The total destruction of class 5A by MHSAA

[GTownDanger06]

8 minutes ago, wpgreenwave51 said:

 

Yep! And this defense is young. I think we have better running backs on the bench with one of them being a freshman but I like the current ones. Next year should be fun and year 2 under Morgan 

The whole Morgan family is a football family through and through. Brett Morgan at WP and then Josh and Rob at Warren Central. The Morgan family went 19-7 this year and all made it to at least the North Half. 

[lumberlayer]

28 minutes ago, wpgreenwave51 said:

 

Yep! And this defense is young. I think we have better running backs on the bench with one of them being a freshman but I like the current ones. Next year should be fun and year 2 under Morgan 

Wish ‘em nothing but the best on Friday. We lost one to injury on the opening kickoff that may have made a difference but we’ll never know. Our guys probably had some jitters that made them drop some balls early on that could’ve made it more interesting as well. I don’t believe we’ll be back in that position next year with what we’re losing, but maybe our coaching staff can come up with something to keep us in ballgames and give us a shot. 

[TigersFan]

8 hours ago, slicklizard said:

Whoever came up with five dam region games should have been laughed out of the room. A coach winning two or three region games and getting in the playoffs is just an excuse to keep loaf, lazy coaches around. Which may have been part of the thinking of doing it.

It's already proven to be poorly thought out 

Money drives the MHSAA. A few years ago they stopped taking a percentage of the classic games. Not long after that, they came up with the idea of expansion. You must realize they get a percentage of every playoff game of every sport and classification. So by adding a classification they essentially improved their income by 15%. They may use the idea of ohhh this gives more kids an opportunity to compete in the playoffs. As you have said though it has watered-down classifications and it won't be long before we are just like the MAIS.

[MSSportsGuy]

I've posted more than one rant here about the silliness of 7 classes and won't provide anything new to add but to summarize:

 

1. The gap between the top and bottom of 6A for the 32 teams wasn't a bad point to make. However, I contended it wasn't new and something that had just happened, it had always been there to some degree. 

2. A better solution would have been for 6A to become the top 24 teams, with 5A also being the next 24. There are approximately 240 MHSAA members so 240 minus 48 is 192, which divided by 4 means 48 teams per class. That's basically one more team per region in classes 4A down, which we know 1A has several who don't play football.

3. The director claimed it would "increase excitement" which is one of the most disingenuous things I've ever heard. Everyone knows darn well it was a money grab under the guise of giving students a chance to play for a state championship. 

4. I recall Grenada being one of schools saying how unfair the gap was since they were towards the bottom of 6A under the old system. This season Grenada voluntarily played Oak Grove, Oxford, Clinton, Desoto Central and Bartlett TN (their enrollment per TSSAA is 2,822 for 9-12 so much larger than Tupelo). They won all those games besdies Oak Grove. They clearly have a talented team this year but seems a bit overblown they "couldn't compete" with top schools due to enrollment numbers.

5. School consolidations will continue to happen and decrease the total number of schools overall in the state. Why continue to spread out schools among more classes and regions when the enrollment differences are miniscule beyond the top layer? 

 

Almost everyone on this board agrees 7 classes is silly yet it will not go back unless coaches and administrators vote to change it. They should but won't. 

 

 

[Wareaglefan1us]

3 hours ago, MSSportsGuy said:

I've posted more than one rant here about the silliness of 7 classes and won't provide anything new to add but to summarize:

 

1. The gap between the top and bottom of 6A for the 32 teams wasn't a bad point to make. However, I contended it wasn't new and something that had just happened, it had always been there to some degree. 

2. A better solution would have been for 6A to become the top 24 teams, with 5A also being the next 24. There are approximately 240 MHSAA members so 240 minus 48 is 192, which divided by 4 means 48 teams per class. That's basically one more team per region in classes 4A down, which we know 1A has several who don't play football.

3. The director claimed it would "increase excitement" which is one of the most disingenuous things I've ever heard. Everyone knows darn well it was a money grab under the guise of giving students a chance to play for a state championship. 

4. I recall Grenada being one of schools saying how unfair the gap was since they were towards the bottom of 6A under the old system. This season Grenada voluntarily played Oak Grove, Oxford, Clinton, Desoto Central and Bartlett TN (their enrollment per TSSAA is 2,822 for 9-12 so much larger than Tupelo). They won all those games besdies Oak Grove. They clearly have a talented team this year but seems a bit overblown they "couldn't compete" with top schools due to enrollment numbers.

