If playoffs started today

[alco65]

If the playoffs started today in 1A: 14 teams with losing records would make it.
5 teams with just 1 win would make it
1 team with out a win would make it (out of the South)
More teams may make it to the playoffs but this is not a good playoff system. Just my opinion.
3 teams out of the West are under .500
4 teams out of the South are under .500 (including team that hasn't won anything but the coin toss)
3 teams out of the North are under .500
4 teams out of the East are under .500

 

[CumberlandHSFB]

Yea I dont like this playoff system hardly at all

 

[TDHelmick]

If the playoffs started today in 1A: 14 teams with losing records would make it.
5 teams with just 1 win would make it
1 team with out a win would make it (out of the South)
More teams may make it to the playoffs but this is not a good playoff system. Just my opinion.
3 teams out of the West are under .500
4 teams out of the South are under .500 (including team that hasn't won anything but the coin toss)
3 teams out of the North are under .500
4 teams out of the East are under .500

On the flip side...if we still had the old system there are a handful of 4-1 teams that don't make the playoffs if they started today. A massive chunk of 2 loss teams like Damascus would be out. Then everyone goes back to scheduling the worst teams possible in the regular season just to make the playoffs. That system philosophy is a complete joke.

I have to extremely emphasize again that while this new system is not perfect by any stretch, it is miles and miles better than the one that has been used for 2+ decades. Yet again, the 1-16 set up is, was and never will be an option because of cost. So use your best logic and accept that what we have now is the best option given the limited options out there. It's no different in Pennsylvania where many teams under .500 make their regional district playoffs.

I find it odd that so many people complain about the lopsided scores this first round of playoffs is sure to bring while sitting back and wondering why the regular season produces an ungodly amount of these type of lopsided scores because nobody wants to play anybody that is good. Scheduling your way into the playoffs while never being required to play teams in your own region had to go.

Everyone makes the playoffs in every single Maryland high school sport. Why football has to be different to some people is nothing more than a bad tradition for people that are uncomfortable with change. Give this system a chance. I believe in the next 2-3 years we will see much, much better match ups in the regular season.

 

[cumbfanatic]

It gives teams opportunities to improve. The old system you could lose an early game make great improvements and miss the playoffs. I like giving more teams a chance, I don’t see a problem with it.

 

[OneRing]

On the flip side...if we still had the old system there are a handful of 4-1 teams that don't make the playoffs if they started today. A massive chunk of 2 loss teams like Damascus would be out. Then everyone goes back to scheduling the worst teams possible in the regular season just to make the playoffs. That system philosophy is a complete joke.

I have to extremely emphasize again that while this new system is not perfect by any stretch, it is miles and miles better than the one that has been used for 2+ decades. Yet again, the 1-16 set up is, was and never will be an option because of cost. So use your best logic and accept that what we have now is the best option given the limited options out there. It's no different in Pennsylvania where many teams under .500 make their regional district playoffs.

I find it odd that so many people complain about the lopsided scores this first round of playoffs is sure to bring while sitting back and wondering why the regular season produces an ungodly amount of these type of lopsided scores because nobody wants to play anybody that is good. Scheduling your way into the playoffs while never being required to play teams in your own region had to go.

Everyone makes the playoffs in every single Maryland high school sport. Why football has to be different to some people is nothing more than a bad tradition for people that are uncomfortable with change. Give this system a chance. I believe in the next 2-3 years we will see much, much better match ups in the regular season.

I was completely fine with the 8-team system. Four region winners and 4 wildcards from across the state with the highest point average. The scheduling for the playoffs took off once the switch to 16 teams was made. I don't see why it will get any better now. Yeah, playing better teams in the regular season doesnt hurt you point-wise, but it also doesnt help you. Teams will just schedule for homefield.

You couldn't get away with going 10-0 or 9-1 and only playing walkovers when 4 or 8 teams made the playoffs. Another team would go 8-2 but because they played better teams, would beat out the 9-1 squad.
Now with 16 teams and 32 teams, you can play as many easy games as you want and still make the playoffs.

I really think this change will have the opposite effect and cause even less care to be given to scheduling quality opponents.

 

[MCsoccerplex]

On the flip side...if we still had the old system there are a handful of 4-1 teams that don't make the playoffs if they started today. A massive chunk of 2 loss teams like Damascus would be out. Then everyone goes back to scheduling the worst teams possible in the regular season just to make the playoffs. That system philosophy is a complete joke.

I have to extremely emphasize again that while this new system is not perfect by any stretch, it is miles and miles better than the one that has been used for 2+ decades. Yet again, the 1-16 set up is, was and never will be an option because of cost. So use your best logic and accept that what we have now is the best option given the limited options out there. It's no different in Pennsylvania where many teams under .500 make their regional district playoffs.

I find it odd that so many people complain about the lopsided scores this first round of playoffs is sure to bring while sitting back and wondering why the regular season produces an ungodly amount of these type of lopsided scores because nobody wants to play anybody that is good. Scheduling your way into the playoffs while never being required to play teams in your own region had to go.

