[Fly Like a Duck]

^^^ You're right. Independent schools are public schools.

However, I think what some on here (and, I'm one of them, too) think about is how many of your "county" schools in these rural areas are at a disadvantage from the standpoint of travel a lot of of times and other factors.

Fact is, there are a lot of 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A and even some 5A "county" schools who are at a huge disadvantage when it comes to football.

A large majority of kids at these schools who actually live out in the county (let's say >6-7 miles from the school) just don't play. They have never played and they are never going to play. Be it because of travel. Be it because many of them farm. Be it simply because they don't have dads, grandfathers, uncles, cousins, etc. that ever played (see places like Highlands, Beechwood, Bowling Green, etc. Independent schools where football has always been a staple within the community, its families, the school and it always will).

I know many older coaches who have said that consolidation of these rural county schools back in the 50's, 60's and even 70's are what hurt football in a lot of these communities. And, it makes sense, too. Think about it: Many of these "______ County High School(s)" across the state were once made up of 2, 3, 4, 5 or so smaller schools throughout the county. Often times, though, ONLY ONE of those schools (usually the high school in the county seat/biggest city) played football. So, what you get is School A who had football, combined with School's B, C and D who didn't have football then (for whatever reasons). Well, the communities that housed the non football playing schools of B, C and D didn't care about football before 1960 & the fact is, they still don't care about it (now, will you get a couple kids who now play football from those areas? Sure, but the vast majority come from the main town in the county; which also happened to be the only football playing school before consolidation.)

Keep in mind that what I said with the above are those schools who are rural (heck, let's say less than 20K people in the county).

To add to the above. I've heard from many of these same older men/coaches (some who still coach, others who have since long retired) say that one of the reasons why basketball was so big in our state is because of the fact that it wasn't during any kind of harvest season. So, often times, thats why you'd have (and, still have) farm kids who didn't play football, but play basketball in these rural communities.

I know a few coaches at some respected "county" school programs across the state who have told me personally, that if it was determined that those kids out in the county (again, lets say > 6-7 miles from the school) weren't to be going to that school anymore that it wouldn't hurt their football program one bit. None. Their male enrollment would be cut in half, yet they still could play in the same class and not miss a beat. In short, you have insert town here High School Football @ insert County High School at a lot of these places. Or, another way to look at is; you have a 1A football program at a 3A school.

Before I end here, to prove that there is an obvious difference (be it in mentality, athletic abilities or both) bt the Privates/Independent/Populated area "county" schools and the rural area schools, take this into consideration: (I have a more detailed study about this if you would like to see)

Since 1998, there have been 144 schools play in the KHSAA Football State Championship games, and ALLLLLL but 20 of them have been:

1) Private
2) Independent
3) "County" schools that resided amonst the Top 15 most populated counties in the state.

Again....all, but 20 are from one of the above 3 criteria (for the record, 12 of those belong to 3 schools--I'll let you think on who they are and the other 10 are "one hit" wonders, so far).

As you can probably tell, I am also one of these people who believe that demographics play an extremely large role in everything; be it sports or academics. I know that's not the politically correct thing to say, but it's fact.

Lastly, I think 6 classes is too many. I've never like it. I'd love nothing more than to go back to 4 classes (5 max). However, instead of grouping merely by numbers, let's look at what's inside those numbers and break it down that way.