[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.