Football playoff format changed by AHSAA

By Chris Walsh | Dadeville Record

Published Wednesday, August 6, 2008

The rise in fuel costs has affected all aspects of life and now it has even forced changes in high school football. Starting this season the Alabama High School Athletics Association has made changes to the playoff brackets which will, hopefully, keep the costs for schools in the postseason down.

“In the spring the board wanted ideas on what to do to cut back on travel costs,” said Benjamin Russell head coach Mike McCombs, who also serves on the football committee board.

“City schools had to cut back on travel costs and there was a mandate set out by the state to do so. So this was a way for the AHSAA to try and help.”

There will still be 32 teams making the postseason, and the top four teams of each region will still be advancing. But the big change will be in whom they play up until the semifinals.

Starting this year the regions will be paired up through the first three rounds of the postseason.

Region 1 will play region 2, 3 versus 4, 5 versus 6 and 7 versus 8. This will continue on until the semis where the winner of 1 versus 2 will play the winner of 3 versus 4, and the winner of 5 versus 6 will play the winner of 7 versus 8.

“More than anything, it was based on geography,” McCombs said. “In terms of strength of schedule, once you’re in the second round of the playoffs everybody’s good.”

But even though this new system has been implemented to try and cut down on travel cost, it may not work as well as it looks to on paper.

“It’s got its pros and cons. It still can make for a long travel because it’s so spread out,” said Reeltown head coach Jackie O'Neal, who also serves on the football committee and as the region representative for region four.

“In our situation, we’re 4 playing against 3, so the travel is still going to be substantial for some schools. Across the board it’s going to be helpful, but in some areas it won’t.”

One area it should definitely provide travel assistance is in officiating. For each game, the closest officiating crew will now be used.

Another area in which schools could be hurt, or helped by the new rule is in knowing their opponents. Beginning as early as midway through the season teams could already know whom they could be facing late into the playoffs.

“It makes each game, as far as region, much more important,” O’Neal said.