Why is it that Cooper, a brand new high school, was able to be put in a district, and play a varsity schedule without problem?

Excellent point.

A couple of differences in the mergers:

 

1. Mercer County, even without the merger, would likely have been a legitimate contender in 2A. The addition of the Harrodsburg kids, especially the element of speed, turned Mercer into a juggernaut on the 2A level.

 

2. Harlan County will have an even bigger enrollment advantage on the rest of the class than Mercer did, plus their consolidation was from three established programs. Mercer's was just two schools.

 

Wouldn't you agree though that the particular team that Mercer County had that year was sxceptional, I mean they would've pushed any team in any class to the edge. If Harlan County had all those athletes that Mercer County had then it would definatley be more of a disadvantage but that was one solid Mercer County team.

On a side question:

 

Had the KHSAA taken a different stance in the situation and instead told Harlan County that they would be playing in 6A until the next alignment, because it is unclear as to what the exact enrollment would be when the doors open, I guarantee we would see all these loud and proud Bear supporters being quite disgusted at how they have to play in a class where they are at a distinct disadvantage in terms of numbers.

 

 

Amen...

One other point ... many of us remember how hastily the Mercer-Harrodsburg consolidation was put together, resulting in the football team enjoying a distinct enrollment advantage.

 

Could the process have been accelerated at Harlan County? I seem to remember the consolidation originally being scheduled for next year.

 

No, the plan was in sight for this year and it had been in the works for almost 3 years.

One other point ... many of us remember how hastily the Mercer-Harrodsburg consolidation was put together, resulting in the football team enjoying a distinct enrollment advantage.

 

Could the process have been accelerated at Harlan County? I seem to remember the consolidation originally being scheduled for next year.

 

At least in respect to Harlan County they actually have a solitaire High School and aren;t using all three under the same name:sssh:

 

If there were Cumberland, Evarts, and Cawood Campuses like Mercer County had this would stir my pot a whole lot more. That was the shadiest part of the Mercer County move IMO.

Why is it that Cooper, a brand new high school, was able to be put in a district, and play a varsity schedule without problem?

 

 

That's a great point....can that be addressed by someone in the know??

If there were Cumberland, Evarts, and Cawood Campuses like Mercer County had this would stir my pot a whole lot more. That was the shadiest part of the Mercer County move IMO.

Amen ...

Wouldn't you agree though that the particular team that Mercer County had that year was sxceptional, I mean they would've pushed any team in any class to the edge. If Harlan County had all those athletes that Mercer County had then it would definatley be more of a disadvantage but that was one solid Mercer County team.

I felt that Mercer County team would have been somewhere in the 6-10 range in 3A that season ... a good team, but not a top-shelf state title contender.

No, the plan was in sight for this year and it had been in the works for almost 3 years.

 

This eludes to my point about the KHSAA.... why couldn't the KHSAA get a scheduled date of completion for the school and proactively set Harlan County a district... if the school wasn't complete all schools involved still only had one spot that would be troublesome to schedule...

On a side question:

 

Had the KHSAA taken a different stance in the situation and instead told Harlan County that they would be playing in 6A until the next alignment, because it is unclear as to what the exact enrollment would be when the doors open, I guarantee we would see all these loud and proud Bear supporters being quite disgusted at how they have to play in a class where they are at a distinct disadvantage in terms of numbers.

 

Probably the same if Belfry was put in class 5A, the cries would be the same. No one is saying that these 3A schools don't have an argument or can't say that the enrollment numbers are unfair, however, there was nothing that could be presently done. You offered a good solution about the KHSAA looking into these things years before.

I felt that Mercer County team would have been somewhere in the 6-10 range in 3A that season ... a good team, but not a top-shelf state title contender.

 

Really, I feel like the majority of the people on here thought they could compete in the 4A state title game.

Probably the same if Belfry was put in class 5A, the cries would be the same. No one is saying that these 3A schools don't have an argument or can't say that the enrollment numbers are unfair, however, there was nothing that could be presently done. You offered a good solution about the KHSAA looking into these things years before.

I agree... its just I have seen the ho-hum attitude from some as "We're here..it's fair...nothing's wrong". I definately do not feel HCHS has done anything wrong in this circumstance, this is simply the KHSAA not being proactive. It's not fair..but the blame shouldn't be on HCHS, it should eb the KHSAA

 

(The Mercer County thing wasn't all the KHSAA :sssh:)

Really, I feel like the majority of the people on here thought they could compete in the 4A state title game.

I don't agree, and even if I did, I think the majority would have been wrong.

 

(The Mercer County thing wasn't all the KHSAA :sssh:)

 

One hundred times over I agree; and know.

Rose Hill is going to have a 1A varsity team next year. We have known it for two years. Next year all the teams in District 1-5 will have to add Rose Hill. Guess what, all the district teams are going to add Rose Hill, and drop a non district game.

 

Did the teams in Harlan County's real district not know that Harlan was going to open this year? Could those teams not been told two years ago, that in 2008 you will have to add HC as a new district opponent. How is that different then saying this year that in 2009 you will have to add HC as a new district opponent.