I have a lot of respect for that great Venice program but having a coach of that team so heavily involved in the process pretty much ensures the rules will remain in favor of the all-star teams.  I would just like to see some proper boundaries in place.  For example, in-season transfers have to sit out the entire season under any circumstances.  Even if you allow something that makes sense like a foster home kid, I can see how that exception could be abused too.  I'm also in favor of an open division playoff but with one simple qualification category:  If your team received 5+ transfers in one year,  you are automatically bumped to this division.  That simple rule would completely fix the transfer madness.  A team like TFA, for example, would not care about getting bumped into that division because that is their mission to play a showcase schedule with their NIL mercenaries.  However, a team like Lakeland with a lot of home-grown talent, might limit itself to 5 or less transfers in.   Edit:  Re-thinking the foster home kid exception, I would be cool with an exception for "ward of the state" kids.  Their lives are hell enough so yeah, make them an exception.   Anyone willing to abuse the rules by making their kid a ward of the state intentionally will probably find a way around any other rule. Cheaters are cheaters.

Man, this thread still got me dyin' over here, noimsayin? I done read it three times now, laughin' harder each pass—like watchin' a drunk lady at the club try to line dance after last call. Back in the '70s, growin' up in the hood, we'd argue calls on the sandlot till somebody's mama yelled for dinner. But these grown-ass men on a message board goin' at it over refs high-fivin' kids? Priceless.   Shoutout to Coach Peacock—man straight-up OWNED that agenda like he was filin' taxes for the whole committee. Half the items got his name on 'em? That's not involvement, that's a hostile takeover! I bet he walked in there like, "Y'all can talk, but we doin' MY ideas." Respect the hustle, though. Dude's buildin' empires down in Venice—suckin' in QBs mid-season like Publix suckin' in old folks for that BOGO chicken tender sub. Transfers rollin' in from everywhere, band camped out in the endzone blastin' "Sweet Caroline" (or whatever) right when the visitors huddle up. Can't hear yo' own snap count over them middle school trumpets goin' HAM—intentional as hell, but "ain't against the rules." Classic.   Then this man turns around and drops a proposal 'bout playoff refs needin' to be neutral—no chattin', no high-fives, avoid that "appearance of impropriety." Bruh... the irony hittin' harder than the hangover I had after bettin' on the Dolphins last Sunday (lost a hundo, don't ask). Venice been servin' home cookin' so thick you need a biscuit to sop it up! That Lake Mary game? Refs actin' like they Lake Mary's long-lost uncles—high-fivin', callin' kids by name, penalties lopsided like my ex's alimony demands. And folks in Orlando swear you can't win in Venice without the zebras wearin' green and white under they stripes. Hell, that ESPN St. Frances game? Whole nation saw it—calls so slanted even Stevie Wonder was like, "Damn!"   Don't get me wrong, refs gotta chill with the familiarity everywhere. But Peacock pushin' this like he just discovered fire? Hilarious. It's like me complainin' 'bout a lady bein' too clingy after I done chased every stripper from here to Tampa. Pot, meet kettle—kettle, grab a mirror.   And that Cocoa game last year? Whew, them "no-calls" on the final drive... I had fifty on Cocoa coverin', thought it was free money. Nope. Home magic struck again. Drove home mutterin' curses, stopped at Publix for some comfort fried chicken—told the cashier lady my woes, she gave me extra pieces for free. Perks of the job.   Anyway, hearin' the FHSAA already droppin' big changes for '26—Open Division for the big dogs, fewer classes, all that. Wonder if any of Peacock's stuff made the cut, or if they just nodded politely and did whatever. I might throw a sawbuck on "Peacock gets one thing passed... the band volume limit" or somethin'. Anybody takin' action?   Y'all keep it comin'—this Florida HS football drama better than any soap opera. What's next, refs gotta wear blindfolds?

Yes, I was at the game. I am not saying they were the local association. I wouldn't have a way of knowing that one way or another. Yes, the penalty count was very slanted. It has been over a month at this point. But my recollection is that there was 1 single penalty walked against LM. And it was a false start on an extra point. I believe there was one offsetting penalty play. And one that Venice declined. The refs absolutely knew players and coaches on the other side. I am not all up in arms about it. I was over it by the time I got home at about 2 AM that night. It was LM's year. The way the championship game ended proved that. They are a good team.

These posts make my day; not sure what that says about my day-to-day, but got damn they make me chuckle.    Only January, but I think we are in Poster of the Year territory, noimsayin? 

That’s right. Stand down, Jambun.