BigRedTopp11

This is exactly what I said about the realignment. You have to be able to schedule wins. I believe this is a big year for Smith. He was hired for his experience, players liked him, and he was the "safest" hire. He is supposed to avoid down years and keep McCracken competitive. With this schedule; he better be able to do so.

Big win for McCracken. Calloway is loaded; but they are loaded with sophomores. Which causes the ups and downs. Good win Stangs, keep it going. Heads up Lakers, Calloway will bounce back.

Crittenden will be good in a tough district. Coach Courtney has put together a good mix of competitive, tough, and win able games outside of district play. I'm not sure if they will get back to where they were a few years ago, but doing a great job over there.

Paducah and Warren East will Battle for #1. Both biggest area in the district, both with biggest talent pool. If PT will run the balls, they should be able to win it the district and compete deep in playoffs. Logan County will most likely be the #3. Never a star studded team, but very solid all around. Adler is doing a great job there and has built some good teams. ACS, Hop, and Calloway will battle for the bottom three. (Yes, ACS/Hop may have a great year, but I just mean in general) Hopkinsville is hit or miss; I believe Clark/Staff took the job looking ahead to the merger. Calloway is building but has a lot to go. Still will be tough to compete with all those youngins. Allen County is in similar boat. Not a great year, but have a good staff and players they can develop. Yes, PT should win the district. Rider is a monster if they feed him behind all the beef. PT underachieved by a long shot last season; Warren East was 12-1 with Pasley coming back. The kid is a monster. This will be a great game is both teams are healthy.

What are you hearing and how do you feel about next year? *Paducah Tilghman: How will PT bounce back? How will PT fit into 4A? *McCracken County: Smith's Build; Ready to see how his experience pays off and continues to build. How far have they come? *Ballard County: Can Ballard compete? How are the numbers? *Calloway County: 0-10 starting a bunch of freshmen; will they be better this year? *Murray High: Biggers wearing that Cardinal Red I hear? Can they replace him? *Marshall County: The numbers look to be coming back; can the Marshalls make the next step? *Graves County: Haven't heard much from Graves this offseason; how are you feeling Eagles? *Trigg County: Great start to the season last year, but took a big loss from Senior class. What are the expectations? *Mayfield: Yeah Yeah, we get it. State or Nothing!

Southern Miss makes more sense to be in the SEC geographically compared to Missouri, Texas, Florida, and Oklahoma.... but they are in the Sun Belt with Coastal Carolina and James Madison even though they are all FBS level football... Why? Because Southern Miss doesn't have the talent, funding, depth, or history to go toe to toe with Alabama, Georgia, etc.... If Southern Miss built a dominate program; there is a good chance of upgrading their conference (UCF went from FCS to Conference USA to the American to the Big 12).

It is about building a program; not about being soft... Yes it is drawn out by location but why is the location a locking factor? Southern Cal in the Big Ten... West Virginia In the Big 12.... Miami in a NFL division with NE, Buf and New York.... The goal is competitive football. The goal is enjoyable games for players/coaches/fans. "Your small populated county is 15 minutes from a dense populated area with superior talent and depth? You HAVE to play them every year and get beat by 50. Oh by the way; you have to do that five more times and have little to no flexibility to schedule other competitive games." That makes as much sense as the whole world rolling back time just because in the early 1900 majority of people worked on farms and needed daylight.

5A: 11 District 3-4 Teams Each *Top 2 District Playoffs *Rest By RPI *All pluses from 4A redraw carry over to this one as well. Again, I know that makes the rules different in different classes; but I don't think they have to be the exact same since the playoffs don't interfere.

4A; 9 Districts 4 Teams with a Few 5 Team Districts *Top 2 Playoff Spots *Rest by RPI +Schedule competitive TOUGH games and win; more likely closer game in playoffs -Schedule competitive EASIER games and win; risk not making the playoffs but build your program. -Less Travel For Most -More Flexible Schedules for Non District

Yes, that sounds all well and good and is a great moral idea... but it is not how the world works unfortunately... kids (everyone) want to win. I think 1A, 2A and 6A are lined up great. It still gives everyone 7 non district games to schedule competitive football games. 4A and 5A especially need some help. Why can't different classes have different schedules? Why can't 4A and 5A have more districts (3 Teams? 4 Teams?)... District winner is guaranteed playoff spot; the rest is RPI rating? It gives teams more flexibility in scheduling and let's them compete with teams their own talent... If you schedule a micky mouse non district schedule; don't be surprised if you are left out of the playoffs; but if a micky mouse schedule is how you can compete and get kids to play, now you are building and once you have a solid program, now schedule some bigger boys outside of district.

Agreed. Greatest life lessons in the entire world comes from football. Couldn't agree more... But how do we get MORE kids on the field to learn those life lessons? Top 2 teams making the playoff is great by me! Better football; but how do we make the regular season more competitive and get more kids out there.

Lol...That'll motivate them! "You are 7-3 and have no chance to make the playoffs"... "You are 2-8 and have no chance to make the playoffs"

It doesn't matter how you slice it; the top teams will win in the playoffs. I get that. As a fan of the sport; I would rather watch 34-24 and get on KHSAA and see 28-21 scores... 56-6 with running clocks each week is not going to build the sport and bring kids back out.

Yes a legit football program will easily compete; not arguing there at all. But what about the teams will no depth? What about the teams that have no business getting smashed by their district 5 out of 10 games? If you took over at Muhlenburg and you are down kids; yes 5A doesn't mean you have 80 on the sideline.... How do you get more kids or try to get competitive when you are at BEST .500 if you win every nondistrict. How do you convince kids to come out and join? I am not trying to be an jerk; I am literally asking. There are so many teams on down rosters and your telling Muhlenburg that they have to win two district games (Apollo, Graves, MNH, Marshall, Owensboro) when they have won 1 in four years? How do you build with that? No I don't think every team should make the playoff like 1A and 6A, but atleast they can use it as a recruiting tool in the halls. "We were 7-4 and made the playoffs," is going to get a kids interest even if you went 0-3 in district and scheduled competitive games nondistrict.