[Hoot Gibson]

Fly like a duck, your post said in the long version what I said; you never said the schools did not have the talent, you said that it is hard to get the kids to come out to play football. It would take a coach to come in and change that feeling about football in the school and community. Highlands football is successful because a ton of kids want to play from the time they are 4. Highlands basketball sucks, but according to your beliefs (independent school,large condensed population,good academics, ect) the should be good. The are not because there is little interest and very little off season practice by the ones who do play(one plays AAU ball). The dedication to football in Ft Thomas is crazy and people do not want to believe that. If the Highlands kids put as much work into basketball they would be winning regional titals. You do not see NKY people complain and want to make changes in the basketball format even though only 2 championships have ever made there way up here. We know why that is, more focus is placed on football. To win championships you have to have good coaching, but first it has to be something the kids want and willing to sacrifice to achieve.

Good coaching does not overcome logistical and demographic disadvantages of the rural county schools. Economically disadvantaged kids can walk or catch rides to and from practice in more affluent districts with greater population densities, but in rural areas that is not an option for many kids. I don't think many Highlands fans have a clue when it comes to what it is like to coach football in a rural county high school. There are some parts of Johnson County that are a more than 45 minute drive from Johnson Central, for example. Walking or car pooling is not an option for those kids.