[Iam4thecats]

I think 10 to 15 years ago strength of schedule was a very under rated aspect in football. Now,however I believe it is generally over-rated by the majority of posters on these sites. Some people believe that SOS and that alone is the way to tell if one team is better than another. It is far and away the first thing brought up in these arguments. Actual TALENT is the best way to judge a team to me.
Look at this logical fallacy: The university of Louisville plays a weak schedule. The University of Kentucky plays a much harder schedule some rated as #7 in the nation during pre-season. Therefore U.K. should be rated higher than Louisville.

The fallacy doesn't take into consideration Louisville is actually way more TALENTED than U.K. and is actually winning those games where U.K. is not.

Anyone else see my point?

I don't think SOS is nothing but it is more of a tie breaker on a resume to me than predictor of who will win a match-up.

[Stardust]

Why is this in the High School threads?????

[mysonis55]

I heard this silly talk last year. I don't think anyone is saying strength of schedule is the only thing that matters. It does however mean a lot. For instance Ballard Memorial was 6-0 until they played Caldwell Co and Murray in back to back weeks. They got killed in both games. Paintsville was 5-1 going in to Fairview, who was 6-0. Paintsville got killed in that one as well. There are many more examples. This kind of talk is coming from someone who most likely won't understand until they play one of those teams that has played a tougher schedule than their beloved team. That is when they may begin to understand. I don't mean to sound like I am speaking down to someone, but that is just the way it is.

[sstack]

I heard this silly talk last year. I don't think anyone is saying strength of schedule is the only thing that matters. It does however mean a lot. For instance Ballard Memorial was 6-0 until they played Caldwell Co and Murray in back to back weeks. They got killed in both games. Paintsville was 5-1 going in to Fairview, who was 6-0. Paintsville got killed in that one as well. There are many more examples. This kind of talk is coming from someone who most likely won't understand until they play one of those teams that has played a tougher schedule than their beloved team. That is when they may begin to understand. I don't mean to sound like I am speaking down to someone, but that is just the way it is.

There were 3 teams in 4A last year with no or very few loses that wanted to boast all year how great they were while others kept saying they have not played anyone that is remotely good yet. Guess what, they all got blown out come playoff time when they finally played a good team. A weak schedule gives you a false sense of how good you really are. A good schedule really shows what your team has and shows you any areas of weakness and allows you to work on those areas.

[Pick6]

SOS is meaningful when you play teams with which you can compete. Complete blowouts benefit NO ONE.

[hawg laig]

Betsy Layne is likely to finish the regular season with only one loss, but it was the one game they had to win to make it a successful season. If you asked them would you rather be 9-1 and second in the district or 3-7 and winning the district, they would choose the 2nd alternative. A competitive schedule prepares a team for the tough games. A cup cake diet only makes you fat.

[TNT-MB1]

I agree with Pick 6 it matters but only maybe as 30%.
The level you compete with those strong school matters. Look at Ryle we've played SK, Scott County, Cov Cath, and Sycamore (oh) all this season but we were only competitive with Cov Cath (and if you count holding Scott County to 7 at half)

[Iam4thecats]

I heard this silly talk last year. I don't think anyone is saying strength of schedule is the only thing that matters. It does however mean a lot. For instance Ballard Memorial was 6-0 until they played Caldwell Co and Murray in back to back weeks. They got killed in both games. Paintsville was 5-1 going in to Fairview, who was 6-0. Paintsville got killed in that one as well. There are many more examples. This kind of talk is coming from someone who most likely won't understand until they play one of those teams that has played a tougher schedule than their beloved team. That is when they may begin to understand. I don't mean to sound like I am speaking down to someone, but that is just the way it is.

You're not listening. Can you LOOK at Paintsville before the game and tell they do not have the talent Fairview has? YES. Can you look at Ballard Memorial and tell they don't have the talent Caldwell and Murray have? YES! The schedule didn't make Fairview, Calwdwell and Murray have more talent. Schedule comes into play when 2 teams have similar talent. Hence you just proved my point that schedule is overrated.

