John Raffel
Sports Scene
Is 236 teams enough? Some say yes, some say no.
The Michigan High School Athletic Association has eight divisions with 32 teams in each for its five-week postseason playoffs. It’s been that way since 1998 Since the playoffs started with four classes and 16 total teams in 1975, it’s expanded to four classes and 32 teams, four classes and 64 teams, eight classes and 128 teams and now the current format.
Many have said, that’s enough. Others aren’t quite sure.
Jim Conway of Mount Pleasant is among the athletic directors who feels the current system is effective and works well
But the incentive of getting six wins and you make the playoffs hurts scheduling, he noted because schools’ are more selective on who they play.
“The only way you get more teams in is to drop week nine and all schools advance,” he said.
Pewamo-Westphalia AD Todd Simmons said the current system is ideal and frowns on the expansion notion.
“The regular season games should mean something and only the most battle tested 5-4 teams in each class should qualify,” he said.
Paul Reid, St. Louis football coach, agrees.
“Qualifying now is tough and letting lesser talented teams in would just make a blowout weekend,” he said.
Athletic director Ryan Sklener of Breckenridge also likes the current system.
“If you allow more teams in it, that would allow more 5-4 teams in and water down the competition,” he said. “Five weeks is a good system.”
Nick Scheible of Big Rapids also thinks the current number is the right amount.
I think the current system is a good system and an effective way to get the top teams in the playoffs.
It can always be looked at but I think the current system is fine,” Scheible said. “There are already many blowout games in the first couple of weeks so opening it up even further for the couple of teams that just play a tough schedule wouldn’t do any good in my opinion.”