But we'll be working 5 days this (and every) week trying to remedy whatever feeling people are having about the all-too-common result in 6A.

 

If a man trains 5 days a week to run to the moon...is it a noble pursuit?

 

Not trying to be mean/sarcastic here, just alluding to the reality of the situation in 6A KY football. I think it’s a legit question. :idunno:

Coach J's team was up 14 - 7 at half against Trinity this year. Trinity is a great program, but finishing that game is NOT like a "run to the moon". (It is a pretty funny line though!)

I think a great coach with strong school and community backing can go a long way in changing the culture of a football program. Look what Chuck Smith did when he came to Boyle County. Prior to his arrival, they basically had a mediocre team. He changed the local mindset about prep football in BC and now the team has won six titles since 1999.

 

I don't know about 2010, but I do feel that eventually another program will rise to the level of T and X in KY 6A.

 

100% Correct! But in to many cases, you no longer have a lot of either.

 

 

There will be teams that pop in and out of the picture, but year in and year out, it will be X & T.

With that in mind doesn't it get kind of boring following this class?Here in Ohio I know it gets boring knowing that there are a few teams that are going to be there almost each year and for me I can not get to excited about the Div those teams are in.

 

Nope

 

Does it get boring watching 5A every year? That division only seems to have a big 1.

Yes for this fan it would.

OKay, it sounds like with X and T in 6A and Highlands and Loser in 5A, according to some on here we've eliminated two of the six classes as being worthy of interest. Should we not not also explore the boredom of other classes next year?

 

Class 4A: Lone Oak, Bell County, Boyle County, Lexington Catholic and Losers

Class 3A: Central, Paducah Tilghman, and Losers

Class 2A: Fort Campbell and Losers

Class A: Lexington Christian, Mayfield, Beechwood, and Losers

 

Seems like a common theme in all the classes. :ohbrother: :isurrender: :ohbrother:

If a man trains 5 days a week to run to the moon...is it a noble pursuit?

 

Not trying to be mean/sarcastic here, just alluding to the reality of the situation in 6A KY football. I think it’s a legit question. :idunno:

 

If a man starts off convincing his kids they have as much chance to beat someone as they do to run to the moon, they'll have NO chance to ever do it.

 

There's a way to get it done in 6A. Won't be easy...that's part of why it hasn't been done well yet (outside of Male a few years back).

 

The answer is "Public school athletes...private school discipline." If our kids continue to 'buy-in' and work like they have been for the last 2 years, and the adults involved don't take the same approach as W.E. Raider, it can be a matter of WHEN, not if.

If a man starts off convincing his kids they have as much chance to beat someone as they do to run to the moon, they'll have NO chance to ever do it.

 

There's a way to get it done in 6A. Won't be easy...that's part of why it hasn't been done well yet (outside of Male a few years back).

 

The answer is "Public school athletes...private school discipline." If our kids continue to 'buy-in' and work like they have been for the last 2 years, and the adults involved don't take the same approach as W.E. Raider, it can be a matter of WHEN, not if.

 

Absolutely agree!:thumb:

The answer is "Public school athletes...private school discipline."....Coach J

 

You have the correct formula there Coach, and like you I believe it can be done. :thumb:

If a man starts off convincing his kids they have as much chance to beat someone as they do to run to the moon, they'll have NO chance to ever do it.

 

You've missed the implied allusion of the statement entirely. The statement was "If a man trains 5 days a week to run to the moon...is it a noble pursuit?"...that means, of course you regard it as a possible achievement, why else does one train? Of course you look at the moon and say, with great determination in your heart, "I will run to you!"

 

BUT the reality is still there...in the past 15 years (1995 - 2009), 12 of the State Championships in KY's biggest class have gone to one of the big two. Are we to believe that your optimistic and driven views are original? Is it not audacious to assume that the rest of 4A/6A for the past 15 years have not held the same belief’s, that they too have not strove to close the same gap.

 

The gap is not closing, it is widening. In the previous 15 years (1980 - 1994) the big two took just 9 of the 15 titles. The previous 15 (1965 - 1979) years, which included 3A as the biggest class, again, 9 of the 15.

 

It isn't a matter of football; it is a matter of the direction of public education in general. The public school's inability to compete is not the fault of the coaches, players, parents, or boosters...it is the fault of the state of public education in KY in general. Want to beat the big two? Build facilities like they have. Pay your coaches like they do. And MORE THAN ANYTHING, offer the academic excellence that they do, which is the NUMBER ONE lure to prospective parents. To believe that one can change the general sociological norms of today's American society with desire and discipline alone is a fallacy.

 

All of that is said with the notion that we too will work this week with the goal in mind that we want to become State Champions, even if Lexington Catholic stands in our way. So, with all that said, I put on my running shoes, stare at the moon, and I too say, “Here I come.”

If a man starts off convincing his kids they have as much chance to beat someone as they do to run to the moon, they'll have NO chance to ever do it.

 

There's a way to get it done in 6A. Won't be easy...that's part of why it hasn't been done well yet (outside of Male a few years back).

