Does PD football get the national respect it deserves?

[landry63]

After perusing the USA Today Top 25 and regional top 10 lists for high school football, I was very disappointed to see the lack of representation from the PD. Hampton and Pheobus (the two most reasonable candidates for national recongtion) rarely are listed amongst the nation's best. I believe a Phebous team from 2-4 years ago was ranked in the top 25 and Hampton held its own for 3 years in the mid 90's but aside from that our PD teams are overlooked.

The PD consistently puts out talent that goes on to produce on the college level. And lets be honest, the road to the state championship goes through Darling and Todd stadium. We have the talent, we have the teams, we have the storied programs, why the lack of respect?

:confused:

[adlandrytwo]

The PD gets no respect because VA highschool players grow up and attend schools like Virginia and Virginia Tech, while Louisiana highschool players grow up and attend schools like LSU. We all know what happens when you send VA kids down to Baton Rouge to play Louisiana kids.

[The Educator]

A lot of the programs on the national top 25 lists are from states that hold high school football in higher regard than we do here in VA. You can look at our playoff system and see what I mean. It's set up to save money on travel instead of getting the best matchups. I top team in Texas or Florida will get more national respect even if we know that Hampton or Phoebus could hold their own against them. It would be nice if one of our former pro athletes could sponsor a trip for Hampton and Phoebus (and maybe Bethel and Heritage) to play teams from other states. I'm sure the VHSL wouldn't allow it though!

[Spartan8508]

From watching the Hampton Phoebus game last night and having been in Texas, Florida, and Ohio before... Neither team would "hold their own" because of one factor.. Offensive and Defensive lines. Kids were way too small. The good sized kids were on the sideline on Hampton's side, and Phoebus just didn't have much size beyond 62 and 51. Tall doesn't equal good (75 and 71). Hampton's line was VERY small compared to the typical Texas team.. Ohio too.. Florida.. about average in some areas, others, HUGE kids! Virginia kids are skill players anywhere else in the country, look at who goes where. I can only think of one guy (searches google, nfl.com, and ncaa rosters) that was a lineman that is still relevant, and did something in college. That person is Elton Brown (playing for the Cardinals now after leaving UVA). No other linemen.. Just skill players.. Percy Harvin, Tyrod Taylor, Xavier Adibi, Vince Hall (from this area? don't know) the rest of the VA Tech team :lol: (minus Chris Ellis, that guy does NOTHING.. I don't understand why he is so highly regarded)

Good skill players can't do much when they're dodging tackles in the backfield or trying to tackle a RB with two 300 lb lead blockers... (Va Tech vs. LSU for example, UVA of the late 90's early 00's)

Coaching.. Neither team from last night, nor any team i've seen in Norfolk or Va Beach can stop a real spread offense. Period. I think Bethel will have a great chance once their coach gets his system installed and picks up on the tendencies of Dee and Smith. He's gonna need some bigger linemen though ;)

Who runs a wing T anymore? Come on.. Woodside and Denbigh will never get any respect outside of the state with that nonsense. :focus:

Players aren't teams, and this area has a heck of a lot of PLAYERS, but few of the TEAMS would do much outside of the state.. Why change when what you've been doing for years works? *cough* Michigan *cough* They're built to handle Big Ten opponents with the typical smashmouth offense and big slow defense that stops it.. But *bam* App. State and a spread with quick kids in the positions that matter.. *BAM* Oregon comes in with the same philosophy but WAY better players.. Need I say more?

[Ripklaw]

From watching the Hampton Phoebus game last night and having been in Texas, Florida, and Ohio before... Neither team would "hold their own" because of one factor.. Offensive and Defensive lines. Kids were way too small. The good sized kids were on the sideline on Hampton's side, and Phoebus just didn't have much size beyond 62 and 51. Tall doesn't equal good (75 and 71). Hampton's line was VERY small compared to the typical Texas team.. Ohio too.. Florida.. about average in some areas, others, HUGE kids! Virginia kids are skill players anywhere else in the country, look at who goes where. I can only think of one guy (searches google, nfl.com, and ncaa rosters) that was a lineman that is still relevant, and did something in college. That person is Elton Brown (playing for the Cardinals now after leaving UVA). No other linemen.. Just skill players.. Percy Harvin, Tyrod Taylor, Xavier Adibi, Vince Hall (from this area? don't know) the rest of the VA Tech team :lol: (minus Chris Ellis, that guy does NOTHING.. I don't understand why he is so highly regarded)

Good skill players can't do much when they're dodging tackles in the backfield or trying to tackle a RB with two 300 lb lead blockers... (Va Tech vs. LSU for example, UVA of the late 90's early 00's)

Coaching.. Neither team from last night, nor any team i've seen in Norfolk or Va Beach can stop a real spread offense. Period. I think Bethel will have a great chance once their coach gets his system installed and picks up on the tendencies of Dee and Smith. He's gonna need some bigger linemen though ;)

