OldSchoolLion

Here is the breakdown...the short answer, 4A has a lot of really weak teams, especially in the northern part of the state. Only two schools had really tough schedules-Edison and Booker T Washington-each playing a number of the south Florida powerhouses. Otherwise, none of the schools below had particularly tough schedules, ie no OOS games, substantial amount of games vs good larger schools, etc If they allow any more teams to migrate, this class could get even less competitive. Interestingly, 20 of 34 1A teams had winning records, versus only 15 of 48 4A teams. There are about 90 public schools amongst classes 1A-4A. About 40% have winning records. It would be interesting if you could split the 90 into 2 classes of about 45 each with the better schools in one class. Then use a relegation system where teams can migrate between the two classes as they improve or decline over the years. 2A and 3A are nearly all private schools anyway, so pulling the few public schools out of them would not have much impact. 4A North FL Andrew Jackson-8 losing seasons in a row; demolished in most games this season Atlantic/Port Orange-4 losing seasons in past 5; demolished in most games Fernandina Beach-no winning season in past 9 Gadsden County-no winning seasons in past 5 Interlachen-7 losing seasons in a row Keystone Heights- 4 losing seasons in past 5 Marianna-3 winning seasons in past 10 North Bay Haven Academy-no winning season in past 5 PK Yonge-has not had a winning season in past 10 Rutherford-8 losing seasons in a row Santa Fe-up and down record; got demolished in many games this season, including to 3A schools South Sumter-historically strong team; played challenging schedule, but not outrageous South Walton-up and down record Villages Charter-up and down record; very weak schedule this year Walton-up and down record; demolished by Port St Joe and Blountstown Wolfson-10 losing seasons in a row 4A Central FL Astronaut-4 losing seasons in past 5 Cocoa Beach-up and down record Cypress Creek-first season of football; got demolished in most games Lake Placid-7 losing seasons prior to this one Mulberry-9 losing seasons in a row Tenoroc-9 losing seasons in past 10 Umatilla-3 losing seasons in a row 4A South FL Bishop Verot-up and down record Booker T Washington-historically strong team; played brutal south FL schedule Coral Springs Charter-up and down record Edison-up and down record; played brutal Miami schedule Gateway Charter-no winning season in past 10 Keys Gate-4 losing seasons in past 5 Labelle-no winning season in past 10 Lasalle-up and down record Oasis-6 losing seasons in a row Pine Crest-up and down record

Hey Georgiaflyer, Gateway Charter is in the same region as Cocoa High(Region 3). Sorry to sound discouraging, but it is pretty much a given that Cocoa will win the region title until there is a realignment. This past season, Cocoa beat the second ranked team 62-7 in the regional final. As Darter mentioned above, Orlando Jones moved up to 5A. They were about the only team in the region who challenged Cocoa in the past. Jacksonville Bolles and Jacksonville Raines have been the favorites coming out of the north. Now that Bolles moved to 5A, Raines will be a heavy favorite to make the state title game unless they have a down year. Region 4 has the most depth. There are 5 teams in that region who have won at least one state championship in the past. 3 of those are from the Miami area.

Hint:all teams have not won a state championship. That would be too easy

Only 15 of 48 teams in 4A had a winning record. 15 of the 33 teams with losing records had 2 wins or less. So, nearly 1/3 of 4A teams only won 2 games or less. I just looked at 2A, 3A, 5A and 6A and it looks like a fairly even split of teams with winning and losing records. We know what happened to Booker T. I just randomly checked Mulberry. 3 of their 6 losses were to class 1A/2A schools. Thoughts?

Name at least 4 things each of these 37 football programs have in common? American Heritage/Plantation Astronaut Bartow Benjamin Bishop Moore Bolles Bradford Carol City Chamberlain Clewiston Columbus Coral Gables Frostproof Glades Day Hillsborough Lake Brantley Lake Wales Lakeland Leon Manatee Merritt Island Milton Naples Niceville Palatka Palm Bay Pensacola Pine Forest Riverview St Augustine St Thomas Aquinas South Dade South Sumter Tampa Catholic Union County Vanguard Wakulla

Viking or Wildcat fan? Used to live in Georgia. Have been to the Concrete Jungle.

Welcome! Where in Georgia?

"McMahon strongly indicated his league would require players to stand for the anthem and take a hard line against players who got in trouble off the field." ..would expect nothing less of McMahon to use politics to sell. 70% of NFL players are Black, 1 in 9 Black males aged 20-34 is incarcerated, on average an NFL player is getting arrested every week...and the answer of some is, we need a hard-line approach...instead of compassion, forgiveness, and spending a little of that $13billion in NFL revenue to help the communities from which the bulk of your talent is being drawn.

