I will never understand how people - some of them full grown men - can disrespect kids, coaches, and programs, usually because some kid or kids transferred into a school. More power to them! For heavens sakes this is the USA and parents and kids are allowed to move, open enroll, or make whatever decisions they think are best for them.
Then we have these mental midgets who take a kid who transferred 10 years ago and put it in some kind of nefarious context and seem to imply this is something that characterizes a program. It is as dumb as a sack of rocks.
I'm always going to assume a school like Richmond Hts has followed all the rules (until shown otherwise), and I know they are merely playing in the division the OHSAA put them in. So, why would I resent those kids, coach, or program?
But there's nothing wrong with noticing today that one of the teams was not like the other. That's a competitive balance issue and shows the failure of the system in place. But you can't hold it against a school for playing who and where they were told to play.
I remember watching Hiland's runts play Convoy Crestview a few years back in a state semi. It took about 2 min into the game to realize CC was was too big and too good. Good for them! I got to see a great team play!
After watching various teams have their season journey over the years, I realize that getting to state is the achievement. Winning one or two games is the icing on the cake. You can win it all by just being the biggest and most talented team, but usually it involves some luck, serendipity, and some unexpected things going your way. So, coaches that graduate players and don't get highly talented transfers often or ever, but still make it down there frequently, those guys are great coaches.
And the Hiland haters need to know that Mark Schlabach is one of them. Does things the right way, great teacher, works his butt off, cares about every kid, and has been there 3 of the last 4 years. Why someone would resent him for that is beyond me, but it is depraved.
