Hwy17

I realize that scheduling philosophies differ for schools in different situations; flexibility is certainly beneficial.  As far as 3 districts per region, the numbers currently support 12 districts of 5-6 teams each.  I would prefer more head-to-head district games to identify the most deserving playoff teams, rather than trusting computer algorithms.  As a side note, the districts in the larger classifications in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee generally have 6-8 teams.   

How would you feel about this for the classifications that “want” to have districts?  Since all of the larger classifications have roughly 64 teams, why not 8 districts of 8 teams each (some may have 7 teams, some may have 9 teams), 2 districts per region.  That pretty much solves the scheduling problem since you are generally guaranteed 7 games.  You could take the top 4 teams from each district into region playoffs or take the top 3 teams from each district with 2 wild cards per region based on FHSAA Power Rankings.  Head-to-head results ensure the most deserving teams make the playoffs, and commonality of opponents makes the power rankings more accurate for playoff seeding and wild card selection.  Not sure this would create any more travel issues than already exist.

Back to the topic at hand, why bother having districts if there are only 2 or 3 teams? Just go open class like the smaller classes have done these past few years.

Maybe but something has to give.  Hardee was one time in a district with Cocoa Beach so long trips for district play isn't unprecedented. Any district with Key West means a long bus ride.

Agree completely. Great post as always, HWY17!

I did that in one of the classes I did in my proposal and the FHSAA could have done it 
 
I have also continued to argue 1a (now 1R) should be divided as 2 regions not 4

Hear me out, playing and competing for a district champ as a means of qualifying for the playoffs is something I favor. That said, anything fewer than 4 teams in a district isn't worth having. IMHO 5 to 7 teams is ideal.  Back when I was in high school we had 8 teams in our district on only the district champ got to move on. With this new format I think we should get rid of them all together. If not, perhaps consolidate so there are 3 districts per region, which has been done before but some complained about travel. 

Back to the topic at hand, why bother having districts if there are only 2 or 3 teams? Just go open class like the smaller classes have done these past few years.

Combine the districts, 3 districts per region then.

Hear me out, playing and competing for a district champ as a means of qualifying for the playoffs is something I favor. That said, anything fewer than 4 teams in a district isn't worth having. IMHO 5 to 7 teams is ideal.  Back when I was in high school we had 8 teams in our district on only the district champ got to move on. With this new format I think we should get rid of them all together. If not, perhaps consolidate so there are 3 districts per region, which has been done before but some complained about travel. 

Hear me out, playing and competing for a district champ as a means of qualifying for the playoffs is something I favor. That said, anything fewer than 4 teams in a district isn't worth having. IMHO 5 to 7 teams is ideal.  Back when I was in high school we had 8 teams in our district on only the district champ got to move on. With this new format I think we should get rid of them all together. If not, perhaps consolidate so there are 3 districts per region, which has been done before but some complained about travel. 

I agree with most of your post, but not sure I agree with the complete removal of districts. They should be comprised of no fewer than 4 teams with the winner making it to the playoffs and the runner-ups having an outside chance based on strength of schedule and season performance. 

3 team districts are a joke and now we got some 2 team districts thanks to yesterday.  So you go 1-9 and qualified for playoffs? That's dumb. For the last few years the smaller classes didn't have districts so we know kinda how that can work in all classes. Let's get rid districts, play whoever you want or form a conference to have a title to shoot for. Determine playoffs by RPI, maxpreps ranking or whatever. May say you have to play at least half your schedule against teams in your own class or higher? IDK.  What's y'all thoughts?

He is also one of the "Promotion/Relegation" camp for winning teams getting promoted and losing teams demoted.  Simple math tells you over time in the 6 classification configuration, (outside of rural) the teams winning the 7 other titles in past years and other top contenders would eventually end up in one classification; at the most two.  So these considered "REAL" state champions would be reduced to winning 1 or 2 titles as opposed to 7.  The top 50-75 teams in the state would be beating each other up for 1 title or maybe 2.  The remaining 4 or 5 classifications of mediocre to lousy teams would win the championships for those.  His argument is heavily weighted on trying to insult the champions of the Suburban group as "FAKE" titles, while being perfectly content with 4 or 5 champions using this system rewarding mediocrity.  Seems a stupid argument.  I do agree that every district should be comprised of a minimum of 4-5 teams or do away with them altogether and come up with a formula for scheduling and ranking to reach the playoffs. 

