This discussion got started in the baseball forum but I am going to start it here in football. I will repost some of my thoughts from that thread to get the discussion started.

 

I am not close enough to Highlands programs to be sure about this. But it seems to me it is different at Highlands now in football than it was even 3 or 4 years ago. The Bluebirds have gone to a different level IMO. They are now playing straight up two platoon football and I don't think that was true 3 or 4 years ago. That has opened more playing opportunities, caused more competition for positions and perhaps caused some players who may have played other sports to focus all their energy on football. I think the numbers in football are different now than they were 3 or 4 years ago and those numbers may be affecting other sports. This isn't to point the finger or blame anyone. I think the Highlands football program has gone to an even higher level right now and is better than it has ever been with the two platoon play. They are separating themselves from their competition like St. X and Trinity have and, honestly, it is fun for me to watch this evolve and see how good they have become.

 

But I wonder, I am not saying this is true, but I wonder if this has caused a talent drain on the other sports as more kids focus on football. Baseball and basketball at Highlands have been down the past two years. Is it because more and more talented players now see playing opportunity in the new Highlands two platoon football program and are committing totally to football?

Here weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee go. LOL.

Golf and bowling have been hit especially hard.....

Golf and bowling have been hit especially hard.....

 

Good point about golf ....

To be as great as Highlands is at one sport w/ their enrollment limitations, something has to give. They don't have the bodies to be the best at every thing. There was a golden age for them in the late 90s/early 2000s, where they were regional champs in baseball and basketball in the same year, and state champs routinely. Those type of athletes don't come along all of the time, and it kind of made it look easy from the outside looking in. I don't believe w/ 800 students and 400 boys that you can sustain that type of success over 3 sports. To be truly great at one, you have to dedicate your finite resources to it, and that is what Highlands appears to have done, again from the outside looking in.

It is defintitely true about the two platoon system. Also, the number of football players has grown. Plus, I read in another thread, that there could be 50+ players on this years freshman team. For as long as I can remember there have been really good baseball and basketball players who have played only football. I think that, for whatever reason, a lot of kids want to concentrate on one sport, and at Highlands, football is the obvious choice. I don't think specialization at an early age is necessarily a good thing. I think that once a player has grown and matured and knows where his future lies, he can specialize if he wants.

It sounds like a third of HHS boys will be playing football this year?

You can't blame the kids for wanting to play and specialize at football. Highlands is one of the best football programs in the country. National rankings, state championships, great program to play for, great coaches. It is what it is, the other sports may suffer but its hard to fault the kids for wanting to play on the gridiron.

You can't blame the kids for wanting to play and specialize at football. Highlands is one of the best football programs in the country. National rankings, state championships, great program to play for, great coaches. It is what it is, the other sports may suffer but its hard to fault the kids for wanting to play on the gridiron.

 

I agree.

 

I'll add....... The 3 sports athletes are still around they just all play one sport now. At Highlands it is obvious that sport is football. I don't see anything wrong with that and as was said....who can blame them?

Jared Lorenzen and several others I can remember only played one way at HHS and starred in other sports while there. As long as the football coaches aren't subtly or overtly demanding their players not play other sports (something I'm SURE isn't in Dale Mueller's make-up), I don't see any issue.

 

Basketball is VERY big here at Ballard (rightfully so; that's where the title-tradition is). Those kids playing football as well is critical to our success (and their willingness to play football as well has opened up SCHOLARSHIP opportunities for many of them).

 

So, because it's what's best for our kids, Chris Renner (head basketball coach) and I work VERY close together to make sure those kids have the opportunity to participate in all activities for BOTH sports with no penalties and even a little 'lee-way' given for some things since they're representing another BALLARD sport. It wasn't 'bad' the other places I've coached, but it's GREAT here the way multi-sport coaches work together.

 

Highlands has a similar tradition of kids crossing over to other sports. And with the expectations for excellence in EVERYTHING at Highlands, I wouldn't worry about ANYTHING there being 'down' for too long.

I for one love the 2 platoon system. More kids get to play.....And it's gives Highlands somewhat a chance when playing the Big Boys from Cincy and Lou. I will tell you this that if the 2 platoon system was in place 10 years earlier, Highlands would have some very "Huge" additional wins for their program against some major local football programs. I am a firm believer that before the 2 platoon system, Highlands could play with just about anybody for 1 half. Now I believe they could play with just about anybody for 3 quarters and sneak a few historic wins here and there.

 

There is a phrase that a Highlands football player has lived by since as long as I have been following the Birds. "Play to Win".....Believe they can win! You will not find another coach in the state of Ky that does a better job of getting his kids to "Believe" they can win. That is half the battle!:thumb:

I for one love the 2 platoon system. More kids get to play.....And it's gives Highlands somewhat a chance when playing the Big Boys from Cincy and Lou. I will tell you this that if the 2 platoon system was in place 10 years earlier, Highlands would have some very "Huge" additional wins for their program against some major local football programs. I am a firm believer that before the 2 platoon system, Highlands could play with just about anybody for 1 half. Now I believe they could play with just about anybody for 3 quarters and sneak a few historic wins here and there.

 

There is a phrase that a Highlands football player has lived by since as long as I have been following the Birds. "Play to Win".....Believe they can win! You will not find another coach in the state of Ky that does a better job of getting his kids to "Believe" they can win. That is half the battle!:thumb:

 

:thumb: The two-platoon system looks like how all the big boys play across the country. They'll have some big time guys they just have to have go both ways, but those guys are usually playing in the Under Armour or Army All-Star games or going to places like Texas, Florida and USC. It is awesome that a school HHS size can do that. How anyone would not have respect for the Blue Birds I do not know. They along with Trinity, Saint X and a few others around the state are exactly what every program wants to become.

This discussion got started in the baseball forum but I am going to start it here in football. I will repost some of my thoughts from that thread to get the discussion started.

 

I am not close enough to Highlands programs to be sure about this. But it seems to me it is different at Highlands now in football than it was even 3 or 4 years ago. The Bluebirds have gone to a different level IMO. They are now playing straight up two platoon football and I don't think that was true 3 or 4 years ago. That has opened more playing opportunities, caused more competition for positions and perhaps caused some players who may have played other sports to focus all their energy on football. I think the numbers in football are different now than they were 3 or 4 years ago and those numbers may be affecting other sports. This isn't to point the finger or blame anyone. I think the Highlands football program has gone to an even higher level right now and is better than it has ever been with the two platoon play. They are separating themselves from their competition like St. X and Trinity have and, honestly, it is fun for me to watch this evolve and see how good they have become.

 

But I wonder, I am not saying this is true, but I wonder if this has caused a talent drain on the other sports as more kids focus on football. Baseball and basketball at Highlands have been down the past two years. Is it because more and more talented players now see playing opportunity in the new Highlands two platoon football program and are committing totally to football?

 

I think that is exactly where you will see CCH's basketball program go in the very near future.

Highlands is a powerhouse and with that comes pressure and expectations, I am sure it will cause other sports to suffer. But get over it, football gets a ring every year who would not want that?

Highlands is a powerhouse and with that comes pressure and expectations, I am sure it will cause other sports to suffer. But get over it, football gets a ring every year who would not want that?

 

It's the kids who suffer and who'll miss out on a well rounded HS experience in sports.....all to feed the monster that Bluebird football has become. The well of talent, as with other HS squads will not last forever. Until then, I'll ride the wave.