As I understand it, and it has been explained to me, 2 things need to be clear. First, if administrators didn't pass down a mailing asking for survey responses, that's probably a local problem. As I understand, the schools were sent a survey near the first of March and it was reported that at the Board meeting, KHSAA staff said only around 40 returned. It did require sigs from Supt, Prin and Coach, that may have been some of the holdup.

 

Nevertheless, to your second point. If schools aren't happy with the representation they got on the coaches committee, they should contact those committee people. I am told that Dale Anderson at Southwestern is the head of it, if that's the case, get with him on your feelings.

 

Just because someone wasn't involved in a specific decision doesn't make it a bad decision, just gives those who didn't get involved or who weren't involved, yet another excuse.

 

My point, as was clearly missed, was that all coaches were lumped into this group (the crying wolf anaology)...when in fact that was not the case. Blanket statements about a group are uncalled for and not accurate for the individuals involved. Should a person of power in an certain organization have feelings such as those about a specific group, then who knows the bias that might percieved when things are changed.

 

Kiss- I am not saying that the decision was bad-those are your words, my point is, it would be nice to see some consistancy and quit giving folks excuses (I am sure many will say that it's not fair the KHSAA is changing it all up again), as you said earlier: Most coaches don't use excuses and will play anybody anywhere.

 

I feel for the folks at the KHSAA, no matter the decision made, it's never right! For what it's worth, I played in the cross-distirct format and enjoyed it...but playing devils advocate and challenging groups that make decisions without the opinions of all stakeholders should be questioned. I am sure the KHSAA sent an e-mail to those who should be involved to make sure they get their survey's in. I wouldn't know, but I am sure that happened and many just put it to the way-side.

What minority? It certainly seemed the vast majority of fans and coaches didn't like playing within the district in the first two rounds of the playoffs. I'm also certain I read a quote from Julian Tackett saying that last fall/winter.

 

Does this also mean we have true regions again?

 

HDE-If the Majority of coaches would play anybody (as stated by Kiss) then the minority would be those coaches who wanted it changed-that's how I interpret majority vs minority. I could be wrong though. Read the above posts.

Sorry, I don't have that info. I'd suggest you ask your head coach how he felt about the issue.

 

I know how my head coach felt and how he "voted" on the issue.

 

The "vote" at the KFCA Coaches Clinic for the State Championships was a sham. Coaches were first asked if they wanted to change the current "same district" format back to the former "cross district" format. Only about half of the coaches raised their hands.

 

A "vote" was not taken nor did any discussion occur concerning keeping the format the same.

 

Just remember, the folks from Class 4A District 7 -- their #3 and #4 seeds -- have to travel to NE KY to play the #1 and #2 seeds in Class 4A District 8, as well.

 

District-4-7- Bell County, Knox Central, Madison Southern, McCreary Central, Rockcastle County

District-4-8- Boyd County, Greenup County, Lawrence County, Rowan County

^I'm happy about that as well. It was much better that way IMO. It shouldn't have been changed. There was some great rivalries being built up until it changed from those 2 districts mentioned above.

HDE-If the Majority of coaches would play anybody (as stated by Kiss) then the minority would be those coaches who wanted it changed-that's how I interpret majority vs minority. I could be wrong though. Read the above posts.

 

If you read this site last fall, you would have seen an overwhelming majority of fans calling for a return to the old playoff format. I remember no calls the previous fall for a change. A mistake has been remedied.

If you read this site last fall, you would have seen an overwhelming majority of fans calling for a return to the old playoff format. I remember no calls the previous fall for a change. A mistake has been remedied.

http://www.bluegrasspreps.com/showthread.php?t=141921

http://www.bluegrasspreps.com/showthread.php?t=136885

If you read this site last fall, you would have seen an overwhelming majority of fans calling for a return to the old playoff format. I remember no calls the previous fall for a change. A mistake has been remedied.