That was the era where only the district champ made the playoffs, and Lakeland and classic-era Manatee shared a district. Manatee teams that won state titles (sometimes decisively) won tight district games over Lakeland to make the playoffs. At least once it happened on a Monday tie-breaker with Lake Gibson.

Good God, please don't tell me that Jesse and Columbia Fan are going to spend the next three pages of this thread arguing about whether Columbia and Madison are rivals!   I don't know if I can take it.   

If they are going independent put them on the independent list.  So now we are up to 3 schools they left off.  Sebastian and Liberty.  Why put out a list that doesn't include every team?  Don't you think it's important to get it right the first time?  How hard is it to double check the list and make sure you have all the schools and if the schools didn't fill it out send an email or make a call.  They missed teams last time they did this also.  I know Lake Minneola wasn't on the list last time.  It just shows complete lack of organization.  Don't rush out a half assed list.

Hi Perspective, 
They picked winners and losers. The suburban people created this garbage plan and then tweeked it to benefit certain counties . The plan did not care the effects on metro teams and counties that have very little recruiting or schools that do not recruit. The same teams will win state in suburban and metro just like always. I am sure that no school in the very populous county of Polk huh. Hitn ...the school that was busted for recruiting a few times and their nickname rhymes with said foughts. 

FHSAA should add Glades Central, Pahokee & Key West to those and have 4 districts with 5 teams each.

@Nulli Secundus 
Under the new classification plan, Suburban Class 2A is any school with an enrollment of 601-1442 that's NOT located in any of Florida's eight most densely populated counties.
The enrollment of the 17 schools mentioned by Hwy17 are:
• Avon Park, Enrollment: 902
• Bayshore, Enrollment: 1389
• Bishop Verot, Enrollment: 748
• Booker, Enrollment: 1293
• Clewiston, Enrollment: 963
• DeSoto, Enrollment: 1242
• Discovery, Enrollment: 881
• Estero, Enrollment: 1359
• Fort Meade, Enrollment: 781
• Frostproof, Enrollment: 1119
• Hardee, Enrollment: 1385
• LaBelle, Enrollment: 1368
• Lakeland Christian, Enrollment: 651
• Lake Placid, Enrollment: 827
• Lemon Bay, Enrollment: 1233
• Mulberry, Enrollment: 1215
• Tenoroc, Enrollment: 1073

@VeniceIndiansFootball North Port will be in Suburban Class 4A and Island Coast will be in Suburban Class 3A.
Also @Hwy17, Bartow and Charlotte will both be in Suburban Class 4A, not Suburban Class 3A.

We're not talking about you Jesse.

So far I've identified 17 schools that will be in 2A suburban class in my part of the state. Most of these schools are on par with each other. Will be interesting if the districts make this the same region.  Those 17 are:
Lakeland Christian, Tenoroc, Discovery, Mulberry, Frostproof, Fort Meade, Avon Park, Lake Placid, Hardee, Desoto, Bradenton Bayshore, Sarasota Booker, Lemon Bay, Bishop Verot, Clewiston, LaBelle, Estero.

So far I've identified 17 schools that will be in 2A suburban class in my part of the state. Most of these schools are on par with each other. Will be interesting if the districts make this the same region.  Those 17 are:
Lakeland Christian, Tenoroc, Discovery, Mulberry, Frostproof, Fort Meade, Avon Park, Lake Placid, Hardee, Desoto, Bradenton Bayshore, Sarasota Booker, Lemon Bay, Bishop Verot, Clewiston, LaBelle, Estero.

So far I've identified 17 schools that will be in 2A suburban class in my part of the state. Most of these schools are on par with each other. Will be interesting if the districts make this the same region.  Those 17 are:
Lakeland Christian, Tenoroc, Discovery, Mulberry, Frostproof, Fort Meade, Avon Park, Lake Placid, Hardee, Desoto, Bradenton Bayshore, Sarasota Booker, Lemon Bay, Bishop Verot, Clewiston, LaBelle, Estero.