CoachJ

KHSAA lists their most recent 2-year average coed enrollment at 659. I tried to use the same exact numbers the KHSAA would use. Don't know how they come to this total...but I DON'T think it's exactly the physcial number of kids that begin the year enrolled in a school. I think they take what the school HAS to report on federal forms for monies they receive per student from the Dept. of Education.

2A (school #139: total enrollment 640 to school #199: total enrollment 287. Disparity top to bottom of 353 total students.) Dayton: total enrollment 287 Harlan Raceland Berea Bethlehem Beechwood Cumberland Frankfort Nicholas Co. Holy Cross (L'ville) Hazard Lynn Camp Russellville (Hail) Pikeville Campbellsville Lex Christian Ballard Memorial Mayfield Crittenden Co. South Floyd Evarts Metcalf Co. Hancock Co. Trimble Co. Allen Central Newport Central Catholic Murray Holy Cross (Covington) McLean Co. Danville Carroll Co. Somerset Christian Acad. L'ville Bath Co. Fort Knox Owen Co. Bardstown Green Co. Todd Co. Central West Carter Glasgow Middlesboro Trigg Co. Corbin Edmonson Co. Fort Campbell Reidland Monroe Co. Lloyd Memorial Betsy Layne Washington Co. Heath Shawnee Webster Co. Henry Co. Caldwell Co. Moore Belfry Butler Co. Breathitt Co., Newport: total enrollment 640

3A: (schools #78: enrollment 645 to #138: enrollment 925) Disparity of only 280 students. Shelby Valley: 645 total students Western Mercer County DeSales Garrard Co. Morgan Co. O'boro Cath Casey Co. Hart Co. Leslie Co. E. Carter Prestonsburg Pike Co. Central E. Ridge Fleming Co. Larue Co. Lewis Co. Russell Muhlenburg South N. Oldham Knott Co. Central E'town Estill Co. Powell Co. Sheldon Clark Russell Co. Wayne Co. Lone Oak Cawood Magoffin Co. Union Co. Adair Co. Taylor Co. Mason Co. Paducah Tilghman Franklin-Simpson Madison Southern Highlands Lawrence Co. Pendleton Co. Western Hills Rockcastle Co. W. Jessamine Bourbon Co. Fairdale Boyle Co. Bell Co. Warren East Knox Central Bullitt East Lex Cath McCreary Central Allen-County Scottsville N. Bullitt Waggener Rowan Co. Breck Co. Marion Co. Franklin Co. Hopkins Co. Central Greenup Co.: 925 total students

"4A" -- smallest to largest: South Oldham Harrison County East Jessamine Calloway County Logan County Anderson County Doss Grant County Covington Catholic Boyd County Valley Central Ashland Blazer Bowling Green Hopkinsville Oldham County Pulaski Southwestern Clay County Lincoln County Pulaski County Madisonville-North Hopkins Jeffersontown Perry County Central Owensboro Iroquois Holmes Atherton Johnson Central Montgomery County Warren Central Dixie Heights Scott Woodford County Whitley County John Hardin Barren County Fern Creek South Laurel Ohio County North Laurel Grayson County Bullitt Central Ryle Graves County Simon Kenton Conner Christian County Greenwood Boone County Apollo Southern Marshall County Madison Central George Rogers Clark Nelson County Bryan Station Shelby County Central Hardin Campbell County Meade County

The more I look at this, the more it makes sense to fix what I think is about the ONLY problem with HS football right now as it relates to classification. BUT...dipping down to 32 still makes a huge disparity at both ends when you look at who's made it historically to the finals. I say, drop it to the 16 LARGEST and the 16 SMALLEST to be 1a and 5a. They could have a BYE-WEEK for their first round of the playoffs (and it's JUSTIFIED that these two classes only should get one: 1A needs the week to get some kids healed up due to smaller overall numbers...5A needs the week to get some kids healed because each school is going to be getting POUNDED by other "big-boys" for 4 straight weeks). I guess another alternative would be to give the two schools in the finals a week off before they play. Anyway, here's the 1A and 5A break-downs according to the latest KHSAA enrollment numbers: 1A = the 16 smallest schools * incidentally, these are schools that have never really (with the exception of Paris those years and Bellevue a couple) competed at the state championship-level with the rest of 1A...so it *historically* makes sense they should be separate then! Pineville, Jenkins, Williamsburg, Phelps, Paintsville, Fairview, Beth Haven, Eminence, Kentucky Country Day, Ludlow, Paris, Harrodsburg, Bellevue, Fulton City, Fulton County, Caverna 5A = the 16 largest schools. * incidentally, these are schools that have almost ALWAYS been the ones at the state finals (and many of those that are not NOW in this list of 16 that were in the finals in the past WERE over 1600 students when they made it -- now they're smaller due to building more schools in some districts: Boone Co. comes to mind). N. Hardin, Scott Co., Daviess Co., Male, Henderson Co., Eastern, Henry Clay, Ballard, Seneca, Tates Creek, Manual, PRP, Lafayette, PLDunbar, Trinity, St. X 2A, 3A, and 4A = split the rest in thirds. ** I'll put the rest on a separate post so this one's not gargantuan.

will post in its own thread.

