Now that 2005 is finished, I have some questions for those who made the BGP 3A preseason rankings list. That list had Boyle County first, Highlands second, and Harrison County third in the state.

 

Were BC and HHS ranked 1 and 2 pretty much because of recent 3A history, which saw BC and HHS win the previous 7 3A titles (plus, both teams made it to the finals last year)? Both teams lost a ton of talent from 2004, and were pretty green, so I'm just wondering why they were ranked as highly as they were preseason?

 

Also, why was Harrison County ranked third preseason? Was this ranking done in at least some part to generate some debate about this program, which is definitely not one of the "usual suspects" in 3A, or did the BGP voters honestly believe they were a better squad that LexCath, CovCath, Bowling Green, and Hopkinsville?

Now that 2005 is finished, I have some questions for those who made the BGP 3A preseason rankings list. That list had Boyle County first, Highlands second, and Harrison County third in the state.

 

Were BC and HHS ranked 1 and 2 pretty much because of recent 3A history, which saw BC and HHS win the previous 7 3A titles (plus, both teams made it to the finals last year)? Both teams lost a ton of talent from 2004, and were pretty green, so I'm just wondering why they were ranked as highly as they were preseason?

 

Also, why was Harrison County ranked third preseason? Was this ranking done in at least some part to generate some debate about this program, which is definitely not one of the "usual suspects" in 3A, or did the BGP voters honestly believe they were a better squad that LexCath, CovCath, Bowling Green, and Hopkinsville?

 

I will give Harrison some credit. They had a rough year with injury's. They had a lot of talent and their quarterback went down late in the year with season ending injury. Harrison County had Lexington Catholic the 3A state champions on the ropes this year and almost beat Covington Catholic without their starting quarterback who was the heart of that team. I'm not saying Harrison County would have won the state title but it would have been fun to see what Harrison could have done at full strength in the playoffs.

jbwill2,

 

I wasn't a part of the BGP ranking, but I too had questions about the rankings, especially Boyle Co. As with any poll of individuals, knowledge of the subject tends to cause one to think one way or the other. I believe the rankings at the beginning of the year were based upon the previous years performance, the shedule of opponents for this year and the general knowledge of each of the teams. This would tend to make teams like Boyle Co, Highlands and others be closer to the top. I believe Harrison Co was highly rated because of the expectation for this season.

 

I don't feel the rankings were done to generate discussion....Lord knows there are enough other topics during the season to get that done. I do believe that the initial rankings were done based upon the generally available knowledge of the teams AT THAT TIME. Of course, that knowledge changed as the season progressed...and the rankings changed accordingly.

 

If you compare the BGP rankings to some of the other rankings out there, I think you'll find that, overall, the BGP voters did a fine job. I fell like I got more than my money's worth this year with BGP, and I look forward to more years to come.

With what Boyle and Highlands have done in the recent past it's pretty hard not to put them 1+2 until they get knocked off which they did. Harrison was a little high I thought since Lex Cath has gone several years now without losing a District game. I agree with Golfer when Harrison was healthy I don't think the top 5 was a stretch for them. They had Lex Cath down and gave Cov Cath all they wanted without their QB who was a HUGE difference maker. Had he been healthy there is a REALLY good chance they win that game. Preseason predictions don't matter. They are an educated crapshoot but I think they were pretty fair for the most part. You can usually take the top 10 preseason and find the two that will be playing in Dec somewhere in there. Every once and awhile you get a sleeper.

jbwill2,

 

I wasn't a part of the BGP ranking, but I too had questions about the rankings, especially Boyle Co. As with any poll of individuals, knowledge of the subject tends to cause one to think one way or the other. I believe the rankings at the beginning of the year were based upon the previous years performance, the shedule of opponents for this year and the general knowledge of each of the teams. This would tend to make teams like Boyle Co, Highlands and others be closer to the top. I believe Harrison Co was highly rated because of the expectation for this season.

