District 6 Playoffs to Expand

[tubmill]

Keep the number of teams at eight. Just do away with awarding points for playing a team from a higher classification. That will level the playing field.

[Xylo]

In other words, punish the teams that play in tough conferences (like Richland and Carroll) and reward the teams that play in easy conferences.

[hilltoppanther]

This is really going to benefit a team like Richland whose entire schedule (excluding BC) is against bigger schools.

If Richland were to end up a 13 or 14 seed, I could see them knocking off and 3 or 4 seed just because of the competition they play against every week.

[tubmill]

Maybe the PIAA should solve the problem by expanding the playoffs to five classifications in football. The bottom line is that the teams that consistently do well at the district and state levels in Class A are either the teams that are at or near the top of the enrollment for that classification or are private schools. Richland certainly should be able to compete in the LH. They have the top enrollment in "A". In a sport like football numbers are critical in fielding a competitive team. Now I believe that playing a more competitive schedule can help you improve, but for what? You still won't beat the teams that have the advantages. This even pertains to "AA" The most competitive teams in District 6 in that class are FH,BM, CC, and Tyrone.
Coincidentally, FH is first in enrollment, CC is second, Tyrone is 4th, BM is private. If you check out the entire state this trend is fairly consistent. Maybe if we are really looking at having only the "best teams" compete for a district or state title, we should do away with ALL classifications and have ONE state championship.

[Gunner18]

so you want north penn and its 1600 boys or Pitt Central Catholic to be the only state champs? on the state level schools must play at or very near to their size. (notice i say at the state level, this does not count local levels where smaller schools ie bellwood, can easily compete with the bigger schools.)

[The Ancient Enemy]

What happened to the idea of 5 classifications? I thought this was a done deal?

[tubmill]

gunner,
Bellwood has an excellent program! However, for most years they have been one of the larger Class A teams as far as enrollment. It was not to many years ago that they were a AA school. I really want more classifications, so that the small schools can compete in football. My point was that number of students really does matter in fielding a competitive football team. Bellwood has 40 boys per class available to field a team. Laurel Valley has 23 boys per class. Think about how many decent athletes it takes to field a competitive football team Who do you think has a better chance in competing with a larger school based on numbers, LV or Bellwood. The LH folks believe their conference is better because of coaching and work ethic. LV has a great coach and a super work ethic (Ram Pride), but are up against it because of the small number of boys available. The LH conference is better simply because of numbers! The only small school that is able to compete in that conference is BC...I wonder why that is. The only small schools that can compete a state level on a regular basis are private schools. Scotland school has 12 boys per class to pick from....they must all be football players.
when I said to do away with all classifications, I was trying to point out that numbers do matter. I also believe that being able to draw from more than one school district, without moving up in classification does matter.
The PIAA needs to go to 5 or six classifications and ban the private schools from the bottom classification.

[Gunner18]

westmont is a small AA school that easily competes with the likes of johnstown and somerset (both AAA) schools on a yearly basis. heck even A richland gets in a win or two against somerset. size matters on a state level, NOT LOCALLY. ive said that a million times. you wanna know why that is? because the smaller schools work to build their talent (farmboys!!!!) where as the bigger schools just use the talent they already have (LaRod) who do you think works harder (physically) throughout their life, a farmboy from Forest Hills or a city dwellar from Jtown?

[TBone]

Wow!! Maybe Shade or Berlin, or Saltsburg need to enhance their schedule by playing Johnstown, Forest Hills, etc. Come on. Give me a school with 300 boys against a school with 80 anytime.

[hilltoppanther]

Gunner, I hope you aren't questioning Larod's work ethic!