These are not your big brother's Tigers.

 

Not this year but most years it holds true. They would have done just fine last year against similar size schools across the the river.

Not this year but most years it holds true. They would have done just fine last year against similar size schools across the the river.

 

As a proud Beechwood grad myself I agree that most years over the last 35 years Beechwood would be a formidable foe to the types of teams you are talking about.

At Paris, early 90’s, then at Mason County (96-2014), our northern KY opponents were very good.

 

Roy Lucas (Jr. & Sr.), Rudy Tassini, Charlie Coleman, Dan Ridder, Bob Schneider, Mike Yeagle, Bernie Barre, Dale Mueller & others.... you better eat your Wheaties when those teams got off the bus.

I am questioning whether "we" are seeing a permanent change for the worse in Kentucky high school football.

 

In other words, a few good teams here and there and everyone else pretty much stinks.

I think the we are seeing the delayed result of the six class system. It was heralded, at first, as stimulating numbers, but the long term effect is teams are becoming average, at best. You can't lower the level of competition without seeing the competition level being lowered.

 

And, to be honest, the level of competition has probably been down for several years now, but the lowered number of teams per class has probably camouflaged that fact.

I think the we are seeing the delayed result of the six class system. It was heralded, at first, as stimulating numbers, but the long term effect is teams are becoming average, at best. You can't lower the level of competition without seeing the competition level being lowered.

 

And, to be honest, the level of competition has probably been down for several years now, but the lowered number of teams per class has probably camouflaged that fact.

 

On tangent here, I think six classes was all about "everybody gets a trophy" along with the expanded playoffs. If a coach doesn't have an impressive resume in this climate it is nearly hopeless. The schools/coaches wanted all those classes and extra playoffs.

 

I do agree with your point that you only have to be average now to look good and over time that can drag your program down.

Beechwood has played teams in the past from Ohio and beat them. They lost to Taft this year 7-3 and could easily have beat them. They have beat Ironton and Lima fairly recently. Beechwood is down this year but would have no problem competing in Ohio against similar size schools. They would never compete with the big schools obviously but would be fine against D3 and lower.

 

That isn't really my point, sorry if I made it poorly. Beechwood playing Taft close isn't germane at all to what I was trying to get across.

 

Even when NKY Football was at its apex, there was another level of high school football being played in Cincinnati at several of the GCL South schools, Colerain, and several others on given years. In the hierarchy of h.s. football, in our Greater Cincinnati area, there is always another level north of the river, except for the rarest of occasions when Highlands had a Top 20 (nationally) team.

 

Sorry if I wasn't clear, I apologize.

That isn't really my point, sorry if I made it poorly. Beechwood playing Taft close isn't germane at all to what I was trying to get across.

 

Even when NKY Football was at its apex, there was another level of high school football being played in Cincinnati at several of the GCL South schools, Colerain, and several others on given years. In the hierarchy of h.s. football, in our Greater Cincinnati area, there is always another level north of the river, except for the rarest of occasions when Highlands had a Top 20 (nationally) team.

 

Sorry if I wasn't clear, I apologize.

 

Is there any school in NKY that should compete with GCL South teams and if so, why? Completely different animal in my book. Not sure why this comes up every year.

Is there any school in NKY that should compete with GCL South teams and if so, why? Completely different animal in my book. Not sure why this comes up every year.

 

Of course it is a different animal, that is my point. I'm not trying to compare them, it isn't a fair fight.

 

My point, and I must be slipping a bit, is this: in EVERY other area of the state, the best h.s. team(s) are the best teams in their market (general area). In NKY, even in the best of years (minus an exception or two), the best teams in NKY aren't the best teams in the market. So my point is that I never really consider NKY Football "up" (as opposed to the "down" that was thrown out) because within 15 miles there are several schools that can beat our best. It isn't a shot at NKY football, just stating the obvious.

 

So to the OP, is NKY football down? My answer, somewhat flippant, "maybe...but is it ever really up?"

That isn't really my point, sorry if I made it poorly. Beechwood playing Taft close isn't germane at all to what I was trying to get across.

 

Even when NKY Football was at its apex, there was another level of high school football being played in Cincinnati at several of the GCL South schools, Colerain, and several others on given years. In the hierarchy of h.s. football, in our Greater Cincinnati area, there is always another level north of the river, except for the rarest of occasions when Highlands had a Top 20 (nationally) team.

 

Sorry if I wasn't clear, I apologize.

 

Is something germane to the situation!? Language warning everyone.

 

I believe HS sports in general run in cycles. We have smaller school populations so talent levels constantly vary. Just my take. No matter what most fans think talent trump's coaching at the HS level. Not bashing the coaches in NKY because we have a bunch of good ones.