Best State for High School Football

[cthomer5000]

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

Thanksgiving day football games are a pretty big tradition in New Jersey and I miss it.

Yeah, the last game of the season for non-playoff teams. Definitely got by far the biggest crowds of the season.

Otherwise, in this area you only go to the game if:

1. You are currently attending one of the high schools playing in the game.
2. Your son or daughter is playing or cheering in the game.

[AgustusM]

Originally Posted by BYU 14

Without a doubt Texas in my book. Multi-level press boxes, artificial grass fields, Staduims that hold 12,000 - 15,000 that are always packed. It is a religion in most parts and the community support is unbelievable.

One good measuring stick is Coaches salaries. Here in AZ most Schools give Head Coaches an $8,000 - $12,000 stipend. As Assistants we get $2,000 - $3,000 stipends for the most part. In Texas a Head Coach at a top program can command $60,000 plus and not have to teach.

Granted none of us at the High School level really do it for the Money, but it would sure be nice to "not do it for the Money" with a Salary like some of the Texas Coaches pull down.

amazing.

The school I coach at (Pittsburg) is one of the top 5 teams in Northern California for the last 5 years. We have a total of 22 coaches at all 3 levels, and the TOTAL stipend is 6 - 2,000 stipends that the head coach splits roughly evenly - or in other words less then 600 bucks a guy. I actually don't take a cut because I do well in my business and some of the coaches are younger and really broke so I would rather there be more for them. This is for a job that in the off-season is 20 hours a week and in-season is 30-40 hours a week.

[Buccaneer]

That's not a bad measure. How does that compare to GA, FL or LA?

[cuervo72]

Originally Posted by cthomer5000

Yeah, the last game of the season for non-playoff teams. Definitely got by far the biggest crowds of the season.

Otherwise, in this area you only go to the game if:

1. You are currently attending one of the high schools playing in the game.
2. Your son or daughter is playing or cheering in the game.

My mom's husband went to CB West (the one with the insane winning streaks), and still goes to every game, with no other rooting interest besides having gone there (almost 40 years ago).

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

That's not a bad measure. How does that compare to GA, FL or LA?

I know of at least one job in Georgia offering $85K with no teaching, and I am under the impression that Cecil Flowe makes 6 figures at Parkview. I'm guessing that either Parkview, Brookwood, Camden County, or Valdosta would have the highest paid coaches in the state.

[miami_fan]

Bump

ESPN is running one of their brackt contest on this topic.


http://sports.espn.go.com/highschool...t&lid=tab8pos1

[Comey]

I have to stick up for PA as well. My alma mater is in what may be the best small-school division in the state, for football and basketball. Always amazing crowds, always amazing teams.

The same could be said all over the state. What it's produced is well-documented. A lot of the greatest QBs in history came from western PA. Berwick won a couple "national titles". With the addition of the Philly Catholic League to the PIAA, and teams like Gateway, McKeesport, Parkland, etc getting some national competition...high school football is more than alive and well in the nation.

[Glengoyne]

My thoughts are as anecdotal and valid as anyone else here.

So Here I go.

1)Texas
2)Ohio
The rest GA, PA, FL...How about Illinois? I hear about a rich tradition in there as well. Yet, no love in this thread.

[kingnebwsu]

I'd go for:

1)Texas
2)Florida
3)California
4)Ohio

5-50)The Rest

[SFL Cat]

Florida has some unbelievable players, but I'd probably have to give the edge to Texas.

[cuervo72]

Originally Posted by Comey

The same could be said all over the state. What it's produced is well-documented. A lot of the greatest QBs in history came from western PA. Berwick won a couple "national titles". With the addition of the Philly Catholic League to the PIAA, and teams like Gateway, McKeesport, Parkland, etc getting some national competition...high school football is more than alive and well in the nation.

We scrimmaged Berwick the year after we went to the state playoffs, drove to their place at the tail end of our camp (soph/jr years we went up to the Poconos to train). That was an experience. Seemed like nothing was up there but hills and coal plants. That, and a big old stadium. They pretty much kicked our tails.

Oh yeah - their QB at the time? Ron Powlus. Yeah, he eventually washed out, but he was a pretty big deal at the time apparently.

[Senator]

I think Texas is the top, but you won't see me feeling cheated if I have to watch a game in Georgia, Alabama, or Louisiana.

