Galax forfeits to Fort Chiswell

[SWVAgridiron]

Just received word that the Maroon Tide has forfeited their contest against FC. With Grayson left in week 10 which will also likely be a forfeit this means the defending 1A state champs go 0-10

[Hokiebird7]

Wow...wonder why? Low numbers?

[SWVAgridiron]

16 minutes ago, Hokiebird7 said:

Wow...wonder why? Low numbers?

I’m not sure. I know they were playing their 3rd string QB against Richlands. Starting QB was suspended for a fight and the backup got hurt is what I heard. 

[GilesBandanaMan]

25 minutes ago, SWVAgridiron said:

I’m not sure. I know they were playing their 3rd string QB against Richlands. Starting QB was suspended for a fight and the backup got hurt is what I heard. 

History in the making? I would assume this has happened at least once in the state of Virginia but not to 2 defending state champs in 1 season. A state champ going winless the following season I assume....has not happened over 5 times since 1974 (last 50 years) and Maybe never. When you add in Freedom High in Class 6 2023/2024, having 2 previous state title teams go winless the following year is probably a first and a good chance of something only happening once every 50 or so years at most IF....If Galax and Freedom remain winless. All of the above taking out the Covid year and not counting that as many teams didn't even play or played 5 or 6 games, etc.

[1inStripes]

Seems unimaginable that a program of Galax level over the last 15 or so years could be in this position but it shows how precarious things are for 1A football programs especially in todays day an age.

[KW23]

Game was scheduled for tomorrow... Maybe they forfeited BC they wanted to go Trick-or-Treating

[jeffro]

wow what a downslide..  feel bad for the players and community

[Real Sasquatch]

The middle school program at Galax does not look promising either.  What a turn of events for them ..

[Gridiron60]

Forfeiting the day before is pretty sad especially for Seniors, concessions, gate money, etc. Would it be a terrible idea to impose some type of monetary consequence for schools that do this last minute especially if it’s the visiting team that cancels?

[SWVAgridiron]

10 minutes ago, Gridiron60 said:

Forfeiting the day before is pretty sad especially for Seniors, concessions, gate money, etc. Would it be a terrible idea to impose some type of monetary consequence for schools that do this last minute especially if it’s the visiting team that cancels?

Something needs to be done. Auburn has done it several times the past few years. Waiting until Wednesday to forfeit leaving teams with no time to find replacements 

[Real Sasquatch]

10 minutes ago, Gridiron60 said:

Forfeiting the day before is pretty sad especially for Seniors, concessions, gate money, etc. Would it be a terrible idea to impose some type of monetary consequence for schools that do this last minute especially if it’s the visiting team that cancels?

They don't have many players.  I think they have some injuries too and there is a ton of sickness going around in the schools right now.  A lot of pneumonia in the area schools right now.  I'm sure they are doing it for the safety of the players.  Nothing anybody can really do when this happens 

[Bluefield researcher]

I can recall it Happening once in West Virginia. Weir High of Weirton went 14-0 in 1998 and won the WV AA state championship. Quincy Wilson's senior season. In 1999 Weir went 0-10.

[GilesBandanaMan]

Galax/Carroll/58/I-77 area has a fairly large immigrant population compared to most, if not all of Swva. Soccer is big. Are we seeing the early signs of what has happened in parts of Northern VA with increased immigration not favorable to football and more inclined for soccer? I think we might be. I don't know for sure and dont claim to know, but I suspect it. Galax has in its favor,  a recent history of winning and winning state titles which helps the football culture, but Galax is super small and has little to no margin for error regarding football numbers dropping like most Class 1 schools, because quality is quickly dropped with any hit to numbers. Going to be interesting to see what happens with Galax's future in football. 

With all of the above written, it's only been 1 year/1 season and that isn't long enough to be considered a trend. Could still be a one-off thing. I would not be surprised if Graham and Radford move to drop Galax. Don't know when their agreements are up, but I suspect they may move to not renew the series whenever that time comes.

