Classification Idea 11/8/6

[JAG164]

Feel free to tell me the 1000 reasons it wouldn't work, haha. Just thinking about options for the future of our state

I've seen another state, can't remember which, does 8-man like this.. Every 2 years you can "apply" for 8-man eligibility. The 100 smallest enrollments are accepted into 8-man. Everyone over is 11-man. I don't know all the details, but it doesn't seem like a half-bad idea. I don't know that it would work - just thinking out loud.

Have an application for 6-man / 8-man "All non 11 man teams"

For reference..
There are 34 6-man teams this year
There are 110 8-man teams this year

**6 & 8 man**
Smallest 35 smallest enrollment put into 6-man (D6)
Next Smallest 40 enrollment put into 8-man (D3)
Next Smallest 45 enrollment put into 8-man (D2)
Next Smallest 50 enrollment put into 8-man (D1)

**11-man**
Class C2
Class C1
Class B
Class A

Rules:
1) ANYONE can apply - then it's built from the bottom up in terms of enrollment size
- If there are not 170 applicants (there would be! There's already 135 teams playing non 11-man) then non 8-man class sizes would be smaller for that cycle.
2) State puts you in a class = NO OPT DOWN allowed
3) 11-man classes use enrollment #s to create classes

Justification:
1) This would eliminate the debates/arguments over appropriate enrollment number for 8-man football
2) 170 teams playing non 11-man football is plenty.. Should, in theory, cover all "opt-down" teams and eliminate the "bubble" some teams fall in where they're unsure what to do.
3) State puts you in a class, ending debates (and poor decisions based on pride/ego), and puts teams in appropriate classes for 2 years.

Postseason:
11-man plays state at UNL over two days
Day 1: C1/C2 - 3:00pm & 7:00pm
Day 2: B/A - 3:00pm & 7:00pm

Non 11-man plays state at UNK over two days
Day 1: D6/D3 3:00pm & 7:00pm
Day 2: D2/D1 3:00pm & 7:00pm

Eliminates morning games - better for players and fans/environment.
(yes - a small sacrifice not playing in Lincoln, but the environment in a smaller but super nice UNK stadium would be great and more centrally located for rural 6/8 man teams)

 

[TCCoach55]

A (11 man) Top 32
B (11 man) Next 32
C1 (11 man) - 48
C2 (9 man) - 48
D1 (8 man) - 48
D2 (8 man) - 48
D6 (6 Man) - 32-34

Too many teams in the top of D1 & bottom of C2. Push the upper half of C2 into C1, 9 man for the bigger D1s that can play 9, along with C2 that are on the fence of staying or dropping. Cut down on the number of ineligibles or using exemptions in D1 and number of 8 man overall.

 

[HuskDaddy]

C2 (9 man) - 48


Too many teams in the top of D1 & bottom of C2. Push the upper half of C2 into C1, 9 man for the bigger D1s that can play 9, along with C2 that are on the fence of staying or dropping.

Name one other state that has four different kinds of football sanctioned. I'll save you the Google, there are none, because that would be ridiculous. I rant every time 9-man gets suggested because it makes zero sense every time.

9-man is played in five states. It only gets any traction on this board because South Dakota and Wyoming play it. Meanwhile, KS, IA, and CO still play 8-man, allowing for more cross-compatibility and scheduling (and there are frankly more schools that border these three states than the two 9-man playing states). I am just at a loss at how adding 9-man is going to really change anyone's perception of dropping down a size. Its still inferior football to any purist or college scout. If one kid is really going to make or break being able to field a team consistently and you need better stability, just go down to 8. IF you are too prideful to drop to 8 because (as the old men in Cambridge would put it) that's not what UNL plays, you're also not going to go to 9. The argument for 9 makes as much sense as rural schools dropping cross country to field a better football team (or dropping/resisting to add wrestling to field a better baskeball team iykyk).

 

[TCCoach55]

Name one other state that has four different kinds of football sanctioned. I'll save you the Google, there are none, because that would be ridiculous. I rant every time 9-man gets suggested because it makes zero sense every time.

9-man is played in five states. It only gets any traction on this board because South Dakota and Wyoming play it. Meanwhile, KS, IA, and CO still play 8-man, allowing for more cross-compatibility and scheduling (and there are frankly more schools that border these three states than the two 9-man playing states). I am just at a loss at how adding 9-man is going to really change anyone's perception of dropping down a size. Its still inferior football to any purist or college scout. If one kid is really going to make or break being able to field a team consistently and you need better stability, just go down to 8. IF you are too prideful to drop to 8 because (as the old men in Cambridge would put it) that's not what UNL plays, you're also not going to go to 9. The argument for 9 makes as much sense as rural schools dropping cross country to field a better football team (or dropping/resisting to add wrestling to field a better baskeball team iykyk).

What's ridiculous is when people get bent out of shape about this. If it's "inferior" football...why do you care? It's not about changing anyone's perception of dropping down either...do right by kids. There are quite a few schools now in D1 with 40+ kids on their roster, plus the number of schools in D1 either in a grace period or ineligible continues to grow, and the discrepancy of C2, well, look at the top 10 and you'll have your answer to that classification. But I guess making it an easier transition on schools or getting another kid on the field makes about as much sense as dropping a sport to bolster a team.

 

[Rascal01]

A (11 man) Top 32
B (11 man) Next 32
C1 (11 man) - 48
C2 (9 man) - 48
D1 (8 man) - 48
D2 (8 man) - 48
D6 (6 Man) - 32-34

Too many teams in the top of D1 & bottom of C2. Push the upper half of C2 into C1, 9 man for the bigger D1s that can play 9, along with C2 that are on the fence of staying or dropping. Cut down on the number of ineligibles or using exemptions in D1 and number of 8 man overall.

Drop A down to 24 for crying out loud, that’s a big disparity up at that level. No reason Class A has 32 now and B only has 24.

 

[o_runningback43]

9 man will never fly in Nebraska. There's a lot of pride in the 8 man ranks.

 

[jonh142881]

9 man makes sense. We have teams that are too small for 11, but its odd to play 8. Keep the field the same, drop the tackles and play it out. Call it C2 or C3. I personally think you DROP 8 man, but the 8 man mafia in Nebraska won't let that go. Six man football for the smallest schools makes sense, but dropping the tackles and playing 11 man rules on an 11 man field is an easy way to transition from 11 man for teams. It also means no reason to modify a field. Nebraska is just not a top end enrollment state, we are a vast majority of under 11-man football teams. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[LooseCannon]

9 man makes sense. We have teams that are too small for 11, but its odd to play 8. Keep the field the same, drop the tackles and play it out. Call it C2 or C3. I personally think you DROP 8 man, but the 8 man mafia in Nebraska won't let that go. Six man football for the smallest schools makes sense, but dropping the tackles and playing 11 man rules on an 11 man field is an easy way to transition from 11 man for teams. It also means no reason to modify a field. Nebraska is just not a top end enrollment state, we are a vast majority of under 11-man football teams. Nothing wrong with that.

Agreed. I’ve spoke with 11 man coaches who have said dropping to 9 man is a lot easier of a transition than going to 8. It doesn’t change much when 8 man changes a lot.

But yes, the 8 man mafia will not hear it. I’d love to see

3 classes of 11 man
2 classes of 9 man
1 class of 6 man