Friday night is not even here yet and there have already been games stopped because of the mercy rule. Last night the Eunice Cardinals varsity team lost to the Hobbs JV 55-0 with over 8 minutes left in the game. Eunice has a new coach and system but a proud and productive program and past. They even have by far the finest and most awesome looking field house in this entire state. Not long ago it was a big upset if the Hobbs JV beat the Eunice varsity. So, what are the benefits and detriments of the mercy rules. Since I absolutely hate the rules I will detail a few issues against them. Plus, I think everyone knows what the positive sides are supposed to be. Here are my top 10 problems with the mercy rules. #1. A struggling team, or a team with a new coaching staff and/or system needs every play they can get to implement and learn that system and get confidence in themselves. Saying to them...you are just so bad that we need to send you home to mommy is just not helpful. In fact, it is very destructive. Charliedog's descriptive word of wussification is spot on. #2. Unfortunately, it is not just all about the football kids or basketball kids with schools that have programs with good support and cash flow systems. Other kids get "punished" also such as the halftime performers, bands, dance teams and on and on. They work very hard for weeks before school starts and just to brush them off at halftime and say we are leaving is just dumb and destructive to the core. #3. Radio coverage and live streams are not cheap. They provide those services from advertising revenues and have contracts to live up to. To just slam the door on those supporters, advertisements and broadcasts is a jaw dropping concept. #4. Other forms of advertising such as billboards, program sales, shooting t-shirts with sponsors printed on them into the crowd and on and on are also badly impacted. #5. Concessions, food services, programs sales and team merchandise sales are huge money makers that take a ton of effort to provide and are greatly damaged by just locking up and going home. #6. Some schools produce money-making raffle events for things like cars and trips to Dallas Cowboy games and most of those sales happen at halftime and after. #7. NM is a huge state with very few teams and thusly very long travel situations occur. It is not unusual for teams to have to travel 300-600 miles round trip. To put that much expense and effort into playing a game and then be forced to leave early is just an amazing concept. #8. Often, post game meals must be provided for teams traveling a long distance and those have to be scheduled. You just don't show up somewhere with 50-80 folks plus some of their fans and say sorry but we are way early. Let's eat! #9. Many fund raisers for other events and programs are also held and again most of those revenues are raised at halftime and after. Football and basketball games are the best events to have tie-on fund raisers for lesser attended sports and other various school events and programs. #10. The mercy rule teaches the kids that is OK and acceptable to just quit if things are not going well. Probably the worst message we can send to kids today. So, stop physical activity, go bury yourselves for even more hours on electronic devices and smoke pot. Like kids today need another excuse for any of that.
Mercy Rules...Like Them Or Hate Them?
- Thread starter J. Reksat
- Start date
