4a east uses pod system for football playoffs

[DinwiddieProud]

Conferences 17 & 18 are one pod, Conferences 19 & 20 are the second pod.

The top 8 out of each pod, determined by VHSL points, make the playoffs.

The 8 teams in each pod play down until two are left.

The remaining 4 are cross bracket via VHSL points. The remaining two play for the regional championship, and the right to play in the state championship game.

QUESTIONS: What has this accomplished? Will more deserving teams get in now? Will it improve the gate? Will it change anything about the potential matchup against the west representative? Should the west be following this format, too? Is it fair for the two regions to be using two different methods to determine a state championship representative?

As it is currently written in the VHSL handbook, there are no provisions that permit or require the mix of these four conferences to alternate. This was rumored, but there are no facts to support this change in future years.

So what do you think? Why?

DP

 

[DEVILSLB99]

DP,
I told you this was going to happen awhile ago. You know why this was done....The conference 19 and 20 teams were complaining about travel. Think about it Dinwiddie had to come to ICN for a first round game and then come back to LT for a 2nd round game. When you're not enjoying the home field advantage and having to travel it gets expensive and you start noticing. Now I'm not saying Dinwiddie was leading the charge to get this changed but I can see why they could have an argument. The other argument is Richmond schools never wanted this new system to begin with. They liked the idea of regionals, so this at least keeps things someone regionalized for the first two rounds and with this their chances of having a representative at the state championships can increase. Look at what is being done in 5a they basically are playing regionals with the teams meeting in the state semifinals like it used to happen under the old format. People up that way don't like to try new things. Down here we're interested in trying to get an all 757 state final or semifinal. It's the same reasons the North refused to cross bracket the state semifinals because they knew they had better chances by letting the South eliminate themselves and only have to worry about 1 South team. Oh well it's the system that was voted on and so we will play it the way they want it. I read yesterday that the same thing was done "pods" in 3a East. I personally like going 1-16 and playing that way you ensure that you get the best teams left. With this setup the two best teams may be in the same pod and you can have a team basically win the state championship game vs the best team in round 2. When we played Phoebus in 2008 and lost 14-0 there was no way you could have told us if we won that game we wouldn't have won the state title. The next 2 weeks they blew out Stone Bridge and Dinwiddie. That was the case for many years in the old Eastern Region where state championship teams got better games in regionals then the state semifinals and finals.

 

[DinwiddieProud]

I don't know this as a fact, but I think you are right that it was driven by the Richmond area clan. I haven't had the chance to sit down with the right people to have them convince me that this pod system was of any benefit to Dinwiddie. I thought, and still think, that the 1 vs 16 is absolutely the fairest way. Incidently, I never heard any real complaints about the back to back trips to tidewater. You and I can agree that you are the product of your seeding. If you don't like where you fell, then schedule tougher out of district opponents, and/or win more games. What could be fairer. The gate basically becomes a non factor in the playoffs, so that is just a cop out. I have heard strong evidence that the region lost money on the playoffs last year. But, I think that was more circumstantial. I don't see the pod system fixing that. But, if money is made this year, everybody will say, see we told you so! I say bull crap. Same for travel expenses. The cost is minuscule in the big scheme of things. (Admittedly a bit tougher in some of the lower group matchup's, I'll give you that). I won't say what I think was the real reason, but I think the pod system was a step backwards.

 

[DinwiddieProud]

Certainly someone other than Devils and I have an opinion?

 

[DEVILSLB99]

I don't know this as a fact, but I think you are right that it was driven by the Richmond area clan. I haven't had the chance to sit down with the right people to have them convince me that this pod system was of any benefit to Dinwiddie. I thought, and still think, that the 1 vs 16 is absolutely the fairest way. Incidently, I never heard any real complaints about the back to back trips to tidewater. You and I can agree that you are the product of your seeding. If you don't like where you fell, then schedule tougher out of district opponents, and/or win more games. What could be fairer. The gate basically becomes a non factor in the playoffs, so that is just a cop out. I have heard strong evidence that the region lost money on the playoffs last year. But, I think that was more circumstantial. I don't see the pod system fixing that. But, if money is made this year, everybody will say, see we told you so! I say bull crap. Same for travel expenses. The cost is minuscule in the big scheme of things. (Admittedly a bit tougher in some of the lower group matchup's, I'll give you that). I won't say what I think was the real reason, but I think the pod system was a step backwards.