5. School consolidations will continue to happen and decrease the total number of schools overall in the state. Why continue to spread out schools among more classes and regions when the enrollment differences are miniscule beyond the top layer? 

 

Almost everyone on this board agrees 7 classes is silly yet it will not go back unless coaches and administrators vote to change it. They should but won't. 

 

 

I agree 100% with you but not only is it money but they think we have to do everything Alabama does. 

[TheTruth]

On 12/3/2024 at 3:03 PM, slicklizard said:

I’ve heard that that reason before. If that is the real reason I would like to see the numbers from it. I bet if you put pen to paper it was close to when it was six classes . I noticed last season. A lot of teams had freaking losing records and only had to win a couple games to get in. Those teams don’t draw enough people to cover, lights,staff, ref crews plus liability for all that . Not even for the home teams. Especially the first round.

I haven’t dug into but I never heard anything coming out of the meeting this present year.

 

 

You got me wrong .  My feelings weren’t hurt.  I left out Grenada to try and drive home the point. I guess I could have put the real championship game should have been Gautier vs Grenada but I wouldn’t want to wat that either. . Plus you didn’t put any reason why they changed the number of classifications. It looked like that you didn’t see Grenada in the mix and you immediately reacted. 
I don’t need convincing one way or the I think what I think based on what  I’ve seen. I watched a couple of y’all’s games on YouTube and this season doesn’t really look much different than last year.    What do you mean with those numbers because I legit don’t follow. What was Grenada two seasons ago ? thought they were in old 5A. Starkville and Tupelo were in old 6A you saying same division as them is why I’m puzzled on it

Folks can say what they want to about West Point being handed the gold ball every year, but Wayne County should be the team they have to beat.  Wayne County has some great football players and a rich tradition.  They appear to be being mismanaged (and I don't necessarily mean by coaches).  Something is amiss there.  They need to find out what that is and fix it.  If they do they will get back and put a strangle hold on 5A.

[Rebel Bert]

2021-23

6A Tupelo 1907

6A Center Hill 1047

5A West Harrison 1045

5A Laurel 709

2023-25

7A DeSoto Central 1553

7A Lewisburg 960

6A Hancock 944

6A Vicksburg 699

5A Greenville 690

5A Corinth 501

2025-27

7A Tupelo  1628

7A Meridian 934

6A Hancock 929

6A Long Beach 668

5A Columbus 655

5A Sumrall 477

[s1nglewing]

1 hour ago, Rebel Bert said:

2021-23

6A Tupelo 1907

6A Center Hill 1047

5A West Harrison 1045

5A Laurel 709

2023-25

7A DeSoto Central 1553

7A Lewisburg 960

6A Hancock 944

6A Vicksburg 699

5A Greenville 690

5A Corinth 501

2025-27

7A Tupelo  1628

7A Meridian 934

6A Hancock 929

6A Long Beach 668

5A Columbus 655

5A Sumrall 477

Huh?

[Rebel Bert]

52 minutes ago, s1nglewing said:

Huh?

Largest school/smallest school in each class in each reclassification. Where is Grenada and why complain. Didn't the coach leave after the complaint?

[s1nglewing]

3 hours ago, Rebel Bert said:

Largest school/smallest school in each class in each reclassification. Where is Grenada and why complain. Didn't the coach leave after the complaint?

Think he retired, and Grenada was in 6A with Tupelo, Clinton, MC, et al in 2021/22

[slicklizard]

They need to cut enough off  enough off the bottom of 7A and top of 1A to give 2A-6A at least six if not seven region games. Let them play four or five region games. It would probably be more competitive anyway.
That should throw Petal down in class which was the original purpose of bringing this about from what everyone said at the time. They aren’t winning anything in 6 A either.

[Vott]

2 minutes ago, slicklizard said:

They need to cut enough off  enough off the bottom of 7A and top of 1A to give 2A-6A at least six if not seven region games. Let them play four or five region games. It would probably be more competitive anyway.
That should throw Petal down in class which was the original purpose of bringing this about from what everyone said at the time. They aren’t winning anything in 6 A either.

Yes it was. Petal was so tired of getting it handed to them by Brandon Oak Grove Pearl and NW Rankin they for sure thought they were going to be in the region with at the time Hattiesburg Natchez Wayne Co Florence South Jones and West Jones. 

