That's ok "Theoldguy" I'm sure most looked at the post and figured out I was referring to this year. Hence Moeller's 2010 Rivals ranking, the 7 on 7 match-up played in 2010 at Highlands and coach Rodenberg's comment also made in 2010. But thanks for letting me know about some of the more recent successes of the Covington Catholic football program.

 

Ummm....you were suggesting that 7 on 7 is an indication of what would happen in a live game. 7 on 7 is fun and exciting but the real football begins Aug 3 and two weeks until scrimmages start. I would think that Coach Rodenberg would likely improve to 3-1 vs. Highlands, if they were to play a non 7 v 7 contest. But they aren't playing so it really isn't open for debate...

Ummm....you were suggesting that 7 on 7 is an indication of what would happen in a live game. 7 on 7 is fun and exciting but the real football begins Aug 3 and two weeks until scrimmages start. I would think that Coach Rodenberg would likely improve to 3-1 vs. Highlands, if they were to play a non 7 v 7 contest. But they aren't playing so it really isn't open for debate...

 

The thread title is Ky's Top Teams. When did mighty Moe become a Ky. team ?

Ummm....you were suggesting that 7 on 7 is an indication of what would happen in a live game. 7 on 7 is fun and exciting but the real football begins Aug 3 and two weeks until scrimmages start. I would think that Coach Rodenberg would likely improve to 3-1 vs. Highlands, if they were to play a non 7 v 7 contest. But they aren't playing so it really isn't open for debate...

 

You are absolutely correct about "real football". I guess the real speed and the real skill doesnt factor in to how a team would perform in a real football game. I guess most would have said the same thing if HHS and St X would have done 7 on 7 last yr. It doesnt really matter about who wins or dominates 7 on 7's. But you cant deny speed and talent and how easily a team handles another in a skills clinic and not wonder could this HHS team be equally as good as last yrs HHS team? We will find out soon enough. Go Birds 20n10

But you cant deny speed and talent and how easily a team handles another in a skills clinic and not wonder could this HHS team be equally as good as last yrs HHS team? We will find out soon enough.

Whoa... as good as last year's team? You're setting the bar pretty high there. I do hope that come mid-December we are all getting a chance to debate whether this year's team matches up favorably with last year's HHS squad. It's going to be a tall order, though.

 

I don't really know a thing about how this season will go for Highlands. It sounds like several HHS fans on BGP are thinking a state title is a strong possibility. We'll all soon see how the season plays itself out.

 

I will say this: I remember hearing stories from some Highlands fans during the year when this year's Highlands seniors were freshmen, about how there were some issues with that frosh team and that 2010 was going to be a "down" year for Highlands as a result. Given how well several of this year's seniors played last year, and how hard the players have been working this offseason, it's a real tribute to the HHS coaching staff and also to last year's seniors (who served as outstanding role models for this year's crop) that the team is in the position they're in on the cusp of the 2010 season. This group of players bears a pretty heavy burden to carry: three straight 5A titles, a 28-game win streak and a 41-game win streak against KY competition. That's a lot to live up to. I wish this group of HHS student-athletes all the best as they do their part in carrying the heavy torch that is Highlands football. Your fans are behind you. Go 'Birds!

Highlands will win the crown in 5A in 2010.

Rodenberg finding out how tough Ohio football is and is looking for his first playoff win over yonder since leaving CCH.

Whoa... as good as last year's team? You're setting the bar pretty high there. I do hope that come mid-December we are all getting a chance to debate whether this year's team matches up favorably with last year's HHS squad. It's going to be a tall order, though.

 

I don't really know a thing about how this season will go for Highlands. It sounds like several HHS fans on BGP are thinking a state title is a strong possibility. We'll all soon see how the season plays itself out.

 

I will say this: I remember hearing stories from some Highlands fans during the year when this year's Highlands seniors were freshmen, about how there were some issues with that frosh team and that 2010 was going to be a "down" year for Highlands as a result. Given how well several of this year's seniors played last year, and how hard the players have been working this offseason, it's a real tribute to the HHS coaching staff and also to last year's seniors (who served as outstanding role models for this year's crop) that the team is in the position they're in on the cusp of the 2010 season. This group of players bears a pretty heavy burden to carry: three straight 5A titles, a 28-game win streak and a 41-game win streak against KY competition. That's a lot to live up to. I wish this group of HHS student-athletes all the best as they do their part in carrying the heavy torch that is Highlands football. Your fans are behind you. Go 'Birds!

 

While the reports of some of the "issues" you heard back then were based on factual observations, please don't paint the entire class with the same brush as if they were all knuckleheads. Those who were at the center of the issues were a small minority of the freshman team that year, and those players have either seen the err of their ways and made the necessary changes or they have simply sought greener pastures elsewhere. Either way, I would suggest the overwhelming majority of this year's senior class have been the prototypical Highlands players, working hard for 3+ years now, and keeping far away from trouble.

