HHF/GID Interview Series : Former IHSAA Commissioner Bobby Cox

[Guest DT]

The former commissioner remains involved with the IHSAA on a consulting basis, and Commissioner Cox gives us his inside thoughts on the Success Factor, the tournament, Class structure and other issues impacting the great game of high school football.  

Give it a read and share with your friends.

You can also fine this interview on Hoosier High School Football Facebook page.  

https://www.facebook.com/Hoosier-High-School-Football-107360041590757

InterviewBobbyCox0625.docx

[Bobref]

A great interview with lots of valuable insights. On the playoff qualification issue, however, I was disappointed that someone as well-informed as the Commissioner resorted to the “Northwood argument,” which has been thoroughly debunked every time it’s been raised in these pages.

[temptation]

12 hours ago, Bobref said:

A great interview with lots of valuable insights. On the playoff qualification issue, however, I was disappointed that someone as well-informed as the Commissioner resorted to the “Northwood argument,” which has been thoroughly debunked every time it’s been raised in these pages.

Continue please...

[Bobref]

51 minutes ago, temptation said:

Continue please...

Whenever the subject of a qualification format limiting playoff participation to the top 50% of each class is raised, someone trots out the example of Northwood, who was 3-6 in the regular season, but ended up winning the 3A title. The fact is that, under any system that takes into account strength of schedule in addition to won-loss record, Northwood would not only have been in the top 32 of that 64 team class, but was a top 15 team in 3A according to Sagarin. There is no such thing as Cinderella.

[temptation]

36 minutes ago, Bobref said:

Whenever the subject of a qualification format limiting playoff participation to the top 50% of each class is raised, someone trots out the example of Northwood, who was 3-6 in the regular season, but ended up winning the 3A title. The fact is that, under any system that takes into account strength of schedule in addition to won-loss record, Northwood would not only have been in the top 32 of that 64 team class, but was a top 15 team in 3A according to Sagarin. There is no such thing as Cinderella.

Has SAGARIN really ever been seriously considered as a potential data point by anyone in the association or is that just message board hearsay?

[BTF]

On 6/26/2021 at 10:49 AM, temptation said:

Has SAGARIN really ever been seriously considered as a potential data point by anyone in the association or is that just message board hearsay?

Good question. It's hard to put any stock in it after 4 or 5 weeks, but I like the Sagarin Ratings after the entire regular season is played. Although the SAC is hard to gage since it's an island conference. The state of Indiana is lucky to have a sophisticated rating system like this, it could certainly be utilized in a positive way by the IHSAA. 

[Bobref]

2 hours ago, BTF said:

Good question. It's hard to put any stock in it after 4 or 5 weeks, but I like the Sagarin Ratings after the entire regular season is played. Although the SAC is hard to gage since it's an island conference. The state of Indiana is lucky to have a sophisticated rating system like this, it could certainly be utilized in a positive way by the IHSAA. 

The development of a system that takes into account both W/L record and strength of schedule is not rocket science. Sagarin is one example, although it’s limitations have been well documented. The Harbin system in use in Ohio is another. There are others. That’s the least of the issues surrounding the seeding/qualification vs. all-in debate.

[BTF]

1 hour ago, Bobref said:

The development of a system that takes into account both W/L record and strength of schedule is not rocket science. Sagarin is one example, although it’s limitations have been well documented. The Harbin system in use in Ohio is another. There are others. That’s the least of the issues surrounding the seeding/qualification vs. all-in debate.

Just seed it. Who cares how they do it. I like the all-in format, but there has to be some kind of reward for having a good regular season.