Frank329

Having gone through the recruiting process with my son and several of his friends, it is my opinion that there are a number of factors that dictate the successful recruiting of an athlete. 1. Is the college in need of an athlete for a particular position? 2. What is the evaluation of the college coach of the potential athlete under his training? 3. What is the distance from the college to the potential recruit’s home? 4. What are the potential athlete’s vital statistics? This is just a partial list of the factors. Remember that there is a pecking order in recruiting: Division IA, Division IAA, Division II and then Division III. All of it has to do with the resources the college has to commit to recruiting. Remember letters are not recruiting. Calls from the coaches, invitation to visit the college, weekly update calls from the coaches, and a letter with an offer and documents to sign this is recruiting. If you are in the process, then enjoy it because once your child has signed things are different.

This is a walk down memory lane. When my son played college football at Ashland University (II, OH), they were in the Heartland Conference that included Butler, Valparaiso and Evansville (football). It was NCAA Div II. Dayton was NCAA Div III for football. The NCAA decided that Div I programs had to be Div I in all sports that had Div I status. The aforementioned colleges did not want to give up there Div I status because of their basketball programs. They asked that the NCAA create for football a new category Div IAAA (non-scholarship football). The NCAA said no. They formed the “Pioneer Football League” as a Div IAA program with no scholarships. Since then Ashland University (OH) left the Heartland Conference and joined a new conference (GLIAC) Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The members are: Grand Valley State (MI), Ashland (OH), Hillsdale (MI), Saginaw Valley (MI), Michigan Tech (MI), Indianapolis (IN), Ferris State (MI), Northwood (MI), Northern Michigan (MI), Mercyhurst (PA), Findlay (OH), Wayne State (MI) and Gannon (PA). In 2008-2009 Tiffin (OH) joins the conference.

Here is one source for prospects in college recruiting. http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/recruiting/tracker/prospects?&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fncf%2frecruiting%2ftracker%2fprospects You can select just Kentucky.

Can high school football programs be too successful? For example the 2007 schedule: Cov Cath – Lasalle (OH), Elder (OH), St. Charles (OH), and St. Xavier (KY). Highlands – Trotwood Madison (OH), Hopkinsville (KY), Lexington Catholic (KY), Madison Central (KY), and Louisville Central (KY). Is it hard for some high school programs that are too successful to schedule a ten game regular season? Are the games scheduled to improve the team? What is your opinion?

How does this affect the season for Louisville St. X? http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071030/SPORTS05/710300460/1031

He is a very nice gentleman. I ran into him when he was at EKU. He told me that he was from Ashland, OH and had wanted to play at Ashland College (Ashland University,Ohio, Division II) but ended going to Marysville in TN. A very good man.

Is this the Leon Hart who coached at Eastern Kentucky University?

You are correct. Shaun Alexander is a class act. I went out of my way to watch him at BCHS and I realized he had great potential. To his credit he never let it go to his head and never forgot his roots in NKY.

Even though Scott was overmatched, their kids played hard and in my humble opinion they didn't give up.

Sadly another chapter in the history of Northern Kentucky High School Sports is closed. Hopefully it is not closed forever.

The following article in the Columbus, Ohio Dispatch on high school football rules: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2007/09/28/hsfb28.ART_ART_09-28-07_C1_9A81KCV.html?sid=101 • The rule prohibiting kickoffs and punts from being returned out of the end zone was unanimously panned. • Another special teams rule unique to the high school game rankles some coaches. When a missed field goal attempt crosses the goal line, it is ruled an automatic touchback and spotted at the 20. • Cut-blocking was a major point of contention among coaches. In the high school game, blocking below the waist is prohibited outside the so-called "free-blocking zone" 3 yards on each side of the ball and 4 yards wide. Within that zone, linemen may only block opposing linemen. • Consistent with the college rule, all pass interference calls in high school games result in a 15-yard penalty. In the pros, the ball is spotted where the foul occurs. For the coaches’ opinions read the article. Your thoughts?

What ever happened to him? Didn't he play for Notre Dame?

Personally I think it is sad for anyone to be still upset about a game that happened years ago. He had a chance to be the elder statesman of Cov Cath football and high school sports but choose to be less than statesman like. I thought it made him look very petty and may have tarnished his image with some.

Two big rivalry games in a row for Cov Cath. Games like this are hard to predict because this season’s records are thrown out the window. With that said and after watching the game with Highlands, the Colonels’ offense will have to make a dramatic change in a few days. Possible but it is not probable. The edge has to go to Beechwood.