[VHSL-helper]

"Running the score up shows lack of sportsmanship."
Totally disagree, because no one can agree when it actually happens.
A 56-0 game? What if the starters led 35-0 at h/t, then the scrubs scored once on O & once on D, and once on special teams? Nope.

Ppl. should realize that the starters are going to play AT LEAST one half, and probably a series or 2 in the 3rd, no matter what the score is. They've busted their butts and deserve the playing time. If the starters play under 3 quarters, running it up can't be called, no matter WHAT the final score is.

If a coach doesn't want to get beat 100-0, he doesn't schedule the other team. Matewan and AAA Woodrow Wilson of Beckley both need a 10th game and have a common open date. Think they'll play?

Doesn't matter which coach pulls his starters first. But if the losing D gets pulled, I wouldn't pull the O immediately... wait a few plays. He may want to see how his 2nd team looks against starters.

[BlackcatAlum]

"Running the score up shows lack of sportsmanship."
Totally disagree, because no one can agree when it actually happens.
A 56-0 game? What if the starters led 35-0 at h/t, then the scrubs scored once on O & once on D, and once on special teams? Nope.

Ppl. should realize that the starters are going to play AT LEAST one half, and probably a series or 2 in the 3rd, no matter what the score is. They've busted their butts and deserve the playing time. If the starters play under 3 quarters, running it up can't be called, no matter WHAT the final score is.

If a coach doesn't want to get beat 100-0, he doesn't schedule the other team. Matewan and AAA Woodrow Wilson of Beckley both need a 10th game and have a common open date. Think they'll play?

Doesn't matter which coach pulls his starters first. But if the losing D gets pulled, I wouldn't pull the O immediately... wait a few plays. He may want to see how his 2nd team looks against starters.

Good post... No matter what the score is, I don't think it's unsportsmanlike keeping your starters in until the 4th quarter. From their, take your starters out, or if the losing team's coach decides to put in his JV/second string then pull out your first string. But keeping your first string in during the 4th quarter or late in the 4th quarter when your up by 30+ points is unsportsmanlike.

[More Cowbell]

I guess the question really is, what constitutes "running up the score" for purposes of this discussion? If you mean trying to score a touchdown in the last couple minutes of a game that is well in hand, when that team could simply run the clock out by taking a few knees, then that's pretty low.

Beyond that, I don't have much of a problem with the winning team trying to run their offense. I don't care if they're up 40 in the fourth quarter, if they feel that keeping their starters in to run some offense is the best way to prepare them for the rest of the season, so be it. It's the other team's job on defense to try to stop them. That's football, and if the losing team can't handle it, maybe they should pack it in.

Now personally, I think it's kinda stupid to keep the first string in late in a game that is well in hand, but not because of some notion of "sportsmanship". One, you run the risk of an injury to a starter, which could negatively impact the rest of the season. Two, the second and third string guys need game experience too, and being in practice just can't match what they get by being in an actual game environment.

Mind you, my opinion changes as you get into lower grades. Middle school, little league, and so on, I think you're teaching kids how to play the game the right way, rather than win at all costs. To me, for a coach, that involves trying your best not to embarrass the other team. But in high school, you're talking about starters who are mostly 16, 17, 18 year olds who are either already men, or will be soon. They should be able to handle the outcome of a game, which like life as an adult, is not always fair.

[AHS86]

I think everyone has been in one of these games probably giving one to someone who you as a coach felt earned it, or receiving one that more than likely felt you didn't deserve. Point is most everyone can tell when the game is in the bag so why not let the kids who don't get much playing time get some experience I think that will help later on down the road by having more players with real gametime experience.

[Old_Trojan]

Keeping your starting offense in late in a game that's out of control and/or throwing the ball with a big lead late in a game.

IMO, if you have the JV in and the opposing defense cannot stop them then that isn't running-up the score.

I agree with this 100% if you are playing your 2nd or 3rd string players, and running your base plays, then its not at all running up the score. IMO.

[BlackcatAlum]

Listen, I don't have a problem with the way Breathitt County won last Saturday night @ Mercer. If I where the coach I would have done things different. This thread was created to get everyone's opinion, not just single out one particular team, coach, player, etc.

Looking forward to the Honey Bowl! :redboxer:

[king360]

Well I think it is ok to run your offense and if the defense can't stop you OR your second team..then it's no ones fault but there own..but I don't think it's right to throw deep passes in situations when you know you are going to win

[Poseidon]

Listen, I don't have a problem with the way Breathitt County won last Saturday night @ Mercer. If I where the coach I would have done things different. This thread was created to get everyone's opinion, not just single out one particular team, coach, player, etc.

Looking forward to the Honey Bowl! :redboxer:

Did you go to the game? If not you can not give a valid assessment of what happened because you did not see the game play out. As far as you looking forward to the Honey Bowl, so are the Bobcats! With all due respect it was kinda obvious this thread was a spin-off of the Breathitt\Mercer threat from the first sentence. Nothing personal BCA, just saying that to judge Breathitt's actions you need the whole story and had to have been there, not just what you see on this board.

[BlackcatAlum]

Did you go to the game? If not you can not give a valid assessment of what happened because you did not see the game play out. As far as you looking forward to the Honey Bowl, so are the Bobcats! With all due respect it was kinda obvious this thread was a spin-off of the Breathitt\Mercer threat from the first sentence. Nothing personal BCA, just saying that to judge Breathitt's actions you need the whole story and had to have been there, not just what you see on this board.

Your right, I wasn't there. But I did listen from halftime on and it was apparent that Breathitt kept their starters in through majority of the 4th quarter and was still throwing the ball. People can say what they want, but I'm sure that everyone (except Breathitt fans) will admit that they ran the score up whether they where there or not. Also, unless your a player or coach then you don't know why Breathitt kept their starters in so long, so to be fair, a lot of fans made the assessment that Breathitt had things to work on, same thing as me saying the ran the score up.

Now I continue to be told to move on, but the Breathitt fans are the ones who continue to bring it up.