Nine State Champions Stand Proud
When Miami Christopher Columbus edged Apopka 16-13 in overtime on Saturday night at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, the ninth and final state champion was crowned for the 2022 high school football season. Two weeks, two venues brought together…
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Continue ReadingWhen Miami Christopher Columbus edged Apopka 16-13 in overtime on Saturday night at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, the ninth and final state champion was crowned for the 2022 high school football season.
Two weeks, two venues brought together fans from the Alabama state line to the road where the Florida Keys ushers in visitors to paradise.
For decades, the Florida high school football championships have attracted attention from every corner of the country, and while there may be better teams across the nation, you will not find more athletes and future collegiate and NFL stars anywhere. Just check college and professional rosters and you will see that it backs it up.
While the state often gets criticized for not attracting overflow crowds should in no way have a bearing on how tough the competition is.
Even while 1Metro state champion Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna was getting beat by home team Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas in the Geico Bowl, that was one team that attracts players from all over the southwest – including California.
Put 100 Nevada teams not named Bishop Gorman against Florida schools and it would be 100-0. One team or a few teams – especially that recruit stars heavily – should in no way be compared to a state that annually churns out 500 top-flight standouts to schools as far away as the state of Washington.
CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE
In my opinion and in the opinion of many, nine classifications may be too much. It dilutes the competition.
As far as the state championships, ONE SITE, ONE WEEKEND in a place that everyone can get to and afford from transportation, lodging and meals – to the $25 parking at DRV PNK Stadium along with a $15 ticket and food prices that are way out of the price range. That needs to change to make it economically friendly across the board.
Having two weeks takes the spotlight away from eight schools who worked as hard to make the finals as the rest of the 10.
The format needs to be two games Wednesday (1 and 7 p.m.), Thursday (1 and 7 p.m.) and Friday (1 and 7 p.m.) as well as three on Saturday (10 a.m., 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.) if you are keeping nine teams. That way the media is at one location along with the college coaches who can see all the teams and not just selected larger schools.
While the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) is doing the best they can, and often have no control over several things, it is a direct reflection on them – good or bad.
With Craig Damon at the helm, you have someone who is smart and understands every side of the arguments made, so he knows that if you sit down and tweak a few things every year, you will make things better, but never perfect.
TREATING THE MEDIA
I come from the old school that all news and exposure is good for business.
The FHSAA has found a way to credential some media but not others and that is a problem.
There are many media and recruiting businesses who are the foundation of high school football in the state of Florida, often covering these players and teams 365 days a year and not just when the playoffs roll around.
Those agencies depend on the information they get at the state finals and the playoffs to fuel their evaluations and exposure of the athletes who need scholar scholarships and attention. It is a joke that they are left out of the mix when others who do not have a say in the future of these athletes are let in. The FHSAA needs to do their homework or ask people who need to be in attendance!
Just had to say that because I cover high school football 12 months a year and see so many of those fan websites and recruiting services at every camp, combine, 7-on-7 and practice year-round when a good portions of those credentialed for the state finals are nowhere to be found!
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE STATE CHAMPS
Whether it was smaller schools or those programs who have thousands of students and fan support, congratulations on a year that will be one to remember.
Here is saluting the nine state champions:
Class 4-Metro
No. 1 Miami Christopher Columbus (14-1) 16, vs. No. 2 Apopka (11-4) 13 (OT)
Class 3-Metro
No. 1 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (14-0) 38, No. 1 Homestead (11-3) 21
Class 2-Metro
No. 1 Miami Central (14-0) 38, Plantation American Heritage (13-2) 31
Class 1-Metro
No. 1 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (13-0) 48, No. 1 Clearwater Central Catholic (12-2) 14
Class 4-Suburban
No. 1 Lakeland (14-0) 21, No. 1 Venice (9-4) 14
Class 3-Suburban
No. 1 Lake Wales (15-0) 32, No. 4 Daytona Beach Mainland (10-4) 30
Class 2-Suburban
No. 2 Cocoa (11-3) 38, No. 1 Tallahassee FSU High (14-1) 31
Class 1-Suburban
No. 1 Naples First Baptist (10-2) 21, No. 1 Ocala Trinity Catholic (9-3) 3
Class 1-Rural
No. 1 Hawthorne (12-0) 13, No. 1 Bratt Northview (13-1) 2
For the past 52 years, we have spent plenty of time on football fields than anyone in the country. From games to practices, camps, combines and 7-on-7 events, we get to as many events as possible to see the athletes LIVE. Follow us on Facebook (Larry Blustein) Instagram (@OurBoyBlu) and Twitter (@larryblustein). Contact us at: Floridakids1@aol.com.