Homerun

Thanks for asking and trying to prepare. You're first question about how many would attend was more open ended. Thanks, again, for trying to be prepared.

As a parent, it's great to hear comments like this about a young man. I followed his father when he played pro ball and now see him on T.V, yet these statements do say so much about his family. This man will be successful in whatever he decides to do in life. Congratulations on this award.

I agree.......premature, but intriguing .....Interesting screen name, "Xgozout."

The state semi-finals, not finals, are this week. It is premature, really, to talk about a St. X vs. Trinity match up, but……. Trinity does seem to be playing very well now, a much different team than at the start of the season. At the same time, an interesting fact is that St. X seemed to give up a lot of pass completions to Simon Kenton. Although St. X may have been concentrating on Miles Simpson and the run, I believe that Simon Kenton’s quarterback threw for 4 touchdowns. St. X did have 3 interceptions at least (Nick Sears) and another Simon Kenton pass was dropped by an X defensive back. St. X does have players healthy now that did miss a number of games during the season.

I wanted to try to think of something clever to answer this question about the amount of fans from St. X going to the Greenwood game, but did not. It’s a good question, yet I do wonder why it is being asked? Possibly related to this, this week I was wondering about gate revenue at playoff games. Where does the gate revenue go? Does the KHSAA get all of it? How much does each school get? If the schools participating get some of it, is it divided equally? How much more financially does it help a team to be able to host a playoff game? I know that concessions, etc., would be greater for the school hosting, but does that school get any more gate revenue by hosting a playoff game? By the way, how was it determined that this game is to be played in Bowling Green? St. X is undefeated against KY competition.

Tim Tebow's numbers are not like last year's I do not believe. Objectively other players are putting up better numbers than Tebow and should be getting more attention for the Heisman trophy this year, yet Tebow is constantly mentioned. I hear the Collinsworth's name was mentioned on national T.V.? How many players from KY get that attention? It's great for the state of KY (Would his Dad being a former NFL player and announcing NFL games on T.V. have something to do with that?). Although other players may have better numbers in KY this year, I think it would be hard to take Collinsworth out of the discussion for Mr. Football.

Congratulations to SK for an outstanding year. Good luck to each and every one of their players.

Yes, it was in the Louisville paper as well. Seems like it could mean he is the leading candidate for Mr. Football, yet not necessarily. I was surprised that he played running back this year. Is receiver his best position? Did the "pounding" from running the ball contribute to his injuries this year?

This really has been discussed before.

Congratulations to Brandon.

With post like nku, is a wonder that it can be challenging to deal with some northern Kentucky fans?

I have to disagree on several points. First of all, Trinity and X’s personnel are very skilled. This may be what sets them apart from other programs. The players get excellent coaching with phenomenal resources over 4 years. X and Trinity have excellent coaches and numbers of coaches as well. At both schools, football is their bread and butter—football is a priority. There is a lot of time and energy given to the programs. They have excellent facilities to train. They have excellent conditioning programs. They practice against quality players as well. St. X’s top 2 fastest players may match up or be faster than other teams, yet “football” speed needs to be qualified. McFadden ran the fastest 40 yard dash in the NFL combine but has yet to prove that he is the best running back in the NFL. Football “speed” has more to do than just running from point A to B in a straight line. It involves seeing the field, finding holes, explosiveness, toughness to fight through openings among other qualities. But football is a numbers game. X and Trinity have a lot more good players than other teams. Maybe their top 20 fastest players are far faster than 20 from other teams? They can special in specialize in special teams. They are more able to sustain injuries to players and still play well.

What amazed me about ST. X is that when Male High School had some of its most athletic and fast teams when Michae Bush played that X was able to contain speed. Blowing the other team off the line makes a huge difference as well as the skill of defensive backs.

Honest, fair response as was the idea that I proposed.