England is a country about the size of New York state and a population about 1/5th that of the US . They have two futbol (soccer) leagues-the Premier League being the more prestigious-with a total of 44 teams, versus 32 in the NFL. The fans are rabid and there are tremendous rivalries. 5X44 teams=220 teams Imagine having 220 professional football teams in the US. We have football-crazy states like Alabama, Mississippi, and South Carolina, that can pack stadiums at the college level, with no teams in the NFL. For a person at the University of Alabama (there is a rumor they like football there) to see the Falcons play, it is a 200-mile drive each way. NFL teams in SEC states-Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, New Orleans, Kansas City, Tennessee, Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa Bay The average price of a ticket to an NFL game is 4 times that of an average ticket to the Premier League game ($40 vs $160). And the Premier League has guys with $10million annual salaries like the NFL. Total cost for family of four from San Antonio to attend a Dallas Cowboys game: $1307 Average ticket price: $208 X 4 = $832 Food/drink at game: $50 Parking: $75 (It costs about $15 for parking to attend an upper echelon Premier League game) Gasoline: $100 (560 miles round trip) Meals: $100 (dinner night of game and breakfast next day) Hotel: $150 (It's 10 hours round trip on the road otherwise) Cost for family of four to attend an English Premier League Game-about $225 There is a good chance that an English pro futbol game is going to be within easy driving distance of wherever you live.

Wow, Louisville and University of Kentucky are both coming hard at talent in south Florida.

...appreciated comments. If what you say is true, it would be the MMA version of football. Although there are many more traditional artists than MMA practitioners worldwide, ask the US public about martial arts and the first thought that comes to mind for many is a couple of sketchy-looking guys in an octagon beating the crap out of each other. Many traditional martial artists do not like MMA because it glorifies aspects of martial arts that are not its essence. Similarly, a league such as what you describe, promoting violent hits, would make it difficult for the rest of football to move away from that image of a sport that is "unnecessarily violent."

I respect your thoughts Columbia. The "right" promoter is the key for football's future. With medical issues like CTE getting more and more press, and threatening the sustainability of the sport, we need a person who can walk the fine line between running a successful business and demonstrating to the public that we have the long-term health of players in mind. McMahon has a terrible reputation for caring about the health of his athletes. Drug use (steroids, pain killer addictions), mental health issues, etc have been huge problems in the pro wrestling world. The abuses of the past are coming to light now. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_premature_professional_wrestling_deaths McMahon is the last person I would want to be in the public eye as a champion for player health. As important is convincing insurance companies that football is on the right path. Even if he has found religion, he will never escape his reputation. We need a person the public can trust...someone who exudes humility and sincerity. That is not McMahon. If we do not get the right champion, I am afraid football will continue losing ground to its critics. Sure, a new league might create some new jobs in the short-term But those jobs will not a not make a significant dent in the statistics related to how few athletes make the pros We have some burning platforms to address now that those jobs are not going to address.

Football is in a fragile state now. I cannot see Vince McMahon doing anything to improve that situation...if anything, the opposite. According to Wikipedia, "As of 2006, McMahon has a $12 million penthouse in Manhattan, New York; a $40 million mansion in Greenwich, Connecticut;[99] a $20 million vacation home;[100] and a 47-foot sports yacht named Sexy Bitch.[100][101] His wealth has been noted at $1.1 billion." ...obviously driven by the buck. He helped turn pro wrestling into a circus freak show and pro wrestlers have been dying at early ages. Wonder why? He started a pro bodybuilding federation. That sport, too, has become a freak show. He has been tied to steroid distribution. Promoters like him push everything to extremes to maintain public interest and keep the bucks flowing in. They are more interested in appealing to the mainstream public(bigger audience = bigger profits) than the true fans. McMahon does not care about folks like us. He will make his profits and bail as soon as things start to fade, leaving the wreckage behind while he searches for his next gig.

Many people today are having to "reinvent" themselves from a career perspective because of outsourcing, artificial intelligence, technology changes, etc. Coaches are likely no different. Think outside the box. How I can add value recognizing my personal talents beyond the playing field? There are huge needs, ie kids are lacking basic mechanical skills, don't know how to manage home finances, etc. Our whole concept of physical education needs a revamp. Kids do not not how to defend themselves (with their bare hands). ...so many opportunities, but nobody is going to do the reinventing for us. What does the hs coach of 2030 look like?

