GRAVES: Rarity of ESD success proves new playoff system needed
November 1, 2011 at 2:50 am in The Daily Republic
One of the pitfalls of writing a timely piece for a daily newspaper is that on occasion, you must write about an event that will be over by the time the article is published but remains in the future as you write. Thus, as I write this, I am unaware of the outcome in the football playoff game between the Mitchell Kernels and Sioux Falls Washington. Continue Reading
Well, maybe, but maybe not. Most of the better players for the SF HSs play both offense & defense. Look at how many OG has going both ways.
RCCentral is the largest HS in the state, but the ESD teams easily have handled the Cobblers over the last several years. In the 1990′s, when there was about the same disparity in the schools’ enrollments (percentage wise), the ESD dominated the 11 AA FB playoffs.
The difference might be dedication to year-round training and conditioning & the coaching staffs. Certainly, training & conditioning will lessen the chance of injury for any player, regardless of the amount of time played in a game.
Also, when two teams with a small number of players that play both sides of the ball play against each other, I can’t see that the chance of injury is much different than when a smaller school plays a larger school.
Last, and most important, the proof of the puddin’ is in the eatin’: So, how many injuries were suffered by ESD players in games against the SF teams? How many injuries have ESD teams suffered against RC Central, the State’s largest HS? How many injuries have ESD teams suffered when playing other ESD teams? With regard to the latter, if the number were more than twice what’s suffered when playing against the SF schools, then your position isn’t verified by the results.
On the other hand, I would much prefer that the SF schools return to the old SIC (Sioux Interstate Conference), but not change the SD 11AA playoffs. The lack of familiarity with the ESD teams might work to their advantage; of course, it also could work to the advantage of the SF HS.
Does anyone really want to create an 11AAA and effectively make the 11AA class an ESD playoff?
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