ft bronc

The bottom line is Highlands could have done either - run or pass. Because they've featured the pass more this year, as opposed to the run, doesn't mean they can't run, they've just chosen to pass more often because they've got one of the best HS QB's in the nation and a receiver corp which features one of the functionally fastest high school receivers I've ever seen. Highlands running out the clock at the end of the game by keeping the ball on the ground & getting one or two first downs proves my point. If Highlands chose to feature the run, I guarantee you they'd have at least two RB's close to or over 1000 yards each, or a QB & an RB. How could you possibly stack enough guys in the box to consistently stop their run with the constant threat of Towles & Sheehan going right over the top of you?

Easy, because maybe only 3 or 4 teams in KY this season realistically have a shot at beating Elder. Trinity and Highlands already have. With the way Cov Cath played Highlands, I think you have to say they'd have a shot. You can argue over who the fourth KY team is, St. X, BG?

Birds defense played awesome tonight! I don't even want to mention names because I'll leave someone out. How 'bout the O-line buckling it up tight & running out the clock to end the game - very nice. Big, big win for the Birds. Overcome losing Towles, 4 or 5 insane spots & a host of very suspect calls by the officials, a handfull of their own miscues (which is going to happen some time), and still come out of the Pit with the win. Nice character win for the boys.

Well, hmm, uh, mmm, not exactly what I was looking for TOG, but thanks for the input. Let me wade through the bubbles . My son gets close to straight A's, is in the highest academic track possible for each area of study, has taken every AP class possible to this point, has passed each AP exam taken, and is taking an extra class at 7:00AM each morning so that he can take two science classes in the same year. I tried to talk him out of the extra class, but was overruled by higher powers. Now, back to baseball. What are your kids doing this winter?

Just curious what the Dads out there do for their kids over the winter to get them ready for spring, or maybe more appropriately, what are your kids doing to get themselves ready? Hitting off a T in the basement? Soft-toss? Throwing into a blanket? Lifting? Bands?

I honestly don't know the exact reason(s), but considering who made the decision, there's no doubt in my mind it was the correct one. :thumb:

The biggest observation I take away from NKY football, and maybe this is true for the rest of the state, is the lack of consistency over 5 year periods for the schools not mentioned in the line bolded above. Many schools in this area seem to rise & fall so quickly depending on one or two great players who overshadow, or maybe hide is a better word, shortcomings within their programs during those up years. Reasonable, steady, sustainable growth is the key to building successful businesses and sports programs.

Here's what I have to say: I love our games against JC, especially those at JC. The kids are obviously well coached, there's no doubt they've worked hard all year long, and the fans are passionate about their team; all the basic ingredients for a great high school football game. I don't know Matney, never met him, but he's obviously built a very nice program. I wish I didn't read the things said about him here, and if they're true, I hope he can self-evaluate and make some corrections. We've all made mistakes in our careers, ours just not so publicly. As for the us vs. the world thing, I understand why he'd use it. For many schools in rural settings, it's a natural tool just sitting there waiting to be used. But there's a fine line here – and since the supposed main reason for sports is to teach life lessons, I’ll go that direction. Anger as a motivator in sports can be very effective, but it won't last forever, and can eventually lead to some bad things. Anger as a motivator in life is the same. It can be useful for a while, but will lead to bad things in the end. If kids are supposed to take the work habits from sport & apply them to life, then you’re much better off teaching the kids that hard work is worthwhile because it’s the right thing to do & will lead to success down the road, not to motivate them to hard work through reinforcement of supposed negative perceptions & stereotypes of the outside world. Teaching kids that they’re fighting against the world is not the road to go down, IMO. Don’t believe me, read Life is Yours to Win by Auggie Garrido, head baseball coach at U of Texas, three-time national championship winner, and the winingest D1 college coach of all time, in any sport. An outstanding read.

It's been my opinion for quite a while now that a large number of KY schools have either consciously or unconsciously made the decision not to bother trying to catch up to the top programs. IMO there are a variety of different reasons they've made this decision, but the end result is the same: they've accepted being average. My guesses at the top two reasons for the decision are: 1) they believe structural issues within their communities will never allow that level of success, and 2) they don't believe the payback from that level of success justifies the effort & sacrifice required.

Personally, I'd love to see a super conference, although I know it will never happen. I like the idea floated on another thread about allowing teams to move up & down in class based on their records. I know that rewards teams for poor performance, and potentially penalizes other teams for good performance, but it would be a start towards ending obvious mistakes that lead to games like those HHS & CCH have played recently. Give the top & bottom whatever % of teams in each class the choice to move up or down at the end of each season (isn't this how Euro soccer works, except that it's not a choice?). I know scheduling would be a problem though.

