Playoff changes

[Keith]

Jun 7, 2017 5:41:48 GMT -5 sportsjock said:

Jun 7, 2017 5:17:57 GMT -5 @fremont89 said:

Interesting ...Due to trac rotation of schedules every 4 years, Ross plays findlay after sandusky week 4 Sept.15.Per Ross football Twitter. 2 rivals back to back.

Where's this years game, Don Paul or Donnell stadium?
I try to make it a point to catch this game.....historically great rivalry.

Ross plays Sandusky at Don Paul this season.   The Little Giants travel to Findlay.

[Deleted]

How is Ross going to be this year? Sandusky has a playoff caliber team coming back.

[Deleted]

Jun 7, 2017 10:25:46 GMT -5 @streaknation said:

How is Ross going to be this year? Sandusky has a playoff caliber team coming back.

With Fremont year to year its tough to gauge how they will be. I don't know what or who is back.I remembber 2015 they had unbelievable talent div 1 kids etc but only won 3 games. Last year was a tough tough year for them. Historically when they've had brutal seasons prior they've responded, like all teams do. Like a box s chocolates 😀.
Never know what your gonna get. Good luck rival! ! I Like Alexander he's very good.Good luck and see ya in Fremont.

[BellevueBuckeye]

What does any of this Fremont stuff have to do with the topic of this thread?

[BellevueBuckeye]

ANyway, back on topic, one thing about this change that will be interesting to see is how it affects neutral site games. There's already plenty of complaining that goes on when one team has a travel advantage over another, and those situations will likely only get worse now that their throwing all their hosting site eggs into one basket and can no longer use some of the major sites twice in a weekend. On the plus side, if you're a school with a turf field that want's to host a playoff game your chances of doing so will be better now.

[Deleted]

Some locations had been passed over due to seating or parking issues that may be in play now. Maybe along with this change they are reducing the fees being paid to a host school. You would have to think that attendance will decline so they have to make that up somewhere. OR maybe they go first 2 games is the high seed host.

[sportsjock]

This is an insightful article from the Morning Journal:

By Jon Behm, The Morning Journal
POSTED: 06/06/17, 6:38 PM EDT | UPDATED: 2 HRS AGO 0 COMMENTS
Football fields across Ohio will be pretty dark on Saturdays in November.

On June 6, the Ohio High School Athletic Association announced that the first four weeks of the playoffs would be contested on Friday night only, instead of the previous format that had four divisions play on Friday night and three on Saturday.

The change was voted on during the monthly OHSAA Board of Directors meeting on June 1.

“For a few years now, we have studied the possibility of moving all playoff games to Friday nights for the first four rounds,” OHSAA Assistant Commissioner Beau Rugg said. “Due to so many more college football games being played on Saturday nights, attendance at our Saturday playoff games has steadily declined, and more potential playoff sites have said they cannot host games on Saturdays. We now have enough playoff sites to handle all the games on one night, and the football coaches association was in support of this change, too, because teams will get to stay on their normal weekly schedule of playing on Friday night.”


It’s a move that area coaches do not seem to mind.

“It’s one of those things where I believe high school football is intended to be played on Fridays,” Avon coach Mike Elder said. “For us, it’s not going to be a change since we play our games on Friday, and it really just feels right.”

While Elder said he likes it as a coach, the fan in him is not so enthusiastic about the change.

“I can see where fans of high school football would get annoyed,” Elder said. “I can imagine that some people like watching a team on Friday and then head out to another game on Saturday. The fan in me can understand where there might be some backlash there.”

As with any change, Elder said some coaches and teams probably aren’t a fan of the change, but that there’s not way of knowing for sure until the 2017 playoffs come around.

“Sometimes you just have to give things a chance,” Elder said. “You might be used to Saturday playoff games, but you’ll find that the atmosphere of a Friday game is going to be better. Your stadiums will be filled more since the fans won’t have to decide between your team and Ohio State.”

One coach more than qualified to comment on the changes is Bay’s Ron Rutt.

The Rockets have made the playoffs three years in a row — playing their 2014 and 2015 playoff games on Friday and the 2016 game on Saturday.

“I think the change makes sense in terms of keeping a consistent schedule,” Rutt said. “Playing 10 weeks with games on Friday allows you to get a set schedule for practices. When you throw the first week of the playoffs in there on Saturday, it gives the practices a bit of a weird feeling, like things are a bit off.

