Texas / Florida HS FB

[RangerFan]

Now I can't be 100% sure of this story, but I believe the source, and he was there when the comment was made...a defensive coach for the University of Florida had this to say about the differencve between Texas HS FB and Florida HS FB: the amount of time devoted to preparing, training, and coaching is much longer and better in Texas, and Texas HS FB is light years ahead of Florida FB. This comes from a coach at U of F. If he believes this, it must be true.

Another point: Florida colleges recruit Texas HS's. I don't believe Texas college coaches recruit in Florida. Why? There is no need. I am quite certain Florida football is good, and it is obvious they have tremedous athletes with lots of speed. However, I truly believe 99% of the college coaches out there would agree that the caliber and depth of great football at the high school level is what separates Texas from states like Florida, California, Ohio, etc.

[showdownon9/15]

I believe QB John Brantley was recruited by TX before he decided to attend UF.

[RidgePride]

I know a guy that used to live in TX but now lives in Florida. He only lived in TX three years and has been in Florida the last ten years. First he said he is not impressed with Florida high school football. Then he said basically the team with the most talent wins.

I see why those from Florida do not think MNW can be beaten.

[caveman]

Now I can't be 100% sure of this story, but I believe the source, and he was there when the comment was made...a defensive coach for the University of Florida had this to say about the differencve between Texas HS FB and Florida HS FB: the amount of time devoted to preparing, training, and coaching is much longer and better in Texas, and Texas HS FB is light years ahead of Florida FB. This comes from a coach at U of F. If he believes this, it must be true.

Another point: Florida colleges recruit Texas HS's. I don't believe Texas college coaches recruit in Florida. Why? There is no need. I am quite certain Florida football is good, and it is obvious they have tremedous athletes with lots of speed. However, I truly believe 99% of the college coaches out there would agree that the caliber and depth of great football at the high school level is what separates Texas from states like Florida, California, Ohio, etc.
I can agree with the direction of this post. Still recall those Florida days in the 80's when all FS, UF and Miami seemed always in the top 10. Wondered if it had to do with 'immigrant energy' (as in people migrating to Florida from everywhere). Florida is a (too) bustling place when you go there today.
Texas is still the best football anywhere.

[GDB]

I lived in Florida all the way through my oldest sons high school years and half way through my youngest. I watched a lot of football in Florida and saw some amazing young athletes. I saw very few really good teams. I grew up in Texas, played high school football and moved back just over a year ago. I followed the game last year all the way through and saw more teams here. More tradition here.

I believe the training takes place in most places in Texas to make the program successful. In Florida it seems to be all about the individual athlete. Not just in football, but every sport.

[GBMonster76]

I live in Florida, but I have connections to Texas and travel there. I'll be traveling to the MNW-SLC game this year simply for leisure. I am very familar with both Texas HS football and Florida HS football, and it is as simple as this...

In Texas, there are a lot more great TEAMS, but in Florida from top to bottom there is probably more pure football talent than anywhere in the nation. If someone asked me point blank what state has better HS football...Florida or Texas...the answer would unquestionably be Texas because more money, time, and energy is put into it. You don't have coaches making 100K to coach in Florida, but you do in Texas...it's as simple as that.

As a matter of fact, I'm a young father, and I am most likely going to move to Texas within the next 5 years simply because I want my children to grow up in a Texas community with other young families that share similar values with me. I have many important things on my totem poll, and football is one of them. Unless we move to Lakeland, FL... there aren't many places in Florida that support high school football like a lot of the good family-friendly-football communites around Texas.

Believe me when I say this... housing, schools, communities, values, salaries, and FOOTBALL are all better in Texas. And, in a few years, when some of my commitments in Florida are wrapped, I'll be a Texan...and most importantly...so will my children.

[lobo1982]

Great post!I agree with you 100%.

[Matthew 2000 Eagle]

I believe QB John Brantley was recruited by TX before he decided to attend UF.

He was, and he did commit to Texas before he switched to Florida.

By the way, the Canes are getting a good running back in Shawnbrey McNeal. McNeal was a 3 year starter for the Dallas Madison Trojans, and McNeal was also all-state in track & field for 3 years. If possible, I'd like to hear some updates on him as the season goes.

[katyfan52]

I live in Florida, but I have connections to Texas and travel there. I'll be traveling to the MNW-SLC game this year simply for leisure. I am very familar with both Texas HS football and Florida HS football, and it is as simple as this...

In Texas, there are a lot more great TEAMS, but in Florida from top to bottom there is probably more pure football talent than anywhere in the nation. If someone asked me point blank what state has better HS football...Florida or Texas...the answer would unquestionably be Texas because more money, time, and energy is put into it. You don't have coaches making 100K to coach in Florida, but you do in Texas...it's as simple as that.

As a matter of fact, I'm a young father, and I am most likely going to move to Texas within the next 5 years simply because I want my children to grow up in a Texas community with other young families that share similar values with me. I have many important things on my totem poll, and football is one of them. Unless we move to Lakeland, FL... there aren't many places in Florida that support high school football like a lot of the good family-friendly-football communites around Texas.

