Washed_Up_Athlete

JA is on the verge of a several years of really bad seasons. Pogue knew this, he knew he could not win without an influx of players, and the new administration (backed by the handful of families who control the school) decided that it would rather lose than to continue recruiting and ensuring the tuition is paid for new players. Bottom -line: No matter what those affiliated with the school may say, and no matter who the school ultimately hires as its football coach, JA has given up on football (and baseball) for the next several years. At least two coaches have already turned the job down - and there's a reason for that. The football program is a nearly unsalvageable mess. JA's 2022 schedule and the realistic win projections are telling: G1: Starkville Academy (Push) G2: Leake Academy (L) G3: Winston Academy (W) G4: St. Joe Madison (L) G5: MRA (L) G6: Pillow (Push) G7: Greenville Christian (L) G8: Hartfield Academy (L) G9: Jackson Prep (L) G10: PCS (Push) G11: Parklane (Push) There is only one realistic win on the schedule and 4 pushes. If JA splits those, JA is looking at a 3-win season.

Pogue wasn't pushed out. He resigned in frustration.

I seem to recall a 1.5 multiplier being discussed a few years ago when JA (?) was considering joining the MHSAA. Did the MHSAA apply a multiplier to the St. Joes when they were in the MHSAA? Does it apply a multiplier to St. Andrews or TCPS?

Although I doubt it will happen anytime soon, the best thing for the 6A schools would be to break off and join the MHSAA.

All true. The 6A MAIS schools (Prep, JA, MRA, Hartfield, PCS & Parklane) would do well in the MHSAA. A few 4A and 5A schools would also do well (Tri-County 4A; Magnolia Heights, Heritage, 5A; there may be others that don't immediately come to mind). Many smaller MAIS schools would not compete. The largest MAIS schools would likely slot as 3A and 4A schools.

The points made by TigersFan & Rebel Bert are essentially what I was getting at in my original post. It's a mixed bag of good and bad. Take a kid like Rucker who's transferring from Arkansas State. He has what seems like a 1000 offers from major D1 programs that he otherwise wouldn't have even sought if not for the portal. Great for him and those like him. But on the other hand . . . , I have a soft spot (and I suspect others do too) for the kid who's a little undersized and perhaps could gain a little speed who works his tail off for a couple or three years and becomes a major contributor. These are the sorts of players that fans love. They're relatable and good role models. I'm afraid we're going to lose many, if not most, of these types players in the current system and feel like we're losing something important that's at the core of why we love college football.

It seems to me that the portal will lead to fewer kids receiving opportunities to play D1, and indirectly, will push some late bloomer-type kids out of the game entirely. Consider: Ole Miss is recruiting the portal very heavily. This means that several in-state kids who otherwise would have received an Ole Miss offer will go elsewhere- maybe a couple to MS State, a few to USM, and maybe a few elsewhere, including lower levels. Those kids that go to lower levels then leave fewer opportunities for kids who otherwise would have been at the lower level school and so on. Is this a good thing?

In the MAIS, MRA and Prep will be clearly better than all other teams. JA and Hartfield are losing a lot and the talent will fall off dramatically. There shouldn't be any team from lower divisions that can compete with MRA or Prep.

Formal announcement will be tomorrow.

Jackson Prep will hire Doug Goodwin. His most recent job has been on the Ole Miss staff. He has a successful background as an Alabama high school coach. https://www.prepsnet.com/2020/01/28/ahsaa-hall-of-fame-head-coach-joins-ole-miss-staff/

I'm not sure that age is a controlling factor, but it is probably a factor. Rightly or wrongly, the belief at Prep is that Black had beaten the love of the game out of the kids and that Black's scheme didn't best use the type of talent Prep tends to get. Turner was hired to improve the culture and to modernize the scheme. He failed miserably at the first and somewhat succeeded at the second. This is why my guess is that Prep has probably narrowed its search to John Perry or Sean Harrison. Culture building is Perry's thing. While he hasn't been an MAIS coach (and top level MAIS schools all carry their own unique sets of challenges), he's been very successful and seems like a safe hire who will adapt his scheme to his players. Harrison has done a great job at Heritage. He's younger, he went to JA, he understands the landscape, and he runs a scheme that would work at Prep. I think both would succeed. JA is a different situation. Pogue is good coach. Ferrell, the offensive coordinator, is not and he is highly disliked by many parents and boosters. It'll be interesting to see how that plays out.

Woods to Magnolia Heights seems to make more sense. JP wants a culture builder who will run multiple sets in a wide open attack and will allow Brewer to control the defense. I still think it'll either be Sean Harrison or John Perry. They make the most sense IMHO.

And it maybe is?

At those places you mention, is the pay in the $100 - $125K range?

I'm sure it varies depending on the job, so I guess there are highest, mid-level, and lowest paying categories in each division.

The MAIS rules do not prohibit schools from providing financial assistance. They prohibit schools from providing assistance solely for athletic reasons. The rules are very easy to circumvent and equally difficult for the MAIS to enforce. Plus, MRA has long-been the most widespread "bender" of the rules. The MAIS head is an MRA parent and his wife works for MRA. Nothing will be done to MRA. Hartfield has big money donors who have adopted MRA's strategy. One well-known donor actively solicits football players to attend and is covering the tuition for more than a few kids.

True. It wasn't JP. It was a parent.

Operative words here are "subpar" and "lost". Quincy Phillips played varsity and is very good. The remainder of the MRA's current 9th grade class is not as good. But it is MRA and the recruitment efforts are strong there, so I'm sure new players will appear by next year.

Joe has a chance to be really good. Strong as an ox.

The Jackson Prep 9th grade is loaded. Konnor Griffin, Cole Gideon, Major Quin, and Thomas Coco are all very good.

Could be right. It all comes down to whether JA's offense can muster any momentum and can capitalize on mistakes made by MRA's offense. Since the past is the best guide to predicting the future, you have to believe JA's offensive coordinator will have a terrible game plan. MRA will win by at least 2 touchdowns, which is kind of sad because this JA team is nearly as talented player-to-player as is MRA.

Agreed. Hartfield is coming on, but it's not quite there yet.

JA is nearly as talented as MRA, but its offensive scheme is atrocious. MRA will win by 14 points or so. JP was robbed by the officials in the first game against Hartfield. It won't happen again. JP will beat Hartfield by 7-10 points.

I'm sure you were just focusing on the MAIS schools, but you left St. Andrews off the list.

"Time will tell whether Prep 'will be lucky to be .500 at season's end.' It sits at 4-2 now, with games against MRA, JA, PCS, Hartfield, and Yazoo City remaining. Prep will likely lose to MRA. It is probable that it will lose to JA, but don't be surprised if that game is closer than anticipated. Prep, in my opinion, will likely beat PCS, Hartfield and Yazoo City. This would render a 7-4 record. If they win 2 of 3, Prep would have a 6-5 record." Well, look's like the reports of Prep's demise were premature. Prep now sits at 6-3 with games against Hartfield and PCS remaining. My guess is that, at worst, Prep splits those two games and finishes the regular season at 7-4. If it wins both, which it certainly can do, Prep will finish the regular season at 8-3.