team. It was a make or break situation for our community. Our seniors have worked hard too, they have made sacrifices unselfishly for the team, all of them have, coaches too. What is really a shame is that you posters can't accept the fact that we did overcome adversity and rose to the occassion. We are in a darned if we do darned if we don't situation. If we WIN it's because "we are in the wrong class" (posters said it not me)and if we LOSE everyone will scream "with all that talent there is no excuse". Win or lose, I am proud of the Titans and how they have brought a once separated community together again - that's better than any trophy! Good Luck Red Devils, we'll see you on Friday.

And on and on and on the merger talk goes...............................

 

I wonder how much talk there would be about the merger if Mercer's football team hadn't been so successful this year? I'll answer my own question. None. You see ladies and gents, the problem that people have is not with the merger, it's with the success.

I am happy for the players that they were able to over come all the adversity and be successful thats what it's all about I don't think anyone here disagrees with that so it can't be the problem as you say but it is what it is kinda like life & I think we can all agree on that? This Russell team will show up & play that you can count on.

Reading all these posts talking so negative about our team makes me angry too. What about our Seniors? 22 of them, Mercer County Titans. 17 and 18 year old boys who have played opposite each other since what, 2nd grade and all of a sudden are thrown into being on the same side of the field? July 15th we became the Titans. Just over 4 months these boys have been together as one team. It was a make or break situation for our community. Our seniors have worked hard too, they have made sacrifices unselfishly for the team, all of them have, coaches too. What is really a shame is that you posters can't accept the fact that we did overcome adversity and rose to the occassion. We are in a darned if we do darned if we don't situation. If we WIN it's because "we are in the wrong class" (posters said it not me)and if we LOSE everyone will scream "with all that talent there is no excuse". Win or lose, I am proud of the Titans and how they have brought a once separated community together again - that's better than any trophy! Good Luck Red Devils, we'll see you on Friday.

Let's see ... Mercer County had a pretty decent team that benefitted from about a dozen talented players that had toiled on a not-so-good team, and is beating up on schools with quite a bit less enrollment.

 

Maybe it's just me, but I don't see the adversity.

What the KHSAA should have and could have done is allow them to play but as a non-district team.

 

That might be a little unfair to the players of the two schools involved in the merger. But how do you weigh this? Bend over backwards so that two schools that are now one don't feel slighted. Or... Make sure you keep the other 40 some teams in AA in mind and do what is right for the MAJORITY.

 

 

That way Mercer could have played the season as a consolidated school and not one other school in the state could cry foul.

 

JMO.

 

All that said, I still like Russell's chances against a VERY good Mercer Co team. May the best team win.

 

That could possibly be the most uninformed and short sighted post probably ever put on this web forum. Let's review just for a second, since so many people are so good at identifying problems, and no one has proposed a workable solution. All of this has to go into your thinking, unless of course you want to not let facts cloud your opinions (and those of others).

 

One, football in Kentucky is one of the few sports with hard clad, written game contracts. Those game contracts are on two year cycles with sometimes substantial forfeit fees. The two schools when they merged from what I read, had 19 or 20 signed contracts with opponents.

 

After reviewing the merger information, the local Boards of Education decided in the spring of 2006 to go ahead and make the move. Conduct their classes in whatever space they had until the new building is completed in a year or so. Bus kids all over town, back and forth, as needed, etc.

 

The KHSAA football alignment expires in 2006, as do the current game contracts. The Principals, Athletic Directors and coaches had been given information that the KHSAA was studying class expansion and not to schedule for the 2007 season. That way, there would be a fresh look at the entire system.

