Ray Icaza

Those talking about an "OPEN DIVISION" comprised of 24-32 teams are overlooking reality. As I have previously stated, it is my view that the top 10% FL HS teams (roughly 50 teams) tend to follow the rules with a few exceptions. However, when we zero in on the top 1% (roughly 6-8 teams) of FL HS teams they most certainly "RECRUIT". Thus, I fully agree with your take on an open division comprised of only those 8 teams, as only one of them would win the championship each and every year leaving the other 40 odd excellent programs to continually be second fiddles despite doing everything right. Also fully support having districts comprised of a minimum of 5-6 teams with fewer classifications.

What seems a bit troublesome about this, if I understand the charges properly they fined a school for "Recruiting" students that were already zoned to attend that school. Not sure that meets the goal of who they should be going after.

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They did manage to grab a couple of kids from our returning roster that were probably projected starters. One on the O-line and one on the D-line. Some players that we lose, you can find a pretty good reason for them to do so. These two, I see no upside for them in that program so it is quite puzzling.

But I thought the privates had no advantage over most publics. Based on your input, attracting players may not be a result of winning culture, tradition of excellence, coaching, blah, blah, blah, but instead "Athletic Budget"??? NAAHHH!!!

That wouldn't by chance be a private school that recently hired the coach from Leesburg who did the same there the previous year? Must just have the knack of "ATTRACTING" players.

Level of a teams competitiveness/proficiency has ZERO to do with their ability to identify right from wrong. Simply the old adage of attack the messenger rather than the message, sure fire sign of stupidity.

The most important question in your thread is "What's the Deal"??? That is the million dollar question with that position being so critical for a state championship run.

If you need further proof as to the level of unhappiness HS have with the new FHSAA re-districting plan simply check this article out about 8 Orange county schools opting to go independent instead. That is a pretty significant number. Orange County pulls football teams out of FHSAA districts (orlandosentinel.com)

Survey and comments by coaches paint a pretty clear picture. Hopefully if these changes aren't baked in yet the board will take notice. Thanks for the insight Josh.

Straight from the Bible is a strong argument ........1 TIMOTHY 6:10!!

Thought it would be appropriate to resurrect this thread from the archive regarding the transfer portal with this latest recruiting cycle wrapping up. Any thoughts this monstrosity would get better or that it was exasperated due to Covid or any other justification can now be clearly seen in the rear view mirror as not a plus for our HS athletes. They suffer the consequences unless they have a 4* or 5* next to their name and HS coaches throughout the country are clearly frustrated as it has gotten worse in the past year and a half with no light at the end of the tunnel. This "OPEN TRANSFER" concept at both the college level and HS level is a travesty with coaches at both levels declaring it the "WILD WEST" with little doubt NIL money is not limited to just colleges. Wondering who we can blame for this nightmare?

Interesting point that the Open Division won't be voluntary. Trying to read between the lines which aligns with my feeling that these guys aren't thrilled about having to beat each other up for the 1 TITLE!! They seemed perfectly content beating up on the little guys and prefer the status quo. Hopefully, this FHSAA board will actually do something meaningful.

My opinion is the roles are actually reversed as STA wasn't a force until the 90's (first title '92), but in the 3A classification as they followed the Bolles model of recruiting super teams. Once they started bouncing back and forth between 4A-5A where we were as well as Lakeland to become a force, the realization kicked in it was time to load up those Dreadnaught cannons. STA was 5A champ in '97, Osceola in '98 and Lakeland in '99 with STA champ in 4A in '99. So around 2000 is when this trend started gaining steam for them as well as some teams in SFL to not rely on a couple of transfers but multiple ones. This continued until judgement day in 2011 when heavy fines were imposed for this rule breaking and the slow changes that came about after that is now history. Privates started this mess, not publics.

And for those who are proponents of the relegation/promotion plan you can add a Gold Division for those ranked 33-64 plus a Blue Division for 65-96. So if you are in the top 20%, you get recognized with a playoff spot at your level. Then everyone can stop making excuses.

An Amen for trolling everyone?? If you truly wanted one champion you would leave the 11 week season (10 games) and after the 6th game, FHSAA would put out their rankings based on combination of MaxPrep poll and HS Coaches poll. That gets update weekly after that till season end and top 32 teams get in. That would get you to a championship round game in the 5th round just like today. Chaminade as the #! seed got Carrollwood Day #32 and STA #2 seed vs Vanguard #31 in round one, not the farce you described.

Simple math. A city of half million will have MORE kids that are tall, big, fast, strong, athletic, have the "IT" factor or any other meaningful metric than a city of 20,000. No one is assigning BLAME, it ain't the fault of Dade, Broward or Palm Beach that they are METRO's. Yulee now and then will produce a single Derrick Henry while Miami may produce dozens. Therein lies the difference and telling someone to just suck it up isn't a good argument. Curious to see if this open division can voluntarily flourish as I doubt the schools that are used to beating up on the little guys are itching for a fight with each other for a single state championship. Which by the way I support. Saying they play by the same rules is a pitiful argument also as I am as big of a boxing fan as a football fan which is why they have weight divisions, aka "FAIRNESS"!! It's like matching a heavyweight with a lightweight. Usually a predictable outcome.

You are probably right about that, but I think the determination and grit by Zander "INFECTED" the defense in the second half to take control and basically limit what Venice could do other than cheap scores at the end during garbage time.

Congrats to the Naughts. Venice came in loaded with offensive weapons. QB, wide receivers and terrific running backs to go along with an excellent offensive line...... basically an offensive Juggernaut. But like last year, the defense had no answer for a determined ground game. Despite playing without an effective QB ( ALL heart) in the second half that obviously couldn't throw a pass, simply ran it down their throat. Don't know what else to say other than admiration for the Lakeland squad for a total team win that most thought was not possible.

Both teams looked like state champions and the better team won. The Mendoza kid seemed to get the read option right every single time and though RB's may have not gained the yardage they are used to, he certainly made up for it. Congrats to your Explorers for a tremendous performance. To think Mandarin will have the Jones kid for another year certainly bodes well for them.

Both teams fought like champions last night and always tough when one has to lose. You are spot on about the QB for Mainland as we experienced firsthand what he could do and was certainly the main difference in our loss to them in the regular season. Both teams made some mistakes, missed field goals, and any other excuse one can make with difference being Mainland able to finish the job while St. Augustine did not. Congrats to your Bucs!!

Guilty as charged as I certainly did believe that TC should be favored in the game and was even more surprised by the lopsided score. As Darter mentioned, he was alone in his belief that Deland would win as everyone else put their money on TC which appeared to have been a safe bet. Obviously, the difference in the game came down to the trigger man in both running attacks and the Deland QB certainly proved to be much more dynamic than George Roberts. I was pulling for Deland so happy with the results and hope they can continue the momentum vs Venice. This will undoubtedly be a much tougher task but we have had some crazy results in the playoffs thus far.

Glad to hear that as your view is solid, though it probably won't prevent some nearby school in need of a QB to try.

You reckon they would be the only one??

You continue to confuse the argument by looking at the unincorporated areas (uninhabited) areas of our county (Osceola) with the center of our geographical area (Orlando). From Orlando to Port St. Lucie ... 125 miles as opposed to Deland 41 miles. Our news organization that follows HS sports is the Orlando Sentinel, not the TC Palm that reports on your geographical area. Hope that helps clear that up for you.