[sstack]

I disagree.

This might work for Central because 3A and 5A are different animals, as well. After playing the likes of St. X and Highlands, going to the 3A finals probably seems like four JV games in a row. Basically, to win 3A, you're going to have to win one truly difficult game. Somewhere along the way, you'll have to beat Belfry, Russell, Breathitt, or Central, depending on which of those teams is good that year, and the rest are pretty much warm-ups. It's a little different from the murderers' row that you have to go through to win 5A. I suspect whether Central played the entire GCL South with their non-district games or whether they scheduled Shawnee seven straight times, the end result would be they'd be playing for the state title regardless unless they just had an absolute ten-turnover implosion somewhere.

In a division like 5A, every playoff team is at least decent, and most are great. In games so evenly matched with so many good athletes, confidence is EVERYTHING. When teams lose confidence, they're done for in games like that. Take Woodford County, for example. The Yellowjackets went from playing JCHS and Ashland close to getting whitewashed by Whitley County and Covington Catholic at the end of the season. Those kids didn't just suddenly go retarded; they were sending out the same bodies onto the field - just they believed in themselves at first, and then they didn't. When they didn't, they got absolutely annihilated.

If you're going to play a tough schedule, there'd better be some teams in there you can beat. High school football is about entertainment at the end of the day, and fans go to games to see their teams (hopefully) win. Going 3-7 is not going to make your fans happy, and it's not going to keep your coach employed for very long either, even if those seven losses all happened to be powerhouse teams. I'd rather go 9-1 or 10-0 against a questionable schedule than 3-7 against an impossible schedule. You lose a whole bunch of games against great teams, then reach the playoffs and get down a touchdown or two, and everybody on the team just says, "Well, here we go again." Football's not fun when you get beat down all the time. Old school JC fans definitely remember that much. State championships would be nice, but I think the memories kids make from doing well and having moments to celebrate are just as important. Not every kid is going to win a state championship (this is something perhaps Highlands and Trinty and Beechwood fans lose sight of sometimes because it doesn't apply to them), but every kid can enjoy playing the game and winning, at least from time to time.

You just hit the nail on the head on why teams like Highlands, X, Beechwood, win more titles. What a lousy attitude you have. The above mentioned teams go into each year with the goal of winning a title. They also believe they can win it and beat anybody regardless who is returning. Some might take that as arrogant, but until you can get your team to believe in them selves the same way, the titles will not come your way.It is no secret how Highlands and Beechwood win titles. They dedicate to football in elementary school, work hard year around, have good coaches from early on, have no fear of anybody(they thought they could beat Colerain this year when everybody but the players knew they were in another class), and just expect to win a state title. District championships are not the goal at these schools, titles are. That is the mind set schools need. You can still have great memories with attitudes like this, win or lose. Why play the game and not shot for the top and think you can achieve the top?