Your points are well taken. It’s amazing that a 5A team from KY was ranked number 9 in the country last week according to USA Today. My remarks stem that Highlands has risen to high national ranks. I am also responding to general comments from Highlands fans about who they could beat. I am not saying that they couldn’t beat Moeller, Colerain, Lou St. X, Trinity, etc, yet I would love to see those match-ups and I think Highlands has elevated its game to put more teams like that on their schedule. I think with more teams like that on their schedule that it would be easier to compare teams rather than trying to do it with limited common opponents.

I started out with the statement respecting what Highlands has done. No....not trying to downgrade Highlands, just trying to buffer their bragging. When statements are made about beating other Cincinnati teams, it's a lot harder to do it when playing them week after week than in one game alone. I do think it has reached a point that Highlands needs to expand their schedule because of how well they are playing.

I respect what Highlands has done. I went back and looked at their schedule and I believe that they have reached a point that they have to play a more difficult schedule to continue their bragging rights. Am I wrong that the win over Cincy St. X (12-7) was their only win against a really top notch opponent--meaning a nationally ranked or a perennial state champ? Going undefeated is challenging yet strength of schedule is important also. Not to minimize the win against Cincy St. X, but it would carry a lot more weight with wins agasint Lou St. X, Trinity, and other Ohio teams. Aug 21, 09 DuPont Manual away 19 - 8 (W) Aug 28, 09 Ryle away 37 - 14 (W) Sep 4, 09 Beechwood away 48 - 20 (W) Sep 11, 09 Withrow, OH away 21 - 0 (W) Sep 18, 09 Boone County home 36 - 14 (W) Sep 25, 09 Cincy St. X OH home 12 - 7 (W) Oct 2, 09 Dixie Heights home 52 - 9 (W) Oct 9, 09 Open home Oct 17, 09 Cov Catholic away 36 - 7 (W) Oct 23, 09 Scott home 67 - 20 (W) Oct 30, 09 Ryle home 31 - 14 (W) Nov 6, 09 Montgomery Co home 60 - 13 (W) Class 5A KHSAA Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl Nov 13, 09 Dixie Heights home 49 - 0 (W) Class 5A KHSAA Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl Nov 20, 09 Johnson Central home

I applaud the teams that are left in the playoffs. It’s been a long road, and the teams that are left should feel proud. I think as parents we try to help our children the best that we can. I posted links to pictures of St. X. I hope that it does not come across as “touting” the school or with any arrogance. The school’s campus has changed so much over the years. Personally, I am grateful that my son has had the opportunity to attend St. X. It’s been a blessing in his life and he came close not being able to go.

Sorry for the large picture earlier. Hope these links work out better. http://www.saintx.com/page.cfm?p=365 http://www.saintx.com/page.cfm?p=374 http://www.saintx.com/uploaded/About_Us/ProjXNewslter_June071608.pdf

Here is another view of St. X's stadium. It is a very large picture. If you "right click" the picture and select "view image," the picture will be more reasonable in size.

Hockentucky, you are more on track about the statistics mentioned. Sounds like Miles Simpson is a very good player, but how many players on St. X scored against Ryle? Ulitmately, particularly this year, I don't think St. X cares if they have an individual that leads the state in rushing or passing statistics as long as their team wins.

Could John Hardin or Bowling Green give Highlands a game?

I don't know that this is entirely true. You might be referring mostly to Trinity. Trinity has taken its lumps, but I would not count them out. Manual has played better, I think, than previous years. Male has not had the same results as some previous years and Ballard might be better; yet Male beat them last night. Butler started with one of its best years in awhile. Fern Creek finished strong. St. X is strong. Desales has been playing well in its class.

From my understanding, St. X runs the ball a lot, with minimal creativity. They are often stronger than other teams and can wear them down. They could not do that against Cincy St. X. That is not to say the Louisville St. X does not have speed, but their style of play was not as effective against Cincy St. X as it might be against other teams.

I also think that Highlands matched up much better in their style of play to Cincy St. X than Lou St. X did.