Coalfields and Co. (2024)

20/12/2024

OFFICIAL | 2024 West Virginia Football 1A Honors: https://coalfields.org/2024/12/20/official-2024-west-virginia-football-1a-honors/

13/12/2024

Super Eight | West Virginia Football Playoff Schedule & Predictions

12/12/2024

Super Eight | West Virginia Football Playoff Schedule & Predictions: https://coalfields.org/2024/12/12/super-eight-west-virginia-football-playoff-schedule-predictions/

06/12/2024

Semifinals | West Virginia Football Playoff Schedule & Predictions

05/12/2024

Semifinals | West Virginia Football Playoff Schedule & Predictions: https://coalfields.org/2024/12/05/semifinals-west-virginia-football-playoff-schedule-predictions/

29/11/2024

Quarterfinals | West Virginia Football Playoff Schedule & Predictions

28/11/2024

Quarterfinals | West Virginia Football Playoff Schedule & Predictions: https://coalfields.org/2024/11/28/quarterfinals-west-virginia-football-playoff-schedule-predictions/

22/11/2024

Round One | Playoff Predictions

21/11/2024

Round One | Playoff Schedule & Predictions: https://coalfields.org/2024/11/21/round-one-west-virginia-football-playoff-schedule-predictions/

16/11/2024

Not taking sides—just encouraging someone within the system to step up, take charge, and make a timely decision. Thousands of players, coaches, parents, and support staff shouldn’t be left waiting in uncertainty.

12/11/2024

OFFICIAL | 2A Round One Matchups & Predictions: https://coalfields.org/2024/11/12/2a-round-one-west-virginia-high-school-football-matchups-predictions/

11/11/2024

OFFICIAL | 1A Round One Matchups & Predictions: https://coalfields.org/2024/11/11/1a-round-one-west-virginia-high-school-football-matchups-predictions/

09/11/2024

For those needing an update on the ongoing classification saga ahead of the postseason, here’s a recap:

DECEMBER 2023
The SSAC announced the adoption of a new four-class model for all sports, expanding the system previously used only for basketball (2020-2023). Schools were classified based on a composite score involving enrollment, economic, and geographic factors. Immediate public backlash arose over the perceived arbitrariness, inaccuracies, and potential data manipulation underlying these scores, with minimal public transparency.

AUGUST 2024
After appealing early in the offseason, a group of schools had their case challenging the classification formula delayed by the SSAC. Eventually, their appeal was heard by a higher authority, and the Board of Review granted their appeals, citing undeniable flaws in the formula/data. As a result, 11 schools were moved down a class. However, 11 other schools were overlooked in this move, leading to further appeals. Ultimately, 22 schools were moved down. Many argued that point values for scheduled opponents should remain at their original class designation (e.g., a 3A team reclassified to 2A should still be worth 3A points) and that these adjustments should apply to all sports, not just football. The SSAC decided not to retain original point values and did not extend the changes beyond football.

OCTOBER 2024
An “emergency” meeting was convened to discuss future classifications after the previous formula was deemed unusable. A new formula was chosen, again incorporating factors beyond enrollment. This decision is expected to face future appeals. The original point system was not discussed.

NOVEMBER 2024
As the 2024 regular season concluded, the Wood County Board of Education filed an emergency injunction to count point values as initially scheduled. If approved, this would remove four teams from playoff contention (3A: Point Pleasant, Hampshire; 2A: Westside; 1A: Tolsia) and replace them with new teams (3A: Capital, St. Albans; 2A: Lincoln; 1A: St. Marys), while leading to significant seeding changes.

There could be a legal battle involving the four teams removed from playoff contention, and the start of the playoffs may be delayed. Such a delay could have cascading effects on other sports and venue availability. The first-round playoff meeting is scheduled for tomorrow in Parkersburg, but 8 teams are unsure of their participation, and the rest don’t know their opponents. With Veterans Day on Monday, clear direction may not come until Tuesday.

Many ADs and coaches across the state are demanding accountability. This situation is not the result of one or two mistakes, but several over the past year, affecting over 100 schools. These errors occurred despite warnings from various parties, both public and private, about the potential legal consequences, which have now materialized. Accountability is needed, and the current system may need to be overhauled entirely.

As an immediate solution, one option could be allowing all schools to participate in the playoffs for this year only. If the playoffs are already going to be delayed by a week (meaning title weekend would be in five weeks), making this Friday the round of 32 would not change the potential championship weekend dates (still five weeks away). For classes with fewer than 32 teams, the top seeds could receive byes, and any program could opt out of playing if they choose. Seeding would be based on the original point values.

EDIT: appeals regarding the points were filed by some schools prior to the October meeting