LSU and TU I think are right on. The only real competitive disadvantages exist at the 4A and 1A levels because they are "open-ended" (4A at the top-end and 1A at the bottom). To simply say they'll split all the schools into 4 "even" divisions based on the NUMBERS OF TEAMS is not really a split based on what classifications for FOOTBALL are meant to solve (that numbers DO matter in football). And kudos to them...doing such a thing -- while it makes a lot more common sense when consider why classes exist at all -- puts the school they root for at less of an advantage (fewer of the "little guys" to "rest on" in the early rounds of the playoffs). Only thing I disagree with some is that I would not make that "over 1600" group an entire "class" in and of itself. I know first-hand that some of those "small 4A's" CAN compete with the big-boys...but not on a 5-weeks-in-a-row basis (plus, I think Ky. is too small to justify any more than 4 champions)...I'd let the "lower part of 4A" (those between schools #54 and #17) play to determine who comes out to play the winner of "The Big 16."

I hope you consider one day going into coaching. We need more like you...people that understand what hs football is REALLY all about beyond the wins and losses.

from an earlier post: First of all, let me say that Trinity does a GREAT job all the way around...great coaching, classy, disciplined kids, commitment to having nothing but the best of facilities, and "attracting" kids--espcecially ones from outside their "usual" demographic as of late (something I like actually as a proponent of the "voucher" system). They are a class act on the field and deserve their success. However, the above quote, while not entirely false, is a great example of how Trinity has become what they have (and will continue to dominate, in my opinion, unless St. X adopts a similar strategy)--it is not entirely TRUE. They are great not only at recruiting (which is NOT a dirty word, but rather how they have to survive as an institution) but it should be noted that they are great because they have figured out how to superbly "attract" kids in ways that don't violate the LETTER of the rules (so as not to ever give anyone cause to bring "proof"). Cases in point: Roger Burkman, who was mentioned above and is the "Admissions" director at Trinity, in addition to going to "Catholic schools" also runs a summer basketball camp at the Oldham County (which is adjacent to Jefferson County) YMCA. The sign promoting it is HUGE and GREEN, sits conspicuously on a major highway in Oldham County, and bears his email address which ends in "thsrocks.net." It is not illegal to have this camp here...but it is nonetheless fishy if his goal is to attract only "Catholic" kids. He has also been seen at at least three Oldham County Middle School basketball games this December (not necessarily to "recruit" anyone in particular--I believe he has a good friend out here with a son on the team--but conspicuously there, nonetheless). ** One of T's great advantages I applaud them on is being able to have someone that is technically allowed (not being an actual coach) and has the time (unlike a coach in season) to go to middle school athletic events like this and speak to parents as long as it's not about "athletics". We have had students (who also happen to be our more "stand-out" athletes) from our middle school (which is a direct feeder into our high school) for years receive letters inviting them to "Chili Suppers" and Open Houses. Recently, some were invited to a Pre-Thanksgiving Day Breakfast followed by special invitation to watch the Rocks practice for their upcoming State Football Semi-Final game. Great marketing! ****, one year they even called our school secretary to have it announced over the school's PA system that "all Oldham County students, parents, and fans were invited to attend a pre-game Spaghetti Supper to be held in the Alumni Hall prior to the game between your Colonels and the Shamrocks." How CORDIAL is that!!! But they are VERY intelligent in not ever crossing that line established by the KHSAA...they mention financial aid in the letters that come to our kids out here (Catholic or otherwise) but are VERY careful never to say it's "athletic" aid. They come out to watch the games with their green "T" jackets on, but are careful if they are coaches not to actually speak to any of the kids that receive the letters for to do so at an athletic event would be an infraction. They state that they want them to come to Trinity and how good the extra-curriculars are there but are smart enough to NEVER say that's the main reason they're getting a letter while the smart, non-athletic kid that sits next to them in math class at Oldham County Middle never receives such a letter. I applaud them for their dedication to creating an "all-around" experience for their students, for their dedication and efficiency in attracting great students--and especially as of late the best student-athletes--from what has become a five-county and two-state area, and most of all for their ability to stay JUST within that line of what is "legal" by the LETTER of the law and what is not.