Original plans called for a four-year alignment period, but the Board of Controls ─ after considerations and review of feedback from member schools throughout the state ─ ultimately decided on a two-year alignment as a means of “allowing for recent consolidations, mergers and growth school situations which would reveal a truer enrollment picture in the coming years.”

It remains to be seen how the new re-classification will impact area teams but it will be closely monitored by the KHSAA to determine the impact, officials say.

One of the biggest arguments from local coaches centers on the dilution factor.  Because of the expanded class system, several districts/regions have been shrunk to the extent that all teams will now qualify for the playoffs regardless of performance during the season.  Ultimately, this makes the regular season less important than in years past.

A good example locally is in Class 2A, where Holy Cross, Lloyd Memorial, Newport and Newport Central Catholic will automatically qualify for the playoffs.  To drive home the point: any team statewide in a four-division region can finish 0-10 during the regular season and still qualify for the playoffs.

“I can tell you the majority of the coaches in Northern Kentucky discussed it and were not in favor of it,” says Dixie Heights head coach Tom Spritzky.  “Maybe five (classes), but six is just too much.  Some classes will have 35 or less teams…it does dilutes things.”

Longtime rivalries, although the majority of the games will stay on the schedule, lose a big part of their significance with the realignment.  One case in point: The annual classic showdown between small-school powers Beechwood and NCC that typically were always for the local district title goes away, with the Thoroughbreds leaving Class 1A for 2A.

The biggest split came in the old Class 4A.  Dixie, Holmes and Scott will no longer be battling for a district crown against the likes of Boone County, Campbell County, Conner, Ryle and Simon Kenton.  The Colonels, Bulldogs and Eagles bumped up to 5A, joining former 3A titans Highlands and Covington Catholic.  The other five are now in Class 6A.

“The Board, along with the Football Advisory Committee, has worked hard on this alignment,” KHSAA Commissioner Brigid DeVries said at the time.  “Anytime you re-align, you do your best to maintain a global perspective on alignment and not get caught up in competitive ability or who is in what district.”

Final Football Alignment For 2007-08 Through 2008-09 Seasons

CLASS 1A

District-1-1- Ballard Memorial, Crittenden County, Fulton City, Fulton County, Mayfield

District-1-2- Beth Haven, Bethlehem, Caverna, Holy Cross (Louisville), Kentucky Country Day

District-1-3- Beechwood, Bellevue, Bishop Brossart, Dayton, Ludlow

District-1-4- Bracken County, Eminence, Frankfort, Gallatin County, Trimble County

District-1-5- Fairview, Lexington Christian, Nicholas County, Paris, Raceland

District-1-6- Campbellsville, Clinton County, Lynn Camp, Williamsburg

District-1-7- Cumberland, Evarts, Harlan, Hazard, Jenkins, Pineville

District-1-8- Allen Central, Betsy Layne, Paintsville, Phelps, Pikeville, South Floyd

CLASS 2A

District-2-1- Caldwell County, Heath, Murray, Reidland, Trigg County

District-2-2- Fort Campbell, Hancock County, Owensboro Catholic, Todd County Central

District-2-3- Glasgow, Green County, Metcalfe County, Monroe County

District-2-4- Bardstown, Danville, Fort Knox, Washington County

District-2-5- Carroll County, Christian Academy-Louisville, DeSales, Owen County

District-2-6- Holy Cross (Covington), Lloyd Memorial, Newport, Newport Central Catholic

District-2-7- Bath County, Morgan County, Prestonsburg, Shelby Valley

District-2-8- Corbin, Knott County Central, Leslie County, Middlesboro

CLASS 3A

District-3-1- McLean County, Muhlenberg South, Paducah Tilghman, Union County, Webster County

District-3-2- Adair County, Butler County, Edmonson County, Hart County, Russellville

District-3-3- Central, Elizabethtown, Moore, Shawnee

District-3-4- Henry County, North Oldham, Spencer County, Western Hills

District-3-5- Casey County, Garrard County, Jackson County, Somerset, Taylor County, Wayne County

District-3-6- Breathitt County, Cawood, Estill County, Fleming County, Powell County

District-3-7- East Carter, Lewis County, Mason County, Russell, West Carter

District-3-8- Belfry, East Ridge, Magoffin County, Pike County Central, Sheldon Clark

CLASS 4A

District-4-1- Calloway County, Hopkins County Central, Lone Oak, Muhlenberg North

District-4-2- Allen County-Scottsville, Franklin-Simpson, Logan County, Russell County, Warren East

District-4-3- Atherton, Breckinridge County, Fairdale, Valley, Western

District-4-4- Bullitt East, Larue County, Marion County, North Bullitt

District-4-5- Bourbon County, Franklin County, Harrison County, Pendleton County

District-4-6- Boyle County, East Jessamine, Lexington Catholic, West Jessamine

District-4-7- Bell County, Knox Central, Madison Southern, McCreary Central, Rockcastle County

District-4-8- Boyd County, Greenup County, Lawrence County, Rowan County

CLASS 5A

District-5-1- Christian County, Hopkinsville, Ohio County, Owensboro

District-5-2- Barren County, Bowling Green, Grayson County, Warren Central

District-5-3- Doss, Iroquois, John Hardin, Waggener

District-5-4- Anderson County, Grant County, Jeffersontown, Oldham County, South Oldham

District-5-5- Covington Catholic, Dixie Heights, Highlands, Holmes, Scott

District-5-6- Ashland Blazer, Bryan Station, Johnson Central, Montgomery County, Woodford County

District-5-7- Lincoln County, Mercer County, Pulaski County, South Laurel, Southwestern

District-5-8- Clay County, Letcher County Central, North Laurel, Perry County Central, Whitley County

CLASS 6A

District-6-1- Apollo, Daviess County, Graves County, Henderson County, Madisonville-North Hopkins, Marshall County

District-6-2- Central Hardin, Greenwood, Meade County, Nelson County, North Hardin

District-6-3- Butler, DuPont Manual, Pleasure Ridge Park, St. Xavier

District-6-4- Bullitt Central, Fern Creek, Male, Southern

District-6-5- Ballard, Eastern, Seneca, Trinity (Louisville)

District-6-6- Boone County, Campbell County, Conner, Ryle, Simon Kenton

District-6-7- Henry Clay, Lafayette, Paul Dunbar, Tates Creek

District-6-8- George Rogers Clark, Madison Central, Scott County, Shelby County