Small schools' display not so little

 

Thirty years ago, when the Sweet Sixteen was just as entrenched in the Kentucky's sports culture as it is today, officials from Dayton High School nearly changed the course of the country's most beloved high school basketball tournament.

 

In an attempt to level the playing field for small schools, they petitioned the Kentucky High School Athletic Association to begin classifying the event, which since 1916 has crowned just one state champion. They were denied. So the group forced a statewide referendum. It failed by a few votes.

 

"From there we could either go to court or try something else," said Stan Steidel, Dayton's athletic director and boys' basketball coach at the time.

 

Rest of story:

http://nky.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20090128/SPT0302/901280358/

Played in this tournament in the mid 80s and it was always alot of fun. While I think the tournament is great, I'm glad that Stan didn't get his way it would of ruined KY HS basketball. It has come along way and it has turned out to be the best of both worlds, but I was in HS when this was happeneing and it almost passed. I like Stan but there is no way his ideas would have been better for KY basketball.

Just wondering, who coached Dayton in 44'?

I can remember when the CLASS A TOURNAMENT was just getting started. All the games were played in the Northern Ky area of Newport and Covington. Stan Steidel was the one who put it all together back then in the early, mid 80's. I was coaching a small school and had a good team and Stan called and invited us that year, ithink 1984. Later it became much bigger and moved it to Richmond. I go about every year for one day.Really enjoy it.

I can remember when the CLASS A TOURNAMENT was just getting started. All the games were played in the Northern Ky area of Newport and Covington. Stan Steidel was the one who put it all together back then in the early, mid 80's. I was coaching a small school and had a good team and Stan called and invited us that year, I think 1984. Later it became much bigger and moved it to Richmond. I go about every year for one day.Really enjoy it.

Look at the comment below the article... How ignorant...

I remember when the All "A" started back in 1980. Holy Cross started this tournament,the first regional was actually played at HC. The first year there were only about 4 or 5 teams, then a few years later was when it really got started with all the teams.

Just wondering, who coached Dayton in 44'?

 

THE John Wooden I believe. :thumb:

Played in this tournament in the mid 80s and it was always alot of fun. While I think the tournament is great, I'm glad that Stan didn't get his way it would of ruined KY HS basketball. It has come along way and it has turned out to be the best of both worlds, but I was in HS when this was happeneing and it almost passed. I like Stan but there is no way his ideas would have been better for KY basketball.

 

I agree. The All "A" and Sweet 16 give us the best of both worlds. No need to change anything to satisfy the "wants or needs" of a few schools.

 

Something that stood out to me in the article and a reason why we don't need to classify basketball:

 

Since the tournaments went statewide, All "A" schools have reached the boys' Sweet Sixteen finals four times and won two titles. They've reached the girls' Sweet Sixteen finals five times and won three titles.

I think the "spirit" of the All-A has been compromised.

Exhibit A- Elliott County.

For years Lex Cath played in it then they stopped.

John Wooden coached the Greendevils in 1932-33 and in 1933-34. The 32-33 team was the only team he ever coached that ended with a losing record. The 33-34 team ended up 15-3. After that season he left to coach at Indiana State.

Look at the comment below the article... How ignorant...

 

 

Exactly what I was thinking. Ignorant as the day is long.

Pretty nice article.

I think the "spirit" of the All-A has been compromised.

Exhibit A- Elliott County.

For years Lex Cath played in it then they stopped.

 

Please explain.