[GilesBandanaMan]

I got it on pretty solid notification the issues with Galax are NOT related to immigrant poulation/loss of interest in football. Galax has some major injuries and tons of kids out, a few internal issues for one given season and it will take time, but they will rebound. It's absolutely Not related to immigrant population/soccer/etc. Just wanted to be clear on that. I suspected it might be, but it's Not. They will be back, but will take some time.

[44cov3]

Is this really that shocking?  I find it more shocking that the downfall of Mark Dixon leaving took this long.  I think everyone knew it would happen but I for one didn't think it would take that many seasons.  They are basically back to playing football with Galax kids, not surrounding areas top players.  They are back to being a normal small size single A team.  I think they will rebound, adjust their schedule to play small single A schools; drop Radford, Glenvar, Graham, and heck a few years ago Northside and get back to playing a single A schedule.      

[44cov3]

49 minutes ago, BandanaVTDavis4321 said:

Galax/Carroll/58/I-77 area has a fairly large immigrant population compared to most, if not all of Swva. Soccer is big. Are we seeing the early signs of what has happened in parts of Northern VA with increased immigration not favorable to football and more inclined for soccer? I think we might be. I don't know for sure and dont claim to know, but I suspect it. Galax has in its favor,  a recent history of winning and winning state titles which helps the football culture, but Galax is super small and has little to no margin for error regarding football numbers dropping like most Class 1 schools, because quality is quickly dropped with any hit to numbers. Going to be interesting to see what happens with Galax's future in football. 

With all of the above written, it's only been 1 year/1 season and that isn't long enough to be considered a trend. Could still be a one-off thing. I would not be surprised if Graham and Radford move to drop Galax. Don't know when their agreements are up, but I suspect they may move to not renew the series whenever that time comes.

 

2 minutes ago, BandanaVTDavis4321 said:

I got it on pretty solid notification the issues with Galax are NOT related to immigrant poulation/loss of interest in football. Galax has some major injuries and tons of kids out, a few internal issues for one given season and it will take time, but they will rebound. It's absolutely Not related to immigrant population/soccer/etc. Just wanted to be clear on that. I suspected it might be, but it's Not. They will be back, but will take some time.

What the heck happened in a matter of 45 mins that you completely changed your statement?

[GilesBandanaMan]

53 minutes ago, 44cov3 said:

 

What the heck happened in a matter of 45 mins that you completely changed your statement?

I spoke with a knowledgeable person in that timeframe and can't and won't reveal that. Keep in mind, I did point out the soccer/immigration culture thing was only something I suspected and stated I clearly Did Not know or claim to know. I can surely say this for 100 percent certain. It ain't a soccer/immigrant or football culture thing. This is why posted so quickly, as I dont want there to be any doubt aboit what I suspected (which was not accurate and I suspected wrong). They are literally hurting from major injuries (and a whole lot of them) and also some internal squabbles among players this year that led to even more low numbers.

Going to take some time, but they will be back.

[44cov3]

21 minutes ago, BandanaVTDavis4321 said:

I spoke with a knowledgeable person in that timeframe and can't and won't reveal that. Keep in mind, I did point out the soccer/immigration culture thing was only something I suspected and stated I clearly Did Not know or claim to know. I can surely say this for 100 percent certain. It ain't a soccer/immigrant or football culture thing. This is why posted so quickly, as I dont want there to be any doubt aboit what I suspected (which was not accurate and I suspected wrong). They are literally hurting from major injuries (and a whole lot of them) and also some internal squabbles among players this year that led to even more low numbers.

Going to take some time, but they will be back.

Completely understand....Basically, its once again Single A football being Single A football, start the season with mid 20s, deal with kids quitting, some unfortunate injuries and by week 4 or 5 you low 20s upper teens, couple more weeks of the same and each week it can be touch and go. 

