Wavebb

Last year, I told everyone on this message board that the Metro-Suburban classifications were a good idea for the High School Football Playoffs, and in the what else is new department, I was right again. Those two seasons, several of the state title games came down to the last play of the game. This season, not one of these seven games played at FIU was a one-score game, NOT ONE! I hope to see the open division idea that has been talked about in the future, but in the meantime, DON"T EVER DOUBT ME AGAIN! 

I sat on Chaminade’s side tonight to experience the joy of Chaminade’s fans to win another championship.  Not much joy.  Bored would be the overall reaction.  The Chaminade fan a few seats to my left was sleeping after a few minutes into the 3rd quarter.

I'm not a journalist and won't pretend to be.  However, it occurred to me just this morning that Friday's 5A semifinal matchups are a snapshot of what took place 19 years ago.
Four teams were on a collision course back in 2005, and those same teams are set to square off in 36 hours; St. Thomas Aquinas at Manatee, Niceville at Lakeland.  If you believe in the effects of planet alignment, then these games are not to be missed.
Lakeland, Manatee, Niceville and St. Thomas Aquinas combine for 30 state titles.  Considering that approximately 128 schools have AT LEAST one title to their name, that's highly impressive!  When it's all said and done, one of these teams will add one more title to their school's war mantle.
On the Line
STA - Unprecedented 6th title in a row.  No other school has accomplished this feat and if the Raiders go the distance, they will truly stand on an island all to themselves for the already storied program. Manatee - Return to glory and a chance to halt the Raider's potentially record setting season. Niceville - The Eagles have a chance to dethrone two-time champion on the road but will have to do so in a hostile environment.  Lakeland fans never forgot and you will be welcomed with the same atmosphere we were treated to in 2005. Lakeland - A chance to extend the Naughts' winning streak and chance at another 3-peat against the Raiders or long overdue redemption against the Hurricanes. This is probably the first time this season where I've been truly excited.  Good luck to all the programs tomorrow and travel safely!

It should be the 2 best teams. Manatee has had an atrocious playoff path. Their regular season left alot to be desired too. Lakeland and STA are by far the 2 best teams left in the class. Manatee is benefitting from one of the worst regions in the history of the FHSAA 

Funny, I always referred to my children as monkeys and did as well with my grandkids with no racial significance to the term.  We simply have gone off the rails looking for stuff that was never meant to demean.  The missing element, Common Sense.  

I can see both sides of this one.   Bottom line:  commentators needed to have a little more contextual awareness. 
That said, and having read many of the above comments before watching the clip, here's the way I heard the discussion:
Commentator 1:  There is a player on the field who seems to have a cramp.   Coincidentally (or not), the referees have called for a water break.  
Commentator 2:  Well, a water break won't help the dude who has a cramp. [As an aside, this is pretty well accepted science . . . the hydration needed to be before the game, if not the day/night before the game.]
Commentator continues:  He needs (or needed) pickle juice or bananas.   [Again, as an aside, I think pickle juice is generally believed to provide immediate relief for cramps.  I know I brought my share of pickle juice to 7 on 7 tournaments when my boys were playing.  On the other hand, I don't know if there is a consensus on bananas.  My understanding is that bananas are a great source of potassium, which can help prevent cramps, but I don't know if they can put a stop to cramping once the cramping begins.  But bananas are routinely provided to athletes in advance of competition and to runners before and during a long race.  OK, back to the exchange:]
Commentator [not sure which one, and playing on the common knowledge that bananas are a staple of the monkey/chimpanzee, ape diet] Well, you don't see monkeys getting cramps, now do you?  [As if to suggest that if the cramping player had consumed enough bananas before the game, he wouldn't be cramping either.]
The commentators then proceed to have a discussion about whether monkeys ever really do get cramps.  One of the commentators seemingly cites his wife as an authority on the subject and concludes that monkeys occasionally do get cramps. 
I'm old enough to remember when TV commentator Howard Cosell was fired after saying "look at that little monkey run!" Forget that he used to call his own grandkids "little monkeys," the concern was that he was comparing a black athlete to a monkey on national TV and for that, he lost his job. 
So, where do I land on this:  right where I started.  I don't necessarily see this as a racist exchange, but the commentators should have been more aware of the context in which they were making the statements.   Had the discussion taken place earlier in the game, as part of a larger discussion of healthy nutrition, and before an player of any race had started cramping, I don't think anyone would be saying anything.   But that's not what happened. 
 
 

Wish they would have come out with the new rankings this Tuesday like they usually do and then do it again on Friday with the reveal show. Some teams will have played two or even three more games than what was on the last rankings. With not knowing the formula it makes it tough to figure out if you're a coach trying to prepare.

Election distraction 

NW becomes the new favorite, barring any visits from the FHSAA…….

DarterBlue2... You will be sorely missed by our shrinking group of friends who meet yearly at the state championships.  Wishing you the best in your new endeavor.  For old time's sake... Wave Out!
 
 

DarterBlue2... You will be sorely missed by our shrinking group of friends who meet yearly at the state championships.  Wishing you the best in your new endeavor.  For old time's sake... Wave Out!
 
