From the
Upper Deck
Ratings Good
For Coffee Talk
By Jim Steele
steele@mckenziebanner.com |
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A bit bemused, I looked with a curious smirk at a
website known as "calpreps.com."
On that site, it listed Christian Brothers High
School as the top team in Tennessee. Of course CBHS is a
3A private school, so we don't hear much about them.
Brentwood Academy is No. 2.
But interestingly enough, McKenzie was ranked 7th
overall in the state last week, 12th this week. This
California based website uses action ratings, strength
of schedule, Miss Cleo's big toe when the weather turns
bad among its criteria.
Last week, McKenzie was 167 in the nation, well ahead
of Cincinnati-Moeller. This week, the Rebels were 212th,
still well ahead of Moeller and other larger or
seemingly more powerful Tennessee schools.
In last week's AP high school rankings, Huntingdon
was listed as the No. 2 Class 2A team in the state.
Ah, American sports fans. We are so affluent, thank
God, that we have, as important national dialogue,
ratings of sports teams. In 1984,the late Howard Cosell,
one of my heroes, believe it or not, suggested that
sports have become so important that it ought to be on
the front page, not just the sports page.
Ratings are great for water cooler talk or chatter at
the coffee shop. But they don't invite high school teams
to Murfreesboro based on ratings. I've covered dozens of
teams that were ranked in the top five in the state.
Only two won state titles. None of the top-ranked teams
I covered ever won a state championship.
Back when I used to talk to coaches, principals and even
school "supes" about the rankings, they all agreed that
it was good recognition for the kids, the school and the
community. But they all acknowledged that it meant
little else.
We have a good rating plan in Tennessee. It's called
the playoffs; the farther you go, the higher you'll be
ranked.
Last week, I was 21-6 for the week which brings me to
95-116 for the year. That's 81.9 percent. Call me jelly,
because I'm on a roll, folks. Here's this week's fare:
McKenzie over Riverside: The Rebels look to avenge
last year's 7-6 loss.
Huntingdon over Camden: Camden is better, but the
Mustangs should prevail, even if they aren't at full
strength.
West Carroll over Hollow Rock-Bruceton: This is a
game the War Eagles have been savoring. If they can keep
their head and play well, they can take a step closer to
a regional title.
Gleason over Lake Co.: This is a great chance for
Gleason to gather some momentum against a team that has
rebounded to win a couple of games.
Bethel over Bellhaven: I'm sticking to my guns on
this one. The Wildcats are due.
Tennessee over Auburn: This goes against my better
judgment, but the Vols have surprised me thus far; let's
hope that trend doesn't change.
Elsewhere, I see:
JCS over Fayette Academy, USJ over Trinity, Perry Co.
over Middleton, South Fulton over Greenfield, Halls over
Stewart Co., Chester Co. over Adamsville, Dresden over
Martin-Westview, Humboldt over Union City, Milan over
Trenton, South Side over Fayette-Ware, Lexington over
Liberty Magnet, Crockett Co. over McNairy, Obion over
Gibson Co., Ripley over Covington, Brighton over Dyer
Co., Dyersburg over Munford, Hardin Co. over North Side,
JCM over Haywood. Co. |