Believe me when I say this... housing, schools, communities, values, salaries, and FOOTBALL are all better in Texas. And, in a few years, when some of my commitments in Florida are wrapped, I'll be a Texan...and most importantly...so will my children.
And we'll be glad to have you. :)

[Matthew 2000 Eagle]

I live in Florida, but I have connections to Texas and travel there. I'll be traveling to the MNW-SLC game this year simply for leisure. I am very familar with both Texas HS football and Florida HS football, and it is as simple as this...

In Texas, there are a lot more great TEAMS, but in Florida from top to bottom there is probably more pure football talent than anywhere in the nation. If someone asked me point blank what state has better HS football...Florida or Texas...the answer would unquestionably be Texas because more money, time, and energy is put into it. You don't have coaches making 100K to coach in Florida, but you do in Texas...it's as simple as that.

As a matter of fact, I'm a young father, and I am most likely going to move to Texas within the next 5 years simply because I want my children to grow up in a Texas community with other young families that share similar values with me. I have many important things on my totem poll, and football is one of them. Unless we move to Lakeland, FL... there aren't many places in Florida that support high school football like a lot of the good family-friendly-football communites around Texas.

Believe me when I say this... housing, schools, communities, values, salaries, and FOOTBALL are all better in Texas. And, in a few years, when some of my commitments in Florida are wrapped, I'll be a Texan...and most importantly...so will my children.

Couldn't have said it any better.

[cajun]

the answer would unquestionably be Texas because more money, time, and energy is put into it. You don't have coaches making 100K to coach in Florida, but you do in Texas...it's as simple as that

Just because a high school coach makes a 100K a year doesn't mean that coach is better than another coach who might make 35,000 a year which includes teaching a full load of classes.....Football is not rocket science....I'm sure there are coaches in Florida that know the X's/0's and motivate just as well as the high priced high school coaches.....I know for a fact we have some of these lower paid coaches here(Louisiana) that know a pretty good bit about the game..

If that were the case every College/Pro team would be undefeated every year....

This is America though and the Big Dollar always attracks....If a high school football coach is making a 100K a year you can bet good money that that area is also attracking alittle more(if you know what I mean)....Might get dinged for saying that, but that's the way I see it....

[businesstron]

I don't know about that Cajun. There are a few exceptions but overall the coaching in a place like Louisiana ain't that good. I'd actually put Arkansas coaching of La. That's one of La's major weaknesses. There is talent all over the place but it seems there are like about 8 teams in the state that get most of the coaching and talent. It ain't all about coaching and talent though....it's off season conditioning too.

[cajun]

I don't know about that Cajun. There are a few exceptions but overall the coaching in a place like Louisiana ain't that good. I'd actually put Arkansas coaching of La. That's one of La's major weaknesses. There is talent all over the place but it seems there are like about 8 teams in the state that get most of the coaching and talent. It ain't all about coaching and talent though....it's off season conditioning too.


Maybe, I've been wrong before...

Question though...

What exactly does a 100k a year high school football coach do different and bring to the table?....What's the differene in that guy as opposed to a guy that goes to La Tech, plays 4 years of ball then moves back to his small Louisiana community to coach and teach?...

I tell you what you get in your 100k guy...

You get a great PR Man, great handshaker and someone that the community believes in and wants their kids playing for....That's it in my book....

As far as coaching, he knows no more than the small town La Tech guy...He knows no more in how to win football games which includes your off season...

[toddg]

Maybe, I've been wrong before...

Question though...

What exactly does a 100k a year high school football coach do different and bring to the table?....What's the differene in that guy as opposed to a guy that goes to La Tech, plays 4 years of ball then moves back to his small Louisiana community to coach and teach?...

I tell you what you get in your 100k guy...

You get a great PR Man, great handshaker and someone that the community believes in and wants their kids playing for....That's it in my book....

As far as coaching, he knows no more than the small town La Tech guy...He knows no more in how to win football games which includes your off season...

my high school football coach went to la. tech..he coaches in texas

[cajun]

my high school football coach went to la. tech..he coaches in texas

There's a bunch of old homegrown La Tech, LSU boys and so on in the coaching ranks down here...I just can't see us being that far behind in coaching.....

How was your coach?...

I'm not sure I want this answer-he probably sucked, right?...:D

[Texasfrog]

FSU and Univ-Miami both have recruited Texas very hard over the years. Especially during their hay-days. Those top National teams always had a few Texas kids on them usually "starting" for them.

Univ-Fla has recruited some solid Texas kids also over the years. I would say the best was DE-Jarvis Moss (2007 NFL 1st rd pick) who played at Denton Ryan.

UCF has also been recruiting Texas pretty steady over the past few years and I believe this year they have 3 or 4 kids from Texas already commited to them.

Florida has tons of talent but Texas has just as much talent. I'm talking top tier talent (College D-1A) caliber talent.

I'll still say the biggest difference with the talent is Texas has 3 (HS players) to every 1 in Florida. We (Texas) just have a lot more kids playing HS football.