 

To use the people of this site as your example of the overwhelming majority is a farce. This playoff format has been in place for 3 years (so would that be an assumption that it was liked the previous fall by your majority???), I also remember YOUR overwhelming majority pushing to go back to 4 classes...where is that remedy. SORRY, I don't think your point holds much water...and I have yet to see anything the KHSAA has done as a "mistake".

To use the people of this site as your example of the overwhelming majority is a farce.

I wouldn't say that. This site is a pretty good cross-section of fans across the state.

This playoff format has been in place for 3 years (so would that be an assumption that it was liked the previous fall by your majority???)

Actually, teams have been staying in district for the first two rounds of the playoffs for only two seasons. And I have yet to meet anyone (coaches, players and fans alike) that liked the new format.

I also remember YOUR overwhelming majority pushing to go back to 4 classes...where is that remedy. SORRY, I don't think your point holds much water...and I have yet to see anything the KHSAA has done as a "mistake".

I don't know that an overwhelming majority of fans wants to go back to four classes, but it is fair to say that opinion is well divided on the issue.

 

Personally, I think the KHSAA has made several mistakes in their dealings with football in recent years. You are entitled to your opinion, but I suspect you're in the minority on that.

The people that I have spoken to and that I have read their opinion on BGP, have overwhelming stated that they want less then six classes, whether that is four or five is a split. And they overwhelmingly want the playoffs to be against other districts. They are split on whether they want the top two or top four teams to make the playoffs, but I would guess that the top two holds a slim majority.

 

Just what I have witnessed.

If I understand this right a team could still go 0-10 and make the playoffs. I think that part should have been fixed.

Until they no longer allow 4 teams from each district to qualify for the playoffs, you will still have some 0-10 teams make it.

I have yet to see anything the KHSAA has done as a "mistake".

 

 

 

So, what are you unhappy about?

The people that I have spoken to and that I have read their opinion on BGP, have overwhelming stated that they want less then six classes, whether that is four or five is a split. And they overwhelmingly want the playoffs to be against other districts. They are split on whether they want the top two or top four teams to make the playoffs, but I would guess that the top two holds a slim majority.

 

Just what I have witnessed.

 

I disagree with you on it being overwhelming against six classes. Other than the 4A game last year the finals produced a lot of good football.

 

Also, here were some comments from coaches prior to going to six classes. I suppose they all have their agendas but it would be real easy to pick apart some of the coaches that speak out against it on this list:

 

What coaches are saying about the vote....

 

For the move to six classes

 

“I've been in favor of it ever since they've been talking about it. If you look at the scoreboard on Friday nights, a lot of the games are blowouts. If you have smaller districts you can schedule up to seven nondistrict games against teams you can be competitive with. In basketball and baseball and other sports, 100 percent of the teams get in. Decisions like this should be based on what's best for the kids and this gives kids more of an opportunity to be successful, and that's the way to go.”

– Franklin-Simpson head coach Tim Schlosser in the Bowling Green Daily News

 

"It's sure going to change high school football. It may not be best for my school ... but I think it's going to be best for high school football. Seems like every time we increase the number of playoff teams ... football in Kentucky takes a big step forward. We don't have a great number of schools to have six classes, but we do have a great number of disparities (in school size). I'm old enough to remember when one team from a district made it. Then we went to two, and then we went to four and everybody said, 'Well, that'll water it down,' and Bourbon County (a third-place district finisher in 1997) wins the (AA) state championship. I think it just makes everybody better, and it makes it much more fun in the season if you're playing the last game of the season for seeding in the playoffs rather than, 'This is our last game. We're done.' " – Dale Anderson, Southwestern head coach in the Louisville Courier-Journal.

 

"Overall, going to the six-class system is best for high school football in Kentucky. "I don't see any drawbacks at all." -- Jimmy Reed, executive director of the Kentucky High School Coaches Association in the Lexington Herald Leader.

"

Historically, anytime the KHSAA does something to add teams to the playoffs, it has had a positive impact.” Mike Harmon, Lafayette head coach in the Lexington Herald Leader.

