Sure, teams want to play other more competitive teams and improve themselves, but why schedule the same team twice in a single season? What are you trying to prove? Do you expect to beat them twice? Are you implying that you expect to lose to them once, or that you'll need a second shot at them to insure a win? What statement does this make?

Who are you talking about? Did someone actually do this?

Who are you talking about? Did someone actually do this?

 

Highlands and Ryle

Scheduling choices:

 

1. Open week

2. Best opponent available that week (who is willing to play you)

 

Which do you choose?

I applaud HHS and Ryle for this. HHS struggles to get teams to play them. I'd rather play a strong NKY team twice than have to travel to play a good team. W/L is irrelevant to playoffs so you do what you need to do in order to prepare for the playoffs. More teams should do it.

 

Stay close and play a local team that will bring plenty of fans and make it a great environment.

Are Highlands and Ryle the only two? I have never seen it scheduled. Not sure how I feel about it.

I applaud HHS and Ryle for this. HHS struggles to get teams to play them. I'd rather play a strong NKY team twice than have to travel to play a good team. W/L is irrelevant to playoffs so you do what you need to do in order to prepare for the playoffs. More teams should do it.

 

Stay close and play a local team that will bring plenty of fans and make it a great environment.

 

That's true. I hadn't really thought about it from the "local game" perspective.

 

The reason I brought this up was because I had a discussion with a couple friends of mine on Friday, both of whom had graduated from different schools. We were alums from the Cov Cath, Beechwood and Highlands football programs, and we all saw it from a different perspective. The way I saw it, Ryle was looking to make a statement by challenging Highlands, who at this point is frankly just a stronger program than Ryle. If they play Highlands twice, they give themselves twice the chances at winning.

I applaud HHS and Ryle for this. HHS struggles to get teams to play them. I'd rather play a strong NKY team twice than have to travel to play a good team. W/L is irrelevant to playoffs so you do what you need to do in order to prepare for the playoffs. More teams should do it.

 

Stay close and play a local team that will bring plenty of fans and make it a great environment.

 

I agree to point. While I would agree that HHS probably does struggle to get NKY teams to play them, I would also have to offer that with the sheer number of HS football teams within 30-45 minute drive of HHS, I would think if you looked hard enough you could find a quality, local opponent that would play you. Think Moeller, LaSalle, East Carter IN, Mason, Lakota(s), etc. You still have a local team that with the right school you could build another rivalry. As a side note, if Ryle comes out with 2 Ws, do you schedule them twice again the following year?

I remember Bellevue and Dayton used to play twice in a year, and everyone loved that. In fact I wish they brought it back....

I agree to point. While I would agree that HHS probably does struggle to get NKY teams to play them, I would also have to offer that with the sheer number of HS football teams within 30-45 minute drive of HHS, I would think if you looked hard enough you could find a quality, local opponent that would play you. Think Moeller, LaSalle, East Carter IN, Mason, Lakota(s), etc. You still have a local team that with the right school you could build another rivalry. As a side note, if Ryle comes out with 2 Ws, do you schedule them twice again the following year?

 

You could be right about teams willing to play them but you also have to factor in timing. When does each team have an opening?

I remember Bellevue and Dayton used to play twice in a year, and everyone loved that. In fact I wish they brought it back....

 

Boone used to play Conner twice annually.

Were all of these scheduled this way or are you remembering a regular season and post-season?

The second Ryle-HHS game initially concerned me in that it could have potentially affected the playoff outcome of a three-way tie in Ryle's district, but that didn't happen and there's no question the game was a plus for both teams. Ryle got to face a tremendous opponent to help prepare them for the playoffs and also give themselves a gauge of their progress from the first game to the second. As for HHS, it appeared that no one was stepping up to play them and, short of SK this year, Ryle was the best challenge in NKY they were going to find. That being said, I still wouldn't want this to occur every year (2010 is last year of the 2-game series), as I believe it's still ultimately better to face a different opponent, as long as it is a quality opponent and not some lower tier team you will simply maul.

I agree to point. While I would agree that HHS probably does struggle to get NKY teams to play them, I would also have to offer that with the sheer number of HS football teams within 30-45 minute drive of HHS, I would think if you looked hard enough you could find a quality, local opponent that would play you. Think Moeller, LaSalle, East Carter IN, Mason, Lakota(s), etc. You still have a local team that with the right school you could build another rivalry. As a side note, if Ryle comes out with 2 Ws, do you schedule them twice again the following year?

 

Keep in mind that not all Ohio schools are interested in playing Highlands due to the Harbin point system. A loss to Highlands by a Ky school is just that: a loss. A loss to Highlands by an Oh school may keep them out of the playoffs. Harbin considerations are a big, big deal to the Ohio schools and opponents are chosen much, much more carefully in Ohio. You probably won't see Colerain schedule Cincy X and Elder again in the regular season for a long time due to those two losses keeping Colerain out of the playoff as a result of the Harbin system.

 

When the 09-10 schedule was being put in place, I know that Dale talked to several nearby Ohio schools. Some were not interested; some were, but the open weeks did not match up. Hence, he scheduled Ryle twice.

 

Regardless of who wins the games this season, I think Dale will see if he can find another quality program to play so as not to have to play Ryle twice. However if Ryle is interested in playing twice and Ryle is the "best available", then Dale will schedule Ryle twice.

, as I believe it's still ultimately better to face a different opponent, as long as it is a quality opponent and not some lower tier team you will simply maul.

 

Agreed. However, when it can't be worked out.....