Feedback Part II
Here's another interesting e-mail I got today:
``Why should the state high school title game fate of teams like
Birmingham, Long Beach Poly, Corona Centennial and Hart be decided by
10 people? Surely there's a better way. If you check up on the Ohio
High School Athletic Association's playoff system, you'll discover
there IS one. It boils down to a three-word methodology.
On the field.
Way WAY back on the third weekend of August, the Ohio High School
football season opened. Oh, you say that's too early? Tell that to
the players, coaches and fans of the 192 schools who participated in
the five-weekend OHSAA playoffs that concluded last weekend with six
state title games. I got to see all six games live on Sports Time
Ohio thanks to my DirecTV package. And I have all six games on DVD.
It took at least 22 years for Ohio to get it right, but trust
me...the OHSAA GOT IT RIGHT!!!
Back in the late 1960's and early 1970's, when Ohio's state titles
were decided by wire service polls (AP and UPI), Jack Harbin devised
a computerized system that would select the state's playoff
participants. Points were awarded for a victory recorded by a team.
The higher the classification, the more the points. Second level
points were awarded to that victorious team when the foes it defeated
went on to win a game. The OHSAA bought it!!!
The OHSAA started a playoff system in 1972, but with just three
classifications. With only one team picked for the playoffs in four
regions in three classifications, it meant the whole state of Ohio
had only a dozen teams. The news media, fans, players and coaches all
said the same thing...that there weren't enough playoff teams. A slew
of 10-0 teams would essentially say, "Hey, we did all we had to do
but didn't make the playoffs."
Over the next 20-plus years, the number of classifications and
participating teams increased to the point where 96 teams would make
it. Then sometime last decade (1993?), It took a statewide vote of
all the OHSAA principals as I recall...and that vote meant the season
would have to start with the third weekend in August in order to
double the number of playoff teams and to increase the number of
playoff weekends by one. The vote passed...and according to the 2007
playoff program sent to me by John Dickerson, a friend who's a high
ranking commissioner with the OHSAA, indicates the six-division, the
OHSAA 192-team playoff format began 13 years ago in 1994. Virtually
every 10-0 team makes it...and it's rare for a 9-1 team to miss out.
I'm sure if you contacted John Dickerson, he'd be more than happy to
discuss with you the successful OHSAA playoff system. Texas has a
very good playoff system. If it's the same as when I was part of it
in the 1970's, it's league champions who participate...but I like the
Ohio playoff system MUCH BETTER. More teams!!!!
I suppose various forms of politics will keep California in the Stone
Age with its current antiquated playoff system. But California has a
HUGE WEATHER advantage over Ohio, so why have teams' title game
fates decided by 10 people when there's a better way?''
On the field.
Sincerely,
Rob Durkee, North Hollywood
A Former Sports Editor Not Afraid To Speak His Mind
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Comments
Excellent article! Thanks for sharing this one.
Posted by: reggie | December 10, 2007 8:21 PM