Did you check out those 2010 playoff brackets? If so, is it just me or are those much more intriguing that today?
Whenever we make these splits/changes in classes, it can create opportunities for a class to get left very thin. One would hope if a team is dominating year after year, they would move up.
In 2002, Pahokee was in Class 2A. They were competing against the likes of Bolles, Chaminade, Madison County, South Sumter(who was strong back then), and Monsignor Pace. In 2003, 2A got split into 2A and 2B, and Pahokee went to 2B. If not for a 7-point loss in 2005, Pahokee would have the state record with 6 consecutive state championships between 2003-2008. Most of their playoff games during this span were not even close. In 2009, Bolles and Chaminade moved down to 2B, ending Pahokee's reign.
In the old days, things seemed to work on the honor system. Except for Class A, it was almost unheard of for a team to appear in 3 straight state title games. If a team was good enough, they would move up.
For me, anytime a team has won 3 state championships in a row or appeared in 4 straight state championship games in the same class, it's probably time to start thinking about moving up, especially in the lower classes. Either of those feats is pretty rare. No team in the highest 2 classes(at the time) has ever won three state titles in a row. The "problem" historically has been when you have a team(s) in the lower classes that is dominating and does not move up.
That said, Booker T would ideally already be in 5A. Both Chaminade and Cocoa will likely reach their third championship games in a row next year, so it would be nice if both moved up in class at the same time.
Some of what we are seeing today has happened in the past. Back in the late in the late 80's, Godby and Clewiston moved up to 4A, leaving Suwannee wide open to reel off 4 straight state titles in 3A. They won the 4 championship games by a combined score of 150-46.
In the mid 90's, 3A had a lot movement, leaving it weak and ripe for domination by Union County, who proceeded to reel off 3 straight state titles. As we have made more classes, the"problem" with the lower classes seems to be magnified. If we do not actively manage things, it may be a matter of time before we have another Pahokee.