Single wing

[Rich]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

Wow! So they play two games in one week?

Wisconsin has always had the 10 games in 3 days problem. Teams will play Thursday-Tuesday-Saturday, if they're lucky enough to get to the second round of the playoffs.

Next year that goes away and in its place something even less palatable to the coaches (which means it will probably change again) -- the first varsity games are on August 19 next season with the regular season ending October 14 and the first round of the playoffs October 21-22.

The problem here is that hunting season is apparently sacred and they won't allow the football season to go an extra week or after Thanksgiving for some strange reason. Instead we'll soon have practices in July.

[Canned Heat]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Wisconsin has always had the 10 games in 3 days problem. Teams will play Thursday-Tuesday-Saturday, if they're lucky enough to get to the second round of the playoffs.

Next year that goes away and in its place something even less palatable to the coaches (which means it will probably change again) -- the first varsity games are on August 19 next season with the regular season ending October 14 and the first round of the playoffs October 21-22.

The problem here is that hunting season is apparently sacred and they won't allow the football season to go an extra week or after Thanksgiving for some strange reason. Instead we'll soon have practices in July.

They've always wavered around hunting season (gun deer) here. Less and less as time goes on, as hunting has become less and less of a part of student and family tradition each year than it used to be. I think a big part has to do with the weather almost always turning downright nasty during that last week. Of course, the following weekend is Thanksgiving...and they won't touch that. I think you're right about the changes going forward. We actually had final Varsity games on Wed and Thurs this past week. More teams tried to work a Wednesday game in, rather than the final Thursday (like most had) for more prep and "get healthy" time before the following Tuesday.

[Robert Goodman]

A big factor in this scheduling business must be the reeeeediculous number of teams that get into playoffs now. It's true in other sports too, but seems most jarring in football where the regular season has few games.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

A big factor in this scheduling business must be the reeeeediculous number of teams that get into playoffs now. It's true in other sports too, but seems most jarring in football where the regular season has few games.

7 divisions, 32 teams each in Wisconsin. Half the state, give or take.

They've talked about an all-in in the past, which would mean every single crew in the state would be needed Week 1 and they'd have to relax requirements for crews to qualify.

IMO, too many teams get in as it is and there are way too many blowouts in the first round.

[bisonlj]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

7 divisions, 32 teams each in Wisconsin. Half the state, give or take.

They've talked about an all-in in the past, which would mean every single crew in the state would be needed Week 1 and they'd have to relax requirements for crews to qualify.

IMO, too many teams get in as it is and there are way too many blowouts in the first round.

If you do an all-in you could have a random draw like we do and two undefeated teams could play in the first round while two 0-9 teams could also play. This year 2 of the top 3 teams in the state lost in the first round. They lost to 8-1 and 7-2 teams who were also pretty good. 50 of the 160 teams in round 2 had losing records during the season (about half of them were 4-5 and are now 5-5). 2 teams won their first game of the season in the first round of the playoffs but they both played teams with losing records (3-6 and 1-8).

[Rich]

Originally Posted by bisonlj

If you do an all-in you could have a random draw like we do and two undefeated teams could play in the first round while two 0-9 teams could also play. This year 2 of the top 3 teams in the state lost in the first round. They lost to 8-1 and 7-2 teams who were also pretty good. 50 of the 160 teams in round 2 had losing records during the season (about half of them were 4-5 and are now 5-5). 2 teams won their first game of the season in the first round of the playoffs but they both played teams with losing records (3-6 and 1-8).

Sounds like the regular season is completely meaningless, then.

[bisonlj]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Sounds like the regular season is completely meaningless, then.

Don't tell that to any Hoosiers. Every team plays every game hard according to them. And there are still conference championships to earn. Proponents see the system as two different seasons. There is some truth to that and it is unique. I just think it is counter to what most people are used to. If it was such a good system you'd think at least one other state would consider it. I believe we are the only state with no playoff qualification. The same is true in all high school sports. There is some seeding in sports like wrestling and tennis but I think that's it.