ColdHard

Understood that an outsider may not have as much access, yet the outside perspective may be a little less inclined to just list Trinity 1, then X at 2, as is the habit for most locals regardless of circumstances.

Life is not fair.

Guru seems to have turned up the heat this year with a lot more rhetoric. How about taking a shot at two of the best programs in the state in just a few short sentances. Highlands was embarrased? You certainly have read my post in other threads on that issue. The birds got from that SCRIMMAGE exactly what they were looking for. They have nothing to be embarrassed about and last weeks scrimmage will have little bearing on this weeks contest. Boyle is in trouble? Reallly Guru? A team that is two time defending champion and holder of 30 straight wins, and they are in trouble. Boyle knows who they are playing. There are reminders all over the Danville area counting down to this game. Two defending champions going toe to toe. Winner gets bragging rights for 13 weeks while preparation for the rematch takes place. Nothing more. Nobody is in trouble. Both live to play another day and in fact will likely meet again.

Cardsfan takes anther shot at KY football. If Trinity goes undefeated and wins a few key games by a considerable margin, everything is in place for a national title. That includes strength of schedule. Cardsfan, I will agree that there are some theoretical 'power states.' However, if Trinity wins out and some of those schools go on to win titles the case is strengthend. You will never conceed that any KY team could be on par with Ohio powers. Many years that is the case, but it is not ALWAYS so.

Seems many of you did not read my post about substitution patterns. I told you before the scrimmage that Highlands used 19 different players lat year in their front 8. Defensive line used 10 players in just three spots in the varsity portion of the scimage. Having caught that on film I focused on that area of Highlands D. In the first quarter Highlands used 7 defensive lineman to fill those three positions. On the opposite side of the ball Highlands was clearly trying to find out what they had to back up their two missing tackles. I noticed that three guys, 55, 61, & 71, took turns filling those positions. and that 71 also played center in some form of rotation. If/when I get my hands on a copy of the film I can look at the detail, but it was obvious that there was some pre-determined rotation of these lineman to get them equal opportunities. Point being they were trying to get ready for the season more so than trying to win a scrimage. When Highlands subs 5 or 6 guys between two plays does that go unnoticed by those who are watching. When a coach takes a starter out just to talk to him (coach him) and then puts him back in the next play does everyone miss that. I know they play a lot of guys in a regular season game, but did you all not notice the wholesale substitutions last night. Again, as I said before the scrimage, Trinity subs fairly liberaly in these scrimmages as well. Not to the same level as H does on defense, but way more so than in a regular season game. You all are reading way to much into the outcome of this scrimage. I have been told that both coaches want to keep this thing going because it accomplishes exactly what they set out to do. GET THEIR TEAMS READY FOR THE SEASON! Out of their league? No way. These two programs are what they are because they choose to challenge themselves in the manner that they did last night, and approach that challenge in a manner that will make them more successfull for their respective seasons. Winning a scrimmage in mid August is not and never will be on the goal list of either of these programs.

What I think Guru is saying is that he wants to argue, and that if all of us will argue enough with him that BGP will get enough hits that Guru can afford to send his offspring to Trinity.

Before this gets a life of it's own be reminded that Trinity substituded liberally as well. I think if you were to look at the tape as I did you would find that the substitution patterns are the real reason that we saw nearly 100 points scored. And again, the way the coaches played it is part of the reason they both keep winning state championships.

Just watched last years tape and counted nine linebackers and ten defensive lineman playing in the varsity 'game' for Highlands. A three down system and they used ten lineman tells me that the last guy was fourth string. It also tells me that the coaches were trying to find out who can play. Trinity does not appear to have substituted quite so liberally, but certainly did play a lot of guys. Also, the stars were in throughout, so nobody appears to have been held back to prevent injury. If they were dressed they played. Please keep this in mind as you evaluate this or any other scrimmage. The coaches are using it for what they intended. To get their respective teams ready for the season.

The special education issue cannot be measured in numbers, dollars, or in any other way. I will say that in this area some schools excell and others meet the minimum. Scince Highlands is a part of the topic I must point out that the Ft. Thomas Independant Schools provide an exceptional experience for those with special needs. In fact many families, and I dare say far more than those who do so for athletic reasons, choose to live in Ft. Thomas for this reason. Also, to point out where the priorities are in Ft. Thomas many will be suprised to find that space for special needs education was completed as Phase One of the High School remodel. Athletic facility remodel is planned as Phase 7. There is not one dollar allocated to phase seven, private or public, and there is no reason to beleive that any child currently enrolled at the middle school level will be around to see this phase completed.

So Guru, are you still convinced that Trinity has no advantage?

If you are going to simply dismiss any answers why ask the question? I will cover a few advantages: Student selection - At Trinity there is a vetting process for enrollment. Not everyone or anyone is allowed to attend. At Highlands, if you live in Ft. Thomas you are in. I personally know people who have sent their children to private schools to avoid the issues that they percieved were present in the public school. (Highlands) And yes their children did play football, and quite well I might add. One need look no further than the roster at Newport Catholic to see the many Ft. Thomas residents playing there, and not all are Catholic. Prehaps more importantly on this point, if the administration wants a student out of the school, they are out. No longer a distraction. No longer dragging down others around them. Student recruitment - At Trinity, like other private schools, they must seek out or recruit students. Some private schools have been known to do this at the local (and sometimes not so local) little league football fields. What better place to find future male students right. This is a competative market and more students means more tuition. During these lean time this is as important as ever. At Highlands, they may not seek out students at a little league football field because that would cross the line for a public school. Facilities - What Trinity wants, they will eventually get, if that be buildings, labratories or athletic facilities. As Guru pointed out Ft. Thomas Schools have raised millions of dollars in private donations to renovate the school. What he did not tell you is that even with that effort the renovation process is only about 60% complete. There is yet to be one dollar of those funds spent on athletic facilities. What he also did not say is that the Ft. Thomas Independant School district recieves less money in state funding per pupil than ANY other district in the state. All of that being said I expect to see a great scrimmage from the two best teams in the state Friday night. May God bless all who participate and those that come to root them on.

