[Hoot Gibson]

If you want to build successful high school program you have to realize that middle school wins DON'T MATTER. Yes, you teach kids how to compete, and yes you try to win but not at the cost of not running the same schemes as the high school and maintaining a high participation rate to keep a large number of kids excited about playing high school football.

I agree with your point that the focus at the middle school level needs to be mastering the fundamentals, but doing so leads to wins and wins do keep players excited about playing the game.

I also believe that if possible, there should be separate football teams for each grade, even if that means that the 7th grade team takes its lumps against some 8th grade teams, and if it means that some 7th graders who are good enough to play up - don't. Once exceptions are made to the no playing up rule, then controversy and bickering among parents and coaches becomes almost inevitable.