IMG Academy(real football talk)

shutdownD24

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First let me say this post is not to bash any of the kids and their parents who choose to attend IMG Academy. I completely understand if you want to prepare yourself for your future and you feel like that this is the right choice for you. Completely understand that. After watching IMG completely demolish another "state" high school power I have one question. My question is if you are a true high school football program, why would you schedule them? Someone help me understand but I see no real benefit to having them on the schedule.The odds of a regular high school realistically beating them in a matchup are slim to none. IMG has a national roster of players not a couple of transfers from neighboring schools.They can basically play with 22 FBS caliber players at once which is a phenomenal feat for a high school. The only thing that I can come up with is that many programs who choose to play them more than likely have arrogant coaches who are over confident in their abilities to coach their guys up or for that particular coach's personal glory. I personally think these high school coaches do a complete disservice to their teams by scheduling them. My opinion is that teams like IMG should be playing a prep school schedule at minimum. I am interested in hearing what others think.
 

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IMG just lost a preseason game to Columbia High School out of Florida 33-30. I believe schools like Mater Dei and Allen can play with them. Georgia schools are no longer aloud to play them, although I believe this years Grayson team would give them a run.
 

shutdownD24

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IMG just lost a preseason game to Columbia High School out of Florida 33-30. I believe schools like Mater Dei and Allen can play with them. Georgia schools are no longer aloud to play them, although I believe this years Grayson team would give them a run.
Yes I am aware of their preseason loss. I agree there are certain teams that can compete with them "some" years. I am looking at it from a every year scheduling viewpoint. The advantage of an IMG is they will more than likely not have a down talent year like almost all high school teams. Every year they are going to start 22 FBS recruits regardless. I remember hearing about Texas trying to ban their high school teams from playing them because of IMG's recruiting in the state.
 

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I believe that periodically from year to year there are programs that believe they can play with them, so they'll schedule them. I would not doubt if other programs like IMG started popping up across the US.
 
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Shelby Lion

Heisman
Oct 3, 2002
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Nepsy

Agree about that Grayson team! That defense they have is amazing and that outside linebacker Pappoe (sp?) is something else..:

Agree with tango also Mater Dei could compete with em this year they are sound also

Great name for a school to (that’s my last name) ha ha
 
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shutdownD24

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IMG just lost a preseason game to Columbia High School out of Florida 33-30. I believe schools like Mater Dei and Allen can play with them. Georgia schools are no longer aloud to play them, although I believe this years Grayson team would give them a run.

Georgia has great high school football led by teams such as Grayson. Also I believe IMG has more than a few from Georgia on their roster. Even the great high school programs mentioned above will have to hand pick their years to play an IMG.
 
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bronco_18

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Im pretty sure teams in texas have all banned playing against IMG because it was just unfair, they have great teams in texas but nothing like IMG or Bishop Gorman. So they stopped playing those teams. I think GA is on the path to stop playing them as well. In my opinion the only team that can compete with IMG is Mater Dei or Bosco and both are in SoCal. Bishop Gorman has kinda fell off but the only reason you want to play them is to try and test some young guys you have I would assume. Or the TV money is pretty good for you to get embarrassed.

Now if youre a kid and you decide to leave your school to go to IMG, me personally as a Coach I would support that decision and encourage it because going there is streamlining you to the NFL and would help tremendously. I believe in a next man up mentality so even if the kid could help win a state title I would still support him leaving.......so long as when he leaves he gets me a turf field after he signs for 50 million hahaha
 
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Mr Honda

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Im pretty sure teams in texas have all banned playing against IMG because it was just unfair, they have great teams in texas but nothing like IMG or Bishop Gorman. So they stopped playing those teams. I think GA is on the path to stop playing them as well. In my opinion the only team that can compete with IMG is Mater Dei or Bosco and both are in SoCal. Bishop Gorman has kinda fell off but the only reason you want to play them is to try and test some young guys you have I would assume. Or the TV money is pretty good for you to get embarrassed.

Now if youre a kid and you decide to leave your school to go to IMG, me personally as a Coach I would support that decision and encourage it because going there is streamlining you to the NFL and would help tremendously. I believe in a next man up mentality so even if the kid could help win a state title I would still support him leaving.......so long as when he leaves he gets me a turf field after he signs for 50 million hahaha

Bishop Gorman got hammered this past week by Mater Dei 42-0.
 

shutdownD24

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Im pretty sure teams in texas have all banned playing against IMG because it was just unfair, they have great teams in texas but nothing like IMG or Bishop Gorman. So they stopped playing those teams. I think GA is on the path to stop playing them as well. In my opinion the only team that can compete with IMG is Mater Dei or Bosco and both are in SoCal. Bishop Gorman has kinda fell off but the only reason you want to play them is to try and test some young guys you have I would assume. Or the TV money is pretty good for you to get embarrassed.

