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DEL.ICIO.USGHSA still has last 2 rounds backward
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The tradition has been to play the state semifinal games at the Georgia Dome. It’s a grand occasion for the teams that make it that far. But to play the championship games the following week on someone’s home turf, well, that’s where a change is in order.
How about this — and this is not a conventional thought, mind you, but timely considering the magnitude of the games this week: Play the semifinal games at school stadiums and the title games at the Dome.
Why? The championship games should be played at a neutral site. No other level of football conducts title encounters on a team’s home field. Additionally, the Dome is the ultimate site to crown champs.
I understand that more teams get to experience the Dome with the games there in the semifinal round, which certainly is a good thing. But to give one team a home-field advantage in the title game does not ring fair.
Of course, the argument has been made before to make the change, and it has gone nowhere. And it’ll likely stay as presently set up. But it’d bet a whole lot of folks would welcome a change.
Permalink | Comments (19) | Post your comment | Categories: Curtis Bunn
Comments
By Sherrod
November 30, 2006 08:38 PM | Link to this
the semis at the Dome are a great idea because it gives guys who will probably never in their life suit up again, the opportunity to gain that experience. i would personally say don’t change that but if the championship is to be changed, a neutral site that is conducive to both schools should be chosen. the ga. dome would still provide “an advantage” to teams based in the metro area as it could still be considered a home game. i say whichever distance is the mid point between the two schools is the site that should be used. yet, these stadiums should be identified prior to the playoffs starting as i’m sure there are some nice venues in georgia. on another note, the ga. dome would be a bad choice because of it’s large size (too large)…that would take away from the atmosphere that one comes to expect in high school football in dec. for championship games. however, the dome should be kept for the semis…. just my opinion……
By Steve
November 30, 2006 08:49 PM | Link to this
Just admit it, you don’t want to have to go to Hawkinsville, Homerville or Wrightsville. You rather stay in your comfy dome and not have to really work.
The semis in the Dome are fine, but the championship games belong at one of the two towns. You don’t honestly believe that a visiting team in the state title game as no fans show up do you?
Also like the previous poster said, the Dome is homefield for Brookwood, Buford and Parkview and those schools, if you don’t believe that, I have some land you may be interested in
By 1AAAAA football fan
November 30, 2006 11:04 PM | Link to this
Why the dome and not Macon? If the finals were in the dome wouldn’t that be somewhat a home game for the Gwinett,DeKalb, and the other schools in the area? Do you really think that if a 1aaaaa teams make it to the final, would the dome be a “neutral” site if the played one of the previous mentioned teams?
By 1AAAAA football fan
November 30, 2006 11:05 PM | Link to this
Why the dome and not Macon? If the finals were in the dome wouldn’t that be somewhat a home game for the Gwinett,DeKalb, and the other schools in the area? Do you really think that if a 1aaaaa teams make it to the final, would the dome be a “neutral” site if the played one of the previous mentioned teams?
By 1AAAAA football fan
November 30, 2006 11:06 PM | Link to this
Why the dome and not Macon? If the finals were in the dome wouldn’t that be somewhat a home game for the Gwinett,DeKalb, and the other schools in the area? Do you really think that if a 1aaaaa teams make it to the final, would the dome be a “neutral” site if the played one of the previous mentioned teams?
By North Fulton
November 30, 2006 11:19 PM | Link to this
I’m sorry and I of course do not mean to offend anyone. However, why must the championship game be played at a neutral site? Unless of course the teams are equally seeded. Having the title game at a home field is just how high school football should be. High School football gets what it is from the atmosphere and nobody here can deny that. That is not at all meant to say that we dont need the players, as I have seen in other posts. Undoubtedly, we have to have the players but the fans make it the experience that so many people take from these sporting events.
By Brooks
November 30, 2006 11:32 PM | Link to this
I think the finals at the Dome is a very debatable issue. Playing at a home site does add a electricity to the game but the Dome would allow more people to witness the games. Stadiums are filled to capacity and some fans can’t get in. The Dome would solve that problem. Playing the semis at the Dome does allow 4 teams to experience playing on the big stage. I am all for that. I do think that the Dome could take away from the celebration or excitement knowing that you have to clear the field for the next game to be played. 4 championship games at one site in one day might be a little overkill. How do you determine home site if both teams are evenly seeded. Coin tosses are to win/lose even though they are pretty common. In that case a neutral site should be used. Go Dawgs and Habersham Central Raiders.
