Mass. H.S. Football Playoffs May Change Dramatically With Friday Vote

Boston Herald, Dan Ventura

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/college/football/view/20221022all_eyes_on_playoff_vote/srvc=sports&position=also

The presidential election is 15 days away, but there is a local vote taking place this Friday which could dramatically change the landscape of high school football as we know it.

More than 300 schools are expected to meet at an MIAA General Assembly meeting at Assabet Valley High School in Marlboro on Friday at which time they will cast a vote on the latest playoff proposal. If this latest plan were to pass, there would be a statewide playoff beginning in 2013-2014.

The proposal has received the blessing of the MIAA Football Committee (15-2 in favor) and the MIAA Tournament Management Committee (10-4). The Board of Directors had an opportunity to seal the deal in June but opted to put the decision in the hands of the general assembly.

The basic proponents of the plan would be to create a true state champion in each of the six divisions, realign the divisions geographically in terms of enrollment and competitive balance, maintain league and Thanksgiving Day games, eliminate safety concerns of playing three games in nine days (as is the case now), and most importantly, allow more teams the opportunity to compete in playoff games.

In every other team sport, all schools need to do is either finish with a .500 record, finish first or second in their respective leagues or, in the case of smaller schools competing in a larger division, get in via the Sullivan Rule. By contrast, 35 football teams won more than 63 percent of their games last season and their reward was a pat on the back after the Thanksgiving Day game and a reminder to turn in their uniform and pads.

Should this plan pass on Friday, each division would have eight teams qualify for the postseason following Week 7. On the eighth week, the first round would begin with No. 1 playing No. 8, and on down the line. The playoffs would continue on weekends, sandwiched around Thanksgiving, and lead up to Super Saturday at Gillette Stadium.

A breakdown of divisional alignments and playoff dates can be found at www.miaa.net.

“Our goal has always been to have more high school kids enjoy the feeling of playing in the playoffs and we feel this proposal does that,” said Xaverian coach and athletic director Charlie Stevenson, a member of the MIAA Football Committee. “We want the football players to have the same opportunities to play in the playoffs that athletes in other sports get.”

In talking to a variety of coaches, athletic directors and administrators, this plan has been better received than the 2010 proposal which was voted down by a 190-114 count.

Still there are plenty of detractors in the crowd. They point to the scheduling uncertainty among non-playoff teams in weeks 8-10 as well as a general fear that a school could very well be playing its Thanksgiving Day opponent multiple times, in a season, thus reducing the significance and gate of the Turkey Day game.

“I feel that this doesn’t fit our needs,” said Billerica athletic director David Lezenski. “To not know who we are going to be playing (if we don’t make the playoffs) is a real wild card. Then to potentially have to play Chelmsford three times in a season … there is no doubt it would affect the gate.

“Like it or not, we have to worry about revenue. This isn’t big-time college football. I wish we were Alabama and not have to worry about revenues, but revenue pieces are a very, very large part of it.”