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High School Football in Missouri
Posted on 2/12/13 at 10:38 pm
Posted on 2/12/13 at 10:38 pm
Was hoping someone could tell me what, if anything, the coaching staff at Mizzou does to offer assistance to high school coaches in developing their players? Just a quick glance at the Rivals article (if I'm reading it right), shows me that we have more kids playing high school football than Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi but yet we produce fewer kids playing at FBS schools.
It would seem to me it would be in Mizzou's best interests to increase the quality of high school players because that increases the number of players we have a much better chance at landing since they're in-state. Do they host coaching clinics? I would assume so.
It would seem to me it would be in Mizzou's best interests to increase the quality of high school players because that increases the number of players we have a much better chance at landing since they're in-state. Do they host coaching clinics? I would assume so.
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Posted on 2/12/13 at 10:46 pm to reedus23
Reedus, I don't know the answer to your question. I do know, however, that MSHHAA had some concerns about the SEC move because they know they will have to coach their players a little differently to get them ready for the next level. My friend the basketball coach talked to me about that. He was also hoping to see our basketball go from 4 quarters to 2 halves, like the NCAA, but that didn't happen.
Posted on 2/12/13 at 10:50 pm to semotruman
I was just surprised to see that there were at least 8 states that have fewer kids playing high school football yet those states put more kids into FBS schools. I know the staff has their hands full just coaching up the Mizzou team, but I was just trying to think of ways high school coaching/development could be improved.
Posted on 2/12/13 at 11:21 pm to reedus23
To be honest I think there is somewhat of a demographic problem to begin with. Also the issue has been that inner city KC and STL schools have not put a lot of money towards developing football teams and most of the better athletes at those schools chose to play bball instead.
Posted on 2/12/13 at 11:24 pm to reedus23
Could warmer weather be a factor?
Maybe not the deciding factor, perhaps, but I always suspected athletes from the South and West to be further along in sports like baseball due to greater practice opportunities.
Maybe not the deciding factor, perhaps, but I always suspected athletes from the South and West to be further along in sports like baseball due to greater practice opportunities.
Posted on 2/12/13 at 11:30 pm to FightTigers
Exactly. Football costs a lot more money than basketball. The inner city schools don't have much money to begin with, so they are more basketball oriented - put their resources where they can have the most success.
The other thing is the prevalence (or lack thereof) of Pop Warner leagues in Missouri. Kids in the southern states start playing football much earlier - by the time they reach high school, they've been playing for several years. That's not the case here, unfortunately. Our little kids play soccer and baseball, in Alabama they play football.
The other thing is the prevalence (or lack thereof) of Pop Warner leagues in Missouri. Kids in the southern states start playing football much earlier - by the time they reach high school, they've been playing for several years. That's not the case here, unfortunately. Our little kids play soccer and baseball, in Alabama they play football.
This post was edited on 2/12/13 at 11:32 pm
Posted on 2/12/13 at 11:36 pm to semotruman
Good pt, semo. I grew up playing soccer and baseball. It was life here in St. Louis. I'm not sure that sports portfolio is constructed quite the same down South. Football seems to be a more dominant choice.
Did anyone mention southern cookin?
Did anyone mention southern cookin?
Posted on 2/12/13 at 11:51 pm to trader_tiger83
Well, the diet probably helps grow 'em big! 
But seriously - kids are playing football in the south at age 6, 7, 8 - when our kids are playing soccer. By the time they get big, the football skill and IQ in the south is just a lot higher than in Missouri. So, our elite kids have work to do just to catch up in the high school years. We would likely have more elite kids if they started working on the sport younger and had the time to develop. I think that's the issue, even more than high school football being behind.
Look at DGB for example. Phenomenal athlete, 5*, #1 recruit in the nation. He looked like a man among boys in HS. But part of that was the level of competition. A 5* kid from Georgia or Florida plays much tougher competition, and is more ready to compete immediately at the D1 level than a 5* kid from the midwest or northeast.
ETA - I think this year we'll see DGB completely catch up to the competition and start making them look silly as well. It just takes time.
