I'm told that at one time, the AP used a point system to determine Mr. Football. There were five finalists and each voter ranked them #1 through #5 on their ballot.

 

Now, they just vote for one guy off a list of nominees.

 

And yes, it does seem strange that only 12 media outlets voted ... makes you wonder who dropped the ball.

 

It makes it appear that they just don't care.

Maybe you have been watching to much baseball.

 

My guess is, that is it!

Again, does anyone know how many AP votes there are?

 

Every member of the AP (TV, radio, print) is eligible to submit a ballot for the state football and basketball polls, All-State awards in those sports, and Mr. Football. Obviously, not every member votes. Some places, nobody cares. Some places, there's a guy who wants to vote but doesn't feel comfortable because he feels like he doesn't have enough information. Some places, and especially at smaller newspapers like I used to work at, the guy just doesn't have time.

 

(Self congratulatory blather deleted. Ignore this line.)

 

So there's three things to think about: interest, knowledge and time. And nobody's getting paid to spend time thinking about the AP ballot, other than maybe Fields and Demling --- the situations at Louisville (big staff, and guys who specialize in high school coverage) and, say, Pikeville or Middlesboro's newspapers (one- or two-man staffs trying to get everything, just about every day) are far different.. At most of Kentucky's AP members, that vote only happens if somebody's able to spend extra time to pull it together, unpaid. That's just the way it is.

Every member of the AP (TV, radio, print) is eligible to submit a ballot for the state football and basketball polls, All-State awards in those sports, and Mr. Football. Obviously, not every member votes. Some places, nobody cares. Some places, there's a guy who wants to vote but doesn't feel comfortable because he feels like he doesn't have enough information. Some places, and especially at smaller newspapers like I used to work at, the guy just doesn't have time.

 

(Self congratulatory blather deleted. Ignore this line.)

 

So there's three things to think about: interest, knowledge and time. And nobody's getting paid to spend time thinking about the AP ballot, other than maybe Fields and Demling --- the situations at Louisville (big staff, and guys who specialize in high school coverage) and, say, Pikeville or Middlesboro's newspapers (one- or two-man staffs trying to get everything, just about every day) are far different.. At most of Kentucky's AP members, that vote only happens if somebody's able to spend extra time to pull it together, unpaid. That's just the way it is.

 

Sounds like they are over worked and under paid. Maybe they need to give the Mr. Football thing over to Bluegrass preps who specializes in this type of thing and has a better understanding of the players across the state. I for one would say that everyone would be on a level. Let's face it if only 12 guys voted it probable would not make any difference to them and it would give these 12 more time to do the important things that they are very good at like reporting on local sports in their area of responsibility. I also think they need to set the AP poll aside for a while. Let's face it everytime they vote they seem to get egg all over their faces. I would like to see them spend their time doing what they do great and thats keeping me informed about sports in my area. Congrates to the AP guys on doing a great job of reporting sports.

Sounds like they are over worked and under paid. Maybe they need to give the Mr. Football thing over to Bluegrass Preps who specializes in this type of thing and has a better understanding of the players across the state. I for one would say that everyone would be on a level....

Wonderful compliment to BGP and to all the Members, who make this site the best.

 

Much appreciated Jeepman....:thumb:

Sounds like they are over worked and under paid.

 

FACT: At many newspapers (I daresay most newspapers under 100,000 circulation, for sure), if you come in for a job interview and ask for a salary equivalent to that of a first-year teacher, you will be shown the door.

 

The back door. Oh, you parked around front? Terribly sorry. Have a nice walk. It's good for you!

Congrats to Mr. Robinson, I am from northern Kentucky, so i am a little biased for Corey Ferris, but looking at Robinson's numbers, I do beleive the right man got the award.

Where did these other players sign?

It's still a sham that William Stein got ZERO votes.

It's still a sham that William Stein got ZERO votes.

The greater injustice is that he did not even get honorable mention on the AP all-state team.

Every member of the AP (TV, radio, print) is eligible to submit a ballot for the state football and basketball polls, All-State awards in those sports, and Mr. Football. Obviously, not every member votes. Some places, nobody cares. Some places, there's a guy who wants to vote but doesn't feel comfortable because he feels like he doesn't have enough information. Some places, and especially at smaller newspapers like I used to work at, the guy just doesn't have time.

 

(Self congratulatory blather deleted. Ignore this line.)

