Perspective

Julian, no doubt the kid must shoulder his fair share of the blame, but clearly there are several adults - coaches, parents, administrators, etc. -- who also played a major role in 'costing the team the season.'

For what it's worth, in my experience, the FHSAA has a tendency to let things play out during the playoffs and then make final determinations/determine punishments once the playoffs are over (often weeks, sometimes months, after). It's as if they just hope the team that's going to get punished will simply lose somewhere along the way and then it really won't be a big deal. Occasionally, that team ends up going all the way, winning the title on the field, and then has to vacate the title (see Armwood a decade or so ago). Personally, I'd rather see the FHSAA take swift action (affording the parties involved all appropriate due process) so that teams in the early rounds of the playoffs don't run the risk of getting beaten by the team that gets punished. That's especially true the further we are along in the playoff process -- I want to see two eligible teams playing for the state title. But that's just me.

It's just been announced that TFA and Miami Central will play each other in the In-Ella-Ja Bowl.

Pretty sure we went with # 2 last year and I kind of liked the way it worked out. So, my vote is #2. One additional thought: since there are more games at the beginning of the playoffs, list more games to pick in the earlier rounds . . . that should also decrease the chances of having to rely on the 'higher seed' tie-breaker.

So, basically, all the "Friday night games" will be played on Thursday night this week, right? And will the playoffs start Friday, 11/15?

Good question. Last week I think they came out on Tuesday.

Dillard, as I just mentioned in the other thread, I don't think anyone can create an accurate projection until the new rankings come out later this week.

Unless someone has correctly figured out the formula,I don't think anyone can create an accurate projection until the new rankings come out this week.

I believe they would also have to argue substantial likelihood of success on the merits, which is going to be an uphill climb in a case like this. Not impossible, but very difficult.

Per the FHSAA Football Sports Manual: 4.7.2.2.1 Regional Tournaments 1A-7A (a) Playoff field will be made up of 32 teams in each class. (b) 8 Qualifiers in each region. 4 District champions and 4 at large qualifiers. Teams will be seeded 1-8 based on the final FHSAA MaxPreps Rankings. (c) Higher seed will always host in regional tournament except during the regional quarterfinal round where a district champion is facing an at-large team, the district champion is designated as the host regardless of seeding. Determination of a host school using these criteria is not absolute. In all cases, the FHSAA Office reserves the right to select an alternate site. So, to answer your question, it looks like the 8 teams in each Region get seeded based on MaxPreps ranking. Higher seed hosts unless an at-large team (i.e., a non-district champ) is playing a district champ in the opening round. In that case, even if the at-large team is seeded higher, they travel and the lower-seeded district champ hosts. After the first round, higher seed hosts regardless. Here (among other places) is where a team can get screwed: Say the top two seeds are both district champs, but the 3 seed is an at-large team. Then assume seeds 4 and 5 are the other two district champs. 1 plays 8 (with 1 hosting), 2 plays 7 (with 2 hosting), 3 plays 6 (with 3 hosting, because this is a game between two at-large teams and 3 is the higher seed) and 4 plays 5 in a battle of district champs. But despite winning their district, 5 has to travel because, according to some formula that no one knows or understands, 4 is ranked slightly higher than 5. I strongly believe that district champs should get the top four seeds and at large teams should get the next four spots. Will that result in games between district champs and "better" at-large teams? Absolutely. But, in my opinion, home field advantage should be awarded to teams that win their district until they play another higher-ranked district champ.

Did I just hear Lakeland snickering in the background?

Darter, you and Ray can both stop attending high school football games, but neither of you can stop posting and contributing to the discussions on this board. Nonnegotiable.

I asked the question half-jokingly in the prior thread, but for each kid who plays a game in that stadium, will that be considered an official visit? For many years, I was told the FHSAA wouldn't play playoff/championship games at a college campus or stadium because they felt like that showed favoritism towards that particular university/college. I guess they've moved past that concern.

Sadly, some school will give him another chance . . . especially if he can promise to bring some of those players with him.

Buchholz St Augustine Atlantic Delray Lake Mary Bishop Verot Cardinal Gibbons Dr Pepper Ely Nease Dunbar 7

Julian, if I understand the small print under the title, 7:00 tonight is the deadline.

Hang in there, Josh!

The prior Norland and Western threads appear to be locked . . . not sure why. In any event, it is now being reported that Norland will forfeit its game against AH and Western has to forfeit 2 games, all because of ineligible players. This will no doubt affect current district standings, but unsure how they will affect MaxPrep/State rankings. It would be pretty funny if the forfeits cause a team like Norland or Western to drop down to 7 or 8 in their region and, as a result, they end up having to play the Number 1 or 2 seed in the first round.

Apparently, you have to assume that every team in South Florida is cheating (at least every good team) and base your selections on which team is currently cheating better.

Monarch Homestead Naples Buchholz Orange City University Spruce Creek STA Madison County Osceola Eau Gallie Newberry St Frances Academy Evans Rockledge Lakeland Christian

Wow, I just can't believe that nobody predicted that would happen.

So, just throwing this question out there: which would make for a better game-day environment: (1) the game being played in a packed stadium of 5,000 people (knowing that another 1,000 people weren't able to get in); or (2) the game being played in front of a crowd of all 6,000 that want to attend in a stadium that holds 25,000 - 40,000 people? Obviously, the closer you can get to filling the bigger stadium, the more it would make sense to move venues. But, especially for a high school game, I'd rather see a sell out at the stadium of one of the two schools than playing the game in a stadium that has more empty seats than full ones. But that just may be me.

Northwestern Bolles Beachside St Augustine Madison County Niceville Miramar Dr Phillips Plant Sanford Seminole Piper Sebring Bishop Verot Mosely Manatee Miami Southridge Miami Norland Venice Ely Osceola

Unless it becomes a Pick 'Em game, in which event I have no idea in the world which team will win.