I am writing this post to congratulate the Ryle program for what they have done over the past few years. The Ryle coaching staff and players deserve a great deal of credit for making a commitment to "take the next step" in the development of their football program. I don't think there are many programs in NKY (or in all of KY, for that matter) that would be willing to play Highlands four games in two years during a period of time when Highlands has been experiencing a great deal of success. And yet Ryle chose to take this on. They did so for one purpose... to improve the quality of their program. Last year they went 0-2 and then lost the first match-up of this season to HHS. It would have been easy for the players and coaches to become discouraged by the 0-3 mark and just assume the fourth game of the series was going to be yet another HHS win. But that's not what happened. Ryle worked on developing a better passing game during the season; this may have caused a bit of a dip in Ryle's performance during the middle portion of this season, but things got worked out it time for the big rematch with HHS and of course, the playoffs. I watched some of this last HHS-Ryle game over the internet and it appeared to me that the Ryle players and coaches really believed they were going to win the game... they looked confident. They looked very prepared and ready to accomplish their goal of beating Highlands, which they did.

 

I think it's probably very easy for football programs not used to winning to accept the status quo and not take any significant steps or risks to climb up the ladder of success. Ryle is most definitely not one of those programs. Perhaps what they've done will serve as a model for other programs around the state who are looking to pull themselves up by the bootstraps. It worked for Ryle... why not for them?

 

I hate it that Highlands got beat Thursday night. But, I do realize that Ryle's big win (coupled with how close the HHS-CovCath game was a couple weeks ago) is good for NKY football. As a fan of Highlands I realize that if NKY football is not strong, then Highlands football will suffer as well when it comes time to play teams from other parts of the state in the playoffs. What Ryle has done will play a major role in continuing the strong tradition of NKY football, and they deserve a lot of credit for doing the work to accomplish it!

 

PS to Ryle: I still hope Highlands creams you guys next year!!

That's a nice tribute and I agree that playing HHS has been very helpful in improving the Ryle program. Hats off to Coach Warner and best wishes during the playoffs. I know the Raiders have tremendous respect for all that the Birds have accomplished, too.

Ryle has taken major steps to get to where they wanna be. They still have A LOT of talent to come thru Union, we will see more teams like this sooner rather than later.

Does anyone know the breakdown of Ryle's starters this year? Number of sophs, juniors, and seniors..

Does anyone know the breakdown of Ryle's starters this year? Number of sophs, juniors, and seniors..

 

9 Seniors on Offense; It has been pretty consistent. The underclassmen being Elliott, of course, and a soph offensive lineman. Defense is a little hard to tell because of so many injuries...Put it this way, they've started about 18 different players, mostly seniors.

9 Seniors on Offense; It has been pretty consistent. The underclassmen being Elliott, of course, and a soph offensive lineman. Defense is a little hard to tell because of so many injuries...Put it this way, they've started about 18 different players, mostly seniors.

 

Sounds like they will be an average team next year.

Sounds like they will be an average team next year.

 

Coming from a person withe below average intelligence and a supporter of a below average program. Ryle will be fine for the future.

9 Seniors on Offense; It has been pretty consistent. The underclassmen being Elliott, of course, and a soph offensive lineman. Defense is a little hard to tell because of so many injuries...Put it this way, they've started about 18 different players, mostly seniors.

 

Oh my! And they think they are gonna be ready to play Colerain next year? Good luck with that.

Coming from a person withe below average intelligence and a supporter of a below average program. Ryle will be fine for the future.

 

Which program is that? My team is a top team!

Sounds like they will be an average team next year.

 

Sounds like more wishful thinking.

Which program is that? My team is a top team!

 

To be the best you have to play the best. Ryle stepped up SK ducks.

Nice opening post, you are showing some class, something the Bear always talked about and I do too.

:ylsuper::thumb:

Sounds like they will be an average team next year.

 

OK then, thanks for more of your ignorance. You better run along and get your halloween costume ready for trick or treat little fella.

Coming from a person withe below average intelligence and a supporter of a below average program. Ryle will be fine for the future.

 

Funny!