DarterBlue2

Darn! Looks like Edison means business in 2017.

I see Brock scored a hat trick. Is he your best forward?

If that is so, it is a pity. I was looking forward to seeing DP vs the Bulls in week one.

That is a solid schedule.

I think he is talking about Orange City University, the best Central Florida team to not make the playoffs.

The whole thing is becoming such a crock. Here we have open borders beginning next season, but "recruiting" is going to remain illegal. With open borders who can stop recruiting? It is this type of hypocrisy that is slowly sapping the life blood out of America. Either we should not have open borders, or the whole thing should just be a free for all within the context of something reasonable like: a kid having to spend the year at the same school if he/she represented them in a fall sport (no intra year transfers, thus preventing the kid from playing football at one, basketball at another and baseball at another during the same school year). SMH. Stuff like this leads only to more sophisticated corruption; and too much corruption is the death of any civil society!

It depends. If it were clear that all four were state caliber, not so much. If the 4th was just solid, but not special, then yes, that would be a problem.

In larger counties this is not always the case. In Osceola County, there is an alternate school dedicated to the arts. Kids that go there don't have the benefit of a football program. So they would be allowed to play for a high school in the County that has one. Likewise, Hungerford in Orange County, before it closed, did not have a football program either. Two brothers that attended that school played for Cypress Creek in the early 2000s and took that school to the only playoff appearance in the past 18 seasons. Or, in Seminole County kids that attend Crooms Academy, which also does not offer football, would be allowed to play for their zoned school. In Dade County, Tommy Streeter attended Turner Health Care Academy which did not have a football program. He suited up for the 2006/2007 Miami Northwestern team and ultimately ended up in the NFL. But I see your point, there are other Public Alternate high schools in Orange County where the kids would not be allowed to play football. So, I guess it comes down to: what kind of alternate school this kid attended.

Mighty, how do you rate Dillard's chances of winning state? I see that three of your four losses have been to out of state teams.

Columbia, in Jamaica we say "the ball is round" when referring to any given soccer game. Translation: on any given night, any team can win. Will Columbia beat Fleming Island in a rematch? The odds don't favor it and you would be stupid to take a bet without a decent spread. Does this guarantee that that you lose to them in the playoffs? Absolutely not. Until the final whistle is blown you have a chance. Good luck the rest of the way. Even if you don't get out of district play, the team has had a good year.

Why? MNW has resurrected while Edison has not been real good in several years. In soccer maybe, but football?

The comments immediately above are fair, rational and reasonable. If there was an ineligible player, even if it not done intentionally, sadly, the offending team should vacate.

Sharkbait, I believe he is a senior. He is well know among the Columbia faithful; so it is pretty obvious he has had this passion for awhile. I tend to agree with you: he should follow his passion. It is a blessed individual that gets to get paid for doing something they truly like. Most of us just work for a living ...

Steelers are loaded with Florida talent!

Good win for Dillard!

How is the game going?

I see Columbia is still doing well. Losing to Fleming Island is no disgrace. They are good at soccer year in and year out. Watched Apopka take on Oak Ridge High tonight. Apopka led 2-1 fifteen minutes into the second half, then the wheels fell off and they lost 5-2. Oak Ridge has a lot of Zoe kids (Zoe boy will tell you what that means) with really great potential and great speed on their team. If more of them played club soccer, they would make a run at the 5A title for sure. Right now, they are good but raw, and probably make too many mistakes to go deep in the playoffs. But you never know, sometimes raw talent can get you a long way.

Miami Central or Carol City or American Heritage Plantation?

There is going to be chaos in the large, urban areas. At places like Columbia, not much different from what you got now.

You were my neighbors when I was growing up! Happy Independence and Happy New Year.

Exactly. It would end so called "non commitable" offers. Thus, if Mississippi is fine with me, and they make the offer, and I accept by signing during the designated early period, it is a done deal. The current situation is rife with opportunity for deception on both sides, but usually to the detriment of the more inexperienced party.

The short answer is yes, if it is binding on both ends. Provided no one forces the player to sign and he is fully aware of what could potentially happen down the road with coaching changes, I think it provides protection that does not exist now. I have seen too many players who though they were going to school X due to an early commitment on their part ... have that offer yanked late in the process ... and then have to scramble around late in the day ... just before ... or after National Signing Day. An early, official signing period would provide a measure of certainty to that player ... that his offer was a true offer. It would also reduce distractions in his senior year and force college coaches to put their money where their mouths are. Yes, there is the possibility that coaching staffs could change, or a bigger, better offer could come down the road to the kid's regret. So, in that sense, early signing would not be for everyone. But for a kid that pretty much knows where he wants to go, I think the benefits far outweigh the detriments.

Agree that there are intangible benefits to coaching that many jobs don't provide. However, in the real world of commerce in which coaches must survive, the pay, or lack thereof, means many must find other means to support their families. It should not be so. But then again, one could make a very good argument that from top to bottom, for the most part, teachers in the state of Florida get a raw deal across the board.

Mainland will have some big shoes to fill, but they usually reload well. A lot of talent in the area, and with the decimation of some of the nearby programs due to coaching attrition, etc., several kids choose to go to Mainland as they feel it is the best opportunity for them. Volusia County has always had liberal school choice rules, so that has never been a problem for them.

Merry Christmas!! I have much to be thankful for. At my age just getting through another year is a blessing!! Good luck to all this New Year. May the world be a better place!