[sstack]

1) Nobody is talking 4.3 speed. The only reason I used the 4x100 relay teams was soley for who is faster on average. I see you failed to answer why it's the case that most of Alabama (and, most all major football schools) skill kids. As a matter of fact, I roll my eyes at people on here who say that "Johnny" runs a 4.2-4.4. Are there some legit 4.4's (and, by legit, I mean laser/electronic timed)? Sure. James Quick is one of those and I'm sure, while he has great speed, is pushing more towards the 4.45-4.5 than 4.40-4.5.

2) Just because they come from unathletic parents, there are SOME exceptions to the rule (not insinuating that all people living in a holler or on the farm are unathletic, but the numbers show that your best football programs don't come from extremely rural communities, either. It's all about what's valued. Fact is, football, nor athletics in general aren't viewed in extreme rural communities like they are within the suburbs. Try to slice that however you may to fit your argument, but it's fact)


3) Nobody is talking chubby and turning them into skinny. I didnt think you would get my "ankles" joke. I was a chubby kid turned lean, too. I know many lean looking people who have thick(er) ankles and many a heavy kid with little ankles. Thick ankles= slow, not very good feet. There is a ceiling on those kids. Can they get better, sure. Is their ceiling a little bit shorter? Dang right.
(just bc you are heavier doesn't mean you can't have little ankles and/or good feet, many GOOD college linemen and all NFL linemen are proof of this. Being big is one thing. Being strong is another. Having great feet, though is what sets them apart..not if they are "cut".)

To answer you first question; when you go from HS to college you really cut down on the number of kids playing and yes a lot of the top skill players are black. But in HS, a team like Highlands does not have the D1 players but very good speed to win at the HS level.When going from HS to college to NFL you are taking the best of the best.

In response to you 2 statement; I tend to agree. Highlands does have the advantage of having 2nd,3rd, and 4th generation players of good athletes. Genes play a big part of their success.(contrary to what much of the state thinks is illegal recuiting).A lot of people who grow up in Ft Thomas move back to raise family here and continue the pipeline of good athletes.