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Independence, MO —
What will be will be.
Still, I am not alone in having mixed feelings to the new state high school football system that goes into effect this fall.
The outgoing system had its flaws. The new system has more. Teams lose a 10th regular-season game that possibly could be a money-earning home game. Two teams could meet twice in 10 weeks.
The Missouri State High School Activities Association will reveal in the coming weeks or months eight-team districts in all of the seven classes. The playoffs open the 10th week.
Teams, in a mind-boggling format, will be awarded points for wins, losses, overtime wins and losses, points for strength of schedule and points for playing an opponent up or down in class.
After week No. 9, the No. 1 team in the district, based on total points, will play the No. 8 team, No. 2 versus No. 7 and so on. District standings will be available each week on the MSHSAA website.
There will be three rounds of district play with the winner advancing into the playoffs. I can hardly wait for the season to begin. I feel sorry for the person or persons who have to figure the district standings each week.
And based on just released projected enrollments by the state, the Class 6 Kansas City area district likely will have Blue Springs, Blue Springs South, Liberty, Lee’s Summit, Lee’s Summit North, Raymore-Peculiar, Rockhurst and Joplin. There will be two Class 6 districts in the St. Louis area.
Also, Suburban Conference football schedules have been revealed for the next two years. And there are many changes.
Blue Springs and Blue Springs South again will play Rockhurst but in weeks No. 3 and 5, respectively instead of week No. 1 and No. 3 as in the past.
Blue Springs opens with St. Joseph Central and Blue Springs South starts with Truman and then Fort Osage. Fort Osage opens with Park Hill South. Other openers are William Chrisman vs. Platte County; Lee’s Summit vs. Raytown; Lee’s Summit North vs. Columbia Hickman; and Lee’s Summit West meets Staley in a rematch of last season’s wild Class 5 state semifinal.
Also, Grain Valley opens with Savannah, and Oak Grove meets Lexington. I have not seen the new St. Mary’s or Van Horn schedules.
Because of the new Suburban Conference division realignments, Fort Osage and Chrisman will play Staley this fall. Ditto for Blue Springs South in a non-conference game.
The 2012 football season will be interesting for many reasons.
n Reportedly, this is Keith Ross’ last year as Oak Park activities director and football head coach. Paul Athens also is stepping down as activities director at St. Joseph Central and will be replaced by boys basketball coach Neal Hook.
Earlier, it was announced Tom Round is retiring as activities director at Blue Springs and Brian Bubalo as the girls basketball coach at Lee’s Summit. Both will be missed.
What will be will be.
Still, I am not alone in having mixed feelings to the new state high school football system that goes into effect this fall.
The outgoing system had its flaws. The new system has more. Teams lose a 10th regular-season game that possibly could be a money-earning home game. Two teams could meet twice in 10 weeks.
The Missouri State High School Activities Association will reveal in the coming weeks or months eight-team districts in all of the seven classes. The playoffs open the 10th week.
Teams, in a mind-boggling format, will be awarded points for wins, losses, overtime wins and losses, points for strength of schedule and points for playing an opponent up or down in class.
After week No. 9, the No. 1 team in the district, based on total points, will play the No. 8 team, No. 2 versus No. 7 and so on. District standings will be available each week on the MSHSAA website.
There will be three rounds of district play with the winner advancing into the playoffs. I can hardly wait for the season to begin. I feel sorry for the person or persons who have to figure the district standings each week.
And based on just released projected enrollments by the state, the Class 6 Kansas City area district likely will have Blue Springs, Blue Springs South, Liberty, Lee’s Summit, Lee’s Summit North, Raymore-Peculiar, Rockhurst and Joplin. There will be two Class 6 districts in the St. Louis area.
Also, Suburban Conference football schedules have been revealed for the next two years. And there are many changes.
Blue Springs and Blue Springs South again will play Rockhurst but in weeks No. 3 and 5, respectively instead of week No. 1 and No. 3 as in the past.
Blue Springs opens with St. Joseph Central and Blue Springs South starts with Truman and then Fort Osage. Fort Osage opens with Park Hill South. Other openers are William Chrisman vs. Platte County; Lee’s Summit vs. Raytown; Lee’s Summit North vs. Columbia Hickman; and Lee’s Summit West meets Staley in a rematch of last season’s wild Class 5 state semifinal.
Also, Grain Valley opens with Savannah, and Oak Grove meets Lexington. I have not seen the new St. Mary’s or Van Horn schedules.
Because of the new Suburban Conference division realignments, Fort Osage and Chrisman will play Staley this fall. Ditto for Blue Springs South in a non-conference game.
The 2012 football season will be interesting for many reasons.
n Reportedly, this is Keith Ross’ last year as Oak Park activities director and football head coach. Paul Athens also is stepping down as activities director at St. Joseph Central and will be replaced by boys basketball coach Neal Hook.
Earlier, it was announced Tom Round is retiring as activities director at Blue Springs and Brian Bubalo as the girls basketball coach at Lee’s Summit. Both will be missed.
