National article about quality of teams making the playoffs

[FanofMany]

This came across my yahoo news links. Article titled:

 

"Your School Lost Every Game? Hey, Better Luck in the Postseason"

 

LOGANSPORT, La. — The Louisiana high school football playoffs opened last Friday, but it hardly felt encouraging as the East Iberville Tigers boarded a bus for a five-hour ride north toward certain defeat. The team was 0-10 for a second consecutive season, so overmatched that four players decided not to make the trip.

This left a squad of 15 suited up for the Tigers’ Class 1A playoff opener here, including a freshman quarterback, two eighth-graders — a safety and a lineman — and a seventh-grade receiver.

The inclusion of winless teams in the playoffs is an unintended consequence of a much-debated action that Louisiana’s principals took before the 2013 season to split public and private schools into separate playoff tournaments for football.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/20/sports/schools-that-cant-win-a-football-game-can-win-a-playoff-berth.html?action=click&contentCollection=Sports&region=Footer&module=MoreInSection&pgtype=article

[bugatti]

Sounds about right.

[Ram]

Interesting:

At the same time, Tenopir said, winless teams are often “ready for the season to be over; it’s just another exposure for another bad loss or injury.”

[Ram]

Thoughts:

“You want to give them every experience possible,” Magee said. At the same time, he added, “You’ve got to win to be able to make the postseason. That’s life.”

 

 

[plantmanky]

Then forfeit the game and dont play it.

[SportsGuy41017]

Interesting:

Word.....

[Ram]

Then forfeit the game and dont play it.

Some did:

Gueydan High School, an 0-10 team in Class 1A, declined to participate in the playoffs, citing safety concerns.

[Jumper_Dad]

How is this allowed?

 

This left a squad of 15 suited up for the Tigers’ Class 1A playoff opener here, including a freshman quarterback, two eighth-graders — a safety and a lineman — and a seventh-grade receiver.

 

Team should not be allowed to play middle schoolers in Varsity Football.

[Ram]

How is this allowed?

 

 

 

Team should not be allowed to play middle schoolers in Varsity Football.

I agree, and saw that. Kentucky has a rule in place to not allow this, but apparently Louisiana does not.

 

Could you imagine your 12 year old 7th grader lining up against a 17 year old Senior? Wow.

[gchs_uk9]

I agree, and saw that. Kentucky has a rule in place to not allow this, but apparently Louisiana does not.

 

I thought that was an NFHS rule, not just a state rule.

[Ram]

I thought that was an NFHS rule, not just a state rule.

Don't think so, the KHSAA states it in their Bylaws under "Eligibility", I don't see why they would state something in their Bylaws if it was already a rule elsewhere. But, could be.

[RockinGa]

Don't think so, the KHSAA states it in their Bylaws under "Eligibility", I don't see why they would state something in their Bylaws if it was already a rule elsewhere. But, could be.

 

I thought Ky changed the rules after the kid from Harrodsburg was playing in the 4th grade.

[Ram]

I thought Ky changed the rules after the kid from Harrodsburg was playing in the 4th grade.

That is possible, to be honest, I don't remember the reason for the change, but I remember in the early and mid 80's teams had some 8th graders dress and occasionally play.

[Little Ram]

It was only a matter of time...

[ggclfan]

Then forfeit the game and dont play it.

 

In Kentucky, if you do that, you will probably get sanctioned by the KHSAA. Not sure about Louisiana...