 

DarterBlue2... You will be sorely missed by our shrinking group of friends who meet yearly at the state championships.  Wishing you the best in your new endeavor.  For old time's sake... Wave Out!
 
 

I retired over 5 years ago. So, while I have worked on projects since then, I have been gloriously idle most of the time after having worked since I was thirteen as for me adulthood started in the small family business my mom ran in Jamaica. 
I am moving to Panama for the final chapters of my life. It reminds me of the Jamaica I lived in as a little boy before the island got dangerous in the mid to late 1970s. Sadly, I see some of the same flashing red lights here that I observed during my teenage years in Jamaica in the 1970s. 
As a retiree, I want to live out my final years in relative peace and quiet. I have never been a huge political guy though I have fairly strong opinions. I have not because I ultimately don't think that most politicians have the best interest of the electorate at heart anymore than CEOs of large corporations have the best interests of those that use their products or services do. Now in the case of CEOs, they don't represent us, so there's no particular fiduciary duty on their part aside from not selling us harmful products or services without fair warning that using them in the wrong way may be hazardous. In the case of politicians there is a fiduciary duty to at least, as far as is possible, reflect the will of those that put them in power. When the latter is not so, things tend to fall apart. 
I will have spent 41 years and 7 months in the USA before I depart. So, it will more likely than not represent the county where I have spent the greater part of my life. In my time here, I have found that I have been treated fairly by the great majority of those that I worked with, as well as those that I had personal relationships with. While I was not native born, I can say that this county has been an integral part of who I am as a person. 
I will miss all of the friends and acquaintances I have made over the 26 seasons I have been an avid high school football fan. 

God bless you DarterBlue. You’re one of the good guys on this planet. 

Boy, do we need more fans like you.  Good luck to you in the next chapter in your life and hope along the way our paths will cross again; I still owe you that beer.  As I have previously told you, my wife and I are currently looking at options for relocation which will end my involvement with Kowboy Athletics over the past 60+ years as a player, coach and fan.  I as well will certainly follow them from a distance, just won't be as plugged in as I am now.  The world keeps turning.  

A journey that began in late 1998, a year before Rick Darlington became head coach, ends tonight. I will attend the Apopka vs Wekiva game at Wekiva this evening with a somewhat heavy but also happy heart. Heavy because, a chapter of my life that's lasted 26 years is about to end. Happy because despite a very bad season this year, I have been blessed to be a fan of a team that made the playoffs 24 consecutive years and in that time period won three state titles from seven tries. While there are teams that have done better over that period, I can honestly say that it gratifies me that my beloved Blue Darters did it the right way.
If we win tonight and make the playoffs I shall not attend if we draw Venice. I can't bring myself to make the long drive for a game that we would have, at best, a 5% chance of winning. If we make the playoffs and draw a Tampa Bay area team, most likely Plant City, I will attend game one of the playoffs as the commute would be significantly shorter and Apopka, while it would be an underdog, would at least have better odds of winning.
In my humble opinion, the school's brain trust (coaches and administration) need to take a hard look at this season. For I believe that for the future success of the program some bold, hard decisions will need to be made. Regardless, I will always have a special place in my heart for the Apopka football program and though I will be far away, I will watch my fair share of games online from a distance. 
Go Darters, so long and fare well!!

DRV Pink Stadium would be perfect! In Broward and Inter Miami isn't playing. 

When Venice plays, there is always more questions than answers 

This topic gets a lot of attention on this board.   You can scroll back and see the discussions that have taken place. 
As for now, as I understand it, the only state championship site that has been announced is The Villages for the Rural classification.  The location of all the other state championship games in still "TBA."   (Because why would anyone need to know this before Thanksgiving?). 

I think the key will be Cocoa making sure that IMG doesn't get the names of the officials who called the Cocoa/STA game last year.  

Ely has been showing signs of returning to their former selves the past two years. 
I am glad for them. I know they are your rival, so I don't expect joy on your part. 

IMG has historically started really slow. 
 
They lost to Miami Central in week 1, and lost to Columbia and AHP in kickoff classics. 
 
Gotta get them as early as possible before the kids can memorize the names of their teammates 

Friday, Apopka at Tampa Bay Technical, Saturday, Seminole High vs Jones at Camping World (Jones's back yard). Next week maybe Madison County at Deland. 

Carter Smith could be playing MLB next year but opted for football.  As a sophomore pitcher, he was clocked over 90mph+ with his fastball.  Here in Lee County, we have plenty of great athletes.  Most people think of Deion, Jevon Kearse, Jammi German, Earnest Graham and Sammy Watkins etc.  But the area is full of talent, however, most don't end up at the same school.  

Three team jamboree at Bishop Verot Catholic High School, Fort Myers:  Verot 34 Columbus 21. ( Verot went up 27-0 to start).  Sarasota Riverview 14 Columbus 6.  Verot 21 Riverview 10.  Vikings qb, Carter Smith, is unreal.  All games were for a half.