Sounds like it was a "great" experience for Bracken County and hopefully Voice of Reason got to take it in and enjoy this format he defends and supports.

 

The game wasn't as close as the score indicated!

Sounds like it was a "great" experience for Bracken County and hopefully Voice of Reason got to take it in and enjoy this format he defends and supports.

 

Life isn't easy. I was thinking about this after this game. Everyone complains that we make it easy for kids today. That everyone gets a trophy. There was nothing easy about this for the young men at Bracken County. They knew what they were facing when they got ready for this game. We all learn (hopefully) from being challenged and facing adversity and we learn much more from experience than we do otherwise. The young men at Bracken County had an opportunity to learn on Friday and while it may not have been an enjoyable experience it was a learning experience.

 

I also will add that there are going to be lopsided games in every round of the playoffs. Lopsided games are not a reason to knock the playoff system. Any system anyone else wants to put in place will have lopsided, running clock games.

Life isn't easy. I was thinking about this after this game. Everyone complains that we make it easy for kids today. That everyone gets a trophy. There was nothing easy about this for the young men at Bracken County. They knew what they were facing when they got ready for this game. We all learn (hopefully) from being challenged and facing adversity and we learn much more from experience than we do otherwise. The young men at Bracken County had an opportunity to learn on Friday and while it may not have been an enjoyable experience it was a learning experience.

 

I also will add that there are going to be lopsided games in every round of the playoffs. Lopsided games are not a reason to knock the playoff system. Any system anyone else wants to put in place will have lopsided, running clock games.

 

VOR, you are bang on. I sat with the Bracken County parents at the game Friday night. Not because I knew any of them but I wanted to get their perspective on their program and how they felt about being there. They were all glad to be there and spoke glowingly of their sons and how hard some trained throughout the year. They spoke of hope in that there are increasing numbers in the ranks that will potentially play football in the future. They spoke to each other about ideas around recruiting and getting more people involved in the program and the strive to be part of a "community". They were proud to be there. I don't give a rat's posterior that they finished 0-11. They completed something together. Maybe they did not enjoy the outcome but they enjoyed seeing their kids play one more time. To me, there was more to the outcome for Bracken County than what the scoreboard said. We get so caught up in dealing with blowouts that we tend to lose sight of the big picture.

We get so caught up in dealing with blowouts that we tend to lose sight of the big picture.

I agree, the big picture is, a great majority of those players, if asked in private by a third party, would have said they did not want to play that game, but due to the fact their parents built it up, they played and even said they wanted to play even though in private those players probably told each other how there was no reason to play that game. It was even reported that some of the players fell down so they wouldn't have to be hit. I would also venture a guess that some of the Bracken County players even told some of the Beechwood players that they didn't want play this game, or didn't want to exert too much effort. I would almost bet the farm on that happening.

 

"Lose sight", I agree, the adults have lost sight.

I sat with the Bracken County parents at the game Friday night.

 

Which one, couldn't have been more than a dozen parents there. BC didn't even bring cheerleaders this year. If it was about the experience cheerleaders should have come and met/interacted with BWs.

 

One thing that hasn't been discussed it what it costs to host a playoff game. I think the home team pays for all the refs including travel fees because they aren't local. Also have to pay for transportation cost of the visiting team. I seriously doubt the gate covered the expenses friday. Should the host team be forced to incur a financial loss?

I agree, the big picture is, a great majority of those players, if asked in private by a third party, would have said they did not want to play that game, but due to the fact their parents built it up, they played and even said they wanted to play even though in private those players probably told each other how there was no reason to play that game. It was even reported that some of the players fell down so they wouldn't have to be hit. I would also venture a guess that some of the Bracken County players even told some of the Beechwood players that they didn't want play this game, or didn't want to exert too much effort. I would almost bet the farm on that happening.

 

"Lose sight", I agree, the adults have lost sight.

 

It is very nice of you to want to protect these young men from this experience. It is very thoughtful that you don't want them to face this type of challenge/adversity in their lives.

I agree, the big picture is, a great majority of those players, if asked in private by a third party, would have said they did not want to play that game, but due to the fact their parents built it up, they played and even said they wanted to play even though in private those players probably told each other how there was no reason to play that game. It was even reported that some of the players fell down so they wouldn't have to be hit. I would also venture a guess that some of the Bracken County players even told some of the Beechwood players that they didn't want play this game, or didn't want to exert too much effort. I would almost bet the farm on that happening.

