Dr. D

Thank you for revisiting this issue, which should be of interest to those concerned about the welfare of HS athletes.  As to who/what to blame for this situation at the college level, go back to rule #1 - follow the money.  So, take money, greed, and self-interest; add in college athletic departments, TV networks, bigwig donors, and highly paid coaches; and you get the picture.  The transfer portal is just a tool to win sooner (theoretically), and while the 4* and 5* athletes are taken care of, the trickle-down effect is obvious.  In my area, I have seen athletes who in the past would have at least picked up low-D1 or D2 offers now get nothing.  I'm sure that is true throughout Florida.  Perhaps some of these deserving HS athletes will get offers in the February signing period. 
At the high school level in Florida, the "school choice" genie is out of the bottle.  And while one can hypothesize about promotion/relegation, transfer multipliers, separate divisions for recruiters/"cheaters", etc., the reality is nothing is likely to change given the current structure of the FHSAA and state laws.  Unless schools opt out of the FHSAA in mass, we are stuck with the current system, with dwindling interest, dwindling attendance, and a widening gulf between the "haves" and "have-nots".    

Thank you for revisiting this issue, which should be of interest to those concerned about the welfare of HS athletes.  As to who/what to blame for this situation at the college level, go back to rule #1 - follow the money.  So, take money, greed, and self-interest; add in college athletic departments, TV networks, bigwig donors, and highly paid coaches; and you get the picture.  The transfer portal is just a tool to win sooner (theoretically), and while the 4* and 5* athletes are taken care of, the trickle-down effect is obvious.  In my area, I have seen athletes who in the past would have at least picked up low-D1 or D2 offers now get nothing.  I'm sure that is true throughout Florida.  Perhaps some of these deserving HS athletes will get offers in the February signing period. 
At the high school level in Florida, the "school choice" genie is out of the bottle.  And while one can hypothesize about promotion/relegation, transfer multipliers, separate divisions for recruiters/"cheaters", etc., the reality is nothing is likely to change given the current structure of the FHSAA and state laws.  Unless schools opt out of the FHSAA in mass, we are stuck with the current system, with dwindling interest, dwindling attendance, and a widening gulf between the "haves" and "have-nots".    

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?

No, enrollment-based classification was used as recently as 2021, before the last two years of Metro-Suburban.  So we have complaints about Metro-Suburban, complaints about enrollment-based, complaints about mandatory district play.  And anyone thinks there's a chance of coming up with a system that makes 500 schools happy?  But I'll agree with your last paragraph. 

No, enrollment-based classification was used as recently as 2021, before the last two years of Metro-Suburban.  So we have complaints about Metro-Suburban, complaints about enrollment-based, complaints about mandatory district play.  And anyone thinks there's a chance of coming up with a system that makes 500 schools happy?  But I'll agree with your last paragraph. 

No.  However, going to one class in 2026 will be an eye-opener and blueprint for the nation.  We will get to see how many larger schools have no business playing football, and how many small schools punch above their weight.   

If they weight 1,000 pounds each 

No, enrollment-based classification was used as recently as 2021, before the last two years of Metro-Suburban.  So we have complaints about Metro-Suburban, complaints about enrollment-based, complaints about mandatory district play.  And anyone thinks there's a chance of coming up with a system that makes 500 schools happy?  But I'll agree with your last paragraph. 

No, enrollment-based classification was used as recently as 2021, before the last two years of Metro-Suburban.  So we have complaints about Metro-Suburban, complaints about enrollment-based, complaints about mandatory district play.  And anyone thinks there's a chance of coming up with a system that makes 500 schools happy?  But I'll agree with your last paragraph. 

Interesting question.  Would depend on how the FHSAA wanted to interpret their eligibility.  IMG was #1 in the MaxPreps Florida rankings at the end of the regular season, so that technically would have qualified them for the Open 8 as it was proposed. But IMG is listed as "Independent" in this newest reclassification, so the FHSAA could say that you have to compete in the state series to qualify for the Open 8.  So I think the FHSAA could manipulate the rules to exclude or include IMG as they desire. 

I'm not sure there are 16 teams capable of competing in an open bracket... maybe 5 or 6 teams could give it a good shot and have a chance of winning when STA and Chaminade are hurting from injuries or illnesses. Would the open include IMG?
IMG, STA, MC, AHP, and Chaminade would be the real contenders. Then you have teams like Lakeland, Venice, Cocoa, BTW, etc... that get hot some seasons that might get through a few rounds but then STA and Chaminade will always be waiting for them in the semi's...
justsayin.

That's pretty much how an enrollment-based system works. 

I wonder if STA, C-M, maybe AHP, have given any thought to leaving the FHSAA and just playing a national schedule, like some of the national prep basketball powerhouses do.  They could team up with IMG, CAI, Gorman, St. Frances, etc.  Might be cost-prohibitive, but maybe they could make it up with a TV contract.  Just a thought....

