Sustained Success or Championship?

[CRF4Dan]

Here is something to think about... Which would you prefer as a fan? Over let's say a ten year period... Would you prefer to win a state title and struggle to make playoffs year after year or have sustained success during those ten years, making the playoffs, deep runs and contending but never winning the state title?

 

[hamspear]

State title hands down, had the sustained success for the most part

 

[CRF4Dan]

State title hands down, had the sustained success for the most part

Depending on your experience I think everyone will have a different answer. For example those like yourself that have had that sustained success would trade it for the state title but say someone who has the state title but was more less a one-hit wonder and hasn't done much else would probably take the sustained success.

 

[one man]

Here is something to think about... Which would you prefer as a fan? Over let's say a ten year period... Would you prefer to win a state title and struggle to make playoffs year after year or have sustained success during those ten years, making the playoffs, deep runs and contending but never winning the state title?

I'm with Ham, State Title or bust 'round here. As a coach, I wouldn't want to be that guy whose team is always good but can't win the big one. Much rather win the big one and have some down years than win 10+ games a year with no ring to show for it.

 

[DinwiddieProud]

Sorry, BOTH!!!

 

[bulldog1150]

That is a great question. My first thought is to take the state title. After all, you don't get rings for winning 10 games and they don't hang banners for district titles. But on the other hand, nothing is more frustrating than losing 6-7 games every year. I don't think many coaches could continue to put themselves through that for very long.

 

[1MoreHokie]

The odds are very good that what happened to Blacksburg last year was an oddity, the exception to the usual rule for that school. They likely won't win 4A this year and after a year or two they will probably dip back down into mediocrity where they'd been dwelling for the better part of the last 4 decades. But they still won state last year and they'll always have that to look back on fondly and I don't think they'd sell that for all the 8-2 or 9-1 seasons you could offer.

 

[DanvilleSportsHead_rivals]

State championship or bust. Who remembers 2nd place? I know I don't!

 

[falcettik]

I posted this comment on the 6A board, since I follow 6A on the field. I am also posting it here because I read the 4A board because you guys are the most active posters and provide some great comments and insight.

Of your two options, I think the true football fan would prefer to have sustained success without a title. Some teams are historically strong, but just never find the right combination of players, coaching, and luck to win a state title. Although frustrating, it is much more enjoyable to watch a team that plays well and at least brings the hope and optimism of a title to each season. If the team I supported was one of those that struggled repeatedly but then broke through, sure, I'd be ecstatic-but then when the struggles returned immediately the next season it would be frustrating and/or depressing once again. The team with the sustained success is also far, far more likely to finally have the stars align and get that big win, too. The perennial sub par team will probably never taste that sort of success again.

 

[Clarkefan]

Well, at Clarke, we've been having that exact situation where we contend, but don't win the big dance. I'd like to see us win the big one.

 

[71ShadesofNavy]

DP I know you like your cake and want to eat it too, but a State Championship by far. When I look at the ups and downs of Dinwiddie football since I started following them in the early 90's it was terribly frustrating. Get to the dance and lose. Rebuild, get to the dance repeat... It sure was nice to finally get one in 2013. Now we know what it taste like, have the desire to enjoy it again; therefore, you bust your hump to have a shot which ultimately results in consistency. Its not necessary to win it all to have consistency, but it sure does help maintain it. Especially, if you want to call yourself an elite program. The Buffalo Bills are a perfect example. Numerous Super Bowl appearances and how do we categorize them. Great losers. lol.... Its a messed up world fellows. Think of the baseball players that just missed hitting .400 for the season. Good hitters but?????

 

[1MoreHokie]

Took Salem 15 years under Willis White (and another 5 before he was hired) to win their first title including getting to the AAA and AA finals and losing.

Sustained success is something, I think, that a school like Salem would have the luxury of undertaking in this question. I remember when Salem beat LT for their first title in a decade that part was stressed but it wasn't as though Salem anguished in the cellar for those 10 years, they won 100+ games, went to the POs every year, and even made the finals once. Plenty of teams would kill for a stretch run like that but for Salem that's somehow underperforming to some.

Me as a Salem fan has a different approach from me as a VT fan. I'd trade in 5 decades of sub-.500 play for a VT title in a New York minute.

 

[71ShadesofNavy]

Amen 1MoreHokie! A VA Tech title would be unreal and worth all the straight bowl appearances.

Great points about Salem as well.

