Let's just all admit that the current system is broken though. People are worried about C1 schools having to bump up and play class B schools if some proposals were to pass. Just face the facts right now any proposals lately have only affected the smaller schools. Some small class D schools have to co-op/consolidate just to even try to field a team and because they do they're going to end up D1 more times than not if not even C2 (BRLD is an example that comes to mind) because we all think that raising the cutoff number for 6 man and 8 man is the solution. Well at the rate we're going teams like Neuman, Bergan, HSC, and Norfolk Catholic will be able to play 8 man. Small schools aren't currently going up in arms about having to play D1 football against teams the like of Stanton, Summerland, Sandy Creek, etc, not to mention all the other schools that drop to 8 man because they feel they can't compete in 11 man anymore but still get scheduled for games. They're happy they get to field a team at least more times than not and give the students an opportunity to play at least and develop appropriately with a full JV schedule.
Let's look at the current numbers:
Class A: 32 teams
Class B: 25 teams
Class C1: 39 (4 ineligible)
Class C2: 36 teams
Class D1: 59 (7 ineligible)
Class D2: 53
6 man: 34 (2 ineligible)
Total: 288 teams sanctioned
I might be biased but to me it appears like the only teams that truly have to earn a state championship are 8 man schools with almost twice the number of participating teams compared to any 11 man class.
As I have stated before this state is unique compared to other states as we have a very populated area and a majority of very rural areas. Everyone says consolidation is the answer. I'm sorry but maybe open your eyes a bit and look at a map. Someone from the eastern side of the state just drive out west and find Mullen or other towns/schools out there. Some of those families are already traveling 45 minutes-an hour ONE WAY just to go to school. And it's not just that far out west there's some schools in central Nebraska that I know for a fact a good number of students are already traveling 30-45 minutes one way just to go to school. Now let's go to the eastern side of the state or even metro areas where compared to the rest of the state it's practically a stones throw from one school to the next. Raising the cutoff limit for the small schools every 2 years is not the right answer. Unfortunately I don't have the right answer myself. But I do have an educated idea on what I believe this state would greatly benefit from and I know people are going to be upset about it.
Class A: 11 man keep the current format because let's be honest open enrollment and recruiting (yes I said it) already has lopsided teams
Class B: 11 man with a portion of C1 teams added
Class C1: 11 man regular C1 teams with probably 3/4 C2 teams added
Class C2: 9 man bottom portion of regular C2 with top portion of D1. Easy transition for teams going up or down a class. 100 yard field or 80 yard field, doesn't matter to me.
Class D1: 8 man
Class D2: 6 man
I know people are going to say we don't need 4 different "types of football in Nebraska". It's what fits this state though. And football is football no matter how many players are on the field. This should put enough teams in every single class B-D2 (I believe it should be around 40-45 if my math is correct) that scheduling shouldn't be that difficult.
I'm tired of seeing teams forfeit seasons or be ineligible because little Johnny is tired of losing every week. The biggest adjustments to this would be class B with some C1 teams coming up. Oh it's not fair? Welcome to D1 football when teams that struggle in 11 man drop to 8 man. Toughen up because real life hits harder than football; take your bumps and bruises, get better to compete, and be better prepared for life.
Just my 2 cents on the situation.
Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!
