High School team forfeits due to size discrepancy

Submitted by UMfan21 on

As both an undersized Hs football player, and now a parent I found this interesting.  What is the collective MGOBlog take on this story?

I know, when I played, we always felt it was unfair going against the likes of the private schools who had 300 pound men that were recruited from around the area.  I got my butt handed to me plenty of times since I was a scrawny DE.  But, we played them.  Forfeiture was not an option.  Then again, concussions, etc were not much of a discussion when I played either.

Is this a valid concern by the parents, or is this something this kids should "suck up" and confront?

http://www.king5.com/sports/high-school/granite-falls-becomes-third-tea…

Mr Miggle

October 6th, 2016 at 11:17 PM ^

If they set their standards to only accept super competitive kids that shared your views, I very much doubt they'd have a team at all. I fear this is the direction we're heading. We're going to see a lot more smaller schools dropping football.

Perkis-Size Me

October 6th, 2016 at 4:06 PM ^

Well here's my question: if they forfeit because the other team is just bigger and stronger, are they able to move up to another division? Maybe there's better competition at the next level, and I'd say that's probably the best option if it's even an option at all. But it solves the problem for both sides.

If it isn't, suck it up and let the kids play. W/o reading the story, this sounds like sour grapes from other schools who are tired of getting their asses kicked.



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Bosch

October 6th, 2016 at 4:19 PM ^

...schools can choose to play up levels. I know that Muskegon has done it. OLSM has done it. But it is rare. I do know that some of the lower division public schools have a hard time with numbers. A few weeks ago, Shelby had to forfeit at the half due to only having 8 guys after injuries. Without knowing the whole story, telling this school to suck if up is terribly ignorant.

CarsonWolfe

October 6th, 2016 at 6:35 PM ^

According to Max Prep  Archbishop Murphy roster

 

They have

1) 330 pound kid

1) 300 pound kid

4 kids are 260+ on their entire roster (330 300 290 260) the rest are between 130-210

the avg weight for Archbishop is 178 pounds (when you take out the 330 pound kid)

 

These "wuss" teams are just trying to get this team moved up into better class or whatever ,

 

AmayzNblue

October 6th, 2016 at 9:47 PM ^

I think this is sad. It seems that the kids would learn more about ambition, perseverance, and fortitude by playing the game without worrying about the score getting out of hand. Also, the smaller kids can kick, pull, elbow, and trip without the refs calling much on them. Teach these kids how to scrap like men!



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nb

October 6th, 2016 at 11:12 PM ^

Are slow, have high pad level, poor feet, bad balance and generally are not good. 220lb linemen are usually just as strong, play with leverage and can move faster. I think this is a sad and political to get the private school that is recruiting to get out of their league.

Freshmen should not be playing in the game.
If you can't field 20 upper classmen then I get it.

Most likely, the Archbishop kids are better coached and have a much better strength and conditioning commitment from their seniors. That's why they are better.

StraightDave

October 6th, 2016 at 11:37 PM ^

In Texas it is the opposite -  public schools recruit the best athletes.  In Texas high school ball it's not uncommon for a talented kid to transfer and play for multiple schools before he graduates.   The best QB in the DFW area,  Shawn Robinson TCU commit, is playing for his third high school in four years.  

M-Dog

October 7th, 2016 at 7:53 AM ^

I was small and played on the line.  It was not a complete disadvantage because I had a natural "pad level" advantage.  I was always submarining bigger guys.  They hated it.  I was like a mouse scaring elephants by running around their legs.

It helped that they did not have chop-blocking rules back then.

 

Maddogrdt

October 7th, 2016 at 9:09 AM ^

I had a girl friend forfeit due to size once too...

 

 

 

 

I'll be here all week, try the veal and don't foget to tip the waitresses!

 

 

 

bamf16

October 7th, 2016 at 3:55 PM ^

I started my coaching career in the smallest classification in Pennsylvania, and my guys went up against two different private schools like this.  These private schools get the biggest kid in 10-14 different school districts across three states, give them an "academic" scholarship, house them with a priest or elder, then somehow the teams get to play a small school schedule and not only dominate, but get kids hurt.  In all my years coaching at this particular school, we had two skill position kids go on to play Division III.  This other team never had fewer than two future FBS Offensive linemen at any given time, and in one year had 5.  Think about that.  Five kids on an OL all getting FBS scholarships and playing against schools who have 100 boys grades 9-12.  Two boys from our town went to one of these private schools and ended up playing Division II.  I'd have loved to have had them, but such is the way of education in Pennsylvania.

 

I've been involved in this, and I've seen the statistics of injuries vs. private-school-in-question (and severity of them) vs other teams in the league.  It's frightening.  There are bumps and bruises, and the occasional broken bone in any football game.  But the volume and severity of injuries against these two teams was stunning.  I can't help but think those who want to draw comparisons to the "Alamo" are the same old internet tough guys we've all come to know and love.

 

There's a reason at least in Pennsylvania we group schools from A through 6A.  Private schools with graduating classes of 75, 40 of whom recruited for football or basketball playing against a public school in a one light town is ridiculous.  A public school forfeiting against another similarly sized public school that is just "too good" is one thing.  Taking a stand like this against a systemic failure, in my opinion, is another.

 

But maybe my opinion should be summarily dismissed because I'm just a pussy who won't compare this to a fight to the death at the Alamo.