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?

 

No. Just guessing here, but I would say OH produces a lot more D1 talent than Ky. So I say let's hang it on the population difference. It's an easy out.

Ram makes some good points, but the most important is the simple stat that in OH there are 700 football playing schools vs. 200 in Kentucky.

 

If each school - on average - has 50-60 roster spots on their team, then that's approx. 35,000 footballers in OH vs. 10,000 in KY. Big difference in terms of OPPORTUNITY to play.

 

I also think the mindset created in OH simply by OH being the birthplace of professional football, the home of the HOF, etc., makes a big difference as well. Ohio sees football as "its" sport, just as KY views basketball.

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.

 

Number 7 is a difference-maker in much of the Commonwealth.

Simply put, Kentuckians, on the whole, do not care as much about football as basketball.

 

Ultimately, this is what it comes down to.

Do the Privates play the Publics in their playoff formats?

Do the Privates play the Publics in their playoff formats?

 

They sure do and they have some huge crowds up in Canton, Ohio where they play their Championship games and in weather that makes our Championship games look like a nice Spring Day!

 

ALA Larry, if you click on the link below, you will find out how big football is in the State of Ohio by the shear amount of information they have on this link.

 

Link

Edited September 6, 201016 yr by Theoldguy

Do the Privates play the Publics in their playoff formats?

 

Yes.

Simply put, Kentuckians, on the whole, do not care as much about football as basketball.

 

And, that is what it comes down to. All the other things are just excuses. If the state, the schools, the fans, and the players put the emphases on football, it will be a lot bigger. I think we are doing better, but we still have a ways to go.

Do the Privates play the Publics in their playoff formats?

 

Yes they do , Larry, and the publics win about as many as they lose in Ohio. The public schools in Kentucky need to take a hard look at what is going on in Ohio, and why the public schools in Kentucky (with the exception of Highlands, Beechwood, Mayfield, Boyle County, Bowling Green, Danville, and a few others) are not competitive, and instead of taking positive steps forward, they throw their hands up seek relief by creating separate classes.

I'd say small ball in KY is better.

Number 7 is a difference-maker in much of the Commonwealth.

 

Agreed, I had a good friend of mine that walked to practice for a couple weeks because he didn't have a ride. He had to walk about 3.5 miles to and from, 7 miles round trip and this was during 2 a days. One of the coach's found out and quickly found him a ride from there on out but it just speaks to how much of an impact it can have on whether or not kids can play.

C-Boy78, maybe I misunderstand your post, but in Ohio you get no points in the Harbins for a loss.

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!

 

OG, we do agree 100% on one thing. Perfect post which explains the weakness of KY Football imo. Go Birds _ _ _ _ _ !

Ultimately, this is what it comes down to.

 

Then we are saying Ky bball is better than OH?

Agreed, I had a good friend of mine that walked to practice for a couple weeks because he didn't have a ride. He had to walk about 3.5 miles to and from, 7 miles round trip and this was during 2 a days. One of the coach's found out and quickly found him a ride from there on out but it just speaks to how much of an impact it can have on whether or not kids can play.

 

Give me a break please, and I mean no disrespect but......

 

I walked each day to school about a mile and a half where I then thumbed a ride, then walked the approximately last half mile after the usually drop off spot. That was to school and then back each day. If we had practice or a game, it didn't matter, I walked and thumbed and walked in rain, snow, cold or heat, it didn't matter and I was far from being the only one who did it back then.

 

Believe it or not, the walking honestly made me appreciate the things I worked hard to earn latter in my life because I knew what it was like not to have some things that others took for granted.