While the reports of some of the "issues" you heard back then were based on factual observations, please don't paint the entire class with the same brush as if they were all knuckleheads. Those who were at the center of the issues were a small minority of the freshman team that year, and those players have either seen the err of their ways and made the necessary changes or they have simply sought greener pastures elsewhere. Either way, I would suggest the overwhelming majority of this year's senior class have been the prototypical Highlands players, working hard for 3+ years now, and keeping far away from trouble.

 

About half of that freshman team is gone. I believe they had 43-45 on the freshman team that year and have about 23 or so seniors this year. It's been nice to see this group maturing. As someone said, it helped a lot having the leadership in the class before them show the way and they're now prepared to pass it along to the underclassmen.

While the reports of some of the "issues" you heard back then were based on factual observations, please don't paint the entire class with the same brush as if they were all knuckleheads. Those who were at the center of the issues were a small minority of the freshman team that year, and those players have either seen the err of their ways and made the necessary changes or they have simply sought greener pastures elsewhere. Either way, I would suggest the overwhelming majority of this year's senior class have been the prototypical Highlands players, working hard for 3+ years now, and keeping far away from trouble.

My point in the post was that whatever those issues were back then (regardless of whether they involved only a few players or several) it clearly affected that freshman team's play, since their on-the-field performance did not measure up to what had preceded them. If someone back in 2007 had told me this year's Highlands team would be poised to seriously compete for the state title, I would not have believed him. The fact that it's now a reality says a lot for the Highlands football program.

 

At the same time, I do worry a little bit when some Highlands fans make predictions that this year's team may equal last year's team. By most everyone's account, last year's senior class was one of best (if not THE best) all-around football classes ever to pass through Highlands. It seems to me that it's a tad unreasonable (and perhaps unfair to this year's players) to expect that every year's senior class is going to be like the 2009 senior class. Highlands has won 19 official state titles in football, and I would venture to guess that many of those 19 were won with teams that were not blessed with as much pure athletic talent and leadership abilities as last year's team possessed. The team should take every practice one at a time, and every game one at a time, and not worry about comparisons to last year's squad. From what I've heard and what I know about the HHS coaching staff, I suspect the team will focus on this year's work and leave the comparisons to people on BGP!

I believe Highlands will be Highlands. Like always ,speed and talent will be there , the great coaching will be there , and the dedication will be there.

 

Will this years team be as good as last year ? I don't know ,and the schedule is the same except for playing Eastern instead of last years #18 Cinti X. I don't think Lou. Eastern is ranked at all. This year will not be a down year, as some predict , because a lot of seniors this year either started last year or had a lot of playing time as juniors . If the fumbles and dropped passes can be kept to a minimum , the Birds have a great shot at bringing home #20. Go Birds !!

Of course the Bluebirds will win it all, as others have said.

 

I am finding jbwill2 to be one of the smartest birds fans on here.

 

It is for the pundits to compare the teams. The win over Cincy St. X in 2009 was the BIGGEST in Highlands football history. This schedule for the 'birds in 2010 is not great, but it won't take away from them winning it all in 2010. For the future though, Highlands will have to schedule tougher or forget all the "national title" talk. Size does not matter if you want to say you are the best in the country and observers like me will expect the schedule to match the hype.

Isn't Trinity starting practice a week later than most other schools? I thought I heard that somewhere----so the kids might be fresher, mentally and physically, at the end of the season.

I am finding jbwill2 to be one of the smartest birds fans on here.

I only had to pay History $20 to write that!

Isn't Trinity starting practice a week later than most other schools? I thought I heard that somewhere----so the kids might be fresher, mentally and physically, at the end of the season.

If true, it will be interesting to see how it affects Trinity's quality of play as the season progresses.

 

However, I have always viewed Trinity as a team that seems to get better as the season progresses. On several occasions T lost to X in the regular season, and then beat them in the playoffs. Also, they started out a bit shaky last year, but went on a roll leading up to the title game.

While the reports of some of the "issues" you heard back then were based on factual observations, please don't paint the entire class with the same brush as if they were all knuckleheads. Those who were at the center of the issues were a small minority of the freshman team that year, and those players have either seen the err of their ways and made the necessary changes or they have simply sought greener pastures elsewhere. Either way, I would suggest the overwhelming majority of this year's senior class have been the prototypical Highlands players, working hard for 3+ years now, and keeping far away from trouble.

 

Bingo. We have a winner. There were some problems with a few players in the class when they were freshmen. But it was only a few players. Most of those few still play but have dramatically changed their behavior, which is a credit to them, their parents, their teachers, their coaches, the program and the players in classes before them that set proper role models. In any event, I believe it's a non issue and something left in the past.

 

As for the little sidebar discussion about whether we will be as good this year as we were last year: who cares. It's not important to me any way. I'm more interested in the kids learning the lessons that can be taught by participating in football and then winning another state championship. I've got no idea if last year's team was the best in Highlands' history and even though I had a son on that team, I don't care if they were or they weren't.

They were practicing last week. And are practicing as I type this.