[AtlPirateFan]

Maybe I misunderstood this topic a bit. I assumed we were discussing how to increase the quality level of HS football in KY, by producing more college recruits and stronger teams that compete at a higher level not that we were trying to determine how to best increase attendance and money at the State Title games or how to get more individual "stars" on teams. More players starting on a Friday night does not mean a higher quality of football.

While I agree the economy is in the crapper (it's why I left Pike Co. almost 5 years ago), and that an improved economy would bring more families to Ky, thus increasing enrollment and roster sizes across the state it's not something that is going to realistically be fixed over night. The hit the coal industry has taken over the last few years is not going to get better, regardless of who is in office or who is in congress.

Coal is much like the Steelworkers of PA and the other manufacturing jobs that peaked through the middle of the 1900s only to dwindle near the end of the century. It may not ever be gone, but it will definitely never be what it was. Barring KY finding another way to draw employers to the state things won't improve on the front.

I do support consolidation for creating a better environment because it should achieve the same thing as an improved economy. That is putting more talent in schools and therefore more talent on a given team. Yes you will have some athletes choose other sports due to "congestion" or limited starting spots. However this should inherently create better teams all around. This only occurs with mass consolidation I think just a few here and there doesn't help at all because. If overall teams as a whole have more talent then it stands to reason that a better quality product on the field, elevating KY into that mythical top 15. Reducing the number of classes is a direct result of the reduced number of teams. Having a ton of teams does not increase the quality of the game on the field.

Now I will agree an open enrollment policy would also help some schools get better but at the same time I believe it opens up too many possibilities for schools to openly recruit and then it becomes all about money.

In closing I don't think the location matters, it won't create better football teams in the state.