100% correct. Teams are playing weaker teams to try and fudge the numbers so they can have home field advantages in the playoffs. I know Coach Mills didn't care about the travel and all that because he's a play anyone anywhere kind of coach but there are a lot of administrators and coaches that don't think like this. They would prefer to hide until they HAVE to really play someone. If 1A and 2A schools can get it to work without travel restrictions why are the bigger classifications have so many problems. I agree 1-16 is the fair way of doing things.

 

[Snookasuperstar]

DP,
I told you this was going to happen awhile ago. You know why this was done....The conference 19 and 20 teams were complaining about travel. Think about it Dinwiddie had to come to ICN for a first round game and then come back to LT for a 2nd round game. When you're not enjoying the home field advantage and having to travel it gets expensive and you start noticing. Now I'm not saying Dinwiddie was leading the charge to get this changed but I can see why they could have an argument. The other argument is Richmond schools never wanted this new system to begin with. They liked the idea of regionals, so this at least keeps things someone regionalized for the first two rounds and with this their chances of having a representative at the state championships can increase. Look at what is being done in 5a they basically are playing regionals with the teams meeting in the state semifinals like it used to happen under the old format. People up that way don't like to try new things. Down here we're interested in trying to get an all 757 state final or semifinal. It's the same reasons the North refused to cross bracket the state semifinals because they knew they had better chances by letting the South eliminate themselves and only have to worry about 1 South team. Oh well it's the system that was voted on and so we will play it the way they want it. I read yesterday that the same thing was done "pods" in 3a East. I personally like going 1-16 and playing that way you ensure that you get the best teams left. With this setup the two best teams may be in the same pod and you can have a team basically win the state championship game vs the best team in round 2. When we played Phoebus in 2008 and lost 14-0 there was no way you could have told us if we won that game we wouldn't have won the state title. The next 2 weeks they blew out Stone Bridge and Dinwiddie. That was the case for many years in the old Eastern Region where state championship teams got better games in regionals then the state semifinals and finals.

Devil,

I agree with what you are saying in that no one up this way wants an all 757 championship, so they adopt this pod system. People are saying the money to travel is the main reason, which maybe true as to why they adopted this system. Some schools are charging kids to play, schools are having cutbacks left and right, and unfortunately high school sports is taking a beating.
However, I personally would rather see the championship game with the two best teams in it. I would think most would agree that last year the championship game was the 4a south championship game, but it comes down to money.
By the way I have heard in a few years that their is a possibility of more change coming to the playoffs.

 

[Snookasuperstar]

100% correct. Teams are playing weaker teams to try and fudge the numbers so they can have home field advantages in the playoffs. I know Coach Mills didn't care about the travel and all that because he's a play anyone anywhere kind of coach but there are a lot of administrators and coaches that don't think like this. They would prefer to hide until they HAVE to really play someone. If 1A and 2A schools can get it to work without travel restrictions why are the bigger classifications have so many problems. I agree 1-16 is the fair way of doing things.

Completely agree with FUDGING NUMBERS! Very few schools are willing to play anyone and anywhere. Some coaches or fans talk the talk, but very few walk the walk.

 

[DinwiddieProud]

I only say this half in jest. If Billy Mills could line up Odessa Texas, we would be making a trip to Texas.

 

[maroons1]

4 regions are coming. This is just the first step. I see conferences 17 and 18 being in one region and conferences 19 and 20 being in another.

 

[DEVILSLB99]

4 regions are coming. This is just the first step. I see conferences 17 and 18 being in one region and conferences 19 and 20 being in another.

And it goes back to the idea of the Richmond schools have always insisted on having representation at the state level. That is why they didn't want this system to begin with. 4 regions at least allows them to have that representation, but even in the current system they have had a state champ and a state semifinalist so I don't understand why they are still pushing. Well I kinda do, but travel and budget are people's go to excuses. Again the regions doesn't lend itself to the best teams playing each other.

 

[maroons1]

There are a lot of complaints across the state in all classifications about increase travel time and costs and lost time in the classroom, and yes, some areas do want to make sure they are represented at the state level.

 

[Hampton Roads 6]

Richmond area schools, for the most part do not want to leave their backyard, and some their front yard.

Everyone in entire VHSL should play under same format. Come playoff time someone has to travel. Division 4,5,6 should play under same rules as D1, D2 and D3. No conference or conferences should be allowed to change formats just to suit their own self interests.