The release of the 78th Annual Shrine roster this week created quite a buzz on the message boards and while it is always exciting to see the list of players for this once prestigious all-star team, it also raises questions about the selection process, where "politics" obviously abound.
Every year, there are notable omissions from this team. That is always going to be the case whenever you are trying to chisel down to a 44 man roster. The talent level in South Carolina is very high and coaches simply cannot take everyone. But this particular year there are some serious questions about omissions at certain positions versus players who were selected in those spots. While I would never call out a particular player by name, the fact is that there are players on this roster who are NOT one of the best 44 Players in the state, nor are they one of the Top Four at their particular position.
This is a very difficult team to select; these coaches on this staff put a lot of hours in watching film and meeting to discuss players outside of their already busy football season schedule. That said, if you think that there is not "snubbing" going on behind those closed door meetings you are being naïve. There are players every year who are overlooked because staff members on that particular year don't like that said player's coach; I have been told on numerous occasions by all-star staff coaches that there is a school in the Midlands that rarely has players make the all-star teams and the reason is the coach is not well-liked among his peers. Is that right? No. But it happens anyway. There are players that make it because they have a coach on staff who gets in and lobbies for them in the meetings. And there are some players who don't make it because of discipline questions, or maybe they just haven't played up to par during their senior campaign.
Most Notable Omissions - these are players who should have easily been one of top two or three choice at their positions.
Gage Cervenka, DL, Emerald HS - One of more dominating players in state at his position. Committed to Clemson
Denzell Johnson, S, A.C. Flora HS - One of state's top athletes on both sides of the football. Multiple Div I offers.
Tabari Hines, WR, Marlboro County - One of top WRs in state, as well as one of top return men in state. Committed to Wake Forest.
Again, selecting this team is not an easy task and the time and effort that goes into it by these coaches needs to be commended. But there are way too many opportunities for different types of politics to reign in the selection process and it may be time to think about possible changes to the way it is currently being done.
I will tell you that I went back and watched film from THIS year and can say that in several cases where there were omissions, I’d have to agree with the selections (or omissions) based on what’s showing up on film.
This post was edited on 10/8 10:54 AM by JB@Rivals
Every year, there are notable omissions from this team. That is always going to be the case whenever you are trying to chisel down to a 44 man roster. The talent level in South Carolina is very high and coaches simply cannot take everyone. But this particular year there are some serious questions about omissions at certain positions versus players who were selected in those spots. While I would never call out a particular player by name, the fact is that there are players on this roster who are NOT one of the best 44 Players in the state, nor are they one of the Top Four at their particular position.
This is a very difficult team to select; these coaches on this staff put a lot of hours in watching film and meeting to discuss players outside of their already busy football season schedule. That said, if you think that there is not "snubbing" going on behind those closed door meetings you are being naïve. There are players every year who are overlooked because staff members on that particular year don't like that said player's coach; I have been told on numerous occasions by all-star staff coaches that there is a school in the Midlands that rarely has players make the all-star teams and the reason is the coach is not well-liked among his peers. Is that right? No. But it happens anyway. There are players that make it because they have a coach on staff who gets in and lobbies for them in the meetings. And there are some players who don't make it because of discipline questions, or maybe they just haven't played up to par during their senior campaign.
Most Notable Omissions - these are players who should have easily been one of top two or three choice at their positions.
Gage Cervenka, DL, Emerald HS - One of more dominating players in state at his position. Committed to Clemson
Denzell Johnson, S, A.C. Flora HS - One of state's top athletes on both sides of the football. Multiple Div I offers.
Tabari Hines, WR, Marlboro County - One of top WRs in state, as well as one of top return men in state. Committed to Wake Forest.
Again, selecting this team is not an easy task and the time and effort that goes into it by these coaches needs to be commended. But there are way too many opportunities for different types of politics to reign in the selection process and it may be time to think about possible changes to the way it is currently being done.
I will tell you that I went back and watched film from THIS year and can say that in several cases where there were omissions, I’d have to agree with the selections (or omissions) based on what’s showing up on film.
This post was edited on 10/8 10:54 AM by JB@Rivals
