Size matters - but why???

Crim · 01-26-2009, 08:54 PM

I've often thought about this, and today sitting on the crapper I was reminded of my puzzlement: Why do teams (pro and college, prolly high school as well) inflate the heights of their players?

I mean, everyone's in on the joke, right? Newspaper columnists. TV and radio play by play guys. They all make remarks frequently about "so-and-so is listed as five-eleven, but that's if he's standing on a phone book. Yuck yuck yuck har harrr."

So anyway there I am on the crapper and I'm reading SI and there's a short article about OJ Mayo. "...listed as 6'5", but he's closer to 6'2..."

Why is this done? Is it universal? Do other countries do it? What possible advantage can it be?

Anthony · 01-26-2009, 08:55 PM

I READ THE SAME ARTICLE ON THE SHITTER AND THOUGHT THE SAME THING TOO! YAY!

JonInMiddleGA · 01-26-2009, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crim

I've often thought about this, and today sitting on the crapper I was reminded of my puzzlement: Why do teams (pro and college, prolly high school as well) inflate the heights of their players?

Definitely happens to some extent in high school, seems to really go into overdrive at the college level. Psychological advantage over opponents has always been the reason I heard it attributed to.

BYU 14 · 01-26-2009, 11:16 PM

Despite the fact that we have been successful in Football, we routinely add 5-10 pounds to linemen (Depending on their actual weight) and always grade up to the nearest inch on height (never adding more than an inch though)

It is pretty much commonplace and as Jon says done for a psychological edge and sometimes it almost gets mythical.

It was really funny reading a newspaper article going into one of our games this past season, where opposing Coach mentioned they were concerned with our big, physical line. Now our kids did play very physical, but here are the actual sizes of our starters on the varsity O-line.

T - 6' 195
G - 5'10" 225
C - 6' 250
G - 5'9" 210
T - 6'1" 265 or 6' 210
TE - 5'10" 220

Not big at all, even by high school standards.

Now this is how they were listed on the Roster that other teams got.

T - 6'1" 205
G - 5'11" 230
C - 6' 260
G - 5'10" 220
T - 6'1" 270 or 6'1" 220
TE - 6' 225

That looks a little better doesn't it

Noop · 01-26-2009, 11:26 PM

I was listed as 6'1 in high school although my actual high was 5'11 coach said it would help me get recruited.

M GO BLUE!!! · 01-27-2009, 09:32 AM

Aaron Gibson was the inverse of this.

sterlingice · 01-27-2009, 09:59 AM

I am surprised that 6 posts in we have yet to have a parody on this, either in post or thread form.

SI

Logan · 01-27-2009, 10:10 AM

I'm listed at 8.5" but in actuality I'm 6.5".

Logan · 01-27-2009, 10:12 AM

Damn SI...I quick-replied right from the original post.

MIJB#19 · 01-27-2009, 11:00 AM

Uh-huh, reading SI on the crapper for the articles...

Crim · 01-27-2009, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIJB#19

Uh-huh, reading SI on the crapper for the articles...

RainMaker · 01-27-2009, 04:45 PM

I can understand it at the high school level for those who want to be recruited. I'm 6' but listed myself as 6'2 in high school for better interest from colleges. But outside of that, it makes no sense. You aren't going to get drafted or signed by a team without them knowing your real height.

Cringer · 01-27-2009, 05:05 PM

Thickness is more important, everyone knows that.

JHandley · 01-27-2009, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RainMaker

I can understand it at the high school level for those who want to be recruited. I'm 6' but listed myself as 6'2 in high school for better interest from colleges. But outside of that, it makes no sense. You aren't going to get drafted or signed by a team without them knowing your real height.

Don't the colleges figure out your real height as well?

I've often wondered the same thing. If everyone knows that listed height is always fiction, doesn't that also include the recruiters?

