So does a 4A title count as Big Boy football or does it have to be 4AA?
It depends on who the 4A school beats in order to win their title. Scotland is the smallest school in what is traditionally a 4AA heavyweight conference, and they play 4AA brand name teams like Richmond, Britt and, this year, Indy on their way to whatever accolades they earn at the end of a season. They absolutely play Big Boy football...ESPECIALLY if they blow some of these teams out (Big Boy bonus points!). They also usually run into a couple of top-10 ranked teams in the playoffs to further solidify their case.
Hillside, on the other hand, geez...not so much. Their title was won while New Bern was having a down year and otherwise while loading up on really bad Raleigh teams while playing in a really bad Raleigh conference, and they even drew a 4-loss team in the state title game. That's one of the least impressive state champs in NC history. There wasn't much Big Boy football being played by them at all that year. And that doesn't mean that they didn't have a good team...because they did...but they didn't earn much street cred with that schedule they played that year. There were bunch of teams in the state who could've went undefeated ordering from that pastry menu.
For perspective, let's talk about Garinger for a second. They haven't won a game in years...and yet they still have the balls to schedule Mallard Creek as one of their OOC games while also playing Butler and Indy in-conference every year. Talk about playing some Big Boy football! Much, much, much respect for the kids and coaches at Garinger. Those kids bring it and don't back down from anyone!
Earning respect from the rest of the state is a two step process...
1) Play somebody
2) Beat somebody
It's not rocket science in any way.