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TAYLOR MADE: FOOTBALL FOLLIES (2019-10-31)

The Section IV football playoffs begin this weekend with what I consider an unfair decision in regards to the location of the Class D semifinals.

Tioga, the Division VI champion, must play its semi at Johnson City, as does Division V winner Walton. Meanwhile, Division IV champ Newark Valley and Division III champ Susquehanna Valley will get to play Class C semis at home. The playoff formats for both of these classes is exactly the same, however, one class gets the benefit of home field advantage while the other class does not.

My understanding is the Class D semis are being held at a neutral site due to the distance issues that often arise with Tioga being located in the western end of the section while all the other "contenders" are based out the east end of the section. It's 102 miles from Delhi to Tioga Center — no other team will travel more than 76 miles one way to play a semi. If you don't want to travel two hours to play in the sectional playoffs, then build a better football program.

In my opinion, what's good for the goose is good for the gander. In other words, if one semi is going to be played at a neutral site, then all semis should be played at neutral sites.

In addition to NV and Sus Valley, the first and second seeds in Class AA, Class B and 8-man, so Corning, Elmira, Chenango Forks, Owego, Lansing and Notre Dame will play one more time at home.

With the exception of Class A, all championship games will be played at neutral sites, which is the way it should be. U-E and Vestal are the only teams in Class A and the game will be played at U-E. I'm sure Section IV could have figured out a way to move that game to a neutral site as well.

Section IV has several great locations where teams could play semis and finals without anyone receiving a home field advantage.

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With that said, there are plenty of opportunities for Tioga County football fans to catch some playoff action this weekend.

Owego hosts M-E in a Class B semi Friday night at 7 p.m. and the game will be shown on nfhsnetwork.com. A subscription costs $10.99 per month or $70 annually (that comes out to $5.83 per month).

Newark Valley takes the field against Windsor at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

Tioga faces Delhi at 3 p.m. Saturday at Johnson City. That game follows the Walton-Greene game (noon) and both will be broadcast by WCDO Radio at FM 101, AM 1490 and wcdoradio.com.

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High school football will change as we know it if Bronx Assemblyman Michael Benedetto gets his way. The state assembly held a public hearing Tuesday about Benedetto's proposal to prohibit youths age 12 and under from participating in tackle football.

The Associated Press reported on the hearing and painted a negative picture of youth football, highlighting the issues surrounding one former college player and how he has been affected by chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), as well as another former college player and an attorney, both of whom favor the ban.

In fact, the AP reporter, who doesn't cover sports on a regular basis, didn't even address how organizers of youth football are taking positive measures to make the sport safer until the end of the story. And then, it briefly addressed how steps are being taken to make youth football safer, according to Scott Hallenbeck, executive director of USA Football.

First of all, we don't need politics in sports so the New York State Assembly needs to butt out. Next, the local programs need to ensure that any adult involved with youth, junior high, modified, JV and high school football is properly educated on the safety measures — and is following the rules regarding player safety.


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