Sgran · 01-29-2009, 08:23 AM

No one on my high school varsity team was listed lower than 6' 180 pounds. Personally, I was the starting strong safety at 5'8" and a buck 55, and I was bigger than the free safety. Someone said that the coaches didn't want the other teams to pick up on our weaknesses or some shit like that. I think it's absurd.

01-26-2009, 11:16 PM	#4
BYU 14 Coordinator Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The scorched Desert	Despite the fact that we have been successful in Football, we routinely add 5-10 pounds to linemen (Depending on their actual weight) and always grade up to the nearest inch on height (never adding more than an inch though) It is pretty much commonplace and as Jon says done for a psychological edge and sometimes it almost gets mythical. It was really funny reading a newspaper article going into one of our games this past season, where opposing Coach mentioned they were concerned with our big, physical line. Now our kids did play very physical, but here are the actual sizes of our starters on the varsity O-line. T - 6' 195 G - 5'10" 225 C - 6' 250 G - 5'9" 210 T - 6'1" 265 or 6' 210 TE - 5'10" 220 Not big at all, even by high school standards. Now this is how they were listed on the Roster that other teams got. T - 6'1" 205 G - 5'11" 230 C - 6' 260 G - 5'10" 220 T - 6'1" 270 or 6'1" 220 TE - 6' 225 That looks a little better doesn't it Last edited by BYU 14 : 01-26-2009 at 11:17 PM.

01-26-2009, 11:26 PM	#5
Noop Bonafide Seminole Fan Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Florida	I was listed as 6'1 in high school although my actual high was 5'11 coach said it would help me get recruited. __________________ Living in an Oligarchy.

01-27-2009, 09:59 AM	#7
sterlingice Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Back in Houston!	I am surprised that 6 posts in we have yet to have a parody on this, either in post or thread form. SI __________________ Houston Hippopotami, III.3: 20th Anniversary Thread - All former HT players are encouraged to check it out! Janos: "Only America could produce an imbecile of your caliber!" Freakazoid: "That's because we make lots of things better than other people!"

01-27-2009, 11:00 AM	#10
MIJB#19 Coordinator Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Maassluis, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands	Uh-huh, reading SI on the crapper for the articles... __________________ * 2005 Golden Scribe winner for best FOF Dynasty about IHOF's Maassluis Merchantmen * Former GM of GEFL's Houston Oilers and WOOF's Curacao Cocktail

01-27-2009, 05:05 PM	#13
Cringer Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Edinburg,TX	Thickness is more important, everyone knows that. __________________ You Stole Fizzy Lifting drinks! You bumped into the ceiling which now has to be washed and steralized, so you get NOTHING! You lose!

01-26-2009, 08:55 PM	#2
Anthony Banned Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Astoria, NY, USA	I READ THE SAME ARTICLE ON THE SHITTER AND THOUGHT THE SAME THING TOO! YAY!

01-27-2009, 09:32 AM	#6
M GO BLUE!!! Pro Starter Join Date: Sep 2005	Aaron Gibson was the inverse of this.

01-27-2009, 10:10 AM	#8
Logan Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: NYC	I'm listed at 8.5" but in actuality I'm 6.5".

01-27-2009, 10:12 AM	#9
Logan Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: NYC	Damn SI...I quick-replied right from the original post.

01-27-2009, 04:45 PM	#12
RainMaker Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chicago, IL	I can understand it at the high school level for those who want to be recruited. I'm 6' but listed myself as 6'2 in high school for better interest from colleges. But outside of that, it makes no sense. You aren't going to get drafted or signed by a team without them knowing your real height.

01-29-2009, 08:23 AM	#15
Sgran High School Varsity Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Budapest	No one on my high school varsity team was listed lower than 6' 180 pounds. Personally, I was the starting strong safety at 5'8" and a buck 55, and I was bigger than the free safety. Someone said that the coaches didn't want the other teams to pick up on our weaknesses or some shit like that. I think it's absurd. __________________ What the hell is Mike Brown diagramming for them during timeouts? Is he like the guy from "Memento" or something? Guys, I just thought of something … what if we ran a high screen for LeBron?

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