kissinger

If they are too lazy to submit, they shouldn't be listed. It is sheer unadulterated laziness on the part of coaches not to get athletes the recognition they earn.

Have to disagree. It is HIGHLY desirable that high school stadiums have play clocks. Take 100% of the pressure off officials and places it where it belongs within the rules. Its the obligation of coaches and players to play within the rules. Otherwise, change the rules. Thus far, the biggest excuse for not having them, and yes, its an excuse because in reality it isn't that costly when sponsorships are considered, has been cost.

Wrong and non-factual. The way their rules read, any Rawlings ball can be used. There is not, nor has there ever been, a specific ball brand that officials enforced. We were always told to simply look for the Rawlings logo and NFHS mark. And we have never been told to enforce that only for state championship games, from the first date it was mentioned in rules meetings, it was all rounds. Some folks hear what they want to hear. The newer ball according to dealers, is a composite material which can be sold at a slightly lesser price to the schools than full leather. The new balls have the same grip, size and feel, and hold up 1000% better in foul weather. Just like the change to composite basketballs, they simply hold up better to elements. Every shoot with an old Wilson Jet after it was used a while? Like shooting a pool cue. The color of the new football is simply a byproduct of an improved testing and manufacturing process.

Keep in mind before you ask for a flat, you must sit out rule, that the KHSAA four year (8 semester) rule still sits there in force. So in college, if I sit out a year, it isn't catastrophic as I get that year back later. I have five, and sometimes six years in which to possibly play four. The way the schools have the four year rule (Bylaw 4) written, if you are ineligible, you can't get that year back. So its a different scenario. Also keep one thing in mind. If every kid was ineligible whose mother, dad or other relative said something that he shouldn't have publicly, would anyone be eligible? Apparently there were a lot more facts available to both the hearing officer and the board than most of us will ever know. For one, I am just glad that the media can move on to something else.

The other thing that is factoring into some of this is the inability to have a consistent long range weather pattern. Take this week. Usually, the dog days or August are absolutely perfect to get that grass field in final shape for home games. It thickens up, gets ready to go. Right now, with no humidity, that just isn't happening. And heaven knows the inconsistency in the weather and grass growth patterns the last five years. It comes down not (IMO only), to a decision to write the check, but a decision to quite pouring money down a hole. In the end, the money is there for long range capital projects in almost every district. They are required to have certain amounts held in reserve. It just comes down to when to pull the trigger. Keep in mind, my feelings aren't about whether or not its a good surface, or plays even, anything like that. It's just about the dollars, and being able to maintain perhaps one grass field and one artificial, versus games fields and multiple practice fields and areas.

The "KHSAA" is the member schools, in terms of who makes this kind of rule. So as I understand it, there cannot be any change until the member schools vote again on September 23 in Lexington. The proposals are already on their web site, and nothing can be added. So lets don't go down the path of thinking the current debate within legislative committees has anything at all to do with current cases about specific students.

I think you are right, it is almost always about money. And with the proper analysis, the best money decision will be to go artificial. Add up the costs of maintaining a game field, practice field, other sports that can use it, personnel for mowing, treating, painting, machinery, fertilizer, supplies, game day paint, etc. over a typical 10-year life cycle, then turf is the best choice. Sometimes the assumption is that the six figure price tag makes it an elitist only purchase. Absolutely couldn't be farther from the truth. The smart money buy will always be properly installed artificial. Now we can argue tradition, footing, etc. in another thread.

Good point. The hearing officer as I recall, is also the only part of the process where testimony is under oath and recorded, and most importantly, the hearing officers are supposed to be the only folks trained as judges who see eye-to-eye all of the witnesses to decide believability and sort out the truth from fiction. Both the first and last steps, are based only on written records, forms, etc. but the hearing officer has the advantage of hearing people testify.

Let the fans bundle up. The kids don't care. The press gets to stay warm. All beat the heck out of the kids potentially dying in mid-august games.

Your point is very well taken. True objectivity (perceived and real) probably can't happen until that structure takes place. While there is no doubt that the current board makes every real effort to remain objective, the current setup will never overcome perception. My whole purpose in posting was not the debate this specific case, but to make sure that folks were clear on what I understood the process to be. Their HO doesn't make rulings. Surely the BOC will concur with HO after debate. Seems they have been complained to by their member schools about excessive legal fees during current Commissioner's tenure, and these two cases seem certain to generate fees if declared ineligible. Hopefully, with future revisions that have been announced in their procedure, the last step in the process will simply be sure to make sure the HO adhered to procedure, and the HOs decision will be accepted as the final one. That is a tough sell to many hard core folks who seem to want very restrictive rules and want to live in an older, more controlling mindset. Just isn't a good climate for restricting now at all, not in judicial nor legislative branches. Despite gnashing of teeth and complaining from some, that is the obvious handwriting on the wall. Just look at last couple of years of court cases, injunctions and legislative action which overrode the votes by the schools. Sooner or later, even if they don't like the answer, they need to listen to those who make the final decisions.