 

The answer is "Public school athletes...private school discipline." If our kids continue to 'buy-in' and work like they have been for the last 2 years, and the adults involved don't take the same approach as W.E. Raider, it can be a matter of WHEN, not if.

 

And it is posts like this that make me realize we will be in a serious battle from here on out for the district! :eek:

Are we to believe that your optimistic and driven views are original? Is it not audacious to assume that the rest of 4A/6A for the past 15 years have not held the same belief’s, that they too have not strove to close the same gap.

 

The "views" or "belief's" (sic) are not original.

 

The APPROACH though, is.

 

Just because a 'white male' had been elected President in this country for over 200 years doesn't mean Barack Obama was "running to the moon."

 

We WELCOME the doubters. They help add sugar to the sweet taste of victory when it happens.

Coach J,

Are you saying that YOU believe that other 6A public schools don't have private school discipline in their programs? I find that hard to believe or maybe we have different opinions on what exactly that is. W.E. Raider makes some good points. Just because someone takes voice lessons, doesn't mean they can win American Idol. It goes a lot deeper than even discipline. Tell me what Public school (6A) facility rivals T and X. How many assistant coaches do they employ? How many "Advanced Scouts" beat down doors for them? Ask 8th graders on which field(s) that they would rather play X/T or Male Manual? The only thing that could help JCPS is going to Home School. ( Doubt that will ever happen) If that were to happen schools like Ballard and Eastern would give the privates a run for their money.

The only Jefferson Co. public school to win the 6A/4A state title in the past 30 years is Male.

 

I'm curious as to what is so different about this "approach" that Coach J has cornered the market on.

Coach J,

Are you saying that YOU believe that other 6A public schools don't have private school discipline in their programs?

That's EXACTLY what I'm saying. That includes the program where I coach. I don't think people outside of T and X -- our people included -- TRULY understand the extreme levels of dedication their kids, coaches, and BOOSTERS. The kind of money and hours they ALL spend to achieve what they have requires a lot of SACRIFICE and DISCIPLINE.

 

what Public school (6A) facility rivals T and X.

None.

 

How many assistant coaches do they employ?

Not as many as T or X.

 

How many "Advanced Scouts" beat down doors for them?

What? I'm assuming you mean people representing T or X are "beating down doors" of prospective players to come to there and play? If so, that is a KHSAA violation. They can speak to kids about coming to SCHOOL there --- but they can ONLY bring up non-athletic offerings.

 

To that question though, I'd say the PUBLIC schools in Louisville have just as much opportunity to be at youth league games and be approached by a parent to ask about opportunities to attend their school.

 

Ask 8th graders on which field(s) that they would rather play X/T or Male Manual?

I'm sure they'd say X/T.

 

I'll give you all those. Now let me pose some questions to you:

 

If you could choose, would you rather have the MORE athletic team (fast, quick, agile, hand-skills, etc.) or the LESSER?

 

Overall, position-by-position (especially at the skilled positions), DESPITE FACILITY ADVANTAGES, COACHING STAFF SIZE ADVANTAGES, ETC., do you think T/X or a Louisville public 6A team would have the more athletic team?

 

How many hours are Louisville public school coaches limited to in weekend preparation?

 

How many hours per week are Louisville public school coaches limited to in training their athletes (especially their LINEMEN -- an area where the privates traditionally DO out-man publics)?

 

And finally, how much "private school" discipline (do what your coach says or else) and off-season dedication (completely MAXIMIZE your speed, agility, size, and strength) has been employed by us public schools?

 

Discipline isn't the ONLY thing...but given our ATHLETICISM ADVANTAGES, we should be able to mitigate many of the things above.

 

Pointing out MALE was perfect for my argument. Coach Redmon 'out-athleted' T/X at pretty much every SKILLED position in the late 90's/early 2000s (Brohm at Trinity being the exception). He got his linemen strong and technically very good. And what a lot of people don't realize, he demanded DISCIPLINE (do it PERFECT or don't play) from his position-players -- especially on defense. As a result, they competed with the privates.

 

We have the potential still to 'out-athlete' T/X. But athleticism without DISCIPLINE and MAXIMUM OFF-SEASON TRAINING can't work. Our "athleticism advantage" has been mitigated by T/X because they OUT-WORK EVERYBODY!

 

I'm not saying it hasn't been ATTEMPTED at the public schools...I'm just saying we haven't done it WELL ENOUGH yet. At Ballard, we're going to sacrifice that 'great' player if he won't train like a champion, follow the rules in school and the community, and keep his grades up. And he'll sit the bench -- no matter how good he is -- unless he does things EXACTLY the way we ask.

 

I'm curious as to what is so different about this "approach" that Coach J has cornered the market on.

 

I'm not saying we've "cornered the market" on this yet (otherwise, we'd have been able to seal the deal against Trinity last year when we had them down).

 

But I know we DO have several of the ingredients necessary. IF our coaches continue to be as dedicated as they have been both in-season and out, we continue to get great athletes, and our KIDS are willing to sacrifice their own needs for what's best for their team (true "discipline"), then we CAN/WILL compete without all the "advantages" they have over us or going to "home schools" (which I agree won't ever happen).