So, just to be clear, per the FHSAA rankings (that would have been used to determine the so-called top 8 teams that would have participated in the "Open Division" playoffs), the following teams would have been left out (because, according to the rankings, they were not as good as the 8 teams named above):  STA (who finished the season ranked 10th in the MaxPreps National poll), Raines (25th in the same poll), Miami Central (49th), West Boca Raton, Chaminade-Madonna, American Heritage, Lake Mary, Lakeland, Cardinal Newman, West Broward, Venice, Armwood and Edgewater.  How can the FHSAA say, with a straight face, that their system works? 

I agree that this is totally inappropriate.   The game officials should go out of their way to 'avoid the appearance of impropriety.'  A subtle nod of the head prior to the game would about as far as they should go.  Calling kids by name (even if they know the kid's name) and 'high-fiving' a kid clearly crosses the line.  The officials should have been smarter than that.  

Just read the agenda and I was right about the LM game.  It really did have a bad look.

Playoff refs are supposed to be from neutral associations. At least some of the refs at the Lake Mary/Venice games knew at least some of the Lake Mary players. Chatting with and high fiving LM players before the game. Several refs stayed after the game and were milling around the Lake Mary side. I personally have never seen this and have been going to HS games for decades. The penalties were very slanted at Venice in the game.  I think there was 1 late game penalty against LM other than an unsportsmanlike call that went against both teams. I am not saying there was problems. But several of us noticed in the stands. I dont even know if his proposal had to do with this game. But, it was weirdly obvious at that game. 

These are the 8 teams that would have qualified for the Open Division had the plan been in effect this season:  DeLand, Cardinal Mooney, Vero Beach, Buchholz, Miami NW, Mandarin, Carrollwood Day, Bolles.  Which brackets would have been devastated had these teams not participated in their assigned classification?  You could argue 2A, but the fact is that 7 out of the 8 state champions came from outside these eight teams.  Now if the "undisputed top 8 teams" were placed in the Open Division, you might have an argument; but this is the FHSAA, so - nah, you got nothing to worry about.