Fixing the Playoffs

[Indian]

With enrollments shifted for some at least for a year or two, it would have been a good year to blow it up at least for football. Get rid of all regions/districts, let teams schedule who they wanted to for paydays and local rivalries/quick trips. After 10 games, take all 5+ game winners (and a few 4 if needed to get an even number), order them by enrollment for playoff classes, and divide by a Z-plan type system. Yes, a few deserving teams might get left out due to tough schedule, a few lesser teams might get into due to easy scheduling but it would work itself out  in the postseason and the regular season gates/rivalries would increase interest plus money. 

[orngnblk]

On 10/21/2020 at 5:26 PM, Indian said:

The bye helped in minor injury recovery but missing out a game while the opponent played made for some sloppy play too, at least for a quarter or two. If the opponents were relatively even it might hurt more than help. 

Agree!

[chrisburr]

only region winner gets automatic bid

8 autobids and 24 wild cards

4 quadrants seeded 1-8 each

[rlh]

On 10/14/2020 at 4:08 PM, MidTennFootball said:

5 Classes. Z-Plan. Only league champions get automatic berths. Divide the bracket into east and west and seed them 1-16

No, not that abomination of a Z-Plan again.  Use the basketball classification of A, AA, AAA, AAAA and go with 2 districts per region like in the A-AA-AAA years with 2 from each district making the playoffs and call it a day.

[MidTennFootball]

1 hour ago, rlh said:

No, not that abomination of a Z-Plan again.  Use the basketball classification of A, AA, AAA, AAAA and go with 2 districts per region like in the A-AA-AAA years with 2 from each district making the playoffs and call it a day.

With a few tweaks, I'd take it over the current system. Going to be hard enough to get TSSAA to go for 5 Classes, much less 4

[chrisburr]

or you could do 4 classes like in other sports and expand it to 64 or leave it 32 and have 16 bowl games

the more postseason the better

[JRB]

I am somewhat new to TN however I would move the location to a destination location so people could make a weekend around the championship.

[oldraiderfan]

On 10/17/2020 at 8:36 PM, RLS26 said:

make the big dogs move up a class.  teams will be more even and bigger crowds but maybe not this year because of covid..  example alcoa at least 4 a  or  5a

And South Pittsburg 2 or3 A.

 

[The Drunken Sailor]

On 11/2/2020 at 6:07 PM, JRB said:

I am somewhat new to TN however I would move the location to a destination location so people could make a weekend around the championship.

It used to be in Nashville and then in Murfreesboro. Both were better venues. Both were more centralized. Both had more to do/offer than Cookeville. 

 

[FridayMainEvent]

On 10/15/2020 at 4:24 PM, TryNotToSuck said:

Z-Plan as well, I think it works much better than the current set up for the playoffs. Also, region champions do get to be automatic qualifiers (which doesn't carry any weight because chances are they will be automatic qualifiers anyway). 

But, this is my catch. Teams have the option of playing on Friday or Saturday nights. Why? If we struggle so much with attendance, and the TSSAA is coming out saying that they aren't making as much money in the playoffs as years past, then let teams have the option of playing on Saturday. What are the pro to having teams playing on Saturday? More fans (potentially) which means more money (potentially). It also increases the option of fans that are traveling 2+ hours for a playoff game because of work issues. The only con: a “shorter”’ week if you win and advance.

A change I am lobbying for in the playoffs (but also in regular season). I want to see the overtime move back to the 25 yard line, just like they do in college. I think it's better for the defense and gives them more freedom. It also tells the offense that you have to get 2 first downs before you can score. In addition, more emphasis to special teams. It'll create havoc, but in a good way. Oh by the way, high school playoff games are 2 and a half hours anyway, does staying there 15 more minutes kill you?

I'd split the difference and say 20 yard line.  The 25 yard line gives a team with a stud kicker a much bigger advantage.   Most small schools are lucky to have a kid that can hit a 30 yard field goal, let a lone a 42 yard field goal.   

If you start on the 20 and move the ball say 5 yards...  Then it's still a makeable field goal for many teams.

[cbg]

On 11/30/2020 at 7:12 AM, FridayMainEvent said:

I'd split the difference and say 20 yard line.  The 25 yard line gives a team with a stud kicker a much bigger advantage.   Most small schools are lucky to have a kid that can hit a 30 yard field goal, let a lone a 42 yard field goal.   

If you start on the 20 and move the ball say 5 yards...  Then it's still a makeable field goal for many teams.

The overtime rules in high school football were established by the National Federation.  The TSSAA has "NEVER" deviated from the national federation rules.

[Tidefan1]

Three private school divisions 

Three traditional public divisions 

Three open enrollment public divisions