Congratulations to Highlands. I hear people say they are down this year, I say they would be in the top 3 in 6A this year.

 

Big 6A schools like Seneca, Manual, Eastern and PRP would like to be "down" like this.

 

Congrats to the Birds on the win! I haven't seen the definition of down year, but I think it means to keep working hard to travel down to Western Kentucky in December.

How can a school the size of Eastern not be competitive? The talent gap can't be that wide can it?

How can a school the size of Eastern not be competitive? The talent gap can't be that wide can it?

 

 

You want to know something that people may think is odd: I actually think Eastern has a pretty good football team and some pretty talented athletes. They weren't poorly coached either. The Birds just are better than a lot of people thought they'd be this year and once things started going bad for Eastern, things snowballed.

 

Some pretty knowledgeable folks thought that Highlands would be considerably down after last year's seniors graduated. While I disagreed with that thinking, I understood the logic and reasoning behind it. Some rather darn good football players graduated. Then you look at this year's seniors when they were frosh and you saw the losses they incurred and you think the Birds aren't going to have a strong senior class this year.

 

But a lot of the issues that were present when they were frosh have been corrected. The seniors have received some outstanding coaching the last several years and dramatically improved in execution and technique. Younger kids have contributed. Mueller and Weinrich do a masterful job in masking an area or two that we might not be real strong in, while taking advantage and utilizing areas that we are very strong in.

 

I'm not going to predict how competitive Eastern will be in their remaining games. Heck, I don't know who they even have yet to play. But it wouldn't surprise me if they don't win of games or at least be very competitive in their losses the rest of the year. If they have to play Trinity or X, such may not be the case, but those are two excellent, just excellent programs. I liked a lot of what I saw from Eastern. Their linemen moved well on both sides of the ball and were athletic. I didn't see a bunch of very heavy, very slow linemen on Eastern's team. They have a lot of very athletic skilled players. They seemed well coached. My guess is that other than Trinity (if they play during the regular season) Eastern doesn't play many teams with an offense like Highlands and that may have been a factor. I like the fact that Eastern's Coach Whelen elected to take on the Birds. Other coaches might have tried to schedule a sure win and not get much out of the game.

 

I'd attribute the margin of loss to the fact that Highlands played a very good game and not to any thing negative about Eastern. The Birds seem to really be coming on strong as of late and if the kids keep working hard and listening to their coaches, this year's team will be very, very, very good. As good as last year? I don't engage in such silly comparisons. Besides, they don't have to beat last year's Highlands team. Their task is to beat the remaining teams on the schedule and who they face in the playoffs.

 

Ru, I didn't count: did I make the thousand word mark?

Agreed on the quality of Eastern. I know my son got blown up several times during the game. They had some STUDS as OLineman. I also believe last weeks BC OLineman were equally as big and athletic. I just think the SPEED thingy KILLS. Go Birds 20n10

You want to know something that people may think is odd: I actually think Eastern has a pretty good football team and some pretty talented athletes. They weren't poorly coached either. The Birds just are better than a lot of people thought they'd be this year and once things started going bad for Eastern, things snowballed.

 

Some pretty knowledgeable folks thought that Highlands would be considerably down after last year's seniors graduated. While I disagreed with that thinking, I understood the logic and reasoning behind it. Some rather darn good football players graduated. Then you look at this year's seniors when they were frosh and you saw the losses they incurred and you think the Birds aren't going to have a strong senior class this year.

 

But a lot of the issues that were present when they were frosh have been corrected. The seniors have received some outstanding coaching the last several years and dramatically improved in execution and technique. Younger kids have contributed. Mueller and Weinrich do a masterful job in masking an area or two that we might not be real strong in, while taking advantage and utilizing areas that we are very strong in.

 

I'm not going to predict how competitive Eastern will be in their remaining games. Heck, I don't know who they even have yet to play. But it wouldn't surprise me if they don't win of games or at least be very competitive in their losses the rest of the year. If they have to play Trinity or X, such may not be the case, but those are two excellent, just excellent programs. I liked a lot of what I saw from Eastern. Their linemen moved well on both sides of the ball and were athletic. I didn't see a bunch of very heavy, very slow linemen on Eastern's team. They have a lot of very athletic skilled players. They seemed well coached. My guess is that other than Trinity (if they play during the regular season) Eastern doesn't play many teams with an offense like Highlands and that may have been a factor. I like the fact that Eastern's Coach Whelen elected to take on the Birds. Other coaches might have tried to schedule a sure win and not get much out of the game.

 

I'd attribute the margin of loss to the fact that Highlands played a very good game and not to any thing negative about Eastern. The Birds seem to really be coming on strong as of late and if the kids keep working hard and listening to their coaches, this year's team will be very, very, very good. As good as last year? I don't engage in such silly comparisons. Besides, they don't have to beat last year's Highlands team. Their task is to beat the remaining teams on the schedule and who they face in the playoffs.

 

Ru, I didn't count: did I make the thousand word mark?

 

I have said this from Day 1. Just like I have said that when the current Frosh class are Sr's, Highlands is going to be a very scary football team!!!

I have said this from Day 1. Just like I have said that when the current Frosh class are Sr's, Highlands is going to be a very scary football team!!!

 

Going to be?

This is an impressive margin of victory for the Birds but it doesn't elevate them beyond a mediocre Highlands team. It is a step in the right direction, but not proof of Bluebird greatness.

 

The real test will be if they struggle in the finals or not.

 

If Highlands were to run the table and shut out everyone in the process I think that still might not be good enough for some, including the founder...

 

The game was impressive on a number of levels. Why some try to compare this year's squad to other great HHS teams in the past is beyond me. Let the young men play and after the season is over the comparisons can begin.

Going to be?

 

You very know what I mean.

This might be the quickest, strongest, fastest most talented group of Bluebirds in the last 20 yrs.

Ditto to what both VOR & LN have said. Highlands' "program" right now may be unparalleled in the state, and it is the "program" that allows the school to continually overcome obstacles such as smaller student enrollment, perceived (& possibly real) less talented classes, etc, etc, etc. As far as I can see, there's not an area within their program (coaching, player development - mental & physical, feeder system, boosters, etc.) that's not working at peak efficiency. This didn't happen overnight. Dale and others have been at this for 15 or 16 years now, and they're reaping what they've sewn.

 

If you want an example at another level, look at Boise State. That program has been on a decade-long roll despite disadvantages such geographic isolation, lack of talent compared to their larger competitors, cold weather to discourage recruitment, etc. They've developed a program that works for them - makes the most of their advantages, and minimizes their disadvantages.

This might be the quickest, strongest, fastest most talented group of Bluebirds in the last 20 yrs.

 

This just about says it all............... ! :lol:

This might be the quickest, strongest, fastest most talented group of Bluebirds in the last 20 yrs.

 

OK Dale....:lol:

This might be the quickest, strongest, fastest most talented group of Bluebirds in the last 20 yrs.

 

I was going to say most athletic.:thumb:

Way to play Highlands! The running game sounds like it's in full gear with Compton, Streeter, True and Seidl all playing well this past Saturday.

 

Keep rolling 'Birds! Next up, district play.

It is nice to see a moderator keeping the thread on topic.

 

What's your point?

A. It's my opinion that as a whole, Highlands fans are a funny bunch, wrapped in paranoia occasionally.

B. My point is that Highlands would get their hind ends handed to them in a basketball contest between the two.

C. Good to see that the antennae never go down in Fort Thomas.:lol: