Homerun

If "sponsor" here means get someone to pay a student's tuition, only someone in the immediate family can do this. Otherwise, it is against KHSAA rules.

Congratulation to Deuce and to the St. X football team that helped make this possible.

I admire that Highlands plays up in class already and the quality of their football program, but I guess it's time for them not to waste their efforts anymore in 5A move to 6A?

Good luck to both teams. Both schools should feel proud of their programs and the quality of football they play.

A very young man. Our prayers go to him and his family, particularly at this holiday season. Was he married? Any children?

How is Matt Linton playing for John Hardin?

Good article today about Desales in the C-J. "DeSales ready to tackle Newport Central" http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20081127/SPORTS05/811270687/1002/SPORTS

Well said.

Could I take St. X and 7 here?

I have to chime in and support the player here. I have not seen the young man play in a while, but evaluating a player on one play is foolish. David Akers, who kicks for the Philadelphia Eagles, missed 2 field goals when the U of L and U of K regular season games got started not too long ago. He said he vomited in the car. Akers hasn't done too badly?

Well said, Strike 3. I think you are right on track. I have a hard time believing that the question was really posed, though. Baseball may be turning out more professional players than football and basketball, even at the MLB level, in Kentucky than producing NBA or NFL players. Baseball has made significant strides in some ways, but is significantly behind football and basketball in popularity in Kentucky. The NFL Network recently came to Louisville to film a show on the St. X vs Trinity game for the "Best High School Rivalry" show. The game drew almost 39,000 fans. Football and basketball is discussed in the Courier-Journal and on the Rivals website, but baseball is not much at all. The Courier-Journal's coverage for football and basketball is different than for baseball. Possibly, too, when you look at how big baseball is in other states (particularly down South and out West), the difference is substantial. A beat writer for the C-J once wrote about the increased attendance at a U of L vs U of K baseball game drawing 3-4000. LSU, Arkansas, and Mississippi State lead the country in average attendance at about 7000 per game. Louisvill was estatic to host a super-regional NCAA baseball game 2 years ago an fill their stadium, but the attendance does not compare when Mississippi does the same and draws 26,000 for a game.

Congratulations. Good luck next week.

Thanks for sharing the news source. I always enjoy the perspective of different newspapers. Here's the link to the Courier-Journal's rundown today. There was not a discussion, but only a listing of the prediciton: Desales 27-Covington Holy Cross 21. http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20081121/SPORTS05/81121007/1002/SPORTS

Thanks so much for your best wishes from Danville, but much of the football tradition that I speak of comes from Holy Cross being at the same physical facility as Bishop David. Holy Cross is a relatively newly formed school after the breakup of Bishop David and Angela Merici. Bishop David had a number of All-State football players when they played against the Trinity and St. X’s of the world. I believe there was a particular year when Bishop David was the school that knocked off a previously unbeaten Trinity. Bishop David was a much smaller school giving the big boys everything they wanted. When schools played Bishop David, they knew they were going to play a team that played smash-mouth football. In 2001-2004, Holy Cross went 11-2, 10-2, 12-1, and 11-2. There has been coaching changes. Tuition has gone up to make it challenging for South End Louisville parents to send their children to Desales or Holy Cross. I know that Danville battled Holy Cross on a regular basis, but please give the program the respect that it deserves.

I just heard that if Manual wins and St. X wins, that the game will be played at St X. But if Greenwood wins and ST. X wins, that ST. X would have to travel to Greenwood. Is that correct?

Holy Cross is nursing a number of injuries. Some key players are banged up. Holy Cross has a great football tradition, but this year has been a challenging one. The loss to Butler, though a 6A school, was a low point. The loss to Doss was to a quality 5A school, who beat a presviously unbeaten John Hardin. The one-sided loss to Southend Louisville rival, Desales, was painful as well. But Desales was in last years 2A state semi-finals. I wish both teams well, but I hope that Holy Cross can finish strong and pull out a victory.

I usually see Desales play at least one time a year, but have not this year. I do know a number of the players. Desales is on an 8 game winning streak after losing the first 2 out of 3. They beat Newport 24-12, which seems to be their only common opponent. Mark Sander has done a good job at Desales. Sander still holds the career tackles record while a linebacker at the University of Louisville. I wish both schools the best, but have to pull for Desales.

Very nice article. I admire how the young man is taking such a difficult challenge and trying to use that energy in a positive way. Good luck.

I'm sorry Larry......I found some humor in this.......I had to post on your pick because it's a free country.

What people don't often realize, but Northern Kentucky fans have said on the message board, is that St. X's J.V will match up well with most varsity teams in the state. With that said, what are the players, who might rarely get in a varsity game, suppose to do?

Besides Maile and Clarkson, were there any other Division I signees?

Good luck. Will love to see him play as well. Very athletic with a tremendous athletic frame for development.

Congratulations. I've heard so many good things about him and am looking forward to have the chance to see him play.

Quite a tribute to the to football programs and schools. The production is well done. Great editing for effect.

Congrats to Mercy on a fine year. Many talented players on the team. Special note to Kelsy Anderson for Ms. Volleyball .