[CPF]

29 minutes ago, BandanaVTDavis4321 said:

I spoke with a knowledgeable person in that timeframe and can't and won't reveal that. Keep in mind, I did point out the soccer/immigration culture thing was only something I suspected and stated I clearly Did Not know or claim to know. I can surely say this for 100 percent certain. It ain't a soccer/immigrant or football culture thing. This is why posted so quickly, as I dont want there to be any doubt aboit what I suspected (which was not accurate and I suspected wrong). They are literally hurting from major injuries (and a whole lot of them) and also some internal squabbles among players this year that led to even more low numbers.

Going to take some time, but they will be back.

Accurate from what I've heard also. And very troubling.

[JDHoss]

What’s the deal with Freedom? To roll through a schedule virtually unchallenged to win a state title and follow it up with a (likely) 0-10 season where they have been boat raced in most games is puzzling for a school that size. 🤔

[Bluefield researcher]

1 hour ago, JDHoss said:

What’s the deal with Freedom? To roll through a schedule virtually unchallenged to win a state title and follow it up with a (likely) 0-10 season where they have been boat raced in most games is puzzling for a school that size. 🤔

Almost all of their players were recruits and were given temporary addresses. Probably fake. The coach overseeing this went to Hayfield High and took the players with him. Now the same thing is going on at Hayfield. Freedom of Woodbridge was left with no players with any experience. They are basically a 6A school with a 1A roster. 

[GilesBandanaMan]

See the post by tgburg fan in the scores week 9 thread about Marlboro County, SC. It's a situation like Freedom except interstate, not intrastate. Marlboro County SC hired the HC at Clinton High NC. Clinton High NC is a historic powerhouse and hasn't been what it once was, but still very good and they lost the state title game to Reidsville last year (former Graham coach Doug Marrs was D. Coordinator at Reidsville, I thinknhes retired now). The Clinton, NC Head Coach was hired by South Carolina historic powerhouse Marlboro County which has also been nowhere close to their historic standards, but they were rolling this year under the new coach who arrived from Clinton. He took multiple players and coaches with him and this includes the starting QB. Ever drove from Clinton NC to Bennettsville SC? That ain't no one county away drive. It's 2 hours. Anyway, Marlboro just got nailed. Has to forfeit all games and heavy fines. As for Clinton NC, they have 1 win this year. 

Moral of the story In My Opinion? A reflection of where we are at as a society. It's not simply about the individual coaches who choose wrong. It's about the schools/the ADs/the administrators who ALLOW it and know what is coming when they hire that new coach, but they choose cheating to win over doing what is right. Same thing happened in NOVA.

[Wolf1207]

It’s really not surprising for these large schools.  Especially in this day of NIL fit players.  Wonder what the top basketball players at John Marshall are making this season?

[techfan]

6 hours ago, 44cov3 said:

Is this really that shocking?  I find it more shocking that the downfall of Mark Dixon leaving took this long.  I think everyone knew it would happen but I for one didn't think it would take that many seasons.  They are basically back to playing football with Galax kids, not surrounding areas top players.  They are back to being a normal small size single A team.  I think they will rebound, adjust their schedule to play small single A schools; drop Radford, Glenvar, Graham, and heck a few years ago Northside and get back to playing a single A schedule.      

I agree with this statement completely it's much like when Shane Allen was at Tazewell he can't develop kids and Tazewell's feeder programs bottomed out.  This would be his first group of his own kids correct?

[JDHoss]

4 hours ago, Bluefield researcher said:

Almost all of their players were recruits and were given temporary addresses. Probably fake. The coach overseeing this went to Hayfield High and took the players with him. Now the same thing is going on at Hayfield. Freedom of Woodbridge was left with no players with any experience. They are basically a 6A school with a 1A roster. 

The same thing happens down here every year. Vero Beach to the north of us, and Treasure Coast to the south of us syphon off most of the better players from our three schools here in the city.