For the most part, their best teams are better than our best teams. Is it a demographic, population thing? An approach issue? What?

I posted this several years ago in a thread on a simular topic:

 

I think state size has less to do with the quality of football in Kentucky versus Ohio.

 

These stats are provided by the 2006 Census:

 

Ohio Population 11,478,006

Kentucky Population 4,206,074

 

Ohio Square Mileage 40,948

Kentucky Square Mileage 39,728

 

Ohio Persons per Square Mile 277

Kentucky Persons per Square Mile 101

 

On the surface it looks like Ohio has a distinct population advantage, but when you factor in that Ohio has roughly 700 football playing schools versus Kentucky who has roughly 200 playing schools, you get:

 

Ohio 16,397 persons for every football playing school

Kentucky 21,030 persons for every football playing school

 

The above figures would debunk the argument that population would be the deciding factor in Ohio quality of football versus Kentucky quality of football. All though this is not a scientific proven argument it does have some sound usefullness.

 

Personally, I think it is simply mindset. Ohio is a football state, they have the Pro Football hall of fame, The Coaches Cradle, one of the most historic football colleges in Ohio State, two NFL franchises, several arena teams at different levels, the College Football Hall of Fame, many successful college football teams at different levels of play, and professional football would probable not exist if not for the historic revitalization that Ohio brought to professional football in its infancy.

 

Ohio once had professional teams in Ironton, Portsmouth, Canton, Dayton, Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and several others that I can not remember.

 

Kentucky just does not make football as important as Ohio does, kids in Ohio dream of playing football for their local school, they dream of playing football for Ohio State, the dream of playing for the Bengals or Browns. Kids in Kentucky are divided about basketball and football. I think football has come a long way in Kentucky, but has not reached the dominance level that it has in Ohio.

 

I know it may seem simplistic, but if you want Kentucky to be as competitive as Ohio in football, the state, the schools, the fans, the parents, and the players have to make it a priority to build their football programs. This means great facilities, great atmosphere, scheduling other events around football, and using media sources.

More people in Ohio, there are more larger cities that produce more players and more competition. Also, UK being really good at basketball maybe a factor as well. We tend to focus on that sport more than football.

More people in Ohio, there are more larger cities that produce more players and more competition. Also, UK being really good at basketball maybe a factor as well. We tend to focus on that sport more than football.

 

I'd go population. I would guess OH's top basketball teams have it on Ky's also. We know IN does year in and year out.

I would be very interested to see how the states matched up with schools of equal enrollment ... Ohio has a lot more big schools, and therefore many more good big-school teams.

Population

I'd go population. I would guess OH's top basketball teams have it on Ky's also. We know IN does year in and year out.

 

Indiana's all-star teams certainly do, but how do the top HS teams match up against each other? Do they play against each other often enough to tell?

I would be very interested to see how the states matched up with schools of equal enrollment ... Ohio has a lot more big schools, and therefore many more good big-school teams.

That's also my contention. Are we comparing apples to apples?

One thing people have to remember than Ohio has computer rankings.

Teams like CovCath can not get schools of similar size to play them.

CovCath would have a better chance to beating a Roger Bacon than a Lasalle or Elder.

CovCath by having a usually high KY rating, helps the big GCL schools when they beat them, but the smaller GCL's will be hurt if they lose.

Having six classes and a attitude of everybody should go to the playoffs doesn't help the game to improve in the Commonwealth. Why work to improve, if you are in, even if you don't win a game?

 

Having lived in Ohio for a couple of years and living near Ohio all my life, the Ohio football fans just laugh at our Football Playoff system!

Can't you play in Ohio at age 19? Thought that was one reasom OJ Mayo went to Ohio, also can't you go to any school within the county, hence recruiting? Kentucky has alot more schools along the river thus thinning out population even more. I'm to lazy to look it up but thought I'd stir the pot.

Can't you play in Ohio at age 19? Thought that was one reasom OJ Mayo went to Ohio, also can't you go to any school within the county, hence recruiting? Kentucky has alot more schools along the river thus thinning out population even more. I'm to lazy to look it up but thought I'd stir the pot.

O.J. Mayo would have been able to play just as many years in Kentucky as he would have in Ohio.

Can't you play in Ohio at age 19? Thought that was one reasom OJ Mayo went to Ohio, also can't you go to any school within the county, hence recruiting? Kentucky has alot more schools along the river thus thinning out population even more. I'm to lazy to look it up but thought I'd stir the pot.

 

OHSAA rules of Eligibility Guide. This is a .pdf file. Click here

 

IMO, they are much stricter on their rules than Kentucky!

Many of the same things that make some teams in Kentucky outstanding, while others are mired in mediocrity, differentiate the quality of football in Ohio from the quality of football in Kentucky. These include:

 

1. Much greater history and tradition

2. Community and parental support is vastly stronger

3. Better overall coaching

4. Work harder in offseason programs

5. Better facilities

6. Not as restrictive on school size

7. More urban areas, which makes it easier to get to and from practice.

8. Much higher population, offers more potential for more size and speed.

9. Football is the most important secondary sport in the state.

Ohio has football tradition that goes back t when Paul Brown coached at Massillon Washington High School and before. Kentucky's football tradition goes back to when Bear Bryant left because the gave him a lighter and Adolph Rupp a Caddy (ad disputed story, BTW). Even though the kids per school are greater in KY, when you have more kids, like Ohio, the odds are greater that you'll have a big time talent show up. Simply put, Kentuckians, on the whole, do not care as much about football as basketball.

 

The basketball/football comparison isn't a good one. Only 12 guys on a basketball team but you need 12 guys minus 1 on the field for football. One great player, which is more likely to happen in Ohio because of the greater population, can make a team.