Perspective

It was nice while it lasted. Well, perhaps "nice" is an overstatement. FHSAA terminates contract with Daytona to host large classification state football finals. Looking for a new site. Any chance FHSAA hits Orlando up with a late night text? "Yo, O-town, you up?"

Lomas Brown (as a D-lineman, before making his mark at UF and the NFL as an O-lineman). Miami Springs H.S. Coach - Buddy Goins

Alex Brown. Hamilton Co. H.S. (where he also played QB). UF, then drafted by 'da Bears.'

Col. Jessup may have ordered the Code Red but, at the end of the day, Private Downey and Lance Corp. Dawson still received dishonorable discharges. In other words, those who break the rules, even at the direction of their superior/coach, sometimes have to pay to price, as well. In addition to whatever punishment the coach(es) receive, I'd be inclined to suspend the players involved in the 'illegal practices' a game or two. However, I would allow the school to spread out the suspensions however they wanted over the course of the season so that NW could still field a (competitive?) team for each game of the season. And I'd make sure the suspensions follow the players if they transfer to another school. In fact, I think I might even double the suspension if a kid transfers, in hopes of adding a little disincentive to the decision-making process. Just my two cents.

Peezy, I understand your point, and I'm not going to debate it -- although I'm tempted. However, in the past, either the FHSAA or a particular county has been willing to punish kids for (perceived) wrongdoings, typically by ruling them ineligible. Think back to the kid(s) who tried to claim they were living in a particular district so that they could play for a particular high-flying team. When it was determined that they really weren't living where they said they were living, they were declared ineligible. My point is that it won't surprise me if the coaches get the lion's share of the penalties, but it also won't surprise me if the kids have to pay some small price for doing what they should not have been doing -- even if their coaches said it was OK.

I'm wondering if this is ColumbiaHighFan's great grandfather?

That dude's a Survivor!

Is this question missing a word (or a number)?

Darter, normally I would defer to your pick, but I'm going to have to go with Andra Davis. Suwanne High School. UF. Drafted by (and played most of his time with) the Cleveland Browns. Also had short stints with the Broncos and the Bills. But I could be wrong.

I'll save you the time Nolebull: 1. Lakeland fielded a team. First-year coach Bill Castle was able to get every kid in Polk County to play for the Dreadnaughts. But, back then, that was OK , since they were the only school in Polk County. The downside, however, was that the school was not yet integrated, so Lakeland went 0-5. 2. Plant also fielded a team in 1918. The prospects of a state championship were thwarted, however, as the County A.D. would not permit the team to cross over the County line to play games (with the exception of the one away game against a historically-strong team from Hawaii, but because Hawaii was not yet a state, the win for the Panthers wasn't factored into their RPI). Instead of playing teams from nearby counties, Plant had to play Hillsborough High School -- the only other school in the county at the time -- eight times. While the Panthers managed to win seven of the eight games decisively, they did lose one game -- the one that had to be rescheduled because of weather for the Saturday morning after the Homecoming Dance, when several Plant starters were forced to sit the bench because an administrator could not discern the differences between Spanish Flu symptoms and a hangover. 3. A small private school from South Florida knew they had to do something to overcome their Spanish-sounding name during the Spanish Flu epidemic, so St. Thomas Aquinas offered 'academic' aid packages to every kid in the state who was at least 6'2" and weighed at least 240 pounds and who could outrace the train leaving the station for the first 200 yards. The scheme proved successful and allowed STA to go undefeated (3 - 0) and claim the state title in 2A, then the state's largest classification. 4. STA's success, however, did not prevent a slew of teams from Central Florida from all finishing 0-0-5 and all claiming the mythical national championship. If you look closely, you can still see those national championship banners adorning the Orlando-area high school stadiums to this day. 5. A number of schools from Jacksonville and Miami named after Confederate War heroes reportedly had very successful seasons, but recorded history was wiped clean of these achievements just prior to Al Gore's invention of the Internet, so their success cannot be verified. 6. Finally, in the 1A Championship game, a bunch of farm boys from Madison County squeaked out a narrow win over a bunch of farm boys from nearby Columbia County amidst accusations that the Madison team really should have been in 2A. Madison officials refuted claims that they really had 1,800 eligible farm boys in their school by pointing to their one-room school house that could accommodate no more than 50 kids at a time. Well, that's all that I can recall off the top of my head.