I think the original proposal included an 8-team Open Division for all the team sports.   I'd be curious if they consulted with the coaches in all these team sports, but this way the FHSAA can say they aren't singling out the football elite (even though they are).

That's pretty much how an enrollment-based system works. 

Better public schools, lmao!  

In case you want to see your classifications

https://fhsaa.com/news/2023/12/21/football-classifications-available-for-2024-25-2025-26.aspx

I saw a lot of 3 team districts 

My understanding is that the state legislature/government has made it clear that they believe in parental choice and that for those educational choice there should no restrictions. I am by no means an expert, but I am willing to bet if you asked the majority party this, they would give some sort of answer along those lines. 
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So the reason why I think we need a more radical change (than just one level) is a school like Freedom (Tampa). They are currently on a 28 game losing streak, MaxPreps says since 2004 they have had 3 6-win seasons, and 1 7 win season. In the Metro/Suburban, they are playing in 3S. In the new classifications they are 4A. Are they going to be competitive? Absolutely Not. So why have them compete at that level. Let them continue to move down until the expectation is that they are a .500 team year in and year out. 
I would say that every area has at least one team like Freedom (Tampa), some metro areas have 10 or more. Teams that their coaches are truly doing good work, because most likely not a single one of those kids will play on the next level and every coach knows that they are heading into a losing season.
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Look at  a school like Chaminade-Madonna in the current FHSAA reclassification, they will be in 1A!!! Cardinal Newman a top 25 school, lost by 40 to them. Is there a single school in 1A that could compete with them? Heck, if you took every good player in 1A and made an all-star team and competed against Chaminade, would the all-star team win? So if you are those other 60 teams, what end goal do you have?
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As for the optional Open division, no team that we all know should be in the Open division will choose to be in the Open division. I doubt teams would be willing to be that self-sacrificing, which is why the Open Division should be based not a single season of success, but constant success and should be mandatory. 

Still lots of 3-team districts in a 16-district model, so that's probably the one the FHSAA will go with.  Too bad an 8-district set-up won't be considered, but even a 12-district alignment would be an improvement.   Thanks for the work, Joshua. 

Still lots of 3-team districts in a 16-district model, so that's probably the one the FHSAA will go with.  Too bad an 8-district set-up won't be considered, but even a 12-district alignment would be an improvement.   Thanks for the work, Joshua. 

4. 10 years of high school coaching experience. Took a perennial 0-10,1-9,2-10 program and rebuilt it from the ground up.  I bring stability to the program.  I don’t move around. Coming from coaching in a community that has almost no youth football. Being able to teach the game and how to play it safely to the first year player as well as the seasoned player. 
 
5. I know a lot of coaches from being in the high school game for many years.  I have built relationships with a lot of coaches at every level.  I understand what it takes to coach a football team effectively. How to mix personalities and coaching assets for the betterment of the program.  I would interview the past coaching staff to see what they could bring to the table.  What they thought about the previous administration.  Good and bad and what they thought could be done to improve it. I would also research the program from the outside. See what others thought of it. Its strengths and weaknesses. On and off the field.  All of those would be a factor in the staff I would hire. 
 
6. we work 4 days a week in the offseason. I encourage players to participate in other sports.  The advantages of being a multi sport athlete help with recruiting as well as work the body in different ways.  Not all schools can have 4 day a week workouts because of player culture and outside influences.  Would have to study that and see if it could be changed.  But no matter what we would still work out physically and mentally with the kids who could participate. And hope that a little peer pressure and raising expectations can increase attendance.  
 
7. fundraising.  That totally depends on the schools culture and whether there is a booster club or not.  In some schools raising 50k a season is easy.  In others raising 5k is an issue.  There are so many avenues to fundraising it would be a studied decision based on the aforementioned factors.  But we would set lofty goals and strive to achieve them.  While trying to always give something back to the players from their efforts in fundraising (cloth etc)
 
8. 10 years of coaching contacts at the next level.  I have built relationships with numerous programs.  Not trying to oversell an athlete to a higher program that they can be successful at.   In my 9 years at my last school EVERY player who was looking to play at the next lever received an offer.  Not necessarily the d1 offer they thought they deserved.  But a good fit academically, athletically and financially.  
 
there is more that that even. But that’s a quick synopsis of my answers.  

Hey everyone!
Spent some time on this since the vote happened last week and I have projected out what the classifications and districts could look like based on the enrollment numbers from the FHSAA.
You can read more here: https://floridahsfootball.com/2023/12/19/projecting-out-the-2024-2025-fhsaa-football-classifications-and-districts/
 

I have moved on.  That being said. When you put 9 years of your life into something you kinda become attached to it. I’ll still be working there.  Have to see it and live it daily.  If you truly can’t understand that.  It was more than just a job.  

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.