 

"Lose sight", I agree, the adults have lost sight.

 

You are doing a lot of "betting" and "guessing" on this post which is fine. Players that wanted to quit on an 0-11 team would have quit much earlier in the season. Pro players fall down and run out of bounds so as not to get hit. At least, I "assume" they do not want to get hit.

Which one, couldn't have been more than a dozen parents there. BC didn't even bring cheerleaders this year. If it was about the experience cheerleaders should have come and met/interacted with BWs.

 

One thing that hasn't been discussed it what it costs to host a playoff game. I think the home team pays for all the refs including travel fees because they aren't local. Also have to pay for transportation cost of the visiting team. I seriously doubt the gate covered the expenses friday. Should the host team be forced to incur a financial loss?

 

Seriously, money is your rub? I do not see the athletic boosters at BW calling an emergency fiscal meeting any time soon to discuss the loss at a gate, if there was one. Some of the costs you mentioned would have to be incurred no matter who the opponent was. My point was made regarding the players completing something together and the hope of a community trying not to lose a program. Maybe they could not afford to bring cheerleaders but who really cares. Maybe they were away at a competition just like BW's band does and misses some home games. Some get what I was saying, some don't. Oh well.

It is very nice of you to want to protect these young men from this experience. It is very thoughtful that you don't want them to face this type of challenge/adversity in their lives.

 

You are doing a lot of "betting" and "guessing" on this post which is fine. Players that wanted to quit on an 0-11 team would have quit much earlier in the season. Pro players fall down and run out of bounds so as not to get hit. At least, I "assume" they do not want to get hit.

I have witnessed these situations and had players tell me the stories of the opposing team telling them these things. Let Little Ram weigh in and tell you what opposing/winless teams have told him.

 

Why do adults want these games to happen, when the players tell us they don't?

I have witnessed these situations and had players tell me the stories of the opposing team telling them these things. Let Little Ram weigh in and tell you what opposing/winless teams have told him.

 

Why do adults want these games to happen, when the players tell us they don't?

 

"What way are you going? I'll go the other way."

 

"Don't kill me, I'll just fall down when it starts."

 

"Well hell, this is just pointless."

 

"Why are we even here?"

 

"I hope you all beat Pikeville as bad as this game will be."

 

Must I continue?

 

I also think that OrangeCrush13 could also attest for this matter as well.

"What way are you going? I'll go the other way."

 

"Don't kill me, I'll just fall down when it starts."

 

"Well hell, this is just pointless."

 

"Why are we even here?"

 

"I hope you all beat Pikeville as bad as this game will be."

 

Must I continue?

 

Again, this is one specific example. Why are those players suddenly the voice for all players on all 4-seeded teams everywhere?

Again, this is one specific example. Why are those players suddenly the voice for all players on all 4-seeded teams everywhere?

 

That is a mixture of four different teams--JUST IN THE FIRST ROUND OF PLAYOFFS. Not to mention the regular season and second round.

"What way are you going? I'll go the other way."

 

"Don't kill me, I'll just fall down when it starts."

 

"Well hell, this is just pointless."

 

"Why are we even here?"

 

"I hope you all beat Pikeville as bad as this game will be."

 

Must I continue?

 

I also think that OrangeCrush13 could also attest for this matter as well.

 

I have literally carried on a conversation with a player from one of these schools ..on a punt return I just grabbed on to him and basically just talked about the weather and he told me "I don't want to be here at all." Trust us no one from those teams want to make the 3 hour drive to waste their time

I haven't chimed in on these conversations, but my view is when they show up for preseason meetings and physical, they know what they are signing up for. It's usually the same teams every year. I suggest if they don't want to play in those games, maybe they just shouldn't play at all.

I haven't chimed in on these conversations, but my view is when they show up for preseason meetings and physical, they know what they are signing up for. It's usually the same teams every year. I suggest if they don't want to play in those games, maybe they just shouldn't play at all.

 

Exactly. But why do all these adults want the games to take place? Like the thread I started, What is the benefit?