KNIGHTRIDER

This could potentially become the greatest challenge to the English vocabulary in modern times.

The actions the KHSAA took against LCA indicate to me they had significant evidence warranting punishment. I have a real problem with issuing a fine to the school and a future probationary condition for the program. I think the school can be disciplined however deemed appropriate for failing to have institutional control of financial affairs. But if KHSAA wants to seriously stop this kind of activity, levy the fine against the individual (family) committing the wrongdoing and then ban that individual from athletic participation in any KHSAA sanctioned games/events for the balance of their high school career. Also, seek recovery of the cost of the investigation from the family first before approaching the school. This way, the kids on the school's team who had no involvement are not sharing the punishment, and I guarantee you that any student(family) to which sports participation is important is going to think very seriously about accepting inappropiate assistance (and I don't accept "not knowing I did anything wrong" as a defense) if they know up front that getting caught can mean the end of their high school athletic career. They can still go to the school for the education or any other reason, receive any kind of properly applied for assistance-they just can no longer participate in sports. I think KHSAA's compliance figures would become staggering.

He's one and the same. He also served a multitude of position coaching at BS and steered many a great football player through there-including D Dawson. He also coached a couple of kickers this season, both of which made first team All State (I think that's the first time that's ever happened.) I think he would be ideal.

What possible objection could Layfayette's principal have to a Lafayette-LC football game? And why would the Central Office be advising the coaches (not the principals) they were free to schedule anyone they wanted, especially if there was no policy from Central Office banning such games in the first place?

Because of the JR filter

VARSITY COMPETITION--Lafayette's team and coaching staff wanted to play LC in their bowl game Aug/07 and was told by the principal that they could not.

The legislature has the statutory responsibility of approving/rejecting/modifying all policies that originate within the KHSAA. I think, and have for a long time, that the basic problem originates in the premise that parents appropriately have the authority/responsibility for whatever is in the best interests of their children under the age of 18. Thus, the parents will decide where their children are going to go to school for whatever reasons they want them there. The attempts by the membership of KHSAA delegate assembly to "socially engineer" this premise to suit what they perceive their specific needs/desires sounds great in the majority rule of the membership pool until it reaches the desk of those concerned with statutes and what questions pass legal responsibility. There's a lot more to this story, but I think this is the basic flaw in the delegate assembly's efforts to rewrite the participation structure of high school athletics in the state.

These "conditions" exist within the spoken parameters of the local sports world. No one is going to put in writing-either email or hard copy-any of these "restrictions" without putting their futures at risk. If you question this, ask any current or prior member of the Fayette Co School Board or Superintendent how the "boycott" came about/exists now. Ask for a copy of Board meeting minutes or Superintendent directives referring to their position on the "boycott"/ban on scheduling LC in any athletic events. They all told me there is not now nor has there ever been a policy of athletic boycott between FCPS and LC. The only reason it appears resolved now is because KHSAA realigned the districts in basketball, soccer, and baseball and placed the schools in competitive seeding positions.

Very good question with a not very pretty answer. Just another reason for central Ky's biggest newspaper/sportswriters staffs headed in the other direction. Great year-Highlands, keep on keepin' on.

Problem is that the coaches whose team's seeding in tournament play isn't at risk reportedly are told by Fayette higher-ups not to sign any game contracts with LC or they risk losing their coaching jobs-seems to be an "inside" operation so that the Board and Stu can truthfully say they know nothing about it.

Environment plays a role as in all schools, but I think the keys are four: 1 A good education (also achievable at most all public schools) 2 Safety-not that problems don't occur at private schools, but they deal with them much more expeditiously than the public sector 3 A successful high school experience (the last several years that I've kept track, LC has had a 100 % graduation rate vs 81% for the five public high schools here 4 Preparation for the next level-this is among the biggies.97-99% of graduates go on to college, 88% accepted to their first choice college Now, I know there are many "but they can do this because ..." rationales, but the fact is they accomplish these things, and their ability to do so gives parents a choice. Although every parent/family operates from their own motives, notice the absence of athletics. I'm not saying it isn't considered, but it doesn't dominate the decision.

The source of the funding is irrelevant. The coach's salaries do not come from the school either, but from the district and Frankfort.

I'm wondering if this game and season will enhance the chances of Fayette allowing their high schools to play LC in football or bury it further in their "unofficial boycott". I'm hoping for the former. I think some local rivals teeing it up would be great for the atmosphere here. LC originally wanted to play Lafayette in 07's Bluegrass Bowl, but the game reportedly was nixed by the Central Office crew. I think it's time.

I'm kinda surprised that I haven't seen George Barber's name listed as potential coach for TC. He had a pretty good run a few years ago when Bryan Station was known as the Big Green Machine and, I'm told, has a following of "ancient groupies" saying "I remember you from somewhere". I understand that his affiliation with the Horseman is now kaput, and his only outdoor adventures now consist of chasing a golf ball in areas referred to as somewhere outside the rough/somebody's driveway/where the grass is green because of the livestock/etc. He might still make a pretty decent coach.

