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Yes, it is difficult for Hillsborough County teams to clear significant travel (even in-state) with the local school board administration. It's probably one of the reasons Armwood has been pounded by Dade teams recently. In the early 2000s they held their own with the Booker T's of the world.

Oh ok i gotcha. After the new changes, North Florida has gotten more teams in the mix in 8A for this upcoming season. Hopefully that can continue as well.

Like to touch on a couple of different things I encountered in both Florida and Georgia regarding education. I moved around while in HS in the late 70's, my curriculum was all adv college prep. When I moved from Manatee County to Leon County...(mind you this is where the state capital is located as well as major public university), I went to 2 different HS - Rickards and Lincoln. Neither school offered a number classes I had been taking at Manatee, and I found I was way advanced in as far as what I had already learned at Manatee HS versus what was being taught at both Rickards and Lincoln. I basically went from middle of the pack in my nerd status at Manatee HS, to elite status in Leon county......It shocked me that there would be such a difference from one county to the next in the state of Florida educationally. Now I cant provide a current state of what the educational level is from one county to the next, but for me at that time it was eye opening! I moved to Georgia (early 90's), when my kids were in middle school and elementary school level. I moved to Clarke county within the city limits of the city of Athens. Athens is also the home of a major public university, when my friends would ask me what I thought about Georgia one of my commonly used remarks was....."well you have Atlanta and then the rest of Georgia" which I found to be incredibly rural. In fact if not for UGA being in Athens I found it to be no different from every other Georgia town. I again found the level of education to be lacking over-all in Georgia, compared to what I was used to in Manatee County. Teachers were however paid much better in Georgia than Florida. Regarding Sports and football in particular I found most counties outside of the Atlanta area to be one HS towns, which in its self leads to a high degree of community involvement because you don't have multi school diversion. I don't think at the time you didn't have the same level of state over-sight in Georgia as you had in Florida.......So communities had more autonomy over its county school operations than again what you had in state of over-sight in Florida...which could be a source of pay disparity for coaches in as far Georgia versus Florida. Growth over the last 10+ years in Georgia has really picked up, so alot of the long accepted norms regarding football might eventually become something that gets greater attention...particularly with those in Georgia's population that have migrated here from other parts of the country? I feel GA is over taxed as you have a state income tax as well as a sales tax that often times is on par with what you see in Florida.................I personally cant stand the state of Georgia and since I recently retired I'm evaluating where I want to go. My heart is telling me go back to Florida, but other than the Gulf of Mexico......Manatee County when I visit has changed for the worse......much worse in fact! Football wise Ive not been able to get into the HS football scene here at all.......maybe Im just way too biased about Florida to allow my mind to open to it. The Gwinnett area has put out its share of quality teams, Buford HS is just down the road from me. Clarke Central HS was still a state power in Athens with Billy Henderson coaching when I moved here......so its not because I dont have opportunities to see quality HS football..................something about Georgia in general just turns me off......if it hadnt been for the job I would have gotten out long ago..............again being retired now has allowed me to ponder my options.....I don't anticipate staying much longer.

Armwood vs North Gwinnett,GA Jones vs Johns Creek,GA

Before I lived in Georgia, I have to admit, I had this image of it being a very backward state. Boy, was I surprised on many fronts, ie education, medical care for the elderly, etc. I haven't lived there in many years, but am assuming they are still pretty progressive. What most impressed me is the genuine care they have for the well-being of the youth, especially in smaller communities. Hover over the bars of each state at the link for detailed information. http://www.governing.com/gov-data/education-data/state-education-spending-per-pupil-data.html

Georgia is relatively poor, poorer than Florida. But football, even at the high school level, has the ear of those that matter. It's reflected in attendance at games. So, that influence leads to coaches getting a much better deal. It is very hard for a Florida coach with an offer in Georgia to turn it down unless he is financially independent or is not motivated by money.

Gosh not the entire schedule, but this is getting me giddy about the 2019 season already and it is just Day 4 of the New Year... OH MY!!!!