2025 football playoff bid receives lukewarm response from MIAA tournament management committee

TMC members expressed concern about shrinking the playoff field and requiring Super Bowl teams to play three postseason games in a 12-day period. The proposed alignment would have delayed the start of winter sports by a week for the 16 Super Bowl teams, a major hurdle for administrators.

“I am completely against it, and our district is completely against it affecting the winter season,” said Wellesley athletic director John Brown, who represents District 7 (Bay State Conference, Tri-Valley League, Hockomock League) on the committee.

“I think it would be a problem if the football tournament were moved to the winter season for another week.”

TMC president Shaun Hart said halving the number of teams qualifying for the playoffs would be a “step backwards”.

“As we develop opportunities for kids and athletes across the state, making it to the playoffs was a huge milestone in that bid,” said AD Hart, who represents District 4 (Middlesex League, Dual County, Merrimack Valley) at Burlington High School.

“Anything that takes away half of our playoff teams in a particular sport, I think, would be a step backwards for me.”

Brown said extending the football season would hurt many schools, adding that it may be in the MIAA’s best interest to consider shortening the regular season and considering a later start date that would allow more kids to play.

“I think the football committee is being unfair to their own sport by thinking we should extend the season,” Brown said. “I hate to compare us to private schools, but they play seven or eight games and it seems to work for them.”

Statewide, coaches support the proposal. In a survey sent in February, 156 of 231 coaches said it was unfair to require 76 percent of teams to play at least one consolation game or take a break in November so others can advance in the tournament.

In the same survey, 173 coaches answered “yes” when asked if all teams should experience a 10-game regular season schedule without consolation games. Fifty-eight answered “no.”

Costa wasn’t surprised by the backlash over the plan after TMC previously raised concerns about the proposal during a virtual meeting on Aug. 27.

But he remained optimistic that Wednesday’s presentation could open the door to changes in the future.

“I think there are pieces in this proposal that can please everyone, and I hope we can achieve that,” he said.

While the deadline to determine the 2025 football format is March 1, Costa and Hart agreed to aim to have concrete plans in place by December so athletic directors can work out next year’s schedule.

Costa said that if the TMC votes against the current proposal, it would need to meet with members of the football committee before December to decide whether to put forward another offer.