Trinity and X potentially meet every year in the playoffs as it stands now. So, theoretically, there's an opportunity to win a 6A championship at least every other year.

They did that a couple years ago and we were left with Ryle being manhandled in the finals.

 

Question: if teams start playing X and T closer in the regular season and playoffs than they have in the past, will the critical fans at least acknowledge that the 6 classes may have played a role in it? If teams start playing Highlands closer in the regular season and playoffs, will the critical fans at least acknowledge that the 6 classes may have played a role in it? If teams start playing Boyle, Bell, and the rest of the past perennial powers closer in the regular season and playoff games, will the critical fans at least acknowledge that that the 6 classes may have played a role in it?

 

I love the enthusiasm and support surrounding the Ryle and SK programs. I love the enthusiasm and support surrounding programs like Lone Oak, Whitley County, Johnson Central, Letcher County Central, Harlan County and other dramatically improving programs; programs that just a few years back were basically unheard of in discussions about good Ky high school football programs. I don't think 6 classes should get all the credit for that happening, but I do think it has played a role in making that happen. Hopefully such will continue to happen at other schools also. Winning, even winning over watered down competition, begets interest; which begets enthusiasm, which begets support from administration and communities; which begets increased participation by kids. Give it time folks; give it time.

I'm sorry but I don't know the answer to your question because I don't believe the KHSAA ever got to that point. Once the public private split was shot down by the Board, there would have been no reason to further discuss what would have happened with the number of classes in football. I'm told it wasn't discussed by the Board prior to the Board voting on the split.

 

As for westsider's strong statement that the move to 6 classes was because of 2 schools and if they were somehow eliminated we'd still be at 4 classes, I'm not sure how he can say that with such certainty, but maybe he knows stuff about the KHSAA Board that I don't know.

My comment wasn't aimed at the Board of Control, but more with the football advisory committee and the coaches that pushed six classes. Once the ball got rolling, other coaches got on board because some of them saw the potential for easier roads in the playoffs, and the KHSAA went along with it.

You keep saying this. I'm not getting it. How was moving to 6 classes going to end the dominance of X and T?

I didn't say it was going to do that. But, as other posters have pointed out, it meant there were fewer teams that would have to compete in the same class as Trinity and St. Xavier.

Question: if teams start playing X and T closer in the regular season and playoffs than they have in the past, will the critical fans at least acknowledge that the 6 classes may have played a role in it? If teams start playing Highlands closer in the regular season and playoffs, will the critical fans at least acknowledge that the 6 classes may have played a role in it? If teams start playing Boyle, Bell, and the rest of the past perennial powers closer in the regular season and playoff games, will the critical fans at least acknowledge that that the 6 classes may have played a role in it?

Why should we, on any of those counts?

Why should we, on any of those counts?

 

Because it would be true.

My comment wasn't aimed at the Board of Control, but more with the football advisory committee and the coaches that pushed six classes. Once the ball got rolling, other coaches got on board because some of them saw the potential for easier roads in the playoffs, and the KHSAA went along with it.

 

That may have been the mentality of some of the advisory committee members and some of the coaches pushing for 6 classes, but I can assure you that the major reason a majority of the Board of Control members supported 6 classes was the size disparity issue; not about concerns involving X and T. And it was the KHSAA that had the final say; not the advisory committee or the coaches pushing for 6 classes, so why some members of the advisory committee and some coaches may have supported 6 classes is totally irrelevant to me. Lessening the tension over X and T may have been a side benefit, but it was NOT the driving force I again can assure you. If you recall the comments from Commissioner Tackett when he first took office as the Commissioner, he said something to the effect of: schools need to start building up their own programs and quit trying to tear other programs down. I'm not Julian but I interpret that as meaning schools need to quit trying to avoid X and T because they can't beat them, but rather need to improve their programs so they can beat them. If my interpretation is correct, it would support my belief that the KHSAA did not go to 6 classes to shelter teams from X and T but rather for the size disparity reason. But maybe I have no clue what the KHSAA was thinking and maybe I've misinterpreted the Commissioner's thoughts on the issue.

There is always going to be someone that doesnt agree with the system even if it is as close to being pefect as possible. After thinking about this, Trinity and St. X are the hardest teams to work with because they have such a huge advantage of having more boys. One of those 2 schools will continue to win the state championship year in year out. The disparity of enrollment in the top 6a schools and the bottom 6a school is huge. I have not really looked at enrollment on the small side (the lowest enrollment in 1a and the largest in 1a), but the schools in the middle classes seem to have the most even playing field. My point is that Trinity and X make it tough to make even classifications.

Because it would be true.

Debatable ...