 

The current KHSAA classification system (that expires in 2006 according to their web site) is based on enrollment figures from 2003-2004 and 2002-2003 according to their web site. That is done in advance so that the classes can be established. Harrodsburg's 218 and Mercer's 655 would have been a total of 873. Yes, that is over the bounds set two years before that when the KHSAA (nor the Mercer Board) knew that a merger was coming. But their enrollment (as was every other KHSAA school) was taken based on the same set of data to fix those two years of competition. The point is that today's enrollment matters not one kid because no school is checked every year and automatically readjusted. There must be time for game arrangements, etc. And that few student's different with the class boundary is certainly no different than Danville having 50 more students than NCC this weekend, Bowling Green having nearly 100 more than Cov Cath (even when you double Cov Cath) or Ryle having 1500 kids in a game with a school with 1400 boys. Highlighting those differences, which are fractional when compared, just serves to make excuses.

 

The KHSAA, when given the information, had only two choices in my opinion. Leave the Class 2A designation for Mercer County or move them to 3A for one year. The concept of allowing them to play regular season but not for district championship would have held court challenge about as long as it takes to hit enter on the computer. So they were going to compete, the question then becomes where. In 2A decision, as I read in one local newspaper, you "minimize" the damage to the majority of schools. Only the Class A schools were impacted in terms of game scheduling. And some were not able to find replacement games and Harrodsburg (paid by Mercer County) would have had to pay forfeit fees.

 

Moving them to 3A would have then impacted a whole different group of schools for one year only (and a different MAJORITY as it was put), who had nothing to do with the problem and would have simply seen more of the aforementioned contract problems created. And without verification that their enrollment would even remain at the current level. Personally, I cannot help but think that both Danville and Burgin have benefited from a few families who didn't want their kids going to a mega size school, but preferred the smaller education setup like Harrodsburg had.

 

Lastly, don't even begin to think that somehow a one year athletic opportunity had anything to do with the final decision and its timing. That is a slap in the face to all of the alumni of old Harrodsburg. For there are now divisions and disagreements in that community that may take years to dissolve. Arguments along race, income, religion and social status lines still occur relative to this merger and are to be expected as one entire group within a community feels a lost identity.

 

So to blame the KHSAA for all of this seems to be very very uninformed. Given the very minimal options available, and past precedent, it was difficult for them to make any other decision. I know there are probably still old timers complaining about Scott County in the early 1970s whose football title should probably have an asterisk by it (according to some) because that was the one year wonder (actually two total) of the merger of Scott County and Georgetown.

 

Lastly, on a purely football note, having watched all four games last year, the best team of all 8 was probably Russell, from a purely football standpoint. They lined up and beat the heck out of a very good opponent. And the same thing could happen Friday. And while it may seem like David and Goliath to some (as I am sure the old fox McGlone will tell his kids) and may be like Remember the Titans to others, for once, can we adults on here shut up and let these kids have the spotlight and glory without clouding it in advance with excuses?

:thumb: Well said Mr Kissinger.

I am trying to remain out of this conversation, but from ym personal experiences dealing directly with the administration at Mercer County High School I will say that from my undertsanding this is a false statement.

 

I specifically remember dicussing how good the Titan team will be the day that the Herlad-Leader preview had been released, and jokingly mentioning how Belfry was ranked ahead of them. People knew how good they would be, in fact as good of a common interest story as it was, I am willing to bet it is a large reason why the LHL did such an elaborate article on them and dedicated a full page picture.

 

I will also go on record as saying that in no way does this mean that I think it was an entirely planned move by all parties involved... I honestly feel that sports played a part in the decision, to assume it was the driving force is ignorant for anyone to assume. For such a large undertaking as moving a consolidation a year ahead in planning simply based on a sports team's success would be very unwise, and from ym delaing with the MCHS administration and school board, these are not people who would make stupid decisions. They are very professional and genuinely look for the student's best interest.

 

But for ANY poster to deny that sports played somehwat of a role is biased and turning their face.... but... the merger was a very calculated and wise move on levels beyond sports that DID benefit the kids.

 

Instead of someone from Mercer getting on here and stating the truth about this they try to defend it with. Well what were we suppose to do? It's the cards we were delt. It just happened overnight. Hogwash.

 

I usually don't come on here and boast about Russell's team of how good they are. Unfortunately I'm the one that usually is quoted as saying things like "Russell's defense is suspect. We are not playing as well as we can. We might just be satified with the ring from 2005." I can't say that anymore. They played Belfry like a rabid dog.

