ccbulldog

7 classes is just plain ridiculous!

To have a successful program now days you must have the combination of a growing thriving community both black & white, that takes an interest in the program financially. And you need either a good pool of athletes or be an attractive city the families of good athletes want to move to for more opportunities. Think Madison, Brandon, Ocean Springs, Oak Grove, Tupelo, Oxford. Older areas that are not growing have football teams that struggling. Think Hattiesburg, Meridian, Vicksburg, Natchez, Moss Pt.

Leaving Ray Stadium last night I heard one Petal fan tell another "If he's our coach next year, I'm not coming to any more games."

For Meridian to get in, it has to win it's last 2 games and Warren Central has to lose it's last 2. Probably not gonna happen.

7 classes in a state as small as Mississippi is ridiculous. All a championship really means is your better than 23 other teams. Will make it much harder to know who the best team in the State is. What if both the 7A champ and 6A champ finish undefeated but can't play each other. It's just getting us closer to a trophy for everyone.

I still think it's ridiculous to go to 7 classes.

They need to be with Vicksburg & Jackson city schools. Maybe throw in Florence too.

Natchez needs to be put in district with schools along Miss River/Delta. They have more in common with those teams. They should never play schools east of I-55

I don't think i've ever seen a team shoot themselves in the foot more than Meridian. The Meridian punter takes a knee at his own 10 yd line before he punts the ball. OMG! Then after the Meridian defense holds Oak Grove to a field goal, Oak Grove kicks off to Meridian and the Meridian deep back catches the ball at the one yd line and then proceeds to fall down. Just really unbelievable! And as others have said the coaches have no sense of imagination and the QB CANNOT throw the ball so the D1 6ft 3 receiver is completely wasted. This team has no clue how to win a football team. It's really sad to watch.

there should be a clause allowing "tweaking" for location & competition purposes. Maybe move a traditionally non-competitive team down a class especially if the location to other teams makes sense. With 7 classes this would become easier to do and more impactful as well.

I went to the game last night and they're were absolutely no problems at all with any unruly fans or coaches either. Although Vance did look steamed a few times with his players. But the best part of the night was Meridian now looks like a complete team. Good defense and an offense they could always run the ball now has a semblance of a passing game with big tall #16 Q Jones. Before the season started I did not think they could make the playoffs in tough region 3 but i do now. I think they can win enough region games to get the 3rd or 4th seed. And hopefully all this bad student behavior is over. It was a very peaceful outing last night just as it should be on Friday nights.

hwy 49 runs right thru the middle of the County connecting the two cities.

I was at the game sitting on the visitor side and was shocked that John Curtis was allowed to bring in a locomotive horn that was so loud it hurt my ears. During the game they would turn it on after scores but in the 4th Q as Oak Grove was driving for the winning score the damn thing was turned on continuously. Then Oak Grove had to call their last time out with about 20 secs. to go because you could not hear a thing. Then they couldn't stop the clock at the end. Yes, John Curtis was good but O.G. still should have won as they had previously fumbled the ball away on the 1 yd line. I thought Oak Grove got out coached a little bit too.

I'm afraid attendance is gonna take a big hit. Many of the good folks are gonna be scared to even go to the game and a lot of the troublemakers are be challenged even getting in the stadium. It's just really sad that something the city of Meridian used to be so proud of has devolved to this.

Meridian high announced today they are instituting strict entrance polices with metal detectors and bag restrictions, no reentry, all students below 10th grade have to be accompanied by a parent/adult and no one will be allowed to loiter below the stands.

Didn't they have to clear the stadium at halftime of a game last year because someone pulled out a gun? I imagine the school officials were afraid some of the ones fighting before the game would try to continue/retaliate at the game and in those situations somebody might pull out a gun. Yes, the city has gotten that bad. It is really sad to see.

A once proud school just continues to decline down to the depths of a Jackson city school. It really is sad to see to us alumni.

I don't see Meridian vs West Lauderdale

At the rate Meridian is shrinking it won't be in the top classification much longer.

they are still a dumpster fire. Did you not go to the game tonight?

ugh, not really!

By the way, Marcus Boyles was at the game sitting on the Meridian side and I wanted so bad to ask him to come out of retirement and take the Meridian job.

An example of how inept Meridian is, on the last play of the 1st half they commit a personal foul so Laurel gets to kick off the 3rd Q from Meridian 45 yd line. The Meridian back then catches it on the 15 yd line and takes a knee. Then on the first play from scrimmage the Meridian QB throws a pic 6. Just unbelievable!!

my issue with him is he has no clue how to run a modern high school offense. I also question his ability to motivate the players. I agree he inherited a dumpster fire but I don't see Meridian doing any better than 3rd or 4th in the tough division. If Meridian wants to get back to contending for the division they are gonna have to bring in a top notch coach and pony up some money for a top level staff. Maybe they could coax Marcus Boyles out of retirement.