XtraIce

Having followed the team thru this period until now I love to get reminders - thanks. I too recall that the HHS O Line back then was smaller but stronger and more athletic. The D Line I recall that many teams had were big and slow and not very fit. Today is apples and oranges. Larger schools now have many O Line guys that are big, strong and athletic. So I believe size is an issue in today's game with larger schools. Just one of the things the O Line will need to scheme against.

This is different logic for playing 5A from your previous post I commented on. When I read your previous post I felt you meant HHS needed to be challenged and 4A was not good enough. Now you reason that its the money and a CCH thing. You can still schedule CCH and play them once like the last few years. In the past they had to travel greater distance to find teams that would play them. Now they are playing teams around NKY and the gates are better. I do not see this changing as long as the current coaching staff is in charge. I still stand by the need to put the players and coaches first and play in the class their male student population supports.

With this logic they need to play in 6A. Why play in the lower 5A class if the best challenge is 6A. You make it sound like playing in 4A is beneath Highlands. This should not be about the "we play up" ego. Both the players and coaches should be given the best opportunity to succeed against schools their size around the state. They should schedule 5A and 6A schools thru the season to get them ready for the 4A tournament.

There is a reason the KHSAA divides schools into class based on the number of male students in a school. Schools with a larger male population have a statistical number advantage over smaller schools. So its impressive when a smaller school in class has success beating larger schools (higher class) around the state. There is also the law of averages where sustaining this success is difficult. I have also seen a shift in the way the larger schools have conditioned and prepared with better coaching that have leveled the playing field. You can visually see this in guys on the OL/DL. There a lot more big athletic guys in football shape now than I would see in years past. What has also affected HHS is the coaching change since Dale left. This is BW's first Head coaching position where he is fully in charge and he is taking over a program after years of above average results. If they play in 5A I would expect continued difficulties and a coaching change in the near future. If they play in 4A where there student male population is a fit based on the KHSAA class then I would expect the coach and team would have a higher probability of success. This should not be about the coach or the egos of "we play up". It should be about the players and to give them the best chance to succeed against schools their same size. I would like to see them play in 4A unless the HHS Admin sees an economic reason to move to 5A.

I am surprised if true. 5A puts the coaching position more at risk. Given the current staff they should coach in 4A. Unless the HHS coach has the support of the school admin. Win or Lose in 5A.

Nope. Last two years not enough even if the rival is now top dog. For now house is BW's, unless he whats to move on.

Just did not see the same lever of play and intensity in the second half. A number of Oldham better athletes were going both ways and had wore down. I figured that HHS would take advantage but too many second half mental mistakes and penalties that should never happen when up 34 to 7 at half time. If HHS is going to advance this cant happen next week, given the team will be better and its an away game.

Correction - Boone County not Boyle

Dale knew the guys from grade school thru high school. He was active in all the football activities in Fort Thomas. He had great rapport with families, kids and coaches JR thru HS He also would never shy away from a challenge and was driven to make players better and put them in a position to succeed. Football had taken him away from many family activities over the years and now that his kids were having kids he wanted give them more of his time. He also is active in church and gives his time in important projects. I believe his wife and kids had more to do with his leaving than any drop in talent.

I totally agree. Dale was very good at making adjustments and getting the guys to buy in. He was a head coach at two different schools before HHS and was more seasoned at the position. Its BW first go as head coach. I know Brian was co-head coach with Dale for a number of years before Dale retired but its not the same. Also I feel Brian has been slow to allow guys to play both sides of the ball. He believes in the advantages of the platoon system - keeping players fresh, limited exposure to injury, more focused learning of the position, etc. How much do you give up to get a marginal increase in results. Some tough decisions for a coach and a lot of room for arm chair quarterbacks. I am sure he will be given ample time to succeed.

Most every year HHS has out of district students play football but the percentage compared to the students who live in FT has been small. Some have been very good players but again the percentage is small compared to the very good players who live in the city. Why did the out of district students choose to go the HHS. Many different reasons can be listed - Education, Parent choice, team success, friendship, opportunity, Coaching, etc. Look at the percentage of male students that participate in the game on a Friday night. The school has mid 400 male students and approx 100 dress for the varsity game. Both Dale and Brian worked hard to establish platooning of the team. They not only platoon but do numerous subbing of positions. They also look to the Seniors for leadership and have high expectations of them. I am almost certain that compared to other schools HHS has a much higher percentage of male student body touching the field on Friday nights. You can argue both sides of platooning. If they stop the platooning and limit the numbers I do not believe the results would have seen a significant difference last year. Might of helped with the score differential. This year they are in similar situations with the larger 6A schools and Cov Cath. So as a coach do you blow up the platooning now and then try and get the buy-in and go back when the talent supports its use. How is this action good for the program over the long term? Would this action be taken just to placate the HHS individuals in the know. I think BW will be given the time to succeed. Last year and this year are not the measure to use to judge his coaching ability - I believe the HHS individuals in the know understand this.

Will HHS coach keep his job? Most likely will. Due to Student participation and an expected move to 4A.

I have always been able to park on Berry Avenue south of the stadium. Its one way traveling north towards the stadium. Need to be a little early. Last min. will not work. Kroger's is an option but I have always gone in store and purchased an item first and then eat at gold star next to Kroger's after the game.

2016 4A in NKY? Class 4A, District 7 Overall District (1)Bourbon County 5 - 5 4 - 0 (2)Harrison County 5 - 5 3 - 1 (3)Mason County 4 - 6 2 - 2 (4)Scott 2 - 8 1 - 3 Holmes 3 - 7 0 - 4

It will be interesting to see how HHS handles the next class realignment now that Dale is gone.

It's the new weight room and upgraded facilities fault. Since all the new upgrades performance has suffered.

Sorry - typo (not) - should say "has been suspect".

I would like to add, their play on the road has not been suspect.

35 to 6 4:44 2nd qtr.

Sounds like we are going to see some good varsity games in the future. Competitive rivalry is back

Yes. Bigger stronger faster.

They also could have stayed in Class 4A but easy is not their mind set. The law of averages says that future performance will improve and this year will make them stronger. I expect that the next HHS home game will be played with a very large chip on the shoulders of the HHS players and nothing will be left on the field by either team. Cant wait for the game.

Seeing the size and number of athletes compared to years past. Having the results of the games played at the Frosh and JV games. Seeing improvements being made by other teams in NKY. Jumping up in class to 5A when, in the recent past the KHSAA would not allow teams to move up. Seeing the heavy 6A schedule against teams that could not wait to take there shot at HHS. The law of averages. How hard it is to stay on top for so long without some lapse. They cavalry may be coming but I am not sure we will see the run of playing in 8 state finals in 9 years and winning 7 of them.

HHS is working hard for their points. SK not as much. Not looking good for HHS 4th Qtr if they can't slow down SK offence.

Played Cooper and SC at Home Played CC and Ryle away. This year CCH is a home game for HHS. Not much room for error but its possible that HHS will win since they have home field advantage. I am sure it will be a very entertaining game. HHS needs to make sure they do not look past Dixie. The Dixie game is a week before CCH and it is played at Dixie.