You don't realize that your comment about Dillon and Abbeville COMPLETELY proved the point that school size DOES matter.StateChampsGHS wrote:FootballFan4343 wrote:Again, you are still missing the point. While Barnell is bigger than Abbeville (in terms of enrollment), Abbeville certainly is not near the smallest 2A school. You are correct, they are smack in the middle of the classification. Everyone keeps using the fact that Abbeville, Dillon, (insert team name here), has beaten bigger teams. That is extremely true. It can happen. However, to do it game in and game out and in the playoffs is a different story. While Abbeville would surely win their fair share of games at 3A, they would not consistently compete for the State Championship (the way they do now in 2A). The same can be said for Dillon in 4A and South Pointe in 5A. Those teams would have their "years", but they wouldn't be the world beater they are now in their current classification.StateChampsGHS wrote:On this Friday, we will see what Abbeville does against Barnwell. Barnwell is the biggest 2A school. They are underfeated in 2A. Abbeville is alittle bit under the halfway mark in the 2A classification. I bet Abbeville kills Barnwell Friday.
In the last 10 years, Abbeville beat the following teams Lincoln County, Newberry, Woodruff, Hartsville, Chesnee, Strom Thurmond, Greenville, Emerald, Fairfield Central, Clinton, Chester, Crescent and Hart County, GA. All these schools listed has a larger enrollment than Abbeville.
So, if what you are saying is true about school size truly not mattering. Are you saying that Lamar (who has DOMINATED 1A for the the last decade) could win the same way at the 5A level? Anything short of a YES to my answer is admitting that school size DOES matter.
While that is an extreme example, if you truly believe that school size doesn't matter at all and that it is all about coaching and the athletes, (and to use an example from someone who said all you need is 23 players and a great head coach)...then that team should win at any level.
I will say this AGAIN. The teams at the BOTTOM of each classification do not consistently compete for State Championships in that classification. It just doesn't happen. Abbeville, by virtue of being in the MIDDLE of its classification does not fit that mold. Greenwood is an example of a team at the BOTTOM of a classification who is has not competed for State Titles, when they weren't one of the larger schools in their classification. You all say that it is due to coaching, which may be the case, BUT you can't ignore the facts that Greenwood's State Championships all came at the 4A-D2 level where they were one of the 2-3 biggest schools, every year, playing in the D-2 playoffs. Once they moved up to 5A, they have not competed anywhere near the State Championship level (I am sure coaching plays a role into that), but the FACTS show that they aren't competing when they are one of the smallest 5A schools.
Dillon could compete on the 5A level and so could Abbeville. It will never happen but they both could. Winning state titles on a consist basis.....No, both teams could not do that but they would challenge anyone on that level win or lose.
Heck, most teams in 5A can't win a state title on the 5A level.
I remember when Byrnes was in 4A Divison 2 and killed most of the teams in 4A Division 1 when Bobby Bentley was coaching.
I think everyone can agree that Dillon and Abbeville have the coaching, athletes, and tradition necessary to win state championships. So, I ask, why do you think they wouldn't dominate at the 5A level like they currently do at the 2A and 3A level? You might say 5A coaches are better? I am not sure you can name more than a couple of 4A or 5A coaches that are better than Jamie Nichols and Jackie Hayes. So, why don't you think they can win the same state championships at the 5A level? I will tell you why, because SCHOOL SIZE MATTERS. Maybe it doesn't matter the most, but IT DOES MATTER. If it didn't matter, then Lamar would, in theory, be able to dominate 5A, just like they dominate 1A.
