80% of the teams make the playoffs. How about the 11 man teams, with there enrollments shrinking the percentage of teams making the playoffs is in the 40s. Is that fair.

Speaking of Class D schools, has the MHSAA ever considered a "sub-D" or other class designation for the very small (mostly private) member schools with a high school population of under 100 students or another number significantly less than the current threshhold of 250 and below?

When these small member schools meet up with other much larger Class D public schools in their District in state tournaments, outcomes are typically very one-sided. The small schools do show great character by not forfeiting and giving their student athletes brief exposure to higher levels of competition.

Not a fan of this. "Eight-player football" is a contradiction in terms because "football" is a sport played with eleven players. Schools should either form cooperative programs to get enough students to field an 11-player team, or they should focus their energies on some other sport for their athletics program.

I like the idea. I have seen too many small schools try to field an 11 player team, using everyone in the high school, including freshmen. I think it is a rare freshman who is ready to compete in football with seniors...

As a contradiction to Adam. 8 man football has been played since the inception of football, in fact back when football was first played 8 players on a team was common... it was expanded to 11 players early on. Out west and down south 8 man football has been played for 20 plus years. I am an 8 man coach and have coached 11 man for 7 years as well. The field is narrower so the game is very close to the same with just a few minor differences. 8 man is the only way for a small school to maintain its own identity and field a competitive football team. I have been involved with this program since the beginning and I garauntee that it will be a fixture with twice as many teams within the next 5 years. The some other sport you want us to focus on is your own negative bias, be happy that a small school can maintain its individual identity. Big schools lose kids to bad things because many don't have a chance to participate. I love small schools and their personal touch. This is a way to keep those small schools relevant and involved.

I think the small schools playing 8-man is Great. It has grown in years and you get more participation from these smaller schools. I think they need their own designation, instead of class 'D'.

Well as an assistant to one of the 8 man teams that played last year let me tell you this, if you cannot field a regular 11-man team 8 man is the way to go, cause if you cant get a regular team you end up have to cut a jv team or so, or if you already have done that you end up getting kids that havent played before, and so you risk multiple injuries and a real lack of confidence coming from younger players, and so if the chance that a jv team emerges again they wont play. i do say however there should be a cap on a certain number for enrollment that will make you eligible or ineligible, to compete in 8 player football

Bruce, there is a cap on the maximum number of students enrolled. It is the upper limit of Class D (216 students this year, IIRC).

I think the 8 man is a great addition to the sport. My daughter goes to a small school who hasn't been able to field a JV football team in many years. Without the JV program, many of the younger players don't get to play their freshman year. This can hurt a program. There may not be another school in the area to co-op with, so 8 man will keep programs going. Thank you!

It isn't the fact that we like it or not, it comes down to doing what we can with what we got. Our funding in schools is rapidly reduced and more and more schools are cutting funding to this particular line item (athletics).

If you don't like 8 person football, don't watch it. If you can come up with a better solution, give it.

Until then schools will do what they can for the STUDENTS not your entertainment value.

I think 8 man FB is a great idea. I have coached 11 man FB for 24 years and smaller schools struggle. Eight man is one solution to the problem. I have a few more ideas (off beat perhaps) you may want to consider.

1) Create divisions AFTER you factor in poverty's effect on a community. Take enrollment and multiply by Free and Reduced Lunch count (FRR). Anyone who has coached long enough can name the kids who can't play because they work, babysit, or mom/dad can't afford the transportation/fees etc. Not to mention kids who have NO health insurance.

2) Create divisions based on total team membership. Have a U33 Division and an 34Plus Division. I have coached good athletes who just can't get off the field against teams of 45-55 players, we fade in the 2nd half and the wheels come off due to fatigue.

3) MHSAA must lobby the legislature to stop slashing school funding. I love athletics, but if school dollars continue to be cut, how can I defend athletic expenditures over staff reductions, larger classes and new text books?

We are in a dangerous time where MHSAA may not survive. The only sport you must have a school for is football. All other sports have AAU/Junior Pro or another organization to run them. AND they have no rules on academics or attendance! And they are starting 7-7 Football leagues outside MHSAA. How long before that becomes 11v11? For those who can afford it of course.