[coastfootballfanman]

6A should be top 24.

5A should be next 32. 

4A-2A should be 48

1A will have 40 teams left over. 

[maroontide06]

14 minutes ago, Vott said:

Yes it was. Petal was so tired of getting it handed to them by Brandon Oak Grove Pearl and NW Rankin they for sure thought they were going to be in the region with at the time Hattiesburg Natchez Wayne Co Florence South Jones and West Jones. 

Petal hasn't really caught the break they were wanting.  The more things change, the more they stay the same.

[maroontide06]

1 minute ago, coastfootballfanman said:

6A should be top 24.

5A should be next 32. 

4A-2A should be 48

1A will have 40 teams left over. 

This makes way too much sense.  That's why it'll never happen.

[coastfootballfanman]

17 minutes ago, maroontide06 said:

This makes way too much sense.  That's why it'll never happen.

Truthfully, I would love to go back to 5 classes. If there are 240 teams in MHSAA, that would give each class 48 teams. You could have 8, 6 team regions. 5 non-region games and 5 region games (same as now essentially). Could schedule non-region with nearby teams who are 5/4A. Imagine 5A south:

7-5A Picayune, Pearl River Central, Gulfport, Harrison Central, Hancock, and West Harrison.

8-5A Biloxi, d'Iberville, Ocean Springs, St. Martin, Pascagoula, George County.

6-5A of Petal, Hattiesburg, Oak Grove, West Jones, Meridian, Brandon.

5-5A of Pearl, Terry, Jim Hill, Forest Hill NW Rankin, Murrah

[maroontide06]

2 minutes ago, coastfootballfanman said:

Truthfully, I would love to go back to 5 classes. If there are 240 teams in MHSAA, that would give each class 48 teams. You could have 8, 6 team regions. 5 non-region games and 5 region games (same as now essentially). Could schedule non-region with nearby teams who are 5/4A. Imagine 5A south:

7-5A Picayune, Pearl River Central, Gulfport, Harrison Central, Hancock, and West Harrison.

8-5A Biloxi, d'Iberville, Ocean Springs, St. Martin, Pascagoula, George County.

6-5A of Petal, Hattiesburg, Oak Grove, West Jones, Meridian, Brandon.

5-5A of Pearl, Terry, Jim Hill, Forest Hill NW Rankin, Murrah

Don't you dare get me excited.  You're gonna make me want to circumvent the MHSAA aren't you?  (Or just knock them upside the head with some common sense that unfortunately is an oddity these days.)

[Vott]

32 minutes ago, coastfootballfanman said:

Truthfully, I would love to go back to 5 classes. If there are 240 teams in MHSAA, that would give each class 48 teams. You could have 8, 6 team regions. 5 non-region games and 5 region games (same as now essentially). Could schedule non-region with nearby teams who are 5/4A. Imagine 5A south:

7-5A Picayune, Pearl River Central, Gulfport, Harrison Central, Hancock, and West Harrison.

8-5A Biloxi, d'Iberville, Ocean Springs, St. Martin, Pascagoula, George County.

6-5A of Petal, Hattiesburg, Oak Grove, West Jones, Meridian, Brandon.

5-5A of Pearl, Terry, Jim Hill, Forest Hill NW Rankin, Murrah

Picayune and Gulfport would dominate their region. Ocean Springs and Goula would dominate theirs. Region 6 5a would be brutal. and Region 5 would be the weakest.

[coastfootballfanman]

4 minutes ago, Vott said:

Picayune and Gulfport would dominate their region. Ocean Springs and Goula would dominate theirs. Region 6 5a would be brutal. and Region 5 would be the weakest.

I agree. To me, the real fun would start in playoffs. Picayune vs. Brandon. Hattiesburg vs. Gulfport. West Jones vs. Ocean Springs. It would be a true gauntlet to make it out of that. 

[maroontide06]

12 minutes ago, coastfootballfanman said:

I agree. To me, the real fun would start in playoffs. Picayune vs. Brandon. Hattiesburg vs. Gulfport. West Jones vs. Ocean Springs. It would be a true gauntlet to make it out of that. 

There would also be probably 2-3 teams that you could potentially play twice as well, depending on how your non-division is scheduled.  But it may not even have to be that either.

[maroontide06]

20 minutes ago, Vott said:

Picayune and Gulfport would dominate their region. Ocean Springs and Goula would dominate theirs. Region 6 5a would be brutal. and Region 5 would be the weakest.

