coastfootballfanman

Yes that is correct.

I have tried to take a little bit of a step back from posting as much as my son is in his senior year here at OS and actually is going to play some this year (finally - LOL) Do not want to post a ton and get myself or him in hot water. LOL

State goes 6-6 Ole Miss goes 9-3 USM goes 5-7

I do not think the cupboard is half empty for either team, but at this early stage of the season, it is going to take a few games to get into form. To me, Picayune probably has the upper hand offensively with their horses back and some of the OL while Gulfport is having to replace a really, really good Quarterback and Running back. Defensively, Gulfport returns a great bit of talent while Picayune will be breaking in some new guys. Like you said, most of the time they both just reload. Letter X will definitely be key for Picayune to have success.

Man. What a game this will be! Honestly sort of sad I will not be able to make this one due to going to see my nephew kick his season off at Pass. I believe Gulfport will win this one. Picayune graduated a pretty good bit of defensive production and some really good linemen on offense. I think Gulfport just has too many horses right now and has a ton of confidence riding into this game. I think Picayune's style of play will make this a great game as always and I would not be shocked if Picayune wins it. However, I see Gulfport winning in a 35-28 type of game where it is a battle for 4 quarters. Both teams are testing themselves early which is a good thing.

A pretty significant portion of their defensive production and a few offensive weapons. However, they will probably have the best player on the field in almost every game they play in the regular season at Quarterback for them so they should be fine.

From the start of these rumors, I felt the same way. I do not really see what they specifically would benefit from in moving to MHSAA. Would they get more money from gates, etc.? I also do not see the MHSAA letting MRA, Prep, etc. compete in 3A with numbers and talent pool good enough to compete and win higher classifications.

I have not. I was mainly speaking to football, but you are right. It would be different numbers overall.

I would say you have to keep it if your instituting it for all MSHAA private schools.

The big argument is there is no need for 7 classes with less teams. You would add roughly 50 more teams to MHSAA if MAIS merged which would add roughly 7 more teams per classification. So you would be back to more traditional 32 or so teams in 5A-7A instead of 24. So I think there is a better argument for staying 7 classes considering that point.

If they did merge, I would be curious to see what the numbers would be for MRA, Prep, etc. I imagine they would be in the 5A range with the 1.5 multiplier added to their 9-11 numbers?

I think that would make a ton of sense or if you wanted you could have 1A 11-man and 1A 8-man or something along those lines. Texas breaks it down as Division I 1A and Division II 1A. Division I is 11-man and Division II is their 6-man football.

So how many new kids is this for Hattiesburg now?

People like you are a dying breed I believe, my friend. I am indifferent personally. If we can get prepared for region play/playoffs and not have to go far to do it, then I am all for it. If we need to take a trip or two to test ourselves, then we need to.

My friend, in house visits happen frequently. All over the state. Heck here on the coast, I can confirm 100% that Gulfport, Biloxi, Ocean Springs, Pascagoula and d'Iberville brought kids who were not enrolled to tour their campus and facilities. AD's and Admin meeting with them as well. It is pretty much out in the open, the problem is nobody wants to report anyone because everyone is pretty much doing it. Very few schools are doing it and the ones who are not, are typically your poorer performing programs.

Kid from Forrest County AHS?

"Any given Friday" LOL. There is always that possibility.

From what I am hearing on region 4, it is pretty much Picayune, and everybody else. Pascagoula lost a ton of talent and coming into the season with a new HFC and staff. Will come down to how well the new coaches do things and if the kids buy in and play. There is still some talent there, just not the level of what the last 2-3 seasons had. I suspect they will take a step back but will be tough and competitive. Gautier brings back a pretty good bit from what I told and will be more experienced at Quarterback which should help. Pearl River Central brings back some weapons on offense and arguably the best player in the region at Quarterback. That is an advantage for them. Also heard they pulled a few new kids in from the surrounding area that are expected to be big contributors. Long Beach will probably be the least talented team in the region again, but switching back to the veer as I am told they will be, could help them shorten games and keep opposing teams off the field. Hancock I believe takes a step back. The word coming out of the Kiln is that the Quarterback taking over "fits" Michael King's system better, but it is hard for me to see this kid having a bigger impact that Koenenn did for them last year. They also lost some key players on both sides, so I suspect them to be a little down. WAY TOO EARLY PREDICTION: 1. Picayune 2-4. 3-way battle between Pascagoula, Pearl River Central, and Gautier with Hancock and Long Beach being on the oustide looking in. As far as overall 6A south, I see it as Hattiesburg, West Jones and Picayune as the only 3 legit contenders. I am more excited about reclassification coming in October/November. I have seen some folks mentioning both Meridian and Pearl dropping to 6A which would make Region 3-6A a gauntlet! Also hearing Hancock could be moving up to 7A with Gautier almost a lock for 5A and Long Beach on the fringe of dropping to 5A.

From what I am told, Gautier "should" be much improved. Defensively, they bring back almost everything. On Offense, they have their Quarterback, 2 Wide Receivers, leading Running Back and 2-3 Offensive Linemen coming back. 4 of their 7 losses last season were by a combined 11 points. Their 3 region losses were by 8 combined points. Long Beach is moving back to the veer from what I was told during the spring. They did lose some quality players from this past season's team, but their Quarterback I believe is back and he was pretty shifty. So him in the veer could be pretty tough.

I imagine we will see some schools jump over to MAIS because of this.

I saw a post circulating on Facebook that Todd McDaniel at Ridgeland is retiring. Does that mean he is retiring at the end of this year, meaning they need a Head Football Coach? It did not specify if it was happening now or next year.

Agreed. Almighty dollar is what matters most to them.

https://www.columbianprogress.com/brady-replaces-woodrow-trojans-head-coach?fbclid=IwZnRzaARM4SpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEepKyR1OCimulTbdDQJ_EUT_RNqZb8F1-StrP_3B_m9UVq0UiTfc571Dupcr0_aem_QVbN8Rkv6eXpR4y7QzqkwA I know we like to joke and all about him, but I really do wish Lane Brady much success as a head coach. He is a stand up guy from all accounts.

Pascagoula graduated a ton of talent. The cupboard will not be bare, but it is hard to see them replicating their run in region last year. I expect them to firmly be a playoff team but I do not think I see them as a threat past the first round at the current moment. New coach or not, it’s hard to replace all that they lost. I think PRC could be the surprise in the region. If they can get better on defense I like their chances. Gautier was real young and brings back basically everything from a team that was a few plays away from being the 3 seed so they could be a team to watch. Hancock lost some talent, especially at quarterback. It will be interesting to see how they look in spring.

Picayune will be tough as always but they lost a pretty good bit up front on both sides of the ball to graduation and I heard another has moved on to PRC. Just basing off what I know today, I would put them at 3. Right there with a chance to win the south.