Main reason to switch classes was the HUGE disparity from smallest to largest schools in old 4A (smallest school: 550 boys in school to choose from...largest: over 1400 boys).

 

I did some research and found that only TWO schools with FEWER THAN 800 BOYS IN SCHOOL ever even MADE IT TO THE FINALS in Ky's top classification. And that was over a 40 year period!

 

I agree that 6 is too many though. I think it would have accomplished the objective to do the following (something I proposed back around 2000 here on BGP):

 

* TOP CLASS - 4A: (Based on historical data...) all schools with 800 boys and up. Only about 25 schools in that class, but I doubt anyone could argue that would be a "watered-down" title.

 

* BOTTOM CLASS - 1A: Find school with lowest enrollment that has historically been able to compete at the state level (about 125 boys) and cap that class at exactly DOUBLE that number (schools with no more than 250 boys). Also, I'd like there to be SOME real alternative for TINY 1A schools to have the '8-man-football' option. Maybe play the Ky. champ against the champ from another state to make it more appealing for those schools to play 8-man?

 

* That would leave about 120 schools to divide evenly for 2A and 3A.

 

60 schools per class is consistent with the classes in other states.

 

Several of us have made similar proposals over the years. I agree the issue is disparity and six classes addresses that to an extent but like you I would prefer squeezed classes at the top and bottom. In short, something like the top 32 teams in 4A and the bottom 32 teams in 1A and divide 2A and 3A equally. The only complaint we would have then would be T and X being worlds better than all of our underachieving, large, public schools.

 

On another point, Beechwood has also been a clear beneficiary of the new class system. On the other hand, Newport Central Catholic has been one of the losers of the new class system. If we still had the old system NCC would probably have two titles vs. two runner up finishes.

 

Also, take teams like Bell County and Lexington Catholic, neither one of them even makes the finals in the old 3A. My point is, there are several teams that have benefited from the new class system.

For some schools things didn't change with goning to the 6 Class system. McCreary Central is in the same Dist. as when they started football in 1987. Bell, Rock, Knox, Madison So. added to replace Cawood. It didn't help or hurt us. We have 20 more students than Taylor Co. in 3A and not many more than Garrad Co. Sure could have helped the travel had we been in that Dist.

I don't have a problem with the new system. I didn't mind the old one either. I can live with it either way.

I don't have a problem with the new system. I didn't mind the old one either. I can live with it either way.

 

I agree. I would think that if anybody has any gripes it would have to be any school that is in Class 6A.

I don't care how many, or how few classes you have. The number of classes isn't what decides the success, and the culture of success within a football program. The same teams win, because these teams have a culture of success. The lone clear beneficiary of the new class system has been Louisville Central.

I reality, Central should move up to 4A or 5A.

I think that the six class system is okay the problem is with how many teams make the playoffs. I think only the winner and runner-up from each district should make the playoffs.

 

I thnk there is some merit to this, but the way districts are set up you have teams that are 3 seeds that are better than some district's 1 or 2 seeds, so we penalize the better team who is in a brutal district?

 

Side note: In the old class system we still had 1-9 teams (still had districts with only 4 teams whose cross district had 8) making the playoffs, so that part of the equation when figuring this should be eliminated, it really doesn't hold any validity.

 

I think the point has already been stated, it really doesn't matter how many classes you have, the upper tier teams will always be the upper tier...what's the point in punishing those programs that are on the rise? Are we putting EGO before the kids?

 

You only get so many games in your LIFE, why not let a senior get one more game?...that equals a lifetime of memories (most of us remember the good, even in a lopsided loss). I care more about the KIDS than the perception of 6 classes. That's just my thought.

I thnk there is some merit to this, but the way districts are set up you have teams that are 3 seeds that are better than some district's 1 or 2 seeds, so we penalize the better team who is in a brutal district?

 

Side note: In the old class system we still had 1-9 teams (still had districts with only 4 teams whose cross district had 8) making the playoffs, so that part of the equation when figuring this should be eliminated, it really doesn't hold any validity.

