OT-ish Biff Poggi bankrolled HS Football Team beats teams so bad, they no longer want to play them

Submitted by ramenboy on

I vaguely remember Biff Poggi (father of Henry) being an assistant under Harbaugh for a year then returning to Baltimore to coach HS football.  I just never quite knew he was a wealthy money manager who bankrolls the H.S. football team at a prep school.

Apparently his teams have been steamrolling everyone in the Baltimore area to the point that no one wants them on the schedule anymore.

Not passing judgment - sounds like he's helping kids who would otherwise not be able to get a quality education...they just happen to be rhino sized.

 

https://deadspin.com/baltimore-high-schools-sick-of-getting-whupped-by-…

 

Blue in PA

May 31st, 2018 at 2:25 PM ^

Biff Poggi..... sounds like a guy who steam rolls people.

 

 

BAM you've been BIFF POGGI'd

ToledoWolverine

May 31st, 2018 at 2:28 PM ^

I’m sure he will find teams willing to play SFA. Why make a public spectacle out of it? A simple phone call to SFA saying basically, you guys party too hard, we’re gonna hang out with other teams, good luck.

DanRareEgg

May 31st, 2018 at 3:54 PM ^

I do feel for the opposing players to some extent, but a bunch of private schools complaining about financial inequity in athletics is, if you'll excuse the pun, awfully rich. Especially in Baltimore.

jsquigg

May 31st, 2018 at 4:12 PM ^

What kind of lesson is it to just not play the better teams?  It seems like the competitor would look to raise their level of play and look at each opponent as a chance to get better.

Coldwater

May 31st, 2018 at 8:56 PM ^

Sounds like SFA is waaaay more than just “better competition”. It’s a team full of huge, fast D1 talent that Poggi has recruited and paid for to come this this private school. I’d be like Michigan playing Albion College... two teams that aren’t even close to being on the same level.

uofmfootball97

May 31st, 2018 at 4:23 PM ^

1) The other institutions in this article come off as whiny and jealous.

2) Biff Poggi should be commended for helping underprivileged youth in his area and maximizing their talents to assist them to a better life through higher education. If he does that via football, so what.

MGoBender

June 1st, 2018 at 10:50 AM ^

I mean, this is illegal in the MHSAA.  A school could do it, but they wouldn't be a part of the MHSAA.  I believe that Maryland private schools are inelligible for the public school playoff system.  So, there's a lot of nuance in here.

It's great that kids are getting educational opportunities that they otherwise wouldn't... but he could do that and still create an educational athletic experience and not limit it to D1 players....

WestQuad

May 31st, 2018 at 4:54 PM ^

Why would you make fun of the name of a former Michigan coach who is coaching lots of top HS talent?    

Biff's situation (being rich, helping kids and coaching football) sounds like a dream life.

chuck bass

June 1st, 2018 at 12:00 AM ^

I have zero problem with athletic kids tranferring into stronger schools – whether for better coaching, facilities, competition, academics, or visibility. God Bless him for giving these kids access to a decent education.

Hail-Storm

May 31st, 2018 at 5:17 PM ^

I'm pretty ok with both sides.  Poggi is bankrolling safe envorinments and education for a bunch of kids who can't afford it.  The other schools are not looking to focus on football so much that they have to recruit specifically to compete.  It's better for both sides to split up and focus on what they want to focus on.  Poggi's team will benefit from better competition. 

cbs650

May 31st, 2018 at 8:09 PM ^

I met Poggi once when he was at Gliman. Very nice guy and was all about helping young people. The issue at Gilman appeared to he was helping kids get in who academically they were in over there head but were good a football. I worked with on such kid who fit that bill.

Perkis-Size Me

May 31st, 2018 at 9:08 PM ^

Well after he found the sports almanac and became a multi-millionaire I figured he could spare a few bucks for supporting HS football teams.

Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.

maize-blue

May 31st, 2018 at 9:54 PM ^

Biff is like the Little League coach who goes way too far and stacks his team with kids from afar and wipes the floor against the local teams.

Youngharbaugh4

May 31st, 2018 at 10:37 PM ^

its how most teams of their caliber play anyways. You think IMG plays teams locally in florida? No, they go nationally and play the best. SFA should play high level DMV teams and teams of sort within 1000 miles. 

DanielPatterson

August 21st, 2020 at 12:23 PM ^

At the very least, he helps guys who might not have chance like that without him. He teaches students who might not have received such opportunities. And if they have problems with their studies, they can always try this site and find help. Others are simply jealous that they do not have such an opportunity.