I am not completely sure how I feel about 64 (63 or 62) teams in playoffs. I think I would come closer to saying "its ok" if the lowest 4-6-8 seeded teams had a play-in and the rest were given byes. Mt Airy or E Randolph really do not need another 40-50-60 point win and the number lowest seeds don't need to be kicked around again either. A "play in" would give them potentially a good competitive game and something to be proud of.
On the other hand, I find it very hard to ever side with the Charter schools. No need to tell me they do not recruit out of their "boundaries". Buzzcoach said in another thread that Mt Airy should have beaten Pine Lake Prep (i think it was) last year in the playoffs. Well, we probably would have won if not for 2 factors:
1. injuries in that game took out not one qb but the 2nd one also.
2. That Charter school team was made up, in large part, of Hough and Chambers (both 4A power houses) 2nd team transfers. My daughter teaches at Lake Norman HS and helps with the AD responsibilities. I watch and follow those teams.
So I continue to say let the Charter Schools play all the sports they want, just against other schools that have full time recruiting staffs. Anyone follow Jeff McNinnus (sp) owed Lincoln Charter school and where his basketball players are from?