I didn't say ALL independent schools. Geesh.

 

:lol:

I didn't say ALL independent schools. Geesh.

 

:lol:

You started it.

I didn't say all independent schools were struggling. I also discount the NKY teams because they are located in urban areas.

 

Don't discount all the NKY Independent schools (ie. Bellevue, Dayton, Ludlow...). These schools see some signs of struggle. These paticular districts are in a "land locked" situation. There is no housing growth. There are alot of transient students because of an abundance of rental properties. Not to mention the "urban" attitude that rears it's ugly head with what could be some talent. Most would rather see street time rather than minutes in a game. The stable families that participate in the athletics in these schools are only viable for so long.

Danville is way better than Mayfield this year and Pikeville hasn't been good for a long time. Danville has good talent, I think its self discipline that may be lacking, and there are several lines of thought on that. But, HEARSAY, don't be so quick to pile Danville in with the rest of the teams you are listing. They have the ability to beat anyone in 2A, they just need to learn to play consistantly, and take care of the football. You won't find any team looking forward to playing Danville in the playoffs this year, except may be Fort Campbell because they seem to be the real deal and probably would like the challenge.

Apollo is pretty much for the most part the same football program they are known more for basketball and baseball and well last year they lost in OT to go to the sweet 16 in basketball and lost in the state semis in baseball to the state champs.

 

I agree with you though the far western side of the state is struggling in football I can remember when I was in college it was Mayfield, Heath, Tilman from down in that area and you knew they were going to be a force every year and lately that is just not the case and with the way I think football is headed in the state they may never be a factor again.

Paducah Tilghman is 2-6 and could be 1-7 if they have to forfeit their first win.

 

Harlan was 1-9 last year and 1-6 this year.

 

Paris has struggled mightily in recent years

 

Mayfield hasn't been the Mayfield of old, losing their first regular season district game last year in 27 years and having a 3-4 record this year.

 

Same deal with Pikeville. They have not been the mountain power of old in recent years.

 

Glasgow appeared in consecutive state title games in the past decade and they are winless this year.

 

Bardstown is 1-6 this year.

 

Danville isn't the Danville of old, by Ad fans' admissions

 

Ashland has enjoyed a rebirth of sorts this year but has been down in recent years

 

Murray lost in the first round of the playoffs last year for the first time in 12 years

 

While I know the same doesn't apply to the NKY and urban indepedents, is this trend of rural independents slipping a coincidence or a trend?

 

It's probably a flawed theroy. I could list more than a handful of public schools that had been good, who aren't having good years. And as has already been mentioned as many Indy schools are succeeding as not.

 

To address the schools you mentioned. Pikeville hasn't been Pikeville for a decade or so. They have had a year or two of good teams, but over the past 10 years they've suffered through the cyclical nature that all small schools go through.

 

Pad Til lost their head coach last year, he was a great one. That probably has something to do with their team.

 

Mayfiled, I'd put in the same class as Pikeville. They haven't been the Mayfield of old for some time.

 

Harlan has had years like this before. They are VERY young, they'll be fine again next year.

 

Paris hasn't been a state power since the 80's.

 

 

Glasgow and Bardstown, I have no real info on.

 

I think that MOST Ind schools are smaller. That means that they have years where they don't have as much talent, it's part of a cycle. I don't see any trend going on here.

If Pikeville and Mayfield haven't been the "Pikeville and Mayfield" of old for some time, isn't that considered a trend?

 

Ashland has enjoyed a rebirth of sorts this year but has been down in recent years

 

 

Ashland had 1 down year. Their record does not support your theory.

 

2008 = 6-2 so far (and 2-0 district)

2007 = 2-8

2006 = 9-3

2005 = 9-3

2004 = 9-4

2003 = 8-5

 

I echo others who have posted above - in NEKY independent schools do better than the county schools.

Edited October 22, 200817 yr by Graybeard

It is very depressing to hear that Paducah Tilghman is doing that bad. I remember it like it was yesterday playing them twice in 1992. First at the Thoroughbred Bowl at Tates Creek, then for the title game in Louisville. Billy Jack Haskins was one of the most electrifying players I had ever seen. What was funny is that the state printed the title game programs with the QB from COV CATH on it and they didn't even make it. I think his name was McCormick. He was pretty good, but it was Jude Hoffman and the Cogswell boys that I remembered the most from CCH.

If Pikeville and Mayfield haven't been the "Pikeville and Mayfield" of old for some time, isn't that considered a trend?

 

It would indicated that for some time, neither has been what they used to be. It's also nothing new. A trend would suggest that the common events were just happening (as in the word trendy). However, that's not the case here.

 

And it certainly isn't indictive of a larger trend of independent schools struggling, which was point of the thread. Pikeville and Mayfield's struggles have little to do with them being independent schools and more to do with how their programs are now being managed.

 

Williamsburg, Corbin, Raceland, Frankfort, Middlesboro, Murray, Hazard, Prestonsburg (I think they are an indy), Eminence, Danville (rated in the top 10 in most ratings and polls)........ When the majority of Indy's are successful, I think it's likely innaccurate to say that there is a trend of struggels because a few of the higher profile indy's have had coaching changes that affected their level of dominance.

It is very depressing to hear that Paducah Tilghman is doing that bad. I remember it like it was yesterday playing them twice in 1992. First at the Thoroughbred Bowl at Tates Creek, then for the title game in Louisville. Billy Jack Haskins was one of the most electrifying players I had ever seen. What was funny is that the state printed the title game programs with the QB from COV CATH on it and they didn't even make it. I think his name was McCormick. He was pretty good, but it was Jude Hoffman and the Cogswell boys that I remembered the most from CCH.

Adam McCormick was the guy ... if I recall, he was the first-team quarterback on the AP all-state team that year, which was voted on at the end of the regular season. Haskins was named Mr. Football, which was voted on after the state finals.

Pikeville and Mayfield's struggles have little to do with them being independent schools and more to do with how their programs are now being managed.

I know nothing about Pikeville's situation, but some of Mayfield's issues have to do with the struggles of independent systems.

 

The numbers are down in Mayfield ... the county's largest employer (General Tire) closed its plant down a couple of years ago, the demographics of the town have changed somewhat and enrollment has declined. Plus, some of the kids that used to come in from the county system generally stay at Graves County.

There is a big matchup for a district championship between to independents this week in Eminence and Frankfort.

All small rural town independents are likely to struggle at some point in the future. The same problems that are starting to creep up in places like Mayfield will be comming to alot of the other independent districts. I cant speak for other areas of the state but in deep WKY I see effects to independents in Murray, Mayfield, Paducah, Russellville to name a few. Here the independent school boundaries are locked and as new housing developments move outside of the boundaries of the district so do the students. In Mayfield, new subdivisions and most all new housing is being developed outside the city limits, sometimes the city will annex in the properties but this does not change the school districts boundaries which remain unchanged. This slowly results over time in the better housing being in another school distict. This then leads to decline in tax base for the independent school district and less inrollment. It also allows in most cases for the county district to have more money and under good leadership it leads to a school equal or better than the independent and a county school district that over time can offer more. Tutition in the past has been charged to attend the school outside your district and in tough economic times will stop alot of students. Murray has even faced some issues on he number of kids allowed to attend from Calloway County but that is a story in its self that is to involved to go into here. Bottom line is that these same problems eventually will catch up with all the rural independents and some of the others unless changes are made but it is my opinion that the state would rather stay this course and force the independents out.

Pineville used to be a great football program back in the 60's-late 80's and probably before that. The have struggled for years. the have not had a winning season since I think the 2000 when the won the district. They are again struggling.