Re: Winning...
Originally posted by narchdog:
Now I don't have a problem with hca's football program and I have grown up playing with many of the players. However, saying that a 8-man state championship is as important as a public school championship is absurd. In public schools there is a 64 team playoff where for harrells there is a 8 team playoff. Already it makes the championship much easier for harrells then for public schools. Winning an 8 man state championship is much like most schools winning a conference championship. Also, the athletes at harrells can't come close to comparing to public schools athletes. Not one player on hca's team would have started on wrh's team that lost in the state championship. But I will continue to cheer for them since I know many of the players.
Yeah, a 64-team playoff for eight state champions. You can't tell me a state championship in today's terms even matches that of the title WRH DID win in 1994. The first two rounds of the current playoff system are a joke. I know that is no fault of anyone at WRH, and I have nothing against WRH nor its athletes or coaches - this is my opinion towards the NCHSAA and its money making philosophy of the present time.
As far as importance...you can't tell me that the kids at HCA didn't work as hard as the kids at other schools that play football. People need to realize that FOOTBALL is FOOTBALL. 3 less men on the field does not make it any less of a game. If there were just as many schools across the state playing 8-man football, then we would be comparing apples to apples. At this time, 8-man football and 11-man football is comparing apples to oranges. But the apples, in my opinion, are just as important as the oranges. No one at HCA is comparing, nor has compared, the athletes between the two schools or any other public school. The fact of the matter is this: FOOTBALL = FOOTBALL. STATE CHAMPIONSHIP = STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.
WRH had a tremendous season(s) and it's a heartbreaking to the coaching staff, players, boosters, school, community that their team(s) lost two consecutive championships to Thomasville by 1 point. No doubt in my mind that hurts, but to say you are the 1A Eastern State Champions for 2 consecutive years is a tremendous accomplishment and is something to be very proud of. I have been on both sides of winning a state title and losing a state title. I have been on both sides of being a player and coach on state championship teams. It is one of the most gratifying accomoplishments of my lifetime, and I hope that other teams in this area can experience the same amount of joy.
It's nice having three championship caliber teams in the area with Clinton, WRH, and HCA all competing for state titles in 2005. I hope all three can make the same strides in 2006, when HCA will be playing 11-man.
As nickelo stated, "Winning a state championship on any level in any sport is a fantastic accomplishment that will be remembered for a lifetime." Stop taking away credit where credit is due. The football team from HCA was the best in 2005 at there level of play, period.