When the KHSAA went to the 6 classes and started rotating the districts so that T and X would not always meet in the finals a lot of people were upset and still are that they might meet before the finals in some years. Doing this allows other teams the possibility of making the finals. The two that come to mind are SK and Ryle while neither team did well in the championship game. By reaching the finals it did make a huge difference in their respected teams and it invigorated their whole school and community to support the football team, which set a foundation for their programs to build on.

Maybe the playoff system implemented by the KHSAA was not well received at first and not very good in the short term but long term it could help to energize a rise in the level of football through out the state. I know the argument is that the 2 best will not meet in the finals but many times in football and other sports that does not happen all the time either.

 

What does everyone think? Will it make for better football in the long term?

When the KHSAA went to the 6 classes and started rotating the districts so that T and X would not always meet in the finals a lot of people were upset and still are that they might meet before the finals in some years. Doing this allows other teams the possibility of making the finals. The two that come to mind are SK and Ryle while neither team did well in the championship game. By reaching the finals it did make a huge difference in their respected teams and it invigorated their whole school and community to support the football team, which set a foundation for their programs to build on.

Maybe the playoff system implemented by the KHSAA was not well received at first and not very good in the short term but long term it could help to energize a rise in the level of football through out the state. I know the argument is that the 2 best will not meet in the finals but many times in football and other sports that does not happen all the time either.

 

What does everyone think? Will it make for better football in the long term?

 

Without trying to sound condensending, when you have a playoff system without seeding teams (like having X and T in opposite sides of the bracket), I believe that most realists would admit that the "real championship game" often occurs before the final. Since neither St. X. nor Trinity care about anything except the title, it's fine for us to meet earlier in the playoffs and be able to keep all those BIG $$$$ from this second matchup.

 

In a like manner this move allows other teams the opportunity to play in a "KHSAA Championship Game" which will build their self-esteem and strengthen their program. So yes, it should at the very least improve the impressions, if not the actual strength of one's program.

Without trying to sound condensending, when you have a playoff system without seeding teams (like having X and T in opposite sides of the bracket), I believe that most realists would admit that the "real championship game" often occurs before the final. Since neither St. X. nor Trinity care about anything except the title, it's fine for us to meet earlier in the playoffs and be able to keep all those BIG $$$$ from this second matchup.

 

In a like manner this move allows other teams the opportunity to play in a "KHSAA Championship Game" which will build their self-esteem and strengthen their program. So yes, it should at the very least improve the impressions, if not the actual strength of one's program.

 

I understand that thought process but it would be totally subjective. Plus, it is not done in the other sports.

I understand that thought process but it would be totally subjective. Plus, it is not done in the other sports.

 

I think if they used an expert committee (similar to the folks that do the rankings on BGP), it could easily be done.

I understand that thought process but it would be totally subjective. Plus, it is not done in the other sports.

 

I thought we were trying to propose a system which would maximize the strength of football throughout the Commonwealth. Consider this thread a "storyboard" of potential ideas to meet that goal. Just because "it is not done in other sports", is a weak and invalid reason for discarding the seeding thought. If it is good enough for the NCAA, why is it not good enough for Kentucky? Let's just build our bank of ideas first and then start sorting, cutting and pasting.

I think that seeding is hte best way to go. If a single district is strong enough to have two teams meet in the finals, then so be it. In states that do this, I have seen #1 & #2 from the same district meet in the championship game. Although, I can see seeding being a big problem when just about every team is going into the playoffs.

I'm not sure anything can really be done with the largest football class in KY that's going to change anything. Take a look at the two recent years when Trinity and St. X were on the same side of the bracket... in those years Ryle and Simon Kenton made it to the state title game. But in both games they got hammered. So, is that really an improvement? I think most people feel that, at least 95% of the time (and perhaps 99 or 100% of the time, in reality) the St. X-Trinity game is the large-class championship game, whether it's played in November or December.