The next biggest difference is the HS coaching between Texas and Florida. Ya, programs like Lakeland, Bolles, Chaminade, Nease, Plant, Armwood and about 8 other HS programs across Florida have some solid HS coaching. But in Texas the HS coaching almost across the board is much better and stronger.

From living in South Florida for 3 years and attending many games down there (Dade Co & Broward Co.) I was impressed by many of the athletes. I've seen several teams that had 7 or 10 Senior/Junior that would go on to D-1A football. But, the coaching, systes, chemistry, technique left a lot to be desired (IMO). I just wasnt impressed with the whole systems in place at many of the Dade Co. teams. I know some will take that as a shot at MNW or something but that's my opinion on what I've seen in person.

I guess we'll see soon enough if I just have Texas "Rose colored" glasses on or if I'm right in my observations.

I think the 2005 Hollywood-Chaminade team was a very well coached team by one of the best HS coaching staffs in Florida (Coach Guandola) and that team also had tons of talent on it. Like 9 kids (Senior/Juniors) have signed with D-1A programs so that 2005 Hollywood-Chaminade team was coached very well and also had several top talented kids and they came to Texas and lost to a (4-6) Tyler Lee team that only had like 3 kids (Senior/Juniors) that signed D-1A.

There is no question that the 2005 Hollywood-Chaminade team had 3X more talent than the 2005 Tyler Lee team but looked who lost. I know there was some other circumstances in that game but Hollywood-Chaminade was still a lot more talented than Tyler Lee.

Also, that same 2005 Hollywood-Chaminade team lost to Booker T. Washington by like 14 pts that year. That BTW team was probably the #1 team in Miami-Dade Co. that year despite what a couple of people on here will say.;)

[BDB]

Coach Price of UTEP has had a diverse roster as of late.

i was watching the UTEP/ TTU game and was noticing they had a couple of guys from cali, fla, i think there was a GA with a hefty helping of texas.

i can understand his connections to some of those players though from his time at bama.

[ThEgReAtOnE]

In regards to Texas Football vs Florida Football...

There are 2 keys to acknowledge.

1) Recruiting per football program/per state
2) HS football team-recognition per school/per state

Here it is...

NHSFB Recruiting (2006)

Florida
D-IA Signees = 260
D-IA Signee/Per Program = .508
Total # of HS Football Programs = 511

Texas
D-IA Signees = 262
D-IA Signee/Per Program = .229
Total # of HS Football Programs = 1,141

Florida obviously had more D-I athletes, per program, sign.

However...

NHSFB Top 1000 (Calpreps 2006)
(Top football programs)

Florida
Top 50 - 2
Top 100 - 3
Top 1000 - 27

Texas
Top 50 - 4
Top 100 - 9
Top 1000 - 85
(27 of the Top-233 football programs in the Nation. 40 of the Top-380 football programs in the Nation.)

According to Calpreps...
Texas had just over 3-times the amount of programs in the Top 1000, while only having roughly twice as many programs.

Again, on the HS level - for the most part - it doesn't matter how many great athletes your state has. The ability to form excellent football programs are based on many different things. I would say the main reasons for having more football-team success is due to coaching style, team-emphasis and community involvement (financial-community involvement).

Simply put, from what I've seen in person (and heard from the mouth of NFL players/friends who are from Florida) Florida football is mainly about handing a naturally gifted athlete a jersey and telling him to go out and hit somebody. In Texas, for the most part, it's about the team concept/philosophy.

A state could have 200 football programs, and if they all emphasize team-football, tremendously, they could very well have 20, 30 or even 50+ (Top 1000) football programs in the Nation. But, if they emphasize individual athleticism over team-football, they could end up with a ton of great athleticism and not-so-great team football.

It's the balancing of team-football and athleticism that makes Texas the #1 football state. If we just wanted to go with the #1 state of D-IA signees, per football program, we'd have Hawaii ranked at #1. (Rightt!;))

[caveman]

great research. not going to ask what your daytime job is.

[BlackAttack]

Maybe, I've been wrong before...

Question though...

What exactly does a 100k a year high school football coach do different and bring to the table?....What's the differene in that guy as opposed to a guy that goes to La Tech, plays 4 years of ball then moves back to his small Louisiana community to coach and teach?...

I tell you what you get in your 100k guy...

You get a great PR Man, great handshaker and someone that the community believes in and wants their kids playing for....That's it in my book....

As far as coaching, he knows no more than the small town La Tech guy...He knows no more in how to win football games which includes your off season...

You also get a guy who gets to devote 100% of his time to football. Plus, typically by the time a coach in Texas is getting a $100K HC job, he has a bunch of experience.

[showdownon9/15]

He was, and he did commit to Texas before he switched to Florida.

By the way, the Canes are getting a good running back in Shawnbrey McNeal. McNeal was a 3 year starter for the Dallas Madison Trojans, and McNeal was also all-state in track & field for 3 years. If possible, I'd like to hear some updates on him as the season goes.

Will do. Will be interesting to see if he can crack the rotation.

[SLC93]

And we'll be glad to have you. :)

I'll 2nd that.;)