is it time for 6 classes?

[costanza]

where is the proposed bracket located?

[konjo78]

I would love for the state to do what Idaho does. They make every district have X amount of teams conferences for each class and gives each team 4-5 non conference games a year to schedule anything a team can have but playoffs are based on conference placing and 2 wildcard spots. Easily can be done!

[billmurray]

where is the proposed bracket located?

it isn't posted anywhere. it's been sent to many and, I believe, passed the first hurdle in the piaa

[Sykotyk]

I personally like that the PIAA playoffs end in Week 16. But that's for purely personal reasons so that I can have games to see that week in the area.

Though, six levels is long overdue.

I've had a suggestion for quite some time.



There's 6 levels, and 8 state playoff spots for all levels (4x6= 48 slots). There's 578 football playing schools according to the PIAA. You take 578/24 and get 12.04 per slot (this is the divisor).

You then take each District and apply the divisor. That is the number of playoff participants each District can place into the state playoffs.

For instance:
D1 6 (0.146)
D2 2 (0.990)
D3 7 (7.724)
D4 2 (0.741)
D5 0 (0.997)
D6 3 (0.821)
D7 10 (0.133)
D8 0 (0.498)
D9 2 (0.076)
D10 3 (0.405)
D11 3 (0.904)
D12 3 (0.571)

As you can see, there's 41 slots awarded. Each district gets a minimum of one slot, so D5 and D8 will add two more. That's 43 of 48 slots awarded. District 7 has 10 slots, but can opt to give up some of those slots. Based on their harping on not playing games at Heinz Field if they have more than four titles, let's assume they opt for four district championships (there's a reason this isn't an imbalance).

So, if they drop to 4, that's 6 slots that are freed up. That's 11 slots still needed to be filled.

D1 6 (0.146) +1
D2 2 (0.990) +1
D3 7 (7.724) +1
D4 2 (0.741) +1
D5 1 +1
D6 3 (0.821) +1
D7 4
D8 1 +1
D9 2 (0.076) +1
D10 3 (0.405) +1
D11 3 (0.904) +1
D12 3 (0.571) +1

If any other district wants to limit their slots, they could. That would give us all 48 slots. That's assuming they agree to award one additional slot for each district. How the additional slots are awarded could be different.
Now, some are going to see that and jump straight to the reply button to complain. Those of you that do, will be easily spotted. This is for slots into what would be the state quarterfinals. Districts can opt to 'combine' spots with other districts. Thereby letting their district playoffs end a week earlier and let the two districts square off in what would be slated for the week of the district finals.

Here's a few possible examples:

District 5 and 6 could share their 4 slots to form three total slots into the semifinals. The districts could set it up however they wanted.

District 9 and 10 could 'share' slots so that the smaller classifications finish a week early and then playoff against eachother for the bid to the state semifinals.

Also, districts could share or trade teams. One setup could be for the PIAA to form a multi-district group for very large schools in the western part of the state not included in the WPIAL, that would remove one of the extra slot from the 9 additional slots.

Now, here's where the Districts would love it. Because the district could classify their teams however they wanted. For instance, if District 10 has 41 schools, and 4 slots, they could slot the 10 biggest in 'Class A', next 10 biggest in 'Class B', next 10 in 'Class C' and the final 11 in 'Class D'. Or, use a bell curve, and put the biggest 4, 5, 6, 7, etc in one class, and make the others larger.

It would entirely be how they want to split it up. D3, for instance, could do east/west or north/south in addition to splitting them up by size. Maybe a district wants to split boundary and non-boundary schools, etc. Maybe create a 'you haven't made the playoffs in four years, you get into your own division and at least one of you gets all the way to the state playoffs' classification.

Once again, it's up to the districts.

Now, with the districts being able to setup their playoffs and classifications how they want, how would the state handle the playoffs?

Easy. Same way Illinois basically does it.

In what would be Week 12, would be the district championships. The 48 district champions advance to the state playoffs in Week 13 (also, called the Quarterfinals).

You take the 48 district champions and seed them #1 through #48 based on enrollment (or adjusted enrollment). Any of the 48 can opt to 'play up' to a higher seed. If they do, it bumps everyone else down unless they, too, have opted to play-up.