 

Russell is ready to play the Mighty Titans. The Players on Russell could care less about this debate. One thing is for sure Mercer has not seen a defense this year like they are going to see Friday. Win or loose Russell will leave it all on the field. If they play with the "fire in the belly" attitude they had against Belfry, Russell will prevail.

 

Underdog. Russell is not the underdog. Period. They may be the underdog on BGP because of one reason. They are playing against two combined teams. I keep hearing about the 4.3 speed of the backs from Mercer. In true life they are probable 4.5 at least from the film I have seen. They are not faster than Reggie Bush who has 4.5 speed. Period. They look fast because they are playing against teams who are not fast. Russell has always been known for it's speed up until this week.

Hear, hear, Mr. Kissinger!

I was sitting back taking it all in, and you guys had me believeing it. Until Orisonspi dropped in and there was no come back. I could care less one way or the other. But I thought that was funny!

 

Maybe there was no reply because people get tired of making all the same arguments when the same points get brought up?

 

I am sure that the boards for Mercer and the former Harrodsburg considered sports...and band...and academic team...and all of their students programs and activities in making this decision. However, to even imply that it was done for a one time "opportunity" for one sport is ridiculous.

Back to the question at hand is would Mercer be in the final game without Harrodsburg influence? Don't underestimate Coach Jaggers and what he can do with a team. Last year no one thought Mercer had a chance to win anything and they had a great season... No not one that took them this far but still better then what most thought. I know football is about injuries and it could happen to anyone but to say Mercer would not have been where they are now without the 3 ACL tears that put some of their top players out is the unknown. But remember Mercer had beat H-burg 2 years straight. So the best thing to do is not compare the two teams they both have great players and this is why they are where they are along with Jaggers and company's coaching. For the most part the parents, coaches and players have not focused or so it seems on which school contributed the most but focused on what can be done together. Of course they are going to be better then the Mercer team last year and the Harrodsburg team. They have been able to Merge 2 teams with great players on it into one. Jaggers stepping up and making it all work.

Yeah, but I bet Danville would have had a big problem with a school with 900 students playing in their district.

 

If Mercer had tried to do that, I suspect the KHSAA would have surely intervened and made the new team play the 2A schedule.

 

 

Sorry to disagree Westsider but they didn't have much problem with the discrepency from the early 70's until 1986. At varying times they have been in the same district with Woodford County, Madison Central, Montgomery County and many others. They played Ft Thomas, Conner, Belfry (when they were 3A), Cawood, and a host of other bigger schools every year. The only reason Danville left 3A was because KHSAA ruled you could only play up one classification level.

It really does not matter how many kids are in a school or how many players are on a team. Each team - Mercer and Russell - can only put 11 players on the field at one time. Mercer will put their best out there and so will will Russell.

 

Get over the merge thing - let these boys enjoy their final week of football for this year!

 

Only 11 from each team will be playing at one time! Not 900.

It really does not matter how many kids are in a school or how many players are on a team. Each team - Mercer and Russell - can only put 11 players on the field at one time. Mercer will put their best out there and so will will Russell.

 

Get over the merge thing - let these boys enjoy their final week of football for this year!

 

Only 11 from each team will be playing at one time! Not 900.

Everyone understands this logic, but if it was followed there would not be a class system needed. 11 on 11 for class A would be the same as 11 on 11 for 6A. Good Luck to both teams.

It really does not matter how many kids are in a school or how many players are on a team. Each team - Mercer and Russell - can only put 11 players on the field at one time. Mercer will put their best out there and so will will Russell.

 

Get over the merge thing - let these boys enjoy their final week of football for this year!

 

Only 11 from each team will be playing at one time! Not 900.

So next year when their eleven will have to be competing against Highlands and Cov's eleven in the playoffs there won't be a difference? Come on, that is backward's logic. Number definately have a direct implication on talent in a program.