The biggest thing that bothers me about all the class changes, the realighnment, and all they are doing is there are so many moves obviously made that are political and favors to certain programs. I could go on and on about which situations I am talking about, but that wouldn't really be permitted on here.

A few thoughts:

 

1. Most NCAA fans complain about BCS point system - so why bring it into KY. The only thing it would benefit would be Bluegrass Preps - it would be a very broad topic of debate if we moved to this system.

 

2. Many very good football teams do not make the playoffs when they are 7-3 or 8-2. Look up the Joe Eitel power rankings here on this website over the past 4-5 seasons. http://www.joeeitel.com/hsfoot/

 

3. Ohio teams are in the business of scheduleing "wins" not teams. NCC last year loses to Ryle and CCH early and begin the season 2-5. In Ohio, they are finished for the season. In KY, they have a Cinderella season. This is the beauty of sports and why all sports fans look forward to March Madness each year.

 

4. More teams playing one more game is great for every kid who suits up. Maybe we just need to think of it as a tournament, not a playoff. What is wrong with that.

 

5. Scheduling would be very tough if team stayed in their class. Holmes/Dayton game and NCC/CCH game may or not take place. Instead these teams are taking bus trips deep into KY for winnable games. Even though this year the smaller school is beating the bigger one, it is probably not good practice year in and year out.

 

6. In Ohio, beating Colerain and beating Ameila is the same when comparing first level points. So if Ameila has an easy schedule and keeps winning, then that win is as good as the win vs. Colerain.

One last comment:

 

I think Ky high school fans are shorting ourselves by comparing ourselves to Ohio. It is apples and oranges. The top 5% of teams could compete against the top 5% of teams over there. Trinity almost got X a week ago, right? But the top 25% could probably not compete against their top 25%. It is just a numbers thing. Compare two different schools valedictorians and they are probably the same but the top 20% against each other might be a differnt matter due to numbers or demographics. I think we just need to be proud of KY football.

That's fine, but it would make the playoffs more special if they weren't playing the "same old" district rivals in the first two rounds.

 

In my opinion this is the biggest thing that needs fixed. I'm okay with six classes, I'm okay with the scheduling grid, I'm okay with kids getting more playing time. Just go back to playing District 1 vs. District 2, etc. throughout the playoffs. I think it would help fix a whole lot of complaints.

This thread is a work in progress, I don't know if you read all the post or not, but the original plan has changed throughout the thread. Everyone has had input and I have changed some of the dislikes to suit those concerns.

 

A few thoughts:

 

1. Most NCAA fans complain about BCS point system - so why bring it into KY. The only thing it would benefit would be Bluegrass Preps - it would be a very broad topic of debate if we moved to this system.

The Power Ranking and point system has been done away with. The top two teams from each district would make the playoffs, using head-to-head competition only.

2. Many very good football teams do not make the playoffs when they are 7-3 or 8-2. Look up the Joe Eitel power rankings here on this website over the past 4-5 seasons. http://www.joeeitel.com/hsfoot/

Again the Power Ranking and point system are gone, so out of district wins/losses would not matter, just head-to-head district games.

3. Ohio teams are in the business of scheduleing "wins" not teams. NCC last year loses to Ryle and CCH early and begin the season 2-5. In Ohio, they are finished for the season. In KY, they have a Cinderella season. This is the beauty of sports and why all sports fans look forward to March Madness each year.

Again no Power Ranking or point system. Cinderella is still alive as long as you are one or two in your district.

4. More teams playing one more game is great for every kid who suits up. Maybe we just need to think of it as a tournament, not a playoff. What is wrong with that.

Several people have made the comment about everyone making the playoffs. That, in my opinion would be better then what is happening now. Only one 2A team is going to miss out on the playoffs this year. If everyone else in 2A is making it, why not let that one team in to. Mountain Thunder stated he would like either 50% or 100% of the teams to make it. I agree. With 2 teams from each district that would make around 50%. Or, like you said, make it like a post season tournament and let every team in. But, 90% making it does not make since to me.

5. Scheduling would be very tough if team stayed in their class. Holmes/Dayton game and NCC/CCH game may or not take place. Instead these teams are taking bus trips deep into KY for winnable games. Even though this year the smaller school is beating the bigger one, it is probably not good practice year in and year out.

Again, no Power Ranking or point system. So, you can schedule any non-district games you want without penalty.

6. In Ohio, beating Colerain and beating Ameila is the same when comparing first level points. So if Ameila has an easy schedule and keeps winning, then that win is as good as the win vs. Colerain.

Did I mention no Power Ranking or point system.

 

This is what the new mythical playoff proposal looks like now, after BGP input: We now have the two best team from each district heading to the playoffs, using head-to-head competition only. So, that is 16 teams per class, instead of the 32 that we have now, and all of this is decided in the regular season. With the two intra-district playoff games eliminated.

In my original proposal we were using Ohio as a model, a model not a carbon copy. This is how Kentucky's playoff format compared to Ohio's playoff format.

.................................................K entucky.....................Ohio

Districts by size..............................Yes............. ..............Yes

Districts in Regions..........................Yes.............. .............Yes

Power Ranking.................................No........ ....................Yes

Who makes playoffs......................Everyone............ ....Top 8 in Region

Regular Season Means something........No............................Yes

 

Now, after debate and input, and with the new mythical playoff proposal, this is how Kentucky's playoff format would compare with Ohio's playoff format.

