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There would be way to many 6 man teams. Also a ton of ineligible teams.
From Stu Pospisil’s column in the October 3rd OWH:
“If you don’t have at least 25 nonfreshmen in 2020 and in 2021, eight-man is where you need to go. If you don’t have 18, don’t you think it’s time for six-man?”
I would love to hear people’s thoughts.
Time for member schools to realize their classification numbers are archaic. This isn’t Nebraska High School Football from the 1980s and 1990s, yet our numbers to determine our class still reflect that. Boys only enrollment was a step in the right direction 2 years ago. Now it’s time to look at raising the number. A committee probably needs to be formed to compare where we are compared to other states and what our participation rate is across the state. Until that happens though, it’s in the hands of individual schools to make tough decisions (co-ops, opting down, cancelled games/seasons, etc.).
BINGOI agree with everything you said. I also wonder if part of the reason that football proposals have failed in the recent years is because of schools that are currently 8 man don't want some C-2 schools dropping down to 8 man if the number is raised. Everybody wants to be the big fish in the small pond. Nobody wants to be the little fish in the big pond. Schools that are at the top of their respective class in enrollment have a nice advantage over the schools at the bottom of their respective class in enrollment. More kids equals larger roster, larger roster equals more competition for playing time and all of that normally equals better talent.
agree and we all see it but will schools vote to change itI think it's mostly a C-2 and D-2 problem. A lot of C-2 schools are afraid to swallow their pride and drop down to 8 man. Same can probably be said about D-2. If they raise the 8 man number, then schools at the bottom of C-2 can make the decision to drop down and be eligible for the playoffs. There is no reason why schools at the bottom of C-2 with good participation numbers couldn't opt up and stay in C-2. North Platte St. Pats is currently doing that and I know that Cambridge did it for a long time. St. Pats is very competitive at the C-2 level. I'm just tired of reading about schools forfeiting games because of injuries and not having enough kids to finish the season. Raise the number and it will become easier for schools to make the decision if they should play 11 man or 8 man.
agree and we all see it but will schools vote to change it
I agree and its kinda sad for the overall state of Nebraska footballI highly doubt it. Seems to me that some of the 8 man schools don't want to raise the number because they don't want a bunch of C-2 schools dropping to 8 man. I might be wrong in that statement, but that is the vibe I get. Honestly I think a lot of C-2 schools would stay 11 man as long as they had good participation numbers. The problem is that everybody wants to be the big fish in the small pond. If all the schools don't get on the same page though, we're going to continue to have these problems in C-2 especially. Which leads to problems in D-1 with teams opting down and being ineligible for the playoffs.
Not spending $$ on changing a field to 8 man dimensions for those unable to field an 11 man team.What is 9 man going to accomplish that 8 man doesn't?
Thats not a very good agrument for it, because that cost less than $3000 to do Its just something new to try because the current 8-man schools will not raise enrollmentNot spending $$ on changing a field to 8 man dimensions for those unable to field an 11 man team.
Agreed, I was just saying that's one reason.Thats not a very good agrument for it, because that cost less than $3000 to do Its just something new to try because the current 8-man schools will not raise enrollment
To many ways to cheat to do that, simple fact: Nebraska has one of the lowest 8-man enrollments and more and more forfeits are coming each year, its time to change to count of at least 50 or 52, or the overall state of Nebraska High school football as a whole will be hurt for a very long time Truth in 8 years those who wont vote for it will looking to coop and be crying its to low and their coop and now theyare not eligible for playoffs, So few people can see the writing on the wall or have any sight for the future, most live in the nowYou have a pretty good idea of who is going to be coming out their freshman year. And it is probably known who the current players are. Why can't it be done with projected team numbers? You may be off a kid or two but not very often in a D1 and under sized school. It's not that difficult.
Cheat? You're over you better have a damn good reason. A kid or two is no big deal but if you are way over no playoffs that year. I agree about changing something, we were a recipient of a forfeit last week and it sucked. Like Stu said, may have been some cherry picking but whatever. The point is, I bet 2 years ago they knew their numbers were going to be low and should of dropped down. I feel bad for all involved when you are at the bottom as far as kids on your team and try to compete. But mainly I feel for the kids, the ones who are out keep plugging away even tho they get stomped week after week. It's not fair to them.To many ways to cheat to do that, simple fact: Nebraska has one of the lowest 8-man enrollments and more and more forfeits are coming each year, its time to change to count of at least 50 or 52, or the overall state of Nebraska High school football as a whole will be hurt for a very long time Truth in 8 years those who wont vote for it will looking to coop and be crying its to low and their coop and now theyare not eligible for playoffs, So few people can see the writing on the wall or have any sight for the future, most live in the now
You have a pretty good idea of who is going to be coming out their freshman year. And it is probably known who the current players are. Why can't it be done with projected team numbers? You may be off a kid or two but not very often in a D1 and under sized school. It's not that difficult.