Now if youre a kid and you decide to leave your school to go to IMG, me personally as a Coach I would support that decision and encourage it because going there is streamlining you to the NFL and would help tremendously. I believe in a next man up mentality so even if the kid could help win a state title I would still support him leaving.......so long as when he leaves he gets me a turf field after he signs for 50 million hahaha

Lol
 

Kylar24

All-Conference
Jul 25, 2003
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IMG lost to Columbia 33-20 and they added 2 last game tds to even get to 20.

I think IMG has a great amount of talent but mediocre coaching. I think alot of good teams with excellent coaching can beat them
 

btango

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Nov 5, 2003
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It takes time fir an all star team to jell. Get them early unless you are a powerhouse team.
 
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[email protected]

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Oct 3, 2009
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I don't know a lot about Pine Richland # 1 team in PA, but they just beat them like a JV squad 42-0. The players look like they were terrified.
 

BlackKnightNut

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May 13, 2007
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If I'm a coach and I get asked to play img, I take it. Not for personal glory but to make my kids better, and to make it evident to them the kind of player that goes on to play college ball. Most of my kids will never play college ball, so I tell them to play balls out and maybe a scout will see them and pencil it in.

On the other hand, I also have to worry about my kids getting hurt playing such people. So I would slow the game down, play Virginia basketball on the football field, take the money for future equipment and facilities for future players, and get the heck out of there. Plus it gives me a better opportunity to keep it close, if I can execute the plan with my kids on the same page.

Oh, and if I'm a parent or fan I would never want my kids to play that team lol.
 
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btango

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They are not paying big bucks to come there and play. Travel and lodging takes up most of it. Not sure how the crowd would be if they came to visit.
 
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BlackKnightNut

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I don't know the specifics. I was just going off the what if scenario that has been presented by other people. I suppose they just want you to play for the opportunity then?
 

Mr Honda

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From my research, IMG academy is not your typical high school. Below is the banner from the home page of their website. They are a boarding school for top athletes across the country, where they receive top-level training in all different sports, for the top college and pro levels. IMG Academy

Type
Private boarding school
Industry Boarding School, Camp, Sports Camps, Adult & Family Programs, Team Training, Professional & Collegiate Training
Founded 2002
Headquarters Bradenton, Florida, U.S.
Key people
Chip McCarthy, Co-Managing Director; Greg Phillips, Co-Managing Director
Parent IMG WME
Website www.imgacademy.com
IMG Academy is a preparatory boarding school and sport training destination in Bradenton, Florida, United States. The boarding school offers an integrated academic and athletic college preparatory experience across eight sports – baseball, basketball, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, and track & field and cross country. IMG Academy offers camp programs on a year-round basis, serves as a training and competition venue for amateur, collegiate, and professional teams, adults and families, and a host site for a variety of events.
Below is the description of IMG from Wikipedia.

Should a typical high school or even most private schools play them? It's basically an athletic training facility that includes academics. I'd say no.

 

[email protected]

All-Conference
Oct 3, 2009
5,472
4,077
113
From my research, IMG academy is not your typical high school. Below is the banner from the home page of their website. They are a boarding school for top athletes across the country, where they receive top-level training in all different sports, for the top college and pro levels. IMG Academy

Type
Private boarding school
Industry Boarding School, Camp, Sports Camps, Adult & Family Programs, Team Training, Professional & Collegiate Training
Founded 2002
Headquarters Bradenton, Florida, U.S.
Key people
Chip McCarthy, Co-Managing Director; Greg Phillips, Co-Managing Director
Parent IMG WME
Website www.imgacademy.com
IMG Academy is a preparatory boarding school and sport training destination in Bradenton, Florida, United States. The boarding school offers an integrated academic and athletic college preparatory experience across eight sports – baseball, basketball, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, and track & field and cross country. IMG Academy offers camp programs on a year-round basis, serves as a training and competition venue for amateur, collegiate, and professional teams, adults and families, and a host site for a variety of events.
Below is the description of IMG from Wikipedia.

Should a typical high school or even most private schools play them? It's basically an athletic training facility that includes academics. I'd say no.


They don't usually play a typical high school, if you look at their schedule. They play a loaded private, or an elite program within the state. I have no problem with schools that want to test their squads playing them.

They basically prepare the most elite players in the country with an College facility. Get them ready both athletically and academically.
 
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Powidz

Junior
Dec 24, 2003
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Is that Columbia team from Lake City, Florida? If so they are usually very good and absolutely one of the best annually in North Florida.