[charlie22]

I could be wrong but I'm guessing we've gotten to why DSR really would like the playoffs contracted: start basketball earlier or maybe even prolong the season. I'm beginning to think the basketball coaches/ADs are the ones pushing this contraction stuff throughout the state.

Sorry, but I'm fine with it as it is. If any kid on a 3 or 4 seed doesn't want to go on the long bus ride knowing he will lose, he should quit and turn in the pads. Kid doesn't have what it takes to play football anyway. He's obviously not playing because he loves the game. If the team is filled with players like that, it might explain why they were a 4 seed. Heck, their coach can always call the other team and forfeit.

But I say let those 3 and 4 seeds with kids that love the game have another week to play the game; another week to play the game they'll likely never get the chance to play again after high school; another week to have football teammates; another week to believe; another week to be the 4 seed that pulled off the upset and proved the geniuses wrong; and yes, other week that resulted in a blowout loss and a long bus ride home. Maybe they got the chance to play against some kids they'll watch on Saturdays or maybe even on Sundays. How cool is that. Even if they don't, learning how to deal with adversity and disappointment is part of the game and rightly so: it's a part of life.

What I find so dang ironic: those that criticize the current system because it "gives everyone a trophy", while at the same time whining about how "embarrassing and humiliating" it is for those kids that get blown out in the first game.

When all the other sports change their tournaments to only allow the top two seeds in the district in the tournaments, then football should be changed. Not until then. If the regular season games have to be "meaningful" for football, they have to be "meaningful" for baseball and basketball. If first round blowouts are too boring to the fans and too embarrasing to the players in football; they are too boring to the fans and too embarrassing to the players in basketball.

If the long bus trips are too expensive, go back to the way it used to be: intra district competition.

Otherwise, just leave it alone. Basketball has already taken 7s in June away from football; now it wants to take away a week or maybe two of the playoffs.