Congrats to Trinity. If they were to go undefeated against their schedule such a lofty ranking is deserved. To sart in the top ten is nearly a must if one is to have a chance to finish number one. The good news for the rest of the state is that in the past a team from Ky that was thought to be worthy of national consideration typicly started out in the 20 - 25 area. The next step would be to have two teams from Ky in thee same poll. Past polls have most often only considered one Ky team to be worthy. I think this has been a reflection of their views on football in our state, as places like Ohio often have two or more representatives in national polls. To see Trinity and another Ky school make the final top 25 would be huge for the state. Wonder how often that has happened in the past.

Who had input on this gem? It appears to be written by the Trinity PR department. 1. Trinity The greatest team in the history of the sport. Nobody...and I mean nobody..in this sorry football state is within four touchdowns. The entire roster appears headed to the NFL. 2. Who Cares H.S. They did well last year, but they are not Trinity. They have a more sound system than in the past and showed dramatic improvement in the first season, yet they still are not Trinity. They have speed everywhere, but..you guessed it.. they are not Trinity. 3. Ditto Cant wait to see the next edition. 5A preveiw. 1. Not Trinity 2. Not Trinity 3. Not Trinity

Mayfeild has to be considered the preseason favorite. In order for anyone to contend they will have to make a huge leap forward and prehaps hope Mayfeild slips back tot the pack a little. That being said, Beechwood is going to be good and I expect to see these two meet in the final.

Is he the same Steve Bailey that played for the Camels in the late 80's. That dude got a pick a game for two years. Just absalutely incredible for a little dude.

What happened to last years frosh coach. Camels had their best frosh season in many years last season, and as I understand it the coach was in his first season. That Camel team was indicative of a bright future. Is he still on the staff? If not where did he go

Sorry i missed on the class size but this just further proves my point. Playing down in class or more importantly playing against schools of smaller enrollment is a huge advantage. Mercer's advantage was about 100 boys over the competition. Trinity and X generaly share a much larger advantage in numbers but not likely much difference by percentile. So, I still like the comparison. And what has become of Mercer now that they play in their appropriate class? What class are they in? I have not heard of them doing a thing since that 'magical' year.

What if we level the playing field and combine the enrollment of CovCath, Beechwood, Highlands, and NewCath thus giving this new school a comparable yet still smaller male enrollment than Trinity or Xavier. Would they prehaps cut into the success that those teams have been enjoying, or would they continue to dominate the class? What if the whole of 6A was filled with such like sized schools? Might that change things? I just blew up your we're bigger so we're better theory. Trinity is awsome and is desrving of mention with those at the top. But please don't continue to go there because it just won't fly on here.

Lets address the theory that Trinity has just been better than Highlands. I have seen them on the field together two of the three times that this event has happened. The teams are officially 1-1 and a scrimmage took place just this past season. In the real game that I witnessed (2000) Highlands was the far superior team, even pulling their starters in the second half before being forced to return them to the game. Last year in the much talked about scrimmage Trinity 'won' by less than a touchdown in a contest that clearly featured two very evenly matched teams. These two teams were without a doubt the two best in the state. Some years the better team? Yes. Often comparable? Yes. Some years one of the two teams has a decided advantage over the other. Yes One team consistantly superior over the other. Not now, and likely not in my lifetime.

Lets address playing competition of much smaller enrollment. The newly formed Mercer Co. High School was formed from two AA schools and had an enrollment that would have placed it in AAAA in the old 4 class system. Niether of the former schools was considered a power prior to the merger, yet when combined and allowed to compete in AA against smaller schools the predictable thing did happen. Mercer dominated the state and won the state championship. If any historicly good team had been allowed to play down they would hav Trinity like success. Let's say CovCath plays in A or AA since it's inception??

Those regional rivals had a complete slate in their district. Had Highlands and or CovCath appealed to move to that district the appeal would have been denied, as it would have placed an undue burden on whatever team would have been moved out. Again, teams cannot just choose to move into a class because they want too.

Wins Titles Mythical titles wins and titles while playing up in class. I really wonder where Manual fits in. They hold the only 'national championship' by a Kentucky team. What is that worth in considering all time gratness.

Please do explain the logic of your ranking.

The X fans are all cowering at the thought of a scrimmage against Simon Kenton. This thread would be jammed w/ X supporters if the season were not doomed before it began.

To answer the question 'what do they need to do to improve?' the answer is truely unique as it aplies to SK. In the case of SK the they must simply graduate the players that started the previous year so as to get them out of the way of the more talented underclassmen who await their turn to be on what is certain to be an undefeated championship team. Additionaly, those players who do return will have worked harder than any player ever has, each adding 20 to 30 pounds of pure muscle.