...not sure if he has any tie to the school, but awkward nonethelss https://nypost.com/2018/01/24/man-planned-to-execute-neighbor-in-killing-caught-on-video-cops/

...interesting article that supports what you are saying. The affluent suburbs are a different critter. Imagine having 480 kids come out for football!! https://www.curbed.com/2017/12/12/16754492/allen-texas-high-school-football-stadium

I found this and thought I would share for others like myself who did not his history. Must be tough to leave your alma mater. Greg Jordan was born in 1969, in Florala, Alabama. He attended Blountstown High and played J.V football under Coach Billy Jones during his freshmen year. The team went undefeated that year with a 7-0 record. The next three years Coach Jordan started at QB on varsity under Coach David Pitts. After graduating in 1987 from Blountstown High, he moved on to play football at Valdosta State but due to a shoulder injury, his football career ended. Coach Jordan decided to go to Chipola and from there moved on to Florida State University and earned a degree in Physical Education

...must be pretty rough to keep your chin up as a teacher knowing the coach is making so much more money. In addition to CTE/concussions, these outrageous salaries have got to be a turn-off.to the mainstream public that is not football fans, especially the guy struggling to put food on the table. HS basketball is crazy right now, but at least it is not dealing with public perception of permanent injury issues, too.

Years back at a Manatee game, a kid on the opposing team broke away and was all alone racing down the field for a touchdown. The ref downfield blew his whistle and I guess the kid thought the ref wanted him to stop, so he did, about twenty yards from a TD. Everyone on the field just froze and started looking around like "What happened?" The ref walked over and took the ball from the kid. Turns out there was no penalty and nobody could figure out why the ref blew his whistle. When in doubt, keep going!

Florida and California are big football states, but public school coaches there make nothing compared to.... ...the rich-mindblowing numbers http://footballscoop.com/news/total-28-texas-high-school-coaches-earn-120000-annually-according-report/ http://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/sports/high-school/football/cost-of-winning-many-georgia-hs-football-coaches-making-100k-plus/77-39394654 http://highschoolsports.al.com/news/article/-6555916786341812140/alabamas-high-school-football-coaching-salaries-soar-past-120000-search-for-how-much-your-coach-makes/ ...and the poor http://www.stevenspointjournal.com/story/sports/high-school/2017/09/25/high-school-coaches-dont-make-much-money-but-thats-not-why-they-coach/691440001/ The average Ohio High School Athletic Association salary for Head Football Coaches in Ohio is $67K.

...kids from throughout Florida-nice FIU CLASS OF 2018 Position, player, height, weight, school QB: Caleb Lynum, 6-2, 195, East Ridge RB: Shaun Peterson, 6-3, 215, Nova RB: Demarcus Townsend, 5-10, 215, Naples Palmetto Ridge WR: Maurquel Dillard, 6-0, 185, Stranahan WR: Jordan Underwood, 6-0, 180, Apopka WR: Zahir Turner, 5-11, 160, Booker T. Washington TE: Sterling Palmer, 6-6, 235, Richmond (Virginia) TE: David O’Meara, 6-5, 245, Tallahassee Chiles H-back: Ivan Thomas, 6-3, 225, Miami Palmetto OT: D’Antne Demery, 6-5, 320, Brunswick OT: Lyndnell Hudson Jr., 6-6, 300, Brooksville Central OG: John Bolding, 6-3, 315, Spring (Texas) DT: Tayland Humphrey, 6-6, 350, Hutchinson CC (Kansas) DT: Teair Tart-Spencer, 6-4, 295, East Mississippi CC. DT: Kameron Burns, 6-4, 270, Crawfordville Wakulla DE/OLB: Joshua Sanders, 6-5, 225, Waxahachie (Texas) OLB: Rocky Jacques-Louis, 6-2, 220, Fort Myers Dunbar MLB: Donovan Georges, 6-1, 240, Champagnat DB: Jamal Anderson, 6-2, 180, South Dade DB: Shamar Munroe, 6-1, 190, Miami Palmetto DB: Jesson Walker, 6-1, 170, Rockledge

I know some folks in the trades who will absolutely bend over backwards for a kid who shows an interest. If you have a local vocational school, see if your school will bring them in to talk or give tours. There are blue collar folks making much more than college grads today. I had kids who hated math from a book, but loved it when they had a way to apply, ie carpenter math.

