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So I'm on another board with somebody who follows a school in Florida closely (mainly discussing Lincoln High School and Thomas Aquinas). He claims that these schools, which put players in major FBS programs like Florida State, Stanford, Florida, Miami, etc. routinely would be able to make a really bad FBS team like Idaho sweat. Which, I'm assuming, means he'd believe that FCS teams would also struggle to beat some of the better high school teams out there.



I tried to explain the folly of this argument. He's a Florida State fan so he thinks that the true freshman class that the Noles put on the football field this past year are indicative of the level of play in his state. I've been trying to say that while those players may have more potential as athletes in the future, that you're still asking a number of high school seniors and juniors to face off against juniors and seniors in college. There's a bunch of physical maturity that these players haven't experienced between high school and college. Can we all just agree that a bad FBS team like Idaho or most FCS programs could beat Lincoln High School or Thomas Aquinas pretty easily? Or is there something wrong with me?

It's no different than the idiots who think Texas, Florida, or USC could beat the Detroit Lions. There's just too much difference in skill, size, and strength. So no, it's not you.

DukeJack wrote:It's no different than the idiots who think Texas, Florida, or USC could beat the Detroit Lions. There's just too much difference in skill, size, and strength. So no, it's not you.

I think it would be closer to reality if we're talking about bad Division II, Division III, or NAIA teams. I think Grand Valley State could do a number on those high schoolers that he mentioned.

Idaho is wack but if theyre current team was placed in the FCS today, they would probably win the NC. same thing here. A high school team doesnt have a chance agaisnt an FCS.

the college team recruits from all over the nation
they are bigger stronger faster.
some FCS teams have 23-24 year old seniors and varsity teams are 16-17-18 years old

basically its kids vs Men. you do the math

I certainly think Idaho could contend for a playoff spot if they were in the FCS. I don't think they're as good as teams like Montana, App State, or Richmond though.

You hit the nail on the head: Men vs. Kids. If you're talking D2, I might grant you that, conditionally, considering most of their recruits didn't even make a blip on the national recruiting scene unless they transferred out.

A good high school team couldn't beat a diii team

I'm on board with you as well Eric. As far as Idaho goes they probably would have a shot at the playoffs but Montana beat them 4 out of 5 times since they've moved up and so have other Big Sky schools so they would still struggle in FCS unless they take a major step up this year. The only game we lost to them was by 3. They went 7-3 that year so it was one of there better years.

I've seen some HS teams here in Florida in the past several years that made me just go OMG!!!!

Lakeland in in 2006 with the Pouncy twins, Chris Rainey, etc... about a dozen BCS signees including six to Florida

Apopka in 2001 with Brandon Meriweather, Kenard Bradford, Alan Abrams, Steve Baylark and 14 D1 signees (WKU must have signed a handful of 'em)

Miami Northwestern was just ridiculously loaded in 2007... IIRC Jacory Harris led about half a dozen signees to the U

Seminole in 2008 who ended Northwestern's big win streak with the triplets, led by Ray Ray Armstrong and Andre DuBose.

In each of these cases the best player on the HS team, or perhaps the best 8-10 players, were better than any college team below the major FCS conferences, but after that the difference in talent, depth, experience, and maturity would destroy the preps.

Case in point... my junior year HS hoops team (I was the only white guy and starting PG) had seven guys play college ball of which two made the NBA and another played in Europe for 15+ years. Out of 28 games we played that year not more than 6-8 were decided by 10 points or less and we really went at each other in practice; but on my first day of practice in college I found out just how much faster and more physical the college game was... going from team leader and solid player who was in control in HS to one of the youngest, undersized, and least experienced players in the program in college. Talk about getting a reality check, especially at the defensive end...

Eric wrote:So I'm on another board with somebody who follows a school in Florida closely (mainly discussing Lincoln High School and Thomas Aquinas). He claims that these schools, which put players in major FBS programs like Florida State, Stanford, Florida, Miami, etc. routinely would be able to make a really bad FBS team like Idaho sweat. Which, I'm assuming, means he'd believe that FCS teams would also struggle to beat some of the better high school teams out there.



I tried to explain the folly of this argument. He's a Florida State fan so he thinks that the true freshman class that the Noles put on the football field this past year are indicative of the level of play in his state. I've been trying to say that while those players may have more potential as athletes in the future, that you're still asking a number of high school seniors and juniors to face off against juniors and seniors in college. There's a bunch of physical maturity that these players haven't experienced between high school and college. Can we all just agree that a bad FBS team like Idaho or most FCS programs could beat Lincoln High School or Thomas Aquinas pretty easily? Or is there something wrong with me?

I don't think a high school team would win because as others have said depth and maturity. But I wouldn't say the guy was wrong about the bolded statement, the level of play in Florida is very high, on an equal level. (High school against High school). The talent some the smaller schools have here is amazing. Teams like Pahokee, Glades Central, Madison County, and Bolles have is great. But there's no way those kids would beat a college team.

I think, yes. I would put my money on Lakeland vs. a bottom tier FBS. My buddy who played for Don Bosco Prep said that they, the year they were 2 in the nation, could have beaten Nova. My buddy was on the team with me at Nova.

I don't think a high school team would win because as others have said depth and maturity. But I wouldn't say the guy was wrong about the bolded statement, the level of play in Florida is very high, on an equal level. (High school against High school). The talent some the smaller schools have here is amazing. Teams like Pahokee, Glades Central, Madison County, and Bolles have is great. But there's no way those kids would beat a college team.

Oh yeah, I'm not saying that Florida doesn't produce athletes. They're probably number one in that regard. I don't know if California or Texas is number two or not. I misworded that. I meant to say indicative of an average high school team in Florida. FSU cherrypicks the best athletes from the best high schools in Florida, which is what I meant to say.