By Brandon
December 1, 2006 01:15 AM | Link to this
Isn’t this the 2nd time that this has been brought up on this site? PLaying in the Dome wouldn’t be fair at all. It’s just a dumb idea period. Metro teams would def have an unfair advantage. Everyone in GA doesn’t live in ATL. Some of us live in North, South, Central, East and West Ga. Maybe if the both teams are 1 seed then we can talk about a neutral site that is a mid way point for both teams. and no if a Metro team played and 1AAAAA team in the finals the game should be played @ GSU not Macon. UNless it was @ Sanford stadium. I’d take that cause the players would love to play there\,.
By Marshall Miller
December 1, 2006 02:20 AM | Link to this
I agree - good points. It makes so much sense to reverse the last two games they’ll probably never consider it.
By Brian
December 1, 2006 09:04 AM | Link to this
Keep the semi’s in the Dome. Then have the finals in a college stadium. Use Sanford for some and possibly Georgia Southern’s stadium for some other games. All championship games do not have to played at the same site. Twenty teams get the thrill of playing in the Dome. Imagine the thrill for the remaining 10 temas to play their final game in a college stadium. Texas plays their championship games at neutral sites and it seems to work out just fine.
By Puddin
December 1, 2006 09:42 AM | Link to this
I got it. Play the semis at UGA and/or Tech. Play the finals at the Dome. No need to thank me GHSA. Just doin my job. GO DAWGS!
By Elizabeth Shephard
December 1, 2006 10:10 AM | Link to this
I feel the semi’s should continue in the dome. The state championship should be in the best school backyard. I also feel that we have one of the best highschool football teams in the state and all we ever hear about is Buford this Buford that. Let’s talk about a good football team that only gets to use the boys that are in the area and do not get to pick football players like a Buford does. Buford needs to be in a different region than AA as it gets to recruit players from the Atlanta area. Charlton County has a great football program as we have the best coach in the state.
By azcat225
December 1, 2006 10:36 AM | Link to this
Thanks for the info on Texas, Brian. I absolutely agree that the semis should stay in the Dome, and I really like the idea of the championship games being sprinkled around at college stadiums. With all the football-playing colleges we have in GA, a neutral college site which is equidistant between the two teams’ hometowns should not be that hard to come up with. For example, two South GA teams in the 5A final? Play at Valdosta State.
By Blue Devil Block
December 1, 2006 12:50 PM | Link to this
Hey azcat225: If Valdosta was one of the teams, it would be a home game since Valdosta State plays at the Valdosta High stadium.
By NJC
December 1, 2006 01:36 PM | Link to this
The championship games belong in the GA Dome. In Louisiana, the championships are held in the Superdome in New Orleans. More state titles have been won by north Louisiana schools than by New Orleans area schools, so the home field advantage argument doesn’t work.
By Mike
December 1, 2006 01:59 PM | Link to this
The playoffs are not for the city of Atlanta. They are for the State. Be thankful for having a chance to showcase these contest in the semi’s. Gives you a chance see some of the best teams. Please try not to be so arrogant.
By George Bessonette
December 2, 2006 10:12 AM | Link to this
You are wrong sir. No one would welcome playing championships in the Dome except the schools around the Atlanta area. This issue was, in fact, so uniformly NOT welcomed that the GHSA had to reconsider it’s erlier decision to do what you have proposed. Lot’s of people enjoy going to the Dome for semi-finals. That does not mean that Atlanta should get everything, every time.
By 1AAAAA football fan
December 2, 2006 09:05 PM | Link to this
What you are missing are the logistics of playing in the dome,Say Tift County and Warner Robbins play in the AAAAA final. Not only do you have two teams who have to travel 2-3 hours north,you also have 2 marching bands, escort vehicals..etc.. etc..not to mention here in south Georgia we have fans who have attended high school games for years will they travel to the dome to see a championship game? chances are they wouldn’t, not because the don’t to but alot of them wouldn’t have a way to.
By 1AAAAA football fan
December 2, 2006 09:06 PM | Link to this
What you are missing are the logistics of playing in the dome,Say Tift County and Warner Robbins play in the AAAAA final. Not only do you have two teams who have to travel 2-3 hours north,you also have 2 marching bands, escort vehicals..etc.. etc..not to mention here in south Georgia we have fans who have attended high school games for years will they travel to the dome to see a championship game? chances are they wouldn’t, not because the don’t to but alot of them wouldn’t have a way to.