Keep one other thing in mind while everyone is looking at this as a new way to slice bread. Three offensive lineman. Whoever gets the snap doesn't exactly have a long time to make a decision. So having a QB who can really run this system isn't guaranteed. With a three person blocking scheme, I think many QBs (no matter how many of them they have back there) will be running for their lives. Too many opportunities for somebody to screw up, such as a covered up guy leaking downfield too far, interference plays, etc. Its a fad. But then again, isn't that what they said years ago about that new play called a forward pass?

Just explain one thing. How did the KHSAA do this? From what news accounts have said, the KHSAA staff ruled the students ineligible (which apparently is your opinion of the matter). The KHSAA Hearing Officer (who is not employed by KHSAA by is a retired Circuit Court judge as required by KRS Chapter 13B, not a KHSAA rule, but state law) makes a RECOMMENDATION of eligible. And this is the KHSAA's fault? I am not their staunchest defender, but your venom is aimed the wrong way.

If this has happened, they have NOT been RULED eligible, they have been RECOMMENDED ELIGIBLE by the Hearing Officer. The case still goes to the Board of Control at its August meeting for a final decision according to earlier reports. The hearing officer in the Due Process cases does not make RULINGS, they make recommendations as I understand the process.

Sorry, but this statement isn't correct. By rule, this offense is totally legal to run. There are some illegal things they might do while running it (i.e. the covered up receivers going downfield, etc.), but by its nature, it isn't illegal. When run properly, on deep pass plays, only the two ends go across the line. But a lot of it is screens (Passes behind the line) and in that case, all of the ineligibles can be wherever they want.

But schools have already contracted for diesel for at least three months, through most of football season. So they may have locked in a higher price. its always a gamble. but cost will factor into a lot of things this year.

Agree on all counts. And no it won't be sloppier. Keep in mind that the kids might actually still be fresh and not worn down.

I will go along with the 2002 Male-Trinity. Though we have had several good games both before and after, this game, which signalled the end of the Cardinal Stadium era, catapulted KY high school football into a national light and we have all been able to ride that wave since that time.

Most of those states in the south only have about 2, perhaps three weeks of any organized practice. Guess the heat helps speed things up as far as acclimating.

Soundsl like the coaches in the buildings aren't being listened to then. Or maybe, they just haven't accepted that they don't have the final say. If the Principals and ADs who vote on this rule feel like it is best for their school and students, it really doesn't matter what the coach thinks. That's just the cold hard facts. Those individual school administrators who vote on these rules have a lot more to consider than just the whims and wishes of a single sport coach.

The KHSAA is the member schools. So if you aren't shooting at the coaches, are you shooting at their administrators who voted?

Clyde, With due respect, get over it. When the Dead Period was passed in the 1990s, it was set as June 25 to July 9. Coincided with research done on traditional factory shutdown in the South. The school people later came back and said they wanted "corresponding dates" instead. Tried it for two years. With coaching turnover, athletic staff turnover, and a majority of people who don't understand corresponding dates in years that the calendar "rolls over", like in 2008-2009, it was a sea of confusion. Couple that with what best can be described as some "intentional ignorance" on the part of coaches, and you had inconsistency throughout. So the schools again voted to change it back. The original, the change to corresponding, and the change back to fixed dates, all were votes of the member schools. Most seem to like the clarity of fixed dates. Some years, it hits mid-week. Tough stuff.

When one of the parents is the high school athletic director at the child's former school, there is no excuse for not having known that rule and then insisting on a brake pedal on the mouth of the other parent.

And as long as the member schools of the KHSAA want that provision in there, then my guess is that the KHSAA Commissioner and Board of Control have little choice but to enforce it. Be careful who you loosely through around as moronic science alums. The KHSAA is the collective group of 280 or so schools who write the rules that are then subsequently approved by the Kentucky Board of Education and the Legislature. I don't think their Board or staff have very much to say about choosing not to apply the rules once they are given that final approval.

Now if the could just get someone to proofread their correspondence ()

Could it be that North Laurel sits right next to Clay County and the line has to be drawn somewhere?