NCS postseason bubble gets bigger
by PrepSports
Posted by Staff Writer Eric Branch:
Two weeks ago, the North Coast Section’s Board of Managers approved an amendment allowing for expansion of its playoff brackets in all sports.
In football, the change will have an impact on the Division I and Division II brackets, which will both expand from 12 to 16 teams. Division IV could expand from eight to as many as 16 teams.
Division II is comprised of 31 schools, including Cardinal Newman, Casa Grande, Maria Carrillo, Montgomery, Petaluma, Piner, Rancho Cotate, Ukiah and Windsor.
Maria Carrillo (4-4), Rancho Cotate (4-4) and Cardinal Newman (4-4), teams that could be on the postseason bubble, could benefit from the expansion. In order to be eligible for postseason consideration in football, teams must meet at least one of the following qualifications: 1. Have at least a .500 overall record. 2. Have at least a .500 league record. 3. Have at least a .500 record in their division. In other words, Maria Carrillo, Rancho Cotate and Cardinal Newman will be eligible for the postseason with one win in its last two games.
The Division III bracket, which includes five of the Empire’s other six large-school teams, will remain a 16-team bracket. The Division V bracket will include, at most, eight teams. Santa Rosa is the only Empire school in Division I.
Eric I was checking over the recent NCS meeting and I believe they said the only division that won’t ‘need’ to be expanded was Div. V. They continued by saying Div. IV could also expand to 16 teams from its currect 8-team bracket. Great news for McKinleyville and Berean Christian who would have otherwise missed out.
by Ben
Hey, Ben:
Division IV only has 17 schools, so I don’t think they could make a 16-team bracket. I believe NCS guru Gil Lemmon said they would stick with an 8-team bracket, but I will double-check with him tomorrow.
Thanks,
Eric
by PrepSports
Eric This was posted to the NCS website today:
November 3, 2009
To: Division IV Football Coaches
From: Karen Smith, Associate Commissioner
Re: Division IV Football Bracket size
After reviewing the championship dates posted on the NCS three-year
championship calendar for Division IV Football we have realized that the only
Division that does not have the ability to expand, in Football, is Division V.
Therefore, the Division IV Football bracket can expand up to 16 teams, if there
are qualified teams that apply by the deadline. Schools must submit
Automatic/At-Large Applications online by November 14, no later than 10:00 pm.
Remember in order to apply your team must meet the following criteria;
Minimum Qualifying Record
To be accepted as a participant in the NCS/Les Schwab Tires Football Championships, a team
shall have compiled an overall record of at least an equal number of wins and losses; or an
overall record of at least an equal number of wins and losses against teams in its own division; or
at least an equal number of wins and losses in its own league. (Board of Managers 5/1/06)
Exception: league champions shall gain automatic entry.
a. “Teams in its own division” is defined as any team (note exception b and
c below) whose grades 9-12 enrollment fall within the school’s NCS
Football Division or has petitioned to a higher division.
b. Games against teams outside of the United States will not be counted in
determining the “winning record within a division”.
c. When a team’s petition is approved to play in a division of greater
enrollment, that division for which the team is approved shall be its
division for the respective year.
Under these guidelines there are currently 14 teams eligible for playoffs in division IV (If all applied the #1 & #2 seeds would get a bye) DIV always has the highest percentage of private schools so this change will allow more small public schools to get there shot at the post season. DIII has only 3 private schools out of 31 and often doesn’t have 16 playoff eligible teams. DIV has 7 of 17 private schools plus powerhouse Ferndale and almost always has public school teams that have good records who are bounced for the St. Pats/St. Vincents, Salesians, St. Mary’s and Justin Sienna’s who have the great reputations. Finally some fairness for DIV public schools.
Thanks NCS
by DIV Fairness Finally!
OK, got it. Obviously I didn’t see that today and was using some old information. Thanks for the heads-up DIV Fairness, and Ben.
– Eric
by PrepSports
I read something that said that this wouldn’t effect football until next year…….is that right????? I don’t see how they can change the rules with 2 games remaining this year.
by John
John..they changed it in soccer with a shorter notice. They can do anything if it incolves $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
by Joe
Eric, you say, and accurately so, the expanded field will generate more revenue. But who actually benefits financially, the schools or the NCS?
by Gordon
Gordon:
I spoke with Gil Lemmon at the NCS about the revenue issue. He said the revenue from NCS postseason games goes to the NCS, which is owned and operated by its member schools. The schools ultimately decide how the money is used, a process which occurs through the NCS governance process. As a side note, the NCS recently returned 50 percent of member dues, which amounts to about $75,000. Schools pay different amounts in dues based on their size. Hope this clears some things up.
– Eric
by PrepSports
Hey, Ben:
I checked back with Gil Lemmon today. On Tuesday, he had said the Division IV bracket could only have eight teams because he wasn’t aware there were additional dates on the “championship calendar” to play games in that division. As a result, any Division IV team that meets one of the qualifying criteria will advance to the playoffs. (Actually all 17 teams in that division couldn’t qualify bc they will have a max of a 16-team bracket, but you get the idea). In Division V, a maximum of eight teams will reach the postseason because that division holds its championship game a week earlier than the other four divisions. Hope that makes sense.
– Eric
by PrepSports