“I think the change is a good choice.”

One area Rutt said coule present challenges is determining neutral sites for the regional semifinals and finals.

“We’ve had to do some traveling for playoff games, that’s for sure,” Rutt, whose teams have made playoff trips to Ashland and Toledo, said. “I’m not sure how all of that will work out. Obviously, there will be more games going on, which means more stadiums will be used. I think we just have to hope that the OHSAA will take the travel time for each team into consideration when figuring out the neutral site and make it the best possible situation.”

In the end, the main thing is getting to Week 11.

“I’d bet there are plenty of teams that couldn’t care less what day they are playing,” Elder said. “They’re just happy to be in the playoffs. That’s just one of the goals teams have in a year, and if they can check it off, the day doesn’t matter.”

[usramfan]

Jun 6, 2017 14:32:18 GMT -5 piratefan said:

From a fan's point of view......well, THIS fan anyway................I think it sucks! I loved going to a playoff game on Friday night, then getting to go to another game on Saturday night. Now it's "pick which game you wanna see" instead of "doubling your pleasure" and having two nights of high school ball. The season is short enough and I like to attend as many games as I can.

For the most part, I agree with you because I am one of those fans who went to games both nights. The only positive I can see is that having games all on Friday could make it easier to choose a game to go to. Depending on how the divisions were split between the two nights, there were some years where there several good games to choose from on one night and a bunch of did on the other.

[sportsjock]

If there's too many complaints and they encounter other problems, the most damaging of which would be decreased attendance/revenue.
If that's the case, it will be a one year experiment that failed to meet expectations.

No matter what materializes, Ohio high school playoffs are far superior to the formula Florida has.
First off, there is virtually no independent leagues or conferences. Every year the state decides what district your school will be in, with districts redrawn according to school size change annually. There is no playing for the SBC Championship or TRAC Championship. Everyone is playing for the district title and every district has a designated name using numbers. I like Ohio conference alignments, much better way to do it.
When it comes to playoffs, games are played on home sight of one of the opponents. This continues even into the regionals.
A school may not set foot in a college stadium before the championship final....sucks.

[galion]

Actually it may hinder neutral site game even more than you think. At least now if a school has a team still in the playoffs they can still host on the day that they aren't playing. Under the new system how would a school staff a game when their football team and band are going to be playing somewhere else on the same night? The people that they would use to work the game are going to be there with them.

[sportsjock]

Jun 9, 2017 0:14:35 GMT -5 galion said:

Actually it may hinder neutral site game even more than you think. At least now if a school has a team still in the playoffs they can still host on the day that they aren't playing. Under the new system how would a school staff a game when their football team and band are going to be playing somewhere else on the same night? The people that they would use to work the game are going to be there with them.

You certainly think in practical terms.
A very good point indeed.

[Deleted]

Jun 9, 2017 0:14:35 GMT -5 galion said:

Actually it may hinder neutral site game even more than you think. At least now if a school has a team still in the playoffs they can still host on the day that they aren't playing. Under the new system how would a school staff a game when their football team and band are going to be playing somewhere else on the same night? The people that they would use to work the game are going to be there with them.

That's a good point but in reality that number is probably so small it did not factor in. I can see this working. It may have some complaints but it could be better. A majority of the people attending the games on Saturday are the team's fans so the small number of fans that made a double weekend for HS football may be off set by the people who will attend a team's Friday game that would not attend on Saturday due to college football. I myself think they need to reduce the number of divisions.

[galion]

Really? So there's no correlation between the teams with the best facilities and the teams with successful programs? You typically don't have one without the other. Given that I haven't heard anyone say that the OHSAA is going to relax any of the "requirements" the be eligible to host a playoff game I have a feeling that we are going to see some very interesting neutral sites. There may be some overnight stays involved.

[Deleted]

I meant the grand total of schools with football in Ohio and the small number that make the playoffs/host. Even the 0-10, 1-9, and 2-8 coaches get to vote on changes. There are more coaches that do not make playoffs than do so, yes really. More schools every year are getting turf so the possible sites increase. Take away the ones who play and host and there may be three others who were left out. I'm interested to see how this goes. This has been discussed for years and the coaches were in favor of it so their giving it a try. I think it could work.

[galion]

If there are so many acceptable sites then why are the same facilities in use every year? Hell it's not unusual for Mansfield Sr to host two games in a weekend.