[sstack]

You're not listening. Can you LOOK at Paintsville before the game and tell they do not have the talent Fairview has? YES. Can you look at Ballard Memorial and tell they don't have the talent Caldwell and Murray have? YES! The schedule didn't make Fairview, Calwdwell and Murray have more talent. Schedule comes into play when 2 teams have similar talent. Hence you just proved my point that schedule is overrated.

Collins last year came into championship game with no loses and thought they could beat or hang close to Highlands because of no loses. They could not tell they were not as good as at least 5-6 teams in the East. Just because they beat everybody on their schedule, they thought they were just as good as all the east teams. A tough schedule does not give you more talent but it does make your talent better!

[Poseidon]

SOS is important but it is more important to analyze what you do against that tough SOS. Taylor County has one of the toughest SOS in the state, but they are not competitive in any of the games, which leaves their SOS not showing the importance of a team that was competitive in the games against tough teams. I look at the competitiveness of a team rather than the actual SOS.

[Tommy2tone]

Know facts before you bring Collins into this. They lost 4-5 games last year against quality 6A teams. This year they are setting 7-2 with 2 losses to two undeafeated 6A teams and played those 2 till the last minute. Talk about things that are facts and NOT what you think of as having an expert opinion.

[FlippedOut]

Betsy Layne is likely to finish the regular season with only one loss, but it was the one game they had to win to make it a successful season. If you asked them would you rather be 9-1 and second in the district or 3-7 and winning the district, they would choose the 2nd alternative. A competitive schedule prepares a team for the tough games. A cup cake diet only makes you fat.

I agree to a point. But playing big physicals teams may get your players hurt. Must be competitive to benefit. My point is Middlesboro can not schedule Alcoa and get killed and say it will help us in the long run, it does not.

[Frozenbird]

Know facts before you bring Collins into this. They lost 4-5 games last year against quality 6A teams. This year they are setting 7-2 with 2 losses to two undeafeated 6A teams and played those 2 till the last minute. Talk about things that are facts and NOT what you think of as having an expert opinion.

Actually, the three losses (not including Highlands in the finals) were to:
Boyle County - 4A school, 2012 record 8 and 5
Eastern - 6A school, 2012 record 11 and 3
Bryan Station - 6A school, 2012 record 6 and 5

I would categorize Eastern as a quality 6A school last year. Bryan Station as okay. Boyle County is NOT 6A. Both of you appear to be incorrect in your "facts".

[Tommy2tone]

I know facts that when you are 4A and not playing down in class and up in class against teams that have winning records then it is quality opponent. Did I use the word supierer? NO. He brings up Collins and what he thinks.

[blue1424]

Collins last year came into championship game with no loses and thought they could beat or hang close to Highlands because of no loses. They could not tell they were not as good as at least 5-6 teams in the East. Just because they beat everybody on their schedule, they thought they were just as good as all the east teams. A tough schedule does not give you more talent but it does make your talent better!

I'm pretty sure that Collins had 3 loses coming into the championship game, and I don't recall anyone saying they would beat Highlands because they had lost 3 games? However, I do agree with everything else you have said. I think that playing a good schedule is very important, and I am glad that Coach Lucas at Collins has tried to schedule quality non-district opponents to make his team better.

I think a good example from last year would be Warren East. They were undefeated against a very poor schedule and thought they would easily handle a 3 loss Collins team. I think they found out when they got blown out 58-7 that their pitiful schedule made them think they were a whole lot better than they really were.

[khsgamenight]

I know facts that when you are 4A and not playing down in class and up in class against teams that have winning records then it is quality opponent. Did I use the word supierer? NO. He brings up Collins and what he thinks.