 

I don't feel the rankings were done to generate discussion....Lord knows there are enough other topics during the season to get that done. I do believe that the initial rankings were done based upon the generally available knowledge of the teams AT THAT TIME. Of course, that knowledge changed as the season progressed...and the rankings changed accordingly.

 

If you compare the BGP rankings to some of the other rankings out there, I think you'll find that, overall, the BGP voters did a fine job. I fell like I got more than my money's worth this year with BGP, and I look forward to more years to come.

Certainly, I am not being critical of the preseason BGP rankings. In fact, about every 3A preseason poll had HHS and BC at the top. I'm just curious as to how the decision was made by the BGP'ers to vote the way they did.

I heard that it had something to do with dice or cat's entrails............(just kidding)

 

:walk: :walk: :walk:

Now that 2005 is finished, I have some questions for those who made the BGP 3A preseason rankings list. That list had Boyle County first, Highlands second, and Harrison County third in the state.

 

Were BC and HHS ranked 1 and 2 pretty much because of recent 3A history, which saw BC and HHS win the previous 7 3A titles (plus, both teams made it to the finals last year)? Both teams lost a ton of talent from 2004, and were pretty green, so I'm just wondering why they were ranked as highly as they were preseason?

 

Also, why was Harrison County ranked third preseason? Was this ranking done in at least some part to generate some debate about this program, which is definitely not one of the "usual suspects" in 3A, or did the BGP voters honestly believe they were a better squad that LexCath, CovCath, Bowling Green, and Hopkinsville?

 

 

Most of the people OUTSIDE the Hopkinsville program wrote them off before the season started. No Curtis Pulley and a new Head Coach that some away from Tiger country questioned. Hopkinsville has never been one to care what other people thought and this years team took the same approach. Some sports reporters were sure that Hoptown was behind BG and Franklin Simpson in the Region. Behind BG was understandable but behind FS was a joke and that was proved in the playoffs. There was no doubt in the Coaches and Players minds at Hopkinsville that they would win the district and eventually get a matchup with BG in the Region finals. All that happend with an eventual loss to BG in the Region Championship in a game that came down to the final seconds and wasn't the domination that some of the BGP experts were guaranteeing. Hoptown's success was due to tallent and coaching. This team overcame odds that weren't in their favor. A new Head Coach that the players wanted but people outsde questioned. Add to that this team had several key injuries that resulted in starters being lost for the year. On preseason rankings a lot of times the top 3-5 are easy but after that you can mix in 7-8 teams in any order. But when people don't know nothing about another team/program they go under the rule of assumption and assume that since this team lost this & that then their going to struggle.

I will say this about Hopkinsville. They were better, no doubt, than many expected at the start of the season. But I think a lot of that had to do with the presence of Emmanuel Taylor, a transfer that no one outside of Hopkinsville knew about before this year. He made a huge difference.

I will say this about Hopkinsville. They were better, no doubt, than many expected at the start of the season. But I think a lot of that had to do with the presence of Emmanuel Taylor, a transfer that no one outside of Hopkinsville knew about before this year. He made a huge difference.

 

 

That's correct E.T. was a transfer difference maker BUT since were going to get credit for haveing a transfer impact also consider what the Hoptown team overcame because of injuries.

 

Brandon Ethridge (WR/DB/RB) fastest player on the team projected starter until breaking his leg in a scrimmage.

 

Adam Briggs (FS/WR) starting SS until a shoulder injury in a scrimmage against Warren Central

 

Antwain Loving (FS/WR) best athlete in the school started first 3 games before being lost for the season.

 

Michael Atkinson (WR) was in the WR rotation up until week 7 where he was lost for the remainder of the season.

 

E.T. was a difference maker for the Tigers but these 4 mentioned above were all legit players/playmakers. Especially Antwain Loving & Brandon Ethridge both of which previous Head Coach Craig Clayton said would be "special" the good news for Hopkinsville is all 4 are expected to be ready to go next season.