Premature Coronation

Before I say anything, let me preface it with this; anything can happen in a football game. All it takes is a fortuitous bounce of the ball, a single mental error, or a bit too much funnelcake in the pre-game meal, and any team will have a shot against any opponent. To write any team off before the second game of the season does nothing but provide locker room motivation and make you look like a moron when you're proven incorrect.

To MLS, Merrill, Valley Lutheran, Carrollton, St. Louis, Breckenridge, Goodrich, Durand, Mt. Morris, and Lakeville; I have a challenge. Prove me wrong. Beat the favorites. Make me look like a moron. Please.

Now on to the meat of my post.

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Last season, both the Genesee Area Red and Tri-Valley West conferences were decided, with eager anticipation, in week 7. Lake Fenton closed the book on Mt. Morris in the last conference game of the year. Ithaca and St. Charles fought it out in a classic slugfest that left fans salivating at the possibility of a play-off rematch. Both games provided an exciting climax to the conference race.

This season, though, looks like the two leagues might reach their climax, well, a little prematurely.

Week 2 features two match-ups - Lake Fenton @ Montrose and Ithaca @ St. Charles - that will most likely decide who leaves the season with a conference championship. While these will no doubt be exciting gridiron battles, a part of me wishes that the conference race wouldn't be over as soon as it started. I can't help but understand how my girlfriend must feel.

School hasn't even started by week 2; conference championships should be accompanied with pep rallies, a packed-full student section, and a week off of schoolwork for the star players! Small town high school football is all about community support, which usually doesn't kick into high gear until the players are wearing their jerseys to school. Quite frankly, it just won't be as exciting playing in one of the biggest games of the year if you could still go swimming outside in the UP.

That is managable, though; after all, the game in its purest form is about the players and coaches. You could argue that things like community support and weather are not important. I would diagree, but you could argue it.

The worst part about the situation, though, is that neither team will be at its peak. Anybody who watched a game last Friday understands what I mean. Week 2 is too early to expect squads to have melded perfectly. Players are still unsure of their niche on the team, the offense is still adding plays, and nobody has quite yet found that late-season crispness that defines play-off season. Now, you could argue that its the team's responsibility to prepare for every game, not just the late ones - I would agree with you. No team, though, is going to be better in week 2 than week 8; let's see both teams at their peak if possible.

I'm no idiot. I understand that no athletic director can schedule a game a year in advance like, "Hey, we'll definitely be the two best teams in the league. Let's play the little guys to start and save each other for last." That's rediculous, it's insulting to the other teams, it's a bit presumptive. However, it's just more enjoyable, more exciting, more satisfying to endure a long season before crowning a champ.