Everyone makes the playoffs in every single Maryland high school sport. Why football has to be different to some people is nothing more than a bad tradition for people that are uncomfortable with change. Give this system a chance. I believe in the next 2-3 years we will see much, much better match ups in the regular season.

I am in agreement that the current system is much better than the previous one.

While I agree the MPSSAA uses the excuse that “the 1-16 set up is, was and never will be an option because of cost” - it is a very, very poor excuse to not have a 1-16 playoff system.

If one of the poorest states (WV) can do it, one of the wealthiest states (MD) could do if it had the will to do so. Also, WV is geographically much larger than MD, so travel can be much farther than in MD.

I just hate that excuse!

 

[alco65]

On the flip side...if we still had the old system there are a handful of 4-1 teams that don't make the playoffs if they started today. A massive chunk of 2 loss teams like Damascus would be out. Then everyone goes back to scheduling the worst teams possible in the regular season just to make the playoffs. That system philosophy is a complete joke.

I have to extremely emphasize again that while this new system is not perfect by any stretch, it is miles and miles better than the one that has been used for 2+ decades. Yet again, the 1-16 set up is, was and never will be an option because of cost. So use your best logic and accept that what we have now is the best option given the limited options out there. It's no different in Pennsylvania where many teams under .500 make their regional district playoffs.

I find it odd that so many people complain about the lopsided scores this first round of playoffs is sure to bring while sitting back and wondering why the regular season produces an ungodly amount of these type of lopsided scores because nobody wants to play anybody that is good. Scheduling your way into the playoffs while never being required to play teams in your own region had to go.

Everyone makes the playoffs in every single Maryland high school sport. Why football has to be different to some people is nothing more than a bad tradition for people that are uncomfortable with change. Give this system a chance. I believe in the next 2-3 years we will see much, much better match ups in the regular season.

I thought at first I would like the new system but then looking at it now not a fan.

 

[NG Huskies Fan]

I agree completely. As I've mentioned before, the longest possible playoff match up is Southern/Snow Hill and the odds of that happening aren't good, let alone happening repeatedly. I know the metro area is the problem with the straight 1-16 format for whatever reason, money or whatever. Even though WV makes it work and they are a much geographically larger and poorer state.

I do think though, that this is better than the top 4 region format for sure. As Todd mentioned, you won't have 7-2 teams being left out because they are in a strong region. It does create options for teams like Northern, Southern, etc, who previously didn't have a choice but to go through Cumberland, with the set up now, if they get lucky and land a positive bracket they may not need to. If I'm Northern this year, you maybe hope you end up on the Catoctin side of the bracket, it wouldn't be a cake walk--may not win in the end, but they would at least have a better chance to get to the final 8 and see how it shakes out.

I just think 1-16 would work in Maryland, it's just the powers that be doesn't want to give it a chance, or the other option is keep what we have now and reseed 1-16 after the first game? That'd work too, imo.

I am in agreement that the current system is much better than the previous one.

While I agree the MPSSAA uses the excuse that “the 1-16 set up is, was and never will be an option because of cost” - it is a very, very poor excuse to not have a 1-16 playoff system.

If one of the poorest states (WV) can do it, one of the wealthiest states (MD) could do if it had the will to do so. Also, WV is geographically much larger than MD, so travel can be much farther than in MD.

I just hate that excuse!

 

[TDHelmick]

There is always going to be people that can't get past the 1-16 thing. I personally had to get this through to many head coaches who refused to drop the topic after nearly 50 years of banging their heads against that 1-16 door with zero results. The MPSSAA won't ever adopt it. Yes it is about cost. Complaining about it doesn't work. We have tried for half a century. It was time to try another approach.

Sorry to bring this up again...but does everyone realize how great it would be to see Fort Hill and Keyser play this year? We can't because WV has this 1-16 playoff thing. Sad.

Everyone has an opinion and that's cool. I appreciate the feedback. But I love this new MPSSAA playoff system. It opens so many new doors.

As a Husky fan pointed out...they can now win their two regional games by avoiding FH, get to the round of 8 where they might go further in the playoff system than they ever have.

 

[hbpass2]

I agree completely. As I've mentioned before, the longest possible playoff match up is Southern/Snow Hill and the odds of that happening aren't good, let alone happening repeatedly. I know the metro area is the problem with the straight 1-16 format for whatever reason, money or whatever. Even though WV makes it work and they are a much geographically larger and poorer state.

I do think though, that this is better than the top 4 region format for sure. As Todd mentioned, you won't have 7-2 teams being left out because they are in a strong region. It does create options for teams like Northern, Southern, etc, who previously didn't have a choice but to go through Cumberland, with the set up now, if they get lucky and land a positive bracket they may not need to. If I'm Northern this year, you maybe hope you end up on the Catoctin side of the bracket, it wouldn't be a cake walk--may not win in the end, but they would at least have a better chance to get to the final 8 and see how it shakes out.

