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Happy New year to all. Perhaps the old saying it's darkest just before the dawn will come true and we will have an happy ending and bright future.

Well-summarized. And not only were state title games more competitive under Metro-Suburban classes, but the numbers also confirm that the earlier round games were more competitive as well. Sadly, fact-based decision-making does not seem to factor into FHSAA deliberations, nor does it seem to have an impact on this board. Why do games have to be competitive, as long as my teams win? Can't compete in the current environment? Drop out of the FHSAA or just drop football altogether. And when hundreds of teams leave the FHSAA, how is that going to promote high school football in Florida? The 25 teams left can play one another while the rest of the state yawns. Here's what's not happening in Florida... 1) end of transfers, 2) promotion and relegation, 3) separate public-private classifications. None of these are happening. Period. But when the FHSAA tries to apply a commonsense adjustment like Metro-Suburban, all the sudden, "it's not fair". Open Division? You can't force Chaminade to play Venice in the playoffs! But you can force Indian Rocks Christian (nothing personal) to play in the same class as Chaminade? (Oh wait, they could just quit football. So much for the life lessons of perseverance and commitment that football teaches). I hope my pessimism for the future of Florida high school is misplaced. Maybe someone will start looking at the big picture rather than trying to protect their self-interests. Maybe. My last rant of 2024. Sorry.

Not sure if anyone saw this article (it was in a variety of publications) on the point differentials between Metro/Suburban v the 'traditional' playoff system that we currently, and previously, have. I'm sure I'm gonna stir the pot on this again, but I think the data is worth some discussion. TL;DR: MASSIVE average point differential change comparing the two systems; a.k.a. less competitive state title games. Metro/Suburban system average winning point margin 2022: 11.86 2023: 14.75 Traditional system average winning point margin 2021: 19.7 2024: 26 Also, as a thought experiment, I took out Chaminade-Madonna's games since they are massive outliers in the data. That makes each one: M/S 2022: 8.71 M/S 2023: 8.86 Trad 2021: 19.5 Trad 2024: 24.5 Long story short, we had 2 years of just over 1 score games and now back to 3-4 score games. Another thing I looked at was how many game were a running clock at the end of the game. M/S 2022-2023: 1 Trad 2021 & 2024: 4 Shutouts M/S 2022-2023: 1 Trad 2021& 2024: 3 So, if you like competitive games, no running clocks, no shutouts, it's blatantly obvious which is better. Is Metro/Suburban perfect? No, nothing ever will be. Plus I always think I spelled suburban wrong. Did it lead to better football? Sure looks like it. As someone who has been involved with both Metro and Suburban teams that made it to state titles, it just makes sense from a football perspective. How does it not make sense? Well the article discusses it and if I spell it out that'll for sure get under some folk's skin, even if it is the truth. No matter what, I think we can all agree that a system where we have no idea how the points are figured is unacceptable and has to change.

Im surprised there is a mercy rule in championship games. Seems like there should be no mercy rule if you made it that far and you might have the firepower to actually come back?

I don't know the answer but would suspect that the same rules would apply as to the homeless. But in Florida today, does it really matter? They would probably get assigned to a school that was not at capacity.