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Is it Fair?

L

Lord Gold

Nov 18, 2013
82
0
6
As I'm sure everyone who has been following 1A football recently has surely heard by now the Essex Trojans will be unable to host the upcoming state semi-final game Saturday against Haysi. The reasons I've been told that the Trojans will not be hosting the game is beause of the lak of proper facilities, namely bleachers for away fans and restrooms. For the last two years this "issue" has been harped on and the Northern Neck community has come together to provide the necessary facilities to help the Trojans provide adequate facilities to host semi-final football games. It appears that out of the blue that the VHSL has decided that despite Essex being capable of hosting semi-final games the two previous years. So why now? Why allow Essex to host the 2A semi-finals two years ago? I believe it was John Battle who had a tremendous turnout and supported their fans just fine with the facilities in Tappahannock.

So here's the bottom line. Do you think the VHSL should take away home field advantage in this situation? It honestly seems ridiculous to me that this argument comes up at this point in the playoffs. If the VHSL truly believes that the facilities at Essex are so sub-standard then why even allow them to host any games? If the VHSL noticed this atrocity years ago why are they suddenly now taking a stand? I understand that as you go deeper in the playoffs that the crowds will usually get larger, but when the field/facilities in question has the ability to lean on the surrounding counties, as they have in the past, to ensure proper seating and restrooms are available to accommodate then why has this suddenly been taken off the table as an option? Essex county is plagued by poverty and it appears that they are being punished because of the resources they have (or don't have). The poverty hurts the football team enough with low fan turnout and now the VHSL is punishing them by taking away home field advantage that the Trojans have earned by their higher seeding. If a team has earned the right to host a playoff game I think it is absurd that it be taken away for something that has existed and the VHSL has been aware of for years. Put yourself in the shoes of the Essex faithful and I think you'll agree.

I am positive that the boys from Essex will take the field on Saturday, where ever that field may be, and give it their all. I think the entire thing is ridiculous, but this is just from one fan's perspective.
 
I think if they have a seating minimum of 2000 or whatever it is, then they should have been enforcing it all along. It's messed up to allow Essex to host at least 4 state semifinals (03, 09, 13 and 14) and then all of a sudden say nope, y'all don't get to host this year just because some fans from another school complained. On the other hand, maybe this will force Essex to upgrade their facilities. Everyone knows the facilities need an upgrade and it's probably going to take the community, not the school division to get something done.
 
I think all play off games should be held at a neutral site anyways but, under the current circumstances I do not think it would be fair to hold the game at a neutral site. I can understand VHSL wanting to move the game due to infrastructure issues but, they should only be able to move it 30-40 minutes away.

From What i've heard they are trying to get the game moved to another facility that will be no longer than 30-40min from the original venue site. To retain as much "home" field as possible. I heard KW turned them down. That is ridiculous. I hope that Essex gets to play at a facility close to home. No way will VHSL make Essex travel across
 
VHSL is treating Essex unfairly . If they can bring in bleachers they should host. There are other supar venues around state that host. I know schools that should not host regular season games .
Anyone know why KW rejected hosting . That gives KW a black eye in my opinion.

If VHSL shafts Essex they should do it state wide and in all sports .
 
I think vhsl should leave it up to the individual schools that are playing. I really don't think haysi would care if they playing in a cow pasture.the fans that's coming are just there to see their boys play ball.its not like they have never seen bad facilities.i would say give Essex what they deserve.but what I think means NOTHING. I remember going to giles back in heath miller days around 2000 or 2001 and the old wooden bleachers felt like they were gona break right into.but no one that I know of left to go home because they couldn't be seated comfortable.
This post was edited on 12/1 7:00 AM by litltiger
 
KW admin suks


Damn shame the idiots in KW won't let Essex play there. As someone whom is literally paying for the facility, I see no reason whatsoever to have turned them down. The local business's could surely use the revenue, considering KW had to borrow money from us residents of West Point to pay the note on the stadium. The idiots in charge of KW County badly mismanaged funds and hit WP with a huge tax increase to cover their shortfall. So its no surprise the same idiots or those like them came to the conclusion they did. Then again it may just be KW is upset that Essex stomped their ass 35-0 this year. Very touchy subject around these parts.
This post was edited on 12/1 7:22 AM by Twobyfour
 
Re: KW suks


If truth were to be fully known, the 35-0 beating may be the sole reason KW is being a jerk.
 
Re: KW suks


35-0 was being extremely nice to KW. Essex could have named their score that game. King William's AD is the sole reason for this game not being played there. I know for a fact he did not ask his superiors about this decision.
 
Yes, it's fair. It's absolutely fair. the school and all schools have been told for years the standards your facilities are supposed to meet, and sometimes the vhsl does not enforce them like they should until maybe a visiting team shows up and says this is not what a state semi-final facility is supposed to be and complains. Fort Chiswell did that, and had every right to do that. You want a home game, then build a decent facility, and don't come up with all the excuses for why you don't have it. It's a statewide rule. Do it or don't.
 
Re: KW admin suks

If thats true then i would suggest to call your local govt officials and have all your friends do the same to complain ...they will make something happen by tomorrow if enough voices are heard!!!

This post was edited on 12/1 9:18 AM by WhoopyCushion
 
Re: KW admin suks

Well it looks like somebody at KW overstepped their boundaries as he didn't have the right alone to deny Essex. There are steps that need to be taken. But the KW School Board from what I'm being told is now aware. Still a possibility it could be in KW after all. Guess we'll know soon. Kudos to the KW School Board either way for standing up and doing the right thing
 
Re: KW suks

You were obviously totally wrong. All they had to do was work out a few logistics. There was never any doubt that King William would make its field available. Sometimes you people get too carried away and your emotions and imaginations are something to behold.
 
Re: KW suks

Well if its not at Essex, the only other place it should be played is Haysi. Its nobody's fault but Essex's
 
Something Else

You guys may be able to answer this, or it may be BS. I'm hearing under the new rules if you build a new stadium it has to have artificial turf. Is this true, have you all heard this before?
 
You think it's fair that a high school team is punished by the lack of resources their town/community has? Do you not think that the boys would absolutely love to have a better field to play on? "It's a rule." It's a rule that adversely affects teams and communities that are afflicted by poverty.
 
I remember when these types of things have happened in the past. And the team that should be traveling, is hosting. No sir I don't think its right. But there's ways of getting this taken care of. I'm guessing now that they know its a problem it will be! Life's tough though everywhere these day, at all the small schools. Deep down I believe this information on their facility's should have been out there before such short notice. Also I guess it would go the way I'm thinking had this been a reg season game. Essex has defiantly earned the right to play at home. I'm sure Haysi wouldn't mind playing them anywhere, its all about the opportunity.
 
With a football program as good as Essex it makes no sense to upgrade facilities to meet the minimum VHSL standards. Don't give me the we don't have money excuse, everyone is capable of fund raisers and I bet local buisnesses would help as well. I think it's time they step up......why not get Chris Brown to give a donation.
 
Re: Something Else

yep - BS. Pretty much everyone is doing it because of the cost of the acreage needed or just the space squeeze itself, but the VHSL doesn't have the authority to mandate a Million-dollar field.
 
Re: Something Else

As said before. The field is a super quality Bermuda grass irrigated marvel. The stands are minimal and fieldhouse is a place to change clothes.

A bleacher set up with fieldhouse and bathrooms underneath ,even if home side becomes visitor side is simple fix. The fact that it didn't come with school remodel last 3 yrs is ignorant. Now it may be forced into action...
 
Re: Something Else


I have heard that in the "long run" it's cheaper to go with turf. I dream of the day that all field will be turf.
 
You're right Hoos19. Essex needs to mount a major fund raising campaign to upgrade their stadium. It needs to be a total school/community effort. There is money in the area, they just have to funnel it to the football field. Too many schools are content to get by with the very minimum facilities. ( Gretna is one of them, our stadium sucks considering we have 5 state championships.)
 
Re: Bluebumber


Bluebumber, again you have no clue what you are talking about. Essex was originally told they would not be allowed to play at KW - that is a fact. KW changed their tune after all the bad publicity it was receiving. King George offered their facility and there was a chance the game was going to be played at Middlesex until KW changed their minds.
 
No radcats, that's not all it is. You need at least decent facilities for fans. Theoretically at least, the state semis, which the vhsl is in control of, should attract a larger fan base. If they do not have adequate seating, restroom facilities, concessions, and the whole package, you are not treating the people properly and thus taking prominence from the event. If you are young, you do not care, but everybody is not below the age of 50, lots of people have families to care for, and you must provide for the handicapped. That's not a choice, that's the law. Yes, it's about the opportunity, but it's about a whole bunch of other stuff too, and if you disappoint those other people, they may not come back, and that's money, and the vhsl needs money. These football playoff games pretty much pay for everything else too. So no, it's not just about the opportunity.
 
Re: Bluebumber

That's their choice, but I still very much question if that would have ever been the case. KW is a member of the VHSL. The VHSL is in charge of semi-final games. Connect the dots, and I also still find it hard to believe that another high school would not help a neighbor and I will have to see written proof to believe it, and not just the bantering that goes on on these boards.
 
Re: Something Else

Holy cow! Who starts this crap? Sometimes the validity of the information needs to be associated with who's giving it to you. There is no such rule, and I predict in your lifetime never will be. I need more caffeine.
 
Re: Something Else

It absolutely is not cheaper. Show me how it takes a high school a million bucks to upkeep its field for every eight to 10 years, and you might have a legitimate conversation, but you cannot because it costs only a small fraction of that kind of money, plus grass produces fewer injuries, and I can product facts on that if you like. But I was just wondering, is this just furthering to move toward mandatory seven on seven, towels in shorts, and such.
 
Re: Something Else

Please bluebumber, finally produce some facts.

Everything I have read concerning injuries on the newer artificial surfaces suggests there can't be any conclusions drawn yet b/c it depends on the type of injuries. There have been more contact related injuries on natural grass (concussions & ligament tears) but more non-contact injuries on the newer turf (ACL injuries are significantly higher on turf than grass). Those studies were only done using NFL data and those athletes are the in top 1% so using it to make assumptions about high school or youth football injuries would not be accurate.

I actually prefer natural grass but synthetic turf has changed dramatically in the past 10 years and continues to improve.
 
Turf


I don't know about any rules that stipulate turf but I wish it was. I am tired of painting football fields every week of the season or every other week. It's a job that can be done quickly with a lot of help, but small communities don't have many volunteers. I think you could probably paint a turf field once a year and be done with it.
 
Playing in mud


Turf fields are better than grass any day of the week. Less maintenance, faster, all around better. Granted some had rather it be 3 inches of mud on field and 5 inches of water on sidelines. those people should give up football, go buy/rent some low lying farm land and raise cattle or hogs. Then they could play in mud all they wanted to.
 
WE PLAYED THERE LAST YEAR.....


and it was fine. What has changed since then. Does the community not want to put the work into letting them kids play on their home field. Haul some bleaches in, do the work, be proud of your field. Maybe the folks of Tappahannock want to take the easy way out.
 
Re: WE PLAYED THERE LAST YEAR.....

Not even close Fort. The people of tappahannock definitely would put in the work to host and didn't want a change of venue. Do you even read the thread? This was a decision made by the VHSL b/c of complaints from hmmmmmm.
 
Re: Something Else

I am so impressed with how much research you do. It find it hard to believe you can ever squeeze in enough time to go watch a game. I also make it a practice never to use nfl data for any of my research. I have priorities.
 
Re: Turf

This post says a lot. Something that people used to take a lot of pride in and were glad to do it to show support and to help kids, now there are no community volunteers. Seems like a simple solution. Tell all those folks in the community that won't volunteer any of their time to come up with a cool mil for the new turf field, and you got it. Just pop up their taxes. My how things have changed, and how disappointing that community is.
 
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