Can schools opt up a class?
- Thread starter Antone13
- Start date
I don't post much anymore, but thought I'd share my perspective on this post.
I've coached at the Class C2, Class D1, and Class D2 level. I think I've got a pretty good feel for high school football in Nebraska.
First of all, yes, anyone can opt up. Teams in D2 can go to D1 if they choose.
I'll be honest, however, that I'm not sure I agree with your statement about D1 being easier than D2, or C2 being easier than C1. In any given year, I believe that the top 2 or 3 Class C2 teams may be able to hang with the top 10 in Class C1 (with the same being true of D1 & D2).
However, when it comes right down to it, I don't think the depth of teams is taken into account enough. I really believe that Class C1 is a different level of football than Class C2 because of the number of kids that teams play. Do I believe that Ponca could play with Norfolk Catholic? Absolutely. However, over the course of 13 games, I think that Norfolk Catholic wins the title game over Ponca 10 out of 10 times, simply because of the depth they possess.
That's no knock on Ponca, but I just don't see a C2 team standing up to Class C1 teams over the course of 13 games.
I will concede that D1 and D2 don't have as wide of a gap, but that gap does exist. There is a difference between Creighton (D1), who has a number of injuries plaguing them this year, but yet they keep on rolling, and a team like Bloomfield (D2), who is one injury away from really hurting.
I've coached at the Class C2, Class D1, and Class D2 level. I think I've got a pretty good feel for high school football in Nebraska.
First of all, yes, anyone can opt up. Teams in D2 can go to D1 if they choose.
I'll be honest, however, that I'm not sure I agree with your statement about D1 being easier than D2, or C2 being easier than C1. In any given year, I believe that the top 2 or 3 Class C2 teams may be able to hang with the top 10 in Class C1 (with the same being true of D1 & D2).
However, when it comes right down to it, I don't think the depth of teams is taken into account enough. I really believe that Class C1 is a different level of football than Class C2 because of the number of kids that teams play. Do I believe that Ponca could play with Norfolk Catholic? Absolutely. However, over the course of 13 games, I think that Norfolk Catholic wins the title game over Ponca 10 out of 10 times, simply because of the depth they possess.
That's no knock on Ponca, but I just don't see a C2 team standing up to Class C1 teams over the course of 13 games.
I will concede that D1 and D2 don't have as wide of a gap, but that gap does exist. There is a difference between Creighton (D1), who has a number of injuries plaguing them this year, but yet they keep on rolling, and a team like Bloomfield (D2), who is one injury away from really hurting.
I will agree with you that overall, there just seems to be a difference in C2 and C1 players. As a player who got bumped up to C1 my senior year, there are generally more athletes across the field in C1. Now we didn't play anyone that great, but the jump up over all entire schedule was more than we expected.
I've coached at D1, C2, A and B schools. If you held a gun to my head and said you have to combine classes to make Nebraska 4-class again, I'd do this in football:
A
B and C1
C2 and D1 (I suppose they'd play 8-man)
D2 and D3 (I supposed 6-man)
To me, C1 has a lot more in common with B than C2. Try scheduling at lower levels. Lots of C1 have JV and freshman. I doubt any C2's are doing that very often. Usually, C1 facilities are more like B than C2.
I think I'd do it differently in basketball:
A and B
C1 and C2
Heck, I think you could have three-class basketball in Nebraska.
D1 and D2.
A
B and C1
C2 and D1 (I suppose they'd play 8-man)
D2 and D3 (I supposed 6-man)
To me, C1 has a lot more in common with B than C2. Try scheduling at lower levels. Lots of C1 have JV and freshman. I doubt any C2's are doing that very often. Usually, C1 facilities are more like B than C2.
I think I'd do it differently in basketball:
A and B
C1 and C2
Heck, I think you could have three-class basketball in Nebraska.
D1 and D2.
Great post, keep posting! Love having insight like yours on the board.
TC, I think you've illustrated my complaint. The notion that the C2's and D2's have to be forced to play an inferior game, is awful in my mind. And I'm not knocking 8 man or 6 man unreasonably. They just aren't as good a game as the real version. Good players and good coaches certainly, it just isn't as good. They were invented so that teams who simply COULDN'T field the larger teams could still have some version of the sport. Why not have your 2nd class in bb play 4 on 4? The third class could play 3 on 3. I don't disagree with your ideas on the similarities of the bigger C1's to the smaller B's, and so forth. But any talk of reducing the classifications inevitably means forcing schools to play a lesser version of the sport. Otherwise we see those matchups that were discussed on another thread.
I think I agree (though I just consider them different games, not necessarily inferior). I agree in that you'd have to put a gun to my head to get me to shrink Nebraska football to 4 classes. Now, basketball... you might convince me of that without firearms.
Not true, all schools can opt up a class, but if they do, they have to opt up in all sports.
The NSAA doesn't decide if you can opt up or down....It is the schools decision. However, there are rules that are put into effect based on each schools choice to go up or down. So your rumor is just that.....a rumor!
"“Opting” up or down in classification is relevant to the actual class you wish to be placed. “Opting” down will result in being ineligible for the post season and competing for a district championship. “Opting” up has no impact on your eligibility status."
"“Opting” up or down in classification is relevant to the actual class you wish to be placed. “Opting” down will result in being ineligible for the post season and competing for a district championship. “Opting” up has no impact on your eligibility status."
correct the NSAA does not decide, all schools can do either, so you dealing with a BS rumor