For instance, if a school is slotted at #38 and they want to play up in the '4th largest classification', they'd get seeded no worse than the 32nd biggest school (8 teams per classification).

Then, you take #1 through #8 by enrollment (or play-up) and they become 6A. #9 through #16 become 5A, #17 through #24 become 4A, #25 through #32 become 3A, #33 through #40 become 2A, while the 8 remaining schools become 1A.

After the schools are split by enrollment into classifications, we can create the brackets. Each classification can be split by geography into an east and west half regardless of record. Then, those four teams can be entered pitted against eachother in two games with the winner playing for a spot in the state championship game.





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This setup handles a few problems with the current setup. First, the disparity of the districts presents problems when districts have only a few teams in a particular classification (such as D12 having 3 1A teams, or District 10 having only 2 4A teams, etc). This will allow the districts to split themselves up however they best see fit. It placates the WPIAL contingent who will whine and moan and stomp their feet in they have to lose the Heinz games by having more than four classifications.


It gives us 6 classifications, and throughout the entire playoffs, you'll be pitted against teams your size as has always happened. Only one intriguing thing is if two teams in one district are close in enrollment but are separate within their own district but wind up paired against eachother in the state playoffs. Say Greenville and Sharpsville both won a District 10 classification champmionship (Greenville is 173, Sharpsville is 174), they could be pitted against eachother in the state playoffs if the enrollment numbers split right. Unless one or the other opts to play-up. D3, with 8 slots, would obviously have, more than likely, multiple teams in each state classification.


The downside is you don't know exactly how you'll be slotted in the state playoffs until you get there.

One positive is that an adjustment for private schools can easily work. However districts handle them, if they qualify for the state playoffs, a simply adjustor to their seeding can place them up a level or two. Say, a -10, -16, etc adjustment can make sure teams get into a higher classification for the state playoffs (for instance, seeded at #32 in the 3A level could have a -10 adjustor make them #22 and now in 4A. Would be a simple, easy, adjustment.

However, overall, this setup handles most of the biggest arguments against change. WPIAL is happy. Districts still control their own playoffs, but now with even greater autonomy. Odd schools currently harmed by the current system will have more regular competition for their playoffs. Playoffs will ensure equally sized schools always play eachother. Playoffs remain regional even through the state playoffs. Playoffs end a week earlier, while more potential teams make the playoffs (districts get to decide their their own playoff setup, qualification, and seeds).

[knowitall]

The more medals given out the better. Why stop at six? Why not eight, ten, twelve or even twenty. Everyone can be a champion!

[billmurray]

The more medals given out the better. Why stop at six? Why not eight, ten, twelve or even twenty. Everyone can be a champion!

change isn't always a bad thing. if you bothered to read our article, you'd see that we are running football the same way hawaii, rhode island and the other tiny states do. Separation is getting greater in this state and it will only get worse. Time to go outside your small world and see the real one..problem is here in central pa people don't see it.

Schools like pine richland are forced to play schools with twice the enrollment. The fix isn't mainly for the A and AA...it's for AAA and AAAA where the largest size difference happen. in actuality the lower classes wont change much. There's change a happenin and it's happenin fast.

[reugenev]

I like the idea of 6 classifications but will the state force D6 to play by classification?

Something that should have happened 20 years ago.

It's kind of ridiculous to see Single A teams in the same league as AAA teams.

Does this happen anywhere else in the state???

6 Classifications and play within your class or up or down 1 and I'm on board with the change.

[knowitall]

Can I get a boo hoo hoo for Pine Richland?

And who wouldn't rather watch richland play Claysburg-Kimmel or Glendale than Central Cambria or Somerset?

[deepcreek]

I'm all for it. Ohio has six classes I believe and I dont think it has watered down anything. If it could cut two weeks off the end of the season, I think it would be great. The casual fan will not go to state championship games played a week before Christmas.

[billmurray]

Can I get a boo hoo hoo for Pine Richland?

And who wouldn't rather watch richland play Claysburg-Kimmel or Glendale than Central Cambria or Somerset?

yep, small mind = small response...again, this isn't just to fix your little world....it's for the entire STATE. Think BIG PICTURE little man...and...Richland would still be in the same conference playing the same teams...it's state playoff time this would come into effect. you know, like it ALREADY does when Richland goes AA and Somerset goes AAA...wow...