[Deleted]

Mansfield, Madison and Ashland, all close to each other, have acceptable fields. Which gets used twice on a weekend while the other 2 may sit? Exactly what I am saying. Of the 717 football teams in Ohio I would not be surprised if 200+ of them have acceptable fields and we are talking about needing less than 60. Fields passed over in the past for one reason or another will be used this year.

Just out of curiosity, how many of the 2017-18 SBC schools have turf?

[Deleted]

Jun 10, 2017 12:16:05 GMT -5 @scooter said:

Mansfield, Madison and Ashland, all close to each other, have acceptable fields. Which gets used twice on a weekend while the other 2 may sit? Exactly what I am saying. Of the 717 football teams in Ohio I would not be surprised if 200+ of them have acceptable fields and we are talking about needing less than 60. Fields passed over in the passed for one reason or another will be used this year.

Just out of curiosity, how many of the 2017-18 SBC schools have turf?

Sandusky, SMCC, Clyde, Huron, Bellevue, Perkins, Fremont St Joe, Colombian, Calvert and Port Clinton. Not sure if Vermilion does or not

[smitty1974]

.

[Deleted]

Jun 10, 2017 17:57:07 GMT -5 @bighoss said:

Jun 10, 2017 12:16:05 GMT -5 @scooter said:

Mansfield, Madison and Ashland, all close to each other, have acceptable fields. Which gets used twice on a weekend while the other 2 may sit? Exactly what I am saying. Of the 717 football teams in Ohio I would not be surprised if 200+ of them have acceptable fields and we are talking about needing less than 60. Fields passed over in the passed for one reason or another will be used this year.

Just out of curiosity, how many of the 2017-18 SBC schools have turf?

Sandusky, SMCC, Clyde, Huron, Bellevue, Perkins, Fremont St Joe, Colombian, Calvert and Port Clinton. Not sure if Vermilion does or not

So there is 10 schools but I know Calvert and Columbian share a field. So just in one conference that's 8-9 turf fields that could be considered. Add to that the neighboring OCC and you have 13-14 in 2 conferences.

[Skip Bayless]

area turf fields Perkins , Sandusky , Clyde, Huron , Port Clinton, Bellevue, Tiffin , Fremont

area grass fields.  Norwalk, Margaretta, Willard, Shelby, Edison, Vermilion

[Rambo McClain]

Jun 10, 2017 17:57:07 GMT -5 @bighoss said:

Jun 10, 2017 12:16:05 GMT -5 @scooter said:

Just out of curiosity, how many of the 2017-18 SBC schools have turf?

Sandusky, SMCC, Clyde, Huron, Bellevue, Perkins, Fremont St Joe, Colombian, Calvert and Port Clinton. Not sure if Vermilion does or not

With this Friday Night playoff rule
What happens when Columbian and Calvert both host a playoff game?
What happens when SMCC and Sandusky both host a playoff game?
What happens when St Joe and Ross both host a playoff game?

Double header - 3 pm and 7 pm kickoffs?
Can't play on Saturday because it hurts attendance. Maybe Calvert, SMCC, St Joe, etc will take heed and stop scheduling Saturday games in the regular season. OHSAA says it's dumb to play on Saturday.

[Deleted]

So that is 13 between 2 conferences.

[Deleted]

Jun 11, 2017 10:19:48 GMT -5 Rambo McClain said:

Jun 10, 2017 17:57:07 GMT -5 @bighoss said:

Sandusky, SMCC, Clyde, Huron, Bellevue, Perkins, Fremont St Joe, Colombian, Calvert and Port Clinton. Not sure if Vermilion does or not

With this Friday Night playoff rule
What happens when Columbian and Calvert both host a playoff game?
What happens when SMCC and Sandusky both host a playoff game?
What happens when St Joe and Ross both host a playoff game?

Double header - 3 pm and 7 pm kickoffs?
Can't play on Saturday because it hurts attendance. Maybe Calvert, SMCC, St Joe, etc will take heed and stop scheduling Saturday games in the regular season. OHSAA says it's dumb to play on Saturday.

Do all 6 regularly make the playoffs and are they normally the high seeds? I'll take a guess and say that Calvert, SMCC and St Joe uses Columbian, Sandusky and Ross's fields so they cannot host a game. First round for the smaller schools would have to be a neutral site. If it is not the first round they would not be hosting anyway. But that is a good question to ask the OHSAA, but they do cover this issue in their rules. If home team site is not available the home team can find a neutral site to host. If they cannot the lower seed can host.