Just curious, what, exactly, do you hate? That the coaches (allegedly) were breaking the rules? That the kids were doing something that they shouldn't have been doing (but probably felt obligated to do if their coach said it was okay/mandatory)? That they got caught? That the coach has been suspended (or fired, if you believe other reports)? Or is it just a simple hate of everyone being in this situation in the first place? Again, just curious. Also, just curious to know if there are people out there defending the coach (if, in fact, he was organizing/conducting unauthorized practices)? Trust me, I know that coaches and players want nothing more than to get back on the field and start practicing and playing.

OK, how about J.D. Jones, Wakulla. Back-to-back titles in 1980 and 1981. Final answer.

Hmm, Cox had more than 2 title game appearances and the only time he appeared in back-to-back title games, he won one ('74) and lost one ('75). This adds a new wrinkle. He may have had multiple title appearances and may have won one or more titles, but only appeared back-to-back once. At least that's how I'm interpreting the responses to the selections.

Badbird, help me out here. What do you mean by comical? Is it comical that certain schools/teams are practicing when they shouldn't be? Or comical that only one (or a small handful) of the offending schools have been caught and punished? Or is it comical because there are lots of schools doing the exact same thing that NW was doing (and that the school down the road from you has been doing)? Or are you trying to make the point that it was comical for the state and school district to put the 'stay at home' restrictions in place to begin with? Typically, you raise good points -- I'm just confused this time which point you are trying to make. Now, as far as NW is concerned, what's the likely end result? The school is able to find a new head coach and a bunch of assistants that can take the talent that's at the school and still make a state championship run? Or do all the NW players starting scurrying to other schools like rats abandoning a sinking ship? One here, one there? Or does a core group all end up with scholarships to a school like Columbus? Either way, some film crew needs to be down there now documenting this whole thing so that we have a new "Last Dance" to watch during the next quarantine.

If the third and fourth lines were combined into one and it said that this coach "led his team to 14 state title game appearances", you might be right.

Or have back-to-back title games (best I can tell).

So, what are the rumors?

My first thought was Billy Turner (Hillsborough/Chamberlain), but I think he only made it to the big dance once. All of the others that I can think of who have a stadium named after them won at least one state title. And based on the way the question is worded, it leads me to believe the coach in question made it to the title game twice in a row, but came up short both times. Hmmm, may have to do a little digging.

Gavin Dickey Tallahassee Lincoln UF; played 2-3 years behind some pretty good QB's, then gave up football to play baseball with the Gators.

James Massey. Jefferson County. Galen Hall. Immediately after this picture was taken, Massey went in for an emergency hernia surgery. Allegedly.

Darter, I hear what you're saying, but I was actually referring to the first game mentioned, in which Palmetto made the drive up to Tally for an early-season game. When it comes time for playoffs, the weather is usually a little cooler and the players are better conditioned. The long bus ride becomes less of a factor, in my opinion, but it still can have an effect on the outcome of a game. I know, I know, 'take care of business during the regular season' and you don't have to worry about long bus rides. At least in theory.

People continue to underestimate the toll that a long (4 plus hours) bus ride can take on young athletes - especially when gametime heat becomes a factor, as well.

TY for asking this one, Old School. I think I've got a pretty good idea who it is, but I'll give others a shot at it first.

I guess you just have to ask the schools and the players . . . knowing, of course, that you'll always get an honest answer from both.

Ernie Sims III North Florida Christian High School FSU (rated by some the number one recruit in the country . . . picked FSU over Florida) Drafted by Detroit, but played with a few other teams, too. As for the bonus question, I'll go with 4 (even though NFC didn't win a state championship his senior year). But, he probably won a medal in another sport like T&F that I don't know about.