Districts: 08-09 09-10

[PawneeSports]

Click on the attached PDF file

[Hominy Fan]

A-7 is going to be one tough district. A couple of pretty good teams will be sitting at home come play-off time.

[Deion]

A-7 is a real brain fart by the coaches and OSSAA.

[America's #1 Threat]

This is completely retarded. In other states you don't deal with all of the politics of this process and you don't have coaches on boards that try to "easy-up" their schedules. Why even have district standings? Maybe a power-poll should be implemented to make this fair. A-7 is stacked while A-3 is weak and A-5 and A-6 are a complete joke. You could potentially have the pleasure of seeing a #1 seed from A-5 or A-6 get the rears handed to them by a #4 seed in A-7. The playoffs are for matching top teams not having 50 point blowouts from a #4 seed simply because these bufoons can't get the districts equal. I feel really sorry for the lower tier teams (Liberty, Yale, Drumright, and Barnsdall) who won't even sniff the playoffs. How easy is it going to sell kids in your program with the line "We won't be making the playoffs this year, but we'll sure see a lot of good teams thumping us every friday night." The only good thing I like about the changes is seeing Foyil going over to A-8 to challenge Commerce so that the champion isn't crowned before the regular season even starts.

[elk3730]

Word!

[Acehole]

I would not be so fast to blame the coaches its the ossaa that I would blame. They are the ones that decided to put all these teams in class A. They are the ones with no guts the prove it time and time again.:spin:

[TwinCitiesTwins]

Since we have some that like to complain about the districts. Why dont you try your hand at it with the teams in Class A for the next 2 years come up with 8 districts.

[America's #1 Threat]

Acehole, I totally agree with you. The "coaches" comment is a suspicion that some teams are misplaced geographically and I would be willing to bet a dollar that there isn't an A7 coach on that committee. It just seems like some of those coaches looked out for their own interests and took the easy route, but who wouldn't? It should be up to the OSSAA to nut-up and decide to not to keep making Class A the Oklahoma football dumping ground. Would it be impossible to have Class A (small) and Class A (big)? Who is going to complain? That way, some of these smaller schools have a playoff chance. Sure they probably get killed by a #1 seed in the first round, but they at least get to have the playoff experience. I know, you can just say "well, get better if you want to be in the playoffs", but not every school is Tonkawa or Commerce who mysteriously fall one student shy of 2A on the ADM every year, but that is a totally different forum.

Twin, I'll take my shot at making new districts for you. I can't do much worse than the OSSAA did.

[Deion]

not every school is Tonkawa or Commerce who mysteriously fall one student shy of 2A on the ADM every year, but that is a totally different forum.

Twin, I'll take my shot at making new districts for you. I can't do much worse than the OSSAA did.


You can't be serious. Tonkawa isn't even in the top 5 largest Class A schools.
They actually dropped even further for 08' - 09'

You don't have to be big to play big. Rush Springs, Thomas, and Woodland are some of the smallest Class A schools, yet they complete and win titles.
There are only 11 players on the field.

[DusterDad]

Rush Springs, Thomas, and Woodland are some of the smallest Class A schools

What? That's total spin, Deion. :rolleyes:

A large ADM has much to do with continual success, especially in class A. If a school can base a team from twice the amount of student athletes, year in year out they will easily be more successful than the others.

Fyi, Rush Springs is bigger than most as they are in the upper half of Class A. Thomas used to be the same(larger than most), but now is going through a decline in numbers. Could it be that the Terriers lack of continued success comes from of a direct correlation of declining numbers over the past few years? :rolleyes:

[Deion]

What? That's total spin, Deion. :rolleyes:

A large ADM has much to do with continual success, especially in class A. If a school can base a team from twice the amount of student athletes, year in year out they will easily be more successful than the others.

:rolleyes:

If this were true, Tonkawa should have just reloaded and kept playing for State Titles instead of going 7-4 and not getting out of the first round by a much smaller school.

[bearfan-94]

Woodland has won a title? Please enlighten me.

[DusterDad]

If this were true, Tonkawa should have just reloaded and kept playing for State Titles instead of going 7-4 and not getting out of the first round by a much smaller school.

