These are showcases to highlight the best....correct. The thing about these type non-affiliated games where you are completely wrong...it is solely about public opinion. If the public grows tired of the participation trophy approach and they lose interest...it goes the way of the buffalo. No support, no money, no showcase. We should highlight the best because sadly, the dollar drives the bottom line on what is supported and what is not. That's just fact.dacoach wrote: ↑Tue Oct 11, 2022 11:54 amWhile I can agree with some of the aspects of "best players should be chosen", I don't think some of you fully understand the process of selecting players for the two "All Star" games in our state.
First, players are nominated to the Shrine Bowl and/or North-South selection committees in order to be considered. You would be dumbfounded to know who many times "legendary" coaches in our state failed to nominate a player because they were too arrogant to do so, or in many cases, simply forgot. In MOST of these cases, the head coaches of the All-Star teams reach out to the coaches of the more "popular" places and ask directly about a kid or nomination and the problem gets resolved.
Second, NEVER will a team be able to put "every deserving player" on their roster. We have a LOT of talent in our small state, and these players deserve the recognition - regardless of what school or classification they come from.
Third, there is IN FACT, a two player limit on schools in order to spread the experience across more schools and more players. Perhaps some of you don't know that the North-South Game REQUIRES the coaches to select at least one player from EVERY conference in EVERY classification. It's not an option, they MUST do it. Again, this was decided YEARS ago to spread the opportunity around and broaden the pool so that you just didn't have 8 kids from one huge school and 6 kids from this big school and 6 kids from another big school. You could only have 12 or 14 schools represented out of the 100+ schools in our state.
Fourth, and this is the one that hurts the most, these All Star games aren't about you or your opinion. These coaches watch film, make judgements, then follow the protocol given to them by the All-Star organizers and pick the best team they can. Do we want our team to win? Of course! But that's genuinely not a concern of the organizers themselves (the coaches, YES, but not the organizers). This is still an amateurs' event, not a professional or collegial one.
I'm not trying to thump anyone's nose, just sharing why these selections will always be debated and argued. We all know kids we think are deserving. But just because it's our opinion, doesn't mean it is correct. Enjoy them for what they are, or, go raise enough money to put on your own game.
Fear The Fox...