.................................................K entucky.....................Ohio

Districts by size..............................Yes............. ..............Yes

Districts in Regions..........................Yes.............. .............Yes

Power Ranking.................................No........ ....................Yes

Who makes playoffs.................Top 4 in Region...............Top 8 in Region

Regular Season Means something.......Yes............................Yes

 

The only two differences would be: Kentucky would not have a Power Ranking (which we overwhelming do not want), and we would have 4 teams form each region (2 from each district) go to the playoffs instead of the 8 that Ohio has (since Ohio has roughly 700 football playing schools and Kentucky has roughly 200 football playing schools).

 

Now, we have used Ohio has our model, even though we have decided to differ from their exact format. We can now notice that our playoff system closely resembles their playoff system. We are both divided into districts by size, with those districts falling into regions, with around 50% of the teams making the playoffs, and the regular seasons will determine if you make the playoffs because those head-to-head district games will determine who will make the playoffs.

Westsider,

 

I agree with you. Playing the same teams in the playoffs (1st round at least) is not a good idea. I don't like that aspect of the new alignment, but I look for that to change with the next realignment after next year.

 

Reasons I don't like it.

 

A four seed who was beaten badly by the one seed earlier in the year has to play the same team again. No new life for the kids. Not a great playoff experience.

 

The old sytem allowed for every district to root for their own district against the other.

After a productive BGP debate/discussion, I have modified the original proposal to what, appears to be, a majority of the posters were looking for, and have come up with two options.

 

Option 1: The two top teams from each district going to the playoffs. This will be decided using head-to-head competition from the regular season district games. This will give us 16 teams from each class going to the playoffs, instead of the 32 teams we currently have (roughly 50% of the teams in each class). This will eliminate the two intra-district games and District 1's District champion will play District 2's District Runner-up and District 2's District Champion will play District 1's District Runner-up and so on.

To implement this, we only have to do away with the first two playoff games and use head-to-head results to determine a District Champion and a District Runner-up.

 

Option 2: Have a Championship Tournament. Everyone makes the playoffs and play a single elimination tournament to crown a State-Champion in each class. Every team will get to play at least an additional game, maybe more, and have an opportunity to upset a district/regional rival. Some may say this will take to long, but really it will only add a few games to the current playoff format. Currently 32 teams, from each class make the playoffs, and Class 1A has a total of 41 teams, Class 2A has a total of 33 teams, Class 3A has a total of 39 teams, Class 4A has a total of 35 teams, Class 5A has a total of 37 teams, and Class 6A has a total of 36 teams. So, going from 32 to about 38 teams, on the average would not add that many games to each class's playoff format.

To implement this we only have to add the additional 1-9 teams to the playoff bracket and let them play until we have a State Champion.

 

So, what do you think Option 1 or Option 2, which would make Kentucky Football better?

Westsider,

 

I agree with you. Playing the same teams in the playoffs (1st round at least) is not a good idea. I don't like that aspect of the new alignment, but I look for that to change with the next realignment after next year.

I don't see it happening for two reasons:

 

1. The KHSAA implemented the intra-district playoffs in 2006, before the move to six classes, with the stated reason to cut down travel and increase attendance at "local rivalry" games.

 

2. The travel situation would be far worse for some in a six-class system. For example, District 1 in Class A is in far western Kentucky. District 2 is the Louisville area.

I don't see it happening for two reasons:

 

1. The KHSAA implemented the intra-district playoffs in 2006, before the move to six classes, with the stated reason to cut down travel and increase attendance at "local rivalry" games.

True enough. But, with, the above, Option 2 you could have a district tournament (like basketball) and only one team leaving the district to play another district champion and not increase travel expenses. You would still have district rival games with big attendance numbers.

2. The travel situation would be far worse for some in a six-class system. For example, District 1 in Class A is in far western Kentucky. District 2 is the Louisville area.

Again, no travel added to Option 2 versus the current format, plus everyone would make the playoffs, not leaving one or two team out and everyone else making it to the playoffs.

True enough. But, with, the above, Option 2 you could have a district tournament (like basketball) and only one team leaving the district to play another district champion and not increase travel expenses. You would still have district rival games with big attendance numbers.

 

Again, no travel added to Option 2 versus the current format, plus everyone would make the playoffs, not leaving one or two team out and everyone else making it to the playoffs.

With all due respect, Option 2 stinks ...

With all due respect, Option 2 stinks ...

 

Dont' get mad at me. That is what several people said they wanted, "as many players getting to play one more game as possible", "50% or 100%, "you shouldn't leave one team out". I was just going on what the masses wanted, and giving them options. Who knows what the next format will look like, I will not be to surprised, well maybe.

Dont' get mad at me. That is what several people said they wanted, "as many players getting to play one more game as possible", "50% or 100%, "you shouldn't leave one team out". I was just going on what the masses wanted, and giving them options. Who knows what the next format will look like, I will not be to surprised, well maybe.

Not getting mad at anyone ... just noting that the idea stinks.

Not getting mad at anyone ... just noting that the idea stinks.

 

:thumb: Fair enough.

I looked at the Indiana High school Athletic Association web site, and they have an all inclusive, single elimination tournament. They have sectionals instead of district. They have eight teams in each sectional (district), they play a quarter final district game, then a semi-final district game, then a final district game. The winner moves on to a semi-final, then to the state championship game.

 

Eight team district, with eight districts in each class, and five classes. Not much different from Kentucky with 4-6 team districts, eight districts in each class, and 6 classes.

 

In Kentucky, the tournament would be easier do to less schools in each district, some districts would just have a semi-final and a final, some districts would have a buy round with a semi-final and a final. Just add one week to the season, or eliminate the buy week from the regular season and you have room for the all inclusive state tournament.

 

Indiana does the state tournament with 63 teams in each class, and Kentucky only has around 38 teams in each class, so it is very possible for Kentucky to have such a tournament.

 

Indiana High School Athletic Association

http://www.ihsaa.org/b-football_frame.htm