Let's say you have 33 kids on your team this year in C-2. 12 of them are seniors, so that leaves you with 21 going into next season. You have 9 8th graders playing football this year at the Jr. High level. You then project that you will have 30 kids out for football next season. Things look ok for you to stay 11 man in November of 2019. By February you have a family move, they have two sons and now you're down to 28. A couple of freshmen decide not to play next year in May and now you're down to 26. Of the 9 8th graders that you thought would come out when they were freshmen 3 of them decide in May that they don't want to play football. Now you're down to 23 on your roster. Is it possible to play 11 man with 23 on your roster, yes. The biggest problem with a roster that small is that you will not be able to play any JV games during the season which will hurt your program down the road.
Raise the number to 52 for eligibility for the playoffs. I'm willing to bet that the teams like Oakland-Craig, Yutan, Sandy Creek, Stanton, and Cedar Catholic would have opted up to stay in 11 man. Schools like Southern Valley which also came in at 52 would have at least had the option to move down to 8 man and be eligible. Just because you fall under the number doesn't mean you have to play 8 man. You can always opt up. Currently Crofton, St. Cecilia, Bergan and St. Pats all could be eligible in 8 man this year. They chose to opt up and play 11 man.
Agreed!Amen! The two year cycle has to go. There can be no reasonable expectation for a school to know in November of 2019 what their numbers will look like in August of 2021.
Let's say you have 33 kids on your team this year in C-2. 12 of them are seniors, so that leaves you with 21 going into next season. You have 9 8th graders playing football this year at the Jr. High level. You then project that you will have 30 kids out for football next season. Things look ok for you to stay 11 man in November of 2019. By February you have a family move, they have two sons and now you're down to 28. A couple of freshmen decide not to play next year in May and now you're down to 26. Of the 9 8th graders that you thought would come out when they were freshmen 3 of them decide in May that they don't want to play football. Now you're down to 23 on your roster. Is it possible to play 11 man with 23 on your roster, yes. The biggest problem with a roster that small is that you will not be able to play any JV games during the season which will hurt your program down the road.
Raise the number to 52 for eligibility for the playoffs. I'm willing to bet that the teams like Oakland-Craig, Yutan, Sandy Creek, Stanton, and Cedar Catholic would have opted up to stay in 11 man. Schools like Southern Valley which also came in at 52 would have at least had the option to move down to 8 man and be eligible. Just because you fall under the number doesn't mean you have to play 8 man. You can always opt up. Currently Crofton, St. Cecilia, Bergan and St. Pats all could be eligible in 8 man this year. They chose to opt up and play 11 man.
I believe there is a vote on 56 and 9-man for November by schools but like you said many are scared of competitionSpot on. I'd even push it to 55-57. Helps protect schools that have a big class that cycles through and pumps up their enrollment and inaccurately predicts true participation numbers. Like it or not, you're losing the kids that in the past had always felt like they "have" to play football as freshmen, and if you don't get them as freshmen, you're probably not getting them later in high school. Something needs to be done, but doubt it will come from schools voting. Schools mentioned will still opt up if they can. Too many C2 schools with rosters in the 20's, even mid to low 20's.
How would that work with the other football declaration dates and timelines? Would they just get rid of 8man? or would 9-man replace 11-man C2?I believe there is a vote on 56 and 9-man for November by schools but like you said many are scared of competition
How would that work with the other football declaration dates and timelines? Would they just get rid of 8man? or would 9-man replace 11-man C2?
i do not think anyone remembers the nightmare of finding games, do what most states do set the districts and set cross district play District one vs district two and so on, that would make is simple and then your games done, schedules done, one year classification doneI think the two year schedule has to go away also. The NSAA can set the districts and then let the Athletic Directors do the scheduling.
I think the two year schedule has to go away also. The NSAA can set the districts and then let the Athletic Directors do the scheduling.
Thats not a very good agrument for it, because that cost less than $3000 to do Its just something new to try because the current 8-man schools will not raise enrollment
It is sad. A few years ago I had somebody from a community that had been C-1 for years tell me that they were glad their school had dropped to C-2. They thought it would be easier for their kids to compete at the C-2 level than the C-1 level. The good news is that the school I'm talking about hasn't won a state championship in any of the major sports.
Why is that "The good news"? It isn't like the community had any say over what class they play in. The enrollment classifications are in place, and the school falls wherever it falls.
I guess I don't understand why you say it is "good news" that a school hasn't won a State Championship??