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Searn,

Thanks for the plug. I was going to post that my rankings were now up at www.prepseer.com but you beat me to it. As you noted, I don't always buy the head-to-head ranking where a team that beats another team always gets ranked ahead of the team it beat. There are just too many variables and too many upsets in high school football. If the person doing the rankings cannot interject some judgement, he probably isn't qualified to do rankings. A computer could do the job. And we all know how accurate the computer rakings are. Not.

I do rely on game results, to a point, mainly when I haven't personally seen the teams. But, when I've seen a team multiple times, I use my own judgement to sometimes override the head-to-head results. This happens more later in the year. It doesn't always involve Brother Rice either. You mentioned the Lake Orion--Sterling Hts. Stevenson juxtaposition. That was a close call, but I sincerely thought SHS and Dakota were better teams than LO.

East Guru makes a good case for ranking his team higher than DLS, but I don't agree. He uses strength of schedule as one reason. As bad as DLS's non-conference schedule (first three weeks) was, overall I think DLS had a tougher schedule than EGR. It's misleading to use opponents winning percentage when you play in a weak league. Apart from Lowell and EGR, the OK White is not a strong league. It's much weaker than the CHSL Central. When teams from that league only play each other plus have non-conference games against even lower and weaker OK leagues, you are going to have several teams with winning records. That doesn't make EGR better because they beat so many teams with winning records. I will agree that EGR's performance against OLSM was impressive. I also know how difficult it is for a team to travel West and play a top program in its home environment. If you're the slightest bit flat and you get behind early, it's curtains. Just because EGR pummelled OLSM, and DLS had to go to OT to beat them, that doesn't make EGR a better team. If EGR were in the CHSL Central and had to travel to Ohio for one game, I don't think they would have had only one loss this year. DLS made it to the Finals undefeated. Having said all that, the teams are very close IMO. I have them ranked #4 and #5.

I've watched the Lakeland--BBR game on tape twice now and I moved Lakeland down to #24 because I just didn't think they should be ranked higher based on one big win, but based on their overall results, which included a blowout loss vs DLS--a team that beat BBR by two. Lakeland also lost to Canton (#22) and Howell (HM). Who would be favored in a game between Brother Rice and either Canton or Howell. I think the consensus opinion would favor Rice. The Rice win probably helped Lakeland to a higher ranking than Howell. Both teams are pretty equal, but Lakeland did get the nod for the Top 25. As for the BBR game, Lakeland won the game on the scoreboard but not on the field, if you know what I mean. It teally came down to one play--that 4th and 1 from the 30 yd line where Lakeland gambled on won--the play and the game. A close win like that cannot always be duplicated. I maintain that BBR would win most of the games if the teams played multiple times. Nobody can prove it. Lakeland fans will disagree. But, they can do their own rankings if they desire.

I'm sure Romeo fans are wondering why their team is ranked below Dakota--a team they beat earlier in the season. Well, they did upset Dakota. I'm not sure they could do it if the teams played again. SHS beat Romeo and lost to Dakota. Then there's the loss to 5-5 Ike. Romeo had a nice early season run, but I think #16 is a good fit for them. There seems to be a lot of controversy over Caledonia. I did end up putting them in my final rankings, even though I resisted most of the year. I think playing Lowell relatively close sealed the deal for me. I felt earlier than Caledonia just didn't play anyone and they shouldn't be ranked. A similar situation existed with G.R. Kenowa Hills. Both teams have passionate fans and have made their case, but I think both teams need to upgrade schedules and play some of the West Side majors in non-conference play to consistently make the rankings. I did slip Caledonia into the rankings at #23 and GRKH at Honorable Mention. Holland Christian's position in the HM group is purely a function of Division 4. No team lowwer than Division 3 made the Top 25. I used the Honorable Mention category to recognize some of the smaller schools who had good seasons. Realistically, I don't think any of those 4-8 teams could beat the better larger schools--i.e. the teams in the Top 25.

As many have stated, a lot of this is personal opinion. Anyone can do their own rankings and interject their own opinions. I take my rankings very seriously and do not put teams in them on a whim. I always try to have some rationale for my placements. I'm not perfect and sometimes I'd like to change my mind after the fact. Cant' do it now. Next issue comes pre-season next August. Look for BBR to be #1. (Just kidding).