I'm not sure anything can really be done with the largest football class in KY that's going to change anything. Take a look at the two recent years when Trinity and St. X were on the same side of the bracket... in those years Ryle and Simon Kenton made it to the state title game. But in both games they got hammered. So, is that really an improvement? I think most people feel that, at least 95% of the time (and perhaps 99 or 100% of the time, in reality) the St. X-Trinity game is the large-class championship game, whether it's played in November or December.

 

I agree as far as the recent past but I think that making it to the finals in the long term it will improve SK's and Ryle's program. Ryle saw what they needed to do to compete for titles and have been transitioning their program to do that year in and year out. SK the way they played this year and the support they have from last year to this year from the student body to the community is much improved. They also have been putting things together from middle school on up.

Edited November 22, 200916 yr by doubledeuce

I thought we were trying to propose a system which would maximize the strength of football throughout the Commonwealth. Consider this thread a "storyboard" of potential ideas to meet that goal. Just because "it is not done in other sports", is a weak and invalid reason for discarding the seeding thought. If it is good enough for the NCAA, why is it not good enough for Kentucky? Let's just build our bank of ideas first and then start sorting, cutting and pasting.

 

Where in the first post of this thread was any mention of looking for a proposal to improve the system?

 

The thread was not looking for a "bank of ideas." Just thoughts on how the current system affects 6A football in the state. If you want to start a thread on how a new playoff system should be started go ahead.

 

But for the heck of it....

 

Seeding for this year would have been a problem,IMO. I think that X is better than SK, SK better than T, and T better than X. So how do you seed that?

Edited November 22, 200916 yr by doubledeuce

I think if they used an expert committee (similar to the folks that do the rankings on BGP), it could easily be done.

 

 

 

If you nominate me, I will nominate you.....

There has been many years, particularly in the 90's, in which Cov Cath and Highlands were both the best teams in their class but met in the third round. Next Friday, Boyle vs. Bell. It happens in almost every class where occasionaly the two best teams in the district/region meet prior to the championship. The best school in Louisville, IMHO, should be decided prior to the state championship; Since there is no seeding...Now if there were seeded teams, St. X would no doubt face T in the finals every year, barring some sort of upset. But for now, the KHSAA purposely stages the playoffs so the best teams (Private schools with 100+ players) meet in the finals...at least every other year. This is something that public schools will have to live with.

I am a public school guy, but I see the state finals as a game between the best two football teams.

 

That is Trinity versus St. Xavier and everyone else is a distant third. It would be a travesty if these teams meet before the finals and in the current state of Class 6A football in Kentucky. The finals would become a joke and we have seen that in recent years when a non-Louisville Catholic school stumbles into the finals.

I agree as far as the recent past but I think that making it to the finals in the long term it will improve SK's and Ryle's program. Ryle saw what they needed to do to compete for titles and have been transitioning their program to do that year in and year out. SK the way they played this year and the support they have from last year to this year from the student body to the community is much improved. They also have been putting things together from middle school on up.

 

What exactly has Ryle done since their trip to the finals, other than get bounced when they play somebody better?

What exactly has Ryle done since their trip to the finals, other than get bounced when they play somebody better?

 

The amount of kids on their team for starters is dramatically higher. Their facilities are much improved because of community support. They have begun the process of diversifying their offense. They schedule top teams in the state make themselves better.

 

What X, T, and HHS have was not built in a couple of years but Ryle is looking to take their program in that direction and they know it will take time.

The amount of kids on their team for starters is dramatically higher. Their facilities are much improved because of community support. They have begun the process of diversifying their offense. They schedule top teams in the state make themselves better.

 

What X, T, and HHS have was not built in a couple of years but Ryle is looking to take their program in that direction and they know it will take time.

 

 

I don't know that the way the 6A playoffs are done now have made any difference in football in Kentucy. But, I can say with 100% certaintiy that the points you have made in the first paragraph are what will make the difference in the long term for Ryle or any other schools that want to improve. You don't have to make it to the State Championship game to begin to build a culture of tradition. In fact, I argue that the most solid foundation begins when a school fosters a culture of excellence on and off the field, fosters community involvement and sets and focuses on long term goals. Some years that will translate to post season wins, and some years it will not. The most important key is to not let the passion die because of a "down" season.