Basically, let's change everything and introduce a computer instead of admitting six classes isn't working. Basic diversion ploy.

 

The two issues aren't related. Whether it's 6, 8, 12 or 4 classes, what is the harm in trying to reward the best teams, and make sure the top teams play before the semi's? At least all the good teams get in the playoffs in KY. In many (if not most states), the computer decides who gets in, and good teams get left out.

The biggest complaint is going to be when Crittenden County has to travel to Pikeville, or Paducah Tighlman has to travel to Belfry, etc

 

The way I understand it that is not going to be the case. Regions 1-4 stay in the West, Regions 5-8 stay in the East and the Semi-States are seeded. In other words, its not taking the last 8 teams and seeding them 1-8.

 

Instead you are seeding 1-4 in each Semi-State.

 

 

Also to clear up once mis-conception I saw earlier, Out of State games DO COUNT in the RPI. They aren't calculated as accurate as in-state games though, as basically it takes an out of state team's opponents and subsequent opponent's opponents, and assigns everyone a .500 winning percentage.

The biggest complaint is going to be when Crittenden County has to travel to Pikeville, or Paducah Tighlman has to travel to Belfry, etc

 

I agree. I also think there will be several teams complaining about the intra district matchups in the first two rounds. As we know some very good teams will be eliminated the 2nd round.

I agree. I also think there will be several teams complaining about the intra district matchups in the first two rounds. As we know some very good teams will be eliminated the 2nd round.

And, in most cases, you will be playing a team you just played one or two weeks earlier.

I have been studying up on this for the past week or so and here are my very preliminary thoughts:

 

- For the most part I actually really like the concept. I do think it will help to make Rounds 3 and 4 a little more fair instead of loaded Regions having to eliminate each other a Round Earlier.

 

- What I really do love is I 100% think this benefits small schools with small budgets that basically take a financial hit every year by making the playoffs only to drive a good distance to take a blowout loss. They may still take a licking in Round 1, but it is a whole lot better than driving 2.5 hours and taking a licking and potentially having fewer fans and more travel expense.

 

- The RPI system is where I am finding fault. Let's first address the fact there is no perfect system right now and now matter what they decided someone would find issue. With that said, on the surface they "tried" to do the right thing with the RPI. There is no "magic number" like the Lit or Cantrall Ratings which should eliminate some regional bias You don't get grandfathered in to a ranking based off last year's team.

 

My chief complaint with the RPI system is it is only about wins and losses and has no "power" component.

 

A sweeping generic description is this:

If you are 1A Pikeville and you beat 8-2 5A Pulaski County on the road by 4 TD's, it gives you essentially the same credit as if you are 6A Trinity and you beat 8-2 2A Walton-Verona at home by a Field Goal. (NOTE: Opponent's opponents win percentages factor as well, but let's consider these to be the same for this example).

 

- Additionally, for teams that schedule out of State powerhouses like the Big 3, Covington Catholic, Belfry, etc... you would be far better off choosing to find teams out of state of smaller size that post more wins. The risk you take playing a powerhouse and the penalty for losing is simply too great. With the way the RPI assigns the .500 win percentage to those team's opponents and opponent's opponent winning percentages, a team like CovCath would be far better off finding a Division 4 or Division 5 team from Ohio than a GCL foe.

 

- On the out of state front, in a perfect world I wish the KHSAA could partner with a maxpreps to be able to at least provide the same accurate winning percentages as they use for In-State teams.

 

- One fear I do have, with all these things in mind, is you are going to see less teams wanting to play the power house schools from the upper classes and more schools trying to schedule the 1A and 2A schools who win a lot of games (think of an Owensboro Catholic or a LLoyd Memorial). This is a RPI system that doesn't care if you lose a tight game, it just really cares if you win by no matter the margin.

I agree. I also think there will be several teams complaining about the intra district matchups in the first two rounds. As we know some very good teams will be eliminated the 2nd round.

 

This bring up another critique of mine I just forgot to add.

 

For this system to be so heavily predicated on the winning percentage of the teams you beat, it really puts teams at a disadvantage who get stuck in a District with teams that are non-competitive. If you are in a five team District and have three teams that are historically weak, you are behind the 8-ball of winning percentages compared to a 4-tram Distriict that is average to good and the freedom to schedule a non-district game as you best see fit.

 

For example: Walton-Verona will almost always get the short end because their District is usually going to be weak, while a team like Danville will always benefit from a stronger district helping their numbers.

 

- What I really do love is I 100% think this benefits small schools with small budgets that basically take a financial hit every year by making the playoffs only to drive a good distance to take a blowout loss. They may still take a licking in Round 1, but it is a whole lot better than driving 2.5 hours and taking a licking and potentially having fewer fans and more travel expense.