Who runs a wing T anymore? Come on.. Woodside and Denbigh will never get any respect outside of the state with that nonsense. :focus:

Players aren't teams, and this area has a heck of a lot of PLAYERS, but few of the TEAMS would do much outside of the state.. Why change when what you've been doing for years works? *cough* Michigan *cough* They're built to handle Big Ten opponents with the typical smashmouth offense and big slow defense that stops it.. But *bam* App. State and a spread with quick kids in the positions that matter.. *BAM* Oregon comes in with the same philosophy but WAY better players.. Need I say more? SIZE...?...you mean the school..? right...? Size..? meaning 6A, 7A, 8,9,10,11, A's...? when you say size to high school football players and coaches here in the Hampton Roads area...we will say to you.." Let's Line It Up "....anyway...there are teams around here who don't mind " CONTACT "..win or lose...Let's still play the game...We go out there and lose to your big 10,000 student body schools in the middle of East Saint Oklabuffalodaho...then come back to lil ole Virginia and smack everybody up around here...Yeah high school football in Virgina is not a big business corporation like in Texas...we don't play all year long like they do in California, and Florida...and still going to hit you back...we don't care about how tall the players are on a team who's school has 15,000 students...7 football teams, from the 6 grade team, 7, grade team, 8th grade team, 9th grade team, the JV team, the Varsity team, then the Senior Varsity team...where the players have one position that's 4 deep at every position with the NFL style coaching staff using sign language to signal in plays..with a million dollar sports Plex facilities...we don't care... we still want to line it up with you...don't make the VHSL an excuse to spend the money to come from BIG MOUNTAIN TIMBERWOOD LAKES, Alabraskansas... home of the mighty FIRE FIGHTING DRAGONS and play Phoebus at Darling stadium...or Salem...or Lake Taylor...who cares about how our schools would do outside the state since they are so rich and big...bring it here...bring it here...we play football too...

[phantom_aggie]

From watching the Hampton Phoebus game last night and having been in Texas, Florida, and Ohio before... Neither team would "hold their own" because of one factor.. Offensive and Defensive lines. Kids were way too small. The good sized kids were on the sideline on Hampton's side, and Phoebus just didn't have much size beyond 62 and 51. Tall doesn't equal good (75 and 71). Hampton's line was VERY small compared to the typical Texas team.. Ohio too.. Florida.. about average in some areas, others, HUGE kids! Virginia kids are skill players anywhere else in the country, look at who goes where. I can only think of one guy (searches google, nfl.com, and ncaa rosters) that was a lineman that is still relevant, and did something in college. That person is Elton Brown (playing for the Cardinals now after leaving UVA). No other linemen.. Just skill players.. Percy Harvin, Tyrod Taylor, Xavier Adibi, Vince Hall (from this area? don't know) the rest of the VA Tech team :lol: (minus Chris Ellis, that guy does NOTHING.. I don't understand why he is so highly regarded)

Good skill players can't do much when they're dodging tackles in the backfield or trying to tackle a RB with two 300 lb lead blockers... (Va Tech vs. LSU for example, UVA of the late 90's early 00's)

Coaching.. Neither team from last night, nor any team i've seen in Norfolk or Va Beach can stop a real spread offense. Period. I think Bethel will have a great chance once their coach gets his system installed and picks up on the tendencies of Dee and Smith. He's gonna need some bigger linemen though ;)

Who runs a wing T anymore? Come on.. Woodside and Denbigh will never get any respect outside of the state with that nonsense. :focus:

Players aren't teams, and this area has a heck of a lot of PLAYERS, but few of the TEAMS would do much outside of the state.. Why change when what you've been doing for years works? *cough* Michigan *cough* They're built to handle Big Ten opponents with the typical smashmouth offense and big slow defense that stops it.. But *bam* App. State and a spread with quick kids in the positions that matter.. *BAM* Oregon comes in with the same philosophy but WAY better players.. Need I say more?


Did you even play football? A spread offense is only good IF and only if the QB is quick and is accurate. Else, the offense is trash. That is why it isn't ran in the NFL on a consistent basis. And, to say that Phoebus' defense or this teams here have "great skill players" and yet can't play against a Spread offense is completely contradicts what it takes to beat a spread offense, because a quick defense would completely neutralize a spread offense. In fact, teams that run a spread offense typically get smashed if the other team has a quick defense and a power running game (Auburn/Fla, LSU/Fla). Typically, a spread offense has problems in the red zone, because they lack a power running game.

In addition, it is funny that you slight Hampton U program, when the school you go to (NSU) hasn't beaten HU since the CIAA. When your college can actually give HU a game, then you should mention them like that in your posts.

Finally, this is the third post that you have put up here attacking Hampton Roads football. Where are you from? What type of football do they play where you are from? I currently live in an inferior HS football area (MD) and I don't go around on the board here and talk about their lack of athletes and size up here. YOU have only seen one game, and can come out and talk so badly about players. further, exactly how many players from your area are playing in the NFL now, or have EVER played in the NFL?

