My rational was a weighted score total based on championships, championship appearances, and championship win percentage. Completely unscientific, but a slow day at the office.

 

Rank Team Score

1 Highlands 265

2 Trinity 262

3 St. X 199

4 Male 175

5 Beechwood 167

6 Danville 153

7 Mayfield 145

8 Paducah Tilghman 136

9 Boyle County 119

10 Covington Catholic 110

11 Fort Campbell 108

12 Manual 97

13 NCC 90

14 Lynch 85

15 Bardstown 84

16 Breathitt County 73

17 Flaget 73

18 Paris 73

19 Corbin 71

20 Bell County 70

21 Ashland 70

22 Fort Knox 70

23 Pikeville 70

24 Hopkinsville 70

25 Belfry 59

26 Franklin Simpson 57

27 Bellevue 57

28 Christian County 55

29 Owensboro 55

30 Bowling Green 40

 

Since it's a slow day, would you mind doing the same but putting into consideration some weight of all time wins/losses so that it kind of evens out for championship stats alone? I'm in the camp that championships alone do not necessarily mean overall greatness.

^ I like the attempt. My only beef is with Paducah Tilghman at 8. How many championships, championship appearances and what is their championship game winning percentage? Are total wins factored in also? I'd think Boyle, CovCath and Ft. Campbell all have better numbers than Tilghman if it is strictly based on championship game numbers.

Edited June 28, 201115 yr by PurplePride92

The teams with longevity of winning get slighted a little in your list, but that is a very good list. Interesting how good it is considering your criteria.

 

I agree. It would be better if I could add in a weighted score for total wins / losses for all schools, but that data isn’t available on KHSAA, only the Louisville Metro website has that kind of info that I am aware of.

What really bumped Tilghman up in my calculations was the pre 1959 LH championships. Including those PT was 8-5.

Since it's a slow day, would you mind doing the same but putting into consideration some weight of all time wins/losses so that it kind of evens out for championship stats alone? I'm in the camp that championships alone do not necessarily mean overall greatness.

 

I would if I had access to all of the school win/loss records. The Louisville Metro website is great and Highlands history is available, but many of the other schools aren’t listed on KHSAA or elsewhere that I know of. If somebody can post a link I will gladly add that into the equation.

What really bumped Tilghman up in my calculations was the pre 1959 LH championships. Including those PT was 8-5.

 

Gotcha. When I made my list(far less scientific) I weighed it heavily by championships won and Tilghman had less than Boyle, CovCath and Ft. Campbell according to the KHSAA website so I had them behind NewCath and Bardstown. I am in the camp that wins mean next nothing without championships to back it up which is why I had Male at #7 on my list. I am also in the camp that championships in 6A aren't a good enough reason to elevate your program's status which is why Trinity falls behind Highlands on my list and why Male is lower on my list.

One dilemma, so to speak, that I pondered, but did not include in my poll was that the older state champions only played one playoff game or were voted by the LH ratings where as to win a championship in the modern era a team has to win 3, 4, or now 5 games. Does that add more weight to a modern champion or does the increased classes balance that argument out?

Paducah Tilghman has won three state championships in the playoff era, less than several other teams.

Paducah Tilghman has won three state championships in the playoff era, less than several other teams.

 

True, but according to the Metro Louisville website they were voted state champions 5 times between 1936 – 1958. I think teams like PT, Manual, Ashland, and Male suffer when mostly 1959 to present data is considered. Even my unscientific attempt to rank them shows that to an extent as RM suggested with regard to win – loss records.

The ROCKS of Trinity are clearly above the rest, and stand alone as the best high school football program in Kentucky.

 

I agree with you 100%. They play the Tigers of St. X(Lou) once a year, usually twice. Please work on them to play Highlands in the regular season to end the silliness of this debate. They can't play each other in the playoffs after all. That is the obvious rivalry that is missing in Kentucky high school football right now. The arguments are made on paper and in a scrimmage (joke) game. Both squads have national ranking aspirations. Answer the state question first. Who is best in any given year in Kentucky? The winner of that game will be the answer to the question.

That's some good info I never knew concerning champions before 1959. The mythical champion posts make a lot more sense to me now. It should definitely be noted when taking in a program's history. I think it means more for the modern champions that have to win 5 playoff games to be called a champion opposed to being voted/mathematically equated to be the champion but it definitely shouldn't go unnoticed either.

 

Makes me more grateful that there is a playoff to settle it. BGP would be 100X more lively in December if the champion(s) were voted/mathematically equated. BGP would probably crash.lol

True, but according to the Metro Louisville website they were voted state champions 5 times between 1936 – 1958. I think teams like PT, Manual, Ashland, and Male suffer when mostly 1959 to present data is considered. Even my unscientific attempt to rank them shows that to an extent as RM suggested with regard to win – loss records.

Really, though, how valid are state titles that were awarded by votes?

 

Bottom line ... we've had a playoff system in place for more than 50 years, which leaves no questions about the state champions are. I prefer to judge it based on those results.

 

Interestingly enough, Tilghman has never claimed any state titles before 1959, when the playoff system began.

I agree with you 100%. They play the Tigers of St. X(Lou) once a year, usually twice. Please work on them to play Highlands in the regular season to end the silliness of this debate. They can't play each other in the playoffs after all. That is the obvious rivalry that is missing in Kentucky high school football right now. The arguments are made on paper and in a scrimmage (joke) game. Both squads have national ranking aspirations. Answer the state question first. Who is best in any given year in Kentucky? The winner of that game will be the answer to the question.

 

 

Depends on the question. The question in this thread is 'all time great programs in Ky'. It briefly became 'who has the best program in the state..Highlands or Trinity?'. The answer to that question has to be Highlands. Most wins in the state. Tied for most titles in the state. Has to be Highlands. Regardless of wins in a given year that shouldn't take away who the best program is. That just answers the question of that year. If Boyle County sweeps Highlands this year it won't make them the best program. Just the better team that year. For me, when the team who has the most wins backs it up with most titles I don't see how another program can be considered better. I definitely have Trinity #2 but what Highlands has done and is still doing since day one is something noone else in this state can claim although Trinity comes the closest. I guess the only knock on Trinity is that Trinity is newer to the scene than Highands.

Really, though, how valid are state titles that were awarded by votes?

 

Bottom line ... we've had a playoff system in place for more than 50 years, which leaves no questions about the state champions are. I prefer to judge it based on those results.

 

Interestingly enough, Tilghman has never claimed any state titles before 1959, when the playoff system began.

 

I agree that today’s playoff format with 5 playoff games is more challenging than in years past. In the 70s it was a 3 game playoff and correct me if I’m wrong, but in the 60s it was a single game playoff/championship. Does that mean that Highlands championship in 1960 should count less that Trinity’s 2010 championship? Maybe, but then there isn’t much difference between being voted to play in a single game championship and being just voted the champion.

I agree that today’s playoff format with 5 playoff games is more challenging than in years past. In the 70s it was a 3 game playoff and correct me if I’m wrong, but in the 60s it was a single game playoff/championship. Does that mean that Highlands championship in 1960 should count less that Trinity’s 2010 championship? Maybe, but then there isn’t much difference between being voted to play in a single game championship and being just voted the champion.

In the 1960s, up until the early or mid 1980s, there were eight teams that qualified for the playoffs in each class, so teams had to win three games to win a state championship.