WV playoffs postponed
- Thread starter cumbfanatic
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Just when we thought Marylands system was bad... This WV system was a mess from the get go, starting with how they were classifying teams.
From what I’ve read and my understanding of it, the state never updated the playoff computer point ranking system after all of the teams won their appeal to drop down classifications from the new set up this offseason. The system was still giving teams win points based on the original 4 system set up and not after the teams dropped down classes after the appeal. Apparently coaches had been begging for the state to update the system because they could see this problem happening but here we are
Have to give you credit. The only thing that I got out of reading through all that was a headache!
It’s a mess and has caused I think almost every 14-18 seed to sue each other because the state announced the playoffs the day after the season ended with the original system numbers and that caused the teams that missed out to question the points. That’s how Hampshire ended up getting kicked out and what caused Hampshire to open litigation as well
Maryland had it right back in 2019 before COVID hit. That was the playoff format myself, Coach Appel, Toby Peer and pretty much most of Washington County had laid out and proposed.
4 classes, 8 teams from each region made the playoffs. There were roughly 10-12 teams in each region. Those not in that top 8 finish did not deserve to be in nor did they want to be included.
Changing it for COVID was smart - there was no other choice since some teams only played like 3-5 games in 2021. But when the MPSSAA found out how much more money there were making with 6 classes of playoffs with everyone included, they were not going to budge from that COVID format.
4 classes, 8 teams from each region made the playoffs. There were roughly 10-12 teams in each region. Those not in that top 8 finish did not deserve to be in nor did they want to be included.
Changing it for COVID was smart - there was no other choice since some teams only played like 3-5 games in 2021. But when the MPSSAA found out how much more money there were making with 6 classes of playoffs with everyone included, they were not going to budge from that COVID format.
The state did update it. Teams that dropped down in august were treated as members of that class for rating points. This screwed over teams that had scheduled the now lower classification teams thinking they would be up a class and worth more base points. Best example is Huntington, who despite being 9-1 was slated to be the #5 seed(before Spring Mills got dinged) in the bracket behind two 7-3 teams. This was because Huntington played 4 or 5 teams as part of their conference schedule that got bumped to 3A from 4A a week before the season started. Predictably a couple counties got injunctions last Friday against this current system and ordering the points he counted as they would’ve been before august. So now Huntington is awarded 4A points for beating their conference opponents that were dropped down.
In 4A it’s a matter of seeding. Which is obviously a big deal when traveling from the EP to the Huntington area, but everyone is in regardless with there only being 16 teams in class. In the lower classifications however reverting to points “as scheduled” is knocking teams that were in under the “as played” system out of the playoffs. Especially when compounded with the relatively new “SoS points”. 3-7 Capital is one of those teams that dropped from 4A to 3A. They play in the same conference as Huntington, and until Friday had a roughly 50/50 4A/3A schedule with all 3 of their wins coming over teams in the same situation as themselves. With the points reverting, Capital not only added 9 base points to their total(12 points for 3A wins>15 points for 4A wins) they also got a heap of additional SoS points(1.2 points per win by 3A opponent who beat you>1.5 per win by 4A opponent who beat you). This vaults Capital, at 3-7, to the #10 seed in 3A, over 5-5 Hampshire and a host of 4-6 teams.
The delay comes in because several more counties have since sought and won injunctions against the “as scheduled” points system. This puts the SSAC in a spot where to go on in either direction puts them in contempt of one court or another. So the state Supreme Court will need to weigh in. In short, it is a huge mess.
Ultimately the issue is WV having its hands tied by private schools. The SSAC is not allowed to force them into their own class, or apply a multiplier for their enrollment. The 4 class system and the secret formula used to group teams was all about getting the tiny catholic schools out of 1A where they routinely dominated most sports. As well as other schools piggybacking off this so they could try to avoid a Martinsburg or Bridgeport. Everybody wants to be the biggest fish possible in the smallest pond possible.
"Play-in" games tentatively scheduled; Spring Mills seeks restoration of four victories - WV MetroNews
(This story will be updated) MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — “Play-in” games for the Class AAA playoffs have been tentatively scheduled for Saturday as the rest of the WVSSAC high school football playoff games remain stalled. Hampshire High School posted on their Facebook page late Wednesday afternoon that...
wvmetronews.com
If I'm in charge of the WVSSAC, I play games next weekend using the formula in place with the classifications as they existed all year.
If a judge finds me in contempt...sue me, fine me, fire me, arrest me. Whatever. But the court system clown show stops now.
If a judge finds me in contempt...sue me, fine me, fire me, arrest me. Whatever. But the court system clown show stops now.
I say make the teams who are suing each other and the state play for the spots they are suing for. Everyone needs to quit bitching and play the play in games. Most of the teams are complaining about being the 15 or 16 seed vs the 17 or 18 seed. Why not play an extra game against someone you can actually compete with rather that relying on a judge to tell you that you have to get slaughtered by the likes of Frankfort, Princeton, fairmont senior, Bridgeport, or Martinsburg. The longer this goes the more it frustrates me that these teams are adamant they don’t want to play a play in game. Winfield offered Hampshire a play in game at Hampshire and Hampshire declined
On another note and to the north of us in Pennsylvania, three teams we know of are in the state quarterfinals this weekend: Bedford (2A), Clearfield (4A) and Hollidaysburg (5A).
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