 

"Border schools are going to have that problem because we're so far disconnected from the central Kentucky schools. And with gas (prices) and everything, that's a tremendous concern. It's going to make our scheduling more difficult. … We're going to have to travel more. But I think the good of all the programs (from a six-class setup) overshadows the one negative that we may have. I'm all in favor of it. Football in this state has grown leaps and bounds, and I think this is another thing that will help get that energy going for more school systems. I think it's a prize worth having. I think that that state championship is going to mean as much to any team that wins it with six classes as it would if it was just one class. You let me win one of six classes, I'm going to celebrate just as hard as if we had four classes. I guarantee you." – Paducah Tilghman head coach Perry Thomas in the Louisville Courier-Journal.

 

Against six classes

 

“There are going to be a lot of schools in this state that are going to have a hard time scheduling when you just have three district games. The larger the school and better the program, the more difficulty you're going to have in scheduling. You already have so many blowouts in the first round of the playoffs. I don't think bringing weaker teams into the playoffs will enhance that team's season. I don't know, as a coach, how excited I will be going into the playoffs knowing that I'm going to get beat 63-0.” – Kevin Wallace, Bowling Green head coach in the Bowling Green Daily News

 

“Last year, (making the playoffs) was very special for us to do that, because it had been a long time. “It was a goal for our kids and we knew it was not going to be a cakewalk. We struggled and won some nailbiters to get in there. Doing that is a great source of pride for our kids and in 2007 it is going to be hard for us to look at it in the same respect.” – Warren East head coach Ben Bruni in the Bowling Green Daily News.

 

"I think it is an attempt to divert some of the attention from the public-private issue. I think it is an attempt to placate people by offering more championships and take people's minds off the issue. A fear I have is that all we are doing is putting a garden hose on a raging fire, and I don't think that is going to happen. I hope it doesn't water things down so that it takes away the meaning of a championship. We'll have to see how it goes." – Rick Thompson, Boone County head coach from NKY.com

 

"Everyone will make the playoffs now, I think. With four classes, you had to be the best of 52 teams to win a championship. With six classes, a school would have to be the best of only 36 to win.” -- Dale Mueller, Highlands head coach in NKY.com.

 

"Northern Kentucky guys were all against (six classes). We discussed five classes as being a more viable option, but never six. I'm not a big fan of (six classes) myself. That just creates a situation where getting into the playoffs won't be as difficult." - Dixie Heights head coach Tom Spritzky in NKY.com.

 

"It's certainly not what the membership voted for.” -- Lexington Tates Creek head football coach Mark Willoughby, in the Louisville Courier-Journal in reference to the 195-78 statewide vote last October to create separate championships for public and private schools. The Board of Control later rejected the membership's vote in a 9-7 decision.

 

LINK to the thread on Six Classes

When the rule was changed on district play, it was done with the intention of receiving feedback from the coaches and administrators. Apparently more people liked the old system, thus the change back

So, what are you unhappy about?

 

I am unhappy about very few things...none of which have to do with the district format of KY football.

 

West-in reading the links posted by RAM I would not say it is a very good cross-seaction of fans across the state. Many of the same posters are the ones that actually get on here, a very small handful of the entire group of registerd users. Not a good cross-section in my opinion. Not even enough for an accurate sample...again, just my opinion.

 

I am not disatisfied with either playoff approach, if we go back to cross-distict play I wish we could go back to four classes and make district seeding more competitive.

I think the KHSAA made the right call on all counts...I don't think too many coaches, players, fans, wanted to see the 1st 2 rounds of the playoffs vs someone they've already played...I know the 6a format didn't do the same and I'm sure it had to do with Trinity and St X, deny it if you want..The way it plays out with there new system, is Trinity and St X could only meet in the finals 1 out of every 2 years.. The KHSAA can still have there Cash cow every other year and the other publics, who constantly complain about these 2, will, at least have a legit shot to make it to Louisville every other year, which is better than they have now.. I think this is the most logical solution they could have made at this point..