When we get 1000 people to our local 9-10 year old city Super Bowl, I know we are a bunch of crazies.

[HerRealName]

Originally Posted by Glengoyne

My thoughts are as anecdotal and valid as anyone else here.

So Here I go.

1)Texas
2)Ohio
The rest GA, PA, FL...How about Illinois? I hear about a rich tradition in there as well. Yet, no love in this thread.

Illinois produces decent talent but fan passion for high school football in Illinois is almost nonexistent.

[Warhammer]

I'd nominate Panola County MS for the discussion, the amount of college talent that comes out of that school is sick.

[korme]

Originally Posted by rowech

Living in Ohio...it's up there with whatever state you want to put up. Friday night's around here are shut down the state. As Cronin said, the FM/AM radio dial just becomes football central. Every newscast is about 10 minutes long and then 20 minutes of highlights from everywhere. The papers will put pro sports to the back pages during football season. I grew up in a small town of about 20,000 people and the movie Friday Night Lights describes much of Ohio football.

Was going to compare Friday Night Lights as well... those scenes driving through town just gives me goosebumps. Crazy awesome goosebumps.

[korme]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

1. Texas
2. Georgia
3. Ohio
4. South Carolina
5. Florida

Ok, the Longhorns, Bulldogs, Buckeyes, and Gators are all extremely prestigious college football programs. The Gamecocks are on this list and have The Old Ball Coach. Why are they not greater?

[cartman]

Originally Posted by korme

Ok, the Longhorns, Bulldogs, Buckeyes, and Gators are all extremely prestigious college football programs. The Gamecocks are on this list and have The Old Ball Coach. Why are they not greater?

Traditionally, Clemson has been the much stronger program from S. Carolina.

[Karlifornia]

Definitely ain't California...we don't give a shit about high school football...

[judicial clerk]

... but Cali does produce the most studs. i would like to see the D1 player production stats

[CU Tiger]

As for HS football. I'm not sure many peeople who are not FROM SC get what it is here.

I've lived in Texas and Florida and Texas is as big, Florida doesnt compare.

Sure small towns close up, but how many Super Wal Marts close down Friday at 5pm and re open at 1 AM (depending on location of high school game)

How many have stadiums off campus that seat 15,000 and sell out months in advance?

How many places sell season tickets by the thousands?

And where else have you ever seen HS tickets on Stub Hub? (Byrnes v Gaffney last year)

[Dr. Sak]

Originally Posted by Comey

I have to stick up for PA as well. My alma mater is in what may be the best small-school division in the state, for football and basketball. Always amazing crowds, always amazing teams.

The same could be said all over the state. What it's produced is well-documented. A lot of the greatest QBs in history came from western PA. Berwick won a couple "national titles". With the addition of the Philly Catholic League to the PIAA, and teams like Gateway, McKeesport, Parkland, etc getting some national competition...high school football is more than alive and well in the nation.

Where did you go to High School?

[Comey]

Trinity HS. D3 AA. Same division as Camp Hill, Steel-High, Milton Hershey, and Scotland. Easily in the best division in the state for mid-small basketball (AAA/AA). Football may be debatable, but I doubt it...Steel-High got pounded by Trinity (12-1) last year, lost three games within the division, and won the state championship easily behind Jeremiah Young, who will, barring injury, crush the state rushing record (he put up 3400 yards and 41 TD last year, if I recall correctly).

I did go to Cumberland Valley until my sophomore year, when I transferred because CV was too damn big.

[cuervo72]

Heh...I just pieced together that the offensive coordinator for Maryland was the QB for my high school, graduated the year before I did.

Football - The University of Maryland Terrapins - Official Athletic Site

[GoldenEagle]

Originally Posted by Warhammer

I'd nominate Panola County MS for the discussion, the amount of college talent that comes out of that school is sick.

Minor correction. It is South Panola High School. I played against them the one year I played high school football.

[Doug5984]

Not sure who said it earlier- but I agree with them that Louisiana has great talent (especially when you look at per capita), but the passion is definitely not the same as it is over in Texas, don't get me wrong- we love high school football, but it's not like it is in some spots in Texas.

We do hate seeing great talent like Joe McKnight leave the area though- I would've loved to have seen him a tiger uniform.

[Buccaneer]

Originally Posted by judicial clerk

... but Cali does produce the most studs. i would like to see the D1 player production stats

Check per capita.