The hosting team has to pay the travel expenses for the visiting team. Here's the kicker, may times, the home team is the one that loses money. The visiting team commonly brings a hand full of fans and some of the home fans go to a different game because they know it's going to be a blowout.

 

I remember one game at Raceland, the visiting first round team brought two (2) fans. The home crowd was down. The score was something like 52-0 at half-time. Raceland lost a lot of money paying travel expenses for the visiting team.

The way I understand it that is not going to be the case. Regions 1-4 stay in the West, Regions 5-8 stay in the East and the Semi-States are seeded. In other words, its not taking the last 8 teams and seeding them 1-8.

 

Instead you are seeding 1-4 in each Semi-State.

 

 

Also to clear up once mis-conception I saw earlier, Out of State games DO COUNT in the RPI. They aren't calculated as accurate as in-state games though, as basically it takes an out of state team's opponents and subsequent opponent's opponents, and assigns everyone a .500 winning percentage.

 

True, but you could see that Belfry to Paducah travel happen in the semifinals.

True, but you could see that Belfry to Paducah travel happen in the semifinals.

 

From what I gather that shouldn't be the case. They don't re-seed for the Semi's and it stays within the Semi-State.

 

For example let's say this was the 8 District/Region Winners in 1A this year (not regular season, but meaning they win their first two playoff games against District foes)..

 

WESTERN SEMI-STATE

District 1 Crittenden County

District 2 Campbellsville

District 3 KCD

District 4 NewCath

 

EASTERN SEMI-STATE

District 5 Paris

District 6 Raceland

District 7 Pikeville

District 8 Williamsburg

 

Then let's say these are the RPI seedings assigned at Round 3:

 

WESTERN SEMI-STATE

4. Crittenden County at 1. Campbellsville (GAME 1)

3. KCD at 2. NewCath (GAME 2)

 

EASTERN SEMI-STATE

4. Paris at 1. Pikeville (GAME 3)

3. Raceland at 2. Williamsburg (GAME 4)

 

It is basically a playoff within a playoff.

The winner of Game 1 plays the winner of Game 2 with the best seed hosting. Same for the winners of Game 3 and Game 4.

 

The only way you can see a team having to travel cross-state would be if for some absurd reason the KHSAA implements cross-bracketing in addition to this system. From what I gather that is NOT the plan, this system was actually put in place to eliminate the need for cross bracketing.

From what I gather that shouldn't be the case. They don't re-seed for the Semi's and it stays within the Semi-State.

 

For example let's say this was the 8 District/Region Winners in 1A this year (not regular season, but meaning they win their first two playoff games against District foes)..

 

WESTERN SEMI-STATE

District 1 Crittenden County

District 2 Campbellsville

District 3 KCD

District 4 NewCath

 

EASTERN SEMI-STATE

District 5 Paris

District 6 Raceland

District 7 Pikeville

District 8 Williamsburg

 

Then let's say these are the RPI seedings assigned at Round 3:

 

WESTERN SEMI-STATE

4. Crittenden County at 1. Campbellsville (GAME 1)

3. KCD at 2. NewCath (GAME 2)

 

EASTERN SEMI-STATE

4. Paris at 1. Pikeville (GAME 3)

3. Raceland at 2. Williamsburg (GAME 4)

 

It is basically a playoff within a playoff.

The winner of Game 1 plays the winner of Game 2 with the best seed hosting. Same for the winners of Game 3 and Game 4.

 

The only way you can see a team having to travel cross-state would be if for some absurd reason the KHSAA implements cross-bracketing in addition to this system. From what I gather that is NOT the plan, this system was actually put in place to eliminate the need for cross bracketing.

 

 

3rd Round stats East and West. 4th Round I believe if I’m right will reseed those 4 Winners from the RPI regardless of East and West.

So what happens with the three-team district in 6-A?

 

I didn't see any others - there may be others. Does the Ballard-Eastern-Trinity district champion get a first-round bye?

Will be very interesting to see the first 'RPI' and then see how much does it change over the final few weeks. If I read correctly, they are not releasing the first one until after week six.

Here's what the KHSAA site says: "For postseason competition, in Class 6A, *For playoff bracketing only, the 5th place team in District 1 (Apollo, Daviess County, Henderson County, Marshall County, McCracken County) would become the 4th place team in District 5 (Ballard, Eastern, Trinity (Louisville))."

 

Its on the top of the page with the new alignment: Current Alignment of Team – Football – 2

I'm trying to learn this playoff system. Lets say a lower class team (Danville) was to lose to a upper class team (Boyle) in the regular season and finishes 9-1. Will they be penalized for that loss over another team that goes 10-0 but plays cupcakes through out the season?

 

Does this keep teams from playing a hard schedule? Does it make teams want to run the score up in games to get a better computer ranking?

 

I like the rewarding a team with home games in the playoffs for their success and not just because it's their time in the rotation.