Hallelujah!. Thank you Skilld-Kid. I was beginning to think I was the only person on here that thought the way you do about 6 classes.

 

People act like they forget all the killings in the 4 class system. Now we are starting to see some good games early in the year with some teams who before had nothing to play for.

Wasn't it easy to do so with 4 classes? You might have had one or two more favorites in one or two of the four classes, but it's not like when we had 4 classes you had 10 really great teams in each class. And you might have knocked some teams considered favorites this year into the "nice team but no real chance of winning state" category. Heck, look at 5A this year. You have JH, BG and perhaps Christian Co as being legit threats to Highlands in 5A. If we had 4 classes, wouldn't at least one of them be in 4A with no real possibility of beating X or T in 4A, yet eliminating that team or teams as being a threat against Highlands in 5A? If we had 4 classes this year and NCC was still in 1A, would any one consider Beechwood to be a favorite? I probably wouldn't.

 

Perhaps I'm wrong. If some one has the time, the info and the inclination, it would be interesting to a take the enrollments used when they set up 6 classes and evenly divide them into what would have been 4 classes and see just how many teams would have been real contenders for each of the classes and what teams that are contenders in 6 classes would have been eliminated from being a contender in 4 classes.

 

I think if you can remember more than 25 years ago, you look at this question a bit differently from someone who perhaps can only remember the last 25 years or less.

 

Yes, at one time, the classes were far more competitive IN THE SENSE that more teams were legitimate title contenders. Human nature in the sports world is to "crown" a team to be the "hands-down, bona fide, undeniable, can't miss" favorites to be champs. But in the old 3 class and 4 class alignments, that was often fool's gold.

 

Consider 1984: Pleasure Ridge Park dominated the polls and public opinion in "Jefferson County 4A". Shelby County, then Oldham County did the same in "State 4A". But many teams were seen as major threats - not dark horses - including St. X, Trinity, Southern, DeSales, Ballard, and Male in Louisville, and Christian County, Daviess County, Lafayette, Ashland, etc. in the state.

 

The Final AP poll that year (back when the AP had some credibility)

 

Jefferson County 4A

1 - Pleasure Ridge Park (14 first place votes) 10-0 70 points

2 - Trinity (1) 9-1 56 points

3 - Male 9-1 38 points

4 - St. X 8-2 34 points

5 - Ballard 7-3 20 points

Also receiving votes: Southern, DeSales (Southern was 10-0 or 9-1 that year, if I remember correctly)

 

State 4-A

1 - Oldham County (14 first place votes) 10-0 74 points

2 - Shelby County 10-1 47 points

3 - Christian County (1) 8-2 46 points

4 - Lafayette 7-2 38 points

5 - Ashland 7-4 13 points

Also receiving votes: Daviess County, Owensboro, Madison Central, Boone County

 

I will tell you that at least TEN of those teams were considered legitimate threats to win the title: The top 5 in Jefferson 4A, the top 4 in State 4A, and Southern.

 

Ultimately, it was Christian County defeating Ballard, 14-10, in the final. #3 vs. #5.

 

In the other three classes in 1984:

 

3A - Danville had all 15 first place votes in the final poll and won as expected, 24-6, over Hopkinsville, who was not even receiving votes in the final poll.

 

2A - Somerset had 14 first place votes in the final poll; #2 Glasgow had the other first place vote. But it was Newport Catholic (also receiving votes) who defeated Fort Knox (#4) in the final.

 

1A - Russellville had 14 first place votes in the final poll; #2 Beechwood had the other. #2 Beechwood defeated #3 Paris in the final.

 

So - in four classes - only one "slam dunk" favorite won the title, or even made it to the final game.

 

And then there was 1987, when Shelby County started poorly, but hit their stride late and made it all the way to the 1987 4A title game, where they defeated Boone County, 17-14.

 

My point being, yes, in the past, there was much more competition within each class. But I think, given time, that will return, even in a six class system. Remember, we've only been in this setup for three seasons.

 

As for 5A, no, I really don't see JH or Christian County as legitimate threats on paper to win it all this year. Could they? Certainly. This is HS sports. But I see 5A as having only one legitimate outside threat to HHS, and that's BG. One man's opinion only.

 

As for Beechwood, I don't think they are anyone's favorite in 1A this year. Mayfield is this man's overwhelming favorite...

What parity???? This state is full of excuse makers, rather than coaches willing to put in the work (here's a secret- it starts with the youth programs and development).

"Parity" is a funny word. :lol:

 

As to the bolded, thanks for the thought. Hate to break it to you but Boyle's held their own when they've played the Birds in the past and has nothing but respect for HHS. Of course you also show your knowledge of the situation when you lump Bell County in there since they are moving to 3A by enrollment. Really up on things. :thumb:

 

Well sarcasm isn't really needed Hatz, but its ok I forgive you. I just happen to know that Boyle does not want to stay in 4A, because I spoke with one of their Principals last night, and he told me that they do want to move up. I wasn't trying to knock anybody here, just stating facts I was told by reliable people. If you were Boyle, would you want to go through Highlands every year. I know I wouldn't.