 

I think the point has already been stated, it really doesn't matter how many classes you have, the upper tier teams will always be the upper tier...what's the point in punishing those programs that are on the rise? Are we putting EGO before the kids?

 

You only get so many games in your LIFE, why not let a senior get one more game?...that equals a lifetime of memories (most of us remember the good, even in a lopsided loss). I care more about the KIDS than the perception of 6 classes. That's just my thought.

 

I agree with you and it is about the kids. But I hate seeing 0-10 and 1-9 teams in the first round playing I think that 2 teams sould be bette but our opinions won't matter anyway.

I agree with you and it is about the kids. But I hate seeing 0-10 and 1-9 teams in the first round playing I think that 2 teams sould be bette but our opinions won't matter anyway.

 

I know what you are saying, too many lopsided victories...but the kids still get on more game and the get to answer the "what if" question. I still think there are some schools, who make it as a 3 seed, that would be a 1 in other districts, who by location, are forced into a really tough district...it's those teams that I would hate to see punished.

I'm for one class. When the difference in boys between the middle 6A school and the largest 6A school is larger than the difference between the the middle 6A school and a 3A school then it tells me either population doesn't matter or the 5A through 1A schools are selling out the 6A schools. I'll go with the former. So I say no more classes and now the small schools have to get through all these "underachieving" big schools. And of course if you don't beat these underachieving programs with 5 to 6 hundred more boys than you it means you are underachieving also.

An arguement for 6 classes.

 

In 2006 Warren East finished 10-2 with two lopsided losses to Bowling Green in the old 4 class system. That was a pretty dang good East team, but those kids only got to experience the playoffs for two games because they ran into a meat grinder in the second round.

 

In 2007, East again had a very good team, but this time in the six class system. East advanced to the Semi-Finals and played one of the best high school football games I have ever been a part of against another upstart in Lone Oak in front of a packed house. That game will be remembered by all who played in it as well as that team being remembered at East forever for winning a Regional title and getting so far. Those kids will always be proud of what they acomplished, as will the coaches, parents, and fans who were a part of that.

 

In 2008, the same thing happened for Calloway Co., Allen Co., and Bullitt East.

 

If that's watered down, then you can keep your concentrate and I'll take the great memories that this watered down version has produced.

An arguement for 6 classes.

 

In 2006 Warren East finished 10-2 with two lopsided losses to Bowling Green in the old 4 class system. That was a pretty dang good East team, but those kids only got to experience the playoffs for two games because they ran into a meat grinder in the second round.

 

In 2007, East again had a very good team, but this time in the six class system. East advanced to the Semi-Finals and played one of the best high school football games I have ever been a part of against another upstart in Lone Oak in front of a packed house. That game will be remembered by all who played in it as well as that team being remembered at East forever for winning a Regional title and getting so far. Those kids will always be proud of what they acomplished, as will the coaches, parents, and fans who were a part of that.

 

In 2008, the same thing happened for Calloway Co., Allen Co., and Bullitt East.

 

If that's watered down, then you can keep your concentrate and I'll take the great memories that this watered down version has produced.

 

Amen! :thumb:

An arguement for 6 classes.

 

In 2006 Warren East finished 10-2 with two lopsided losses to Bowling Green in the old 4 class system. That was a pretty dang good East team, but those kids only got to experience the playoffs for two games because they ran into a meat grinder in the second round.

 

In 2007, East again had a very good team, but this time in the six class system. East advanced to the Semi-Finals and played one of the best high school football games I have ever been a part of against another upstart in Lone Oak in front of a packed house. That game will be remembered by all who played in it as well as that team being remembered at East forever for winning a Regional title and getting so far. Those kids will always be proud of what they acomplished, as will the coaches, parents, and fans who were a part of that.

 

In 2008, the same thing happened for Calloway Co., Allen Co., and Bullitt East.

 

If that's watered down, then you can keep your concentrate and I'll take the great memories that this watered down version has produced.

 

Good Point:thumb:

More games equals more memories.