But seriously - kids are playing football in the south at age 6, 7, 8 - when our kids are playing soccer. By the time they get big, the football skill and IQ in the south is just a lot higher than in Missouri. So, our elite kids have work to do just to catch up in the high school years. We would likely have more elite kids if they started working on the sport younger and had the time to develop. I think that's the issue, even more than high school football being behind.
Look at DGB for example. Phenomenal athlete, 5*, #1 recruit in the nation. He looked like a man among boys in HS. But part of that was the level of competition. A 5* kid from Georgia or Florida plays much tougher competition, and is more ready to compete immediately at the D1 level than a 5* kid from the midwest or northeast.
ETA - I think this year we'll see DGB completely catch up to the competition and start making them look silly as well. It just takes time.
This post was edited on 2/12/13 at 11:52 pm
Posted on 2/12/13 at 11:51 pm to trader_tiger83
My high school football team sucked.
The soccer team had D1 recruits yearly.
The soccer team had D1 recruits yearly.
Posted on 2/12/13 at 11:53 pm to Tom Sawyer
Exactly. Football is basically a religion in the south, and sometimes comes before religion! Here? We're not as football crazy, at least not yet. Mamas are afraid of their baby boys getting hit, and don't want them playing football until they're bigger.
Posted on 2/13/13 at 9:10 am to FightTigers
quote:
Also the issue has been that inner city KC and STL schools have not put a lot of money towards developing football teams and most of the better athletes at those schools chose to play bball instead.
I don't even know if we have public schools in the city in St. Louis anymore. It had been so shite run for so long, they really don't even have good basketball anymore. But you're right, no money put into the football programs anymore, here at least. I remember when Sumner in the city used to pump out good teams.
Posted on 2/13/13 at 9:11 am to trader_tiger83
quote:
Could warmer weather be a factor?
Maybe not the deciding factor, perhaps, but I always suspected athletes from the South and West to be further along in sports like baseball due to greater practice opportunities.
These gaps are closing as teams in colder climates are learning to train year round. A lot of the work just has to be done indoors.
Posted on 2/13/13 at 9:15 am to semotruman
quote:
The other thing is the prevalence (or lack thereof) of Pop Warner leagues in Missouri. Kids in the southern states start playing football much earlier - by the time they reach high school, they've been playing for several years. That's not the case here, unfortunately. Our little kids play soccer and baseball, in Alabama they play football.
I can't speak for the other parts of the state, but here in St. Louis, there are quite a few opportunities but they really don't start until 5th or 6th grade. Some start earlier, but most of the high schools have "feeder" systems for lack of a better word. For example, in St. Louis off the top of my head, Parkway South, Parkway West, Eureka, SLUH, Vianney and I'm sure others all have youth football teams. Of course Mathews Dickey still has youth football. I agree though, probably not the numbers of youth playing as you see in the south.
Posted on 2/13/13 at 9:38 am to reedus23
Football in Missouri starts in 3rd grade for most areas of the state. Many of these are expensive and limited to rich kids, though.
The single biggest difference with Missouri HS football compared to the south is lack of spring football.
There might be other major differences with regards to what sports are availablt at different ages and their costs for families, but I don't know much about that stuff, plus it changes often.
Look at baseball, that used to be "the" sport in the USA. Kids could start playing at early ages and everyone played in the same little leagues and HS. Now days the top level of baseball for kids is all travelling teams (similar to AAU) and only the rich kids can afford it. This has eliminated massive areas of talent in this country from producing baseball prospects.
The single biggest difference with Missouri HS football compared to the south is lack of spring football.
There might be other major differences with regards to what sports are availablt at different ages and their costs for families, but I don't know much about that stuff, plus it changes often.
Look at baseball, that used to be "the" sport in the USA. Kids could start playing at early ages and everyone played in the same little leagues and HS. Now days the top level of baseball for kids is all travelling teams (similar to AAU) and only the rich kids can afford it. This has eliminated massive areas of talent in this country from producing baseball prospects.
