Leah Macy
- Thread starter Birdie King
- Start date
Well that sucks she will probably have the best game of her life every time she plays against us. Pretty much like all the Louisville volleyball players who go to other schools always have their best games against us.
Really a Bummer. I always heard she was a UK lean though. Obviously that was not
correct. We now have to get Johnson from Sacred Heart. She is top 10 nationally and is
right in our backyard, but I have no idea how she is leaning. She is a must get!
correct. We now have to get Johnson from Sacred Heart. She is top 10 nationally and is
right in our backyard, but I have no idea how she is leaning. She is a must get!
The thing about Notre Dame is they have championship talent players on their team. They don’t have a championship level coach so it doesn’t matter how much talent they have they are not title bound.
I too get frustrated when a local talent goes elsewhere, but I want to offer some perspective when it comes to WBB. Jefferson Co is somewhere around 17th in US city population, which should translate into an abundance of competitive HS talent, but anyone who follows HS sports in Louisville knows that is clearly not the case here.
Jefferson County Public Schools are a disaster in just about every respect. The reason that Sacred Heart and Assumption dominate Louisville Women sports (Christian Academy to a lesser degree) is not as much about their superiority, but rather a reflection of the obstacles that hinder the rest of the County Public schools from attracting kids to play organized sports.
Ever since Court-mandated busing in JC, HS sports in Louisville has declined precipitously. I grew up here in the 50s and 60s when Boys HS Basketball and Football were producing multiple kids each year who were capable of playing anywhere in America. Regrettably, the decline with the Boys affects the Girls as well.
I know that CJW keeps an eye on the local kids as much as anyone, but he knows that UL can and will compete equally against ND by recruiting with a more National HS focus, and using the Portal.
Jefferson County Public Schools are a disaster in just about every respect. The reason that Sacred Heart and Assumption dominate Louisville Women sports (Christian Academy to a lesser degree) is not as much about their superiority, but rather a reflection of the obstacles that hinder the rest of the County Public schools from attracting kids to play organized sports.
Ever since Court-mandated busing in JC, HS sports in Louisville has declined precipitously. I grew up here in the 50s and 60s when Boys HS Basketball and Football were producing multiple kids each year who were capable of playing anywhere in America. Regrettably, the decline with the Boys affects the Girls as well.
I know that CJW keeps an eye on the local kids as much as anyone, but he knows that UL can and will compete equally against ND by recruiting with a more National HS focus, and using the Portal.
I agree whole heartedly but another big problem is the KHSAA. They have a socialism type attitude instead of encouraging competition they have the everybody gets a ribbon mentality. I remember when Brian Brohm was a senior at Trinity and Trinity went undefeated.
At the same time Don Bosco Prep of New Jersey went undefeated as well. Both schools bounced around between 1 & 2 all year. ESPN wanted to have the 2 teams playoff and they would pay each school 3 million. The KHSAA said no they didn’t want the privates schools to gain further advantage over the public schools with more money or recognition.
You are also right about busing I remember when the public schools were equal athletically and academically. Busing ended all that and the quality in both athletics and academics dropped considerably. You are also right in regards to CJW has to recruit on a national level in order to compete at the level we are at right now.
I hate it when local talent leaves here to go to other programs like basketball and volleyball. I hope this doesn’t effect the recruiting of Johnson at Sacred Heart.
At the same time Don Bosco Prep of New Jersey went undefeated as well. Both schools bounced around between 1 & 2 all year. ESPN wanted to have the 2 teams playoff and they would pay each school 3 million. The KHSAA said no they didn’t want the privates schools to gain further advantage over the public schools with more money or recognition.
You are also right about busing I remember when the public schools were equal athletically and academically. Busing ended all that and the quality in both athletics and academics dropped considerably. You are also right in regards to CJW has to recruit on a national level in order to compete at the level we are at right now.
I hate it when local talent leaves here to go to other programs like basketball and volleyball. I hope this doesn’t effect the recruiting of Johnson at Sacred Heart.
Agreed Koz! We see this in the same prism. I love History, as it provides insight as to how we arrived at this place in time, and a good sense of where we are headed.
What the hell does Leah Macy choosing to go to Notre Dame have to do
with Jefferson Co. public schools. Absolutely nothing. She attended Catholic
schools (Mercy & Bethelem) I assume because her family is Catholic. That no doubt
played a role in her choosing Notre Dame. I don't see your point (if there is one) at all.
Reagen Bender signed with UL and attends Sacred Heart. Jeff recruits girls who attend
both private and public schools. So again, what's your point???
with Jefferson Co. public schools. Absolutely nothing. She attended Catholic
schools (Mercy & Bethelem) I assume because her family is Catholic. That no doubt
played a role in her choosing Notre Dame. I don't see your point (if there is one) at all.
Reagen Bender signed with UL and attends Sacred Heart. Jeff recruits girls who attend
both private and public schools. So again, what's your point???
It is about the local talent overall he just missed it. If you look at the Louisville men’s basketball teams in the 80’s they were loaded with local talent. Talent that could win National Titles. The population of Louisville has grown since then but the talent level has decreased.
