[whackem'n'stackem']

Dale has tried very hard to schedule teams like Anderson from Ohio. Unlike in Ky where a loss does nothing but hurt pride, a loss in Ohio can determine whether the Ohio team makes the playoffs because of the Harbin point system used in determining who makes the playoffs. Thus Ohio coaches are even more cautious in putting a schedule together than a lot of Ky coaches are. Most Ohio schools won't schedule a school that they aren't confident they will beat if they can avoid it. The large powerhouse schools in Cincinnati (Moe, X, Elder and Colerain) are more likely candidates than Anderson because they have big problems finding teams that will play them. Anderson does not. Thus it doesn't want to run the risk.

To the best of my knowledge, we are scheduled to play next year every school that we played this year as 2 year contracts were signed. That's the norm. I've heard rumors that Dixie is backing out of their two year contract, but that's only a rumor.

Dale will not back out of a contract unless he receives permission from the other team. He signed the contract and will honor it.

I also know that a couple of years ago Highlands and Trinity both tried in earnest to sign a contract (for the 09 and 10 seasons). Highlands had an opening in week 10, but T did not. T had an opening in an earlier week, but Highlands did not. Thus no contract.

Hopefully in the near future it will happen. With the Lou public supposedly now refusing to play T, it may be easier for Highlands and T to find a mutual open date and start playing each other regularly.

So the Harbin point system is set up to deter intra state rivalries? sad stuff.