You changed your original reply why? So tell us what you really think!!

757FridayNiteZ said:

I had a HS coach tell my child that if they wanted to be considered for a starter on his team, they'd need to join HIS off season travel team! This should never be allowed. The conflict is clear.

Those "other entities" are utilized to entice families to do what we see in these All Star type teams. The other way to go about this is to go ahead & allow a Cali type league that is segregated as such but not eligible for VHSL championships. Let them schedule private schools & the National powers just keep it out of the VHSL. For me, it's the unfair level of competition the current system has produced.

IF parent choice actually occurs, with pretty much open enrollment, then there's a good chance this academy type school for sports will be the natural progression of things anyway.

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My thought process has been going here for a while. I have a class for all-star teams and let them duke it out for a championship. They have a different set of rules and guidelines and schools can appeal to play in that class if they so choose. Then you have a 4-class system with the other schools. Pretty simple in theory.

BoKnowsSports said:

Not really. Much worse happens with SOLs, negligence, accreditation, etc and principals re-land relatively easy. FCPS has backed Hayfield through all of this and if they do end up back peddling, it’ll be minimal. If FCPS hasn’t “found” anything, unless Hayfield is stupid, the worse I see happening is forfeiting games. The only reason it’s gone this far is you have a bunch people with resources going after the state’s largest school division. Money and conflict of interest within litigation will save Hayfield and that school division.

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We will have to agree to disagree. I doubt any of the things you characterize as much worse has generated the notoriety surrounding the Hayfield/FCPS situation and the situation has elements(negligence, fraud, etc.) found in the things you describe as "much worse." What else is FCPS going to do other than back Hayfield? They are in this thing up to their eyeballs after their "investigation" if not before. I think you misread the situation, particularly the part about a bunch of people with resources going after the state's largest school division. Who do you believe those people with resources might be? All I see are schools and neighboring school divisions impacted by the FCPS failures challenging them. I think your last line about money and conflict of interest is a stretch but, without further explanation of what you really mean and are trying to say I cannot challenge or determine whether I have misinterpreted what you mean.

Not to mention, Varina’s been playing some of their best football in the past month

BoKnowsSports said:

Not really. Much worse happens with SOLs, negligence, accreditation, etc and principals re-land relatively easy. FCPS has backed Hayfield through all of this and if they do end up back peddling, it’ll be minimal. If FCPS hasn’t “found” anything, unless Hayfield is stupid, the worse I see happening is forfeiting games. The only reason it’s gone this far is you have a bunch people with resources going after the state’s largest school division. Money and conflict of interest within litigation will save Hayfield and that school division.

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There are a variety of reasons why Hayfield has been targeted in this instance and I guess you could say being used to make an example out of. I don't believe it is the money portion although I might be naïve to that aspect. I think the two things drawing the ire is:

1) The number of recruits. We all knows kids are transferring, schools/coaches are recruiting but to the magnitude of which it happened was so blatant that of course it caught everyone's attention. Had it been 3-5 I dont think we get this far.

2) While at Freedom, Overton and those associated with Freedom liked to say something to the effect of "Freedom by 50" and they routinely crushed, embarrassed teams. Yes, they have the talent to do it but I think of coaches in the Richmond area, there is comraderies, there is friendship, there is respect. I cannot imagine Overton had good relationships or respect from other area coaches so naturally it made him public enemy #1 in those ranks.

Just my opinion FWIW

BoKnowsSports said:

This thread and the Hayfield talk is tiring as hell. Too many good games going on to be caught up in this drama. If LCA is allowed to play public school ball, John Marshall is allowed to play C2 ball, and states actually acknowledging the “high school portal”, you think think this is going to be any different. Coaches have done what these guys have done for years, these cats were just arrogant and loud.

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Go read the Riverheads/Stuarts Draft thread in C2 boards, that one's a doozy.

bullrunmanic8771 said:

If Madison goes out and plays like they did against Clarke won’t be a question of who wins but by how many points does MC win by!!!!!!!

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LOL I guess only time will tell....

This thread and the Hayfield talk is tiring as hell. Too many good games going on to be caught up in this drama. If LCA is allowed to play public school ball, John Marshall is allowed to play C2 ball, and states actually acknowledging the “high school portal”, you think think this is going to be any different. Coaches have done what these guys have done for years, these cats were just arrogant and loud.

I think people forget at seasons end last year Dinwiddie was decimated at the skill position. Not taking anything away from KG but it really took the wheels falling off for King George to start pulling away in the 2nd half. I think Dinwiddie will be ok defensively this week because the King George QB isn't a dynamic runner like Bryce Yates at Matoaca.

cutnjump said:

Given the publicity this situation has generated it could likely be more difficult than you imagine, particularly in areas of reasonable proximity. When playoff schedules and eligibility are getting adjusted and courts/lawyers are involved this has become much more than a minor dustup and could follow those involved for at least some period of time. This likely follows the old adage that it is the cover up more often than the crime that creates the problem.

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Not really. Much worse happens with SOLs, negligence, accreditation, etc and principals re-land relatively easy. FCPS has backed Hayfield through all of this and if they do end up back peddling, it’ll be minimal. If FCPS hasn’t “found” anything, unless Hayfield is stupid, the worse I see happening is forfeiting games. The only reason it’s gone this far is you have a bunch people with resources going after the state’s largest school division. Money and conflict of interest within litigation will save Hayfield and that school division.

