I agree with most of your points here. The one area I disagree with is that Milton team Oakwood saw early is not the same group having now played eight varsity games. With the small team and inexperience, the result of the early game with Oakwood is about exactly what I expected. So I agree it was not a collapse as much as playing out the way most expected it would.
I understand where you are coming from, but I think you assume Oakwood has an experienced team.
Just one example this season is our receivers: freshmen, freshmen, sophomore and junior. Only the junior has had some experience playing varsity. He spot started some games as a receiver last year with about 8 catches.
I hate bringing it up because it sounds like an excuse and you see it all the time being posted on here, but it is what it is.
I think, and I could be wrong, that most programs really struggle from year to year with numbers. It seams like 40-45 kids +/- is where a lot of teams sit at this level. I don’t see those #’s changing for most programs any time soon. The only schools that have big numbers even if they are smaller schools are the successful ones. Like a VV.
I have felt this for awhile, the numbers excuse and the inexperience excuse can be used for most programs. Believe me it applies to Oakwood every year and doesn’t matter and I don’t like using it because I think most teams we play have similar issues.
I think the only time a school like Oakwood will have any success is if they have a class or back to back classes that are talented and have numbers. Oakwood has 8 seniors and 1 is the kicker. It is what it is.
If the original post said something like….Milton Union is a solid team that has been improving all year, could they win the league?? I would have not responded. Once the comparison between the leagues was made and the shot at Oakwood was made, I responded with want I thought.
Even for argument sake someone wanted to say MU is better than Oakwood, I don’t think MU would have any more success in the SWBL than Oakwood has this year. I have seen all of the top 4 teams on the Buckeye side and MU play. I don’t think MU could beat any of those teams and the fact is MU couldn’t beat the 5th place team on the Buckeye side.
I just think the SWBL is a little up and the TRC is a little down. I’m sure next year will be different. Just my opinion.