I just think 1-16 would work in Maryland, it's just the powers that be doesn't want to give it a chance, or the other option is keep what we have now and reseed 1-16 after the first game? That'd work too, imo.

Agreed. Just taking the west this year, everyone knows it’s FH and that’s pretty much it but let’s say this playoff format was around the last 5 years let’s say. MR was arguably the hottest team the final 5 weeks of the season last year but missed out because of the brutal opening weeks they played. I think ridge could’ve made a deep playoff run personally. How about allegany with robinette and bratton? If everything worked out we would’ve seen a Cumberland state title game that year. I’m still a fan of this format and I’m anxious to see what happens when there’s a 2018 ridge team or a 2017 alco team that makes a deep run because of the expanded playoff format.

 

[OneRing]

As a Husky fan pointed out...they can now win their two regional games by avoiding FH, get to the round of 8 where they might go further in the playoff system than they ever have.

I will never be able to see that as a positive. In fact, that completely waters down the playoffs (even more so than letting everyone in). Let's not try to earn anything, just pray that the ball bounces our way so we can sneak further than more deserving teams and make it appear we had a better year than we did.

 

[OneRing]

How about allegany with robinette and bratton? If everything worked out we would’ve seen a Cumberland state title game that year.

We did. It was just played the second week of the playoffs in the region championship. Just as the NFL title is often settled in the conference championship game instead of the super bowl.

 

[money316]

I will never be able to see that as a positive. In fact, that completely waters down the playoffs (even more so than letting everyone in). Let's not try to earn anything, just pray that the ball bounces our way so we can sneak further than more deserving teams and make it appear we had a better year than we did.

100% agreed. You can only duck good teams so long. Sooner or later, you will draw the likes of Dunbar, FH, Catoctin, etc.

 

[beall02]

If the playoffs started today in 1A: 14 teams with losing records would make it.
5 teams with just 1 win would make it
1 team with out a win would make it (out of the South)
More teams may make it to the playoffs but this is not a good playoff system. Just my opinion.
3 teams out of the West are under .500
4 teams out of the South are under .500 (including team that hasn't won anything but the coin toss)
3 teams out of the North are under .500
4 teams out of the East are under .500

I agree with you that the system sucks but it is an improvement over the previous system. I think more people around here will like it once they see the reseeding of teams after the first two rounds and multiple teams from the same region in a State Championship Game.

I know that Week 10 is technically the first round of the playoffs but I don't look at it that way. I look at it as another regular season game. The real playoffs start in Week 11.

 

[LHSlancerFAN]

I agree with you that the system sucks but it is an improvement over the previous system. I think more people around here will like it once they see the reseeding of teams after the first two rounds and multiple teams from the same region in a State Championship Game.

I know that Week 10 is technically the first round of the playoffs but I don't look at it that way. I look at it as another regular season game. The real playoffs start in Week 11.

I agree. I think the reseeding is where you are going to see the biggest and best change. I go back to last year, and no offense to Chesapeake, but they had absolutely no business being in the 3A State Semi-Final. There were 5 or 6 teams in just the 3A West alone that could have beaten Chesapeake. The 3A East region, at least recently, has been the weakest of the class yet every year they were sending teams to the semis just to get blown out. If everything plays out as projected this year, the top 2 teams from the 3A East are going to be the 7 and 8 seeds and most likely wont make it out of the quarters. We have the potential in every class to have some incredible semi final matchups which we haven't been seeing recently. We also need to look at how many "upsets" occur in the 4-5 and 3-6 first round matchups. Generally the 5th and 6th teams are the ones with the most to gripe about in the old system so if we see a decent amount of upsets there, then I think the system is doing its job. In the end, I think everyone needs to give the system 2 or 3 years and also a new cycle of scheduling to see how we really feel.

 

[Tony54]

Great points!

 

[TDHelmick]

Let me phrase it another way. I don't see the first round of the playoffs as a playoff game at all. I see it as a mandatory region game no different than the 10 game schedules we have always known. The MPSSAA could never force region teams to schedule each other in the regular season. But they just did really with this structure. The second region game really becomes a mandatory region game as well. Then everyone gets seeded 1-8...which is really close to the 1-16 set up everyone is asking for. What more could anyone ask for...region teams are now forced to play each other and then reseed everyone 1-8.

 

[Tony54]

I like it!

 

[Tony54]

I just wish we had some competitive games to watch. It looks like we are about 5 or 6 weeks away

 

[Lagmeister]

I just wish we had some competitive games to watch. It looks like we are about 5 or 6 weeks away

Like I always post, each school should schedule 9 games of like competition, finish with a rival game (if possible), then hit the books. Never will happen. Even at the high school level, we have contorted ourselves into a self-aggrandizing sports monster-pretzel. It serves the students not one twit.