Once again, you're being very misleading(or shortsighted) with your sentiment. Two of Tonkawas losses came at the hands of large schools. Crooked Oak is 2A and Crescent is a large class A school. Both of those games were lost by the narrowest of margins. Woodland(twice)was their only losses by a comparibly smaller ADM school and both were very close games where the winner was in doubt throughout the contest.

Bottom line is, all of their losses were by narrow (extremely narrow) margins, meaning Tonkawa was very close to being 11-0 and moving into the second round. Because of the fact that this was considered a down year for them, it proves that being an extremely large school in Class A has it's many benefits. Thanks to this discussion, the truth of that fact is being proven each and every moment. ;)

[wolverine]

I feel that the larger ADM's do make a difference. That does not mean that you will be playing for a state title year after year, but they are a factor in some of the teams that are consistently in the playoffs. The largest Class A school are twice as large as some of the smaller A schools and that does make a difference in the big picture. For example,there have been years when Velma hasn't made the playoffs, and years when they were a contender to win it all, and they are one of the smaller A schools. The larger ADM allows a school to not drop off as much when they graduate a successful senior class. Pawnee has been a contender ever since they moved down to Class A a few years ago. Can anyone remember the last time Washington, Tonkawa, and Commerce were not in the playoffs. Those schools are some of the larger ones in Class A. It does make a difference in the long term success of a program.

[Mmgord77]

Last time Washington wasn't in the playoffs was 17 years ago.

While agreeing that large ADM's do make a difference the majority of the time, where do you draw the limit? Someone has to be small... someone has to be large. Just the way things work in the world. Washington's been one of the bigger schools in A, next year they start being one of the smaller 2A's. You just deal with it and keep playing. Just be glad your not in 6A where the difference can be a 1000+ students!

[PawneeSports]

Just Information
Pawnee was one of the smaller schools in 2A (2003 and prior) and made it to the championship bowing out to Millwood in 2003.

It just the way population occurs in some small towns (pop: 2,500+/-)...nothing less or more to make of it. We are not close to any metro, out in the "sticks" you could say. All of our consolidation have been with rural schools such Skedee, Maramec, Masham and parts of Quay before most us were even born.

The 2004 season became the Black Bears' destiny to become part of the Class A...at least I thought for 2 seasons but look what has happened:

In 2004 and 2005, we were at the 4 spot.
In 2006 and 2007, we are at the 12 spot.
In 2008 and 2009, we will be at the 2 spot.

Who knows, we may make it back to 2A but there are some independent schools who haven't fielded a team for OSSAA as of 2007 that could keep the Black Bears in the quest to get to the SHIP.

[America's #1 Threat]

I understand that only 11 players play, but it is easier to find 11 players out 215 kids then it is out of 120. You are comparing apples and oranges when you use the 6A argument. What is unique and another good reason for a Class A split is that you would still see quality match ups in Class A (small). Look, there will always be parody in any class and being a bigger Class A school doesn't mean you're automatically successful. I just hate to see Class A being the net that catches every 8-man team that goes up and every 2A school that is just a little too small. The split would benefit the "tweeners". The teams that finish 5th or 6th every year because so many teams are packed in there and some districts are unfairly jammed with talented, tradition-rich programs that don't allow a smaller school, which may have an exceptionally good crop of kids in one particular year, a chance to experience the Friday night playoff atmosphere.

[elk3730]

A#1, what would be your solution (or suggestion) to balance out this discrepancy? I believe there is no solution. It can seam unfair to the "tweeners" but what about schools like Velma Alma, Woodland, Hominy, Ringling, etc? They’re not a large Class A schools, yet they will have strong, consecutive years, with their kids.

So, I believe it comes down to long term tradition, coaching staffs & discipline to build this smaller "power-house" football schools. Not just enrollment numbers.

The "tweeners" must kick it up a notch. Watch out for Morrison next year. They will have an immediate impact in Class A. They’ve been thrown into a tough district, but will be VERY competitive in Class A. Prime example: Foyil Panthers

What do you think?

