Forums

The Texas HS (Texarkana) performing arts facility looks better than most performance theaters you might find in a downtown metro area.  I'm not even joking here.  I just could not believe the facilities at this high school that I saw this week.  Considering that most local schools here in Pinellas County are run down, I'm all for increasing taxes for an upgrade.  We also have too many schools and seems like it would be more efficient to consolidate down to a few less schools but I'm sure there's a reason we didn't want 4-5k size schools in the first place?  This thread is about football, though, so circling back to that topic, the community support here is terrible due to no community identity as all districts seem to blend in with each other without any defining geographic borders.  In my county, only the wealthier, northern county schools seem to have a game atmosphere.  PHU, for example, despite not having any history or tradition of football strength, will bring more away fans than the home team to any game in south county where the stronger teams are.  East Lake HS, Tarpon Springs and even downtrodden Dunedin have far more community support than a team like Lakewood, Boca Ciega, St. Pete HS etc.   I grew up in Punta Gorda FL where the entire community goes to the game Friday night.  PG is one school, one city though.  That is the crux of the problem with most metro teams.

I taught/coached in TX for awhile. This is all true.  Smaller school districts, higher property taxes and a commitment to investing in youth (not just athletics...look at their fine arts facilities...the schools are immaculate) are the differentiators. 

I try to provide objective information from my point of view.  I guess there may be a little bias in that, lol.  Seriously, thank you.  I hope I live a long and prosperous life as well.  Things really come into perspective as I approach that half century milestone.  Sheesh!  Anyway, I have stated before that I know Lakeland, Polk County and statistics.  I rely on other knowledgeable posters like yourself to fill in the rest.    First, I'm going to say that the idea of competitive balance AT BEST is a cruel joke.  I honestly believe the notion of competitive balance is an outright lie.  There is nothing that can be done to resolve that outside of bussing "talent" to starving schools to equal the playing field.  In the example you cited using Miami Central and Brooksville Central in the same classification to show how screwed up competitive balance is in Florida.  You're right, competitive balance is a cruel joke.  Even without the current climate of open transfers, Brooksville Central or any Hernando County school for that matter historically don't have strong teams.  That is systemic to Hernando's football ecosystem in having players on a larger scale that can compete with neighboring counties.  Since 1963, Hernando County has YET to produce a team that made it beyond the 3rd round with most of their departures in the 1st round.  I can see the clear advantage Miami Central would have over Brookville Central.  However, the question I pose to you is does a class exist in which Brooksville Central has a fighting chance?  As I stated in my previous post, if the state were to undo open transfers AND go to one class, those schools that are at a disadvantage are free to leave the FHSAA.  As @nolebull813 would say, there are some schools that shouldn't play football and this is no exception.  However, if you are going to play football, then strap up and play football.  To your comment about having one classification would likely lead to 95% of the schools with no chance of winning a championship, how does that differ from today?  How many prognosticators predicted this year's finals?  Also, I whole-heartedly believe moving the 5% in a new classification will only breed a new tier of powers below that 5% threshold.  It will be the same vicious cycle and the same complaints will continue.  I hear what you're saying about the National Crooked Athletic Association and I agree with the remark that not are schools are created equally.  That comes down to money.  The more money and notoriety you have as a school, the better athletes a school can pool from.  Which reminds me, NIL needs to be abolished at the high school level.  Just my opinion.  Also at the high school level, until there's a universal player portal and rating system that can be tracked and assigned to select schools/counties based on player performance and athletic ability/potential, that would do a disservice to the entire state.  You're already telling these young men that you don't measure up when they should be afforded the opportunity to show was they can do where it counts; the classroom, the weightroom, the training/film room and the field.  However, the lessons learned from the trials are invaluable beginning with Team work and not quitting above all else.  Not every school or county will be proficient in football and no amount of hand holding, adjusting and balancing will change that.  That's where other sports come into play.  I have to believe that everybody is good at something.  Maybe not football... Regarding Kentucky, no disrespect to the Blue Grass State but it's Kentucky, and it's basketball.  Football reigns supreme and because of that, no one looks twice.   I'm always up for good thought provoking conversation.  Thank you for your insightfulness as well.

I appreciate the thoughtful, reasoned viewpoints you publish on this forum.  I wish the powers-that-be in the FHSAA had your passion and dedication to high school football. Several points of contention:  First, I hope you live a long, healthy, prosperous life, as open transfers are not going away anytime soon, because school choice laws are not changing any time soon in Florida.  That is just a fact.  It will never be "your 22 vs my 22"; it will be your school's kids + the kids from other schools in the county + the kids from the next counties over + the kids from across the state, vs my 22.  The fact that Miami Central (metro population = 3M) is in the same classification (3A) as Brooksville Central (population = 9,800) shows how screwed up the competitive balance is in Florida.  Putting all teams in one classification would likely lead to the 95% of schools with no chance of winning a championship in the first place leaving the FHSAA.  Why not just put the elite 5% in their own classification, and leave everyone else alone?  The NCAA realizes that all schools are not created equal, which is why we have the FCS, FBS, Division II and Division III.  Florida high school football is no different.  The only state I am aware of that has a singular state champion is Kentucky, and that is in basketball.  But no one thinks Kentucky is the toughest basketball state in the nation.  Maybe there are too many classifications in Florida, but going from 8 to 1 may be a bit too radical (for me, anyway). Well, again, I appreciate your creative thinking and maybe it will somehow rub off on those who can act to make Florida high school football better for all.           

texas- oil money, bond money, independent school districts, very high property taxes, middle school football(pop warner is before 6th grade football in most parts), all coaches are in the school district, UIL(the governing body of both athletics and academics) does not allow for off campus coaches, unless you are retired by the state of texas education. the indy school districts all pay the same state level teacher pay.  its their bonus/supplement that their school boards can approve.  so the 100k FB coach that doesnt teach, hes probably making 35k in a school board supplment.   oil money is there, but in the forms of a bond.  high property taxes, independent school dist personnnel ask the county to raise the property taxes for their zone, it goes to vote every year and it gets passed.  things like road construction, proper drainage in local areas, sidewalks, snow plows, are very scarce/poorly maintained.  but most of those school dist have a huge stadium with turf!   Football is the life of the communitiy, all over the state.  6 man, 8 man, 11 man.  an entire community shuts down and goes to the home game.  have seen some real interesting things go on during the times ive been out in west texas.  mojo football, just like the movie, is 100% real.  coaches getting fired for losing in the state title game.   be careful what you wish for, however.  you get local school board involved in paying coaches more money, dont you dare go 6-4 and not make playoffs.  why did we pay you an extra 20k?  not to lose to that bad school.