Mr Dan, I find it a bit ironic that you choose a word such as "clueless." You seemed to enjoy "putting things in my face" earlier by making bold statements such as, "Got that Oldschoollion ? The truth is a bitch..." In the world I was raised, that was offensive, especially coming from someone who doesn't even know me. I don't believe I have ever said anything to belittle you, sir. Turns out you had major egg on your face, Mr Dan. You could not even remember a post you made several months ago. I could have returned your favor with a big zinger, but I did not. Instead of apologizing, you made excuses about your age, Mr Dan. So Mr Dan, you wish others to be tolerant of you and an aging mind, but do not hesitate to make belittling statements of others. I respect your opinions and insist upon the same courtesy. If you cannot start communicating in a more civil manner, I will simply ignore you. That would be a shame, because you are clearly a very knowledgeable person and we could have some good discussions. And am sure you could point some things out I do not know or have overlooked. Concerning the best team in 2003...I really do not care about such debates. Have never been a big fan of such polls, for the very reason you mention. In Florida, there are numerous teams who could beat each other on any given night. All of the losses I mentioned were individual data points in painting a bigger picture. As best I can tell, Mainland never made it to a regional final until 1998, so I respectfully disagree that they have been an elite program for over 20 years. In my world, for a program to reach truly elite status, one must have many years of prior high-level success in the bank, and more than one state title, especially if they are a team that has been around for 30+ years. Programs like Aquinas, Bolles, and Lakeland come to mind. I think it dilutes the word "elite" by labeling too many programs as such. That is my opinion and I respect anyone else who thinks differently.

Completely agree badbird. And this is the problem. We have a system now that "requires" you to go to college to get a "good" job(or so we have been led to thinkl) or reach the professional ranks of athletics. We have narrow-minded companies who have bought into this concept of "you must have a college degree or..." We have high schools who are obsessed with getting kids into college because it makes the top brass look good. In the meantime, we have cancelled shop classes and our country is desperate for qualified tradesmen. In the past, the kids who were not rocket scientists went to trade school and could easily earn a livable wage. We have painted the image that these are "dirty, lesser" jobs, so can we blame the kids for not pursuing them? ANY kid right now can get into trade school and "get out" via that avenue if he/she has any level of drive. We simply need to guide them in this direction. The University of Virginia has a program today in which a kid out of high school can become a full-time university employee in their Maintenance Dept, with excellent benefits, $28k/year starting salary, and the university will pay for all of their 4-year trade school education. And being a university that prides itself on diversity, am sure they would love to get some of these kids from bad homes. How many high schools do you think are telling the kids about this? "Nope, my bonus is based on college admissions." This article is a great example of what is happening...truly scary https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/11/28/564054556/what-really-happened-at-the-school-where-every-senior-got-into-college On a positive note, it would be easy to turn this around. The challenge is the fight we will get from academia and on-line earning, who is making huge bucks off everyone who drank their kool aid.

I have had a residence in Virginia the past 10 years and follow hs football there pretty closely ...my thoughts on Oscar Smith, for what it's worth. Oscar Smith has a solid program. About 10 years ago, they got some press and were ranked in some national polls. But since then, they started branching out to play OOS competition and have been consistently blown out-see below. Even against in-state competition they have struggled to bring home hardware. Whereas Florida has several large, geographically separated areas, the vast majority of Virginia's population is crammed into a 200-mile stretch between Norfolk and the DC area. Imagine if all you had in Florida was the Miami-Orlando corridor with no Tampa, Fort Myers or Jacksonville. That is Virginia. As a result, the bulk of Virginia is rural and has really weak football compared to Florida. The state lacks overall depth of talented teams. Virginia football is light years away from Florida. I think Oscar Smith has been an overrated team(from a national perspective), at least by Florida standards. To be very honest, any of the top 50 programs in Florida could likely make consistently deep runs if they were in Virginia, especially in the lower classes. It is nothing like saying a team makes consistently deep playoff runs in the bigger Florida classes. Oscar Smith is consistently one of the top 10 Virginia hs football programs, regardless of class. If they were in Florida, I would put them amongst the teams in the #20-#30 category. Year-to-year, Florida's top 10 teams would routinely beat them. 2016 Dematha (MD) 42-7 2014 Booker T Washington (FL) 57-21 and lost 49-28 in playoffs 2013 lost 35-6 in playoffs 2012 Byrnes (SC) 42-21 2011 Gilman (MD) 51-27 2010 Pickerington Central(OH) 36-20