[sportsjock]

Actually, having field turf is nice, but not a deal changer in assigning playoff games. A well maintained natural grass field is on an equal basis with field turf. The other criteria's hold more importance with the OHSAA, such as stadium capacity, parking, separate concessions stands and restroom facilities, fully enclosed playing field, Press box, locker room & restroom facilities etc.
In northwest Ohio some of the larger stadiums might surprise you.

Stadium Seating Capacities
Toledo Whitmer 8,000
Findlay Donnell 6,653
Sandusky Cedar Point (Strobel Field) 5,600
Fostoria Memorial 5,136
Bellevue First National Bank Field 4,400
Tiffin Frost-Kalnow 4,100
Fremont Don Paul 3,400
Oak Harbor 3,158
Bowling Green Bobcat 2,248

Ohio Football Stadiums
www.ohiostadiums.com/index.html

[Deleted]

Field conditions are normally questioned late in the season so the normal selected fields are turf but they do factor in a lot of other things looked at. IMO parking must be down the list as I have been to some playoff games where a large portion of the parking is on the streets but it is a great stadium.

[sportsjock]

Actually, parking is a prime consideration, as I have been told by several athletic directors over the years.
Fremont, Findlay & Tiffin have very nice facilities, but fall way short on parking, depending largely on, on street parking. I think all three have been working on acquiring additional property to alleviate their ongoing problem.
Fostoria has the best situation of all the larger stadiums in the fact they have large & ample parking lots adjoining the stadium and separate parking and ticket entrances for home and away fans.

[footballfan]

Jun 11, 2017 12:40:59 GMT -5 sportsjock said:

Actually, having field turf is nice, but not a deal changer in assigning playoff games. A well maintained natural grass field is on an equal basis with field turf. The other criteria's hold more importance with the OHSAA, such as stadium capacity, parking, separate concessions stands and restroom facilities, fully enclosed playing field, Press box, locker room & restroom facilities etc.
In northwest Ohio some of the larger stadiums might surprise you.

Stadium Seating Capacities
Toledo Whitmer 8,000
Findlay Donnell 6,653
Sandusky Cedar Point (Strobel Field) 5,600
Fostoria Memorial 5,136
Tiffin Frost-Kalnow 4,100
Fremont Don Paul 3,400
Oak Harbor 3,158
Bowling Green Bobcat 2,248

Ohio Football Stadiums
www.ohiostadiums.com/index.html

Bellevue "BAF" 4,400 and home and away ticket booth and great parking around stadium.

[sportsjock]

Jun 11, 2017 14:15:05 GMT -5 footballfan said:

Jun 11, 2017 12:40:59 GMT -5 sportsjock said:

Actually, having field turf is nice, but not a deal changer in assigning playoff games. A well maintained natural grass field is on an equal basis with field turf. The other criteria's hold more importance with the OHSAA, such as stadium capacity, parking, separate concessions stands and restroom facilities, fully fenced off playing field, Press box, locker room & restroom facilities etc.
In northwest Ohio some of the larger stadiums might surprise you.

Stadium Seating Capacities
Toledo Whitmer 8,000
Findlay Donnell 6,653
Sandusky Cedar Point (Strobel Field) 5,600
Fostoria Memorial 5,136
Bellevue First National Field 4,400
Tiffin Frost-Kalnow 4,100
Fremont Don Paul 3,400
Oak Harbor 3,158
Bowling Green Bobcat 2,248

Ohio Football Stadiums
www.ohiostadiums.com/index.html

Bellevue "BAF" 4,400 and home and away ticket booth and great parking around stadium.

Everything needed to host most any playoff game.  Nice stadium......and Bellevue has very nice, 1st class athletic facilites....thanks to good sponsors, athletic boosters, school board and community.

[Keith]

Parking at Don Paul Stadium will improve in the next few years. Stamm School, which has shared the block with the Don, will be torn down and not replaced as part of the tax issue passed last month. That will provide additional parking for the stadium.

[sportsjock]

Jun 12, 2017 8:55:26 GMT -5 Keith said:

Parking at Don Paul Stadium will improve in the next few years. Stamm School, which has shared the block with the Don, will be torn down and not replaced as part of the tax issue past last month. That will provide additional parking for the stadium.

Excellent, I usually parked at Ross High and walked the two blocks up the street.