 

[numb3rs]

Salem took 10 years from their first playoff appearance in 1986 until their first title in 1996. During that time there were some brutal playoff losses, especially from 1989-1992 when the Spartans went 39-1 in the regular season and were arguably the favorites entering the playoffs three out of the four seasons. It wasn't hard to envy schools which won a title or two without the same overall sustained success.

The later "drought" from 2006 through 2015 was nowhere near as difficult after the "dynasty" years of 1996 through 2005. Though, doubts began to creep in that teams like Briar Woods, Dinwiddie, and LT had raised the bar in D4/4A to a level that Salem couldn't match. With the championships in the last two seasons, it's difficult to see what more the Spartans can attain on the state championship front since obviously Salem isn't going to move up in classification. So, sustained success in the regular season with some occasional deep runs in the playoffs should be enough to satisfy Salem fans for quite some time.

Still, I would be disappointed if Salem's current run (5 straight semifinals, 3 straight title games) ends this season not by losing to a superior team in the playoffs but instead due to the unexpected attrition which has been rumored.

 

[1MoreHokie]

My dad always said Salem lost a couple titles back then due to injury. Said if Mags didn't get hurt they'd have definitely won that year. I think they'd have won another if Richlands decided not to cheat.

 

[Springers1976]

State championship or bust. Who remembers 2nd place? I know I don't!

I do! Both of our 2nd place finishes stung. Still stinging from 1978 and 1989.
'78 We held a 13-0 lead and lost 13-14 with just seconds remaining.
1989, Score was tied 14-14 with time running down. West Potomac pounded the ground attack and drove down close enough with only a few seconds left and drilled the kick abd won 17-14

 

[DinwiddieProud]

If you have won one or more, does it sting worse the next time you lose one?

 

[numb3rs]

Salem's loss to Lake Taylor in 2014 wasn't too difficult to take considering that it had been 6 titles and 23 years since the last state championship game loss. The margin of defeat was a disappointment, primarily because it seemed to underscore -at the time- the gap between Salem and the new elite in 4A.

 

[hamspear]

Depending on your experience I think everyone will have a different answer. For example those like yourself that have had that sustained success would trade it for the state title but say someone who has the state title but was more less a one-hit wonder and hasn't done much else would probably take the sustained success.

We have sent a few really good teams to the state game , and the teams we lost to have been considered to be the best of the time by many. Nothing to be shamed of, the consistency of a program is what gets you there in the first place. Some day Sherando might win the big one, but that remains to be seen.good topic though.

 

[close2salem]

Salem took 10 years from their first playoff appearance in 1986 until their first title in 1996. During that time there were some brutal playoff losses, especially from 1989-1992 when the Spartans went 39-1 in the regular season and were arguably the favorites entering the playoffs three out of the four seasons. It wasn't hard to envy schools which won a title or two without the same overall sustained success.

The later "drought" from 2006 through 2015 was nowhere near as difficult after the "dynasty" years of 1996 through 2005. Though, doubts began to creep in that teams like Briar Woods, Dinwiddie, and LT had raised the bar in D4/4A to a level that Salem couldn't match. With the championships in the last two seasons, it's difficult to see what more the Spartans can attain on the state championship front since obviously Salem isn't going to move up in classification. So, sustained success in the regular season with some occasional deep runs in the playoffs should be enough to satisfy Salem fans for quite some time.

Still, I would be disappointed if Salem's current run (5 straight semifinals, 3 straight title games) ends this season not by losing to a superior team in the playoffs but instead due to the unexpected attrition which has been rumored.

Rumors usually aren't true.

 

[Clarkefan]

Rumors usually aren't true.

I dunno, "Rumors" was truly Fleetwood Mac's greatest album.

 

[mikesalem]

The odds are very good that what happened to Blacksburg last year was an oddity, the exception to the usual rule for that school. They likely won't win 4A this year and after a year or two they will probably dip back down into mediocrity where they'd been dwelling for the better part of the last 4 decades. But they still won state last year and they'll always have that to look back on fondly and I don't think they'd sell that for all the 8-2 or 9-1 seasons you could offer.

Blacksburg fits the mediocrity to title scenario to a tee. Championships in '77, '89, & '16 with a lot of average or below average seasons in between.

 

[numb3rs]

That 1989 Blacksburg team was only 6-4 in the regular season then caught fire in the playoffs behind running back Jerome Trussell, so very similar to the 2016 season.

 

[SpartanOfYore]

Those three Blacksburg state championship teams have one thing in common - they all lost to Salem in the regular season.