Um, just because a team has a winning record does not make them a quality opponent. And, I'm not sure if this is what you meant, because your statement made no sense whatsoever, but Highlands is not playing down in class. They are actually a 3A school playing in class 4A.

Side Note - That is the first time I have ever defended Highlands...I feel like I need to take a shower now.

[willseeuntheHOUSE]

Strength of schedule is another one of those topics that schools with more athletes like to use and talk about to run down schools that barely have enough true athletes to field a team,let alone a roster. Just like the issue of playing kids on both sides of the ball.

A lot of your mid-level coaches are good because they can take a few athletes in a school district (because that is all there is in that district-a few) and blend them in with a bunch of good ole boys and field a quality team. For some schools, to have just one D-1 quality player will be enough to make them competitive for 2-3 years. These coaches are good at what they do, actually MASTERS!! To have the luxury of multiple good athletes never comes available to these coaches or school districts. Believe it or not it has a little bit to do with genetics and social climate of an area.
As a rule , the people who continually boast about strength of schedule, don't have a clue the lack of athletes available to some coaches. The answer from these people is beef up the feeder programs, but true gifted athletes are not made in a feeder program. They are a product of genetics.
Injuries to some schools are a nuisance, but to others, it is a complete loss of the season. So the HAVES continue to enjoy putting done the HAVE-NOTS. All coaches want to play a reasonable schedule but by the time one factors in the unknowns of what teams will be like in a year or two (and travel costs for many schools) scheduling is difficult.

Also one has trouble explaining all the lopsided scores particularly this year. What has happened to all the competitive games???? Why does it seem there are so many of these games??? To look at the games one would think that there are only "good teams" or "bad teams". Where are all the in between teams??? Has the style of football (ie spread) created this enigma, meaning schools with a lack of several pure speedy athletes can no longer compete at the level needed??

[mysonis55]

First off you are wrong if you think the lack of talent is the reason Ballard Mem lost those game. They probably have more talent than Murray. They were just not ready.

[Pulp Fiction]

Um, just because a team has a winning record does not make them a quality opponent. And, I'm not sure if this is what you meant, because your statement made no sense whatsoever, but Highlands is not playing down in class. They are actually a 3A school playing in class 4A.

Side Note - That is the first time I have ever defended Highlands...I feel like I need to take a shower now.

:bigeyed: uke:

^
My reaction......

[mysonis55]

Now that's some funny stuff right there. That's why I like reading stuff here.

[sstack]

Know facts before you bring Collins into this. They lost 4-5 games last year against quality 6A teams. This year they are setting 7-2 with 2 losses to two undeafeated 6A teams and played those 2 till the last minute. Talk about things that are facts and NOT what you think of as having an expert opinion.

Ok Old age getting the best of me. I know there were one or two teams in 4a playoffs with no or 1 lose, maybe it was Russell co or Knox I can not remember without going back and looking Point is if you are 4a and playing bad teams in your district and play non district games against 2 and 3A teams, I just do not think it helps you. Good example is Simon Kenton in 6A this year. They play their average district games and then 2A and 4A schools. Their record looks good and their fans have high hopes, but come time to play tough 6A Louisville schools and they will not be ready.

[sstack]

:please:

Know facts before you bring Collins into this. They lost 4-5 games last year against quality 6A teams. This year they are setting 7-2 with 2 losses to two undeafeated 6A teams and played those 2 till the last minute. Talk about things that are facts and NOT what you think of as having an expert opinion.

Never said I was an expert, just love talking sports and made a mistake about something that happened a year ago. Why don't you try to enjoy discussions on here instead of being an ass every time somebody does not agree with you.

[Spirit100]

Um, just because a team has a winning record does not make them a quality opponent. And, I'm not sure if this is what you meant, because your statement made no sense whatsoever, but Highlands is not playing down in class. They are actually a 3A school playing in class 4A.

Side Note - That is the first time I have ever defended Highlands...I feel like I need to take a shower now.

nicker: