Time to dispel the myth that the bottom 1A teams are so poor....

[uvacavs1]

I have read for years how bad (putrid, abysmal, ridiculous, pathetic, embarrassing, choose your disparaging term) the bottom team of 1A teams are in the realm of Virginia football.

It is high time that that myth is dispelled and proven an incorrect thesis. RELATIVELY speaking the bottom teams of 1A are no worse than the bottom tier of any other classification's bottom tier. Heck, I could argue that they are even a tad better, relatively speaking, of course.

Evidence - at random I chose to compare the 2014 Class 4A bottom 10 teams v the 2014 Class 1A bottom 10 teams.

4A bottom 10 teams record - 11 wins - 89 losses
1A bottom 10 teams record - 14 wins - 86 losses

Only difference, 1A bottom tier teams won 3 more games. Also, 4A can choose to play down some games, 1A's small teams have no choice but play similar or higher class teams.

On the flip top side, 4A top teams went 114-20 while 1A's went 106-26 (one could argue 1A played a RELATIVELY harder schedule overall due to playing some higher level opponents).

So maybe the worst teams in our class of 1A are actually not the worse of all.....

 

[dringtuoti]

Doesn't prove anything. 1a isn't pathetic just b/c of record, it's because they don't have as many numbers, the coaching is worse in most cases, they have fewer actual players etc. you can't compare 4a bad teams to 1a bad teams period. Go watch two crappy 1a teams and your eyes won't deceive you.

 

[onereddevil4]

I agree, a crappy or mediocre 3A/4A team would play it close or beat a State Championship caliber 1A team any given night.

 

[uvacavs1]

Oh I have observed many poor teams, some really bad indeed. I did not say that they played top notch, highly skilled football.

I simply said that (relatively speaking), the bottom 1A teams are just as good or just as bad as those in the higher divisions.

In fact, your arguments of how 1A teams have fewer numbers, not as good coaching (debatable by some teams but generally that may be true), and have fewer players actually illustrate my point even more.

Using your argument, poor 4A teams like Jamestown, Caroline, Carroll County, Park View, Fluvanna and so on have a great advantage and should never consistently be bottom feeders. Yet many are, just those like in 1A.

I am also quite sure that the 4A elite teams look upon their 4A weak teams exactly the same as the top 1A teams see the lower tier 1A teams that they may play. So, yes, I can easily compare 4A weak teams to 1A weak teams in those relative terms.

On the opposite spectrum, when a 1A team like Colonial Beach with 180 students (in a division up to like 475) goes 10-3 like they did last year, that to me is more impressive exactly because of the reasons you stated to express how awful smaller teams are compared to awful teams in higher classifications.

 

[MT FAN 91]

I disagree with a crappy 3a or 4a team beating a state championship caliber 1a team. Not saying it's not possible but their has been plenty of 1a teams smoke 3a and 4a teams. Galax plays 4a Carroll county every year in a benefit game and rolls them on a regular basis. And if I'm not mistaken Essex plays several higher level teams and beats them pretty good. That's just a couple of examples, I'm sure that their is several more.

 

[uvacavs1]

I agree, a crappy or mediocre 3A/4A team would play it close or beat a State Championship caliber 1A team any given night.

Seriously? I doubt that many "crappy" (lowest tier) 3A or 4A teams could beat Essex. Heck, they just beat a weaker 5A.

However, that has little to do with my "it is all relative" perspective.

 

[dringtuoti]

Should have watched an awful middlesex team put 40 on an even worse Northumberland (apparently).

 

[onereddevil4]

Rustburg went 3-7 last year and played Altavista to the wire that same season... People would argue that Altavista is still a top tier team in 1A yet they got smoked by Rustburg just last week.

I don't think it has as much to do with size of school and amount of talented athletes as it does the tradition and consistency of a winning program over the years. A team can be 6A & suck for a few years and the good athletes won't wanna play for that team as they'd view it as a waste of time. A winning team will attract talent no matter where you look.

If that's your argument then wouldn't that imply a great 1A team is just as good as a great 3A team?

 

[mmqp]

Until you folks have witnessed a Rappahannock County football game I dont want to hear no talking LOL!!!

 

[MT FAN 91]

Is Rustburg a crappy team?

 

[uvacavs1]

If that's your argument then wouldn't that imply a great 1A team is just as good as a great 3A team?[/QUOTE]

Absolutely. Relatively speaking, yes. Let's continue with the 4A compared to 1A analogy. During the last three seasons, 4A Lake Taylor went 40-3 and won 2 State Championships. 1A Altavista during that same time period went 39-4 and won 2 State Championships. Both were equally dominant and great in their respective divisions during that time period.

Now, Lake Taylor, of course, is the better, way more powerful team in a head to head matchup vs. AltaVista. That goes without saying.... However, relatively speaking they accomplished the same goals during that time frame, therefore, are indeed completely comparable in that regard.

onereddevil4, I do agree with your 2nd paragraph as it is true for all classifications.

 

[onereddevil4]

I get what you're saying, on paper yes they're easily comparable and the stats would say that both teams are good. But that's on paper. Like you said LT is the better team by far. So only on paper against different levels of competition are they the same. This would be like saying an undefeated D3 college team is as good as Ohio State last year. Stats wise maybe, but once they're on the same field, all of that goes out the window.

 

[uvacavs1]

Until you folks have witnessed a Rappahannock County football game I dont want to hear no talking LOL!!!

Hey mmqp! Congrats to your PM Blues on the big win over FC!

In regards to Rapp County football, I am very impressed by the fact that they even field a High School football team to compete on any level (just like I am with Chincoteague). Rapp County is one of the most beautiful counties in Virginia and has an outstanding tiny little school on the outskirts of N. Va. Certainly not built for football development and has few resources to create one.

I am way more impressed with the fact that Rapp County fields a football team than I am with the play and operation of the NFL's Washington Redskins under owner, Dan Snyder. What a complete debacle and joke that organization has become (and they have every resource known to sports to help them improve).

I have been reading where fewer and fewer Skins fans attend the games in person but pull for them on TV. Let's see, the last time I went to a Skins game, we were stuck in traffic (took leaks on the side of the road), got rear ended trying to turn into that left to go to stadium, the beer and food cost insanely, and I literally saw at least 15 fights, 4 right in my section (we had awesome seats too). Not family friendly to say the least ha. Hence I prefer to attend college and high school games.

 

[Hardrock93]

Doesn't prove anything. 1a isn't pathetic just b/c of record, it's because they don't have as many numbers, the coaching is worse in most cases, they have fewer actual players etc. you can't compare 4a bad teams to 1a bad teams period. Go watch two crappy 1a teams and your eyes won't deceive you.

Tom Hale for President Lol

 

[mmqp]

Hey mmqp! Congrats to your PM Blues on the big win over FC!

In regards to Rapp County football, I am very impressed by the fact that they even field a High School football team to compete on any level (just like I am with Chincoteague). Rapp County is one of the most beautiful counties in Virginia and has an outstanding tiny little school on the outskirts of N. Va. Certainly not built for football development and has few resources to create one.

I am way more impressed with the fact that Rapp County fields a football team than I am with the play and operation of the NFL's Washington Redskins under owner, Dan Snyder. What a complete debacle and joke that organization has become (and they have every resource known to sports to help them improve).

I have been reading where fewer and fewer Skins fans attend the games in person but pull for them on TV. Let's see, the last time I went to a Skins game, we were stuck in traffic (took leaks on the side of the road), got rear ended trying to turn into that left to go to stadium, the beer and food cost insanely, and I literally saw at least 15 fights, 4 right in my section (we had awesome seats too). Not family friendly to say the least ha. Hence I prefer to attend college and high school games.

Hey Man! Your Trojans are as tough as nails as always I see! The Blues are young but coming along nicely, Ryheems little brother already has 9 or 10 TD's on the season and KJ Cook has ran for over 200 yards each of the last 3 games. I'll take it lol.

I joke about Rappahannock County too much, when in fact they are my de facto team to follow now that NoVa is my home. I've been to a few of their games and spent a lot of time in the county there. It really is as beautiful as you say. And Little Washington has such a unique feel to it. The Panthers are actually looking better this year and I expect them to break their losing streak in the final game of the year vs. Massanutten.

Ha! The plight of Redskins fans. I feel for you, dealing with back-to-back debacles with the Skins and then the Cavs last night. I've flown out to San Fran twice to watch my beloved 49ers play and traffic was an absolute nightmare trying to get out of that place! Both times, I had to wait 2 hours before I could even get out of the parking lot. The only fight I saw was when some guy hit his girlfriend and at least four guys pulled him out the car and smacked him around. The girlfriend locked him out and the last time I saw him he was sitting on a concrete barrier crying lol.

 

[uvacavs1]

I think that the fighting at NFL games mainly happens at night games (they have become drunk fests, maybe fun if you are in your 20s but not if you want to bring the family). Since you are a 49er fan, did you see that awful video last MNF or two that went viral where some SF fans stomped on the head of a Vikings fan after he went down in front of his wife? Some 49er fans tried to help the poor dude it was so ugly.

Reminded me of that game that I mentioned which was also a MNF game. It was an epic night with friends but getting home at 3AM on work night is not as much fun as it once was ha!

The worse thing for me that night was that 4 adult punks sat in front of my group (supporting the same team as us btw) and they harassed and got cruel (as they got more intoxicated) to a nice young couple in front of them all that half (the couple had the other teams jersey on). It really stressed me out as I thought they were going to assault that poor little dude.

Anyway, I am not the fighting type but my Dad taught me to take up for those weaker than you that are being bullied. Fortunately for me, one of my buddies that was with me is a big crazy dude ha. I remember saying to him as he was enjoying himself, man, I can't stand it how these a------ are treating those people. He said "ahh, who cares about them." I was like crap, I'm on my own. Then he said "but if you go in and they swing on you, I got your back." Anyway, just then that little couple got up to go the bathroom and never came back....so we went back to having a good time and watching the game.

anyway, that was my last pro game (at least at night ha).

 

[mmqp]

I think that the fighting at NFL games mainly happens at night games (they have become drunk fests, maybe fun if you are in your 20s but not if you want to bring the family). Since you are a 49er fan, did you see that awful video last MNF or two that went viral where some SF fans stomped on the head of a Vikings fan after he went down in front of his wife? Some 49er fans tried to help the poor dude it was so ugly.

Reminded me of that game that I mentioned which was also a MNF game. It was an epic night with friends but getting home at 3AM on work night is not as much fun as it once was ha!

The worse thing for me that night was that 4 adult punks sat in front of my group (supporting the same team as us btw) and they harassed and got cruel (as they got more intoxicated) to a nice young couple in front of them all that half (the couple had the other teams jersey on). It really stressed me out as I thought they were going to assault that poor little dude.

Anyway, I am not the fighting type but my Dad taught me to take up for those weaker than you that are being bullied. Fortunately for me, one of my buddies that was with me is a big crazy dude ha. I remember saying to him as he was enjoying himself, man, I can't stand it how these a------ are treating those people. He said "ahh, who cares about them." I was like crap, I'm on my own. Then he said "but if you go in and they swing on you, I got your back." Anyway, just then that little couple got up to go the bathroom and never came back....so we went back to having a good time and watching the game.

anyway, that was my last pro game (at least at night ha).

Niner fans have become awful. But I think a lot of that has to do with the always growing gang presence in that area. From what I recall from both of the 49er games I've been to was that both teams fans got along fine, but thats just what I saw. I DID see a freaking Raiders fan just randomly at the 2nd game i went to (vs. Jaguars in 2009) and he was trying his best to start a fight. Finally security removed him. I was expecting a lot worse at both games honestly.

 

[THEGOATFROMJMU]

anything below the #16 seed is irrelavent

 

[Hampton Roads 6]

Probably the most boring game I ever watched was a D4 state championship game, in which final score was 6-0.

 

[onereddevil4]

You only watch Pac 12 games on Saturdays don't you?

 

[Hampton Roads 6]

I NEVER watch PAC 12 games. Only ACC and SEC games.