Bigsavage, that's a fair compromise. I dont think that anyone is consistently coming on here (anymore) that is claiming FH is anything more than what they are. And what they've proven to be the best 1A team in the state. Whether 1A is up or down, doesn't really compute. You play where you're put.
I just dont understand the argument of what the schedule SHOULD be, tho. Especially the way BnB keeps playing it, broken record syndrome. I dont disagree that there are some habitually easy teams on the schedule..everyone does that. Even the best teams in 4A still play a few for-sure wins a year. But adding a few good teams like Sherando and Hollidaysburg to a 1A schedule...isnt creampuff. Are they the best in their respective state classes? No, but they are still solid teams - they aren't Walter Johnson. And if FH wasn't on a tear right now, I think they'd be pretty even games. Hell, I don't know what to expect from Hollidaysburg; we do know that Sherando lost some key personnel from last years team that shook some fear into FH. And Keyser beat FH last year, lest we forget.
Keyser has the best record against FH over the last few years. Hollidaysburg holds a winning record against FH. And Allegany is still Allegany.
I don't think FH plays the toughest schedule in the state, but for a 1A team..I just am not sure what the alternative is? I'm sure we're going to hear from BnB to tell us who the 50 top schools in Maryland are, and how FH doesn't schedule them..as if they have the ability to just tell them to play. But stepping aside from the belittling of the schedule as "cream puff", and entering into an honest discussion...what is the alternative?
When we hear the "they wont play FH" argument, I dont think I'm reading that teams are "afraid" to play FH inasmuch as they dont want to chance a loss to a smaller team when the reward is fewer points. No one is afraid to play FH, but when it comes to cost, distance, and playoff implications for teams ..is the risk there? All teams are positioning for playoff runs. And if FH was still consistently positioning for playoff runs and getting beat in the finals..I might be more apt to side with what you are saying. In the last few years, I dont think it would matter if FH was 10-0 or 6-4 going into the playoffs...they were still better than the other 1A competition. That's just luck.
Is it not the goal of the season to prepare for the post season and win a title? If FH was a 4A team in Montgomery County...they'd be playing a different schedule. And if Wise was a 1A school in Allegany County, they'd be playing a different schedule as well.
Appalachian State is not going to play a BCS schedule anymore than Alabama is going to play all FCS teams.