The Texas high school play-offs are a six week, single
elimination tournament. Win and advance,
lose and go home. For the past several
years, the final championship games for each class (6A, 5A, etc.) would
be held at Jerry’s World (where the Dallas Cowboys play), but the final
destination for every team this year is NRG Stadium in Houston. Note: Class 1A is Six Man football and their
championship games will be held at Shotwell Stadium in Abeline.
You may have noticed the word “games” above. That is because each class is divided into
two divisions. For example, class 6A has
Division 1 (schools with the largest enrollment in 6A) and Division 2 (somewhat
less enrollment than Division 1, but larger enrollment than class 5A). So two class 6A champions will be crowned in
Houston. They will each get a trophy to
put in the case in the school hallway since they will not play each other for a
unified championship. The same applies
to all the other classes. The UIL
(University Interscholastic League – the governing body over all high school
competitions in Texas) set this up years ago.
The semiofficial reasons are:
- Texas is a large state with so many schools that would make the play-offs.
- Trying to have extra games would be more difficult on the kids and more expensive for the schools (travel, meals, etc.).
- Only so much time is set aside on the calendar for the football season. Extra games might take the season into the new year.
- This ensures each team plays the same number of games per season.
Personally, I think it all has to do with $$$. More games across the state means more
revenue for the schools and the UIL. The
coaches like it – more chances to make the play-offs and more chances to win it
all. More schools get to sell more "championship" T-shirts, coozies, seat cushions, etc. And it sparks interest for next
season – two teams might be in the same district for regular season play, but
end up in different divisions for the play-offs. For example, Austin Westlake and Lake Travis
are both in district 14-6A. Westlake has
an enrollment of around 2604 students and is in the 6A Division 1
play-offs. Lake Travis has an enrollment
of 2410 and is in the 6A Division 2 play-offs.
If both teams could bring home the big trophy, just think of the number
of extra tickets that would get sold for their regular season game next year.
I ended up seeing sixteen different teams in action this season, ten of which made the play-offs, but then the second season is a special time of year for Texas football. All kinds of crazy things have been known to happen. I might have to do some extra travelling to see some games, but then there’s more chances to eat good BBQ around the state. It is going to be fun.
I ended up seeing sixteen different teams in action this season, ten of which made the play-offs, but then the second season is a special time of year for Texas football. All kinds of crazy things have been known to happen. I might have to do some extra travelling to see some games, but then there’s more chances to eat good BBQ around the state. It is going to be fun.
No comments:
Post a Comment