coastfootballfanman

Only issues you run into with that is state championships would be the weekend MS/AL is played and backing that up would mean players missing end of semester exams and what not. I do agree though, starting in September would be best. They did it for years.

To my knowledge, and I could very well be wrong, there has not. However, I know Brookhaven several years ago made a run for the 5A state title game as a 4-seed.

Couple of things are contributing to the decline in East Central. One, Collins is a very brash and abrasive guy. Other than PRC, he has not been well liked at many of his coaching stops. He very much is a "my way is the only way" type and that rubs a lot of people wrong. The second thing is the fact that the talent pool is just lessening right now I believe. Smith had a great little 3-year window of great success, but it was also the most talent that area has seen come through it ever. Prior to that run in 4A, they struggled and have competed well since moving back to 5A. Talent pool drying up some, coupled with a coach who is not well regarded, so in turn numbers are going down. I hate to say it, but East Central fans should hope for some bad years in football for him to go. Right now, he's 2 for 2 on the playoffs and have fielded competitive groups. They cannot fire him right now no matter how the parents in the community feel.

Roughly 35 teams would be in the 1A classification I believe for football.

7 classes in my opinion helps everyone. I also agree about the frequency of re-aligning. I think every 4-5 years would be a better way to go about it.

I assume it would be the same or close to how it is now. The way I was told it works is that 4A-2A would have 40 teams in each classification and whatever is left over from that will fill the 1A classification

I understand your point. But they may have to do that this year, I do not know if they are in same region for baseball or basketball. The idea I believe is to: 1. Make it more competitive across all classifications. 2. cut down on multiple long trips throughout a season.

Region 1-5A: Cleveland Central Clarksdale Gentry Canton Holmes County Central Vicksburg Region 2-5A: Lafayette West Point Ridgeland New Hope Provine Wingfield Region 3-5A: Laurel South Jones Northeast Jones Brookhaven Florence North Pike Region 4-5A: Picayune Wayne County Stone Pass Christian East Central Vancleave

Region 1-6A: Lewisburg South Panola Olive Branch Lake Cormorant Center Hill Greenville Region 2-6A: Columbus Saltillo Neshoba Central Callaway Grenada Jim Hill Region 3-6A: Forest Hill Pearl Petal Natchez West Jones Hattiesburg Region 4-6A: Gautier Pearl River Central Pascagoula George County West Harrison Long Beach You could swap Pearl with Jim Hill and it would make sense, I just kept Pearl in the south since that is where they have been for a while.

So I did a rough mock up of what the regions could potentially look like in 7-5A. It is based off last counts numbers, but I think it would be a fairly accurate depiction. I am going to do it in 3 posts. Region 1-7A: Desoto Central Southaven Horn Lake Oxford Hernando Tupelo Region 2-7A: Starkville Madison Central Germantown Clinton Warren Central Germantown Region 3-7A: Oak Grove Brandon Meridian Northwest Rankin Terry Harrison Central Region 4-7A: Ocean Springs Biloxi Gulfport Hancock d’Iberville St. Martin

Traveling to Natchez is a nightmare for just about any team lol

I would think PRC goes up before George County. If St. Martin drops, Region 4 would be George County, St. Martin, Long Beach, Gautier, Pascagoula, West Harrison I would think. Although George County is further north geographically, I could see them being bumped up to region 3.

St. Martin potentially bumping down would be interesting. They could potentially be a really solid program there. PRC would bump up to region 3. I think it checks all the boxes and makes sense for the state to do this. More competitiveness, more money for the state. I love the idea of teams getting 5 non-region games as well. Would allow teams to create some really great matchups from 7A-5A.

I agree. I think it creates a really competitive balance. My friend said only about 15 or so seemed to be against it when it was proposed. I hope it happens.

Collins isn’t going anywhere. They have no leg to stand on in order to fire him. He’s made the playoffs both years and fielded competitive teams.

A good friend of mine was at the MAAA clinic and yes it was proposed by MHSAA. Has to pass through directors board or something like that he said. Based on enrollment numbers. It would go: Top 24 go to 7A. Next 24 to 6A. Next 24 to 5A. 4 regions, 6 teams per region. 4-1A will have 40 teams in each classification. 8 regions, 5 teams per region.

I would assume so this time. Too much fuss from community folks the past 2 hires not to. Honestly, I say they deserve it. They have been with the program through thick and think. They have been successful overall. Why not give one of them a shot?

Gang ties or not, the young men were out actively seeking to harm or kill other people..

I laughed out loud when I read Dolan was leaving for that very reason!

d’Iberville probably will finally promote Ladner to be the Head Coach. I know some of the community folks wanted him in the past when Collins and Dolan got it.

Someone should let Runningman67 know. He mentioned he was moving his kids to d’Iberville to play for Dolan. Lol

I’d wager almost 100% Laurel will be 4A.

Agree 10 fold on that! I have long heard the culture of the program had gone sour. Heck back in 2018, St. Martin had as much talent as anyone on the coast in the last decade and finished fourth in the region. Had 10+ kids sign college scholarships that year. Ironically enough, I remember a year or two ago there were 4-5 former standouts from past St. Martin teams arrested on charges related to a gang shooting (according to media reports).

The highlighted portion of this post is about as spot on as you can get my friend! Coast schools (most of them) in my opinion have as much money, funding, etc. as anywhere in the state, yet there is hardly any real commitment to athletics at most places. It is truly a shame places like Biloxi, Gulfport, Ocean Springs, St. Martin, Pascagoula, Harrison Central, etc. have not experienced more success than they probably should have.

Well I hope that is true! I did hear some coaches from solid programs in the Jackson and Pine Belt areas put in for this one.