JMS1947
As Bardman pointed out, my contribution was not about Macy’s decision to select ND, but rather more about the limited competition in JCHS.
Not intended to minimize Macy’s talent, or SHA’s overall team performance; however most of their success is measured in terms of JCHS competition.
Most Louisvillians who followed local HS sports dating back to the 50s and 60s will quickly acknowledge the decline in D1 talent since Busing was mandated in this County.
I wish Leah the best, but I am not sure that Jeff will not be successful finding an out of towner who will be just as good if not better than Macy.
As Bardman pointed out, my contribution was not about Macy’s decision to select ND, but rather more about the limited competition in JCHS.
Not intended to minimize Macy’s talent, or SHA’s overall team performance; however most of their success is measured in terms of JCHS competition.
Most Louisvillians who followed local HS sports dating back to the 50s and 60s will quickly acknowledge the decline in D1 talent since Busing was mandated in this County.
I wish Leah the best, but I am not sure that Jeff will not be successful finding an out of towner who will be just as good if not better than Macy.
Yes, I agree. Riding a school bus and/or attending public schools reduces your athletic ability!!!
Hey Leah, just remember there is something called the "Transfer Portal" ! 
You obviously have no idea the sacrifice it is for an athlete to be bussed from his or her school, eliminating the available time to practice after school.
You are grossly mis-informed. Students who were bused out of their neighborhoods
stayed after school ended at 2:20 and practiced like everone else. There were activity
buses that left those middle & high schools at 5pm and transported them back to their
neighborhoods. There were buses that ran after games as well. No one missed practice
time.
stayed after school ended at 2:20 and practiced like everone else. There were activity
buses that left those middle & high schools at 5pm and transported them back to their
neighborhoods. There were buses that ran after games as well. No one missed practice
time.
Believe me, it's probably the best thing she didn't commit to Louisville. She's been to three high schools. Her moms a teacher. When they don't like things at a school, she transfers. Let's see how long she stays at Notre Dame, or honor this commitment. Smdh.
To the contrary, as my information originated from several JCHS coaches who left the profession as they experienced insufficient number of players to compete equally with the parochial schools. Some tried driving kids home after practice, but that proved insufficient.
Your own post only adds further evidence of the adverse affect that Court-ordered Bussing had on JCHS sport participation, as special bussing arrangements was only one of the initiatives that school officials tried to encourage kids to play; excused absences from classes became a common practice; evidenced by the Seneca QB who originally signed with UL, before discovering the Senior was actually a sophmore academically.
There were several who have shared their experiences and their disappointment over the changes that have occurred as a result of the Court mandated bussing in JCHS.
Perhaps the very best authority is Bobby Redman, as I still see him every Sunday morning at Church. His career spanned decades, beginning with the time he started at the old Durrett High School, before finishing up at Male High School.
Your opinions appear to be rooted in a passion for HS Coaching, and that alone is worthy of my respect. We simply disagree on this issue.
Perhaps the very best authority is Bobby Redman, as I still see him every Sunday morning at Church. His career spanned decades, beginning with the time he started at the old Durrett High School, before finishing up at Male High School.
Your opinions appear to be rooted in a passion for HS Coaching, and that alone is worthy of my respect. We simply disagree on this issue.
Every great athlete that attended Male and played for Redmon was bussed to Male. I was still coaching track (1995 -2018) at Male while Redmon was there. There were no wholesale excused practices for any of Male's teams especially since it was a traditional school with a greater emphasis on learning than many of the other public schools. Talent ebbs and flows in Jefferson county in all the sports. A talented kid is a talented kid and their neighborhood does not matter. The only other variable is development through coaching. I saw more of a change in the kids when it came to work ethic and the willingness to take coahing and work hard for their goals.
Nice contribution Hi-Stepper, good points. I trust that you did not interpret my reference to CBR as one who side-stepped any rules, or took advantage of the system; as that would be furthest from the truth. Male’s Traditional School status would definitely qualify as academically advantaged, but it was also a significant advantage to attracting some of the very best football talent in Jefferson Co; evidenced by the number of Lobos who played in Hikes Point Youth Football, despite living outside the geographical boundaries, only to end up at Male HS.
Schools who won or competed for State Championships prior to budding (Valley lost to St X with Moorman and Lyons 7-6), or Butler, TJ, Seneca are examples of schools and communities that were victims of bussing.
Schools who won or competed for State Championships prior to budding (Valley lost to St X with Moorman and Lyons 7-6), or Butler, TJ, Seneca are examples of schools and communities that were victims of bussing.
I remember Butler, Thomas Jefferson and Seneca having State Championship caliber teams.
My response was not about any rules violation but rather about busing being the reason for the decline of talent in Jefferson county. When the city schools integrated, Black athletes as well as white ones rode the city bus to Male, Manual, Shawnee and other schools because many did not live in those school's neighborhood and it was your responsiblity to get to school and not the Board's. Then mandatory busing hit and the school board provided the transportation. Since busing, neighborhoods have changed and many of the organizations like Cabbage Patch, Red Shields Boys Club, the Presbyterian Community Center, Baxter Center and Optimist Clubs where many kids honed their skills against older and better competition to be able to play are now gone. The city park system has disappeared and was a place where many athletes developed their skills. Today development is mostly on an AAU, Club or Camp level. I think this is the reason for the ebb in talent in jefferson county and not busing . It takes money and parent time to participate at these levels.
