Mainland coach has words for Osceola-Bucs 22-0

[Ray Icaza]

4 minutes ago, Dr. D said:

To clarify (see 2023-24 FHSAA Administrative Procedures, section 3.3.1.1.3), 4 district champs and 4 at-large teams are seeded #1-#8 based on the final FHSAA Power Rankings.  The higher seed will always host, EXCEPT in the regional quarterfinal round when a district champ is matched against an at-large team; in this instance, the district champ will host regardless of seeding.

Thus, University could be the #1 regional seed, despite DeLand being the district champ, and University/at-large would have to travel to #8 seed/district champ Osceola in the regional quarterfinals. 

Thanks for that and hope whomever we meet if we do win our district is a home game as we need all the help we can get. Got to find some consistent offense not so much next week against Toho, but versus those top playoff teams being we most likely would be seeded #8.  Wondering if our coaching staff is considering returning to a power running game, using another RB or WR in the QB role to share that load.  Interesting idea particularly in matchups where we clearly have an advantage in the trenches to run it straight at them.  

[DarterBlue2]

30 minutes ago, Ray Icaza said:

Thanks, as interpreting the language in the FHSAA site for a simpleton like myself is daunting.

 

10 minutes ago, Dr. D said:

To clarify (see 2023-24 FHSAA Administrative Procedures, section 3.3.1.1.3), 4 district champs and 4 at-large teams are seeded #1-#8 based on the final FHSAA Power Rankings.  The higher seed will always host, EXCEPT in the regional quarterfinal round when a district champ is matched against an at-large team; in this instance, the district champ will host regardless of seeding.

Thus, University could be the #1 regional seed, despite DeLand being the district champ, and University/at-large would have to travel to #8 seed/district champ Osceola in the regional quarterfinals. 

Ray, I stand corrected, a district champ would not host in the first round, if they were paired with a higher rated district champ. But you would host in the first round if your opponent was not a district champ regardless of them being seeded higher. It's a fine kettle of fish. 

[DarterBlue2]

2 minutes ago, Ray Icaza said:

Thanks for that and hope whomever we meet if we do win our district is a home game as we need all the help we can get. Got to find some consistent offense not so much next week against Toho, but versus those top playoff teams being we most likely would be seeded #8.  Wondering if our coaching staff is considering returning to a power running game, using another RB or WR in the QB role to share that load.  Interesting idea particularly in matchups where we clearly have an advantage in the trenches to run it straight at them.  

That's probably what they should do the rest of this year. Next year, once you have sorted out the QB situation or one of the kids makes substantial, rapid improvement, you can revert to what you were doing this year. 

[Ray Icaza]

24 minutes ago, DarterBlue2 said:

That's probably what they should do the rest of this year. Next year, once you have sorted out the QB situation or one of the kids makes substantial, rapid improvement, you can revert to what you were doing this year. 

If we can find a way to manufacture 3 TD's in most cases against playoff teams it would spell a win.  Looking at the games we lost thus far, that would have been enough to win over half of those.  Because regardless of our inability to do that we don't give up 40 points to any of those teams including this latest outing with Mainland who hangs 40 or more against almost every opponent other than Raines that held them to 26.  Regardless, something has to change to get this type of production.  Coaching staff surely realizes that this late into the season and I have confidence they will adapt as needed. 

[Perspective]

If you win your district, you should be able to host the first round playoff game.  Period. 

I know that the FHSAA rankings have not been updated yet, but here would be the situation in 4M, Region 2 if the season ended today:

The top three teams in the region are all in District 8 (Sumner, Riverview and Durant, in that order).  The 4 seed would be Olympia, the 5 seed Plant, the 6 seed Palm Harbor U, the 7 seed Plant City and the 8 seed Dr. Phillips.  As the top seed and district winner, Sumner would host Dr. Phillips, a district runner-up.  Fair enough.  The 2 seed and district runner-up, Riverview, would host the District 7 runner-up, Plant City.  Two non-district winners, higher seed hosts.  Again, fair enough.  In the 3 seed vs 6 seed match-up, the 6 seed and District 6 winner PHU, would host the 3 seed, Durant (another non-district winner).  Once again, fair.  Even though PHU is the lower seed, it hosts because it won its district.  But here's where it gets interesting:  the 4 seed and District 5 winner (Olympia) would face off against the 5 seed and District 7 winner (Plant).  Under the current system, and because they are both district winners, the 4 seed would host simply because they are percentage points ahead in a flawed ranking system.  Yet, the 5 seed would travel and the 6 seed would host.  Huh?

In my view, the FHSAA should go back to the system that was in place a few years ago:  The four district winners get the top 4 seeds (seeded per the flawed ranking system) and get to host the first round playoff game.  Then use the flawed ranking system to determine seeds 5 through 8.  Yes, there will be many time (perhaps more often than not) where the 5 seed (i.e., the best non-district winner in the region) beats the 4 seed (i.e., the worst district winner).  But the district winner should be rewarded with hosting at least one playoff game. 

[PinellasFB]

1 hour ago, Perspective said:

If you win your district, you should be able to host the first round playoff game.  Period. 

Agree but only because the rankings formula is flawed.  If the formula was a better reflection of a teams strength, then I would prefer the higher ranked team host a game because some districts are just terrible.

[DarterBlue2]

23 minutes ago, PinellasFB said:

Agree but only because the rankings formula is flawed.  If the formula was a better reflection of a teams strength, then I would prefer the higher ranked team host a game because some districts are just terrible.

There needs to be an initiative to put together bigger, more competitive districts.

[Dr. D]

Instead, we have a proposal by the FHSAA "Task Force" to do away with district games altogether.  Which means fewer common opponents (which the mathematicians say are needed to make computer rankings more accurate).  So the Power Rankings will be even worse than they are now!  Brilliant!

[DarterBlue2]

59 minutes ago, Dr. D said:

Instead, we have a proposal by the FHSAA "Task Force" to do away with district games altogether.  Which means fewer common opponents (which the mathematicians say are needed to make computer rankings more accurate).  So the Power Rankings will be even worse than they are now!  Brilliant!

It would be funny if it were not tragic. If no district games, why bother with districts, then? Positive change is always good. Change for change sake without thinking things trough or if it's driven by political considerations, often is only leads to a worse situation.

[AllOsceolaCountyFB]

Osceola is good better than the average teams, their offense will ultimately will kill them especially in the playoffs 

averaging only 8.3 points in out of district opponents

Beating St. Cloud and celebration proves nothing, i have no clue how they will fare in the playoffs but they have to do more than score 1 TD