HISTORY HUDDLE: FHSAA establishes the first rules for football playoffs (1963)

This edition of the History Huddle takes us to the end of March 1963. The Florida High School Athletic Association had just been established, and at that time, the FHSAA set up some rules for a football state playoff format. The state was divided into four classifications: Class AA, Class A, Class B, and Class C. The first state championship games were to be decided on December 6 and December 13 of that calendar year.

Newly appointed FHSAA Executive Secretary Floyd Lay was initially opposed to the idea of having a state football playoff and championship, as was his predecessor Lafayette Golden, but the FHSAA wanted to give the sport a chance. “I am in favor of the football playoffs as long as the FHSAA sees fit to sponsor them,” Lay told the Associated Press at the time of the announcement published in a variety of state newspapers, including the Tampa Tribune on April 1, 1963.

SETTING UP THE PLAYOFF FORMAT

The first playoff format featured four regional participants in the state playoff. The teams in consideration were determined by a point system based on wins. The teams were awarded 10 points for defeating a Class AA school. A tie with a Class AA school was worth 5 points. Four points were awarded for defeating a Class A school with two given for a tie. There were no points awarded for any school playing either a Class B or C school.

If there were schools tied atop the region, it was the principals of the schools in their respective regions that would cast a tie-breaking vote to determine the team that advanced. The sites of the playoff games were also determined by the principals of the schools. The Region I and IIII principals decided it in odd years while the Region II and IV principals determined them during the even years. 

BREAKING TIES IN SEMIFINALS AND FINALS

Breaking ties in the semifinals and state championships were also announced at the time. In the semifinals, the ball was placed on the 50 yard line with each team given four plays on an alternative basis. No kicks were permitted and whichever team advanced the deepest into the other team’s territory, wins the game. 

During the state title game, the tie was broken with the establishment of the 12-minute overtime period. If the score was still even after the overtime period, the teams were declared as co-champions.

In 1963, only the 2A Championship game was played, with Coral Gables coming away with a 16-14 victory over Robinson (Tampa) at Phillips Field in Tampa. The next year, both the Class 2A and Class A title games were played, with Coral Gables getting a repeat win over Robert E. Lee (Jacksonville), now Riverside at the Orange Bowl in Miami, and Wildwood getting a win over Columbia (Lake City) at Florida Field in Gainesville.