In the midst of all the debate, I've never heard anyone ask what, to me, is the most obvious question: Why would a parent/family who is paying their full share of property taxes (home, auto, securities, utilities, insurance, etc) going to support the public schools, agree/decide to send their child to a private school and pay, in addition to the above taxes, the tuition and fees of the private. What are they looking for in the private they can't get from the public system (exclude the obvious of relegion)?

One of the biggest obstacles I've seen Fayette 6As encounter when they run into T or X is they get worn down. T and X both put about 80-100 players on the field for a game as does the Fayettes. What I have seen T and X do for years is platoon their offensive and defensive lines to a depth of 2 or 3 levels. The line runs three or four plays at you and they switch out to a fresh group and they do this all night. Fayette schools have the athletes and numbers to do this as well-I can't really explain their rationale for not. This approach would also increase the number of kids coming out, the parents joining the booster ranks, and ultimately, their performance on the field. The JR influence at TC is the running game-pure and simple. I watched TC and Trinity in the playoffs here a few years ago and the outcome was obvious in the first two possessions. The coaches need to assert their "head coach" responsibilities and install a game that matches their skills.

I assume that "footsand" is either a tremendous fan or a relative of JR. The man's impact on Fayette Co football is what it is. He brought a lot of success to TC, learned well from Roy Walton, but he does have deep rooted problems with the football program at LC. He was originally offered the head job at LC, but wasn't interested. The LC program quickly became something that JR didn't visualize and when Bob Sphire initiated the Bluegrass Bowl and it coincided with TC's bowl, JR was upset (put mildly). The rise of Catholic football along with their other sports programs led to the "unofficial boycott" that no one at the Central Office seems to be aware of, even to this day. JR was instrumental in that movement-just ask him.

Doesn't matter whether the search is narrow or broad. Applicants must still go through the JR filter. That's what has accounted for the outstanding TC football of the last five years and will continue to do so until Fayette Co grows up.

Strange, but I don't recall all the discussions about how LC belonged in Class 5A and LO should be in Class 3A last week. It's easy to sit back this week and reclassify all the teams according to their performances last weekend. . .Lone Oak had a bad day in Dodge, but they played their way through the playoff grid established long before anyone knew of the LC pass rush, Shane's fast feet or the Guy hit on #24. If I'm not mistaken, a team from down Bowling Green way has had three fabulous seasons only to experience THREE bad days in Dodge. As much as the principals/superintendents want to find/mandate a "level playing field", Kentucky high school players and coaches will put their best games on the field and accept the outcome-whether it's in four, six, or more classes. High school football is a great game. Quit trying to micromanage it. Just enjoy it.

Lone Oak's stats are impressive as is their QB. Unfortunately, we don't get much press from that end of the state. I don't think anyone gets to this level of the playoffs without good team personnel and game plans. I think LC's defensive assets will test LO in ways they haven't encountered, and, LO's offense will be a test LC must deal with. I know LC has considerable depth both in the trenches and skill positions and I think this will be the turning point of the game. Congrats to both teams for outstanding seasons and I look forward to seeing a great game Saturday-Catholic by four scores and it could be more if the Oakers tire.

I don't see anything here close. Highlands 51-Bowling Green 12

Great post Diogenes--a lot of truths said here many don't want to hear. Also, the "financial assistance" question-In 2004, Fayette Co Public Schools handed out $1.3 million in breakfast/lunch/book fees assistance to its students in the five public high school alone. I heard the arguments that this is not financial assistance, but the receiving family must fill out a request form and meet an income test to qualify. Explain to me how that is not financial assistance.

I don't think this is an area Log Mtn Boy wants to engage. Lex Cath grew from a 300 student institution to a nearly 900 student school in the decade of the 90's. This did not provide them with a 600 man football team arriving to practice via their Hummer limos. This game was not about a social confrontation nor a public-private exihibition. It was simply the evolution of the playoff system and the two best teams in these two districts. Your suggestions of "class warfare" only serve to denigrate the efforts of a bunch of fine young men, both from the city and the mountains. . . my observations regarding the preparation of Bell Co for the game comes from watching a Very Well Prepared Dudley Hilton Bourbon County team address and overcome every asset a talented Lex Catholic team brought to their field a few years ago-just didn't see that same preparation effort last Friday nite. I really enjoyed the trip and several engaging conversations with some great Bell Co and high school football fans. Good luck next year...

Harrison Co has one of the toughest, strong nosed and most physical football programs I've seen in Central KY high school ball. They aren't fancy or rely on a bevy of trick plays, they just come straight at you, eye to eye, and I've never seen them back down. Over the past three years, our games with HC have been among the most difficult we've faced-and that includes the game with Bowling Green. Ingles Field is a difficult place to play, but I think our line play and a variety of skill players will be the difference. LC 35-HC 13, but it won't come easy.

LC has had a 100 man squad (give or take a few) ever since the program's inception in the early 1990's. Even as a Class A school with a student population of around 325, nearly every boy in the school was on the football team. Participation has always been a mindset standard there and the coachs have been wise enough to take full advantage of it. I think LC and Bell are very similar in size for the total number of students. Yardage-in the first half, it was announced that Bell had 85 yards rushing-nearly sixty of that was on one play. Most prominent evidence that the LC line dominated was Hilton changing his offensive scheme and throwing 3-4 times what he was used to. I thought Bell was unprepared.