[freighttrain]

Okay...I have to know. Last year Foyil jumped up to Class A and turned everyone's head. Do people really feel they will be able to win their district with perenial powerhouse Commerce? How about a run down of who they have and what they can do... sort of like a pre-season scouting report. I'm not sure what Commerce has this year but they always seem to roll... up until the third round. I know that has been a thorn in their side since 1999 and I'm sure they would love to break that cycle. Perhaps coming in second in the district would give them a chance at getting over the hump. But I suppose it will all play out in the next three months. Whoooo let's get it started!!!!!!!!:clap:

[America's #1 Threat]

You could split it almost evenly into two 40 team Classes. As far as Velma, Ringling, Okeene, Woodland, etc. they would all be in A (small) and would still all compete for the championship. A (large) would have Tonkawa, Commerce, Pawnee, etc. and have their own championship. The only cost would be for 1 more gold ball. There are two ways of districting the teams. You could still keep 8 districts and play a lot of non-district games including traditional matchups with other schools that may have gone up or down in class, or you could be like the bigger schools and have four less districts and still have a coulple non-conference games which would still allow the one or two big local match ups.

[PawneeSports]

Small/Large Class A
40 teams
8 districts
5 teams per district
6 non-district games

Or

40 teams
5 districts
8 teams per district
3 non-district games

[42426]

You guys are way too logical for the OSSAA. You remember when Thomas was in a district with only two or three other teams? When the Association went to the new rules (many years ago) it did away with many of the traditional rivalries in the small schools. With fewer district games it gave the schools more freedom to schedule their traditional geographical rivals, regardless of class. The drawback was only one team made the playoffs, whether you had three teams in your district or six. Before you guys jump on me for being nonprogressive, I'm not advocating change. For the most part Class A football is more exciting than its ever been.

[Clean Green]

You can't please everybody.
Some you can never please.
You play the hand your dealt.
You never give up.
You enjoy the game.
HERE'S TO FOOTBALL!!

[TwinCitiesTwins]

You can't please everybody.
Some you can never please.
You play the hand your dealt.
You never give up.
You enjoy the game.
HERE'S TO FOOTBALL!!


You play the hand your dealt. Couldnt have said it better myself. To be the best, you must beat the best. So why does it matter when you play them?

[America's #1 Threat]

I think you guys are missing the whole point. It's not about playing the hand you're dealt, and no one is complaining about their schedules, it's the fact that it is becoming a mess. 8 ten team districts is ridiculous. It doesn't allow for traditional georgaphical matchups because your schedule is packed and it will force unequal parody in a few of the districts leaving out some good ball teams. The point is that there is a choice and some things can be done, but the OSSAA has to be open to it and recognize that there is a problem. Class A needs to stand up and say either split us up into two groups or make a hard and fast cut off at 64 teams and quit allowing teams in beyond that.

[DusterDad]

Good thoughts #1 threat. If the OSSAA keeps this "dumping grounds" syndrome up, teams east of Tulsa will be traveling to the Panhandle for disrtict games. :spin: Seriously, class A is an after thought for the OSSAA.

[Clean Green]

There's always the mutiny/revolt option, if you have a majority of schools that feel that way.

[TwinCitiesTwins]

If my math is correction there are 342 football playing schools.

If we broke down each class like this:

6A- 35 Teams ... 8 Districts ... 4 or 5 Teams per District
5A- 35 Teams ... 8 Districts ... 4 or 5 Teams per District
4A- 35 Teams ... 8 Districts ... 4 or 5 Teams per District
3A- 35 Teams ... 8 Districts ... 4 or 5 Teams per District
2A- 65 Teams ... 8 Districts ... 8 Teams per District (one would have 9)
1A- 65 Teams ... 8 Districts ... 8 Teams per District (one would have 9)

Class's B and C would remain the way they are right now.

[Mmgord77]

How would you do playoffs then?

[TwinCitiesTwins]

2A, A, B, and C would remain the same

In 6A-3A you could do it 1 of 2 ways.

1.) 2 teams from each district makes the playoffs
2.) 4 teams from each district, that would just increase there playoff by 1 week.

Not a perfect idea by any means, but people already complain about to many state championships. Dividing up Class A into 2 parts would only add to their argument.