Logo

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.
Unforgettable 5ive

Unforgettable 5ive: 2021 Football Playoff Week 3

By Jon Ross
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties

November 17, 2021

Here's a look at our Playoff Week 3 "Unforgettable 5ive" from MHSAA.tv and MHSAA media partner broadcasts:

► Mason's Cason Carswell finds Dylan Badgley for the game-winning score with 10 seconds to play in a 20-17 win over Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice.

► Jason Skoczylas blocks a Detroit Country Day game-winning field goal attempt and then returns it 50 yards for a game-winning touchdown as Chelsea defeated the Yellowjackets 27-20.

► Sterling Heights Stevenson's Jordan Ramsey returns the fumble 90 yards for a touchdown in a 27-20 win over Macomb Dakota.  

► Griffin Henke scores from one yard out for Rochester Adams as it edged reigning Division 1 champion West Bloomfield, 14-13.

► Suttons Bay's Shawn Bramer finishes the hook-and-ladder for a 69-yard game-tying score as his team went on to defeat Rudyard 42-36 in overtime.