I respectfully disagree Hi Stepper; I played at Seneca in the 1960s, and I recall the level of talent and the degree of competition at the other public schools like Atherton, Valley, Waggener, Southern, Thomas Jefferson, Butler, PRP, Eastern, Fern Creek, Central, Shawnee ............ all of which are either gone or currently dominated by the private schools like Trinity (after Flaget closed), St X, KCD, CAL, SHA and Assumption who have each grown exponentially, in part from parents wanting their kids to avoid JCPS. Traditional and Magnet Schools like Male and Manual are the very best alternatives, but regrettably they are limited in capacity to absorb the overwhelming demand.
Your point about the changes in the neighborhoods is a great example of how they are directly related to bussing, as the local schools lost their respective support, which in turn eliminated those very clubs that you just identified.
Let's be honest here, during busing primarlily white neighborhoods changed because of white flight. Black kids were destined to be bused for seven years while white kids were bused for only two years. This just distrbuted the athletes instead of Male, Manual, Shawnee and Central getting them all. Busing has absolutely nothing to do with genetics and inherited talent. How and where that talent is developed and honed makes the difference. The Housing projects, recreation centers and neighborhood parks where much of that talent grew up are no longer there not because of busing but Urban renewal and economics. Being poor or uneducated does not preclude you from having talented offspring. Generations grow up and they no longer remained in their old neighborhood. Look at the neighborhoods that were the feeder system for many of the great teams of the past. TJ & Seneca was Newburgh. Shawnee was the westend. Manual, the Fort Hill area and Smoketown. Male, Smoketown, California and College Court. Central, Russell, Smoketown and the westend. The Portland area feed the Catholic schools as well as the city schools. Busing didn't change these neighborhoods, they all remain primarily the same today.
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Very true. They certainly watered down my sport, track and field. IMO there is an anti Jefferson County/Louisville bias in the state as well as within the KSHAA.
HiStepper
Much of your post is making my point; specifically that bussing prompted the very changes in the neighborhoods (white flight) and the decline in so many of those schools being competitive. The consequences of bussing went far beyond its well-intentioned purpose of integrating the schools. It not only resulted in a reduction in the number of kids of color advancing to D1 colleges level; it reduced the number of white kids as well. The Archdiocese was affected too, closing Catholic grade schools that served as huge developmental resources for young athletes.
Allow me to give you just one example that I experienced first hand, that I believe occurred at many neighborhoods and schools in and around JC.
Alan Hennessy, Dicky Lions, Phil Thompson all grew up within a “stone’s throw” of each other, each are white, each played on State Championship football teams (St X, Seneca and Trinity) and each earned major D1 college scholarships. Some played at different times, but each competed before bussing changed the neighborhoods. I am confident that if you go back there now, or to the neighborhoods of so many of the other JC schools; you would be hard pressed to find any significant number of athletes matching the aforementioned.
Again, despite the increased population of JC since the 60s and early 70s ….. I believe our community has seen a precipitous decline in the number of JCHS athletes earning major D1 College Scholarships. In fairness I do not have any statistics to support that belief, but having followed HS sports for so long, I do not see JC being regarded as much today as yesterday.
U of L Basketball use to thrive on JCHS talent as PRP, Central, Seneca, Male, Ballard, Westport, Manual, Moore, Trinity, St X, Doss, Flaget were each producing kids capable of scholarship from most all major D1 schools …..not so much now.
I was a freshman at Trinity when Alan Hennessy was a Senior and led Trinity to their first title in 1968. We played Seneca for the State Title and won. Seneca was very talented and had a defensive player who was all state. I think his name was Bishop the guy was a beast. The Seneca coach was Cain he was a really good coach.
The state of high school athletics in Kentucky Is really disappointing. It has gotten so bad that Trinity went to a national schedule to play some of the best teams in the country. Trinity now plays only 4 schools from Kentucky and those are the 4 schools they have to play to qualify for the state playoffs.
The KHSAA and the state government has really messed up the athletic programs at the high schools. It is a shame because so many kids have missed out on athletic scholarships to college.
The state of high school athletics in Kentucky Is really disappointing. It has gotten so bad that Trinity went to a national schedule to play some of the best teams in the country. Trinity now plays only 4 schools from Kentucky and those are the 4 schools they have to play to qualify for the state playoffs.
The KHSAA and the state government has really messed up the athletic programs at the high schools. It is a shame because so many kids have missed out on athletic scholarships to college.
Your memory is perfect Kosmas! I graduated in 67 from Seneca, and I remember playing in the neighborhood with Alan as far back as when he was at St Pius. Daryl Bishop is who you were thinking of, and he went on to play at UK. Hennessy played his college at GT.
Ron Cain's was a "living legend" during his time at Seneca; most intense teacher/coach that I ever had.
Ron Cain's was a "living legend" during his time at Seneca; most intense teacher/coach that I ever had.
