Big School vs. Little School Bah Bah Bah.

[ironman02]

maniac66,

I wasn't meaning to imply that you were stirring the pot. It seemed to me that questionmark thought you were talking up Jackson because you were actually from Jackson. I just didn't want to see a big Jackson vs. Athens argument begin. You're certainly entitled to your opinion. I apologize for the misunderstanding.

[93Bulldog]

Come on I02 - its been what, 8 years since we've had a good Jackson/Athens debate? lol



... I can't allow that debate to die on the leg of a freshman soccer player I92 ... That's just sick man.

[questionmark]

Maniac66 and Ironman02 --

Yea, that was my assumption from reading Maniac66's post

"Athens left the SEOAL because they could not compete period.
Don't make them out to be a victim because of that they are winning against smaller schools period.
let them make playoffs and get crushed and then let us know why they lost bigger school more players to choose from can't wait to hear it then.
You play and dominate div 5 schools that win and feast off the point's where a team like Jackson plays schools closer to them on the level and they have a bad year and have to win out to make it.
Can't wait till it all pans out and look forward to Athens Jackson play in week 11 if it shakes out and Athens better hope for Jackson because Jackson will call the dogs off."

It just rubbed me the wrong way...probably because I was with Athens when we went from 'nothings' @ (2-8) to improving and competing for the SEOAL titles in 2002 and 2003. So, yes the statement above got me a little fired up. I would love nothing more than a Athens/Jackson play-off game.

To Maniac66 -- Good luck to your Ironton Tigers as they are a great football program.
To Ironman02 -- I've played some of your toughest Ironmen teams, I'd love nothing more than to see both our squads in the play-offs in the same year, and if they must battle...then we are in for one helluva ball game!

[maniac66]

Maniac66 and Ironman02 --

Yea, that was my assumption from reading Maniac66's post

"Athens left the SEOAL because they could not compete period.
Don't make them out to be a victim because of that they are winning against smaller schools period.
let them make playoffs and get crushed and then let us know why they lost bigger school more players to choose from can't wait to hear it then.
You play and dominate div 5 schools that win and feast off the point's where a team like Jackson plays schools closer to them on the level and they have a bad year and have to win out to make it.
Can't wait till it all pans out and look forward to Athens Jackson play in week 11 if it shakes out and Athens better hope for Jackson because Jackson will call the dogs off."

It just rubbed me the wrong way...probably because I was with Athens when we went from 'nothings' @ (2-8) to improving and competing for the SEOAL titles in 2002 and 2003. So, yes the statement above got me a little fired up. I would love nothing more than a Athens/Jackson play-off game.

To Maniac66 -- Good luck to your Ironton Tigers as they are a great football program.
To Ironman02 -- I've played some of your toughest Ironmen teams, I'd love nothing more than to see both our squads in the play-offs in the same year, and if they must battle...then we are in for one helluva ball game!

I am sorry that statement got you fired up Question mark.
Never meant to really just my point of view Ironton gets hit with the fact they couldn't compete in the SEOAL all the time when they was and still making playoffs.
And Athens leaves and starts winning like I said sorry no disrespect meant to you or the Athens players.
The players are the ones out there working hard and playing proud and do not look at things the way the fans do and sometimes as fans we need to be reminded of that I included in this.
Good Luck to the Athens Football team and may the make the playoffs and may Jackson to.
And may the football gods that be see fit for them to meet in the later rounds and make Southeastern Ohio proud.

[rut151]

As a casual reader of SEOP I thought that I would weigh in on a subject that seams to continually be brought up by posters throughout these forums. School Size. As someone who has been involved with football as a parent and a coach I think that I have some insight into the entire big school little school debate. In my opinion size (at least in Southeastern Ohio) is one of the least important factors in determining how successful a high school football program will be.

The real factors in my opinion are:

1. Community – No matter how big or small your community is are they committed to football. I mean really committed, Live and Breath Football. Fill the Stands 3 hours early, Take big crowds to all away games, kind of committed. To the point where your community draws it’s identity from its team.
2. Commitment – Commitment to do what it takes to be successful. Once again this has to be community wide, it’s everyone in the community doing what’s requires to be successful from the parents to the store owners, teachers, principals, coaches, players. EVERYONE.
3. Consistency – In order to be successful you must have consistency throughout your program from the top to the bottom, everyone working toward a common goal. Foe example N-Y has had three coaches in their entire schools history while there was a time in the 90’s when Athens had 3 coaches in three years.
4. Tradition – As defined by Webster’s “a long-established or inherited way of thinking or acting.” Winners Win. Teams that are steeped in tradition and expect to win are hard to beat on a Friday night regardless of size.
5. Bobs and Joes – Face it great athletes make great coaches. When a school has a run of exceptional athletes then their football program will probably benefit. Granted the first four items on my list go a long way toward developing great athletes, but we all know that every once in a while they get dropped in your lap and you just try not to screw things up.

Only when the above factors are equal or close to being equal does size come into consideration. I will agree that if the playing field is equal on all fronts then the larger school should have the advantage due to greater resources, ie players.

But here in little old Southeastern Ohio I’ll take the team with the above factors over size any day.

Excellent post I couldn't agree more.

Well spoken and well thought out. No qustion your observations are on point. The factors you layed out certainly apply to schools like Vinton Co. and Logan which are county schools obviously spread out over 400-500 square miles as opposed to city schools which are D2 and D3 that exist in citys of 35k-50k.

[efarns]

Size matters, but it isn't so much the size of the school as the size of their talent base. For example, a small school in a big city can draw from a very broad base of talent. So, even though enrollment may put them in a low division, their talent can be more like a Division 1 or 2 school in a more rural area. The area you draw from depends on geography and the success of your program.