The reality of most of these lists is that when we view them after the selections have been made, we view them subjectively, and base our opinions on the selections on what we personally know, which is usually limited to the teams in our areas. How many of us actually attend games that are 1) out of our area, or 2) don't involve the competition of the team we follow? We always think that "our" guy is better than the guy that made the list. I mean, I can name 4 guys right off the top of my head that I think should be on the list. But, I can't make an argument as to why those guys should replace the one's who made it.

 

I don't think statistics alone are the end-all of the discussion. Many kids have great stats, but aren't in districts/regions that have great competition. So, gaudy stats don't do it for me.

 

I like the BGP team for the reasons stated above. Even if someone who is in the decision making process hasn't seen a particular player, they have to listen to all the reasons an analyze the entire picture before making their decision. Others are just "send in your name", and there really doesn't have to be any knowledge of any other player in the state.

 

In any event, no selection process is 100% perfect. And there are thousands of kids playing football. Someone is always going to feel someone got slighted...and it's kind of why I hate these lists to begin with.

 

Excellent post RM.

Excellent post RM.

 

I agree; RM's post was excellent.

 

I'll differ from those that have taken great issue with the AP team. Yeah it stinks that some AP folks eligible to vote did not do so and such may have negatively impacted some deserving kids. But I still think a large majority of the AP folks that did vote put a lot of thought into their selections. I know for a fact that Ernst from the Enquirer does.

 

From my observations (which admittedly may not be really accurate because I haven't spent a lot of time on the issue) it seems to me like the AP teams over the years are slanted towards kids on teams that made it deep into the playoffs and made the state games; (particularly the state games). That's probably because a lot of the AP voters attend the state games, talk to one another about kids they think should make the AP team, and if those kids then are "on display" in the state games, the recommendations of their fellow AP voters can be verified or discounted.

 

I have some pretty good perspective on the AP team: I had two sons play O line for Highlands. The older made second team AP his senior year. His team did not make it to the state game. The younger son made first team his senior year. His team won the state championship. There is not a doubt in my mind that the oldest son was as "deserving" as the younger to be first team AP (the BGP team selecters obviously agreed as both made first team BGP). What made the difference in my mind between one being first team and the other being second team is simply the fact that the AP voters got to see the younger one perform and did not get to see the older one perform. Neither had D-1 size nor D-1 hype, so the opportunity to play in the state game dramatically helped the younger one. Don't get me wrong: I feel that he should have been first team even if Highlands had not made it to the state game. But the opportunity to show his stuff in front of the AP voters was extremely helpful. It certainly helped his cause, as an "undersized" O lineman, that Highlands ran the ball so effectively against John Hardin's defense which entered the state game with a lot of hype as the best or one of the best defenses against the run in the state that year.

 

Maybe my experience, if you will, is unusual. The again 8 of the first team O and 5 of the first team D this year came from teams that played in the state finals. Not sure if that concentration holds up in every past year, but I wouldn't be surprised if it did or came close. Someone with more time can research it if they want.

 

If my "observation" holds up, some will then claim that the AP selections are unfair to those very talented kids on not real talented teams. Which is probably a fair claim. Then again, I'd rather have the voters vote on what they actually observed than the way the coaches select the team. I'd rather have voters vote on what they observed than just vote for kids from the voter's coverage area. My guess is that most AP voters come to the state game thinking some of the kids in their coverage areas should be on the first team; then when they watch the kids that play in the state game and compare their performances with the performances of the local kids they watched during the regular season, some of their votes change. Which in my opinion is the right thing for them to do. The AP voters cannot see every kid play (neither can the BGP voters or the coach voters for that matter). The best they can do, the right thing to do, is to vote for the best player they observed at each position. That's what I think the AP voters do.

Josh Harris made MaxPreps U.S. Air Force 2010 Junior All-American team but wasn't good enough for AP all-state. Interesting.

 

http://maysville-online.com/sports/article_ca9d1cba-1a15-11e0-9a7b-001cc4c03286.html

Bottom line is making the team or not doesn't mean anything........if you can play the college coaches will find you, that's been proven many times and will remain that way....Congrats to those who made the team and if you didn't, well the college coaches will still be ringing your phone and setting up on-campus visits.......

There's not a perfect system. IMO BGP is the best then the CJ then the AP. None of them are perfect though. When a kid makes first team in 1...has a D1 offer as a JR and doesn't make honorable mention it's flawed IMO but it is what it is.

Speaking of when is the BGP coming out? I thought it would be out between Christmas + Jan1? Did I miss it?

There's not a perfect system. IMO BGP is the best then the CJ then the AP. None of them are perfect though. When a kid makes first team in 1...has a D1 offer as a JR and doesn't make honorable mention it's flawed IMO but it is what it is.

Speaking of when is the BGP coming out? I thought it would be out between Christmas + Jan1? Did I miss it?

 

Probably being revised in fear of not including someone. LOL. Who cares really? The CJ didnt name kids that made the AP and the AP didnt name kids that made the CJ and I am sure that BGP will name kids that either made one or both and maybe neither one.

I just hope that when it comes out people won't degrade or defeat a kids accomplishment in the eyes of someone elses opinion just because their candidate didnt get the call. Besides, I will bet if BGP members rip the BGP voting system like they did AP and CJ then they might just get a call to the principals office and a little vacation. LOL.

Edited January 9, 201115 yr by The Scribe

........if you can play the college coaches will find you, that's been proven many times and will remain that way....

 

Again I see this completely inaccurate statement. If there are any players out there reading this, don't believe statements like this. If you want to play college football, contact the coaches yourself.

If you have to do this...better be a two sport player if you plan on playing at the next level.....completely disagree with your analogy Ram..

Again I see this completely inaccurate statement. If there are any players out there reading this, don't believe statements like this. If you want to play college football, contact the coaches yourself.

 

Exactly what my son had to do. He got 90% of his college education paid for. He went to the student questionaires on the college websites and got his name around that he was interested. Went on visits to each and picked the right fit for him. Now, this was not for football, but IMO applys to any sport. You do not need to be a ALL-State superstar to get money for colleges. You have to get your name out there.

Boy, I can't wait for that All BGP team. It should be fun!

 

Oh and Congrats to all that have made the CJ & AP Teams especially the HHS players and of course especially my nephew. Great job!

Again I see this completely inaccurate statement. If there are any players out there reading this, don't believe statements like this. If you want to play college football, contact the coaches yourself.

 

I agree, you have to have a little of both, marketing and promotion from the outlets for such and you have to market and promote yourself, as it is in life in order to reach ones goals.

Again I see this completely inaccurate statement. If there are any players out there reading this, don't believe statements like this. If you want to play college football, contact the coaches yourself.

 

True. They don't find everyone that can and wants to play at the next level. Especially from smaller, non-traditional football schools.