 

So there's three things to think about: interest, knowledge and time. And nobody's getting paid to spend time thinking about the AP ballot, other than maybe Fields and Demling --- the situations at Louisville (big staff, and guys who specialize in high school coverage) and, say, Pikeville or Middlesboro's newspapers (one- or two-man staffs trying to get everything, just about every day) are far different.. At most of Kentucky's AP members, that vote only happens if somebody's able to spend extra time to pull it together, unpaid. That's just the way it is.

 

True, but there are three main issues that have caused the AP All-State teams to come under increased scrutiny in recent years.

 

1.) There are fewer and fewer AP members because of the cost to be a member. The smaller media outlets (radio especially) can't afford the cost to be an AP member. These are the same outlets that usually provide the most high school coverage.

 

2.) Apathy by the outlets that COULD cast a vote is rampant. If you saw the weekly AP football polls, there was anywhere from 8 to 20 votes cast each week. It's not that hard to sit at a computer and send in a ranking. What? 15 minutes tops?

 

3.) Media apathy. I voted for two AP All-State teams at the small radio station I worked at years and years and years ago. I did so, not knowing about many of the players across the state except for what I had read in the C-J. The next year, the station dropped the AP. In this day and age of the internet, message boards, and online video of games, there is no excuse for the sports department of an AP outlet to a.) not take the time to cast a vote, or b.) know a little something about the best players in the state and cast a reasonable ballot.

 

The AP needs to take a harder approach when it comes to their rankings and all-state teams or they just need to hand them over to someone who will and stay out of it.

True, but there are three main issues that have caused the AP All-State teams to come under increased scrutiny in recent years.

 

1.) There are fewer and fewer AP members because of the cost to be a member. The smaller media outlets (radio especially) can't afford the cost to be an AP member. These are the same outlets that usually provide the most high school coverage.

 

2.) Apathy by the outlets that COULD cast a vote is rampant. If you saw the weekly AP football polls, there was anywhere from 8 to 20 votes cast each week. It's not that hard to sit at a computer and send in a ranking. What? 15 minutes tops?

 

3.) Media apathy. I voted for two AP All-State teams at the small radio station I worked at years and years and years ago. I did so, not knowing about many of the players across the state except for what I had read in the C-J. The next year, the station dropped the AP. In this day and age of the internet, message boards, and online video of games, there is no excuse for the sports department of an AP outlet to a.) not take the time to cast a vote, or b.) know a little something about the best players in the state and cast a reasonable ballot.

 

The AP needs to take a harder approach when it comes to their rankings and all-state teams or they just need to hand them over to someone who will and stay out of it.

 

Great recognition to the outstanding athletes who made AP All-State.

 

I agree with many that the AP ranking may have lost its muscle over the years... so is it up to the AP to hand the MR FOOTBALL naming honors over to another entity or can the KHSAA make that decision and allow another media to have the honors? If 12 AP members were the only ones involved in the selection process then I think its time for change... geographically speaking, it looks like the 12 APs did not consider the entire state in their selection process. I am still confused why qb Stein and EJ Fields did not get a HM as well as some other higher profile athletes.

I agree with many that the AP ranking may have lost its muscle over the years... so is it up to the AP to hand the MR FOOTBALL naming honors over to another entity or can the KHSAA make that decision and allow another media to have the honors?

 

The KHSAA has no say here, just as they have no say in Mr. & Miss Basketball or almost any other individual award in the state. It's no different in that respect from almost any other individual award you could think of (Roy Kid POYs, Paul Hornung Award, etc.). The only difference is that this is considered a higher honor. The KHSAA has no control over Mr. Football or any of the equivalent awards (basketball, baseball, golf, etc.) and probably doesn't want it.

How many AP votes are available?

Based on my count, there were 33 newspapers and television stations eligible to vote in 2007. (That number drops by one with the closing of The Kentucky Post.) Radio stations are not included in that count, but (1) very few of them have full-time sports staffers, or in the case of a station like WHAS, have sportscasters but don't really cover high schools and (2) radio station votes in the weekly polls and other AP sports votes are very, very rare.

Based on my count, there were 33 newspapers and television stations eligible to vote in 2007. (That number drops by one with the closing of The Kentucky Post.) Radio stations are not included in that count, but (1) very few of them have full-time sports staffers and (2) radio station votes in the weekly polls and other AP sports votes are very, very rare.

 

Who are you counting?