Posted on 2/13/13 at 12:28 pm to notsince98
Couple of things, Spring Ball in All the SEC states minus Missouri also many of those states have a higher percentage of African American players and facts are facts a greater percentage of African American players are D-I caliber. How important is the spot to the community and school is also an influence I know that in the NW Arkansas region, both Rogers & Rogers Heritage, Bentonville, Springdale & Springdale Har Ber, Greenwood, Fayetteville etc.. all have indoor facilites. I do not know of 1 Missouri school with one.
Posted on 2/13/13 at 6:29 pm to Tackle74
I think it goes alittle deeper than just money even though thats a contibuting factor.
It's also not all on just the coaches. Some of it falls on the recruits returning home to show up around these Pop-Warner league football camps from time to time. Local kids that have done well at the D1 level communicating what it takes to be successful at the next level. I know it's not a recquirement but more like community service.
A good example is EJ Gaines. He's from my area and came from my HS. The level of commitment to football was not taken as seriously as it is today. It has progressed and continues to progress. EJ talked about how kids approach football differently and how he approached it differently, but it helps when you have a kid from your school system make it big. It fuels the fire, and it helps when those kids go back to thier old schools and preach to the kids that it can happen with hard work and dedication. I believe EJ did this.
So to me, there are several contributing factors not just one that controls the outcome of where these kids go. Living in the Blue Springs area, namely BS South, I've seen these kids play ball from middle school level through HS level and I see these kids get bigger, faster and stronger every year. I drove by a middle school as they were playing a game one afternoon and couldn't believe the size of some of those kids. Half my HS class wasn't that big. These kids were brutes.
Point is, it's not going to change overnight, it takes years to develope a system, and I think it's been going on for some time now but to me it continues to progress. It seems to me we have had more top caliber players than before comming out of HS in the last few years and that number seems to grow. It's just a matter of if they want to attend Mizzou.
It's also not all on just the coaches. Some of it falls on the recruits returning home to show up around these Pop-Warner league football camps from time to time. Local kids that have done well at the D1 level communicating what it takes to be successful at the next level. I know it's not a recquirement but more like community service.
A good example is EJ Gaines. He's from my area and came from my HS. The level of commitment to football was not taken as seriously as it is today. It has progressed and continues to progress. EJ talked about how kids approach football differently and how he approached it differently, but it helps when you have a kid from your school system make it big. It fuels the fire, and it helps when those kids go back to thier old schools and preach to the kids that it can happen with hard work and dedication. I believe EJ did this.
So to me, there are several contributing factors not just one that controls the outcome of where these kids go. Living in the Blue Springs area, namely BS South, I've seen these kids play ball from middle school level through HS level and I see these kids get bigger, faster and stronger every year. I drove by a middle school as they were playing a game one afternoon and couldn't believe the size of some of those kids. Half my HS class wasn't that big. These kids were brutes.
Point is, it's not going to change overnight, it takes years to develope a system, and I think it's been going on for some time now but to me it continues to progress. It seems to me we have had more top caliber players than before comming out of HS in the last few years and that number seems to grow. It's just a matter of if they want to attend Mizzou.
Posted on 2/13/13 at 6:40 pm to jafo
Wish more former Tigers would do football camps around the state of Missouri. I have no doubt that it would drive up interest and dedication among those youth. One person that has done a great job of promoting football in Missouri's youth is Jeremy Maclin. He does a great job with his football camp in St. Louis and is offering a free camp/clinic in Columbia this year. I'm sure there are other great Tigers that do this to, but it would be nice if we could get more involvement from our NFL Alumni.
Posted on 2/13/13 at 9:24 pm to semotruman
quote:
The other thing is the prevalence (or lack thereof) of Pop Warner leagues in Missouri.
I don't know about that. I played football since I was in 4th grade. Washington/Union/St. James/Hermann area. We also had tournaments where we would go down south and play Waynesville and other schools from around the state.
Posted on 2/13/13 at 10:07 pm to Mizzoufan26
quote:
Mizzoufan26
Where are you from again? I'm not sure it's like that statewide.
Posted on 2/14/13 at 1:11 am to Tom Sawyer
quote:
My high school football team sucked. The soccer team had D1 recruits yearly.
Same
I was on the soccer team...not a D1 recruit though
In seriousness, soccer was THE sport at my school (during my tenure there) football was #2
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