Post by whiteshoes on Nov 1, 2009 9:13:42 GMT -5
There is a notion amongst many who follow high school football in our state that our current all inclusive format is wrong, that it makes the regular season meaningless and that we should consider going to a "BCS" style playoff. To counter that argument, I offer two exhibits:
Exhibit 1 - Cincinnati Colerain. A powerhouse in Ohio, the Cardinals will not be particiapting in the Ohio playoffs this year due to the point system they use. Keep in mind that this is a team that would most likely win our 4A or 5a championship. Here is the situation. Colerain finished the regular season with an 8-2 record. Their losses came in their first two regular season games, 16-0 to Cincinnati St. Xavier (a team that gave Indianapolis Cathedral their only loss of the season and is considered by many as our best team) and 20-7 to Cincinnati Elder (ranked #2 in the nation at that time). According to the "computers", the strength of Colerains oppenents was less than Middletown's oppenents, the team awarded the final seed in their region. Middletown also had an 8-2 record but lost to Colerain during the regular season. However, one of Middletown's wins was against East St. Louis (IL), a team that defeated all of it's Illinois opponents. So basically, Middletown qualified for the tournament due to games played in Illinois. Sounds fair doesn't it?
Exhibit 2 - Pike Central Chargers. My beloved Chargers have won nine games in the last thirteen years. Without an all inclusive format they would have never experience post-season. This year the Chargers lined up against a team from "Evansville" which took on a David and Goliath aura about it. The Chargers played the "Evansville" team toe-to-toe until only a terrible call by a group of incompetent game officials denied them a win, but that it is for another post. However, even in loss it was a victory for the Chargers and gives the program some hope that maybe some day that elusive post-season win will come their way.
Now I will be the first to admit that our structure could use some tweaking, i.e., neutral site semi-state doubleheaders on Saturday afternoon would greatly enhance the tournament and hopefully the powers to be will consider such things, but to do away with the all inclusive format would be a major step backward.
Exhibit 1 - Cincinnati Colerain. A powerhouse in Ohio, the Cardinals will not be particiapting in the Ohio playoffs this year due to the point system they use. Keep in mind that this is a team that would most likely win our 4A or 5a championship. Here is the situation. Colerain finished the regular season with an 8-2 record. Their losses came in their first two regular season games, 16-0 to Cincinnati St. Xavier (a team that gave Indianapolis Cathedral their only loss of the season and is considered by many as our best team) and 20-7 to Cincinnati Elder (ranked #2 in the nation at that time). According to the "computers", the strength of Colerains oppenents was less than Middletown's oppenents, the team awarded the final seed in their region. Middletown also had an 8-2 record but lost to Colerain during the regular season. However, one of Middletown's wins was against East St. Louis (IL), a team that defeated all of it's Illinois opponents. So basically, Middletown qualified for the tournament due to games played in Illinois. Sounds fair doesn't it?
Exhibit 2 - Pike Central Chargers. My beloved Chargers have won nine games in the last thirteen years. Without an all inclusive format they would have never experience post-season. This year the Chargers lined up against a team from "Evansville" which took on a David and Goliath aura about it. The Chargers played the "Evansville" team toe-to-toe until only a terrible call by a group of incompetent game officials denied them a win, but that it is for another post. However, even in loss it was a victory for the Chargers and gives the program some hope that maybe some day that elusive post-season win will come their way.
Now I will be the first to admit that our structure could use some tweaking, i.e., neutral site semi-state doubleheaders on Saturday afternoon would greatly enhance the tournament and hopefully the powers to be will consider such things, but to do away with the all inclusive format would be a major step backward.