October 14 - Holmes at DCM 7:00 October 21 - @ Elder 7:30

All kidding aside, there has to be a better way. When your starters play only 2 quarters in 3 out of 4 district games, that's just not right. I don't care what team you are, or who you're playing, there has to be a better way. I know the burden is on these other teams to improve their programs, but in the mean time, there must be something better.

Looks like my son played for you then - filling in at catcher. Thanks for having him - he had a great time. The first pitcher for the Highlands team was Hector Molina, indeed followed by Jake Ligget. I only recognized a few of the other kids as they're 2 or 3 years younger than my son. It would be nice if more Highlands kids played fall ball, but most also play football which makes it tough. Sunday was the only game my son played this fall, and I'm glad I stuck with my guns to not let him play more. Varsity football mop-up duty Friday night, JV game Saturday morning, 7 innings of catcher on Sunday, and then extra "bags" at practice on Monday. That's an awful lot to expect of kids more than once or twice a fall. I let him play fall ball back in 8th grade when it was only little-league football, and even then he ended up with an overuse injury towards the end of the baseball schedule. Maybe if the schools would get rid of those darn classes, the kids would have more time for the extra sport! Good luck the rest of your fall season.

#21 is Jake Lester - I think just a miss-type by jpa. Lester definitely had a nice game. The earlier poster's comments about Jake Heck still apply though, and he's had a really nice season so far on jv. Kid also swings a pretty nice bat in the spring.

I would respectfully disagree with your disagreement. To say that a player should know HOW to play football earlier than middle school means that by the 5th or 6th grade they should be a proficient football player. 5th or 6th grade, really? That's 10 & 11 years old. There's nothing wrong with middle school teams becoming familiar with what the high school does, but the #1 priority of coaches of middle school aged kids of any sport is the teaching of the fundamentals of how to play that game. Great if you can win, but teach the game & have fun.

Not to get this thread off track, but I was also surprised at Dixie's JV numbers. With 11 kids on the field, it looked like they only had 13 or 14 on the sideline. Unless they held some Sophs back who had played varsity, it definitely seemed small for a 6A school.

Can you imagine the one-two punch with Hayes & Harris in the same varsity backfield the next two years? But wait, there's Greene & Hergott at receiver (to say nothing of Turner & crew), and True at TE, dang - Siedl's still in the backfield one more year, and McCoy & Houliston could always just keep it themselves for a nice gain up the middle. Crud! Who do I give the ball to? Such decisions.....

There is. Have seen it called a couple times this year.

Right back at ya. All the MC people I interacted with last night were great, and BIG TIME kudos to whoever is taking care of the field. That was one beautiful bermuda grass field!

I have no idea if this is actually happening, but if it were, might this be one of those life lessons that sports are supposed to teach us? Granted, no 17 year old is going to see it that way.

Agree 100%. Western hasn't felt as cavernous as PJCS, but I'd still prefer a smaller venue. I definitely don't want to see anyone turned away, but there's nothing like playing - or watching - in a packed house, weather that's 5,000 or 50,000.

Another nice job for the JV Birds against what appeared to be a Jr-heavy Ryle team. Lots of nice plays on both sides of the ball including two beautiful catch-n-runs by Hayes. That kid in open space is just flat-out fun to watch. Although Houliston didn't put up the kind of numbers this week against a much better defense than what he faced last week, I really like what I saw upstairs. Drew was under significant pressure from the Ryle pass rush frequently throughout the game, and did a very nice job extending the plays - stepping up in the pocket, moving around, evading rushers, and then NOT making bad decisions to force the ball into openings that just weren't there. Kids his age are always tempted to force things, especially after previous series have ended in punts, but he consistently chose the right option - whether that was throwing it away, accepting a short gain, or even taking the sack. One or two bad decisions on his part could easily have changed the outcome of this game. Very good mental maturity. :thumb:

HHS won 21-13

Payback goes beyond just what you can put a dollar value to. The amount of extra usage you get out of a turf field is priceless. In the case of Highlands, if there ain't snow on the turf field, somebody is using it. Ft. Thomas Jr. football, other youth football leagues, band, youth soccer, youth T-ball...the list goes on and on. And in a land-locked area where field space is at a premium, how exactly do you put a value on that?

I completely agree. The last line was just a joke about what AZ people always say to justify the insane temperatures out there. And I completely agree with you & them. :thumb: