BGBird

You seem to be the first to go out on a limb and put Boone in the top 5. A couple of questions for you to get some insight. First, who are those that are returning, and what contributions do you see them making? I saw the Rebels once last year, and with the exception of Charles Q., no one really stood out as a big time playmaker. They did have a big tight end, and if he is returning, will make a good target for 1 or 2 of the 4 passes thrown each game. Secondly, how will last year's tough schedule be easier this year? Won't Boone be playing the same teams as last year? Was the Anderson game a one year only deal? I would love to share in your enthusiasm for a top 5 prediction for Boone, but unless there is a movement afoot by the coaching staff to re-tool the entire offensive game plan, I just don't see it happening. The playbook is too predictable and the competition in NKY 6A has advanced too much to make the old Boone Cty way of doing it as successful as it had been. JMO.

Not sure what class he was in last year, but if Brandon Vocke (sp?) of Beechwood is returning, he should be one of the top RBs. He had a very good game against Highlands last year.

Last year, he was at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, but I don't know if that is still the case.

Agreed. But, consider this. If Jared does come on staff to coach the QB's, he has a lot of advantages in place. First, he is familiar with the system, and how things run. He doesn't have to reinvent the wheel out of the gate, and should have a reasonable understanding of the offense and concepts that HHS now uses. Secondly, he will get to work with a bunch of good coaches around him. The line protecting his QB will be coached by arguably the best O Line coach in the state, allowing him to work on skills other than "run for your life" because protection broke down. Lastly, I think Dale has done a fair job of developing the rest of the coaches on staff, which would benefit a good former player who was working to become a good coach. All in all, it appears to be a good match of the right opportunity at the right time. Now, we'll have to wait and see if it comes together.

Yes, they had 10 practices over three weeks. Four practices the first week, and then three each the last two. I believe they had intra-squad scrimmages to end practice each Friday.

Comparisons to 2009 are a little premature. We had the advantage of watching the 2009 team through 15 games, one scrimmage, and countless practices and intra squad scrimmages. For the 2010 team, we have only seen them in spring practice, and there was a lot of mixing and matching of players going on, so we really haven't seen the "team" yet. I don't know what the other teams we play have coming back, so I am not ready to give up on the undefeated season expectation. The defensive side of the ball has the most returning players, and I expect them to be real solid. If the birds do lose a game, I don't see it being by a big margin. Malachicrunch pointed out the O-Line situation from 2008, and that is just one of the seasons that Coach T worked his magic. He has a great eye for detail and preparing the line, and I am totally confident he will get it done again this year. It appeared that all the O-Linemen during spring ball only played offense, so they all got a lot of reps. Lastly, I think that at least the first 3 games next season will be home games. Last year, the birds had games at Manual, Ryle, Beechwood and Withrow before the first home game. Playing the first 3 or 4 games at home will be a nice start for the new varsity starters.

Usually start the first week after school is out in June.

Was the chin strap leather, like the helmets back then?

Here's what the KHSAA Site says: Each football school may conduct ten (10) practice periods of not more than two (2) hours in length and not more than one practice per day over ten (10) days during the three calendar school weeks following the school’s elimination from postseason play in basketball. All equipment authorized by the football playing rules may be used during this period. There shall be no inter-school competition during this period, and all participants shall be eligible according to all KHSAA eligibility rules. In order to conduct the spring practice sessions: 1) No student below grade nine may participate nor may seniors participate; 2) Dates shall be reported to the KHSAA on supplied forms; 3) Only students currently eligible by all KHSAA rules including Bylaws 2 through 12 may participate; 4) Intrasquad games may be held but shall be counted as one of the ten practice sessions; and 5) There shall be no school or coach imposed penalty for any player who chooses not to participate. 6) There shall be no mandatory participation by any person on a spring sports eligibility list (or entering any spring sport scrimmage or contest) and no mandatory participation by any other person not appearing on a spring sports eligibility list. I don't believe conditioning counts against the total of 10 practices, unless some football specific activities take place. For example, if a team has football practice in full gear on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and then has weightlifting/conditioning (usual offseason program) on Wednesday, that woud count as 4 football practices for that week. If someone has a different interpretation, please offer the details.

The 2009 season makes your point very well, in that spring football may not have made a difference in how well the team performed overall. But, two things to consider. One, would you want to take the chance of not having spring practice in the hopes that you didn't need it? There would be a lot of second guessing if that were the case. And secondly, last year's team and season are a "once in a decade/century/millenium" team, and may not be a good barometer of why you have spring practice. To add on to your point, though, this year is a perfect time for spring football, coming off such a successful season with so much senior leadership. There are only 3 returning offensive starters, so there is a lot to put together to make it all click. With 3 open O Line positions, I am hopeful that spring football will take the competition for those starting jobs to the next level. Which 3 guys are going out there to lay claim to their spot?

There are a lot of different ways to get (or give) feedback, with a survey being just one. Of course, I prefer old fashioned email when I feel the need to share my opinion.

Should one assume, from the lack of a direct answer to the question posed, the Manual didn't win any/many/most of the 4 or 5 games with the powers? You may be right, that Highlands may not go undefeated with Manual's schedule. But, since this is a thread about the scrimmage between Trinity and Highlands, perhaps we can get back on topic. Question for the Trinity fans - Who have you traditionally scrimmaged in recent history?

I really don't know the answer to this one, but how many of the 4 or 5 games with the highlighted power teams did Manual win last year?

Are you saying that Manual would become a 5A Powerhouse?

First, a friendly word of warning. This post is getting dangerously close to being very "Leatherneckesque"! It seems that a lot of posters in this thread believe Highlands should have done a better job interpreting and enforcing KHSAA rules. While abiding by those rules is an obligation of membership, enforcement of the rules is up to the KHSAA. Since there was confusion as to the interpretation of the rules, the Mitchells sought a higher authority's assistance. Lastly, as to the thought of taking the high road, I believe your take on the high road leans towards the KHSAA's interpretation, versus the student's and school's interpretation.

So, just to take this to an extreme level, as this thread has done a few times, to eliminate the "not as unethical" behavior on Highlands' part, the school should have inferred what the poorly written rules should have been written as, and applied them in that fashion, while no one else in the state was required to follow their (Highlands') interpretation?

Unethical for whom, and why?

Oh, the memories! I was a freshman band goon in the late 70's, waiting by the cannon to go on the field at halftime, and the Birds scored a touchdown. The cannon guys yelled "watch out!" and before we could move more than a foot or two, they fired it off. Never made that mistake again.:banana:

Thank you for the logic presented in your post! Just to add on to what you stated, what do you suppose would have been the scenario for the school district if after the local court ruled he could play, that the coach/team did not play him? Would that decision likely cause the Mitchell family to take issue with the school then, for placing the KHSAA decision over the courts? I know it is a hypothetical situation, but one worth considering. There were a lot of ways this could have played out, and I am comfortable that the school made the right decision with the information they had at the time.

Just curious here as to where you came upon that impression. I really have no idea, but I would find it very hard to agree to such a stipulation.

I'm not sure I get what you mean by your opening line. The KHSAA was ruled to have set their guidelines and regulations above the state's laws by refusing to accept the Campbell County Circuit Court's decision to let Mitchell play. Despite your preference for or against Highlands (as well as mine), there is no way that the state athletic association should have the power to stand above the law. So, which body's rules do you want to place at the top of the pecking order, the KY State Legislature, or the KHSAA?

Forget the picture frame. Send the picture (Cam vs. Matt James) off to the company that makes Fatheads, and stick that sucker on your wall! Might be a great conversation starter next year at college! :thumb:

Me too! Congratulations Cam!

That's just the start date. Should end on Monday, February 1st no later than 0400, just in time for your first post of the day on BGP!:thumb:

Might make for some interesting family reunions with his cousin Drew! Congratulations!