I agree about 6-5A.  The key there would be to get a playoff spot.  Once you would have that clinched, it may not be so brutal.

[coastfootballfanman]

I just took the newest released division for 7/6A and created 8, 6 team regions. I have to admit, I like it. Especially for playoff purposes. 4 rounds. Whoever comes out on top would go through a gauntlet!

 

1-5A: Desoto Central, Horn Lake, Hernando, Lewisburg, Southaven, Lake Cormorant

2-5A: Center Hill, Olive Branch, Oxford, South Panola, Tupelo, Saltillo

3-5A: Grenada, Starkville, Ridgeland, Neshoba Central, Germantown, Madison Central

4-5A: Warren Central, Clinton, Callway, Greenville, Canton, Murrah

5-5A: Pearl, Brandon, Terry, Jim Hill, Forest Hill, Northwest Rankin

6-5A: Meridian, Hattiesburg, Oak Grove, Petal, West Jones, Pearl River Central

7-5A: Picayune, Hancock, West Harrison, Harrison Central, Gulfport, Biloxi

8-5A: d'Iberville, St. Martin, Ocean Springs, Pascagoula, George County, Gautier 

 

Biggest caveat would be who has less numbers out of Gautier and Long Beach. They are the bottom of 6A number wise. With 7A currently having 25, one of those two would be in 4A. If Long Beach has more, they would be 7-5A and Biloxi would shift to 8-5A.

[maroontide06]

5 minutes ago, coastfootballfanman said:

I just took the newest released division for 7/6A and created 8, 6 team regions. I have to admit, I like it. Especially for playoff purposes. 4 rounds. Whoever comes out on top would go through a gauntlet!

 

1-5A: Desoto Central, Horn Lake, Hernando, Lewisburg, Southaven, Lake Cormorant

2-5A: Center Hill, Olive Branch, Oxford, South Panola, Tupelo, Saltillo

3-5A: Grenada, Starkville, Ridgeland, Neshoba Central, Germantown, Madison Central

4-5A: Warren Central, Clinton, Callway, Greenville, Canton, Murrah

5-5A: Pearl, Brandon, Terry, Jim Hill, Forest Hill, Northwest Rankin

6-5A: Meridian, Hattiesburg, Oak Grove, Petal, West Jones, Pearl River Central

7-5A: Picayune, Hancock, West Harrison, Harrison Central, Gulfport, Biloxi

8-5A: d'Iberville, St. Martin, Ocean Springs, Pascagoula, George County, Gautier 

 

Biggest caveat would be who has less numbers out of Gautier and Long Beach. They are the bottom of 6A number wise. With 7A currently having 25, one of those two would be in 4A. If Long Beach has more, they would be 7-5A and Biloxi would shift to 8-5A.

You know what?  This is Laurel free.  I'm liking this more and more.

[slicklizard]

Does anyone know how close this last vote was ?

[GTownDanger06]

1 hour ago, coastfootballfanman said:

I just took the newest released division for 7/6A and created 8, 6 team regions. I have to admit, I like it. Especially for playoff purposes. 4 rounds. Whoever comes out on top would go through a gauntlet!

 

1-5A: Desoto Central, Horn Lake, Hernando, Lewisburg, Southaven, Lake Cormorant

2-5A: Center Hill, Olive Branch, Oxford, South Panola, Tupelo, Saltillo

3-5A: Grenada, Starkville, Ridgeland, Neshoba Central, Germantown, Madison Central

4-5A: Warren Central, Clinton, Callway, Greenville, Canton, Murrah

5-5A: Pearl, Brandon, Terry, Jim Hill, Forest Hill, Northwest Rankin

6-5A: Meridian, Hattiesburg, Oak Grove, Petal, West Jones, Pearl River Central

7-5A: Picayune, Hancock, West Harrison, Harrison Central, Gulfport, Biloxi

8-5A: d'Iberville, St. Martin, Ocean Springs, Pascagoula, George County, Gautier 

 

Biggest caveat would be who has less numbers out of Gautier and Long Beach. They are the bottom of 6A number wise. With 7A currently having 25, one of those two would be in 4A. If Long Beach has more, they would be 7-5A and Biloxi would shift to 8-5A.

Callaway with 705 students being competitive against Clinton with basically 1400? That school is twice the size. 
 

That would be the equivalent of throwing Callaway in 1A.