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By JOHN C. COTEY and DAVID MURPHY
Published October 5, 2006

JohnCotey: Yeah, I got an invitation, too. I was favored over Lecanto by 6, but I had to decline. But really, what's yer beef? Why are you trying to rain on the kids parade? I say the more the merrier.

DMurph003: I understand the merits of the system. Smallish schools from counties like Hernando deserve a shot at the playoffs, and I think the current system affords that shot. When Hernando faced North Marion last year, everyone knew they were on two completely different levels. But it was still a great experience for the kids and coaches and parents and fans.

JohnCotey: But ...

DMurph003: But 25 teams who didn't have winning records made the postseason last year. And those 25 teams went 5-20 in the first round of the playoffs.

JohnCotey: Five teams won? That's 20 percent. That's darned good, I say.

DMurph003: John, 20 percent might have been good enough for you to get into USF, but in my mind it's not good enough to get into the playoffs.

JohnCotey: Here's my point. The teams may have had a losing record, but they won the games that COUNTED. They won the district games they needed to win. The playoffs are based on district records, and I bet you of those 25 teams, none had a losing district record.

DMurph003: I agree with you, I think district records are important. But my biggest problem is with the size of the districts. You've got several in 3A that have just four teams. That means half of the teams are getting into the playoffs. Furthermore, they are playing just three district games. Why not combine some of the districts? Look at Class 4A: Is there any reason Gulf, Hudson, Pasco, Zephyrhills, Hernando, Nature Coast, Crystal River, Lecanto and Citrus all can't be in the same district? They all play each other anyway.

JohnCotey: Do you know how far Gulf and Citrus are from each other? You'd have to fill up with gas and refreshments at TWO Flying J's to make that trip tolerable.

DMurph003: Except Gulf already played at Citrus this season. And word on the street is the team bus only had to pull over once to use the rest room.

DMurph003: Guess what percentage of first-round playoff games last year were decided by double digits ...

JohnCotey: Ummmm ...75?

DMurph003: 62 percent

JohnCotey: And do you know how much money those extra games made, how many players can say they played in a playoff game, how many parents can say they watched their sons play in the playoffs? I covered a team in 1999 that went 2-8 and made the playoffs and advanced all the way to the state semifinals before losing. Did they deserve to be in the playoffs?

DMurph003: Sure.

JohnCotey: Okay, that never happened. The 2-8 team lost 55-0 in the first round. But the fact that you didn't call me on that shows that deep down, you believe that anything is possible.

DMurph003: Here's my plan: Instead of having 16 districts, make it eight. Those eight teams that are left out of the playoffs can then have bowl games.

JohnCotey: Gratuitous bowl games, nice. Hey, the NCAA is on line 2. They love your idea and want to hear more.

DMurph003: Hey, the pre-expansion NHL is on line 3. They think you should allow three teams per district into the playoffs and eliminate the blue line.

JohnCotey: Well, I have to go now. This Maf54 guy won't stop IMing me. See ya.

[Last modified October 5, 2006, 08:37:13]