[Spartan8508]

Did you even play football? A spread offense is only good IF and only if the QB is quick and is accurate. Else, the offense is trash. That is why it isn't ran in the NFL on a consistent basis. And, to say that Phoebus' defense or this teams here have "great skill players" and yet can't play against a Spread offense is completely contradicts what it takes to beat a spread offense, because a quick defense would completely neutralize a spread offense. In fact, teams that run a spread offense typically get smashed if the other team has a quick defense and a power running game (Auburn/Fla, LSU/Fla). Typically, a spread offense has problems in the red zone, because they lack a power running game.

In addition, it is funny that you slight Hampton U program, when the school you go to (NSU) hasn't beaten HU since the CIAA. When your college can actually give HU a game, then you should mention them like that in your posts.

Finally, this is the third post that you have put up here attacking Hampton Roads football. Where are you from? What type of football do they play where you are from? I currently live in an inferior HS football area (MD) and I don't go around on the board here and talk about their lack of athletes and size up here. YOU have only seen one game, and can come out and talk so badly about players. further, exactly how many players from your area are playing in the NFL now, or have EVER played in the NFL?

I'll answer these as quick as I can..

1. I never mention NSU in any post i've put up here.. I'm not a fan of NSU football, I attend the school. I don't give them much merit at all, just a bit more than HU b/c they aren't scared to put a real football team on their schedule (Rutgers, who demolished them) which has nothing to do with their intra-conference wins, etc.. BUT, since u tried to take a shot.. NSU beat HU today. They are also undefeated in the MEAC (which isn't much of an accomplishment, but its NSU.. The first time ever maybe?).

2. You are right about a Spread offense. I didn't say ANY spread offense would beat Phoebus.. But I did say one run correctly would. So your explanation of the philosophy of controlling/stopping a spread offense, while true, was never put into question.. Also, who said anything about a Spread in the NFL? I thought we were talking about high school / college? It works very well in college and high school alike when run correctly with the right athletes. Also, as I stated in a previous post, if Bill Dee ever combined these two playing styles (clock management/power run game & Spread O) He would have no trouble at all taking the state over..

3. I've seen a little under a season's worth of games.. I've seen about 8 Peninsula district games so far dating back to last season and some games from the Southside.. I had never watched the Hampton PHS rivalry before, so I decded to go. You're doing a lot of assuming.. I said Shawn Alston wasn't a good RB.. I said there weren't many prototypical linemen, which you can look and see. I never said VA football *****, or anything of the like, there is LOTS of talent here, and has been, as pointed out by other forum members and through research and personal knowledge. There are lots of GREAT skill players.. Just not linemen, which was my point. I made an observation, and because you don't agree I can't have my opinion or it matters where i'm from? Virginia football isn't the best in the country, due to whatever reasons, funding, it not being as big as other places, etc.. However it is ONE of the BEST places for football in the country.. I just don't have a biased opinion because i'm from somewhere, or letting it cloud my judgement.. That isn't a personal shot at you, just my response to what I assume you think I feel.. Miss me with that please.. ;)

[Spartan8508]

SIZE...?...you mean the school..? right...? Size..? meaning 6A, 7A, 8,9,10,11, A's...? when you say size to high school football players and coaches here in the Hampton Roads area...we will say to you.." Let's Line It Up "....anyway...there are teams around here who don't mind " CONTACT "..win or lose...Let's still play the game...We go out there and lose to your big 10,000 student body schools in the middle of East Saint Oklabuffalodaho...then come back to lil ole Virginia and smack everybody up around here...Yeah high school football in Virgina is not a big business corporation like in Texas...we don't play all year long like they do in California, and Florida...and still going to hit you back...we don't care about how tall the players are on a team who's school has 15,000 students...7 football teams, from the 6 grade team, 7, grade team, 8th grade team, 9th grade team, the JV team, the Varsity team, then the Senior Varsity team...where the players have one position that's 4 deep at every position with the NFL style coaching staff using sign language to signal in plays..with a million dollar sports Plex facilities...we don't care... we still want to line it up with you...don't make the VHSL an excuse to spend the money to come from BIG MOUNTAIN TIMBERWOOD LAKES, Alabraskansas... home of the mighty FIRE FIGHTING DRAGONS and play Phoebus at Darling stadium...or Salem...or Lake Taylor...who cares about how our schools would do outside the state since they are so rich and big...bring it here...bring it here...we play football too...

The whole thread is about Virginia football getting the national respect it deserves.. So I respect what you said.. The sign of a great team is not being scared.. I don't question these teams hearts, or will to win.. Never did.. Both teams played a great game friday night. BUT.. Again... the thread's topic is if VA schools get the respect they should nationally.. So the OP asked.. and that has to do with how VA schools would do outside of the state..