Bluefield will be playing Friday at 7:00 in Princeton, WV.
Graham will still be playing at Mitchell Stadium at 7:00 on Friday.

i wonder why these teams didn’t get together and boycott during the season…why wait to threaten to do it now

mike salem said:

Heritage could upset LCA Fri. It was only a 34-27 game in the regular season.

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I agree Mike but it's just gonna depend on which Heritage team shows up. Can't be the one that showed up against Glass and Brookville, if that happens it will be over quick. If they can slow Gideon Davidson down enough to stay close in the 4th I believe they will have a good shot at the W.

I had a HS coach tell my child that if they wanted to be considered for a starter on his team, they'd need to join HIS off season travel team! This should never be allowed. The conflict is clear.

Those "other entities" are utilized to entice families to do what we see in these All Star type teams. The other way to go about this is to go ahead & allow a Cali type league that is segregated as such but not eligible for VHSL championships. Let them schedule private schools & the National powers just keep it out of the VHSL. For me, it's the unfair level of competition the current system has produced.

IF parent choice actually occurs, with pretty much open enrollment, then there's a good chance this academy type school for sports will be the natural progression of things anyway.

FoxesPride said:

Some school officials make more than the President and cabinet secretaries....pretty sure the President and say, the Secretary of Defense, should be making more than the Superintendent of Fairfax County schools...just saying

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The old Babe Ruth line when he was questioned about making more than the President comes to mind. He replied, "I had a better year than he did." In this situation the FCPS superintendent and the current sitting President would appear to have their own individual challenges. ;-)

This whole investigation of going to open a larger investigation into all the transfer players in the county/state. Hayfield has grossly abused the system from the articles and evidence presented, but I’m not naive to think they’re the only school who’s benefitted from a “you should play for us” and let’s make it happen motto. If they do begin digging there’d be a lot of vacated titles but that’s a what if and potential real possibility. Most families don’t move the just use an address and get mail there …

1MoreHokie said:

No, she got mad a coach pointed out teachers up there got bupkis for a pay raise while she took home a large increase. Like most upper-level management, they have zero ability to show proof of their worth being commiserate with their pay so she's pivoting to racism to try and go on the offensive.

Rich people haaaaaaaaaaate when you question their paychecks because they know they can't stand on solid ground. Superintendents clearing half a mil in some places while their teachers need two jobs to survive, it's BS.

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Some school officials make more than the President and cabinet secretaries....pretty sure the President and say, the Secretary of Defense, should be making more than the Superintendent of Fairfax County schools...just saying

I won't use the word "dishonest" about this discussion or any other but if there is one situation in the VHSL that needs addressing, it is the LCA football and John Marshall basketball programs. Last I heard in high school ball, you are supposed to play for the school that is closest to where you live. So you can't tell me that all these world-class athletes establish residences in those two areas every year. In fact wouldn't it be interesting to do a study some time and see how fast they head back to their home towns once those state titles have been won?

Now if those are considered private boarding schools and the athletes qualify on that basis, then fine, but let them compete in the private school leagues. It is totally unfair year in and year out for Virginia's public schools in those classifications and those sports to start practicing, knowing from the beginning that they will not have a shot at a state title.

BoKnowsSports said:

Hayfield’s principal (Darin Thompson) is a Richmond guy. As principal, he helped Varina get over the hump as they won back to back basketball state championships in 2022 and 2023 and the football state championship in 2021. He’s a pro-athletics principal. He won’t have much trouble finding another job if he ends up out .

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Given the publicity this situation has generated it could likely be more difficult than you imagine, particularly in areas of reasonable proximity. When playoff schedules and eligibility are getting adjusted and courts/lawyers are involved this has become much more than a minor dustup and could follow those involved for at least some period of time. This likely follows the old adage that it is the cover up more often than the crime that creates the problem.

BoKnowsSports said:

D’Lo Ramsey is one of the best RBs I’ve ever seen play with my own two eyes.

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Yeah, he is definitely the biggest “what if”. Man, the dude would’ve been fun to watch on Sundays.

MrSalem1000 said:

I think the two best running backs to come through Salem has been Peyton Lewis and Deangelo Ramsey. Peyton Lewis was faster than Deangelo was but I think Deangelo was more physical. I think Deangelo could’ve made it to the NFL. I think Peyton will play on Sundays. If he doesn’t get drafted I’m sure he will get picked up as a undrafted free agent

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D’Lo Ramsey is one of the best RBs I’ve ever seen play with my own two eyes.

The coaches all know there's a problem & they're the best group to police this. Develop a code of ethics, require certification & sanction your own. Decertify the bad apples

Because a lot of these problems are connected to youth leagues, a statewide association/ union is likely required. The connections with the side gig, training academies & 7vs7 leagues needs to be recognized as the conflict of interest that they are! In no way should HS or MS coaches be involved in those activities, period.

Honestly, Peyton’s freshman season at Tennessee hasn’t been bad. 45 carries for 216 yards and 1 TD. Averaging 4.8 yards per carry. I think he will get better and better as his college career goes on. I find myself watching Tennessee more often then I used to with a big reason of that being I want to see how he does when he gets in during the games 😂

CRF4Dan said:

I'd be shocked if it changes. What I believe will ultimately happen is Hayfield will win their region, maybe advance to state championship, win or don't win. After the season any wins will be vacated just like college, Overton and the admin will be gone and next years team misses playoffs as they pay the reprecussions.

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Hayfield’s principal (Darin Thompson) is a Richmond guy. As principal, he played a huge part in getting Varina over the hump as they won back to back basketball state championships in 2022 and 2023 and the football state championship in 2021. He’s a pro-athletics principal. He won’t have much trouble finding another job if he ends up out at Hayfield.