Well, we’ve been waiting on this.
The perfect teaching moment.
We will stretch a little, but not really.
The point will be made.
The point we have made for decades.
Chambers played “up” this week. They lost.
Hough played “up” last week. They lost.
Mallard Creek played “up” this week. Lost.
Weddington played “up” this week. Lost.
Dudley played “up” this week. They lost.
Shelby played “up” this week. They lost.
Reidsville played “up” this week. They lost.
The top teams in the State, across classifications, played “up” this week (or last), and they all lost.
But every losing coach will tell you, it will make them better….for the season.
The loss will expose the weaknesses, with time to correct or adjust to them.
“So what?”, you ask. Most understand that, correct?
No, they don’t.
We have had the biggest arguments and most aggressive abuse trying to make this point, primarily to the 4A crowd, but also to 3A and 2A folks as well. Play “up”, it will make you better. “But 4A can’t play “up” “, they said.
They just did. And lost.
Powerful Indy, at their finest, played “up” in Ohio. And lost.
Some thought, play it safe, schedule cupcakes for non conference, go undefeated, and you will get the highest seeds, and now, perhaps a bye.
Some still think that way.
It is past time for strength of schedule to be considered in year end seeding.
We will not hold our breath.
But finally, many are starting to see the great value there is in scheduling non conference play against a team that may be better than you.
Want more proof?
There is a high school football program in NC that has been playing “up” forever.
Many years, 40% of their schedule has been against teams from higher classes. Some years, it was over 50%. Many years, including this year,
scheduled teams 2 classes “up”.
That program has won more games and more State Titles in the last 60 years than any other.
They have won 92% of games within their class.
The closest other program of any class is at 80%.
But in only 3 of those seasons were they undefeated.
Now you know why.
