Football Follies

October 7, 2014

Notice reached the MHSAA office of a so-called “2014 Michigan Youth Football Classic” that invites youth league teams to “a great weekend of youth tackle football.” For $450 per team, youth football teams will bang bodies for two days – Nov. 8 and 9 – with each team guaranteed at least three games. Three!
No level of football but this – for the youngest players who have the most vulnerable skulls – allows the idiocy of three games in a weekend. Most limit competition to a maximum of one game in a week!
In my opinion, this isn’t a football classic. It’s child abuse.
I wish the foolishness would stop there, but even an organization called USA Football seems to have lost its head. Initially and mostly with funding from the NFL, USA Football was focused on teaching youth football coaches and players safe blocking and tackling techniques. Good.
But now this pseudo-national governing body for amateur football is planning events for various age groups that will extend tackle football practices and games throughout what used to be an off-season. Multiple competitions in tackle football are scheduled for high school age players in January, February and July of 2015.
At a time when professional, college, school and Pop Warner football are all reducing contact during practices in-season, USA Football wants to expand the contact experience out of season. It makes about as much sense as three games in a weekend.

STATE CHAMPS! Michigan: Extra Point Week 7

October 6, 2022

This week on STATE CHAMPS! Extra Point: Lorne Plant, Sydney Cariel and Devin Gardner recap the notable games from Week 6 and preview the marquee games going into Week 7.

1:46 - Davison vs. Walled Lake Western Recap
3:21 - Dexter vs. Ann Arbor Huron Recap
5:30 - South Christian vs. Grand Rapids Catholic Central Recap
9:05 - Devin on the Rankings
10:37 - Livonia Franklin #17 in Rankings, Who to watch: Forest Hills Central
13:14 - De La Salle #3 in Rankings, Macomb Dakota #6 in Rankings
16:56 - Mr. Football Award
20:47 - DMC Gamechangers
22:05 - Anvil Award 
25:51 - Week 7 Preview
28:28 - Romeo vs. Chippewa Valley - Game of the Week Preview