Ready for Some Football

August 12, 2014

How seriously should we take public criticism of tackle football when that public promotes boxing or cage fighting? Or how seriously should we take public criticism of football played with helmets when that public allows motorcyclists to ride without any helmets at all?

This fickle if not hypocritical focus on football deserves to be exposed.

However, and more importantly, this does not reduce our obligation to rise above the obvious questions of fair and balanced criticism and keep pressing for a safer environment for schools’ most popular participation sport.

In Michigan this has led to new limitations on head-to-head contact in football practices that began for more than 600 high schools this week. Specifically, no team or individual may participate in more than one collision practice per day before the first game, and no more than two collision practices per week after the first game.

The new policies promote instruction in proper blocking and tackling technique. It is full speed head-to-head contact that is further reduced, not full speed shoulder contact with sleds, shields and dummies nor slow speed contact between players.

Last month, and perhaps two years too late to be helpful, the National Federation of State High School Associations hosted a high-profile, high-powered summit to discuss practice policies of the kind that we developed, debated and adopted during the past school year to be ready for this 2014 season.

Unforgettable 5ive: 2021 Football Playoff Week 4

By Jon Ross
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties

November 26, 2021

Here's a look at our Playoff Week 4 "Unforgettable 5ive" from MHSAA.tv and MHSAA media partner broadcasts:

► Brent LaBonte throws the 48-yard touchdown pass to Luke Gorzinski as Powers North Central wins a second-straight 8-Player Division 2 championship, beating Colon 63-0.

► Adrian Lenawee Christian's Ashur Bryja scores on an 11-yard run to give his team the lead in its 8-Player Division 1 championship win. The Cougars defeated Suttons Bay 31-20.

► Hudson came back from 22 down to defeat Ottawa Lake Whiteford 28-22. Bronson Marry scored the game winner.

► Lawton's Landon Motter converted the two-point conversion with 46 seconds left to give his team a 21-20 win over Jackson Lumen Christi.

► Teshawn Thomas scores on a 46-yard run for Warren Michigan Collegiate in its 36-29 win over Michigan Center.

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